Live Aboard Sailing

Latest Fees as of May 2012

Julian — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:25:47 +0000

For passage making:

Fees are 35 dollars a day per person, this includes food eaten aboard, fuel , water and all those domestic items like toilet rolls, cooking, oil, cooking gas

Other rates at anchor, day charter, overnight island hoping and other arrangements require discussion

Sat Phone

Julian — Wed, 02 May 2012 12:03:09 +0000

FIRST BE SURE TO SEND AN EMAIL USING THE CONTACT FORM

SATELLITE PHONE CONTACT IS HAPHAZARD

However you may try a text message to my Satellite phone

Go to: http://iridium.com/

Go to ‘Send a satellite message’: http://messaging.iridium.com/

Send a message to this number 881632583132

Its free up to 160 charaters

Westward across the Pacific

Julian — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:55:04 +0000

Pacific crossing westward

Panama to Galapogos (12 day passage)

Next Marquesas, Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, Vanuatu, New Guinea, Thailand,

We transited the canal and entered the Pacific ocean.

Tropicbird and all crew arrived safely in Academy Bay Galapagos from
Balboa Panama. We embraced the challenge of passage making through the
doldrums which was a challenge. Getting a twenty three ton sailing
yacht to move forward in a straight line with only six knots of wind
was difficult. It meant that I had to be on watch constantly whilst
these conditions prevailed. It wasn’t all bad though and occasionally
we found a patch of good beam reaching in fifteen knots and zoomed
along at seven knots. It was a great mixture and reminded me of the
challenges of sailing on the Norfolk Broads albeit without the crowd
of boats around.
We could have motored more than we did but that to me would be
defeating the object of the exercise. Fortunately I had prepared my
crew with the statement that ‘’there will be times when we will be
standing still’. As it happened these were the times that the
batteries needed charging other than the solar supply and thus
momentum was kept.
On my suggestion my crew had organized a watch keeping system which
allowed me to be available at all times. Since my four crew were
novices any sleep pattern which I had established at a

Latest news and position

Julian — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:31:53 +0000

Latest as of 28th April 2012: Academy Bay, Galapagos

Status Anchored

Depart for Marquesas, French Polynesia Tuesday May 1st

Projected itinerary with latest news in bold italics:

New Guinea, Micronesia, Philippines and Thailand.

Arrive Tahiti before end of June.

Arrive Marquases before end of May.

Arrive Galapagos islands before end of March.

At the latest March 31st: Depart Panama for Galapagos

Prepare and provision in Panama City

March 23rd: Transit Panama Canal

March 13th: Arrival of Hubert

Spencer arrived safely and is acclimatizing well

March 4th: Arrival of Spencer

March 1st Got measured and paperwork completed. Transit date set by Canal Authority for 23rd March

February 28th: Arrival of Anthony

February 26th Apply to be measured for canal transit and await date for the transit

February 14th to 26th Make preparations whilst anchored on Caribbean side

February 7th to February 12th: Haulout at Shelter bay Marina for painting the bottom

Hauled out and re-launched successfully. Found no surprised below the waterline. Replaced the worn cutlass bearing, and aligned the motor to suit. Cleaned and prepared the bottom and applied Joton 60 Antifoul. All good.

January 20th to February 4th: Anchored at Isla Lynton making improvements and preparations to Tropicbird

Clearance fees during Pacific crossing

Julian — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:11:11 +0000

The following are examples of entry requirements.

French Polynesia : Formalities

Clearance

Papeete is the main port of entry. However, because of the distances and sailing conditions, the outer islands have been made informal ports of entry, where yachts it seems that yachts may now clear both in and out.

On arrival in one of the other islands, yachts should report to the local police (Gendarmerie). Failure to report may lead to a fine.

The gendarme in the first port of arrival normally issues a document, one copy has to be mailed to Tahiti and one copy has to be presented in every other island visited.

Even on islands without a resident gendarme, the captain should take the document to the local police officer to signal his passage.

