Advice on 30-35ft yacht for Circumnavigation

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thomd

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I am in the early stages of planning a circumnavigation via Panama and Cape of Good Hope and aiming to depart the UK in 2013. I am trying to short list suitable yachts which would fit my budget.

I would be grateful for recommendations from forum members as to which candidates they would recommend based on following.

- Length - 30 to 35 feet
- Budget approx £35k plus £10k for upgrades
- Will be living aboard for 2 to 3 years
- Sailing shorthanded and possibly single handed

The yachts I am currently considering are Contessa 32 (proven seaboat but limited accommodation), Rival 32 or 34, Rustler 31, Nicholson 31.

I would value any views on above yachts for a circumnavigation or any other models I should consider.

Thanks in advance!
 
thomd said:
The yachts I am currently considering are Contessa 32 (proven seaboat but limited accommodation),
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Consider a Sadler 32 then, proven sea boat with better accommodation ;)

Why else would the David Sadler, the designer of both boats cruise the med on a Sadler 32, and not a Contessa 32?

Well in budget and there are enough to be able to pick and choose the one you want.

He did get buy Contest 42 to go around the world in though :D
 
doug748 said:
Rival 34 would be good.

or how about this...

http://www.ancasta.com/BoatInformation.aspx?BoatId=25002

Aries self steering fitted as well.
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Would second the Nicholson 35. Most have done galactic mileage mainly offshore. Good account of buying one and sailing it from the UK to Australia in the book Greenwich to the Dateline by Rory and Sandra Burke. Suggest you track down a copy as it makes excellent reading for bluewater prep. They also looked at the Rival 34 and Nicholson 31 but thought them a bit small, ditto the Contessa 32 although John Kretchemer sailed one around the Horn on a delivery trip so no doubting their ability at sea. It'll be all the widgets that cost the money so finding a boat with self steering in the price would be a real bonus. Look for good water tankage too!!
 
Westerly 33 centre cockpit ketch or sloop or later aft cockpit Discus version of same hull. Many have done full RTW including Dodo's Delight (Discus) with various crews of disadvantaged kids on board and including going via Cape Horn.
 
Rival 34 or 36 . Some available in varying stages of perfection. Within your budget. Highly supportive Owners Association.


Recommended that you don't sail near the Seychelles though ;)
 
Having just gone through the exercise of looking and buying a long distance cruising yacht suitable for two, so esentially single handed this is the way I looked at things.

I started with the current (now previous) boat a Sadler 32. A very good sea boat as has been mentioned and at the risk of offending Contessa 32 owners a much better boat for cruising. But the accommodation was still too small. OK for 2-3 weeks away but remember you willl be living on board. There were some irritating features, as an example sitting up in the forepeak bunk you hit your head on the deckhead! We use the forepeak as our 'bedroom' in port or at anchor so the things you do at home you may want to replicate on board (like tea in bed and read your book).

For longer passages you need stowage and tankage. Volume is the key as is size. Bigger boats hold more and travel faster so it is 'win-win'. You need to be able to live above and below decks so space for a cockpit table and a cockpit cover/tent are essential. Increasing the tankage in the Sadler would have reduced the stowage. Space for a fridge and a decent galley one that works at sea and in harbour. A deep safe and comfortable cockpit. The ability to sail in light and heavy airs, also downwind. Something the Sadler/Contessa and all of similar shaped hulls don't do very well. For your proposed circumnavigation it is almost all 'off the wind'.

As for boats to consider; Moody 33 - have gone long distances even circumnavigated, Angus Primrose raced to 4th in the AZAB in his. Moody 34 although may be outside your budget.

Warrior 35/Challenger 35 solid boats but a bit slow.

Westerly 31/33/35/36 foot models some solid yachts with serious cruising potential some really voluminous examples.

Colvic countess 33/35?

I fear your 10K refurbishment budget may be a bit light. Windvane steering will set you back 3.5K, Solar panels, wind turbine 2K, liferaft 1k, EPIRB & long range communications 2-3K, re rig & new furler (unless you are lucky) 2-3K, plus all the other new kit spares new sails etc the list goes on and on!

We bought a Westerly Corsair 36 foot but a bit over your budget. Good luck!
 
Lots of good suggestions above - you could also try doing a search on eg www.yachtworld.com typing in as many variables (eg re cost, age, location, etc) as desired, and see what turns up.
Have a look also at http://www.yachtsnet.co.uk/archives.htm (and at their brokerage section as well) - they usually have very good descriptions with lots of photos.

