Category: Unpaid Positions

28 Aug 2019

Travel the World Like Greta Thunberg: Tips on Crewing and Boat Hitchhiking

Greta Thunberg, the teenage environmental activist, is due to arrive in New York today for the Climate Action Conference, after battling the Atlantic waves for two weeks. Thunberg had committed herself to carbon-neutral travel, following her train tour around Europe this summer. The yacht is state of the art, with underwater turbines and solar power; the emergency engine has been sealed off to ensure complete carbon neutrality. However, Thunberg has attracted a lot of criticism for her efforts to find greener forms of travel, from the trip’s lack of practicality through to personal attacks calling Thunberg ‘deeply disturbed.’

While the ethical debate rages on as to whether Thunberg should try and achieve as much as she can as an individual or showcase accessible but imperfect solutions for all (bearing in mind that perhaps we shouldn’t hold a 16 year old girl with autism to such a high standard, or take her actions as gospel). We suggest that Greta’s journey, although not entirely explicable, highlights how sailing can be a simple, sustainable and ultimately adventurous way to travel.

Boat hitchhiking, boat-hiking, or crewing,  is a great way to travel while reducing your carbon footprint. Sailing is not perfect – fuel reserves are always needed to account for changeable weather conditions and safety – but some of its downfalls can become its greatest gifts. Slower travel allows you to enjoy the wonder of the journey itself, as much as the destination. You learn a new sport, as well as test your team working skills with people who come from all walks of life. You can take a job that is just a day, a few days, or even a transatlantic passage. The world is your oyster!

Nonetheless, here are a few things to consider before you embark on your crewing adventure:

Get the WHY clear
  • Do you want to crew to improve your sailing skills? To travel the world and get from A to B? To experience something new and a different way of life? Or to simply relax in beautiful bays? Search accordingly and be clear about what you want.

 

Reliance crew
Be confident or start small
  • Sailing requires trust and confidence, and you need to be honest with yourself, your captain and your fellow crew as to whether you are ready to complete an ocean passage. There are many other smaller opportunities out there as well – at Reliance we regularly conduct deliveries between France and Greece, Croatia and Turkey. There are even smaller jobs available sometimes just along the coast: France to Antwerp; Kent to Poole. Keep your eye out for something you are completely confident on.

 

Research and learn
  • At Reliance we do not turn away crew if they don’t have formal qualifications; experience is preferred above all else and beyond. Nonetheless, it is always the captain’s decision whether they decide to take you aboard. You may not know how to sail but learning about the specific passage you would like to take, the seasons, weather and the basic parts of a boat will not only make you a more competent crew member but will help you feel more confident and safe on board.

 

Be flexible with time, money, and place
  • Unlike hitching on a car or a ferry, crewing is not simply an easy way to get from A to B. Sailboats deal with seasons, routes, weather, breakage, people, all sorts of variables. You must be flexible on time and place – go where the wind takes you so to speak! For example, currently in August, and through to September, its hurricane season so yacht delivery is quite quiet, while the end of the summer, October time, tends to be the busiest time for transatlantic and American-centric deliveries. In the Med, charter companies like to have everything in place by Spring. Nonetheless, Reliance is largely moving yachts all year round, responding to clients and whenever boats are ready out of the factory. Unlike private boat hitchhiking, crewing with Reliance does give you more certainty about where exactly you will land, nonetheless, we cannot guarantee that it’ll be exactly next to the airport.

 

Reliance crew
Be 100% happy with the people onboard
  • It is always hard to foresee but sometimes captains and crew do not get along, its one of the many hazards of working with people. At Reliance we provide space for our captains to find crew but ultimately it is up to them who they choose to sail with. Once you are in touch with a captain, message them and communicate clearly; ask lots of questions and leave nothing to presumption. Don’t let your eagerness to sail override your instinct and judgement; do not get on a boat that you are 100% happy about. At Reliance we guarantee the professionalism of our captains and your safety. However, that does not mean that friction and disagreements are completely avoidable.

