Crewing Opportunities on Members Yachts.
Looking to Build miles, gain experience while having some fun afloat?
If you have POTL and are looking to build sailing miles. This could be jus what you're looking for.
Albert Whitley, a previous EinC(A), rugby player and Commando Sapper of some renown is happy to have Sappers join him in UK waters, a passage to Spain in the Summer or a Med cruise in the Autumn aboard DUSKA his Nautor Swan 441. See below for details.
If you're interested contact Peter Davies at regions@sappersailing.org. and I will pass your details on to Albert.
Outline:
From now until Easter sail her locally as much as possible - day sailing or couple of days in the Solent or further westwards. Trimming, refining and proving systems.
Moored in Cowes.
Easter booked - if weather allows Cherbourg, St Vaast, St Malo and Alderney.
May
- 28 April - 2 May Royal Engineer Sail Training Week - acting as 'mother ship' for up to 9 yachts taking young Sappers to develop sailing skills.. Solent based. Ideally Sapper crew but not prescriptive. Peter Davies signed up.
- Most of May open to adventures that suit any crew - Cotentin peninsula, Brittany, Channel Islands or Scillies. Whatever weather and inclinations decide.
June
31 May - 1 June - Royal Engineer V Royal Lymington meet - night at Lymington + 1 day's racing round the cans - a fun weekend
18 June -to about 16 July up for grabs - any adventures.
Passage to Spain
When we brought Duska from Spain we did it in 2 legs. Barbate (Atlantic side of Straits of Gibraltar) to Cascais, Portugal. Crew change and then. A single leg to Cowes stopping for an hour or 2 in Roscoff to refuel.
This time the plan is to do it in 3 legs or phases (Andy Mills joins for up to 3 weeks):
18 July about 550 NM Cowes to La Corunna. 5 - 10 days. Weather and crew dependant on whether we push on hard or stop off for crew refreshment or to wait for weather - eg Falmouth and/or L'Aber Wrac'h. Sarah?
Next more leisurely leg with stops - La Corunna, Vigo, Porto and Cascais (Lisbon) - essentially day or overnight sailing with a couple of days in each port to explore and enjoy. Jutta Joins for this phase?
About end of July - Cascais to Barbate - about 280NM single leg. Best airport is Gibraltar.
Med in the autumn
From about 3rd week of September. Passage from Barbate to Moraira/.Denia - about 400NM. Then at the modest end of the spectrum cruise the Balearics. If there is interest Corsica or even as far as Turkey. I will have to watch the 90 days rule but Med in autumn generally good winds and the sea is delightfully warm for swimming- and anchorages far less crowded and often deserted. Aim to take boat out of the water probably mid December and where it ends up - Moraira/Denia, Corsica or Turkey/Cyprus."
Last updated 18:19 on 3 April 2025
