Free at Last! British Day Skipper Looking to crew... anywhere
Hello folks! For the last 24 years I've been a Software Engineer and self-employed for most of that time. But for a while now I have been drawn to the seas. My current work contract has come to an end and I would really love to find some volunteer or paid work at sea. I am 46 years of age, fit and healthy, and I have very few ties so I am able to commit to moving anywhere to do this.
I'm a friendly person, easy to get on with, and very much enjoy making people happy. I have a fair amount of experience being deck crew on several vessels and I currently crew on a historic ship here in Bristol (UK) as a deckie and a public guide. In the last 18 months I have taken 3 RYA sailing courses and I am qualified up to the Day Skipper level.
WHAT I'M LOOKING FOR
I would love to find a ship/boat/yacht that I could live aboard and gain more experience of being at sea, as well as learning more about sailing and generally becoming a more knowledgeable crew member. I am quite happy to do any other jobs onboard that need doing too of course :)
I would love to one day find paid work at sea, but in the short term I am equally happy getting more experience as a volunteer crew member on any type of vessel.
MY EXPERIENCE
# May 2021 to Present #
I am currently a part-time volunteer crew member on The Matthew of Bristol, a 78ft historic ship (see https://matthew.co.uk) . We take 40 passengers at a time for trips along the River Avon navigating swing bridges and locks. I work the ropes, talk to the passengers about the ship, and serve drinks at the bar. We are also open to the public when not doing trips and I talk to visitors about the history of the ship, it's design, and answer any questions they may have.
# July 1999 to Present #
My main career up to this point has been in software development. As a self-employed contractor I have worked for 18 companies in 24 years across many sectors including; defence, emergency services, healthcare and finance. I've picked up lots of transferrable skills in this time such as team leading, collaborating in teams of all sizes, and delivering results in pressured environments. (For more details on that career see https://www.linkedin.com/in/martincurriecontractor)
# 1989 to 1993 #
My first experience of crewing was as a teenager when I was deck crew on a 57ft yacht based in the Albert Dock, Liverpool (UK). I worked alongside several other very experienced sailors who taught me a lot about being a good/safe deckie in those years. We were involved in many river festivals such as the Mersey Tall Ships Parade. Our boat was used by ITV television as the camera boat to film the parades and also for presenters to conduct interviews for broadcasting.
QUALIFICATIONS
RYA Day Skipper Practical (2022)
RYA Day Skipper Shorebased (2022)
FAIB Emergency First Aid at Work (2022)
RYA Competent Crew (2021)
A degree in B.Eng. Software Engineering, Staffordshire University (1999)
Close
Excellent crew
Martin sailed on my sailboat for a couple of weeks in Dodecanese/Cyclades islands of Greece in some challenging conditions in May 2023. He is easy to get a long with and a competent sailor. I recommend him for any boat needing a reliable crew.
20th May 2023