LETTERS Chris McKay Marin YC, San Rafael Chris — As is the case with you before you became general manager, the Wanderer has driven or boated past the Marin YC many times, but never stopped in. Among other things, we know the club has some of the warmest weather of any yacht club on the Bay. Just about every yacht club is eager for new members these days. They have a lot to offer, so don't be afraid to make an inquiry. — rs
LATITUDE / RICHARD
⇑⇓ I WANT TO BE IN THE RIGHT PLACE AND TIME TO CREW I'm hoping that Latitude can direct me to a resource of world-cruising routes. I am looking for a simple chart or map with information, such as what months people sail certain routes, such as cruisers departing the West Coast of the Americas between February and June for the Marquesas and French Polynesia. I know I could look on crew websites, but I am hoping for a resource that I can use to be in the right place at the right time to spontaneously meet a boatowner on the docks to crew for him. Ian Stevenson Santa Barbara
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Latitude 38
• July, 2017
Ian — It's not a simple chart or map, but Jimmy Cornell has long published World Cruising Routes, a book that might come closest to what you're looking for. Nonetheless, we think we can distill the information for the best times and places to meet owners looking for crew: 1) West Coast of the Americas, particularly Puerto Vallarta and Panama, in February and March, for boats headed to the South Pacific or down to Central America and Panama. 2) Tahiti in June or July, as Pacific Puddle Jump crew — and sometimes wives — have often returned home. 3) Tonga and Fiji in October just before boats need to get to New Zealand. This is not a pleasure passage, however. 3) The Canary Islands in November just before the start of the ARC and other transatlantic rallies. 4) St. Lucia in mid-December, as ARC crews return home after a transatlantic crossing and owners need crew for parts or all of the Caribbean season. 5) St. Martin and Antigua in late April and early May for boats headed across the Atlantic or up to the Northeast. English Harbour, Antigua, is the best spot to be, particularly during the Classic Regatta in mid-April or Sailing Week in early May. There are lots of If you can't get a berth out of Antigua in opportunities, and often early May, you've got problems. on big boats. 6) The Baja Ha-Ha in San Diego at the end of October. Get your name on the Crew List now. There's also Cape Town for the South Atlantic crossing and Thailand just before the Indian Ocean crossing. But it's a long way to either of those places and there aren't as many boats concentrated in one spot. Obviously there is a possibility that you can find a crew position in a lot of other places, but the ones above have the