Bluewater sailing

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ajkgordon

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I'm just starting to look into buying a yacht and sailing it round the world in a few years' time. I have very little experience apart from RYA Competent Crew and several flotilla holidays going over the last 20 years.

Things I need to know are what I need to learn (RYA Yachtmaster I suppose), where to find information on routes, best yachts, yacht conversions for round-the-world, ex-charter (SunSail) yachts, etc, etc.

Any pointers to a good place to start?

Thanks
 
Check out my blog for the story of a person with almost nil experience on boats suddenly finding herself the owner of a 45 footer and a liveaboard cruising life to begin in March 2006. I have no idea what I am doing but fortunately my boyfriend does. I still reckon that we both have lots to learn along the way. It appears daunting and it is but stretching myself in this way is a fine way to make life a bit more interesting!
Good luck with your endeavors and I hope you find a great boat. We did.
 
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and on the negative side, i wd say that perahps an ex-sunsail charter boat wouldn't really be #1 choice. But the redoubtable Bill Cooper has more info....

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May not be #1 choice, but they're very affordable, spacious, fast-ish and and erm well that's it.
 
Congratulations....great idea, once you get out there you'll find its being done in every possible type and cost of yacht, from £5,000 24' boats upwards.

Some people have just gone and learnt on the way, Folkboat, sextant, tables, charts and food and they arrived in the West Indies!

Its not rocket science, mostly common sense. take things slowly and carefully, and dont be afraid to turn back or stay in harbouyr sometimes. You'll learn loads by actually sailing and meeting others on route.

Good luck, its always handy.
 
Thanks all.

I've been on several charter boats, both flotilla and bareboat. I suppose that an independent survey would throw up any structural problems. I would, of course, have it refitted for ocean sailing and all equipment would be overhauled or replaced anyway. You can get Beneteau 50s in the Med for less than £100k so it seems like a good deal. But I wouldn't mind finding out more about it and other options, and whether the French mass-produced boats are good for ocean sailing or just port hopping.

Cornell and Cooper on Amazon order.

Thanks again.
 
This question comes up often on the Liveaboard forum. I suggest you search that, and you'll see all sorts of opinions and ideas. Look through to see what those experienced people thought were the real essentials. It may suggest aspects you hadn't really thought about. A big part of the decision depends on what you can afford, where you are intending to go, what space you'll need etc etc. The research is really exciting to do, anyway, and if you take a few weeks thinking through the possibilities, and reading up, you will be better prepared to take the next step of looking at boats.

Good luck
 
Good Luck! I think that the ex charter boat route might prove initially appealing due to low price (though you may well have to add VAT) but you will then have to buy a lot of upgrades and extras to make the boat ready for long distances. Then there is an issue of general design suitability. Most of the modern charter boats are at their best in moderate seas and winds, as they have broad beam and flattish hull sections coupled with relatively light displacements. You might be better off on a bluewater voyage with an older heavier design, likely to be stronger, and more comfortable in rough weather. Many bluewater sailors seem to like steel hulls, long keels and ketch rigs, which are about as far from the modern charter boat as you could get. There are brokers who specialise in boats for bluewater & liveaboard. Williams & Smithells who advertise in Yachting Monthly might be worth contacting (I have not dealt with them). If you do decide to go the ex charter route there are companies that look after their boats better than others. I was in Marmaris recently and saw a Jeanneau 42.2 with a German charter company called Sun Charter, which looked well cared for and was VAT paid. Some of the other charter boats looked pretty scruffy by comparison.
 
The USA is a good source of tough ocean going boats at very affordable prices. There is no rule that says you have to start your blue water dream on this side of the Atlantic; and no rule to say that you have to sell your boat this side of the Atlantic when you are ready to come ashore. Also I've found on the East Coast of the USA berthing and fitting out is often considerably cheaper than UK.
 
I'm in the same boat (to pardon the pun), I've started looking for boats in the Caribean-there is a good exchange rate against the doller-and generally people who fail the big trip abandon thier boats there.

Trinidad would be good place to look, where most boats are laid up during the hurricane season and tend to stay there.
I was out there a couple of yeares back and there was a load of blue water cruisers waiting to be bought, and at very good prices.
 
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