Any Advice Welcome

[newtosailing]

Hi all

Having read many of the entries on this forum over the last year or so - which provide great amusement and inspiration - I am just entering the planing stage for what will hopefully be a voyage from the UK around the med and then onto South Africa.
By way of background - I only really got into sailing 2/3 yrs ago and most of my experience to date has been as a crew member - largely in the solent area. Other than that I've crewed around Cherbourg area and did a passage from Penzance to Cork last yr for Cork Week. I did the RYA Day Skipper theory last yr and the practical early this yr. Thus far, I've only been the skipper for a couple of weekends and hence I recognise I need to get a lot more experience before I set off on the venture. Which I guess is why I am posting this. I am not a boat owner but a kind friend has allowed me us of his Hanse 301 to get more sailing experience whilst I consider what boat to buy and where to moor it etc etc. I am hoping to set off in 2yrs (by which time I am hoping that I can take as much time off as is required/desired). The plan is do this with the other half (provided that between now and then the heated arguements we've experience when sailing have diminished !).

I suppose my questions cover a myriad of subjects - so in no particular order;
a) if you were in the same situation - what would you do over the next 2 yrs to build experience (other than sailing around the solent!)
b) would you recommend doing the RYA Yacht master courses;
c) should the boat I buy be the one that I have in mind to do the voyage; if so - any advice on choice ? e.g size, necessities etc
d) how much sailing experience would you consider prudent/appropriate for my partner to have before the voyage;
e) I would welcome any comments from others that have sailed down to south africa - e.g which route is advisable, timing considerations, areas to avoid, etc
f) anything else that is worth considering that isn't covered by the above!

Sorry for the wide ranging nature of my questions. I look forward to any advice/comments. Thanks

 

[Swagman]

Hi You,
Great to hear of the plans and good luck in putting them into actions.
I'd suggest you combine purchase of a small yacht to prefect your 'skippering' skills with partner and also secure an off shore racing crew spot (for self or both) over same period.
That will get you out in conditions regadless of how warm the bed is - and combined with books and courses should see you rapidly increase confidence.
I should also say try to gain cruising experience year on year before you go - slowly extending range etc. I should say that.

But practically I've watched loads of pals shove off with us all shaking our heads - and some of those are still shaking when the departees have reached the Pacific!

Enjoy

JOHN

 

[Das_Boot]

If you can both bear sailing then get your own boat asap and the one you are going to keep. I have found that every boat has its own charactaristics and this is the most important thing. How much sail in how much wind what is her leeway etc etc. Get to know YOUR boat it is the one you are going to trust your judgement and life to..
If buying a second hand boat only look at the things that last a lifetime on a boat. In my mind unless you have anderson winches, the mast hull and boom, write the rest off. Including the engine. Unless of course it was built within the last 5 years. Even if it is only 5 years old write the standing rigging off and all of the ropes. Write the electronics off the electrics should last a lifetime but of course not the batterys. Once you have written all of this off add up what it will cost you to replace everything then add it to the purchace price of the boat. This way you wont get a fright.
I am leaving this year for SA and have just gone through the same process as you only a couple of years ahead. I would while I am here get a yacht masters up to at least Coastal level. Just in case the gov changes its mind and makes it compulsory it would be a bummer if you were half way arround the world and find all of sudden it is a requirement.
Just do it.

 

[peteandthira]

Hi

We are planning the same thing with a similar amount of experience, with the addition perhaps of a year on our own boats, so I have been skipper for most of my time. We have bought a new Legend 36, mostly for the comfort, storage space and ease of sailing. We have no house, a reasonable pension and get on well together in small spaces and don't care about the lack of domestic amenities. We have a genny and most of the toys and have sailed about 700 miles in the Legend, mostly weekends at every opportunity. We are a lttle scared of the immensity of the plan as it formulates, but time will be on our side and we don't care how long it takes to get to the Med from Scotland. We bought the boat that we wanted and are getting to know her in as many conditions as we can. She is cool in up to 35 knots single handed at the moment, we now wish to trial a storm jib in 40 plus but there is no hurry!

We actually have no real "plan" as yet, merely hoping to make each leg of the trip as considered and as safe as possible armed with lots of weather forecasts and close scrutiny of everything from pilot guides, charts, chart plotter and spare GPS. Radar too if required. Fortunately for me I am a long term RAF pilot and most of these things are second nature except for the paper qualifications and more experience. I am doing my coastal skipper this year and plan to do the YM early next year before breaking the rubber band next May.

