Circumnav for £20k

[FredWatt]

I have had plenty of experience sailing and am doing a fast-trak yachtmaster this summer. Theres some experience lined up for the 6 months after that, so feel that by the end of next year i will be reasonably competent.
My partner and i have no particular responsibilities or ties keeping us ashore, and can scrape together £20,000 without too much trouble. Our dream is to circumnavigate the globe, stopping in some places, but keeping the trip to 18 months or so.
The question is could we do it within that budget? We're happy to live without a lot of lifes comforts, but don't know whether the equipment and the trips provisions within that range would be even remotely possible.
If you think the answer is yes, please tell me how.
If you think the answer is no, but would like to see someone try and prove that wrong then please reply with every and all suggestion.

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[Nick_Pam]

Are you intending to purchase a boat out of that £20k??
Nick

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[AndrewB]

If that includes the yacht ... no, unless you are prepared to live a most basic and uncomfortable water-gypsy existance. Though it can be done, many under-resourced cruises end in failure and disappointment.

If you already have the yacht ... yes, quite adequate for a two-year circumnavigation as long as you're reasonably economical.

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[snowleopard]

agreed, but you will have to go without - marina berthing, car hire, restaurants, flights home. it would be wise to allow for major repairs at some point, a big headache if the funds are running low.

i would say that 18 months is very quick for a circumnavigation, we found 13 months for an atlantic circuit was a bit tight and are allowing 18 months to australia next trip. on the other hand a friend did it in 10 months on one of the pay-as-you-go races.

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[FredWatt]

So general consensus seems that it is a bit tight.
What would people recommend budgeting for an 18-24 month circumnav?

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[Koeketiene]

We plan to set of Easter 2006. We should/hope to survive on £1,200 per month.

Have spoken to people who have done a circumnavigation, and they said it was a realistic budget. Not exactly for the high-life, but you shouldn't have to slum it either.

Go for it!

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[Richard_Woods]

I think the budget is reasonable. As you will know from PBO, I have been cruising for 18 months now and the two of us budget on GBP700 a month, excluding flights home and repairs. Very definately you will spend a lot less when sailing than you do as a dirt dweller. For one thing the UK is far more expensive for marina fees, fuel, eating out etc than anywhere else I've sailed to.

But I do think your time scale is ambitious. I am a more fanatical sailor than most, yet have only sailed 15,000 miles in 18 months. Its double that to sail round the world. I really think you should first sit down and work out where you would like to sail to. If the real aim is to sail round the world maybe you should consider one of the rallies or races. If you want to cruise you'll find you'll enjoy it a lot more if you slow down.

I am currently in the Rio Dulce (see photo in the June isue PBO for the local landmark) The marina here (Marios) is GBP100 a month. And that's not for a basic marina either. I am writing this on my boat as that price includes 24/7 internet access. I have just come down from the swimming pool (aka my "office") Tonight we will be eating out in the resturant. An all you can eat pasta special. Cost will be GBP3 a head. So its hard to see how we can spend GBP400 a week!

I hope you enjoy the UK summer sailing season.



<hr width=100% size=1>Woods Designs for quality sailing catamarans
www.sailingcatamarans.com

 

[Sunnyseeker]

Possible...but we found there was a risk in trying to plan a schedule, as you often find a lovely place, like Gomera, or the NW tip of Spain even, where you want to stay a bit longer, then get held back by bad weather and you could end up rushing round, and taking risks with the weather.
Best solution is not to plan a shedule or even where you plan to go, just head off talk to other cruisers who will tell you of some great places to visit and see where you end up, you can always leave the boat somewhere, and resume the trip, some people end up changing boats as you learn a lot about the type of boat you want after you've left.
In our experience, which is only two Atlantic circuits.... seperated by 10 years, dont plan too much, and dont miss the Azores!
Budget wise you can do it on that including buying a boat but it would be back to basics, we met someone on a £4K folkboat living on rice, and only a sextant, a watch a world service radio and photo copied charts, for company!

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[RPC]

If you already have a boat set up and ready £20,000 is plenty.
We have just completed a circumnavigation. We set off 10 years ago with £15,000 to last us 3 years, it did. We stopped and worked in NZ to pay for the next 7 years!
When getting advice on spending remember that people live UP to their budgets. So someone with a lot of money will spend a lot more than one who does not. We met someone cruising on considerably less than us, they were very happy and not slumming it. You do not need to use marinas, if you avoid them this will significantly reduce costs.

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