Hello from Alberta

[Sailaway631]

Hi everyone,
I have been sailing small boats on the lakes most of my life. I'm just getting into sailing bigger boats, sailed a 38 footer from Vancouver to the island on a week long training course and loved it.
I'm looking to sail a cat about 40' in Mexico come Jan 2019 and I'm looking for recommendation as to where can one find a boat that needs inexperienced crew.
Thanks

[JPA Cate]

Hello, Sailaway,

Welcome aboard CF. One place you might look for a crew position is in CF's Crew Wanted and Crew Available list.

Maybe someone closer to Alberta than me will be able to point you somewhere to get catamaran experience, if that is what you're wanting.

Ann

[travellerw]

Originally Posted by Sailaway631

Hi everyone,
I have been sailing small boats on the lakes most of my life. I'm just getting into sailing bigger boats, sailed a 38 footer from Vancouver to the island on a week long training course and loved it.
I'm looking to sail a cat about 40' in Mexico come Jan 2019 and I'm looking for recommendation as to where can one find a boat that needs inexperienced crew.
Thanks

Welcome to CF.. My Wife, myself and our three kids are from Edmonton. We are now cruising around the Caribbean on our 40ft catamaran (coming up on 3 years). I'm currently writing this from Martinique..

Now as to sailing a cat.. First, you are being a little too specific in your location (ya I get it, its cheap to fly to Mexico from Alberta). However, limiting yourself to just Mexico is probably going to hurt your chances. We have sailed in and around Mexico and the number of Catamarans located there is VERY small when compared to other places. I would suggest you expand your search to St. Martin, Antigua and St. Lucia (all three are still fairly cheap to fly too). There are WAY WAY more cats in those locations than Mexico.

However, if this is something you REALLY want to do, then a crew position is not your best bet. Finding inexperienced crew is not a difficult thing in most places. You will be competing against a ton of people. Most that are closer and with some experience.

Finding a way to share a charter boat is probably your best bet. Of course there will be costs to that (sharing the cost of the charter, food, booze, flights, ect.), but it would guarantee you would get to spend some time on a nice cat.

Anyway.. Good luck.. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. We have sailed our cat from Cuba to Mexico, then up to the USA and finally followed "The Thorny Path" down here to the Caribbean (we have a blog if you are interested).

[Sailaway631]

Originally Posted by travellerw

Welcome to CF.. My Wife, myself and our three kids are from Edmonton. We are now cruising around the Caribbean on our 40ft catamaran (coming up on 3 years). I'm currently writing this from Martinique..

Now as to sailing a cat.. First, you are being a little too specific in your location (ya I get it, its cheap to fly to Mexico from Alberta). However, limiting yourself to just Mexico is probably going to hurt your chances. We have sailed in and around Mexico and the number of Catamarans located there is VERY small when compared to other places. I would suggest you expand your search to St. Martin, Antigua and St. Lucia (all three are still fairly cheap to fly too). There are WAY WAY more cats in those locations than Mexico.

However, if this is something you REALLY want to do, then a crew position is not your best bet. Finding inexperienced crew is not a difficult thing in most places. You will be competing against a ton of people. Most that are closer and with some experience.

Finding a way to share a charter boat is probably your best bet. Of course there will be costs to that (sharing the cost of the charter, food, booze, flights, ect.), but it would guarantee you would get to spend some time on a nice cat.

Anyway.. Good luck.. I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. We have sailed our cat from Cuba to Mexico, then up to the USA and finally followed "The Thorny Path" down here to the Caribbean (we have a blog if you are interested).

Thanks travellerw, and your right I chose Mexico because of cheap and short flights. Don't really like flying. But for the right opportunity I can go anywhere.
It is my plan to retire in 5 to 10 years and sailaway on a cat, but I want to spend some time with owners to get the experience and first hand knowledge.
And yes I would be interested in reading your blog.
Thanks

[Sailaway631]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Hello, Sailaway,

Welcome aboard CF. One place you might look for a crew position is in CF's Crew Wanted and Crew Available list.

Maybe someone closer to Alberta than me will be able to point you somewhere to get catamaran experience, if that is what you're wanting.

Ann

Thanks Ann, I'm looking for a warm place as well.

[chris mac]

Welcome sailaway631, from another Albertan
I'm close to Edmonton, and sail on wabamun during summers. Where abouts are you located?
My wife and i also did a week long liveaboard course out of Vancouver and loved it. Gorgeous cruising grounds. Last year we chartered a lagoon 380 from Coopers as well. It was a great way to experience mono vs multi differences. I heard that they no longer have it in their fleet(owners went cruising) but something to look into anyways.
For crewing, keep an eye out here and other posting sites. I've tried for a few, and like travellerw said, it's tough competition. None have panned out yet for me unfortunately. But trying does help get through these winters of ours.
Good luck

[travellerw]

Originally Posted by Sailaway631

Thanks travellerw, and your right I chose Mexico because of cheap and short flights. Don't really like flying. But for the right opportunity I can go anywhere.
It is my plan to retire in 5 to 10 years and sailaway on a cat, but I want to spend some time with owners to get the experience and first hand knowledge.
And yes I would be interested in reading your blog.
Thanks

LOL.. You remind me of me from 10 years ago..

I guess the first advice I would give you is to not pigeon hole yourself to a Catamaran. That is a BIG mistake we see new cruisers (or retirees) make. Somewhere, somehow they get it in their head that a catamaran is the ONLY solution.

Catamarans are great... but so are monohulls. They both have their advantages and disadvantages. Don't "set your mind" on one and ignore the other. You will miss out on some potentially great boats. Frankly, we love our cat, but if it was just the wife and I, we would most likely be on a monohull.

Anyway.. Here is the link to our blog from the beginning. I detailed most everything from the budget, to finances, to purchasing and then finally cruising (even the hardships, like our lightening strike).

http://www.svpartyoffive.com/2015/12/

[jackdale]

Welcome fellow Canuck and Albertan.

[Sailaway631]

Originally Posted by chris mac

Welcome sailaway631, from another Albertan
I'm close to Edmonton, and sail on wabamun during summers. Where abouts are you located?
My wife and i also did a week long liveaboard course out of Vancouver and loved it. Gorgeous cruising grounds. Last year we chartered a lagoon 380 from Coopers as well. It was a great way to experience mono vs multi differences. I heard that they no longer have it in their fleet(owners went cruising) but something to look into anyways.
For crewing, keep an eye out here and other posting sites. I've tried for a few, and like travellerw said, it's tough competition. None have panned out yet for me unfortunately. But trying does help get through these winters of ours.
Good luck

Hi Chris, thanks for the hoodie. See you out at wabumum.
Andrew

[chris mac]

Originally Posted by Sailaway631

Hi Chris, thanks for the hoodie. See you out at wabumum.
Andrew

Ha!
Didn't know it was you Andrew. Welcome to the forum! Obviously not sailing for the next few days with this weather, but hopefully see you out there next weekend.