Learn to sail and maintain a boat whilst exploring the islands of French Polynesia

Details

• 

  Description

  Sailing in PARADISE anyone? Start life with dessert first!
  I am dedicating my days to enjoying life and exploring French Polynesia with my sailboat, meeting interesting people, learning tricks and skills from the locals, snorkeling (lots of it), sometimes going on a hike to find an ever elusive waterfall, and more importantly watching the sunrise and the sunset every day. Sounds exhausting? That's why I need help (lol!)
  
  I am happy to share this sailing and cruising experience with like minded souls - a few days to a few weeks at a time. The joys of exploring the remote South Pacific from the deck of a sailboat are infinite.
  
  Depending on when you arrive onboard you will get involved with various maintenance projects, actual ocean crossings between islands and/or lazing around at anchor in the lagoon. All scheduling and sailing destinations depend on the weather; safety is my priority so you need to have a bit of flexibility as I can not guarantee exact dates or pick-up location.
  
  While underway you'll learn the tricks and "ropes" of sailing - no previous sailing experience is necessary. Usually within a couple of days my crew knows how to anchor/raise the anchor, raise the sails, tack and steer close-hauled. These terms make no sense to you right now but they will after a few days onboard. If we cross between islands while you are onboard you'll be responsible for your watch (after proper training).
  
  To maximize your chances of a positive response:
  (1) ensure you indicate on which dates you will be in French Polynesia, and check the price of a plane ticket to Tahiti ($$$!);
  (2) provide an email address so I don't have to load the website on my slow and expensive 2G connection;
  (3) finally and most importantly ask yourself what you can bring to this sailing adventure. Workaway is an exchange and you are expected to contribute to this exchange, through your skills, hard work and enthusiasm. No freeloaders!
  
  Harmony and happiness onboard are very important so we will schedule a call to chat about your expectations and ensure we both think we can have a great time in this beautiful liquid paradise.
  
  Please indicate if you have the following skills - at a semi-professional level or above:
  Video editing (specify which software); baking (there is an oven onboard); fishing (spear or hand-line);

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  DIY and building projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  General Maintenance
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  - to discover the voyaging lifestyle on a sailboat
  - to maintain a sailboat
  - to explore the islands of French Polynesia
  - to adapt and push your limits
  - to sail a mid-size cruising sailboat
  - to get comfortable swimming in the ocean with all sorts of (harmless) sea creatures

• 

  Help

  Living on a sailboat sounds great but it also entails a lot of maintenance work, cleaning, and provisioning. Everything takes time on a sailboat - going food shopping could take the entire day: get to shore with the dinghy, walk to store 1, then to store 2 which is across town of course (because store 1 doesn't have item x on the shelf), walk back to the dinghy, stop at the fruit stand, chat with local uncles & aunties about the catch of the day, dinghy back to the boat, clean all vegetables and fruits to keep insects off the boat, store everything.
  
  That's just an example.
  
  During your stay you will essentially be my "right-hand": helping with everything: boat maintenance, cooking, sailing, cleaning, dish-washing, scrubbing the hull, spear-fishing, baking bread, preparing for the next crossing, and most importantly: you'll learn to prepare a proper "t'punch" which is the sailor's traditional rum cocktail...
  You need to be super motivated to learn quickly and have a lot of common sense. You also need to be handy and agile. Remember: you'll be living on a moving sailboat!
  
  Yoga teachers are welcome; one of my former crew introduced me to a sunrise yoga & stretch routine... but I didn't have the self-discipline to continue...

• 

  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Japanese: Intermediate

  This host offers a language exchange
  Japanese speakers welcome.
• 

  Accommodation

  You will have a single-berth (that's a "bed" in nautical terms) located in the salon. Pillow, bed-sheet and a small blanket are provided.
  Storage space is limited therefore you can NOT arrive with a suitcase (backpacks are ok)

• 

  What else ...

  Free-time is spent exploring the lagoon, the beach, the islands we head to. If you like the ocean, the water and swimming this is heaven on earth. If you don't like the sun, water and swimming you are applying for the wrong Workaway experience!
  
  Due to space, safety equipment and onboard resource limitations I can only host ONE (that is "1") crew at a time.
  
  Like on many boats sailing in the tropics we live cloth-free when at anchor. If nudity - yours and others - offends you then this experience is not for you (and you should therefore not apply).
  
  There is no internet access on-board. You can usually find WiFi when close to shore, or buy a data SIM card for your smartphone (Vini or Vodafone); or simply learn to live the good old fashion way with no internet.
  
  To confirm you've read all the way to the bottom please start your request with the word "Sunset".

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  One

• 

  Hours expected

  Max 25 hours a week

Feedback (19)