I've read many “Dear Crewmate” letters. I grasp that everyone on FindaCrew loves the waves and a life on the water, but who are you?

I am looking for crew, so I am seeking someone who can secure a dock line, wield chef’s knife, hold up their end of the conversation and offer an intelligence and thoughtful alternative course of action to whatever challenge we face.

But after the anchor is set, there’s gotta be more to do than talk about sailing. So I’m looking for a companion and a fellow adventurer more than a mere cook and a deck hand. BTW, I can cook.

Please let me know whether you’d be interesting in cruising with me. Believe me, it will be more than just sailing.

I am not the typical skipper. There can only be one captain, but I prefer to make decisions collegially rather than dictatorially like Captain Queeg, Captain Bligh or Captain Ahab. I always learn from other other sailors, regardless of their experience level.

I also like to share what I’ve learned from countless, generous others. As a designer, engineer and journalist, I am very good a explaining things in a way that others can understand.

Before taking up sailing more than 20 years ago, I flew high-performance aircraft “single handled.” This experience prepared me for sailing like no other. For instance, docking is no different than landing a 757 in a crosswind on one engine – it’s all about the wind and speed control, throttle and rudder.

Before I flew, I was a photojournalist – my photo of Muhammad Ali appeared on the front page of The New York Times, Washington Post and SNL’s Weekend Update – twice. Then I was a newspaper design consultant with clients from New England to New Zealand, then I moved online. Eventually, I created an educational website and sold it to the Smithsonian.

I guess I’m what you might call a polymath.

I have a few non-starters:

- Smokers
- Trumpers
- Phone addicts

I hope to hear for you.

usually cleancomfortablevery safevessel is survey certifiedusually single handedlive on little moneyshare experienceseek adventurefulfill a dreamfind a soulmate/partnerlive off the grid

ITINERARY
I’m looking for someone to sail the Bahamas and Caribbean with me from October through May, then New England or the Mediterranean June through October. But don’t worry – you don’t need to cross the ocean with me – just meet me in West Palm Beach, Marsh Harbour in the Abacos or in Europe.

You don’t need to be an expert sailor because I can single-hand the yacht and I am happy to share what I have learned from other sailors. But you must be passionate about life on the water and life in general.

ACCOMODATIONS
The yacht has two separate staterooms – one in the bow and one in the stern – with two separate doors that separate the staterooms from the saloon and galley. Each stateroom has a separate head equipped with a shower.

SAILS
In addition to a furler-mounted high-cut jib and furling mainsail, the yacht has an asymmetrical spinnaker for downwind sailing, a sock for managing the spinnaker and a staysail mounted on a furler. The yacht has both outboard and inboard jib tracks for narrower sheeting angles upwind. It has a large bimini covering the cockpit, and two auxiliary biminis for the foredeck and afterdeck for use at anchor.

ELECTRICAL
The yacht has a 6kW generator, 900 Watts of solar panels, a 2000 Watt inverter, six 100 amp lithium batteries, a high-output 100 amp Balmar alternator and Victron Bluetooth-enabled solar controllers and battery manager. It has a high-output, 37 gph Rainman watermaker and a Highfield dinghy with both an ePropusion electric outboard and Suzuki 6 HP gasoline outboard. It also has a bow thruster.

ELECTRONICS
The yacht has a 12-inch Raymine Axiom 3 multi-function display with digital radar and AIS, Raymarine SmartPilot, wind and Tridata instruments. While in the Bahamas, I’ll have a 4G hotspot with unlimited data for streaming video and Internet access. I also have a Garmin inReach for satellite-based communication.

GALLEY
The yacht has a 3-burner propane-powered Force 10 stove, a Frigoboat refrigerator and two 40 quart Engel freezers. I use space-saving stackable, non-stick Analon cookware. The yacht also has a 700 Watt microwave that can be powered by the inverter underway.

AUXILIARY VESSELS
In addition to a Highfield RIB (Rigid Inflatable Boat) I have two 10-foot URS kayaks that conveniently fold down to 42 inches for essy storage.

