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The Idea
The purpose of ALVEI is to allow her crew to maintain a low cost, self-sufficient lifestyle on the world's oceans, while learning the traditional arts of the sailor. To that end the rig of the ship and the style of operation have the simplicity found in sailing ships from a bygone era.
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Physical Challenges are plentiful. Activities range from steering through line handling to working aloft in heavy weather. Participants need to be fit enough for mild to strenuous physical activity.
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Back to Basics
Like the ship herself, the lifestyle is similar to what would be found on sailing ships of over a century ago.
Instead of modern winches we build and use block and tackle. It takes a team of people to 'sweat and tail' as we set and handle sail.
We row the shore boat and weigh anchor by hand. There is ample fresh water for cooking and drinking, but cleaning and bathing are done with sea water.
You can scrub your laundry on the cabin top and hang it on the Lazy Jacks to dry. There is an abundance of healthy food, fresh veggies and meat while in port with dry stores and tinned food to use at sea, but no refrigeration.
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Team Work
You will be placed on a watch and assigned duties while we are at sea and in port. Under the guidance of a watch leader and deck hand you become part of the team that sails and maintains the ship. Because of Alvei's comparatively low fee schedule, part of your contribution to the ship is in the form of helping with ongoing maintenance.
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The Experience
It is an uncommon treat to have a rolling deck under barefeet while standing at the helm with sails trimmed to catch the warm trade winds. Or to be on watch on a quiet starry night with the vast surface of the sea glittering in the moonlight. We anchor in tropical lagoons to enjoy the unhurried life of many different cultures; and sailing into the sunset is a regular event. Activities in port may include hiking, diving, snorkeling, exploring reefs, visiting with local people, buying local handcrafts, whatever is your interest.
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Sailing Ship
In former times called a Schooner Bark or Hermaphrodite Schooner, the rig is now called a Main Topsail Schooner.
This type of rig was most preferred by Privateers, Opium Runners and Slave Ships dating back to the 1830's. These small sailing ships had to be fast on all points of sail in order to survive.
Alvei now sails long Trade Wind passages using the old sailing ship routes. We can set 16 sails totaling 538 sq. meters (5800 sq. ft.) There are 139 lines of running rigging totaling nearly 7 kilometers of line. We use the main engine only to assist in getting in or out of ports which we can't enter under sail. At sea we use sail only and sometimes have slow passages.
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Accommodations
Cabins are comfortable, dry, well lit and ventilated. We have 6 two berth cabins, 4 saloon berths and a pilot berth with Captain's cabin aft for a total of 18 bunks. There are several places to meet with your friends; in the Galley and Main Saloon there are tables, a library and music system.
There is lots of room on deck and on cabin tops for sun bathing. Or you can go aloft to sit on the yards and feel the wind in the rigging. In port we spread a sunsail over the main boom to provide shade from the tropical sun.
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Duties
The crew stands regular watches at sea and in port. At sea watches may run 3 to 4 hours, with 6 to 16 hours off depending on the size of the crew.
On watch you help by steering, standing lookout, keeping deck and engine room logs and sail handling as needed. In port your watch is usually every third day (one day on, 2 days off). The duties in port on your watch day, include rowing the shore boat, doing projects on the work list, cooking, and keeping an anchor watch through the night. There are usually 4 to 6 crew in a watch to share the duties.
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On your days off you are free to create your own activities onshore or work on projects of your choice on the ship. One morning a week we have a field day when everyone participates to scrub the ship from stem to stern. Everyone takes a turn helping in the galley, sometimes there is a cook, other times we take turns cooking.
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