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Jonnyt

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Can someone answer these questions?
I have recently become interested in sailing and want to find out what the minimum length for an ocean-going yacht is. I want to buy and sail my own boat once I finish university and gain the necessary yachting qualifications. Can anyone suggest which courses I need to take in order to be able to sail to e.g. solomon islands?

Cheers
John (enthusiastic student!)

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Ah well

As a science student (your spelling is too good to be anything else) you will of course realise that the length varies acording to how fast you go. And of course you can steer any course you wish to get to the Soloman Islands. if they exist .. perhaps they do'nt or maybe they do and they don't .. or perhaps you're a geography student? Know anybody called Amy?

<hr width=100% size=1>.. got an udder rudder, brudder?
 
Welcome to the madhouse .. suggest you look at the at the <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.rya.org.uk>RYA</A> web sites. This should have most answers to you first round of questions...

Regards, Jeff.

Some answers off the top of my head:

Smallest ocean going yacht? Its under 10 feet now /forums/images/icons/smile.gif.
Ideally you need to combine training and experience. RYA Yachtmaster is a good target qualification, but there are others between here and there.

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The question's really about seaworthiness and comfort and so it doesn't have a simple answer. The record for an atlantic crossing is something daft like 5'6" LOA, and there are boats in the sub 30' category that were built for the job and can safely cross oceans. Most people seem to do ocean stuff in 40+ footers but thats partly down to how many of life's luxuries are needed on the way and once you arrive. The key is the right boat, not just its length.

About qualifications the RYA answer would be Ocean Yachtmaster I guess, but experience counts more than bits of paper (and anyway to get yachtmaster you have to have done 2500nm, and various offshore passages as skipper). So the answer is to try to find as many as possible opportunities to crew for others while you are still at uni and have the time - either locally or if you can, some longer offshore passages if you already have some experince. There are web sites for owners seeking crew and vice versa. They have been posted here, but with committments like wife, kid, job etc its not something I've been that interested in. But if I were still at uni and had time on my hands ....

Chris

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Best you read a book called Shrimpy - Shane Acton went round the world in an 18 foot plywood caprice - no formal training other than a bit with a sextant ..

Good read even if you don't go..good luck

Ian

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Since we're suggesting books you might also want to read Tania Abei's book "Maiden Voyage". That'll give you food for thought.........

Tony C.

<hr width=100% size=1>There are 10 kinds of people, those who understand binary and those who don't.
 
He did have a bit of experience with boats though, ex Royal Marine I seem to remember, though the book didn't emphasize this.

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Re: Beginner

Ian Wright (no relation), of this parish, is organising a short-handed cruise/race to the Azores for modestly-sized yachts in 2005 (See current YM). Perhaps crewing on this event might be a target for you?

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