September 2003
By Tom Snyder
I keep hearing about people who have successfully advertised their need for a cruising crewmember. Doesn’t that sound just like the coolest thing? Especially for a guy like me, who needs a huge list of people to go on my boat with me.
Why huge? I’ve discovered that after people have sailed with me they are reluctant to do it again. How weird is that? Honestly, when I ask someone to go on a follow-up sail I hear things like, “I don’t think so,” or “No.” You have that happen a couple hundred times in a row and you have yourself a pattern.
Anyway what difference does it make now? Because this advertising for crew thing just shouts, “Problem solved!” In addition, I have a connection with a boat-oriented magazine where I can post my crew advertisements for free by tacking them seamlessly onto my regular column. (Some of you are now worrying that the quality of the column may drop a bit, but ask yourself… how could it?)
My main concern is that I want to attract sailing mates. I hope to come off as appealing but not desperate. I think these work:
Searching for crew
Third week of August. Planning a 1-hour trip from mooring to the 3-mile limit to empty holding tanks. Then back again. Hoping to leave tanks empty so no eating four hours prior.
Kicking back
Evening cruise to Cocktail Cove. Hoping to drop the hook at sunset and have a few drinks. I have a serious drinking problem and can become anything from undependable to emotionally distant when drinking. Not really a big eater either – bring your own snacks.
Wednesday night racing
Looking for a bow man for evening race. Will also consider a bow woman. Hoping to find someone with 10 to 12 years experience because I am neither a strong racer nor have I ever raced, per se. I am not really a believer in racing. Why ruin a perfectly nice sail with all of the stress? Who needs it?
Island weekend
Do you love to cook? Do you love to serve? Do you love cleanup? Do you love islands? If you can answer yes to all of these questions, join me the last weekend of August on a trip to Damariscove Island. Be aware that I am lactose intolerant, and that presentation is more important than you might think.
End of summer overnight delivery
Returning my boat to Hingham, Mass. Need mate with spectacular night vision. Are you ready for those wonderful late-night bull sessions about life as we autopilot our way across shipping lanes? I prefer someone whose family owns a marina in Hingham and can offer reasonable rates for hauling and power-wash. I would love my boat to be stored inside, but am not prepared to pay inside storage fees. Is this a great country or what?
Tom Snyder sails out of Peaks Island, Maine.
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