MAINTENANCE
I perform virtually all the maintenance and have installed most of the upgrades on the yacht myself and I don't mind making repairs underway. The yacht is equipped with an extensive “parts department’ of spare pumps, switches, cables, hoses, screws, nuts, bolts, etc.

The yacht went through a extensive refit before making the trip in 2019 and another after COVID in 2020, including the addition of a watermaker and solar arch. And it is undergoing yet another extensive refit this summer including lithium batteries, new anchor, new anchor chain, replacing all 15 thruhulls and ball valves with seacocks, 8 coats of barrier and bottom paint, adding a inner forestay for staysail, adding a asymmetrical spinnaker, two new furlers, new bimini, reconfigured refrigerator and two new freezers.

clean & tidydiligenteasy-goingfit & healthyfriendlyorganisedrespectfultrustworthyrarely/unlikely seasickgood communicatortravel light (little luggage)open mindedsense of humorcan pay own expensesdon't mind cleaningwill not bring a bicyclewill not bring a friendwill not bring a pet

I'm seeking someone to share the sailing experience and cruising lifestyle with me. Currently, I do everything myself, including some of the less “glamorous” tasks, such as cooking and cleaning. So I'm not seeking someone to take over the grunt work. Instead, I'm seeking someone to share in all the fun, beauty and adventure, as well as the housekeeping chores that support the experience.

The following recommendation is from Julie Hyde. She has been crewing in the South Pacific, the Med and the Caribbean for more than 20 years and she has more than 20,000 sea miles.

I crewed for Alan ( Jake ) for 4 months 2019–2020 from Stuart Florida, round to Marco island where we set up the boat for bluewater and then on to the Bahamas, where we got as far as south Eleuthera when my mother was taken ill and I had to return to the UK just as COVID hit.

Jake solo sailed his boat back to Virginia.

Jake is a calm, competent captain who knows his boat very well,. He has a pilot's license so is great with navigation and weather.

The boat is well set up, comfortable and easy to sail.

Jake and I have become good friends and I would happily sail with him again and recommend him and his boat to anyone looking to crew.

RECOMMENDATION FROM ANOTHER SAILOR

The following recommendation is from Robert Suhay. Like me, he once worked for The Virginian-Pilot newspaper in Norfolk, VA as a news designer. Now he pulls barges with a tugboat on the ICW between Norfolk and Charleston, SC when he isn't restoring his 60-foot schooner. He also holds a Guinness World Record for sailing. To see, Google “Robert Suhay Washington Post Norfolk-man-sails-into-the-record-books"

From Robert:

I helped Alan deliver his boat from Norfolk Va., to Daytona, Fla. in 2019. Our 8-day trip of almost 1,000 nm was a pure delight. Alan is a capable skipper and gracious host, who went out of his way to provide comforts for the journey.

As an experienced pilot, Alan, who also goes by Jake, had plenty of interesting insights into weather and navigation.

Alan's boat is well set up, comfortable and a joy to sail. Alan is funny, charming and a calm, thoughtful companion. I would happily sail with him again.

LIFE ON BOARD

I think of myself as tolerant, but I am a stickler for issues that impact safety – I believe in safety first. I have a low tolerance for mess – I believe everything should be tidy, within reason.

I’m an introvert, so I like the boat to be quiet rather than raucous – which isn’t to say that I don't play music sometimes (I have 300 CDs on board) but I don't play music every day.

I prefer anchoring out; I rarely go into marinas. I have two 10-foot kayaks that fold down to 42 inches for easy storing because I don't like large objects cluttering the deck because I believe the decks should remain clear. I like exploring on foot. I have snorkel gear, but I am not a big-time snokeler. I prefer the kayak.

I don't mind cooking and, as a graphic designer, I enjoy the presentation aspect of food preparation. I am happy to collaborate or alternate in the galley.

I know that alcohol is often a big part of sailing, but I am not a big drinker – 2 glasses of wine or beer and I am pretty tipsy. I don't hang out in bars because they are loud and expensive.

I like sailing – obviously – but I also like lazy days in an anchorage and using time in the anchorage for reading, watching Netflix, Amazon Prime or Hulu, housekeeping issues, minor repairs, etc.