Cruising the Crew Lists
Virtual bulletin boards can help match skippers with crew, but caution is key when going online

It is no small commitment of time and money to leave your land-bound life behind to pursue a cruising lifestyle. Whether you desire to crew on someone else’s boat, or are the skipper of your own, you are most likely out to have fun and adventure, not expose yourself to mutiny.

The reasons for seeking sailing partnerships are varied. Some skippers are seeking assistance in getting the boat from one place to another; others are looking for company and possibly romance. Some crew want to gain experience sailing to exotic destinations, while others are looking for a vacation. With the expansive reach of the Internet, sailors are no longer limited to postings on yacht club bulletin boards to find partners. However, with increased access come associated pitfalls.

There are many things sailors can do to more successfully navigate the waters in securing a crew or passage. We’ve all heard a story or two about cruising partnerships gone horribly wrong; women in particular seem more vulnerable to the risks. A woman sailor sent me an e-mail telling of an incident that serves as a powerful example. “In 2001 a man responded to my listing, we met and I thought life was grand. Unfortunately, I wasn’t aware that this man had a history—a very serious one. After he got all my money and my ID, he beat me, tortured me and left me for dead; penniless, with only the clothing on my back and no ID in a foreign country.” While this is an extreme case, it emphasizes the point that it is worthwhile to be serious about gathering information. To help prevent that from happening to you, there are clear steps to take in the due-diligence process.

Getting acquainted
There is no substitute for meeting a potential sailing partner in person, well ahead of time. However, in many cases, skippers are already in transit and this is not possible. A place to begin gathering information on a prospective sailing partner is on the Internet. This step should be taken even if you’ve had a chance to meet in person.

You may want to consider purchasing an Internet background check, which range in cost anywhere from $10 to $300 or more and are available from sites like www.netdetective.com,
www.reverserecords.org and www.usapeoplesearch.com, to name a few. Likewise, some states have searchable databases of their public court records, which can be used free of charge to do background checks.
Basic information can be gathered by phone or e-mail. Use the opportunity to ask a wide variety of questions regarding sailing experience and aspirations. Pay attention to the attitude being expressed—is it positive, hopeful, pessimistic, excited, controlling, energetic?

Given the large percentage of single sailors pursuing their cruising dream, it may be appropriate to determine if either one of you is interested in the possibility of romance. If romance is not a consideration for you, be clear about it up front.

Questions to ask regarding experience and objectives should include: How long have you been sailing? What kinds of sailing experience do you have? What is your objective in having crew aboard? What is your objective in crewing? What skills, talents or abilities can you share that might enhance the cruise?

A good way to get a third-party perspective is to request contact information for the last three or four people with whom the skipper or crew has sailed with. This is different than asking for references. Speaking with people who have most recently sailed with your potential skipper or crew will provide a current, and hopefully more accurate, picture. If you are a woman, I recommend you ask to communicate with any women the skipper has sailed with recently.
Some questions to ask are: What was your experience in sailing and working with skipper/crew? What, if any, were the negative aspects of the sail? How did the skipper/crew conduct themselves with you? Is the skipper/crew organized? Did crew follow directions? Is the skipper competent? Was the boat well maintained?

Logistics permitting, select a date to meet, preferably on the boat, and go for a shakedown sail. Sailing together ahead of the departure date allows both skipper and crew to observe firsthand how each person operates.

The biggest regret sailors express, having to do with skipper or crew, is not trusting their instincts. I participated in a delivery where the skipper was being pressured by the owner to select a final crewmember before airfares increased. Running out of time and going against his instincts, the skipper chose a person who seemed to make a continual point of disrupting the atmosphere on board. In addition, this person’s lack of quality sailing skills likely contributed to a dismasting, resulting in major injury to himself and a mid-ocean rescue.

The boat and its crew
The condition of the boat is of great importance. Those who have had a mishap in the open seas know it can be many hours before help may arrive. Depending on the financial means of the boat owner, you will find boats in a variety of conditions, from meticulously maintained to those needing immediate and major attention. In addition, some boat owners sail with a minimum of safety equipment while others have redundant systems.
As potential crew, you may want to know which type you are considering sailing with. In addition to asking for a copy of a most recent survey, ask questions regarding the boat, such as when it was last hauled out, what passages it has made, how old the rigging is, when the engine was last maintained, and whether there is a life raft, dinghy, outboard, Radar, GPS, EPIRB and SSB radio on board.

Once underway, a lack of clear communication can be a significant cause of conflict between skippers and crew. This is especially true in the areas of expectations, rules, routines and jobs.
For skippers, crew arrive expecting to be given direction. This includes a boat orientation, outlining watch schedules, responsibilities and how you prefer the boat and crew to operate. While observant crew can easily pick up on a routine, if you see they have missed something, let them know. In the words of one crew who expressed it well for all, “Tell me what you want, don’t make me guess.”

In order to mitigate misunderstandings, a good practice is to have a crew meeting within 48 hours after departure. On longer voyages, plan to meet on a regular basis. The purpose of the meeting is to learn if everyone is happy with the way things are going and what adjustments might need to be considered. It is important to be honest with yourself about your motives in bringing up issues. If your motive is to simply make someone wrong, forget it—unless it has to do with safety.

Compatibility
Second to good communication, compatibility issues are considered very important by both skippers and crew. The areas most commonly mentioned are food, attitude, smoking, drinking and drugs.

When sailing, food is rightly considered a ritual reward and, short of arriving in port, the one thing that can aid in keeping morale high during difficult passages. Skippers unanimously agree that special dietary needs by crew add unnecessary headaches. In addition, crew are expected to eat together and share cooking chores.
Good attitude is spoken of often among sailors. People who are easy going, positive, willing to teach and learn, helpful, dependable and flexible greatly contribute to a positive experience. In addition, a sense of humor and not taking oneself too seriously ranks very high. Skippers and crew who possess these attributes are valued. In contrast, no one likes sailing with someone who operates independently and thinks they know it all. Veteran cruiser George Bakkus summed it up nicely when he said, “It is easier to get nice people who are inexperienced on board, and teach them to sail, than to bring on rock star sailors who are jerks, and teach them to be nice.”

Expenses
Who pays for what depends on a number of issues. If the skipper seeking crew is earning money from the passage, sailing upwind for long passages, or needs the extra help, it is customary to pay travel and food expenses of the crew. Beyond that anything can be negotiated. The most common arrangement for island hopping or destination cruising is for skippers/owners to pay boat expenses, including dock fees, customs fees, fuel and repairs. Crew pay their own travel expenses to and from the boat and share in the cost of provisions. It is advisable to come to a specific agreement before a commitment is made.

Unfortunately, personality conflicts can result in crew being asked to leave the boat before reaching your destination. If this happens, it is important to know that international law states the “ship” is responsible for paying to repatriate crew to their home country.