Tony's Mediterranean Cruising Website

www.permanentgrin.net

©TMCS 2003 - 2011

Crew Information

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Click here to read my Crew References

Before Crewing aboard Tradewinds of Emsworth you must read and sign a printout of the attached "Crew Waiver of Liability". Click here for a copy.

The Information that we will agree in advance of your joining date:

1. Where to join and what would be the most appropriate airport to use. You may wish to view my "Mediterranean Airports" page for some assistance with choosing your airline and destination - Click here.

2. Your joining and leaving date - these dates are generally flexible and can usually be fixed to tie in with suitable flights from and back to your home country.

3. Whether or not I shall be meeting you at the airport. This is sometimes weather dependant, especially if you are joining or leaving Tradewinds at an anchorage.

4. If you have not crewed aboard Tradewinds before and are not known to the Captain, it would be appreciated if you would enter into some communications to to establish who you are, where you are coming from and what type of person you are! You will be spending your period of crewing aboard a boat with someone you do not know and who does not know you - it really would be sensible if some of the ice could be broken before you join! When on line I am always available to Skype - to chat is the best way to get to know one another.

General Information for you:

1. Tradewinds is a 35ft Moody sloop rigged sailing yacht and was built in 1992. I have been the owner since 1998 and have been cruising in the Mediterranean since 2004.

2. The accommodation aboard Tradewinds comprises three cabins, one aft, which is the Captain's, one midships, which is not normally used for sleeping, and one fwd, which is the crew accommodation. The crew accommodation is a vee-shaped cabin plenty large enough for two people, although cosy if those two people do not normally sleep together. There is some storage space for personal effects. It has a door for privacy. Click here to see the boat's layout and at the head of this page for images of the interior of the boat.

3. There is one bathroom / heads facility on board. It has a separate shower section.

4. We share the cost of all day to day expenses such as food, drinks, mooring and berthing fees, fuel, water, etc. Costs associated with boat maintenance are of course the Captain's responsibility.

5. You do not need to be a qualified RYA sailor to crew aboard Tradewinds. If you want to learn whilst on board I shall be happy to provide sailing, navigation or any other such help. If anyone is good at knots, I shall be happy to learn from them! If anyone can splice an eye on the end of a rope, you will be my hero!

6. If you want to know more about your Captain, go to www.findacrew.com and search with Member number 29622. Also take a look at the Galleries on this website and at my Caribbean Cruising Website and you will see me in the pictures. Please also go to my Crew References page by clicking here. Finally, you could take a look at YouTube where there are some video clips of Tradewinds at sea (Search for "Tradewinds of Emsworth" - click here to go direct to YouTube. Note that there are 5 vidoes to view, including the one from ex Crew Member Jane.

7. The Immigration Form that you may have to complete for entry into the country that you are joining Tradewinds will require an address. Here you should enter that you are joining the Private Sailing Yacht "Tradewinds of Emsworth" followed by a marina address. Choose the one appropriate to you - Click here for a list of marina addresses. If you are an EU citizen and are travelling within the EU, you will not need to complete an entry form. Important - if joining in Croatia you should make absolutely certain that you inform the Immigration Officer at the airport or port if joining by ferry that you are intending to reside aboard a Private Yacht until your departure from Croatia. If you do not do this, or the Immigration Officer does not provide you with a Registration Document, you will be required to register with the marine police within 24 hours of arrival in the country.

8. Special information for crew members joining in Croatia, please click here.

9. Special information for crew members joining at Brindisi (Italy), please click here.

10. Special information for crew members joining at Poros or Porto Heli (Greece), please click here.

11. Special information for crew members joining at Monfalcone (Italy), please click here.

12. Special information for crew members joining at Venice (Italy), please click here.

13. Special information for crew members joining at Split or Trogir (Croatia), please click here.

14. Special information for crew members joining in Greece, please click here.

Things to bring:

1. For the men - Shorts, tee-shirts and the long trousers you fly in for runs ashore in the evening. Deck shoes if you have them, although normally we do not wear shoes on board at all. When we walk around up-market places such as St Tropez, Portofino or Hvar at night we might need to look reasonably dressed - maybe bring one decent shirt. Bring a fleece or warm sweater / jumper for cooler days. Obviously bring your own washing gear etc, but I can supply a towel. If you can, please bring yourself a sheet or single duvet cover to sleep under of in. Pack everything into a floppy bag of not over 20kg or the low-cost airlines may charge you £5 per kg excess baggage, or more.

