Update: July 12th, 2026
CREW WANTED
3 crew spots available aboard Karaka for our next adventure.
We’ll be leaving Cartagena, Colombia, around 15 August 2026,
bound for the remote islands of Kuna Yala (San Blas), Panama.
The trip begins with a few days of offshore sailing,
followed by around two months of island hopping, exploring,
and enjoying one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful archipelagos,
before finishing in Portobelo, Panama.
Since 2004, Karaka has sailed the world’s oceans as a community boat.
Over the years, we’ve welcomed hundreds of crew members,
many of them for extended stays, while completing almost two circumnavigations.
This is not simply a passage from Colombia to Panama.
We’re looking for people who want to become part of the crew,
ideally for 2 to 3 months.
Karaka is a cooperative, non-profit sailing project,
not a charter or a hitchhiking opportunity.
Everyone contributes to the running costs of the boat and takes part in life on board.
If you’re looking for a genuine sailing adventure, remote anchorages,
and community life aboard a traditional ocean-going ketch,
we’d love to hear from you.
Head over to the CONTACT page for more info on how to apply.
KARAKA has been sailing as a collective for over 20 years
Since 2004, Karaka has been sailing across the world’s oceans as a community boat, taking hundreds of crew, most of them long term, and going almost twice around the world.
It is both a sailing vessel and a human project: an adventure open to anyone wishing to experience the life of a nomadic sea gypsy.
Currently
We are currently in Cartagena, Colombia, on the Caribbean side.
Who are we ?
Karaka is a traditional steel ketch: big, broad, black, and full of character.
She was once abandoned in Hong Kong, bought for $1, and has since completed one and , and has since sailed nearly 100 000 nautical miles in all the oceans of the globe.
But Karaka is not just a boat.
It is a non-profit cooperative project, where everyone contributes to the costs and daily life on board.
Behind this project are Tom and Emma, who live on board and welcome crews along the way.
Is this for you ? Yes if :
- You want to experience a unique human adventure, far from mainstream tourism.
- You are exited about becoming a sea gypsy and learn life at sea, teamwork, and self-reliance.
- You dream of becoming part of an open community, with no barriers of age, nationality, or background.
- You are keen to discover an alternative lifestyle: simple, collective, and responsible.
Our spirit
We are not a luxury yacht: Karaka is a nomadic sea gypsy ship.
Our crew is eclectic, sometimes a little bohemian, but we all share a sense of practicality, a willingness to take part, and respect for responsibilities on board.
More than just a low-cost way to sail, Karaka is above all a life experience and a chance to discover an alternative way of living.
How to join us?
If you feel aligned with our spirit, head to the Contact page on this website for all the info.
Learn more…
To better understand our cooperative approach, life on board, and how we share costs, explore the different pages of the site.
You’ll find plenty of resources to dive deeper into the world of Karaka.
We welcome crew members from all walks of life, at different stages of the journey.
What matters most is the attitude: curiosity, team spirit, and the desire to take part.
Karaka is a non-profit cooperative: every donation helps maintain the ship and keep the adventure alive.
Thank you for your support!
Help keep the adventure alive !