ChrisE
Well-Known Member
That's wot us world girdlers call it /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Does the dream match the reality
- Thread starter Wansworth
- Start date
TQA
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 20 Feb 2005
- Messages
- 6,815
- Location
- Carribbean currently Grenada
YES! YES!! YES!!! for some, but the reality is there are the wreckage of many broken dreams in many marinas round the world.
However you will never know until you try. I did 15 years ago and had 7 great years out. Planing to go again when retirement hits.
However you will never know until you try. I did 15 years ago and had 7 great years out. Planing to go again when retirement hits.
Swagman
Well-Known Member
Surely it depends on what your dreams are and how you handle them?
I personally find fulfillling dreams feels good, and not fulfilling them could frustrate.
In subscribing to the old maxim 'better sitting on a boat in the sun dreaming of a hot bath at home, than sitting in a hot bath at home and dreaming of a boat in the sun' I believe those who cruise usually make a positive choice to do it - and as the above responses indicate - few regret if after.
There's lots of time for the hot baths when one gets too aged to travel...........and I'm not sure who to thank for todays world where more of us can achieve those dreams than ever before..............
Bring it on.
JOHN
I personally find fulfillling dreams feels good, and not fulfilling them could frustrate.
In subscribing to the old maxim 'better sitting on a boat in the sun dreaming of a hot bath at home, than sitting in a hot bath at home and dreaming of a boat in the sun' I believe those who cruise usually make a positive choice to do it - and as the above responses indicate - few regret if after.
There's lots of time for the hot baths when one gets too aged to travel...........and I'm not sure who to thank for todays world where more of us can achieve those dreams than ever before..............
Bring it on.
JOHN
trouville
N/A
The "dreams " is certainly far better than the reality. Ive sailed into peaceful bays only to find an angry hoard of nudists arriving at 9am and less than happy to find a boat in their bay!
Then ive arrived tiered dropped the anchor only to be rolled out of my bearth to the noise of jet skis.
Spent weeks going from one full port to another wishing i had a boat with less than 8m and a beam not more than 2.20
Spent more weeks wishing i had more room for a shower in a boat less than 8m and beam of 2.20!
Found a good place in a harbour only to find the fishermen are very anti pleasure boats! luckly my wooden boat and i looked in need of renovation so was exempt from the rath and even give a tray of anchovise!
Found wonderful quite place met other liveaboards as they pass through staying a day or two as they press on with their dream,
Im always amazed at the number of books many liveaboards get through,and the amount of time the TVs predominates and rule the social plans.
Perhaps the best way to liveaboard these days is to rent a pleasent but small flat?
Then ive arrived tiered dropped the anchor only to be rolled out of my bearth to the noise of jet skis.
Spent weeks going from one full port to another wishing i had a boat with less than 8m and a beam not more than 2.20
Spent more weeks wishing i had more room for a shower in a boat less than 8m and beam of 2.20!
Found a good place in a harbour only to find the fishermen are very anti pleasure boats! luckly my wooden boat and i looked in need of renovation so was exempt from the rath and even give a tray of anchovise!
Found wonderful quite place met other liveaboards as they pass through staying a day or two as they press on with their dream,
Im always amazed at the number of books many liveaboards get through,and the amount of time the TVs predominates and rule the social plans.
Perhaps the best way to liveaboard these days is to rent a pleasent but small flat?
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
No. Methinks
a fine bit of punning
a fine bit of punning
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
Re: Thread drift - points taken
It depends on the dreams - don't know yours, but on the whole mine have been exceeded.
When I started I had a rough timetable, to which I adhered for the first 6 months, after which scheduling was ditched.
This last was my 3rd year in the Med - when I only intended 2 years to do the lot - and I've only got as far as Malta, with the most banal part behind me.
The sailing's been far less interesting than I'd hoped, sightseeing far more varied and exciting - it's the sheer weight of history that has been the most fascinating.
