[Fun non-profit seeks chill captain for relaxed job in the Pacific]

Hey Captains,,

Would you like a big of fun with great people for a good cause? We are looking for captains to come out and join our boat in the Pacific Islands as we do some cool things.

The vessel is mostly stationary and only moves to avoid weather or to relocate to new island groups. 
Pretty much the job is just to relax and keep people safe. We are a volunteer operation of researchers working to understand the huge problems in our key reefs. 

The areas of operations are the Ha'apai group in Tonga, Vava'u group in Tonga, Lau group in Fiji and around Lautoka a bit for chats and presentations.

You don't need to do the passages (more pay for those if you do) but we are looking for someone who wants to help a charity out on a private ship in the Islands and have a cruisy lifestyle for a few months.

Aboard the ship will be 14-18 great people from all over the world coming together to solve problems and do research. This will be our fourth year of operation in the Pacific and we have excellent safety systems and management. Mostly we are just doing dive and tender operations with the ship moving every week to two weeks to a new anchorage.

The boat is a great big reliable and strong steel vessel. She is 113 foot overall and very safe and fairly easy to operate. 

I will be there to assist in all operations and know 2/3 of the island groups very well. The ship is going through a 3 month upgrade and checkup before the voyage this year.

Our pay isn't great for a captain but we hope will be enough to make this adventure fun and not financial suicide.

Experience is needed in the Pacific and on larger boats if possible. Engineering experience is also appreciated. Masters IV ticket or equivalent appreciated but not needed in lieu of experience and references.

Please let me know if interested.

Cheers,

Craig

[Charity looking for some transport to Tonga!]

Just wondering. Is the problem more to do with the availability of parts, even just basic service items?

Absolutely this is an issue. However, you don't really need that many parts (aside from regular service items) if you just don't screw up the motor! I've spent a fair bit of time in a couple of workshops in the islands and had chats with owners (who are normally lending me their space to fix something on my boat). 

They see the most ridiculous stuff. 

 

Normally with such an idea, we just run a pilot program and see how it goes. Then we try get sponsorship, get some tools up there. Our 'Island Mechanics' are the only ones allowed to access the tools and if tools go missing then they have to make a formal request for replacements (it happens).

It's just an idea. 

[Charity looking for some transport to Tonga!]

Wow thanks all!

Yeah I met Shane actually. Is a lovely guy, owns Moorings and Tonga Beach Resort. I should actually reach out to him.

Deadline is coming a little close. Just purchased a lovely little sunburst dinghy for over there (trying to get another one so I can get two villages racing them). Maybe he can strap one to his deck. Shipping is over $800.

Yeah, transport around the islands is bottle-necked by a shortage of in service vessels. This is for a reason however.
We'd like to offer a free 2-stroke engine maintenance course in the Tongan islands next year. Another thing we found that was really asked for in the island communities. Things are going bang for silly reasons and with dire consequences.

I should start looking for sailors who'd volunteer their time to help me design a course I can teach.



 

[Charity looking for some transport to Tonga!]

Hi all,

We are urgently looking for cargo space to Tonga for:
Medical Equipment (boxed, sealed, certified)

A wooden sailing dinghy (for teaching kids to sail)

10xVHF radios (for each village to escalate emergencies) 

We are a NZ charity that gives medical training and supplies to outer island villages (teach a man to fish ideology).

A sailor myself, I sailed to Tonga on my 30 foot wooden yacht and found that there were problems in these communities that we can solve.

Our boats have a full offshore kits, at least one trained medic, yet communities of 300 have nothing.

Help us help others. Any big boats who can strap a 12 foot dinghy down to their deck?

We've already been to Opua but are now looking last ditch for non-ICA boats going up. 

Please get in touch with me

Craig Koning

Founder

Floating Foundation

021 414762
craig@floatingfoundation.net