For crew who do not require a visa in advance (for visits of up to 3 months), and who wish to stay longer in French Polynesia, there is a period of grace before they are expected to clear into Papeete (Tahiti) and complete proper formalities. At this point they can apply for a visa for a longer stay. The period of grace will depend on nationality, but is at least 30 days. See immigration for more details.

It must be stressed that yachts which made their initial clearance into a port other than Papeete will not be able to obtain clearance when leaving French Polynesia, if leaving from another port than Papeete, unless they have obtained their formal clearance from Papeete. Note We have been advised that this may not now been the situation and that yachts can both clear in and out without having visited Papeete.(Feb 2011).

When making initial clearance, ensure that your papers note which island you will be departing from in order that arrangements can be made to retrieve your bond. See Documents and fees for more information.

Note: Customs patrol between the islands and if you see a Customs boat, it’s likely you will be boarded and searched. Stopping illegally prior to clearing in officially at a port of entry, is not advised. See Fatu Hiva before Hiva Oa?

All boats are required to leave before November 1st and visas are only issued for the period between April and October.

last updated February 2011.

Immigration

All visitors need a passport valid for at least 6 months (except French nationals).

French Polynesia is now part of the Schengen Area Agreement and rules applicable to the Schengen Visa apply. See the Schengen visa section of the Regional Agreements page for the details.

For the exact details applicable to French Polynesia see the French Embassy website

As not all border crossings are sufficently manned, it is advisable for visitors to make an effort to obtain a passport stamp to be able to prove their length of stay in the Schengen Area to avoid difficulties at a later stage.

Nationalities not elegible for a Schengen visa, require a visa in advance, which can be obtained from French diplomatic missions, for example in Panama City. The visa must include the following wording: “valable pour la Polynesie Francaise” (valid for French Polynesia).

EU citizens can apply to extend their 3 month stay by writing to the High Commissioner’s office in Papeete (Direction de la Reglementation et du Controle de la Legalite – DRCL, BP115, Papeete, Tahiti, Tel. (+689) 54 27 13) at least 1 month before the end of the 3 month period, and apply for a “Carte de Sejour” resident card (up to 10 years). Only a special committee can deny an application and has to notify the applicant of the reason his demand was denied.

Non-EU citizens wishing to stay longer than 3 months must contact a French consulate 5 months BEFORE arriving and follow the procedure to obtain a “Carte de Sejour” (temporary resident card). Reasons will have to be provided as to why you wish to stay longer, as well as having to give an idea of what you plan to do during your stay, submit proofs of financial independence, etc. The consulate will transmit your demand to the High Commissioner in Papeete. The procedure is lengthy but legitimate requests are often granted.

Proof may be demanded of sufficient funds for one’s stay in French Polynesia, especially for those arriving without a visa. In this case, without a return air ticket, each crew member will be required to deposit the equivelent of the airfare to their home country as a bond. This bond is not required by EU citizens.

Crew arriving by air to join a boat should make this clear on their visa application, also to Immigration on arrival at the airport, who should give them both an entrance and an exit stamp in their passport. The exit stamp is needed to clear out by boat.

Last updated June 2011.

Customs

Firearms and ammunition must be declared. If staying less than three days they can be kept on board, otherwise must be bonded by the authorities in each island until departure.

Alcohol and tobacco products must be declared.

Yachts may remain for 6 months, extendable to a year without paying duty. Time during which the boat is left in dry-storage while the crew is out of the country can be exempted from counting towards the year’s stay if prior arrangements are made with customs. Boatyards and marinas may have arrangements with customs to that effect.

It is reported that a new cruising permit (to replace the actual import duty – “papetisation”) may soon be introduced. Currently, those boats staying over 1 year in any 2 year period are subjected to customs importation tax (15 to 37% of the assessed value of the vessel).

The import of plants and grains is forbidden. Recently, the transport of fruits between the islands in the Marquesas has begun to be controlled as they have started to have problems with some fruit flies. Check with the local agriculture inspection when landing. Yachts coming from the western Pacific, such as Fiji, Tonga or the Cooks, may have to be fumigated. On arrival they should anchor off and clear formalities before tying to the quay.

