Hello Members My name is Dan Shank. I am 58 years old and am a retired McDonald's franchisee. Before McDonald's I spent 13 years in the family plumbing and heating business in Indiana. I have also personally built a number of houses so I am competent in a number of trades. My traveling companion and co-adventurer is also 58. Her name is Janet Jordan and is recently retired from Chase Bank after 40 years of service. I own and operate my own sport fishing boat (26ft) on the central coast of British Columbia. I spend 3-4 months each summer fishing out of Shearwater B.C. near Bella Coula. I have well over 700 sea days on this vessel and about 100 more sea days on larger vessels over 35 tons. I just finished a two week captains course (Near Coastal under 100 tons) at the Maritime Institute in San Diego and successfully passed all the tests necessary to apply to the Coast Guard for my captains license. I am waiting to hear from the Coast Guard to find out what tonnage rating they will award me based on my experience. I would guess that I will qualify for a 35 or 50 ton ticket. I am not interested in a new career or making a living as a sea captain. I just wanted to gain more knowledge to prepare me for my next adventures. My desire is to circumnavigate the globe on the water. I thrive on adventure, am very comfortable on the water and love a good story (both hearing and telling). Janet has less experience than myself on the water but spent this last summer as my deck hand and became comfortable herself on the water and proved to be a very quick learner and an efficient hand at all assigned tasks. She is also keen to see the world. We are both very clean and well organized and appreciate the work involved in keeping a cruising vessel in top shape. To that end we will participate with enthusiasm in all facets of navigating, cleaning, fixing, provisioning and food prep in order to insure minimal hassle on any passage or cruise. At present we are available around the first week of December 2009 until April 1, 2010. I will be returning to Shearwater B.C. for the summer and will again be available Oct 1, 2010. If there is any way you can help us in making contact with members of your organization who might need some help with a crossing or winter cruising adventure, we would certainly appreciate it. Again we are not looking for a paid position. Thank-you in advance for responding. Cheers, Dan Shank and Janet Jordan