~~~ UPDATE 31.10.2024 ~~~ I have some time off coming up in December and early January 2025, and would be very keen to join a boat for an Atlantic crossing (or anywhere that I can get to reasonably easily)! If you are planning a voyage during that period, please read on! ~~~

Hello all! I am looking to join a crew, recreational or racing, and can offer you a dependable, enthusiastic and fun helping hand, who is also willing to help out with repairs, maintenance, cleaning and whatever! I am a 37 year old Canadian, currently living in Cologne, Germany (I know, not exactly coastal...) I have always had an interest in sailing, and would like to start working towards my goal of owning my own boat one day. But I know that I have a lot to learn before then! Beyond the inland dinghy sailing I had as a child, I completed my RYA Competent Crew course in September 2021, and followed that up with Day Skipper in May 2022. I would be happy to make arrangements to travel and meet boats in need of crew within Europe. I look forward to hearing from you!

My wife also completed her RYA Competent Crew and Day Skipper, and we're interested in finding opportunities to get more experience together. It's not a hard requirement though, but if you are in need of a couple of crewmembers, let us know!

clean & tidycommitteddiligentdiscreeteasy-goingenthusiasticfriendlyorganisedrespectfulskilledtrustworthyconfident swimmergood listenergood communicatorno body piercingsno facial piercingsno tattoos at alltravel light (little luggage)eager to learn & workpoliteLGBTIQA+ respectfulpositive outlookopen mindedsense of humorcan pay own expensesavailable on my ownready to partyenjoy cookingdon't mind cleaninggood with maintenancecan follow ordersenjoy teachingbuy my own boat one daylearn a languagewish to bring a friend

~~~ UPDATE 31.10.2024 ~~~ I have some vacation saved up that I need to use before the end of the year, and so am very interested in finding a sailing opportunity. I could be available during the month of December 2024 and into early January 2025. In particular, I would have time for an Atlantic crossing to the Caribbean departing from the Canaries or Capo Verde, and would jump at the change to join a crew. If you are also planning to start your journey from Spain or Portugal to the Canaries or Capo Verde, I would be interested in joining for that leg too. But, I'm flexible, and would entertain joining a crew leaving to and from anywhere! ~~~ ~~~

I am a project management professional who studied Mechanical Engineering at University. In terms of my career, I've worked for a brewery, as a management consultant, and now on a major green energy project. My wife and I moved to Germany 4 years ago when an opportunity presented itself; I had always wanted to live and work outside my home country of Canada.

I grew up camping, hiking, and skiing in the mountains, and love outdoor pursuits like that. International Travel is also something I love, which has been all the more possible since the move to Germany. I would also say I'm interested in fixing things and doing things myself, rather than replacing or sending away for repair.

Recently, my wife and I found a reasonably priced charter boat in the Netherlands (probably the closest sailing destination to our home in Cologne, Germany), and enjoyed sailing a Waarschip 870 for four days. It was our first taste of being able to plan which destinations to call at, chart our own course, and rely on just ourselves and the boat. The extended weekend through all sorts of situations at us, including beating upwind and 6 knots, gliding downwind wing-on-wing, some very light winds, gusts up to force 5, a close encounter with running aground on a patch of water plants, somehow having the prop pick up a loose piece of line (not ours!) hiding beneath the water, and then subsequently having to dive beneath the boat to free the prop. It was a great experience altogether, and I'm hooked! I am definitely looking for more opportunities to get out on the water.

Since that first trip in the Netherlands, we've returned five more times, sailing a Waarschip 900 and a Kolibri 900 in varying conditions. Our 9 day cruise around the Ijsselmeer in April was particularly memorable, with weather ranging from around 5 degrees celcius in rain and wind gusts well into Beaufort 7, to gliding under sunny skies with 10 knots of breeze in t-shirt temperatures. We now have about 500 NM experience with bareboat charters in the Netherlands, and are looking forward to more new adventures!

For further sailing plans, after completing my first two RYA courses I know sailing is a pursuit I want to get more involved in. I am very interested in gaining more sea miles, learning from various sailors along the way, and completing my Yachtmaster one day. But, to do that I will need to find some crewing opportunities!

have a holidayshare experienceshare charter costsvisit remote placesseek adventurefulfill a dreamface challengescareer changegain experiencelearn to saillive off the gridsustainable traveltravel

There is something very appealing to me about the self-sufficiency of living onboard a boat while travelling around. I would love to one day own my own sailboat, liveaboard, and explore the world. Following my two RYA courses, I am even more committed to that goal. The courses did show me though that there is much more to learn through practical experience. My goals are ambitious, but I want to do it the right way, and get some good sailing experience under my belt before heading off on my own. So, if there is any way I can join as crew to help out and learn along the way, I would be very grateful!