Bringing in spare parts/equipment: French custom law requires that a special custom’s approved agent be used in order to deal with them. Except for parcels having a value less than about 150 US$, one must go through an agent and pay their fee (even if using a company such as Fedex or DHL). In the past the customs at Faaa airport were more tolerant of visiting yachts but it appears now the law is being more rigorously applied, even to French yachts. See the communications section for a more economic courrier.

Last updated April 2011.

Health

French Polynesia is very well covered by health care with hospitals and many doctors, specialists and dentists in the most populated islands, infirmeries with qualified nurses in even remotely populated areas. Emergency air transportation is in place if necessary. Many cruisers have been well taken care off so one should not hesitate to contact medical help if needed.

Staphilococcus infections are prevalent and usually start from a small cut. The cuts should be cleaned out well, covered with an antibiotic cream and treated until healed, which can take as long as two weeks.

Filariosis (elephantiasis) is still known to exist in some islands. There is a preventative medicine, which gives protection for a year (only necessary if you stay over 6 months.

Documents

Foreign yachts may be asked to leave French Polynesia before the start of the cyclone season in November, but preferably earlier.

A reciprocal ham license can be obtained on the spot and for free at the phone administration office in many islands (OPT). It can be renewed every 3 months, up to 1 year).

Fees

There is a charge for visas granted on arrival. $35US in 2008.

There are port charges (in Papeete harbour).

The Bond
Citizens of the EU are not required to post a bond.

If arriving without a visa and no return air ticket, a bond equal to the air fare to your home country must be deposited per person. This bond can be deposited in cash, travellers cheques, credit card or by electronic transfer. Ensure that the bank you use has a branch on the island from which you will be departing. If the bond is in cash, ensure this branch is advised of the fact as the outlying branches do not normally carry large amount of cash. Request that the bond is returned in the same currency in which the deposit was made. There will be a handling fee.

Alternatively, purchase a redeamable air ticket direct from the airline.

If an agent is used for clearance, then the bond may not be required.

Nuku Hiva : Profile

Location

This is the largest island and the capital of the Marquesas.

Position 08°56′S, 140°05′W.

Clearance

Formalities are completed at the Gendarmerie in Taiohae, open 07:30-12:00, 14:00-17:30 Monday to Friday.

The office is opposite the Post Office, up the hill on the right. It is not far from the dock.

If required, the bond can be deposited at the local bank.

Last updated August 2011.

Nuku Hiva Yacht Services
BP 45, 98742 Taiohaé, Nuku Hiva
Tel:689 91 01 50, VHF Channel 67
yachtservicesnukuhiva@yahoo.com
Veronique speaks good English and can provide a great deal of help to cruisers; clearance formalities, prepaid cards for WiFi, internet, fax, mail, laundry, LPG refills, sail and mechanical repairs, duty-free fuel applications and many other services.
Cruiser Report – Good repair service, but no new sail material available.

Pacific Crew

Julian — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:22:08 +0000

The following is email correspondence between my first chosen crew and myself. Please read all of this to give you an idea of both our characters. You may also see the reasons why we chose each other.

If you feel that you fit with the two of us then please contact me. My responses are in bold italics

On 12/10/11, Jacek wrote:

Hi Julian,

Here are my details as requested:

My name is Jacek Spera. I’m 33. I’m from Poland. I’m currently based in Dublin where I’ve been working as a web developer for the last 2 years. Before that I lived in Manchester for 3 years doing basically the same. I’ve decided to end my employment there end of December. Good timing

I intend to take about a year break from work. Good duration allows time for the crossing, I am in no hurry and it’s a long way with the opportunity of many stops

I’ve got very little sailing experience. It is limited to sailing on lakes in small boats. No problem I know you’re not looking for passengers and neither I would like to be one. Nicely put I am hoping to learn from you. I can’t help but teach although I am using this opportunity and life itself to learn more myself

