If you are interested in supporting the Windeward Bound Trust, there are many different ways to do this.

Liveaboard Volunteering Opportunities

(Minimum 3 month COMMITMENT)

Are you keen to taste life on a sea going Tall Ship?

Are you seeking a career in the Maritime Industry?

Are you at a loose end with your life choices?

Would you like to help improve the lives and futures of young Australians?

Are you interested in halving your seatime requirement to gain Coxswain, Master <24 or MED 3 certificates of competency?

As a Windeward Bound volunteer you are volunteering to join a close knit community known as a TALL SHIP CREW. The work on board is always interesting and the opportunities for adventure are boundless.

You will receive all the training necessary to become a safe and competent crew member, part of a close knit team.

We welcome international applicants.

We have a number of opportunities for live-aboard volunteer deckhands, male or female. Windeward Bound is an all inclusive organisation and embraces diversity of gender, nationality, ethnicity, religion and creed. Sailing experience is not necessary. Full board and lodging, work clothing, safety equipment including foul weather gear and sea boots are all provided. Some scholarships to assist with gaining maritime certificates of competency are available to Australian permanent residents; your eligibility depends upon your performance and commitment.

We require of our volunteers

Age range 18 years and older
Must be average weight for height
Must be a NON smoker
Must be a non drug user and drug free
Must be able to work at heights (our crew are required to work aloft)
Must be reasonably fit and able to pass a maritime medical
Must be able to comfortably lift own weight
Minimum 6 month commitment required

If you would like to join the Windeward Bound Crew please email office@windewardbound.com.au for further information.

Or fill in the for below form for either casual or liveaboard volunteer and we will contact you.

Liveaboard Volunteer Application Form

CASUAL VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIE

Interested in volunteering with the ship, but not being a live aboard crew member? We welcome day sail and land-based volunteers of all ages.

Casual Volunteer application form

Volunteer Spotlight
Mads Kamstrup
(Volunteer 2017)

In January 2020 we received a delightful email from one of our Former Danish Volunteer Crew Members - Mads Kamstrup.

"At the International Sail Training Conference this year I was awarded the prize of Young Sail Trainer of the Year.

I was nominated for this prize by the municipality of Esbjerg, based on the short time that I have sailed, the places that I have been, number of ships that I have sailed on and the responsibilities that I have taken on. However, in the nomination form they apply a lot of the emphasis on my experience during this year's Tall Ships Race with Fryderyk Chopin, and my ability to overcome that the commands were given in Polish. While my understanding of the Polish terminology recites solely from my experience working with LOA and the resemblance between Danish and Polish (and Dutch) sailing terminology; Then my practical abilities and inept knowledge of how to locating the lines on a new vessel, is all something that I have learned from my time on board Windeward Bound…”

We are very proud to have played a small part in Mads’ success, and look forward to seeing where his sailing takes him next.

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Ben Wheatley
(VOLUNTEER)

Dear Sarah,

I hope this finds you well. I know it is many years since we have spoken, so I thought it was high time to send you an email and get back in touch. I do hope that Windeward Bound continues to flourish, and I cannot believe it is 20 years since I last sailed with you; that time has certainly flown by. I have very fond memories of my time onboard, both the time we spent sailing around Tassie and also up in NSW; I definitely learnt a great deal whilst working for you. Thank you very much for the opportunity, it is one I will never forget.

I have continued my career at sea, and since we last met on board the Stavros S Niarchos at Cork, I have progressed up through the ranks a bit. I was sailing as Bosun then I believe, and continued with the Tall Ships Youth trust for a few more years, gaining certification and eventually sailing as First Mate, until leaving their employ is 2012 - the year I got married. I have gained a lovely wife (also a square rig sailor, but not full-time any more) and two young daughters who are learning to sail small boats already at ages 2 and 5.

On the work front, I have more recently achieved my Master 3000GT Certificate of Competency and taken command of TS Pelican of London.

I am writing this from the master's cabin whilst at anchor in Golfito on the Pacific coast of Costa Rica. There is a framed photograph of Windeward Bound on the bulkhead to my left as I sit here.

It would be lovely to hear from you, and I hope perhaps that we will meet at one of the Sail Training International conferences in due course (when the whole Covid thing dies down a bit).

I sincerely wish you all the best and hope the global pandemic has left you safe and well.

Best regards,

Captain Ben Wheatley Master - TS Pelican of London

Our ships mate received this lovely email the other day from another one of our volunteer/trainees that we want to share:

Dear Susie,

I just wanted to write you a quick message to thank you. As you know, I have been working towards completing my Gold-level Duke of Edinburgh award, and have recently finished. This would not have been possible without being a deckhand aboard the Windeward Bound. I got a great deal out of the journey, from meeting the fantastic crew to learning a great deal about sailing and the structure and operation of a ship. I remain immensely grateful.

Thanks again,

Best wishes,

David Smith

From a liveaboard volunteer crew member I received today 17/03/23

Hi Fi,

I just opened the letter you sent me some time ago. I felt very strange reading it but it went straight to my heart. Thank you and I hope you can also pass it on to Susie and Sarah. Windy was the beginning of my trip on Oz and today as I’m flying back home I feel very nostalgic thinking about it. This beautiful ship was my home and everybody made me feel like part of the family. I am so grateful for everything I’ve been taught and shown. It made me grow up and opened new horizons, I had an awesome time here in Australia. Sailing from Tassie through Port Davey, Melbourne up to Sydney from where, after working for a month as a bartender I started a road trip which ended two days ago in Cairns.

I think I’ll probably be back in Tasmania in the future, I haven’t been able to see enough of it! Hope to see you and the crew again!

Cheers

Noémie