Welcome to the Crew page
SV-Always has different people join as crew along her journey. This page is dedicated to those crew members to share a bit about themselves if they choose.
Fall/Winter 2023/2024 Crew Opportunity
Always is looking for individuals who are interested in segments of the winter schedule. The '23/24 cruising season will see a US departure from Hampton, VA around November 1 for Antigua before heading across the Caribbean Sea to Panama to start a Pacific crossing. The intention is to be in Australia by early September `24. Current openings exist for all waters from the Galapagos Islands onward. Duration aboard is flexible, based on time between ports with adequate transportation capabilities.
February 1st, Always should be ready to depart Panama to the Galapagos (1,000 NM, 6-10 days – there can be calm winds in this zone). After 3-4 weeks at the Galapagos the journey will continue to Marquesas Islands (3,000 NM 18-25 days) arriving in late March. April – June will be spent exploring the islands of French Polynesia. Near early/mid July with journey will continue from Bora Bora to Tonja (1,500 NM 10-14 days). A month or so will be spent between Tonga, Fuji, and Vanuatu. By the end of August or early September, the final passage will take place between Vanuatu and Mackay Australia (1,250 NM, 8-10 days).
If you are easy-going, flexible, energetic, physically fit, a team player, and ready for extended time aboard a boat, this might be the trip for you.
Applicants should have some open water experience, be capable of standing watch on shifts (day and night), have a general understanding of sailing principals, and be willing and able to contribute to all aspects of boat life including cooking, cleaning, light maintenance, etc. Applicants should also have minimal food allergies, be a non-smoker, enjoy the water (good swimmer, snorkeling and/or diving), hiking, exploration, meeting new people, and also OK being isolated from civilization for days/weeks at a time. A US, Canadian, UK, or EU passport that is valid through 2024 is required. The ability to speak French or Spanish is a plus.
Always is captained by a US Coast Guard licensed Captain that is also an American Sailing Association instructor. He has been sailing a variety of boats for over 40 years, and over the last 18 months has logged 15,000 NM on Always. Always is Category A rated and equipped with all necessary safety gear including off-shore life raft, EPRIB, Sat phone, VHF, AIS, Radar, Garmin inReach, and Starlink. Crew will be responsible for their own transportation to/from the boat, VISA fees, on-shore expenses, and will contribute to provisioning items. Always is a dry boat during all voyages and is a drug-free vessel at all times.
Interested parties should email their sailing resume and short introduction message about themselves to [email protected].
Current and Future Crew of Always
Here are the current or soon arriving crew members to join SV-Always.
Tim Sander
Captain / Owner
An avid sailor with a passion for the sea. Tim holds a USCG 50T Masters license, is an ASA instructor, and retired IT professional who also served his community FD for 17 years as a FF/EMT.
Ilse Up
Ilse hails from Latvia and has crewed on multiple boats over the past 18 months. During that time she has sailed the waters of the North Sea, Indian Ocean, Atlantic, and now the Caribbean Sea. She joined Always in Antigua for the trip to Panama.
Jake Hillman
Jake joins us from Vancouver, WA. A veteran and retired from IT, he's looking forward to learning about the live aboard life to see if his own boat is in the future. Joining the boat in Antigua, Jake will sail to Panama and into the South Pacific. This is his first off-shore passage experience.
Thank you very much for choosing me to assist you on our journey moving "Always". I can unequivocally state that it was one of the most fascinating and rewarding experiences of my life and it was a pleasure for me to get to know you and learn from you.
Woof, woof, wooooooof. Translated, I think that means "Thank you for sharing this experience with me, I'll miss you."
Past Crew
Past Crew members of SV-Always
Thank you to those below for helping out on my journey.
Bella
Bella is an 9 yr old Labradoodle, and responsible for security. Heaven help anyone who tries to steal her Frisbee.
She was on Always from January - Sept `22 and traveled over 7,000 miles.
Clay Storer
Clay comes from Colorado. Tired of construction, and with a boat on the east coast he wants to use more, he's using this trip to expand his sailing and trip planning skills. He also seems to have become our master fisherman.
Clay was aboard from Feb - May `22 and helped navigate the waters of Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama, and the US.
Melanie
Melanie is the replacement for Phil. She is a lover of sailing but is really a cruiser with little sailing experience. She is from GA which is the primary cause of her pronouncing water as “worter.” She is a proud member of the Hudson Beach Yacht Club with her husband Dave.
Mel was aboard in April-May `22 and helped from Panama to the FL Keys.
Chris Kennedy
Chris boarded Always in Stuart Florida and helped navigate the waters of the ICW and Eastern Seaboard up to Norfolk VA in May `22. Chris had never really sailed before, but (foolishly) trusted his uncle to make his maiden voyage. Who knows, maybe it will turn into a new passion or career for him?
Phil
Phil traveled the Pacific waters on Always from Puerto Vallarta Mexico to Panama, Feb - May `22.
Brian Moore
I am a retired service member savoring sailing for the simple enjoyment of the sea. With a background in commercial maritime operations and sail racing, I’m working on gaining experience with sail cruising. This spring I completed the requirements for a USCG License and this summer I have completed South Pacific and North Atlantic crossings.
Brian was aboard for a 1700NM crossing from Norfolk VA to Antigua in November `22
Claude Dejardins
I am Canadian, retired for the past four years. Speak English, French, and Spanish. I´ve been a motor boat owner for more than 20 years. I spend my summers on my yacht in the beautiful Thousand Islands in Ontario. Well travelled, with tons of backpacking experiences. Now wanting to know more about sailing and the seas. In 2022 sailed from Banderas Bay Mexico to Costa Rica. Loved it. Now looking forward to an awesome and fun experience in the Caribbean on Always.
Claude crewed from Oct `22 to Jan `23 including a 1700NM passage from VA to Antigua
Caroline Boulet
Hello, this is me Caroline, I am a French Canadian, retired from the military. I have had the travelling bug for years, have been to many countries, enjoy meeting different people and different cultures. I've recently taken on sailing as a way to expand my travel, and cruised the Pacific coast of Mexico to Costa Rica during the winter of `22.
Caroline crewed from Oct `22 to Jan `23 including a 1700NM passage from VA to Antigua