Am I foolhardy

[Guest]

I am 26 and have been living and working in London (Chartered Accountant) for the last four years. The huge rise in property prices has left with about £150k of equity in my house. I hate the london life and have decided to 'Sell up and Sail'.

My sailing experience consists of English Channel sailing on my fathers Sigma 362 and about 10 weeks of Med/Carib charter as Skipper.

I intend to circumnavigate the trade wind route (westabout) via cape horn leaving it to starboard (obviously). I expect to spend two years sailing with one year spent in Australia working. My crew will consist of a good friend (with similar experience)and various others joining us for different legs.

I am doing a huge amount of reading on all aspects of sailing, navigation, boat maintenance etc. I intend to do my yachtmaster in the summer.

Decisions on type of boat are incedibly difficult. I would like enough cabins for Ad Hoc chartering to friends and friends of friends to supplement income which means BENJANBAV 50ft or a very large (60ft) old long keel boat, possibly steel. The alternative is to buy a 45ft 2-3 cabin Bruce Roberts or similar. I hope to be able to buy a boat and depart within six months.

What are peoples opions on boat choice and my ability to buy and equip a suitable boat for £80k. Do I have the experience? Any opions/advice on any of the subject matter are greatly apreciated.

Will

 

[allanc]

I intend to cruise to the Azores in 2003, departing Falmouth on 10 June, cruising the Azores archipeligo, returning St Malo 13 August. This is an initial call for possible crew, please call me if you have any interest. Allan 01425 614947

 

[tony_brighton]

The Cape sounds a bit challenging - how about the Canal instead? As the owner of a Bav I'm not sure I'd advocate rounding the Horn in them - might be too much at the lighter end of the D/L ratio. You can get them cheap though... For the type of trip you describe I'd go for a 2nd hand heavier boat - perhaps one already largely equiped?

 

[snowleopard]

route query

the trade wind route will keep you in latitudes 25N to 25S while cape horn is way south and in the westerlies, i.e you would be going to windward in the roughest bit of ocean on the planet. suggest that this is unwise in anything less than a thoroughly sound modern boat. if you have a serious urge to round the horn, go eastabout.

 

[jonjo]

> departing Falmouth on 10 June

Wow! I did not realise long-range weather forecasts were that good these days.

 

[vyv_cox]

As others say, I think you may be confused as to which is the right way to go - the prevailing wind is generally from the west in southern latitudes so it's easier to go to the east. Read last month's YM for a description by the Pardeys about just how difficult it is to round Cape Horn going east. I forget the actual figures but it blows more than F8 on the nose for something like 70% of the time. They experienced almost everything from flat calm to F11 for days on end.

It is increasingly difficult to obtain a work permit for Australia - they have high unemployment and like to keep their own people working.

 

[Guest]

Re: route query

Thanks for that,

As I understand it though, there is a trade off. You either go westabout and enjoy downwind sailing throughout your time between 25N and 25S (which will be the majority of the time), but find yourself beating to windward when you round the capes. Or go Eastabout and enjoy downwind sails around the capes, but beat to windward the rest of the way.

Of course the Panama canal is the third option, but one I would prefer to avoid at the moment-doing it around the capes must give you a greater sense of acheivement!

 

[jeanne]

Re: route query

First, one years sailing[with one year in Australia] is not enough time to circumnavigate. Second, the trade wind route is through Panama, otherwise you will only cross the trades,not use them. If you think that the world is so small a place that you will get no sense of satisfaction unless you do it the hard way, then yes, you are foolhardy. If you want to stamp your 'great sailor ' ticket, then you can round the Cape of Good Hope on the way home, instead of the Red sea / Suez canal. By then you will know what the choice involves. First thing is to do some reading: Jimmy Cornell's World Cruising Routes [And a Calender] would be good,and any of Eric Hiscocks books. Don't bother with any books about 'Round the World Records/Challenges'. Buy a steel boat, you are going to go aground now and then, and steel will forgive you, and can be repaired anywhere. Buy the smallest boat you can bring yourself to sail in, otherwise you are totally dependant on crew. .This will also free up more of your cash, which will be handy when the trip takes a few more years than you thought. If you like the trip, it will take longer. Dont even think about chartering, unless you stop some where, it is a real tie to someone on the move. And Good Luck to you and your plans! We will have a drink together in Pago Pago in a few years.

 

[Sunny_Jim]

Do read "Sell Up And Sail" by Bill and Laura Cooper. Complete the "ULYSSES QUOTIENT" questionnaire to determine whether it's right for you and any relatives/ friends you expect to be involved.

If London could be under threat of attack by "weapons of mass destruction" you would be safer at sea!!

As to the length of boat - all lengths have done circumnavigations safely. But larger boats are harder to maintain and cost more in port.

It used to be held that one needed a foot of boat length for every year of your life.

Maybe your answer would be to buy a small seaworthy boat like a Virtue (26ft) in the first instance and sail it for a year to judge how you feel about it.

There are ports in the world which are full of unwanted yachts bought by 'foolhardy' sailors. Their value sinks like stocks and shares! That's the place to buy wisely when you know what you really want.

Whatever you do remember the words of the Chairman of Avis - "If you're not in it for fun or profit, what the hell are you doing here!!"

Best of luck - we are only liveaboard 6 months of the year and are meandering in retirement round the Med for the next few years.