SaltyJobs.co

So, this article needs no introduction: sailing is expensive. We’ve got some tips & tricks about how you can sail for free, perhaps in order to build your experience and qualifications with the view of becoming a professional sailor, or perhaps just for fun. Well, OK, not entirely for free – but much cheaper than a £2,000 yacht charter! We’ve got some piggy-bank friendly ideas, and we’ll highlight the likely cost implications of each option below.

Crew on other people’s boats
Instead of throwing your savings into a hole in the water and buying your own boat, offer to crew on other people’s boats.

You can sign up to websites such as Crewseekers to find crewing opportunities all over the world. Depending on what you’re looking for, you might find weekend sailors who simply want some company, or professional work opportunities if you’ve got qualifications. Financial arrangements may vary from shared contribution (you’ll pay for a share of food & mooring fees), to paid expenses (the skipper will pay your travel and food onboard), and there are also paid opportunities for professional crew.

It costs nothing to sign up to Crewseekers and browse the posts, but if you want to get in touch about an opportunity, you’ll need to pay – starting at £70 for six months’ membership, or £95 for the year.

Join a local sailing club
Local sailing clubs are run with the aim of getting people involved with sailing for as little cost as possible. Memberships are often cheap, and further discounted for young people, old people, and families. Depending on the club, you might get access to club boats, and social events where you’ll have the chance to meet other boat owners and offer to crew for them.

Volunteer for a charity
There are many sail training charities based all over the UK who often look for volunteers to get involved and help crew their boats. Obviously you will need to have some experience or something to offer – this could be anything from your Competent Crew certificate, to youth work experience, or cooking expertise. You’ll stand in strong light if you can offer some time over the winter helping refit their boats; refit volunteers are often offered sailing opportunities during the next season.

Jobs at sea

Tags: charity, cost, crew, Crewseekers, free, opportunities, sail training, sailing, sailing club