2. For the ladies - shorts, tee-shirts and the jeans or similar you fly in for runs ashore in the evening. Deck shoes if you have them, although normally we do not wear shoes on board at all. When we walk around places such as St Tropez, Portofino or Hvar at night we need to look reasonably dressed - maybe bring one decent dress or skirt. Bring a fleece or warm sweater / jumper for cooler days (not required in Greece during July and August). Obviously bring your own washing gear etc, and a towel if you can. If you can, please bring yourself a sheet or single duvet cover to sleep under, or in. Pack everything into a floppy bag of not over 20kg or the low-cost airlines may charge you £5 per kg or more excess baggage, or more.

3. Crocs or Croc lookalikes are good for walking ashore if you want. I use them all the time. Available from many UK street markets at about £5 a pair they are ideal for walking or getting your feet wet!

4. Swim wear. We will almost definitely swim from Tradewinds whilst at anchor.

5. Snorkel, mask and fins, but please note that there is not much snorkelling to be done in the Mediterranean. I snorkel very rarely. I have a spare mask and snorkel on board and one pair of spare fins for crew use if required - UK Size 5-7 (European Size: 38 - 40).

6. Sun cream and sun block. The Mediterranean is very warm particularly from mid June until mid September. Temperatures of over 35°C are quite common in July and August. Please note that sun screen / sun block in Greece is very expensive - best if you purchase at home before travelling.

7. Foreign currency - Euros are used in most EU countries. The currency in Croatia is the Kuna.

8. Your iPod with your music! It makes a refreshing change to hear someone else's tracks! Unless it has a iPod type connection, we will not be able to transmit the contents of any other MP3 player through my audio system.

9. Ladies - I have only limited 220V electrical supplies when at anchor. Sorry, you will not be able to use a hair dryer on board except rarely when connected to shore power in a marina.

10. Bring your camera, camcorder and mobile/cell phones with their chargers.  You will be able to use your chargers (220v or 12v) on board. Please be aware that the electrical sockets aboard Tradewinds are UK style flat pin. If you are joining from the US or mainland Europe you will need to bring an appropriate travel adaptor.

11. Please note that you may need to have your mobile/cell phone unlocked before it can be used in Europe. Please check with your supplier before leaving your country of origin. It is possible to purchase a pre-pay SIM for your phone in Greece, but your phone will need to be unlocked before it can be used. If you intend to purchase a pre-pay SIM in Greece, you will need to bring a photocopy of the personal details page of your passport for it to be registered. This has been a requirement in Greece since July 2010.

12. Mosquito bite ointment - I strongly recommend HC45. Other crew members have used Antihisan with good results.

13. Travel sickness tablets if you think you will need them.

14. Your RYA or other sailing Logbook if you have one. I will sign for the miles you do with me.

15. A book to read. I have a fairly good selection on board but they might not be to your taste.

16. You may decide that you want to check your Travel Insurance to see if it covers sailing offshore in non-coastal / non-territorial waters, if that is what we intend to do (such as when crossing the Adriatic from Italy to Croatia or Greece). I cannot specifically recommend any company but one of my crew members has used a broking company called GH Insurance and the policy she got was from AXA Yachtsman Travel Insurance. The charge was approximately £20 for a 10 day period. It maybe a good starting point in your Internet search. Another crew member arranged her insurance through the company "Bishop Skinner Insurance" - they provide special rates for RYA Members and presumably cater for the special needs of coastal and ocean sailors. In understand that their policy covers sailing, world travel in general, luggage and all medical expenses.

17. The Captain is not a great tea or coffee drinker. If you like traditional English tea or some other special blend, it would be best for you to bring some with you.

18. If you have one or can get one, it would be good if you brought at USB Flash (Thumb) Drive so that at the end of your time on board I can give you all the pictures that have been taken whilst you were crewing aboard Tradewinds. It is also useful for backing up your own pictures, or for storing them once your memory card has been filled. A 4gb Flash Drive (also known as a thumb drive) would be an appropriate size as we tend to take a huge number of pictures.

