Join Us

Safety is the highest priority on board Vela and she is equipped with all the necessary safety gear - You can read more about this under The Boat. 


Every time new crew members come on board, will we conduct a safety briefing and explain how to handle critical situations. We'll go through where the safety equipment is located and provide an introduction on how to use it.

When we set sail, we will also conduct man-overboard drills so that everyone on board is well-prepared and feels secure. It will always be us who determine whether it is safe to sail to the next port or anchorage.

As a crew member on board, you can expect to become part of a floating community that shares a common dream of sailing and experiencing the world both from the water and land. There may be long sails that last for days and shorter trips of just a few hours, but in all cases, we will all be part of a watch schedule to keep our shared floating home sailing during these periods.
Sometimes, we fall in love with a city, an island, an anchorage, etc., and we may decide together to spend more time in a particular place.

Boat Maintenance
Perhaps you've heard that something always breaks on a boat, and that's entirely correct! When the boat is used 24/7, it wears down, and things break. Therefore, active participation in making the boat seaworthy again is expected so we can continue our journey together.

Chores
Additionally, we collectively create a plan for cleaning, cooking, and doing dishes on board, ensuring a clean boat and avoiding potential illnesses, while also ensuring we have food on the table.

We hope this gives an impression of what to expect when becoming a crew member on board Vela. If there are any further questions, feel free to send us an email, and we'll respond as soon as we can.

Allergies
In our regular crew, we have our beloved little dog, Anker; he is a hypoallergenic dog (Bichon Havanais). No dog is 100% hypoallergenic, but this breed sheds less (we actually don't notice any shedding) and, therefore, reduces allergens. If you are allergic to dogs, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with this breed or a similar one to assess your tolerance. Our regular ventilation and cleaning on board the boat also help with allergies.
If you have other allergies, we would like to hear about them during our potential crew member conversation.

Medicine
Naturally, we have a large medical kit on board, allowing us to treat both illnesses and personal injuries that may occur along the way.
As a selected crew member, the list of medications will be sent to you along with the welcome letter, letting you know if there's anything extra you need to pack.
If you use any form of daily medication, it is of course expected that you bring it with you.

Vaccines
As you may know, when traveling worldwide, there are usually some vaccines to be aware of and some that need to be administered well in advance. Vaccines can vary from country to country, and therefore, this is also something we will discuss during a crew member conversation. Never the less it is your own responsibility to research and have recieved the right vaccines upon your arrival on Vela.

Smoking is allowed outside on deck, bearing in mind not to bother the rest of the crew. Correct disposal is a must.

Alcohol is not allowed while underway. Exceptions can occur on special occasions (half-way mark on a longer crossing, etc.)

Other substances such as drugs and other illegal items are NOT allowed.

As part of being selected as crew member for a specific voyage we will give any details needed visa, etc. It will of course be your own responsibility to reserach this and apply for the needed permissions.

Typically you will only be allowed to enter a new country if the expiration date on yhour passport exceeds 3-6 months. Therefore it is your responsibility to make sure that your passport is in order before arriving on Vela.

It is, of course, up to you whether you have taken out travel insurance in the event of sickness, lost luggage or canceled flights, etc. But we recommend having one in advance so that if something unexpected happens along the way, it won't spoil your journey.
The boat is insured with Pantaenius.

Berth fee
As a crew member aboard Vela, you will be assigned a berth. The berthing fee will vary depending on where in the world we are cruising, since the insurance fees varies from location to location. We expect the berthing fee to range between 35-45 euro pr. day in accordance with the above mentioned.

The fee goes towards insuring the boat, everyday maintenance, maintenance of the safety equipment, and maintaining any sudden damages that may occur from time to time.
In short, the funds contribute to making it possible for us to share these adventures together.

Shared Expenses
In addition to berth fees, there will be shared expenses - which will vary from country to country - The shared expenses is for provisions, fuel, cruising permits, harbour fees, etc. - which will vary depending on how much we need to go into port, but we prefer anchoring to keep this expense down.

Other expenses
Additional fun and experiences, such as dining out or a tour with a local guide, will be at your own expense.

1. Indicative journeys
All our voyages are indicative as life on the sea is always highly unpredictable. Things can break to an extent that makes it impossible for us to sail. We might spend longer periods in a particular location than originally planned due to various reasons. This is part of the long-distance sailing experience; it should be possible to sail at a relaxed pace and ensure everyone on board feels safe throughout the journey. Naturally, we strive to adhere to embarkation and disembarkation dates and locations as much as possible.


2. Payment
The berth fee should be paid before the embarkation date. Half of this amount is payable as a deposit once you have been allocated a berth as a crew member aboard Vela. Your berth aboard is not secured until the deposit is transferred and received. The remaining amount must be transferred no later than 2 months before the embarkation date. If the remaining amount is not paid by this deadline, your berth will be forfeited, and we will attempt to find a new crew member. If we succeed in finding a new crew member, your deposit will be refunded; however, if we are unable to do so, we will retain the deposit.


3. Cancellations
3.1 If you cancel before the voyage
If you cancel more than 3 months before your embarkation date, you will receive a full refund. If you cancel less than 3 months before the embarkation date, you will only receive a refund if we find another crew member to take your place.


3.1.1 If you cancel during the voyage
If you are required to cancel the remainder of the voyage, such as for a return home or to stay in a particular location, your remaining berth fees will not be refunded unless you find someone else to take your place, subject to approval by the permanent crew.



3.2 If we cancel
If we cancel an entire voyage, you are entitled to a full refund of your payment, regardless of the timing. If we partially cancel, such as if we are delayed to the agreed date, you will be refunded the berth fees for the time you are unable to spend on board.


3.2.1 If we cancel during the voyage
If both of us are required to return home to Denmark, for example due to family emergencies, the voyage will be cancelled, and you will receive a refund of the remaining berth fees. If only one of us needs to return to Denmark and the other feels comfortable continuing, the voyage will proceed as planned. In the event that both of us suddenly need to return home for a short period, and therefore Vela needs to remain in port, it may be possible, by agreement with the crew members concerned, to stay on board and look after the boat while experiencing the local area. If this occurs, a separate agreement and contract will be drawn up.



3.3 Not a good match
We carefully select our crew members, and it is important for us to ensure that every day works well for all of us. However, it is acknowledged that a different dynamic may occur when spending extended periods together in a confined space. If you find that our dynamic does not suit you and you no longer wish to be on board, please refer to section 3.1 If you cancel. Conversely, if we feel that it is not a good match, we reserve the right to disembark the individual at the nearest port. In this case, you will be entitled to a refund of the remaining berth fees minus 7 days to allow us time to try to find a replacement for the remainder of the voyage.

Last updated: July 31, 2024