frequently asked questions

General

Q: How do I view sailing opportunities ?

A: You can see all the latest opportunities even before logging in as a member. Click on the yellow Sailing Opportunities button to view.

Click on the quick links to view the most commonly used boat pages.

Q: How do I search for specific boat requirements ?

A: From the home page go to the search box click on the first drop down list to search for other sectors i.e. short notice board ,professional, cruising delivery etc  You can then fine tune or widen the search from the other boxes if below if you wish. Press search and the results appear in the opportunity page.

Q: How do I contact yacht owners ?

A: If you wish to contact the owner simply log in then click the button "View Contact Details" - you can the contact the owner direct from the page at any time without the need to request details from us first.

Q: My user name and/or password does not work

A: Please check that the spelling is correct and you are using the latest password advised to you. All characters are case-sensitive.

Your user name is your email address currently registered with Crewseekers.

If you need to be re-advised of your password at any time, go to the green login box, click on "forgotten password" and enter your listed email address then submit.
A new password will be automatically sent to your email box .

Q:How can I change my Password ?

A: You can change your password after log in by going to the crew seekers members area (blue button) and click on Change Password in the left hand column. For security reasons this needs to be at least 8 characters a mix of upper and lower case text and at least one digit. You will be advised on screen when successfully changed.

Q: How do I renew my Membership ?

A: a) If you have previously used our new website and have a username and password :-


Login and go to the blue crew seeker member area.
Select membership status/details
Your personal details will pre-full the boxes - simply choose extend/renew as appropriate
Select the membership period required
check your details are correct and submit
Complete the bank details

Once you have successfully completed the form and secure banking you will receive full instructions on screen and you can use the service immediately.

Your log in details and further instructions will be sent direct to your listed email box.

You can log in change your details and renew your membership in future at any time.

   b) If you were a member sometime ago :-

If your membership expired some time ago and you have not previously been issued with a user name and password , in order that we have your up to date details and requirements, please register as a new crew member by going to the Crew Seeker Area (Blue button) and click on Crew Registration.

Q: I am registered as a Yacht Owner and a Crew Member - can I use the same email address ?

A: If you are registered as a yacht owner and a crew member your email address is your user name and this has to be unique for you to log in as crew or yacht owner as they are different services. To get around this issue we need to have one email address for you as a crew and a different one as a yachtowner.

Q: Direct Sailing Adverts

A: Adverts appear in the Direct Sailing Section ( blue button) - the advert list order and example also shown at the foot of the home page are randomly positioned each time you view to give all users equal ranking and keep the content of the pages fresh.

Q: How do I advise a change of personal details?

A: Members can now login in to their corresponding members area and change their details. Alternatively members can also contact us by email to info@crewseekers.co.uk or by calling our membership helpline on UK 01489 578 319.

Q: Does my age matter?

A: Crewseekers are pleased to accept members of all ages. we have many members well into retirement age and enjoying a fit and active lifestyle. Our oldest crew member is over age 80 and still sailing regularly! All we ask is that young crew under age 18 have parental/guardian consent.

Yacht Owners

Q: Are all the positions available listed on your web page?

A: Yes - we update all our web pages daily and all new boat details are added to the foot of the appropriate page. As soon as we know a position is filled we will remove details from the web but if a yacht owner has filled a berth or changed their mind and forgotten to let us know please tell us !

Q: Do yacht owners contact members directly when new positions become available, or do members have to consult the web pages themselves?

A: Crew members choose the boats that they wish to sail with and then contact the owner direct. Email is very popular but we recommend following up with a phone call whenever possible as this usually improves chances of getting aboard.

Q: When a member contacts an owner or captain but no arrangements are made, can one immediately ask for other references?

A: Yes. However, after you have contacted several owners by email and followed up by telephone where possible if you are still available and actively looking for a berth please let us know and we will try and help.

Crewseekers

Q: How much is crew membership?

A: Please see our Crew Registration Form for current membership rates. Membership is immediately available worldwide.

Q: Am I guaranteed a berth or a job?

A: We are unable to guarantee berths as we are not a charter company or job agency and the decision to take crew on rests with the yacht owner/skipper. As soon as we know a position is filled we will remove details from the web site but as you appreciate crew are in negotiation with the owners all the time so a berth may be taken but not yet advised to us. Membership is for either a 6 or 12 month period and if you are flexible you should be able to arrange suitable sailing during that time.

Q: Do I need a Visa to work or travel abroad?

A: Requirements vary depending on each country to be visited. Please discuss this with the yacht owner/skipper when making arrangements. We also recommend that you check with your own embassy or see the Foreign & Commonwealth web site on our links page for more information.

Q: I have sent several emails and my Resume to owners but have not yet managed to secure a job placement

A: The best way to get on the yachts is to actually speak to the owners as just sending a CV by e-mail is not usually sufficient. If you are looking for paid work latest jobs will appear at the foot of our professional pages. All other positions usually expect you to pay to get to/from the boat and to pay for your food aboard. We suggest you send your resume and a covering personal note then follow this with a quick phone call to the owner. Try going back to some of the many owners whose details we have already sent to you in the past month. If they do not have a berth available please tell us.

Q: I am interested in being part of a crew but have no experience. Is it possible to get a job and learn on the job?

A: We have several owners who will help voluntary crew with training - these boats are usually marked "all experience levels welcome. Paid positions appear on our professional pages but usually require at least some basic sailing experience.

Q: Tell me what the Crewseekers International opinion is on the best preparation for getting a job within the yachting industry? (Classic Boat Magazine for a feature on "How to Crew" scheduled for July 2004 issue)

A: Here are a few general pointers which we hope will inspire!

Prepare for the interview and find out as much as possible about the owner/skipper and the job before the interview. We are often asked about jobs on Cruise Ships which is outside our own business area!

Good negotiation skills - consider the whole package ie. Holidays, medical cover, travel cost to/from vessel and daily living expenses rather than just the pay.

Strong people and team work skills - working in close confines can be demanding and everyone aboard needs to get along with each other.

Gain as much practical experience and the right skills for the job by trying as many different types of work as possible.

Try some voluntary sailing to gain the right experience. Members of Crewseekers have access to voluntary and paid sailing opportunities.

Consider the approved RYA professional training courses when appropriate.

Develop a quality resume and get help with this if required -there are several agencies that can help. (See our link page for info). We recommend max 2 pages A4 size and no large graphics as files that download too slow usually get deleted!

Check Visa and passport requirements with appropriate embassy or try the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) web site on our link page.

Be pro-active. Talk to the owner to arrange the interview where possible - just sending a CV by email and expecting a reply is not usually good enough.

Be persistent and don't give up at the first hurdle - if unsuccessful ask the owner why and how things can be improved for next time and learn from the experience.

Keep your personal contact details up to date with agencies and also make sure you set a professional answering message to your mobile phone - boat owners have complained about not being able to urgently reach or identify the crew member properly when they call and will usually then look elsewhere.