Getting from A to B.....

[brennonwilliams]

Thanks to all that responded to my first post. It is heartening to find an active online community that is willing to help each other. I can only hope that one day I too can offer advice and assistance.

I guess one of the final hurdles that I have before I purchase my little dingy is to ascertain the best way of getting it from where she lies now to her new home.

She is in Southern Spain at the moment and as I have mentioned previously, I am hoping to berth her somewhere between Southampton and Brighton (Hope I spelled it all correctly).

My question is, am I better off sourcing a relocating service or finding a duly qualified person to do the job for me? If anyone has had any of these sorts of experiences or could offer some advice, I would be indebted to you.

Cheers all.

 

[Gordonmc]

Without any details of your newly found "dinghy" it would be difficult to speculate about its capacity for a substantial journey.
Having read your first thread I would suggest you kill two birds with one stone and gain some experience by joining a professional skipper on at least part of the trip home. This assumes, of course, that the vessel is suitable and equipped. I think you will find the learning curve will be steep, but it will come more easily in a practical one-to-one situation than in a classroom.
If time is a constraint I suggest you discuss with your chosen skipper your joining the boat on specific stages which can be planned around convenient airports to get you home; Malaga, Faro, Lisboa going west and up or Barcelona, Carcasson, Bordeaux if using the French canals.

 

[brennonwilliams]

You’re correct Gordon in how I must plan this to fit with my timescales.

The yacht (34 foot) is originally British and berthed at Brighton, has sailed the journey twice in the past 18 months. She has deep water seals and is fully ready for such a voyage as its current owners were planning this in the event they didn’t sell it while in Spain.

Unfortunately I am limited to the time I can take to be part of the trip. My wife just wouldn’t let me get away with it at the minute as I am a contractor paid on a daily rate, and taking a few weeks out would cost me more then the boat itself!

It’s a real thorn in my side though as I know I would learn a staggering amount not to mention gain valuable sea going experience.

I just thought someone could recommend people to me or a trustworthy company that could handle this.

Cheers

 

[AliM]

A dinghy usually refers to a very small boat - small enough to put on a trailor and hitch to your car. What you say later on, suggests she's a bit bigger than that. Tell us a bit more about the boat, then we'll be able to make some more helpful suggestions.

 

[brennonwilliams]

Sorry Alim…

I am originally from Australia, so I use the term “dinghy” as a tongue in cheek type of term.

I don’t know quite how to put this and I don’t intend to offend anyone, but I am hesitant to place the full details of her just at the moment as she is still openly for sale. Hopefully the following details will suffice.

Dimensions - L.O.A 10.00m.
Beam: 3.40m.
Draft:2.00m.
Material Hull: GRP
Shape: Round/fin
Displacement: 7 tons
Built 1986

Cheers

 

[AliM]

Sorry, I wasn't criticising your use of words, I just wanted a bit more info.

I agree that the best option would be to sail with a delivery skipper, as was suggested. Failing that, can you do a weekend's worth - say the first two days, then fly home, and perhaps the last cross-channel bit. There are cheap flights to tiny little places all over Europe now, so it may be possible.

A local (Brighton?) sailing school would be a good place to ask about delivery skippers. They are likely to be able to recommend experienced people, who charge per day or per mile, and would get your boat back in one piece. Then, get a bit of instruction yourself, and off you go...

By the way, have you arranged a berth/mooring?

 

[Sultans_Kapitein]

I agree whole heartedly with AliM, I tried to my 'new home' to her berth but the surveyor said 'Good God NO, you'd end up in the life raft. But there are lost of folk ready willing and able (as well as qualified) to transit your boat and teach you at the same time. Go for the bit here bit there, and you will learn so much, not just about the 'driving' but also about your new 'dinghy'
Good Luck either way
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[brennonwilliams]

No apology needed Alim, it can sometimes be the problem with writing if like me you use a little sarcasm and cheek in communications. If only you could see my face when I say dinghy, you would see a sly little grin /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif )

I have learned another new fact from your post that people will possible charge by the day and or the mile. I figure it would take around 2 weeks to get her back here, dependant on the weather of course. Is this a fair approximation?

I would love to be able to take her back, bit by bit, and yes flights are cheap (I live in Spain on the weekends /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif) but I also need to consider my wife and child with all this and it would be impractical for me not to go either back home and see them for a few weeks/months if bringing her back bit by bit.

I guess I don’t have to tell anyone in here just how excited I am, and it takes all my strength (and perhaps my wife telling me otherwise) not to just pack up everything and go and get her right now.

But…. Patience is a virtue and like everything I have ever done, I want to make sure that I have all the best information available, be confident and well trained to achieve a given task and I know in my own heart and mind that it is going to take awhile before I can say that on a boat, a long while.

Cheers everyone.