Craftsmanship, knowledge & community

Volunteer

Volunteer on board!

Right now, we are in our home port in Gothenburg and working with maintenance. When we are working on bigger projects, we  need more hands. For example, when we cover the ship for the winter. In these kinds of projects, we warmly welcome volunteers. We will announce these opportunities to volunteer on our social media channels. Stay tuned!

Below, you will find general information about volunteering on board the Götheborg.

Would you like to volunteer?

As a volunteer, you get the chance to pick up knowledge about traditional materials and learn craftsmanship on board. What is required to keep an 18th-century ship in good shape? What materials were used at that time, and what is used today? How is a lashing made? The tasks varied and can revolve around anything from taring ropes, scraping the hull, to working in the rigging. But also help in the galley (kitchen) and so on. 

Volunteers are essential for the maintenance of the ship and keeping her in shape. Being a volunteer on board is an excellent way to get to know the ship and learn from others. The practical work gives you hands-on experience in a delightful kinship together with our permanent crew and other volunteers.

What does it mean to volunteer?

As a volunteer on board the Götheborg you work with maintenance while we are in port in Gothenburg. Unlike sailing along as a deckhand, you don’t pay to volunteer. The work as a volunteer is unpaid, but we offer lunch, not to forget, a great and friendly group of people to hang out with.  

Photo: Linda Åkerberg/Wilderness Stories

Working at heights

Volunteering may involve working at heights. It is an opportunity to experience what it is like climbing and helping with the rigging.

Climbing the rig and working at heights is also a big part of the work done on board while sailing. It is common to initially feel a certain unease when working at such heights, but most people get used to it quickly.

We offer

(This applies to our events, not our regular volunteer weeks.)

  • A great group of people and a nice and welcoming atmosphere. 
  • Lunch at a nearby restaurant (meat, fish or vegetarian). We also have morning and afternoon fika. You need to bring breakfast and dinner. You can use our office kitchen.

Photo: Linda Åkerberg/Wilderness Stories

Bring with you

  • Work shoes, preferably with steel cap, that will be dirty after a day on board.
  • Clothes for warm layers sush as long jons. Work clothes will be available on board.

Photo: Linda Åkerberg/Wilderness Stories

Expectations

  • Be prepared to do whatever maintenance that is going on at the moment.
  • Maintenance can happen inside the ship, outside of the hull and in the rig, high aloft.
  • Ship life includes galley- and cleaning work.
  • Be able to enter the rig at high heights.

How to apply

We will announce volunteer weeks and possibilites on our social media, both on Facebook and Instagram, with instructions on how to apply. Stay updated!

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Spring is truly here, and we’ve started getting ready to rig all three topmasts. We’re now looking for help with applying tar to the standing rigging. You’re welcome to join us for anything from a full week to just half a day. Unfortunately, we can’t offer accommodation, but we do provide lunch and have work clothes available. Please bring clothes you don’t mind getting dirty to wear underneath, depending on the weather. If you’re interested, please send an email to volunteer@gotheborg.se