Help Page
How to use SailDB -- for crew members. If you are interested in signing up to SailDB as a yacht skipper, then click here instead.
Crew
The first thing to do is create a profile. You can go to the profile page by clicking here. In your profile page you need to tell us your name, your email address and phone number, and choose a SailDB password for logging in to your account.
On the following pages, you will need to tell us about yourself (your profile). This can just be a few paragraphs about yourself, that the skippers can see when they are choosing crew for their upcoming races.
You can also tell us about your sailing experience -- the number of years you have been sailing for, your approximate qualification level (YA / RYA qualification level are provided as a guide), and also tell us about other qualifications you have such as a radio or first aid certificate. You can also tell us what crewing positions you prefer -- from the bow end to the pit end of the yacht.
Searching for Yachts
Searching for Yachts and races is done under the Crew Matching menu. Just choose Find a Boat on this menu and you can see all vacancies that are applicable to your crewing skills.
Vacancies will be shown on this page if they are:
- Within your travel range (see the club name)
- Within your experience and qualification levels
- A vacancy for a crewing position you are looking for
Status of any vacancies will be shown on this page, if for example you have already accepted or declined a vacancy. Applying for or declining a vacancy is as simple as clicking one of the links shown under each vacancy -- the skipper will be automatically notified of your choice.
Periodically, you will be emailed about new vacancies that appear on SailDB -- e.g. if a skipper lists a vacancy that may apply to you, he or she can elect to send you an email about that vacancy using one of the links on the site. Again, just click one of the links in the email you receive from SailDB to apply for one of the vacancies in the emails you receive, or to decline a vacancy if you are unavailable for the date in question. Some times you may be emailed about several vacancies all on the same day or in the same series, in which case you may have to pick one to accept, and decline the others.
Privacy
Your email address and phone number are never given out to skippers on SailDB until after you have accepted a vacancy. If you receive an email from SailDB inviting you to apply for a vacancy on a yacht, your email address and phone number will be sent to the skipper only if you accept the vacancy. If you decline the vacancy then the skipper will be unable to receive your contact details.
Tips
Some tips for using SailDB effectively:
- Use the Find a Boat page regularly. New vacancies may have appeared since you last visited the site.
- Monitor your email regularly, and respond to skippers who have offered you vacancies as soon as possible. A skipper may have offered the same vacancy to multiple crew members, and it is often the first person to respond who gets to sail.
- Encourage all of your friends to join SailDB, as the more crew members who are available on the site, the more skippers will become encouraged to list their vacancies.