So you have prepared your boat, had your Ullman Sails designed for you and are mentally and physically in good shape and ready to go sailing. However, this means nothing without a good crew to ensure you reach the finish line in excellent time, if not first! Here are some top tips on how to find a good crew:

Where to find good crew members

To start building your crew look for all-purpose sailors with vast experience on a range of boats. They won’t need as much training. Visit yacht clubs in your area and network with boat owners. The bar area is a good place to mingle in a casual manner and find out if anyone is interested in being part of your crew. You can even ask the barman! Decide if you want to train or find experienced sailors. Visit Ullman Sails’ lofts, where you can find a wealth of information from the staff on how to find crew, or they may have staff that are looking to sail in a team.

Casual races on weekday evenings

Very often clubs hold fun evening races where nothing is taken seriously except for safety. In the US they refer to it as “Beercan Races”. The idea is not only to win but to have fun. These evenings are meant for sailors of all classes, friends and family.  Here you will find many crew members that could be looking for other boats to sail on. In some cases there may be too many crew members for a boat, so you could jump in and invite them to sail with you and see how they do.

International or National Boat shows/Events

These are great events for networking and finding good crew members. Be sure to visit as many stands as possible and ask around.

The Internet

You can search on Google to find online forums, yachting magazines, agencies etc.

• Yotspot: assists in finding registered crew members
• Crewseekers:  yacht owners can post their sailing opportunities

Social media: Post on various social media platforms that you are looking for good crew members. Do searches on Facebook for other yachting clubs in your area and connect with them to see if there are willing crew members.

Search for a local Junior Sailors Club. They often have years of sailing experience on small, responsive boats that make them quick studies of sail trim, weight movement, timing, and tactics. Often they are more experienced than you think!

Once you have gathered your team you will need to put them to the test and see if they work well together, so…