19. Your notebook PC if you think that you will be spending a great deal of time on line or need to keep in regular touch with your friends and family, or Facebook! WiFi connections are difficult to find when anchored, so you might often have to take your PC ashore to a bar or coffee shop to obtain a connection.

20. If you wish to refresh your navigational skills using traditional methods, you should bring Imray Chart G14 - Greece, The Argolic & Saronic Gulfs. I have a hand bearing compass and a Breton Plotter.

Things not to bring:

1. Rigid Suitcases, as they cannot easily be stowed on board.

2. Foul weather clothing as they are unlikely to be needed in the summer in the Mediterranean. I can provide thin rain proof jackets to wear over your fleece or warm sweater / jumper. If you are crewing from late April to mid May, or from mid September onwards, then a warm waterproof jacket will probably be required.

3. Cigarettes - Tradewinds is a non-smoking boat.

4. Drugs.

5. Stiletto heels!

6. Too much!!! Space aboard Tradewinds is limited.

Information I need from you:

1. Please provide me with your detailed travel itinerary including ETDs, ETAs and flight numbers. This helps if your flight is delayed and I have to find out where you are and what time you will be arriving.

2. Please send a text to me when you arrive at the airport - then I'll know to expect you soon.

3. Please provide me with your mobile / cell telephone number so that we can establish communications when you arrive.

4. Please provide me with your home address and "Next of Kin" details (for obvious reasons).

5. If crewing aboard Tradewinds in Greece or Croatia please provide me with the following information from your passport in advance of joining: Your full name, your date of birth, your place of birth, the number of your passport, the issue date, the expiry date and your nationality. All this information is required for the Crew List that I have to submit to the Greek and Croatian Authorities. For me to have the information in advance allows me to register you as a crew member before you arrive, which saves considerable time after you arrive. Note that this is a maritime requirement - you will still have to pass through Immigration and Customs at the airport on arrival in the country.

6. It would help if you were to provide me with your food and drink likes and dislikes. I try to do some shopping for essential foodstuffs and drinks before you arrive.

    

   Before Crewing aboard Tradewinds of Emsworth you must read and sign the attached "Crew Waiver of Liability". Click here for further details.

    

The Captain likes:

1. Good company, no hassle and no crew pressure.

2. His mail from UK. If possible please would you bring it out for him. We can communicate on how this can be arranged.

3. Movies - if you have any movies on DVD that you have seen and no longer want, please bring them along with you. Donations will be gratefully received. My wanted list is here.

4. Cheap Italian wine.

5. "Facebook" - Take a look at my profile by clicking here.

6. Please would you pick up a newspaper from your departing airport - it can be from the States, Australia, UK or anywhere as long as it is written in English! Tabloids are not my favourites - real news is my preference.

7. "After Eight" mints.

8. My Amazon Wish List - Click here to see.

Further Information:

1. I prefer to have female company on board - I spent many years at sea in the navy amongst all male crews but now I have a choice, so my choice is female! This is the way it has always been during the years I have been cruising and it has worked out well. I now have so many friends dotted around the world - in fact I am spending Christmas and New Year in Bermuda with a former crew, and afterwards will be moving on for a week in the States to spend a week with another ex crew, before returning to my boat in the Grenadines in mid January. I find that I get on well with women and enjoy their company - almost all my previous crew members have been seriously interesting people who have come from a wide variety of backgrounds, professions and countries.

2. Whilst on board either boat we would share in all normal living expenses including food onboard and ashore, drinks (beer and wine), fuel and water in the tanks, mooring and marina fees, etc. You would of course not be involved in any costs associated with boat maintenance or spare parts. Depending on our lifestyle we can influence the price of cruising – for example less eating ashore in cafes and restaurants would decrease the individual share. I tend to anchor each night - it is rare to be charged for dropping the hook! Marinas in Croatia tend to be expensive, so we would avoid them for the most part, although I often spend a night alongside when a new crew joins and leaves. There are hardly any marinas in the Grenadines but we might get charged from time to time to spend a night on a mooring buoy if I was unable to find an anchorage. In my experience the daily share works out at about 20-25 Euros or US$ for crew members on board for 2-3 weeks. For shorter periods the daily cost tends to be more in the region of 25-30 Euros or US$ depending on which location.

