Sailing Ape
New Member
Hi all.
I have been offered a Dufour classic 30 (1998) which is currently under a Spanish flag and moored in the north of Spain. The current owner is a naval engineer who sails it at least once a week and keeps the boat impeccably maintained, so condition is not a worry. The only things that I might do are update the electronics and possibly add windvane steering.
This has created a huge dilemma for me as I love sailing, but am relatively new to it and have not owned or chartered a boat myself before.
I have some good experience crewing and skippering passages in different locations (Atlantic, Mediterean, Biscay, cross-channel and Solent) and I have sailed this boat single-handed, so handling is not an issue.
The thing is that I have never been fully responsible for a boat or had to deal with the realities of boat ownership (registration, insurance, maintenance etc.)
So my questions to you all are:
a) Is this a good first boat?
b) Is it worth it sailing her to the UK, re-flagging her here and keeping her as a weekend cruiser/bolt-hole in the Solent or Brighton, or leave her in Spain under Spanish flag, though maybe moving her to a slightly warmer area?
If I had a boat here in the UK, in a location that was an easy reach from home for the weekend, chances are that I would go most weekends for sailing, tinkering and as a mobile holiday cottage. In Spain she would still be used, but much less frequently and probably only during the summer months.
Don't know. Really torn here and would welcome everyone's thoughts.
Thanks,
Chris.
I have been offered a Dufour classic 30 (1998) which is currently under a Spanish flag and moored in the north of Spain. The current owner is a naval engineer who sails it at least once a week and keeps the boat impeccably maintained, so condition is not a worry. The only things that I might do are update the electronics and possibly add windvane steering.
This has created a huge dilemma for me as I love sailing, but am relatively new to it and have not owned or chartered a boat myself before.
I have some good experience crewing and skippering passages in different locations (Atlantic, Mediterean, Biscay, cross-channel and Solent) and I have sailed this boat single-handed, so handling is not an issue.
The thing is that I have never been fully responsible for a boat or had to deal with the realities of boat ownership (registration, insurance, maintenance etc.)
So my questions to you all are:
a) Is this a good first boat?
b) Is it worth it sailing her to the UK, re-flagging her here and keeping her as a weekend cruiser/bolt-hole in the Solent or Brighton, or leave her in Spain under Spanish flag, though maybe moving her to a slightly warmer area?
If I had a boat here in the UK, in a location that was an easy reach from home for the weekend, chances are that I would go most weekends for sailing, tinkering and as a mobile holiday cottage. In Spain she would still be used, but much less frequently and probably only during the summer months.
Don't know. Really torn here and would welcome everyone's thoughts.
Thanks,
Chris.