Far better to get a view in depth than to play the tourist and superficially visit a vast number of places.
Boat breakages are more of a problem than one would expect - sourcing replacement parts can be challenging and quality of workmanship is very variable, so it's best to do it yourself as well as saving the pocket.
I suspect half who start out find it doesn't suit them, and less than half who dream of doing it, get to realising the dream of cutting ties - it's more the N Europeans who do it, Netherlanders, Scandanavians, Germans and French more than Brits. The last frequently subsitute boat for holiday flat (sometimes both) and bring suburban values to the costa del ?
Certainly worth doing if you're competent and self-reliant and above all have a sense of humour.
It depends on the dreams - don't know yours, but on the whole mine have been exceeded.
When I started I had a rough timetable, to which I adhered for the first 6 months, after which scheduling was ditched.
This last was my 3rd year in the Med - when I only intended 2 years to do the lot - and I've only got as far as Malta, with the most banal part behind me.
The sailing's been far less interesting than I'd hoped, sightseeing far more varied and exciting - it's the sheer weight of history that has been the most fascinating.
Far better to get a view in depth than to play the tourist and superficially visit a vast number of places.
Boat breakages are more of a problem than one would expect - sourcing replacement parts can be challenging and quality of workmanship is very variable, so it's best to do it yourself as well as saving the pocket.
I suspect half who start out find it doesn't suit them, and less than half who dream of doing it, get to realising the dream of cutting ties - it's more the N Europeans who do it, Netherlanders, Scandanavians, Germans and French more than Brits. The last frequently subsitute boat for holiday flat (sometimes both) and bring suburban values to the costa del ?
Certainly worth doing if you're competent and self-reliant and above all have a sense of humour.
temptress
Well-Known Member
It is what you make of it. In my experiance it was diffrent each time I set off inmy own boat. what i thought it would be like, what it was like lasttime and what it turned out to be like were all diffrent.
Does the dream match the reality? who knows or cares.
was/is it worth it - YES. Can't wait to go again though this time trying not to have to come back........
Does the dream match the reality? who knows or cares.
was/is it worth it - YES. Can't wait to go again though this time trying not to have to come back........
Kilter
Well-Known Member
I never went to a seminar but, as you say, we set a date and went for it!
CodStewart
Well-Known Member
I've decided just to go with the flow. I have a boat. I'll wait and see if I meet the right folks to come too. Failing that, I'm going to sell it.
CharlesM
Well-Known Member
Hey Codstewart
Don't do that... thoughts like that make me sad. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I am sure you got the boat because you wanted to go cruising. Sure, it was with a bloke who has now fallen by the wayside, but dont let go of the dream. I know a 40+ foot concrete boat is something quite daunting on your own, but surely you will meet people. If you are prepared to hang around in anchorages while looking for the right crew I am sure you can make a go at it. I know thats more-or-less what you are saying anyway, but I dont want to hear any more of this selling malarky. Is that clear? I want to hear about the dream instead, and the relentless persuit of the dream.
I guess there is something selfish in me that wants your adventure to succeed. Surely if you can then so can I. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
Cheers
Charles
Don't do that... thoughts like that make me sad. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif I am sure you got the boat because you wanted to go cruising. Sure, it was with a bloke who has now fallen by the wayside, but dont let go of the dream. I know a 40+ foot concrete boat is something quite daunting on your own, but surely you will meet people. If you are prepared to hang around in anchorages while looking for the right crew I am sure you can make a go at it. I know thats more-or-less what you are saying anyway, but I dont want to hear any more of this selling malarky. Is that clear? I want to hear about the dream instead, and the relentless persuit of the dream.
I guess there is something selfish in me that wants your adventure to succeed. Surely if you can then so can I. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
Cheers
Charles
Sea Devil
Well-Known Member
Just want to add something about crew - another cruiser told me this and then I found for myself that it was true.
