Look for a fleet. A fleet refers to any group of recreational sailboats that travel as a group from one location to another. Many fleets hire crew to help transport the boat from one location to another, and even people with minimal to no experience but a willingness to learn can find a job in a crew.
Look for rallies, events or races coming up in coastal towns. These events often bring in a large number of ships and more opportunities to be hired as a deck hand.
Ask around for ships looking for an extra hand. Check out the local watering holes and don't be afraid to ask individual captains on the docks for any advice or a heads up on who might be hiring.
Give good reasons why you want to work on a sailboat. Many wealthy individuals will hire a crew to sail the boat from one location to another while they fly to their summer or winter getaway, so captains often are happy to bring along an extra pair of hands if you appear ready and willing to learn and work hard.
Work hard on any boat you get hired on. A good recommendation can go a long way towards getting a second job.
Save up the income to purchase a good sailboat. Sailing around the world requires a solid vessel that will hold up to the wear and tear of ocean tides and any inclement weather.
Purchase a high quality sailboat.
Familiarize yourself with the boat. Every sailboat is going to be slightly different and you want to know how your boat operates before jumping into a world wide trip.
Take a small trip or two ahead of time. Actually sailing your boat for a weekend or a week will help you to get used to handling your sailboat and work out any problems before setting off for an around the world adventure.
Plan your route in detail, based on your nautical maps and paying special attention to hurricane or typhoon seasons, ports, and setting up a back up plan if things should go wrong.
