Suva Crew!

Joining the Suva crew is a rewarding and fun experience—and no prior sailing knowledge is required! We will provide all the training you need to become a safe and effective member of the crew. 

Suva’s crew is composed entirely of volunteers with varying levels of experience, skill, and knowledge. As a crew member, you are not only learning to sail a historic schooner but also helping to promote the mission of the Whidbey Island Maritime Heritage Foundation.

Your role aboard Suva extends far beyond technical tasks like hoisting sails or tending sheets. You serve as a customer service representative, narrator, naturalist, historian, conservationist and teacher. Our goal is to provide an exceptional experience for our guests, ensuring their time with us is much more than just a boat ride.

Important Deadline:

Applications for new crew are accepted from January 1 until March 30. Due to training requirements and the start of the sailing season, we cannot accept new applications after this date.

Come join the Suva crew!

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

• Be at least 18 years old or 16 years of age with a parent.
  
• Be physically capable of mild exercise, such as raising and lowering sails.
  
• Sign our drug-free workplace compliance policy and pass an initial drug screening.
  

As a crew member on a US Coast Guard-certified commercial sailing vessel, participation in an initial and random drug testing program is mandatory. The WIMHF contracts a third party to manage this program and ensure compliance with federal regulations. A portion of your membership fee covers these costs, including your initial screening.

Once you sign up, our compliance program coordinator will provide details regarding your "pre-employment" drug screening. While your results are pending, you may train on board Suva; however, you cannot serve as crew on a commercial sail until your results confirm full compliance, which typically takes a few days. 

CREW POSITIONS

This guide will help you understand the responsibilities and qualifications for each role on the schooner Suva. Crew on board the schooner Suva consists of a captain, bosuns, deckhands, and apprentices. 

Our training program is designed to support your in achieving your desired level of qualification. While we typically sail with 4–5 crew members, the exact number varies by trip.

Apprentice

Apprentices are new trainees who work under the direct supervision of qualified crew. No prior sailing or seamanship experience is required. Once you pass the initial USCG drug screening, you may serve on commercial sails.

Deckhand

Deckhands have completed the necessary training requirements and work on deck under the supervision of Bosuns. Responsibilities include:

Bosun

Bosuns (boatswains) are ship’s officers who manage deck operations, training, navigation, and engineering under the direction of the Senior Bosun or Captain. Bosuns supervise and manage deck operations, work parties, training, watches, navigation and engineering operations.

As the "keepers of the boat," they are responsible for maintaining the rig and structure. Bosuns must maintain current CPR and first-aid qualifications.

Senior Bosun (Chief Mate)

Second in authority to the Captain, the Senior Bosun supervises the entire deck and engineering crew and oversees the daily operation of the vessel, including crew training and quality control. This role requires a Washington State safe boating license, in-depth knowledge of boat systems, and the ability to maneuver Suva under both sail and power. More…

Captain

The captain is licensed by the USCG and holds ultimate responsibility for the safety of all persons on board and legal compliance. All Suva Captains must have extensive sailing experience and operate under the direction of the USCG and applicable federal and state laws, and the WIMHF Board of Directors. Required credentials include:

If you hold these credentials and are interested in serving as a Captain, please let us know—we are happy to help you get started!

SHIP'S ARTICLES

The Ship's Articles, also known as "shipping articles" or "articles of agreement," are a formal agreement between a ship's Master and its crew. Dating back to the 1700s, these documents traditionally outline conditions of employment, wages, voyage details, ports of call, and standards of conduct. While these agreements were originally verbal, they became formalized as literacy among sailors increased.

Today, while formal articles remain a requirement for larger commercial vessels, we maintain an informal set for the schooner Suva. These articles serve as an agreement between WIMHF and our crew, embodying our culture and standards for how we interact with one another and our customers.

All crew members are asked to familiarize themselves with and sign the Suva Ships_Articles.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Members of the Suva crew will receive a weekly email re: crew and training opportunities. To volunteer for these events, just reply to the email; the Schedules Officer will assign crew members based on availability and qualifications.

Contact Suva/WIMHF Membership for questions re: Crew Membership Application.

Sign up to become a crew member.

Continue to read more about Crew Training.