Message Board: Sailing Opportunities

OPO Crew Request # 24-91 Early December depart for Panama 40 Custom Built Steel Ketch (sailing part 1300 miles - 2 to 3 weeks) Grenada to Panama Canal - Boat owner and skipper XXXXXX bought a 40ft Steel Ketch in Grenada named Aquataurus. The boat has been out of the water since last season. The hull was built starting in 1986 and she was finished in 1988. He plans to launch the boat about mid-November and get her ready for the first leg of his passage from Grenada to the Panama Canal. He is looking for one or two crew to join him for this 1250 miles passage. He is looking for semi experienced crew that can learn quickly to stand a solo watch. He plans at least one stop in the ABC Islands. His ultimate destination for now is to transit the Panama Canal and sail to Subic Bay Philippines. I spoke with him last week and asked him to explain more about the boat and his overall plans. This is a crew request for the first leg, but also looking for the right kind of crew who may have more time and be interested in joining early to learn more about getting a boat ready, working at your pace along with him. He knows he will have some work to do to make sure the boat is ready. He is very handy and has been working on big ships as a career. He welcomes anyone who may wish to arrive early and a free place to stay in Grenada while helping get the boat ready. This would be a great way to get to know the boat and meet him, even if you plan on joining him months later for a leg from Panama across Pacific to his ultimate destination in the Philippines. Another option is to talk now while he is in the USA and plan to fly down a few day early and make the first passage to Panama after he has picked a date and confirmed the boat is ready. If all goes well on the first leg can send out updated crew requests for the 2nd leg and future legs as his journey progresses. He is still in the USA. You can speak with him with more questions after sending him your sailing resume. He sent us a lot more about the boat and his plans which I include here. He e-mails: The hull was built in Netherlands shipped to Switzerland to finish interior. 1986 went down Rhein Rhône canal to Mediterranean. Elba, Corsica, Greek Islands, Turkey. 1988 Balearic Islands, Spain, Madeira, Canary Islands, Atlantic crossing 1989 Caribbean Sea Windward/leeward Islands. 1990 Bahamas, USA east coast ICW 1991-97 USA east coast, Canada, Grand Manson. Island bay of Fundy. 1998 sale to second owners 99 Overhaul 2008 New York back down to Caribbean 2009 Overhaul 2015 Caribbean 2016 sale to 3rd owners Present Caribbean The boat is a 40ft steel hull and super structure that was mostly used 6 months A year/ with 2 overhaul retrofit. It has been kept 1986 electric wise with newer solar and wind generation. It has an impractical engine generator set up but is balance to charge battery with solar power by 1400. Wind much faster. AT has 57hp motor with 100 hours on it with a 158-gallon tank good range. The sails are wing to wing with pole ketch 1/2 hard top dogger with full enclosure for sun. Aft sun shade and rain collection, console mounted hydraulic steering. Newer hydrovane, AIS, auto pilot, USB ports, Anchor and chain, life raft, dingy, running and standing 2019, sails service 2023, run by tablet. I am XXXXXX male 62 years old in diesel, carpentry, building maintenance employment history. I’m at a veterans’ camp in Minnesota for the summer and the boat over the winter. Have a Hunter 21.6 there since Covid elected to just sail that. I’ve sailed extensively on Lake Superior passed all the monohull courses for many seasons. Through school and meeting other boat owners put me on a lot of verities of boats. I have elective not to do charter or delivery captain so no need for the license but my teach courses school asking and nice to give back now retired. I’m hearing December is when sailing gets going down in Grenada. AT was on the hard-most of last year for sale so it’s in the back of yard. I’m hearing 8th 15th of November the yard can put in. I am flying down the 12th of October to get accumulated to weather and preparing the boat. Hydro vane is showing up on 1st November. There is not a lot of dock space so mooring is the likely option. I would like to leave the third week in November of course weather window depending. I am open to if you want to bunk up there is a project of building water maker system and see Grenada get use to heat. There is no fee charged to you on my end. I have to have the room, stock the boat, fuel, food on the boat. You are an advantage to me than solo sailing would be. 20 years with large cruise ship in the Caribbean I have seen the pricing rocket up. This yard fee is 600 a month Philippine 150 450 5star place on the dock. My agendas are open if someone wants to help cover cost of Caribbean, Mediterranean. To me it’s a bad value same cost for chicken wings as USA and you are eating in a shack myself Panama Canal, Philippine, down to Australia sell boat in 10 years is the flexible agenda. I have been with many different people sailing and I always try to learn something from them and have fun that’s my goal on this trip with safety. The passage is free with all onboard boat expenses and onboard provisioning included. You need to get to and from the boat and have money for any shoreside meals and drinks and excursions. Of course if you arrive early, you will be working for free and buying some meals and drinks ashore while staying for free ashore or on the boat, the passage and onboard food and boat expenses are included once you depart unless you wish to chip in a bit for better onboard fare if you are going all the way to the Philippines. If interested please send your sailing resume and contact information to him at XXXXX@XXXXX.com