BLUEMOMENT

Taika is a Crinan based Finngulf 33, we have been twice in this boat, each time in Class 4 with a crew of four who come from all over the place and have never sailed together before, we managed 2nd. and 4th. in class on the last two attempts and are unlikely to improve on that until Hoodlum can be persuaded to compete with the big boys. The boat is fairly well equipped but uses dacron cruising sails. We do it on a shared cost basis dividing entry fee, berthing provisions etc by four, it is expected to work out at about £170 which is cheaper than a berth on a Farr 65 and you will get more to do. Some sailing experience would be good but a cheerful affable willing nature and the ability get to sleep while skipper is snoring would be useful too. Lifejackets are worn when racing and there is no smoking below.
I am anxious to decide about the entry, so an early response would be appreciated. The entry fee is £180 so we will want £45 as a deposit soon.

Not sure whether it was my lowly rank here in the company of so many admirals or the snoring, but in the light of the limited response and being mucked about by some of those that thought they might just like to keep open an option to go; I have decided to give it a miss. My thanks to some but not all of those that responded.
Going cruising and instead will spend the entry fee on wild living.

Sorry to hear that. When I was young, being allowed to crew was a privilege and I hope I was suitably grateful. Now it sometimes appears that the crew are doing the owner a favour by deigning to agree to come sailing. Considering how few boats go racing I feel it should be a skipper's market with queues of willing crew but it doesn't seem to work like that.
Enjoy your cruise.

Sorry to hear you are not racing the week.

In my view of when owning and racing a boat, the skipper should be in charge of covering the costs of berthing, fuel and entry fee, the crew could have a kitty for the food and drink, if you were renting a house out like people do at the Scottish Series then I would ask the crew to chip in unless I was absolutely loaded I won't ask them to do this. Crew give up their work, school or college or university to come and sail but also have a good time and enjoy themselves. Then again that is my views and all boats have different polices.

Have a fantastic cruise!

Yes.....I seem to feel the same way!!! If you posted last ( Alistair??).... sounds like you anyway... lol.... Yeah.... I felt totally honoured to be asked to crew... and still do!!! I haven't asked my crew for anything this year & still been let down really badly this year.... after spending a bloody fortune on the boat too!! Can't win!
Poor joehkerr... I know the feeling.... but I've paid for everything now anyway.. as I always do!! And if it is going to be just two of us... YET AGAIN!!.... Then we'll just have to concentrate even harder on getting tactics right!!! Not easy on a 19 foot boat!!
Anyway.... if anyone wants a sail on Wee, Red October, by all means get in touch!!
See you on the water Alistair,, if that was you!! grin grin grin!!!!!!

When I raced competitively I funded everything, I could just about afford to do it in those days though it was a struggle, even when I could not be aboard through pressure of work I still paid all the bills, the exception even in those days was when we occasionally did WHYW which we regarded not as a race but as a jolly. Unfortunately I can no longer afford to pay all the costs of other peoples holidays and there are much needier charities which I would prefer to support. About £200 for a weeks sailing with bed and board on a luxury performance yacht is surely not unreasonable, compare it with a berth on the Farr above.