I keep myself in good shape; I’ve done my deal of manual labor in my life and I don’t shy away from hardship and adversities. I want to be a worthy member of your crew. The main challenge I have is with sleep deprivation, (sometimes this happens during bad weather etc) That’s primarily why I am looking for company

I’ve no medical conditions. I only drink occasionally. I am a smoker however. I plan to quit beginning of the new year and if I’m not off smoking before we meet I’ll embark for the trip without any smokes on me. That should sort it out. Being on my boat for a long period is a great way to overcome addition

My Polish passport allows me entering all those countries without having visas (Panama, Equador, French overseas territories, Thailand). It’s valid until 2016. Thanks for the detail.

I believe I’ve got sufficient funds to cover the required expenses. I would however like to know roughly how much I’m going to spend. I’ve no people dependent on me and therefore like I said I’m interested in doing the full length of the trip.

Fees are 35 dollars a day, 245 per week per person, this includes food eaten aboard, fuel , water and all those domestic items like toilet rolls, cooking, oil, cooking gas

The extras would be your personal entry immigration/visa to countries visited, I will fund the boats entry (if we choose to stay at a marina, (seldom needed) we will discuss and share the cost, in eleven years I have never chosen a marina, preferring to anchor

I am ready to fly to Panama to meet you there so we can see how we get on. I could be there before 10/1 possibly as early as 4-5/1. In case either of us decide this isn’t a good idea that I join you on your trip I can travel up north to Mexico. I’m sure that can be great too.

I think my English is pretty decent and I don’t expect any communication issues. Your English seems excellent, I like the detail. Please remember communication is extremely important to me, I am dealing with many inquirys

My personal reasons for wanting to do that are these: I think it makes sense for me to see and try other ways of life. I am simply curious. And it’s not the whimsical type of curiosity. I want to learn about myself, other people and the world we live in and learn practical skills too. I’ve been always blessed to meet people in my life who’ve made me a better, more complete person. I certainly hope it hasn’t been only me who benefited this way from those encounters. My way of life travelling since I was eighteen

Please let me know whether this is sufficient info or there is something missing. Not at this stage you have covered in very good detail It’d be great if you could also write about your expectations. I’ve read most posts on your website so I think I’ve got a rough idea but you might want to stress certain things nonetheless. I’d like to know whether what number of crew you’re going to have and whether there will be any experienced seamen apart from you.

At this stage I have the door open for two people to join me, I have one ‘in the wings’ right now and you, I get inquiries all the time

MY EXPECTATIONS. I have no great expectations. However I was brought

up with good manners and politeness. Tropicbird is my home and my

efforts have presented her for you to share this opportunity. In

regard to this there is a high regard for respect.

I expect the journey to be testing and at times arduous. Yet at other

times satisfying and always soul enriching.

Thanks for reading this. Please let me know what you think.

Kind regards,

Jacek

Crossing the Pacific

Julian — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:20:43 +0000

Crossing the Pacific is my next goal. Preparations are being made right now. Crew are invited to join in this adventure. For crew I am advertising at 7knots,sailingvacations24.com and floatplan.com. Go to Passage Making for the costs.

The Pacific passage plan is:
Transit the Panama canal from Colon on the Caribbean side. No later than January 10th 2012.
Depart Panama City across the Pacific soon after transiting the canal before January 20th 2012.

Arrive Galapagos islands before end of March.

Arrive Marquases before end of April.

Arrive Tahiti before end of May.

Onward to Fiji and later Thailand.

A unique opportunity awaits and I am offering this opportunity to unique people!

Crossing the Pacific is a big deal and a great adventure.

The following is information I need to have and you need to consider before getting a week into the passage across the Pacific, perhaps 1000 miles and asking to go back. This is my filter system.

Passage making costs

Julian — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 18:43:39 +0000

The cost of sailing and passage making is outlined below. This is for long distant cruising during time periods of not less than five days. Other rates apply for short term; for instance the five day passage between Colombia and Panama.

