Greta Thunberg Sparks Surge In Sailboat Hitchhiking
Source: The Guardian
Since climate campaigners transatlantic adventures, more people are looking to travel by sail. Hitching a ride on a sailing boat across the Atlantic might sound like a far-fetched endeavour reserved for the famous and well-connected. But Greta Thunberg has now managed it twice in three months and her antics appear to be inspiring a growing, if nascent, movement in sail-hitching.
Maritime hitchhiking has hitherto been reserved for sailors looking for experience on different routes and vessels. But after Thunbergs transatlantic adventures, numbers have boomed. Daniel Krause, a full-time cruiser, helps to run the Sailboat Hitchhikers and Crew Connection Facebook group, which has sharply increased to nearly 21,000 members since Thunbergs voyage. In the past couple of weeks it has skyrocketed, he said.
People use the site to find crew members for their boat, or to find a vessel to hitchhike on. Its mutually beneficial, says Krause. You get a mostly free ride and the owner gets someone who can do nightshifts or who can help out with docking, anchoring and boat manoeuvres. In most instances, hitchhikers just pay for transport to and from the boat, any visas they might need, and contribute to boat running costs like food.
However, Krause has found many of the group newbies dont have previous sailing experience. Many people dont understand about the movement of a boat on the ocean which can overwhelm people with seasickness and make them feel trapped because its a very small space and you could be out there for days if not weeks - and once youre out, its almost always too late to turn back, he says....
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/15/greta-thunberg-sparks-surge-in-sailboat-hitchhiking
-- Greta 3 nights ago on 'La Vagabonde' with crew, Capt. Riley Whitlum, Nikki Henderson, Elayna Carausu & baby Lennon.
-- Greta in Hampton, Virginia last Wednesday morning boarding La Vagabonde, the 48' catamarand sailboat headed for Europe. Greta's dad Svante and Capt. Riley are in the lower left corner of the photo.
++++ TRACK La Vagabonde in real time, and Learn More about Riley & Elayna: https://sailing-lavagabonde.com/
- Greta Thunberg Is Sailing To Madrid With A Family Of YouTubers, The Verge, Nov. 14, 2019,
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142395398#post10
Watch and learn more about the alternative way of living of Capt. Riley, Elayna and Baby Lenny.
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Disclaimer: I did not write this article, and I am not employed by the International Yacht Owner's Assn., the Australian Board of Tourism or any other affiliated enterprise. I'm just a huge fan of these wonderful, adventurous young people!
JudyM
(29,122 posts)Thanks for posting this, appalachiablue many folks are getting curious about this. Interesting nearly self-sustaining way of life.
appalachiablue
(41,052 posts)a welcome light in these times, like a Joan of Arc, Amelia Earhart, a little Mother Jones.
appalachiablue
(41,052 posts)flotsam
(3,268 posts)Meaning it will show you 1000 faces and give you great joy and occasionally try to kill you. Just know that going in.
Sgent
(5,857 posts)articles I read already has some sailing experience, personal equipment, etc. Personally, with a family member who spent years down island, this is a good way for someone to die.
Your first sailing trip should not be during winter in the North Atlantic, and real boats pay their crew (which would include anyone doing watch standing at night). If they can't afford crew, what else is deferred or don't they have?
Finally, a set of foul weather gear, life jacket and harness probably costs as much as a round trip plane ticket -- and isn't particularly environmentally friendly for a single use.