The perfect crew does not exist - generally crew without any serious RYA qualifications are best. They will do as they are told, will not be afraid to ask questions and if they get worried when on watch they will call you (rather than think you expect them to sort it out themselves)
No crew last longer than 3 months.... That is the maximum then you need to find new crew - just the way it is. If you don't like the crew ask them to get off your boat - if they don't like you they can get off your boat.. Not hard just practical..
The perfect crew does not exist - generally crew without any serious RYA qualifications are best. They will do as they are told, will not be afraid to ask questions and if they get worried when on watch they will call you (rather than think you expect them to sort it out themselves)
No crew last longer than 3 months.... That is the maximum then you need to find new crew - just the way it is. If you don't like the crew ask them to get off your boat - if they don't like you they can get off your boat.. Not hard just practical..
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
Don't give up. There are lots of folk who will sail with you. My suggestion is that you don't try to find a permanent crew as MichaelE says.
I think you have probably the most transportable skill for earning on a long-distance cruise i.e. TEFL.
I think you have probably the most transportable skill for earning on a long-distance cruise i.e. TEFL.
snowleopard
Well-Known Member
Absolutely right. I'd add my own maxim: all good crew are the same but there are a hundred sorts of bad crew. We've had crew I'd have been happy to put ashore after a couple of days but even the best have outstayed their welcome after a few months. The only ones who last long-term are the ones you'd live with ashore.
trouville
N/A
on my Hillyard 12ton i found it better to have no crew,then when the going was uncomfortable and the passage longer than planed,that way there was no rebelion,and liveing at close quarters is always a compremise.
As a sole sailer i never had a single dispute haveing sailed from france to north africa and from spain to corfu and the black sea in fact the whole world! That is is you dont want to fall off the edge of the charts!!!
As a sole sailer i never had a single dispute haveing sailed from france to north africa and from spain to corfu and the black sea in fact the whole world! That is is you dont want to fall off the edge of the charts!!!
pernoll
Member
Re: Thread drift
May I suggest, based on our experience, that a successful liveaboard life, for all crewmembers, is a long period of planning and exchange of opinions on what you want. Not only the ship, more what are the expectations? Our dream started 10 years before, the planning incl. building the interior took 5 years. 1 year before starting date we arrived at cruising area (Med and not to circumnavigate). Another important decission is what to do. We decided on to learn about the countries we visited, their kitchens and beverages as well as their history, on top of having sufficient of good weather and anchorages. We are now into our 7th year of liveaboard and have never had a better life. And finally, don't plan on fixed ETAs or places. A Spanish writer said: The road devellopes as you walk. Start a soft approach to your Admiral, don't blame the press.
May I suggest, based on our experience, that a successful liveaboard life, for all crewmembers, is a long period of planning and exchange of opinions on what you want. Not only the ship, more what are the expectations? Our dream started 10 years before, the planning incl. building the interior took 5 years. 1 year before starting date we arrived at cruising area (Med and not to circumnavigate). Another important decission is what to do. We decided on to learn about the countries we visited, their kitchens and beverages as well as their history, on top of having sufficient of good weather and anchorages. We are now into our 7th year of liveaboard and have never had a better life. And finally, don't plan on fixed ETAs or places. A Spanish writer said: The road devellopes as you walk. Start a soft approach to your Admiral, don't blame the press.
charles_reed
Well-Known Member
Why not
go by yourself?
Lots of company when you get there.
go by yourself?
Lots of company when you get there.
jonic
Well-Known Member
Very well said temptress, see you out there. Cod Stewart, I went BECAUSE of a similar experience to yours and have never looked back, not for one second. Go see. It's a special place.
CodStewart
Well-Known Member
Thanks guys and gals. You've put the umpf back into my dream. It was down in the bilges for a while.
Slow_boat
Well-Known Member
You mean you've got the boat, the finance and the time and you're NOT GOING?
CodStewart
Well-Known Member
The boat means nothing without love aboard.
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