The fees for the passage to Thailand are identified on the post Pacific Crew

Anyone travelling on Tropicbird no matter what they pay contributes to the domestic chores. On passage ‘watches’ are taken and everyone involves themselves equally. This is passage making on a sailing yacht not a cruise on a cruise liner.

Terms and conditions for the crew:

The rate for staying on Tropicbird whether at anchor or not will be discussed and agreed upon before departure.
Those expenses are diesel, gasoline for the dinghy, gas for the cooker, all food, domestic consumables like toilet rolls and cleaning products, cruising permits and entry fees dependent on the passage.

Each leg of any passage will be calculated monetarily against the estimated time and expenses. Payments will be in advance.

All crew must show proof of a return ticket from the port of disembarkation and sufficient funds to satisfy immigration laws of any country which they may be required to enter and/or exit. The captain is not responsible for any expenses of the crew to or from his vessel.

All to be discussed by email at liveaboardsailing@gmail.com

Or skype capitanojuliano

Or telephone (507) 600 63873

Some useful passage making tips can be found at wesail.com

Captain of the boat

Julian — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:52:10 +0000

Captain of the boat is Julian. His primary responsibility is for the safety of the crew and the boat. He also offers his philosophy on life by nurturing rater than preaching, pressure or persuasion.

When people ask me how long have I been sailing I tell them that I was sailing before I was born. The fact is my mother was pregnant with me whilst sailing in a regatta in the family boat. My first recollections are with my dad in dinghies on the Norfolk Broads. These are small lakes on the east coast of England where, it’s rumored that Admiral Lord nelson learned to sail on the broads, whilst his parents owned a pub in the area.

So from this I have come to being the owner and captain of Tropicbird. Some say a marriage made in heaven since she is a wooden boat and I have spent most of my working life as a Boat Carpenter.

After starting my apprenticeship way back when I wasn’t quite sixteen years old I have worked on many fine yachts. There is passion in my work and since I adhere to the ethic which my father preached to me so many years ago ‘A job worth doing is worth doing well’ my carpentry has been praised.
My practicality has been applied to rebuilding yachts and also in emergency situations making repairs quickly and efficiently. My involvement with boats has resulted in learning other trades also such as diesel mechanics, plumbing and electrics.
Above all this is my passion for sailing. I have described sailing as the most spiritual form of transport known to man and I still quote ‘now here is the sweetest sound’ each time I turn the engine off and let my boat sail. I like to keep my sails trimmed precisely and everything ‘Shipshape and Bristol fashion’ and to quote my father as I am apt to do ‘look after the ship and the ship will look after you’!
My first experience of big boats was with my uncle on his charter yacht in the Greek Islands back when I was eighteen. Ever since I have been acquiring more skills and experience although I am never too old to learn. Someday I will learn celestial navigation but for the time being I use electronic and back this up with paper charts especially for long passages.
I can cook, although I am really pleased when someone cooks for me. Since I do the washing up for myself it comes as no hardship to pull my weight and do this in return for the cooked meal.
I believe in good manners and politeness, these attributes were taught to me by my parents and they have great value. I believe in ‘do unto others as you would have done to you’ that’s also the closest to religion as I get.
It seems that alcohol doesn’t suit me as I wake up after a couple of hours sleep and suffer insomnia for the rest of the night, therefore I don’t drink. However I still enjoy a night out on the town and can dance the night away with the best of them. As one of two hosts the focus is on enjoyment.
I don’t particularly like paperwork and needless to say bureaucracy is frustrating for me. Despite this I studied and hold the Royal Yachting association International Certificate of Competence. (I had the choice for this to be ‘Yachtmaster’ but preferred to include the word International.
I like to teach and will readily show people the ‘right’ way to do anything around my boat, so absolute beginners are welcome. I hope that people feel safe under my captaincy and it is my wish that people can say that they have enjoyed my company and had a memorable experience in the very best of ways.

I advertise places on Tropicbird at new age travel.com, sailingvacations24.com , 7knots.com and floatplan.com

Come aboard my boat and leave your baggage behind

Julian — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:33:36 +0000

My boat offers a retreat from stress. You may well ask; why choose a sailing boat as a retreat? Well it’s an opportunity for you to choose to loose all that’s bad in you.

