Offshore Sailing Passage - What to Expect

When you sign as crew for a trip on Resolution you will be expected to actively participate in the operation of the boat. Everyone has different abilities and experience levels so your jobs on board will be assigned accordingly and everyone will have a chance to try just about everything. These trips are just as much about the journey as they are about the destination or objective. A trip offshore on a boat is a humbling and often awe inspiring experience. I've been doing this since I was a little kid and the fascination with sailing and the mysteries of the ocean tighten their grip on me more and more every year.

Resolution looks large at first glance, but after a few days every boat feels smaller and smaller. We ask that everyone pack smart and relatively light and I will send you a packing list once you sign aboard that will be tailored for the trip we are taking together. First and foremost, everyone needs to keep their things neat and stowed accordingly when not in use. Space is limited on board so cleanliness and order down below are a priority. If I don't tell you to pick up your dirty socks one of your shipmates probably will. Again, I'd like to reiterate that conditions aboard can range from cozy and comfortable to downright miserable depending on weather and the trip we are taking. I will do my best to keep us out of any dangerous conditions, but sometimes uncomfortable conditions cannot be avoided. I'm a big fan of good meals while underway and I will be cooking two hot meals a day, breakfast and dinner. You will be welcome to cook as well if you feel inclined. Lunch and snacks will be up to you to prepare, but we will supply the food. We try to eat healthy on board and there is limited 'junk food'. If you have a favorite snack, you may want to bring it with you.

Safety at sea is something I take very seriously. I've been working and playing on the ocean my entire life and I have seen my fair share of mishaps offshore. I try and analyze every accident at sea and try to understand what could have been done differently to help prevent myself from ever being in the same predicament. When you first get down to the boat we will go over emergency procedures on board for different situations. You will know how to use and where to find the fire extinguishers, how to deploy the life raft, activate the boats EPIRB, how to make a mayday call on the radio, etc.

I hope I'm not making things sound all serious without any fun because it will actually be a lot of fun! I just want to make sure that everyone has a decent understanding of what you can expect from a multi-day trip offshore. I'm looking forward to sailing with you!

All crew will work together to sail the boat and carry out chores in our shared living space (to the extent of each crew member's comfort level)
You will be expected to wash dishes, clean, and participate in many aspects of sailing the boat
There will be duties, as mentioned above and possibly sitting watch on a rotating schedule for offshore trips, but there will be plenty of down time too. You can be as involved in the sailing as you like with your down time. You can socialize, read, or you can just relax and let the rhythmic rock of the waves on the boat free your mind and give you a mental reset.
You will have the opportunity to learn how to (and will be expected to help if asked) trim the sails, hand steer, mark your location on a chart, how to reef, how to fly a spinnaker, hoist/lower sails, and have any and all of your sailing questions answered
The crew is expected to take care of themselves (with the exception of being given two hot meals/day) and clean up after themselves- with guidance from us, of course
You may encounter heavy weather. The conditions may be uncomfortable or possibly a bit unnerving. You could suffer from seasickness. This will make you appreciate the comfortable weather even more!
We must carry all of our garbage with us onboard. Nothing is to go overboard. Please try to produce minimum waste while on board. Leave all packaging for your belongings at home.
All crew will wear a PFD whenever on deck. At night and in heavy weather, you will be clipped in with a tether when on deck
Always ask/wake the captain whenever there is uncertainty on how to proceed
There will be down time where you can read, nap, sit on deck and dream or look for wildlife, play cards, chess or checkers, or just relax and enjoy each other's company.
We have a bookshelf with reference books about sailing, ocean wildlife identification, navigating on the water, cookbooks, and novels
Crew will follow all safety protocols/procedures, understand where safety equipment is located and how/when to use it
Work together as a team to take care of the boat and to take of each other

Positive encouragement and small acts of kindness go a long way
You are encouraged to step outside your comfort level and discover new strengths
Never criticize another crew member. Always have a positive attitude and willingness to learn. We are all coming together with different levels of knowledge, experience, and comfort zones. Diversity and acceptance makes us stronger as a group!

Do not do anything that are not 100% sure of how to do. ASK QUESTIONS whenever unsure, even if that means waking up the captain or mate.
Do not do anything that feels dangerous.
You are expected to help crew the boat, but if you want more or less responsibility, please ask
Tasks will be assigned based on our assessment of who is best capable of doing it safely, but if you feel you are being left out, please speak up
Each person will have their own place to sleep and store their gear. All other space is community space and must be shared.

hanging wet clothes, towels, and storing wet boots will be in shared spaces
a boat can feel like tight quarters with little privacy, but this adds to the fun, camaraderie, and adventure

You will receive two hot meals a day (breakfast and dinner). Food allergies that we are made aware of on your crew sheet will be honored, but we cannot make separate individual meals for everyone.
A shower is available, but not daily. There is limited water on board AND limited hot water.
We ask that you leave comments and constructive criticism in our guestbook before leaving and to please leave us a google review online.

There will be two people sitting watch each night while underway (you will be trained and will almost always be sitting watch with either the captain or mate). A watch schedule will be set up at the start of the trip. Each watch is usually for 2-4 hours.

When sitting watch, you will wake up the next watch crew 15 minutes before your watch ends and ask if they'd like hot water put on for coffee or tea.
You will put water on for the next set of crew, if they ask for it
Sitting watch is often the most memorable time of your trip. The night sky can be magical over the the ocean and you will probably never see as many stars on land. The moonlight shining on the waves at night with all sounds amplified is a unique experience and adds to this adventure at sea.
You will almost always be letting the windvane or autopilot steer your course at night as you make necessary changes for targets seen on radar or wind changes. You can use the international rules of the road books to identify different ships at night by the lights they are showing

You may encounter sleep deprivation
Resolution on an ocean passage is like an RV on water (that may sometimes feel more like a carnival ride) than a luxury cruise
Short showers (turning water off while lathering/shampooing/shaving) can be taken on a limited basis. Frequency will depend on the length of the trip and number of people on board.
When we arrive at our destination and are on anchor/mooring, we will share a celebratory beverage together and then clean the boat before departing.
All crew must be cleared through customs together as a boat, if traveling internationally, before leaving

Miscellaneous

Sailing Resolution is NOT a sailing school.

We ARE willing to teach you everything we know about sailing, life offshore, and commercial fishing (the captain was a commercial fisherman for most of his life). The extent of what we teach is dependent on how much you are interested in learning.

The start and end dates set for our trips are firm, but they figure in possible weather delays in between. Weather does not often stop our trips. Sometimes the trips are more uncomfortable than others because that is the weather we are given to deal with. The boat is very sea worthy and uncomfortable does not mean unsafe. Dangerous weather/sea states are obviously exceptions.
A trip's itinerary is subject to change due to any of several causes, including things such as weather, wind direction, holidays, sea state, natural disasters, etc. The safety of the crew always comes first.
There are NO refunds if you leave during a stopover destination before the end of the trip.
All people on board will be signed on as crew, not passengers, and will be processed as crew in each country visited where customs is concerned.
If traveling internationally, medications must be in original prescription bottles, in case boat is searched by border patrol/customs.
If traveling internationally, YOU are responsible for researching the rules for each country we are traveling to regarding who can enter the country and who can't. If you are on a trip with Sailing Resolution that is traveling internationally and you have something on your record or any other situation that prevents you from clearing customs, you will be turned over to the customs officer and it is YOUR responsibility to arrange a way home at your own expense. No refunds will be granted.