From The Guardian newspaper: Stranded at sea: amateur female sailors speak of sexual abuse by captains they met online

[WorstPitManEver]

Stranded at sea: amateur female sailors speak of sexual abuse by captains they met online

Crew websites urged to do more to protect victims, who set off seeking adventure only to be trapped onboard with a predator

www.theguardian.com

 

[WorstPitManEver]

"
Over the past six months, Guardian Australia has spoken with more than a dozen women who say they have had negative – sometimes terrifying – experiences after meeting skippers through popular sailing websites such as Crewbay. Their claims include sexual assault and harassment, while others were made to feel unsafe.

All of the women had been offered what they thought was the opportunity of a lifetime: cheap accommodation and international travel in exchange for volunteer work on sailing vessels. Instead, some say they found themselves in a nightmare situation alongside volatile or predatory skippers on the high seas, with nowhere to escape.

Both Crewbay and the Australian-based Find A Crew boast of having extensive global networks of crews and captains, allowing experienced and amateur sailors to be matched with boats around the world. On-site testimonials recount glorious adventures and the joys of finding new lifelong friends.


The sites insist the vast majority of users have a positive experience and that they have processes in place for evaluating complaints, and verification systems for paying clients."

 

[LB 15]

Puts a whole new spin on the expression 'Paying for a ride'.
The are cunts in all walks of life, sailing being no different. There is a skipper here in QLD that has a long history of sexualy harrasing female clients. I have benn aproched by several of his victums and reported him to the athorities but without a formal complaint they can't take any action. All the women are terrified to come forward as he is a very dangerous cunt. We did what we could to fuck his business here and drove him out of SE QLD but he is now in the Whitsundays. If any of you know women planing a witsundays adventure, I can't name him but he is a fat cunt with a South African accent and a million bullshit stories.

 

[Steam Flyer]

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

That goes double for offers to women of exotic luxurious travel.

 

[SloopJonB]

When responding to an ad they probably should ask themselves one question - "why has this guy been unable to round up crew"?

 

[slug zitski]

Nothing is for free…sin or swim

any person that doesn’t know this is …a fool

 

[billsreef]

Nothing is for free…sin or swim

any person that doesn’t know this is …a fool

Are you saying any women taking a volunteer crew position should expect and be accepting of sexual assault and abuse?

 

[charisma94]

Are you saying any women taking a volunteer crew position should expect and be accepting of sexual assault and abuse?

That's exactly what he's saying. Slug is a grub.

 

[TJSoCal]

Maybe crew websites can do more (not sure what though) but seems like women should also be responsible for vetting their potential skippers. Just like dating websites, you have to evaluate safety for yourself and not rely on the internet to do it for you.

 

[kent_island_sailor]

If the boat in question cannot get crew from the area where people know the boat, that is kind of a warning flag right there.

 

[Gissie]

Two of us needed a third for a delivery from Capetown to Caribbean. Last minute a saffer chick jumped onboard, good looking but certainly exaggerated her skill level. Five days out she asked us why we weren't trying to get into her pants, sounded a bit disappointed. Explained we had a long way to go and fuck getting into that sort of shitfight. Things can get bad enough after 30 days at sea without tossing sex into the mix.

 

[Howler]

Maybe crew websites can do more (not sure what though) but seems like women should also be responsible for vetting their potential skippers. Just like dating websites, you have to evaluate safety for yourself and not rely on the internet to do it for you.

There are clubs whose purpose is to match crew and skippers, who actually have a vetting process. To become a crew, you have to sail with a couple of different members, who report back to the membership committee. To become a skipper, you have to take a couple of different members for a sail, who report back to the membership committee. Anyone acting badly can be flicked. It's more for long-term regular sailing opportunities than for one-off voyages.

 

[markwbird]

Of course this happens. doesn’t surprise me at all. Men are pigs and a man advertising for a female crew is doing it because he cannot make a relationship work under normal social circumstances because he is damaged. Ladies, you need to know this: men are pigs.

 

[Autonomous]

Projecting?

 

[SloopJonB]

Of course this happens. doesn’t surprise me at all. Some Men are pigs and a man advertising for a female crew is doing it because he cannot make a relationship work under normal social circumstances because he is damaged. Ladies, you need to know this: Some men are pigs.

FTFY

 

[Bristol-Cruiser]

I think a major warning sign would be someone advertising for female crew only. If your goal is to cross an ocean gender shouldn't matter - you are looking for competence.

 

[dogwatch]

I think a major warning sign would be someone advertising for female crew only. If your goal is to cross an ocean gender shouldn't matter - you are looking for competence.

It would but I know of a reputed serial advertiser and pouncer who does not request female crew only, though one imagines they are more likely to be recruited as crew. His reputation precedes him but would not necessarily be heard by those moving outside relevant circles. Mothers of 20th century debutantes used to circulate lists of men who were NSIT (not safe in taxis). I guess NSIY lists are now required.

 

[Bristol-Cruiser]

It would but I know of a reputed serial advertiser and pouncer who does not request female crew only, though one imagines they are more likely to be recruited as crew. His reputation precedes him but would not necessarily be heard by those moving outside relevant circles. Mothers of 20th century debutantes used to circulate lists of men who were NSIF (not safe in taxis). I guess NSIY lists are now required.

I guess someone could just advertise for crew with the intention of ignoring any male applicants.

 

[GH41]

A woman would be a fool to think a man isn't going to at least ask for it. Remember... A stiff dick has no conscious!

 

[justsomeguy!]

"Conscience".