Clean yourself inside and out, on a boat. Choose a unique environment well away from temptation and social pressure. Separate yourself from electronic communication.

Try it for a while and get back to the original you, before all those nasty things influenced you to become the person you don’t like and/or am not proud to be.

Although a sailing boat retreat there is adventure as well. A proposed situation of discovery and change to your present outlook on yourself and life itself. I am offering you time aboard my boat.

Why choose my boat? Wells she has taught me many things and now I, as custodian, am offering those teachings to others.

What can an inanimate object like a boat teach a human being you may ask. Firstly I would argue the word inanimate with you since my boat tells me of the changing conditions of both the sea and the wind and of changes in her physical self is that inanimate?

I have lived on boats for eleven years and yet Tropicbird has become the closest to me. Perhaps; no definitely, because I have put so much of me into her. We have a spiritual, symbiotic relationship, I need her as a home and a means to enable my wanderlust and she, being built of wood needs me a ‘yacht carpenter’ to tend to her physical needs. For three years I have nurtured her back to life from a stagnant nearly hopeless case. We have grown individually, separately and together. We decided to choose each other!

Now it is your turn to choose to experience the benefits of this environment.

When I was witness to my mother’s deterioration and finally death due to cancer over a period of three months, she prepared herself and she prepared me for our separate futures. Since I had cared and supported my family for many years and divorced for a couple of years she said. ‘’Now that you are on your own you must do something for yourself, what do you choose to do?’

My answer was that I choose to put my carpentry tools on a boat and travel, she said this is what I must do. The rest is history as they say.

We are only on this planet for two things; to learn and to help each other. I am offering a somewhat unique venue for just that. My Tropicbird will accommodate your needs, she will provide a comfortable and safe bed for you to rest upon and a safe platform to gaze out at nature and into yourself, under the watchful eye of mother nature. Who incidentally will offer climatic changes to stimulate more thought and dictate the rhythm of your new environment.

ADDICTION and other unnecessary conditions:

I have overcome addition to cigarettes and alcohol and I have just stopped drinking coffee. (My experiments with other substances have not led to continual use, fortunately.)

(I work on my Geminian traits such as being a perfectionist and recurring O.C.D.)

CHOOSE TO HELP YOURSELF IN A UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT

IF you are willing to accept and acknowledge help from yourself then come onto my boat for a while and put it into practice, this is an environment like no other.

The crew of the boat:

Captain,

My job is the total responsibility for the safety and welfare of all persons aboard. I am also responsible for the welfare of my boat. I sail, navigate and maintain; safety first.

Mate:

In charge of the galley (kitchen) and nutrition. Organizing the domestic chores amongst the crew.

The crew:

You will be the boat crew. This new environment you will be living in must be maintained. There is the preparation of food and the cleaning up afterwards. You choose what you want to get involved in (although the mate has the final word on the domestic front) there are vegetables to chop, fish to clean, potatoes to be peeled, washing up and clearing away. There is always something to do on a boat especially when under-way; navigation, sail handling etc. (The captain is keen to pass on his knowledge, you choose to learn).

It’s not all work by any means there will be plenty of time for snorkeling, exploring, listening to music, watching movies, counting dolphins and fishing, again you choose.

DRUGS on a boat:

There are no drugs of any kind on Tropicbird. It would be unfair on you to try to get cleansed when in reach of substances you want no reminder of.

WITHDRAWAL:

Tropicbird is not equipped to deal with applying drugs to help against withdrawal symptoms. Natural abstinence is advised and you can be assured of all the attention and care you ask for to get you through. You can do this !

You just need to get out of the wrong environment and in the right one, the real world!

NOTE: If the captain feels your condition will jeopardize the enjoyment or negatively effect those aboard Tropicbird, he will refuse embarkation.

The following is a link to some views on the subject:

http://endless-satsang.com/spiritual-enlightenment-spiritual-awakening.htm