Let’s Find Crew (or a Sailboat) and Go Sailing!
After a two-year hiatus, SpinSheet’s in-person Crew Parties are back! Whether you show up live or sign up digitally or both, here are some tips to maximize your success in finding crew or finding a boat to sail on this sailing season.
- Sign up for our free online Crew Finder service. What was formerly known as “crew listing” (because it used to be an actual list on a printed page) is now our popular Crew Finder service on spinsheet.com. Click on the link just mentioned, and the rest is self-explanatory. There’s even a video to help newcomers understand what to do.
- When filling out your crew profile, be honest about your experience. If you have none, that is not a problem. We often hear boat owners say that they like new sailors as they can train them and they don’t yet have any bad habits to break! Being enthusiastic, open to learning new things, and open to accepting invitations are important qualities. Never exaggerate your experience, as the moment you step on a boat, you won’t be able to hide your skill level from more experienced sailors.
- Think about what kind of sailing you’d like to do. At our in-person parties, the first question many will ask you is, “What kind of sailing do you do?” Would you like to race, cruise for long weekends, occasionally go sailing for the day, or all of it? What appeals to you more: big comfortable boats or smaller, more athletic ones? If you’re not sure, be honest about that, too.
- Save the dates for three parties: Saturday, April 23, 5 - 8 p.m. at Marker 20 in Hampton, VA; Sunday, April 24, 4 - 6 p.m. at the Southern Maryland Sailing Association in Solomons, MD; and Sunday, May 1, 4 - 6 p.m. at the Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis, MD (following the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show; see page 32).
- Dress for success. These are super casual sailing crew parties, not job interviews or cocktail parties (although you may imbibe at all of them if you’re 21). No need for boat shoes, but wearing heels would be a warning sign to other sailors. Dress as you would going to a picnic or casual backyard gathering. Flip flops, athletic shoes, shorts, jeans, tee shirts, fleece jackets, and baseball caps are the usual dress code.
- Bring cards. If you have a card with your contact information on it, bring it along. Or bring a pen and paper for writing down names and numbers. Or bring your smart phone, if that’s how you roll. Expect to give out your cell number and/or email address to skippers seeking crew.
- Be communicative. This part is for online crew and in-person crew. If you meet a skipper who has invited you to go sailing, make sure to answer your emails and texts promptly. Even if you don’t know your schedule yet, acknowledge their invitation and let them know if you can make it as soon as possible. The most communicative and reliable crew members are the ones who get the most invitations to go sailing!
Find details on our Crew Parties here. ... Sign up for or update your Crew Finder account here.