3. The airport in the north of Croatia would be Pula, which has good connections with UK and a few other European cities. It is not a large airport and most airlines only fly in 2 - 3 days a week. In comparison, Venice is of course a major hub and has several flights every day from UK and other parts of Europe. I have not myself done the research, but my guess is that the low cost way for you to join me would be via London and then by either EasyJet or Ryanair to Croatia or by BA or EasyJet to Venice. Maybe crew members could fly direct to Venice from the States or elsewhere? There may be other options via Frankfurt or Berlin. If doing it via London, don't forget that there are several airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead and Luton) and that they are quite a long way from each other, often requiring transfers between them of up to 3 hours to make. Please note that EasyJet and Ryanair are UK low-cost airlines and will not appear on any itinerary the travel agents and companies produce. It is only possible to book flights with them through their own websites, which is why the travel agents do not use them (and of course they do not get any commission). I often fly the 3 hours from London to northern Italy for less than US$50 single - that is definitely low-cost!

4. If flying by Ryanair it is important to read their Terms and Conditions of travel. Click here.

Things that should not surprise you whilst crewing aboard Tradewinds:

1. The maximum fresh water that Tradewinds can carry in her tanks is less than 200 litres. This means that we have to be extremely careful over water consumption and not use any more than is absolutely necessary for day to day survival! The shower is of course potentially the greatest user of water, so it is not possible to have a normal shower as one might do at home - here aboard Tradewinds you will have to use a small amount to wet yourself and another small amount to rinse off the soap afterwards. For the ladies, hair washing cannot be a daily occurrence and washing clothes a luxury only when connected to the water supply in a marina! We only wash dishes once a day (unless it is urgent to do otherwise) and employ lots of other tricks to conserve stocks. Water is like gold dust - it is difficult to obtain good quality supplies and of course, when at anchor it is not available at all. Water conservation is part of day to day life - please do not be surprised that it cannot be used in abundance.

2. Similarly, electricity is like gold dust and has to be used with consideration, because it can only be produced whilst the engine is running or when the sun is sufficiently strong to charge from the solar panel. All electrical power is stored in the 4 batteries on board - it is always required for engine starting, to run the refrigerator, to power the navigational and other boat's instruments, to run the fresh water and shower drain pumps, for cabin lighting and to power the inverter, which is used to charge our cameras, telephones, the handheld VHF and my notebook PC. This means that whilst on board we have to use electricity sparingly - we minimise internal cabin lighting at night, do not leave the fridge lid open for longer than necessary (which would result in the machine running for longer periods thereby using additional electricity) or run electrical appliance unless essential. To replenish battery power is easy, but of course requires the engine to be run, thus increasing fuel consumption and engine running hours.

3. That we will probably only eat ashore every 4 or 5 days. The remainder of the days we shall cook and eat on board, regardless of whether berthed on a quayside or at anchor. The task of cooking on board and dishing up afterwards is of course a shared activity - the cooking is mostly carried out using the gas rings on top of the cooker - the grill is ineffective and the stove raises insufficient heat to be able to cook anything of substance (no good for a roast or long cooking stew, but OK for warming a pizza!). If you are a keen cook you will definitely be most welcome on board, but will have to bring recipes that require few pots to produce and only two gas rings to cook!

4. Although we shall always discuss the itinerary for whilst you are on board, crew members should obviously be aware that the distance apart of your joining and leaving locations might sometimes require high mileages to be covered over a specific period of time! As with all Captains, my policy when high distances have to be achieved is to get as many miles in the bag early, leaving contingency time for lost days resulting from poor weather, mechanical breakdowns or crew illness. Please note that your agenda may be to see as many places as possible along the way, but in the greater interests of getting to our destination on time and you not missing your flight, this will not always be possible! If you wish to have a clear agenda and go exactly where you yourself want, maybe it would be better if you chose to be a passenger aboard a cruise ship or chartered a yacht for yourself, rather than being a crew member aboard Tradewinds!

