What you will bring to the party:
flight to and from the boat
foul weather gear
easy going personality
immersion suit (if wanted)
sleeping bag and any specialty bedding you would like (we have pillows and princess blankets)
all cold weather gear associated with sailing and hiking
your own supply of seasick meds (if wanted)
Emery A. George. Jr says
It looks like I missed out being physically with you on the northwest passage adventure. Maybe we can get together another time. You asked about someone with a family. My wife and I have nine children. Living in Kamas, Utah, USA, I feel like a landlocked sailor by the largest inland sea in the USA, the Great Salt Lake. When I can, I work with a youth program in Washington State on an environmental educational vessel, schooner Adventuress. My only sea time is on a 100-ton, 102 year old vessel. My greatest outdoor love is living in the snow, snow camping. When I got out of the Air Force as a survival instructor, I began teaching outdoor survival at the Brigham Young University. Now I am retired industrial electrician. From September through November I cook for an outfitter at an elk hunting camp in Wyoming. It does not start snowing in the high mountains until August. My main interest in sailing in marlinspike seamanship, knots and rigging. My present sailboat in a 1966 Flying Dutchman. I have to admit it is more work than fun, but to me work is fun. My best asset is being at my best when everything has gone wrong. Hope you hear from you as you travel. Emery George
Carly says
That’s a bummer you didn’t contact us a few months ago. It is truly going to be a great trip but it sounds like you’re a pretty busy guy!
Judith says
If this had been next year – I would have begged to be onboard.
However, this summer we sailed to Svalbard and 80 degrees North, for the second time. So I do have some experience with sailing, the Arctic, ice and Polar bears. Previously we have sailed Scotland 3 seasons, the Med 7 summers and Denmark, Norway and Sweden for the rest of the 20 years we’ve had boats. They say that those who visit Svalbard, either say “Been there, done that” or they get bitten by the Polar Bug. I got bitten badly. All dreams of sunny, palmfringed beaches have been replaced with snow, ice and wilderness beauty… And we won’t get to Alaska for several years, though we are sailing in that direction.
I have only one child, a grown boy who has severe Autism. He has sailed with us in the Med- I cannot take him to the Arctic. But I took my 18 year old niece and she’s been sailing a lot with us, since she was 10. I was a girlscout leader in my youth, when I lived in the US. Oh! And I taught school as a substitute teacher. Nowadays I have my own company, providing statistical expertise.
I usually get seasick once in the sailing season – only in rough weather, and it usually lasts no more than 24 hours. This year Scopoderm patches kept it away.
I am the skipper on our boat, but I crew well. I have the Offshore Yachtmaster Certificate and a HAM radio license. I am very keen on safety and find provisioning fun – I’m not the greatest cook, though my homebaked bread gets raves and I love to bake onboard.
I never froze in the Arctic – I have all the gear, to make sure I don’t.
If you hear of anyone like you, needing crew, please give them my name and e-mail. I would LOVE to do the Northwest Passage. I’ve written several articles for Blue Water sailing about our arctic experience.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful adventure 🙂
Fair winds Judith
P.S. My blog isn’t up to date with this year’s adventure.
P.P.S. Do you need crew for sailing in Alaska?
Carly says
Wow Judith that’s amazing. We met a couple of boats that have sailed Svalbard, I think that’s going to be on our list. 🙂 We’d also love to do Norway. I’ll be sure to pass on your details to other boats needing crew but from what I’ve found it’s pretty rare to find a boat, they tend to sail with family or friends. As of now we don’t need any crew for Alaska we’re not going to be doing anything major just a few sails here and there so we don’t get cabin fever over the winter. Who knows though we are thinking about Patagonia next.
Judith says
I can really recommend Svalbard.
Please keep me in mind – Patagonia would be awesome 🙂
Hans Etter says
This is actually a good thing,hook up as a crew with like minded people that want to enjoy the northern latitudes. I am a marine mechanic and Swede that have spent the last thirty years working on boats on the west coast,mostly from the southern part of California,I am planning to do my own trip one day with my boat. I had a ham radio license,expired as well and have done some deliveries up and down the west coast. Maybe some other time in the future I hook up with you,and maybe other sailors up there.
Carly says
Sounds good! Not all sailors like the cooler cruising climate, does make for some stunning beauty!