Looking for deckhand or rigging work on tall ships or other traditionally rigged craft
Hi, I'm Claire, a traditional sailor from the UK. I crew on Thames Barges (80-90ft spritsail rigged vessels) and am currently looking for opportunities on tall ships or other traditional boats!
I have sailed for a total for ~50 days on the barges over the 2023 and 2024 seasons as volunteer crew, primarily on the barge Pudge (we do a mix of charters and public cruises, and participate in a busy barge racing calendar where we take guests along as race crew and train them up on the way), and also on the engineless barges Blue Mermaid and Cambria. The barges sail primarily on the Thames Estuary, and Essex and Kent coasts. I've also sailed as paying crew on Pellew (60ft pilot cutter) and Golden Vanity (40ft gaff cutter) for a total of 23 days, on trips up the Irish Sea and across the Channel. I've also sailed on smaller gaff-rigged vessels and dinghies.
I can set and stow sails, manage sailing manoeuvres, work aloft, raise and lower the anchor, manage leeboards, steer, etc. I also have experience with traditional rigging and general boat maintenance - I help to maintain the barges over the winter, rig out and derig (we derig completely and lower the mast at the end of each season and rig out at the start - I've helped with rigging out Pudge, Centaur and Cambria), and have recently completed a project helping to make the standing rigging for the schooner Neptun of Marstal, to convert her into a brigantine. I am competent at worming, parcelling, serving, seizing, mousing, bending on sails, splicing, caulking, tarring, sail dressing, painting, sanding etc. Rigging and boat work is a great passion of mine and I'd love to get involved in any substantial traditional rigging projects!
I also play the button accordion and know a range of sea shanties and maritime songs, as well as traditional English, French and Irish folk music - I often teach guests on our cruises or charter trips how to play the accordion if they'd like :) When not sailing I work in mental health tech, building mobile apps, and I also volunteer at The Listening Place, an in-person listening service for people experiencing suicidal thoughts and feelings. I have a PhD in Neuroscience and currently live in London, but am happy to relocate for extended liveaboard opportunities or rigging projects.
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