 

Be clear on intentions, expectations and agreements
  • Crewing for Reliance means delivering a yacht for a client, it means getting from A to B in the most efficient way possible. It does not mean cruising or having a holiday. If you would like a more relaxed experience, then please look at the many crew websites that are available online. Be clear of your intentions and what you expect from a crewing experience before embarking upon one. It will make it easier for you to plan, anticipate and avoid misunderstandings.

 

Pack light and thoughtful (personal safety gear)
  • Ask your captain what you might need, and they will give you a list based upon the expected weather conditions and the equipment already aboard. With yacht delivery we are often working from a blank canvas, while it is the captain’s job to source equipment, it is your job to provide your safety gear. Pack lightly and don’t forget a sleeping bag!

 

Make it meaningful
  • While a crewing experience can help build up your nautical miles and experience, it is important to look at how your journey can benefit this world beyond yourself. When we plan, prepare and make conscious decisions, we can minimize our negative footprint and maximize the benefits for the places we visit and for the planet as a whole. Find out how you can make a more climate-conscious yacht delivery.

 

Don’t buy a return ticket
  • Although yacht deliveries aim to be as efficient as possible, they rarely go to plan. Avoid stressing the captain and don’t book a return flight. While Reliance can sometimes cover your travel costs, we recommend you follow that newly caught travel bug and keep going.

 

Reliance crew

While there are many forums, websites and agencies that specialize in boat-hiking and crewing opportunities, these are not your only or even best option. Forums and private messaging can lead to scams, and travel companies often require an upfront fee. At Reliance, you will be taking part in a professional delivery so there are no upfront or hidden fees. Your captain will be transparent with terms, and Reliance will cover onboard and often travel expenses. While it will feel less like a holiday, you will  work hard and become fully immersed in boat life. You will gain invaluable skills in sailing, seamanship, teamwork and communication, besides memories to last a lifetime.

While Thunberg’s carbon-neutral journey is awe-inspiring, consider crewing and sailing as a practical alternative. If you are well prepared and informed, sailing can not only be an alternative form of travel but a wondrous journey in and of itself.

04 Aug 2016

Yacht Delivery with all-Female Crew

We want to say a big thank you to Anna Abramek and her all female crew for the safe delivery of our client’s Bavaria 34 from Gillingham, Kent to Sonderborg, Denmark.

Nick Irving of Reliance Yacht Management said “This is the first time we have completed a contract with an all-female crew. We have over half a dozen highly experienced and qualified ladies with whom we contract as yacht delivery Captains but this is the first will all girl crew. It wasn’t planned, it just happened.”

Thanks again to Anna and her crew Carolyn and Sarah. The photo shows a clearly very happy customer.

25 Feb 2015

Delivery Crew Required; Isle of Man to Solent

We have an excellent opportunity for a crew to deliver a 40′ yacht from the isle of Man to South Coast UK. The passage is over 500 nm and can expect to take 4-5 days. Flexibility will be expected. All on board expenses will be covered plus reasonable travel costs.

If you are interested in this opportunity and are available to travel in next few days please contact the Captain directly.

Do not apply if you are outside the UK or looking for a Captain’s position. Thanks

Contact; capt. Rich Butterworth
Email; sailingric@hotmail.co.uk
Tel; +44 7403 962580

19 Feb 2015

Delivery Crew Required France to Lisbon

Delivery Crew Required

We are looking for one additional crew to assist in the delivery of a new 45ft catamaran from western France to Lisbon.

The voyage will be nearly 700nm and expect to take about a week but flexibility will be required. You will be expected to take a full part in all on board activities including watch keeping, cleaning, cooking etc. Reasonable travel costs will be paid.

If you are interest in being part of the crew and are available to join the boat around the 20th March contact the Captain directly.

