Hello All - Another Newbie

[MountIsa]

Greetings from Indonesia!

My name's Isabelle. I've quit my job a few months ago to travel around the world. I'm currently in Indonesia after 4 months in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Malaysia. I've always envisioned sailing being a big part of this trip. I've recently completed my RYA Competent Crew course sailing from Phuket to Langkawi which was absolutely amazing and made me very hungry for more.

My dream has always been to cross to Pacific to Latin America as a crew member. I've placed a few announcements in marina's so far which have not yielded much result. That's quite alright, since the real goal for me was to reach Fiji, which is from what I gather a good place to be between July and October (especially September) and I was determined to stay there as long as I needed to make it work.

Now that I am in Indonesia however, I realise that reaching Fiji is not as easy as I thought. Although flights are generally cheap is South-East Asia, Fiji is a whole different category. I'm wondering if it's feasible to hitchhike my way to Fiji sailing. I'm really lacking in information on sailing in the Indonesian archipelago, a topic vague enough to make Google of little help. The information I've gathered so far as that ships in this area either sail North to Hong Kong, or East to South Africa. Is there no westward activity at all? I could very well make it all the way to Port Moresby. Is this a desirable alternative? I'm also under the impression it's too late in the year now to try my luck in Australia or New Zealand. Would you agree?

I hope I'm not out of line for boring you with my train of thoughts, but I am very new in the sailing community and any information or advice you care to share would be helpful and keep me from having inane conversations with myself. I'll certainly keep an eye out on the crew wanted postings on this forum and keep trying the marina's.

Thanks! Isabelle

[Khagan1227]

First, welcome to CF Isabelle!

Second, for a position, I'd start here: Crew Positions: Wanted & Available - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

[James S]

Hey Isabelle, welcome to the forum.
I'll second Khagan's advice about searching and posting in crew positions.

[Unicorn Dreams]

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum Isabelle and enjoy the site..

[MountIsa]

Thank you all!

P.S. I'm really embarrassed about mixing up West and East in the previous first, not the best first impression

[Lancerbye]

Welcome aboard

[maxingout]

If you are looking for a yacht, it will be easier to find one heading with the tradewinds west, rather than trying to go east against the trades. Most yachts don't head in that direction.

If you get your qualification for being a crew member on a megayacht, then you can go pretty much anywhere you want. Most professional crew members do lots of different yahcts, and over time they can see different sections of the world.

[frankp7]

Hey, all, My name is Frank, and lives in Belgium. i am a hydrographic surveyor for the Port of Antwerp. I get here via opencpn, that i am trying to make my soundings visible in it for help with navigating, because it is not pure for navigating as you all knows. I did this with seaclear and with succes, but opencpn says me more.

So, i don't have no yacht, but my survey vessel is not far from it.

Greetz

[James S]

Welcome to the forum Frank

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
It's good to have you here on the forum.
kind regards,

[SurferShane]

Originally Posted by MountIsa

Greetings from Indonesia!

I could very well make it all the way to Port Moresby.

Thanks! Isabelle

This part of mainland Papua New Guinea is one dangerous part of the world especially or a lone female traveler!

[MountIsa]

Originally Posted by SurferShane

This part of mainland Papua New Guinea is one dangerous part of the world especially or a lone female traveler!

And a blonde one no less! At the moment, I'm actually looking into Australia, Hamilton race time. I've heard it's pretty much a sure deal. Thoughts?