Re the Nic 35 mentioned for sale with Ancasta - she looks very much like the good ship 'Millie D', who I sailed on from here (Barbados) to Bermuda in April / May 2008. She then sailed back to England in July via the Azores.
Nice boat, sails like a dream, all of the outfit was a bit tired then though, and she still has her original Perkins 4-108.
No roller furling on headsail, but that wasnt really a dis-advantage, apart from a few hairy moments getting the 150% genoa down in a F 6-7 after we had been running with it for a couple of days in slowly increasing wind speed. Harry (the Aries) was the perfect crew, and steered like a dream.
I think the asking price might be a bit optimistic, but aren't they always?

Here is another Nic 35 for sale, in Tortola :
http://www.bviyachtsales.com/core/l...rl=&hosturl=bviyachtsales&&ywo=bviyachtsales&

The Nic 35 is mentioned in the Yachtsnet archives; you could also perhaps look at the Challenger 35 (we have one, sistership to the Warrior 35, nice boats).

PS - re Ricky's assertion that Challengers are a 'bit slow' - I suppose it is all relative really. Ours won't point to windward like a racing yacht, but free off a bit and she will really tramp along, and she can carry full main and (not too big) genoa up to about 18 - 20 knots apparent on the wind, doing 6 knots easily if she has a clean bum (lots of wetted surface area with the long keel) and the seas are not too lumpy.
Off the wind she is deceptive - we once did 100 miles in 13 hours on a broad reach over night passage to Martinique with just the genoa up.
 
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You would struggle to get a vancouver 32 for £35 + 10K refit within budget I would say the Nic 35 is going to be the best bet. If you can find one within budget a Barbican 33 or 35 could fit the bill.
 
Bajansailor said:
PS - re Ricky's assertion that Challengers are a 'bit slow' - I suppose it is all relative really. Ours won't point to windward like a racing yacht, but free off a bit and she will really tramp along, and she can carry full main and (not too big) genoa up to about 18 - 20 knots apparent on the wind, doing 6 knots easily if she has a clean bum (lots of wetted surface area with the long keel) and the seas are not too lumpy.
Off the wind she is deceptive - we once did 100 miles in 13 hours on a broad reach over night passage to Martinique with just the genoa up.
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That sounds wonderful to me, - I would love to do an overnight passage to Martinique!
 
Good point made by Rickym regarding living on board. Some boats can feel awfully small if you are cooped up in them for days, weeks, months. If you are attempting to convince your partner to come along with you then the boat should measure up to standard on the domestic front too, for both of you. We have a Westerly Discus and at 33 feet would fit your size and price range. They are on the big side for a 33 footer. I am 6' 3" and love the forepeak berth as it is huuuuuge! You also get a decent aft berth in the back, decent galley and loads of storage space. We have 'extended' the living space by having a zip on extension to the sprayhood that covers the bridgedeck, well worth the money. I also agree you should look at the Moody 33, and Challenger/Warrior/Voyager 35's. These boats have the long keel virtues and plenty of storage space to boot. Again good books covering these boats on long distance voyages (Breath of Angels by John Beattie and Voyages of t'early Bird by Geoff Hainsworth).
 
I would also recommend a Bruce Roberts NorWest 34’, Les Powles did 3 circumnavigations in his without any major drama’s. Ok I may be a little biased about this but they are lovely sea boats :)
 
Mentoring Scheme

THOMD

A bit off-topic I know but you may consider having a look at the Ocean Cruising Club's mentoring scheme. It was reported in last month's YM and if you go here:

http://www.oceancruisingclub.org/

and scroll down the main page you will see a write up. You get an individual mentor who ought to be able to help you with any topic as you prepare for your trip. You shouldn't think that their boats (and therefore their experience) are all way beyond your budget either. This may interest you: http://www.oceancruisingclub.org/images/stories/Flying_Fish/Flying_Fish_2009_2/pickard.pdf

Good Luck, Mark
 
rickym said:
I started with the current (now previous) boat a Sadler 32. A very good sea boat as has been mentioned and at the risk of offending Contessa 32 owners a much better boat for cruising. But the accommodation was still too small. OK for 2-3 weeks away but remember you will be living on board.
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My fiancee and I did 3 months on our Sadler 32 in Scotland (blog below) and we were living on board. :)

OK it wasn't Najad 410 luxury, but we didn't have a Najad budget.

For the OP you could also look at a Sadler 34 which should come in under your budget.

Others to look at that would probably get you RTW could be:
Nic 35 as others have said
Westerly Storm 33
Westerly Fulmar

One thing to bear in mind though....The prettiest boats aren't always the most comfortable to live on board....Likewise you'll often see live aboard boats that have fallen from the ugly tree. Guess which have the happiest crews? ;)

Oh and look at joining the Cruising Association
 
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