Loco

Before the human race got a hankering for fossil fuel-powered industrialisation, it was our good old friend the wind who transported us to the far corners of the globe (mainly for war, plunder and rape, but we'll put that aside for the moment). Contrary to popular belief, it is still possible to get around the world in this way, and with the right planning it can be extremely low carbon and even free!

The experience of sailing can vary greatly, from a small summerly jaunt in an over-sized pond, to an epic adventure across oceans and through storms. It probably makes sense to do one before the other, but it can be possible to get passage on a vessel with more experienced crew members without ever having set sail before.

The basics

If you want to find out whether or not sailing is for you (be warned - some seasickness is inevitable at first!) then you can try out the basics by going on one of the many short courses offered by organisations like the British Offshore Sailing School (BOSS) in Southampton. To get a qualification that is widely recognised amongst people looking for crew to help out on their yachts, you should look into taking the RYA Competent Crew sailing course. It's suitable for complete beginners and costs about £300.

Finding a boat

It can be rather expensive to buy your own yacht, but that doesn't mean you can't travel around the world on one! Helping out as a crew-member on yachts being delivered to new owners around the world is one way, and sometimes yacht-owners themselves are happy to take extra crew along for the ride. The challenge is planning your travels in such an unpredictable environment. Also, it is of course crucial that get on a safe vessel with nice people!

Boats have the equivalent of MOT tests to guarantee their seaworthiness. If you choose to try and find passage on a yacht without getting a qualification like Competent Crew, then larger vessels are probably your best bet - as well as being a more stabel ride, there are more decks for you to scrub so you can earn your keep!

Useful sites

Travelling on yacht that is not your own is never going to be as reliable or predictable as a mode of transport that you can actually book a ticket for, but there is an increasing amount of information available for people seeking passage on a ship. The following sites let you register as a potential crew member:

• Crew seekers - does what is says on the tin. You can register as an amateur or experienced crew member here and find an exciting adventure
• Yacht Movers - specialists in delivering yachts around the world. You can register as a potential crew member here
• Blue Water Yachting - a company that offers training as well as crew placement
• Global yacht services - you need to have the minimum qualification of 'day skipper' to register here, but your expenses will be covered on any crossing
• Peter Insull yacht marketing - another site which is good if you've already got some crewing qualifications

What's it really like?

Using one of the above websites, Kate was able to find passage on a yacht from Mexico to Australia whilst she was travelling in Central America. Read all about her experiences on the blog.

Depending on the nature of your adventure, and whether you are combining sailing with other modes of transport (maybe you got the train to Spain and now fancy being spontaneous), a good way to find passage is to actually ask around at marinas themselves. Posting a notice saying 'crew available' might give better results than trying to secure something via a website before you get to the sea.

The golden rule throughout is of course saftey first. Never do anything you don't feel comfortable with, especially if you are travelling on your own.