Hello & Help Haha

[Wanderlust]

Hello all!

I have been looking around the forum and Im definitely in the right place for advice by the look of it

My name is Dean, from the south west UK, Im 29, physically fit etc, looking to escape the mundane 9-5 existence and have some adventures!!!!!

I am currently considering taking some RYA courses, Competent Crew to start then up to Day Skipper for the time being I think, and wondered if this would be enough to get paid work either delivering or working on charters?

Any advice would be welcomed!

Catch up soon!

Dean.

[Lighthouse]

Welcome aboard Dean.

[Nausikaa]

Hi Dean and welcome aboard.

Good luck with your sailing plans.

This forum is a friendly place and I am sure you will pick up a whole lot of information here.

To try and answer your questions:

1. The RYA courses are a good start to sailing - no two ways about that.

2. A Day-Skipper ticket might be enough to get you on board as crew on a delivery boat but it is unlikely that this would be paid - maybe food an pocket-money but that is about all you could hope for.

3. The competition is hard for the charter jobs - I am thinking now of the charter fleets which sail in convoy and have an employed skipper and mechanic as convoy "commander" and engineer.

4. To get a job as a delivery skipper you will need experience above all else and that only comes with sea miles.

I hope you are not put off by my answer. We all had to start somewhere. Good luck to you in your endeavours.

Aye // Stephen

[Wanderlust]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

No, your answers haven’t put me off in the slightest, I realise it will take time to get the experience before I can progress.

I just wanted to make sure I was going to be heading in the right direction.

Im short of savings so cant really afford to pay to crew, Im currently in the process of selling my car to clear my debts, quit my job after I get the courses nailed and find a ride! I dont mind working for food so long as I can get myself home again or on to another ride to build up some experience.

A little apprehensive though!

I love to travel and have had itchy feet for a while now, I have tried the office career thing for a few years and its just not working for me so want to get out into the world again!

There is some really good advice on here and its nice to find such a friendly bunch of people.

[Nausikaa]

Originally Posted by Wanderlust

Im short of savings so cant really afford to pay to crew,

Aquick bit of advice. Don't pay to crew! The most any decent person should ask you for is the cost of your share of the food.

Look around a bit here and you will come accross many postings on this popular topic - far too many in fact.

Start here.

And again, welcome to this friendly crew where your passage is free.

Aye // Stephen