5. The heads (or otherwise known by landlubbers as the WC, the lavatory, the loo, or maybe other names) was designed by a rocket scientist and manufactured and installed by lunar landing vehicle manufacturers! It is therefore a wonder of science that is very tricky to operate and requires the user to be educated to at least degree level in the science of bathroom equipment engineering - it must in fact be operated correctly, or the user will not be able to return to earth and enjoy the remainder of their cruising aboard Tradewinds! But most crew members overcome their fear of this piece of modern technology and quickly learn the finer points of its use, enabling it to remain available for other members of crew and fully serviceable. Defect maintenance of the Heads is both time consuming and unpleasant, so it is very important that new crew members pay particular attention to the flight briefing that they are given on arrival - it will become very obvious to other crew members if they have not been paying attention!

Layout of "Tradewinds of Emsworth"

Marina and Boat Yard Addresses:

Crew joining in Croatia:

If joining in Croatia you should make absolutely certain that you inform the Immigration Officer at the airport or ferry port (if joining by ferry) that you are intending to reside aboard a Private Yacht until your departure from Croatia. If you do not do this, or the Immigration Officer does not provide you with a Registration Document, you will be required to register with the marine police within 24 hours of arrival in the country.

Crew joining in Trogir or Split (Croatia):

If you are flying into Split to join Tradewinds, it is more than likely that I shall ask you to meet me in Trogir, which is much closer to Split Airport than is Split itself. On arrival take the local bus No. 37 that goes to Trogir Bus Station from the airport. The airport bus stop for this service is not outside the terminal - just cross the car park outside the terminal building and head for the main road (about 200m). For Trogir use the stop on the same side or to Split the other side of the road. The travel time to Trogir is about 10 minutes, but if going to Split it is about 40-50 minutes. Buses depart the airport for Trogir every 20-30 minutes. If joining me in Split, please meet me at the central bus station near the commercial port in Split.
 

Crew joining at Monfalcone (Italy):

If you are joining at the Italian northern Adriatic port of Monfalcone you will probably fly into Trieste International Airport (officially called Aeroporto Friuli-Venezia Giulia, named after the Italian region in which it is located). I will try to meet you at the airport, but if not possible you should get an APT bus No: 10, which runs frequently to Monfalcone train station and costs €0.87, where I shall meet you. Please send a text message to me at the airport so that I have time to reach the train station in time to meet you. For crew members joining from outside the EU, please complete your Immigration document with the following address: Sail Yacht "Tradewinds of Emsworth", Boatyard Crack Boat, via Consiglio, 34074 Monfalcone, Italia (Tel. +39 335 629 6919)

Crew joining at Venice (Italy):

If you are joining at Venice and if you are flying with one of the major airlines or EasyJet, I would expect you to be arriving at the Marco Polo International Airport. If you are flying Ryanair, you will land at Treviso Airport, which is a little further away from Venice than Marco Polo. If arriving at Marco Polo you should get The Fly bus, which will take you to Venice (Piazzale Roma). The price at the time of writing is 3 Euros. Make sure that you do not get the bus to Venice Mestre. Click here for the Fly Bus timetable. If arriving by Ryanair at Treviso, the easiest (and cheapest) way to get to Venice is to take the connecting ATVO Eurobus service. Bus times coincide with Ryanair arrivals and departures and the fare is much cheaper than a taxi - €5 one-way or €9 return. Purchase your ticket at the ATVO counter in the airport and stamp it in the ticket-validation machine on the bus. The journey from Treviso to Venice takes about 1 hour 10 minutes to Piazzale Roma at Venice. Do not get off the bus at Venice Mestra. Click here for the ATVO bus schedule from Treviso to Venice.

The Piazzale Roma is on Venice island and is a very busy place, invariably crowded with hoards of tourists. Please make your way to the main ATVO ticket office at the top of the steps to the water busses - it is outside this office that I shall meet you. Please send me a text message when you arrive at the airport so that I have time to get to Piazzale Roma to meet you. If arriving in Venice by train, make sure that your destination is the Venice Santa Lucia station and NOT to Venice Mestra. I will meet you on the steps (towards the left hand side of the steps after you come out from the station) in front of the Santa Lucia station. For crew members joining from outside the EU, please complete your Immigration document with the following address: Sail Yacht "Tradewinds of Emsworth", Saint Elena Yacht Club, Diporto Velico Veneziano, Venice (Telephone: +39 (0)41 523 1927).

