Welcome, Expedition Team!
We’re so glad you’ve taken on the challenge of becoming part of our crew, and we can’t wait to have you on board!
We are looking forward to working with you and making your sailing experience the very best!
The following information is intended to assist your transition into the team and your expedition. It covers the basics on roles and expectations and some important practicalities, as well as everything you’ll need to prepare yourself for life on board.
OUR STYLE OF ADVENTURE
We pride ourselves on providing expeditions, adventures, whilst promoting sustainability and low impact sailing travel. The capabilities of our vessel allow us to run self-sustained expeditions globally, for anywhere from a few days to months at a time.
We are, however, not a charter cruising company, we do not provide uncompromised luxury travel, we are not an ocean-going liner, nor a superyacht.
Instead, we are a working expedition vessel that aims to empower our Guest Crew to learn about and participate in all aspects of operating a small sailing vessel whilst having a great adventure.
DOUCUMENTS FOR DOWNLOAD
Our Medical Form
Tropical Packing List
Temperate Packing List
ROLES AND EXPECTATIONS
You are joining a working expedition as a full member of the crew. As such, you will be involved in virtually all aspects of the voyage and operations. On board, you will be part of a team of up to 14 crew, including yourself.
Our expectations of you are fairly straightforward. Your team will depend on you to fully participate in everything on the boat. You will be expected to work hard to the best of your ability, to be conscientious, alert, to look after the boat and to care for each other. You will not be asked to do anything you are not comfortable doing.
Normally the first 24 hours of every expedition will be devoted to training – we may take a short day sail, or we may stay on the dock and extensively review the boat and her systems. This is an important opportunity for training and you will be shown how to do any task patiently, and for as long as it takes for you to learn the right way. This is not a graded, competitive sport but a team of partners pulling together!
As Guest Crew, you make our mission possible. With your strengths and diverse skills completing the team, we have the ingredients for success. Your involvement needn’t end when you leave the boat. As Pangaea Crew Alumni, you may continue to lead the community in protecting our marine environment by educating others about important ocean issues.
DOCUMENTATION AND FORMS
A few steps need to be taken to secure your place on board Sea Dragon. Firstly, you need to complete and submit before your trip, the following:
Our online Crew Profile Form, this provides us with your personal details, including address, next of kin details and passport, visa and flight information.
A completed and signed copy of your Guest Crew Contract, which can be found on the trip page for the voyage you are on. This outlines Pangaea Exploration’s agreements and expectations and secures an agreement between yourselves and Pangaea Exploration for passage aboard our vessel. It is important that the contract is read thoroughly and you are informed of both parties contractual obligations.
PAYMENT
Your registration is complete with a cleared payment of $500 deposit. Your complete payment is due no later than 60 days prior to departure. Prices are set and settled in $US.
Please be aware that, barring certain scenarios outlined in the crew contract, the $500 deposit to hold your place is non-refundable. If you cancel a trip, we will either provide you with a refund as outlined below and in the crew contract, or, if mutually agreed upon transfer you to a different trip.
Cancellation more than 60 days prior to trip: Deposit forfeit
Cancellation at least 45 days but less than 60 days prior: You are liable for 50% of trip cost
Cancellation at least 30 days but less than 45 days prior to trip: You are liable for 75% of trip cost
Cancellation less than 30 days prior to the trip: You are liable for 100% of trip cost
Payments may be made via direct deposit (bank transfer), via the website or via PayPal (at an additional 2.9%). See below for further instructions
*Direct Deposit
Please email us for bank account details.
*PayPal
If you would like to pay via PayPal using a credit card or your PayPal balance please contact info@panexplore.com for further information.
UPON COMPLETION OF THE ABOVE YOU WILL BE GIVEN
1. A Booking Confirmation from Pangaea Exploration
This document is intended to provide proof of your intended departure from the country where your trip originates, which is often required by immigration when entering a new country.
We advise all our Guest Crew to carry this document on your person when traveling to the vessel, to present to immigration upon request.
2. A Receipt for all monies paid to Pangaea Exploration
3. A welcome pack for your expedition
This document is intended to provide you with all the details necessary for your voyage ahead. It will advise where and when to meet the vessel, the best airports to use, ideas for local hotels, advise on travel from the airport to the marina, or marina to the airport. It will include what to pack, and have the expedition’s itinerary included.
MEDICAL INFORMATION
You will need to complete this form as it includes your basic medical history as well as any important medical information we may need in case of an emergency aboard the vessel. You will need to bring this completed form to the boat as this will be collected when you arrive.
please note: You are responsible for obtaining all required vaccinations and health prevention measures prior to arrival. If you have any medical concerns about your fitness for the voyage, please contact us and we can discuss the issue with you and our Ship’s Doctor, Dr. Spike Briggs, of Medical Support Offshore before you come aboard.
TRAVEL TO AND FROM SEA DRAGON
When making your travel arrangements it’s important to remember that sailing is subject to changeable sea conditions and the weather, so some leeway should be made in your plans for unpredictable delays and to give yourself time to allow for any holdups. You might be able to connect with other crew members in your travels to and from the boat.
COMMUNICATIONS ON BOARD
Remember that there is no internet on board, but you can send/receive short emails through the satellite phone via an offline email service called XGate. Please inform anyone planning to email you to keep their emails as short as possible, remove any previous message thread, not to use text formatting, email signatures or file attachments. Remember you’ll need to write out and bring with you any email addresses you want.
If you want to blog, please arrange to email a friend/colleague who can upload the blog for you.
If you would like to use the satellite phone, then the following charges apply:
– Very short incoming and outgoing email messages = no charge
– Sending photographs as attachments and long chunks of text = $0.10US per kB of data. So a 20 – 30kB image (this is what we usually send and is OK for web) is $2-3US
– Outgoing phone calls (incoming not possible) = $1.50US per minute
You will receive a bill on departure for any costs incurred using the sat phone.
ELECTRICITY USAGE
We have limited supplies of US plugs, 120VAC power for personal use. There are 12 VDC charging sockets available.
SMOKING, ALCOHOL, AND DRUGS
We operate a No Smoking policy on the boat at all times. We also operate under a “zero tolerance” rule for controlled or illegal drugs, as defined by the United States Coast Guard and British Maritime and Coastal Agency. This means there must be no trace of any with you.
Sea Dragon operates as a ‘dry – alcohol-free vessel’ when underway. At the Skippers discretion this might also extend to some anchorages should there be the possibility of having to ‘up anchor’.
In port, alcohol consumption should be within a reasonable limit, and whilst we will not ‘police’ this, the Skipper reserves the authority to refuse boarding to anyone who poses a risk to fellow crew the vessel, or where they disturb the harmony aboard.
KIT LIST
We recommend you pack very light. Pack in a small, squashy duffle-type bag, not hard suitcases as there is no room to store them on board. Your storage space will be in a box next to your bunk, dimensions – 50cm x 40cm x 26cm. Please avoid bringing anything in plastic packaging that will need to be thrown away.
For additional information about life on board Sea Dragon, please contact us via info@panexplore.com
