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Crew a yacht on sheltered waters & explore by kayak

The experience

Welcoming one or two crewmembers aboard a 53ft sailboat moored offshore in Brentwood Bay, Vancouver Island. Enjoy life close to the elements. Duties include some very easy, shared topside and cabin cleaning, and assisting with resupplying food and cooking fuel from the town or market (all costs covered). There is a spare bunk at midship, a galley, and a bathroom aboard. I will outfit you with a kayak, and would gladly teach you how to paddle.

What you offer

1 hours of help per day

Teaching Languages: Teaching a language to the host, guests, or local communities.

Cleaning: Help clean the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas.

Housekeeping: Help with changing the bed linens and general housekeeping.

What you get

3 days off per week

Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.

Tent: You will sleep in a tent at a camping site.

Breakfast: You are entitled to a free breakfast, every day of your stay.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Dinner: You are entitled to a free dinner, every day of your stay.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Free Tours: We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!

Free Hiking Tours: We’ll take you on excursions and hikes around town. For free!

Language lessons: Take free language classes at our place.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely

Requirements

Beginner English

Under 40 years old

Only hosts solo volunteers (doesn’t accept couples or partners)

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

This is an on-water, off-grid living project close to the amenities of a marina and town. The objective is to live well and sustainably in close proximity with nature. Along the way, we aim to improve our quality of life, and figure out what is and isn't essential to our evolution and wellbeing. As we live with the seasons and learn to thrive with less, we also adapt to the environmental changes and economic pressures now facing our civilization.

What’s provided:

Accommodation: Comfortable bunk bed in the midship section of the cabin. At 53ft, this is a relatively large yacht with generous living space, and heating. I sleep in separate quarters in the bow.
Food: I can prepare simple, nutritious plant-based (vegan) meals. If you would like to cook, I'll provide ingredients. Let me know if you require meat & dairy so that I can purchase these for you.
Kayak & gear: I will outfit you with a suitable kayak, paddle, and life jacket from my workplace. You can use a stand-up paddle board if you prefer. Or try both.
Paddling instruction: I can teach you.
Wifi: two options. There is a strong cellular signal on the boat, and if you carry mobile data in Canada, it should work well. If you arrive without cellular data, I will create a hotspot for you, from my phone. If you are a student or digital nomad requiring unlimited fast internet, we'll hook up Starlink and split the cost ($25/month each).
There is a bathroom aboard. Showers and laundry are on the dock, a few minutes' paddle away.

Nearby fjords, trails, and campsites to visit.

If you want to delve into the philosophy that underpins this project and my will to explore alternative ways of life, here is some of my writing:
https://earthpunkacademy.wordpress.com/page/2/
(see 'mission' and 'principles')


Activities & Shift

Tasks average less than 1 hour per day, and only while we’re aboard the yacht.
If we go camping, there are no boat chores. You can set your own schedule, and enjoy your free time exploring the bay & region. There is plenty of time and enough space for study, writing, art, or online work on board.

Here's the kind of things we'll be doing:

-Basic topside cleaning (a broom dipped into the ocean).
-Keeping the cabin tidy, just like any other shared living space.
-Accompanying me on foot (15–30 minutes each way) to the town or farmers’ market for food, cooking fuel, and other supplies.
-Loading goods into kayaks and paddling them back to the yacht.
-Helping with other boat-life tasks as they come up.
-Anything else you want to contribute - art, writing, language, music, poetry or monologues.

I will be actively involved in all these tasks and more, either alongside you, or separately.

The minimum stay is listed as two weeks, as that's about how long it will take to establish a routine, make some basic adaptations to life here, and see your immediate surrounds. But this is just a suggestion. Let me know your preferences, and we can negotiate a shorter or longer stay.

Rules

-No drugs, alcohol, or smoking aboard please. Medical needs excepted. If this rule is a barrier for you, let me know and we can work something out. I am open to discussion on all things.