From Europe/Balkans to Oceania

[lindarinda]

Hello, Everyone!

Im Linda and I left EVERYTHING back in Latvia to travel the world. My good friend - Janis - joined me in this adventure and by now in our trip around the world, we have hitchhiked through all Europe and we are looking for a new possibilities to see more of the world. Our main destination is New Zealand, but the way, route and countries till it, are still unclear. It all depends on what kind of boat we can get and people we meet on the way there. But why we dont fly till New Zealand? Because we want to do something exciting, memorable and to learn new things, get new experience. And what could be more exciting than sailing?! This is that kind of experience, what makes Your stomach to become itchy because of thousands of butterflies getting into it, when You think of getting on a board.

So please, if You or someone You know wants a crew of 2 inexperienced but extremely nice, friendly and ready-to-work people, please let me to know.

Best regards,
Linda

[Trim50]

Well Linda, you have found the right place. Hopefully we can answer most of your questions and point you and your friend in the right direction.

Probably the first question that needs to be answered is, "Where are you located now?"

Cheers,

Ken

[lindarinda]

Dear Ken,

we are hitchhiking around Balkans and Europe now. At the minute we are in Bulgaria, tomorrow - Turkey. As its pretty easy to hitchhike, we can be in every European country in a notice of some days.. So we are open for every opportunity

Best regards,
Linda

[Trim50]

Linda,

Turkey is an excellent place to find a crew position. Several dozen boats will be arriving in Turkey from Indonesia in 4 - 6 months. Many of the participants in the Indonesia Rally which left Darwin 2 weeks ago will be shipping their boats from Singapore to Istanbul.


You can find most of these boats listed here: http://www.sailindonesia.net/home/home.php


You can also follow many of these boats via their blog. Many that I know use sailblogs located here:
http://www.sailblogs.com/


One of the last stops when leaving the Med for the Caribbean are Gibraltar and the Canary Islands. The ARC Gran Canaria to St. Lucia Rally is a good place to start looking:
http://www.worldcruising.com/arc/

You are more likely to find a crew position prior to a major crossing than you will while a boat is Island hoping within the Med.


Also, once you arrive in the Americas, there is the Pacific Puddle Jump
http://www.pacificpuddlejump.com/
which many boats heading to the South Pacific take part in and a large portion of the those boats will be looking for good crew. So once you get experience crossing the Atlantic, you shouldn't have any trouble finding a ride to Tahiti or Bora Bora.

While in Bora Bora, it is easy to find a crew position from the Bora Bora Yacht club:
http://www.boraborayachtclub.net/
Most everyone is interested in a little extra help crossing the Dangerous middle to Tonga.

Once in Tonga, most boat wait several weeks to a month for a good weather window to either Opua, New Zealand or Fiji. If you find your way to Vava'u, Tonga in time for the Tonga Regatta, you shouldn't have any trouble finding a ride to either New Zealand or Fiji.
http://www.regattavavau.com/#home

Hope this info helps!


Cheers,

Ken

[lindarinda]

wow, thank You very much! I will check everything what You wrote below, such a nice tips, THANK YOU!