I am sick of "normal life" and am only happy when on my boat with SWMBO. She is totally dedicated too, no kids and equally fed up with living in a house with the same view outside all the time. I would be happy to swap emails with you if you wish, although I too read most of these forums and there is much to be learned there. Some are not too helpful, even arrogant, so take your pick and good luck.

Pete

 

[Sybarite]

Welcome to the forum. Get as much sailing in as you can and you will gradually get to know what is right for you. Perhaps try chartering a slightly bigger boat to get the feel. And do your YM if you can't go sailing. It's all useful experience.

John

 

[PhilipH]

We are planning to sailaway in a couple of years, so our plan involves definitely having the boat for two full summer seasons before departure - you must know the boat and get all systems settled down, repairs made, improvements implemented. So often you read articles in the yachting press about last minute jobs not completed creating problems on passage.

Fundamental to success is confidence: in the boat and in each other - partner needs to know that you are capable of handling the boat and making the right decisions. You need to have the confidence that partner can get you if you fall overboard.

Sail in lots of rough weather including some big seas and wind over tide. Practice boat handling, anchoring etc a lot.

 

[tcm]

1) stay friends with the guy and bugim some money to make it worth his while to let you sail his boat

2) work hard at finding the right boat

3) yes, doing YM gives excellent experience and confidence

4) consider...that in south africa - boats are cheap as the Rand is weak - so the most cost effective way to sail in RSA will be to arrive in economy on a 747

 

[daveyjones]

Read as many books on sailing (in all its aspects) as you can get your hands on - a wise man learns not only from the experience, but also the mistakes, of others!

 

[BrendanS]

Unless you are Jimi of course. As he sails the seas, and they part before him /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

I'm sure Moses could take a few lessons?

 

[Benbow]

This is all good advice. I would particularly suggest that you need to boost your confidence in your ability to handle a crisis. A YM is a good start but maybe some time spent with professionals* would be valuable. I found a few (essentially free) weeks with the OYT gave me a totally different perspective as well as a laugh. I also know of a sailing school in the solent (www.safesailing.co.uk)** that specialises in running through the scenarios you always fear. They will do this on their boat or yours.

* Not to offend professional YM instructors, but the attitude on a good professionally run boat with novice paying customers on board is very different from a group of trainees on a YM course.

**I have not used safe-sailing, I can't quite say I have no connection with them but the link is pretty tenuous!

 

[newtosailing]

In the hope that this doesn't stop further replies - just a quick thank you to all that have replied so far. Really helpful. Thanks again

 

[Sea Devil]

I think there are things to be learned on the various courses available but owning and skippering your own boat is really the way - particularly if you have time to do some more adventurous sailing than just day sails up and down the coast -

There is no perfect boat but I think it is better to get a larger, heavier, quality older boat rather than a bright shining new inexpensive model.

There is a world of difference with living aboard and long distance cruising and doing YM courses and sailing other peoples boats - the best way to learn is to do it backed up by whatever basic courses you feel you need. Most courses are not aimed at people intending to be liveaboard.

Buy a boat and go sailing..........

 

[Melody]

Hi

My advice on training etc. would be for you to do up to at least RYA Coastal
Skipper level, both theory and practical. You'd then have plenty of knowledge upon which to build your experience.

I'd suggest your partner does her RYA Day Skipper theory and practical as a minimum (if you were taken ill, for instance, you want to know she could handle your boat and get you into a port safely)

I would recommend that you DON'T do the courses together if possible.

One way to get additional experience is to do a milebuilding trip with an RYA school. You'll be with professionals but will get to cover longer distances etc than you would on a course.

You can do deliveries etc but we've come across students who have apparently got a lot of delivery experience. On closer questioning all they have done is motored from a to b and often with someone whose own sailing abilities might be questioned. A milebuilder with a school should mean you are with people who know what they are doing.

Check out the Marsbrookboating site - www.marsbrookboating.com they have several trips on there.

 

[BobPrell]

Coincidence - just today I glanced at a brochure that Boatbooks Aust sent to me and they list a title "66 Days Adrift" by Bill Butler. Their boat was sunk by pilot whales. Quote from review "Simonne, who had never truly shared Bill's dream...., blamed him bitterly for their desperate plight".

It is statistically extremely unlikely you will be sunk by whales but even a lesser disaster can lead to a blaming situation.

So you and your partner need to be certain about your individual commitment to this project. That being said, it would not be realistic to think that a state of never disgreeing can or should be achieved.

I strongly agree with others who have suggested doing courses separately. You should get almost as much value again from the post-mortem of your partner's course.

good sailing.

btw, everyone should look at the amazon reader reviews of the above book. On a scale of 1-10, the ratings are everything between about -10 to +25.

cheers