Crew joining at Brindisi (Italy):

If joining in Brinidisi, Italy and are arriving at the airport, please take a taxi to the following hotel address, where I shall meet you outside the main entrance:

Grande Albergo Internazionale

Viale Regina Margherita, 23

72100 Brindisi

(Tel: 0831 523473)

Alternatively and if I am in port and available to meet you, please take a local bus from the airport to Via Cristoforo Colombo in the centre of Brindisi. The walk to the boat would take about 15 minutes.

For crew members joining from outside the EU, please complete your Immigration document with the following address: Sail Yacht "Tradewinds of Emsworth", Viale Regina Margherita, 72100 Brindisi, Italia.

Crew joining at Poros or Porto Heli (Greece):

If joining at Poros or Porto Heli, you will probably fly into Athens and then travel to Poros or Porto Heli by ferry from the port of Piraeus. Piraeus is an outer suburb of Athens, which serves as the ferry port for the popular Greek islands. The E96/X96 bus leaves from just outside Athens International Airport Arrivals area (between exits 4 and 5) every 15/20 minutes between 0720 & 2210 or on the hour and half hour between 2210 & 0720. The terminal station at Piraeus is at Karaiskaki Square, near Gate E8. From there you must walk, with the sea on your right, to Gate E9 for hydrofoil services to Porto Heli. The bus journey time to Pireaus is about an hour (depending on traffic) and costs 3-4 Euros. My thanks to the Porto Heli website (click here for useful information on Porto Heli, including travel and local services) for the information that I have used in this part of my website.

The ferry operator to Poros or Porto Heli is Hellenic Seaways (www.dolphins.gr): Several hydrofoils or Catamarans are scheduled daily between Pireaus and Poros and Porto Heli, some of which also stop at Hydra, Ermioni and Spetses. For information, online bookings and timetables please look at their website, www.dolphins.gr. Ferries leave from Gate E9, your travel time is between 2 1/2 or 3 hours, depending on where it is scheduled to stop and costs about 38 Euros. Ferry timetables to the Saronic Gulf (Soronika), which includes Poros and Porto Heli, can also be found by clicking here. See also here for ferry times (Do not take the conventional ferry).
 

It is possible to purchase your ferry ticket to Poros or Porto Heli in advance (take this link) but you not be able to print your ticket on line as it has to be collected from the ferry office at Piraeus. Further ferry information can also be found by clicking here.

If you need to spend a night in Piraeus or Athens there are several hotels available - search the Internet for details. In Athens, one of my previous crew members recommended the hotel "Centrotel Athens" (Tel: +30 210 825 8010), www.centrotel.gr. The charge per night in 2009 was €70. Another crew used the Hotel Lilion in central Athens (hotelilion@otenet.gr, Address: 7, Ag. Konstantinou str., Omonia sq., 104 31 Athens. Tel: +30-210-5237411) and was charged just €50 per night in 2010 for an 8th floor room with views to the Parthenon.

Click the thumbnail below for Piraeus Ferry Port Details:

For crew members joining from outside the EU, you may be required to complete an Immigration document - please use the following address: Sail Yacht "Tradewinds of Emsworth", Frank's Yacht Station Greece, Odos Kosta 2, GR-21061, Porto Heli, Greece.
 

An alternative to travelling to Poros or Porto Heli by ferry is to rent a car (one way). I have used "Pops Cars" and the cost was €80 for the car and about €30 for the fuel. See www.popscar.gr for more details or call +30 210 6626360 or Sophia on +30 6932 536533. You can book on line. For two or more people the cost of the one-way rental including fuel would work out roughly the same compared with two people taking the bus to Piraeus and the ferry to Poros or Porto Heli.

I hope that this page has helped. If there is anything I have missed, please tell me and I'll include the omissions.

Words of wisdom from the first sailor to sail single-handed, unassisted and non-stop around the world.

Click the thumbnail to see what Sir Robin Knox-Johnson had to say about Crew Members in this extract from his book "A World of My Own"!

Before Crewing aboard Tradewinds of Emsworth you must read and sign a printout of the attached "Crew Waiver of Liability". Click here for a copy.