Capt Vic Meulemens

vic.meulemans@gmail.com

05 Feb 2015

How to Receive Details of Sailing Opportunities

Here are 5 ways that you can receive details of sailing opportunities for yacht deliveries;

  1. Twitter. Vacancies that are posted on are website will be automatically sent out from our twitter account @relianceyachts . Make sure you choose to follow us.
  2. Facebook. You will need to visit or FB page https://www.facebook.com/relianceyachtmanagement and Like Us. Details of upcoming trips will be posted here with contact details of how to contact the Captains.
  3. Google + gives you another medium to discover opportunities in yacht delivery. https://plus.google.com/+Relianceyachtmanagement/. If you join our Yacht Deliver Crew Circle, you will receive automatic updates by email.
  4. Email. Send us an email asking to be put on our mailing list and we will send you details every time we have a new opportunity. Info(at)reliance-yachts.com.
  5. Website. All the latest news about our yacht deliveries including vacancies are on our blog at http://www.relianceyachtmanagement.com/category/sailing-opportunities/

 

02 Feb 2015

Delivery Crew Required I. of Man

Looking for Yacht Delivery Crew.

We have a number of sailing opportunities coming up in the next few months that involve France, Turkey, Greece, Croatia as well as long haul to and from the Caribbean, USA and South Africa.
The next opportunity for crew is a short yacht delivery from the Isle of man to the Solent. Contact our office for more details for this and other yacht deliveries coming soon.

 

web background (3)

 

02 Feb 2015

Yacht Delivery – Lagoon 450 to Turks and Caicos

Yacht delivery to the T and Cs
Yacht delivery to the T and Cs

Another Brilliant Yacht Delivery

Well done to Damian and his crew for another brilliant yacht delivery. This time from Gibraltar to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Feedback is excellent. Broker says “Fantastic. Thanks a lot Nick.

The Client gave this glowing reference on the Captain, crew and yacht delivery service:-

 

 

 

 

 

“Hi Nick ,

I want to commend you and your staff for a very professional delivery of my yacht Zenza .The boat arrived in perfect condition and the crew cleaned and detailed the boat beyond my expectations. The daily tracking across the ocean was comforting. Damian, the boat
captain was very friendly and helpful. I even emailed him after the delivery to help me sort out some problems with the boat Thanks again
Regards ,
Lou “

See other testimonials


 

 

17 Nov 2014

Crew Required, Bavaria 55 Malta to UK

Here is another great opportunity to gain some serious offshore sailing experience and to add over over 2000 nautical miles to your logbooks.

We have one remaining vacancy for a crew to deliver a Bavaria 55 from Malta to South Coast UK. The passage is can expect to take 20-25 days but as always flexibility will be expected. All on board expenses will be covered plus reasonable travel costs.

If you are interested in this opportunity and are available to travel in next 5 days please contact the Captain directly.

Contact; Rich Butterworth
Email;sailingric@hotmail.co.uk
SMS; +44 7403962580

27 Oct 2014

Delivery Crew Required; Malta to UK

Delivery Crew Required; Malta to UK

We have an excellent opportunity for a crew to deliver a Bavaria 55 from Malta to South Coast UK. The passage is over 2,000 nm and can expect to take 20-25 days. Flexibility will be expected. All on board expenses will be covered plus reasonable travel costs.

If you are interested in this opportunity and are available to travel in next 7-10 days please contact the Captain directly.

Contact; Steve Smith
Email;stevesails54@hotmail.com
SMS; +44 7423711818

 

16 Jul 2014

Delivery Captain Required; Caribbean to Chile

We have an excellent opportunity for a professional delivery captain required to deliver a 40′ monohull from the Virgin Islands to Valparaiso, Chile. The passage is over 3,900 nm though the Panama Canal.

If you are interested in this opportunity and are available to travel in July please contact us directly. Ideally you will be based in the Caribbean and available to travel at short notice

Contact; Nick Irving
Email; nick(at)reliance-yachts.com
Tel; +44 1252 378239

webheader

Translate »