I have a green light to go.......

[fisherman]

This is interesting. Mrs Fisherman is a poor sailor but enjoyed a canal holiday once she learned to drive the boat rather than crocking herself working locks. We both also enjoyed regular holidays in Brittany and further into southern France. Hmmm. Germ of an idea, maybe buy a suitable boat and leave it over there. I get enough time at sea not to yearn for that as a pastime, and no good to her anyway.

 

[Daydream believer]

So you know the reasons for the breakup, their personal financial situation, etc etc?

No, I thought not. My point is that unless you are intimately acquainted with Barry and his situation, then speculation is unlikely to help.

Well actually he says wife has good job & can pay the mortgage & he has enough dough for up to 18 months
So read the B.. post
& I genuinely feel that to go on a trip on ones own in that situation is not good as it does not solve the problems he is trying to leave behind
Where to go is not the only issue when departing for 18 months

 

[BarryH]

Well actually he says wife has good job & can pay the mortgage & he has enough dough for up to 18 months
So read the B.. post
& I genuinely feel that to go on a trip on ones own in that situation is not good as it does not solve the problems he is trying to leave behind
Where to go is not the only issue when departing for 18 months

OK lets do this, not that its anyones business. I am not grabbing the money and running. As I stated before, I have enough to leave behind to pay the mortgage etc for 18 months.18 months being whats left on the term of the mortgage.
As to my personal circumstances. The breakdown of relationship is not of my doing. I do not, and will not be, part of a menage a tois. The trust is gone. It has been for a long time. I see it as a release.
In actual fact I am leaving more than I am taking. I will be leaving assests and access to investments to see both daughters into, and through, uni should they desire to take that route.

So in short I am not grabbing the money and running, but leaving all those who are staying, plus one, no doubt, catered for.
Now can we put an end to this. I asked for info regarding taking the tub to the med via the french canals. On the whole I have recieved some great advice. It has given me pointers as to where to look and how to go about it. Thankyou for that. As to my personal life, please mind you own business. Thanks

 

[born2sail61]

with the greatest respect,why even mention your marital situation in your original post? You could have just asked for sailing advice and kept your personal life out of the public domain.

 

[PhillM]

I have not had time to read the whole thread, so apologizes if this has been suggested before, but what about hiring a trailor and van and driving your boat to the med.

You can hire a trailor here:
http://www.southcoasttrailers.co.uk/hire.php

If you dont have a suitable car you could hire a van perhaps?

I do know that you can drive from Southampton to Montpellier in a long day (I have done it many times) but towing, I'd stop part way down (perhaps near Lyon - there are loads of cheap camp sites / so you could sleep with the boat so to speak). #

You could comfortably get the boat down to the med, launched and on a mooring, then drive back home in less than a week. All you then need is a fast train ticket back (from London to Montpellier is really quick) to get yourself back down and off you go.

 

[Nicholas123]

So you know the reasons for the breakup, what they might have been through over the years, their personal financial situation, etc etc?

I don't need to know the reason for the break up or what he has been through over the years he has made it pretty plain that he is'nt happy now.
What he does about it is up to him but in my experience understanding why we do certain things sure as hell could save a lot of time.

I wish him well whatever he does.

 

[Nicholas123]

with the greatest respect,why even mention your marital situation in your original post? You could have just asked for sailing advice and kept your personal life out of the public domain.

Precisely.

 

[BarryH]

I have not had time to read the whole thread, so apologizes if this has been suggested before, but what about hiring a trailor and van and driving your boat to the med.

You can hire a trailor here:
http://www.southcoasttrailers.co.uk/hire.php

If you dont have a suitable car you could hire a van perhaps?

I do know that you can drive from Southampton to Montpellier in a long day (I have done it many times) but towing, I'd stop part way down (perhaps near Lyon - there are loads of cheap camp sites / so you could sleep with the boat so to speak). #

You could comfortably get the boat down to the med, launched and on a mooring, then drive back home in less than a week. All you then need is a fast train ticket back (from London to Montpellier is really quick) to get yourself back down and off you go.

I did think of that briefly at first. But it struck me that it sort of defeats the object of having a boat. Then there is the problem of what to do with the car and trailer whilst I amble around at my leisure.
Using the inland waterways of France adds another dimention with the added bonus of seeing more of rural france. As they say "is it the journey or the arriving that matters". Surely in this case its the Journey, thats the whole point of it, plus I would hate to think what the ferry fare would be with a 23 ft boat and going the in the "over height loads" area. The boat on a trailer must be over 10 feet tall and the mast overhang each end will add to the cost.

I have been doing some phoning around and sending emails here and there. It looks totally feasable to get the various bits of paperwork etc sorted within a month or so. Looking around at various sites and bloggs has made my mind up. Taking the boat under its own steam is the way to go.

 

[BoyBlue49]

Hi Barry,
Your last post is what this thread is all about. I was fortunate to bring a yacht north through the French canal system a few years ago.
What a wonderful experience, talk about take your mind off your troubles, so relaxing with a change of scenery around every corner and you go at your own pace stopping at small villages and towns for the night or longer.
My ideal year or more would be to spend winters in south of France and summers in northern Europe sailing the waterways of Holland and Germany. You will find friendly people everywhere you go. Don't worry about the locks, they are not difficult and you soon get the hang of things single handed or if sharing a lock even better. Just make sure you fill up with fuel at every opportunity.
Go for it, you will enjoy your sebaticle

 

[VicS]

Hi Barry

Good luck with your plans

Dont forget to keep us informed ... a blog or something

Dont forget to keep the yard informed ...... something interesting for Mark's annual newsletter

 

[Tranona]

I did think of that briefly at first. But it struck me that it sort of defeats the object of having a boat. Then there is the problem of what to do with the car and trailer whilst I amble around at my leisure.
Using the inland waterways of France adds another dimention with the added bonus of seeing more of rural france. As they say "is it the journey or the arriving that matters". Surely in this case its the Journey, thats the whole point of it, plus I would hate to think what the ferry fare would be with a 23 ft boat and going the in the "over height loads" area. The boat on a trailer must be over 10 feet tall and the mast overhang each end will add to the cost.

I have been doing some phoning around and sending emails here and there. It looks totally feasable to get the various bits of paperwork etc sorted within a month or so. Looking around at various sites and bloggs has made my mind up. Taking the boat under its own steam is the way to go.

Good article in this month'e PBO about doing just what you are proposing - in an old 26' Fairey Atalanta. Captures more of the "atmosphere" than the detailed planning, but might give you extra inspiration! Get your ICC and Cevni, make your supports for your mast, attend to the important fuel and water issues and just go. Nothing is complicated on a simple boat like yours and only you to consider. France is pretty civilized and you will soon find your own way of living and enjoying the experience. Go down this summer through the main canals, bit of sailing in the Med, overwinter there or in Spain ( Barcelona is good) and come back next summer through the Canal du Midi.

 

[dylanwinter]

might I suggest

Good article in this month'e PBO about doing just what you are proposing - in an old 26' Fairey Atalanta. Captures more of the "atmosphere" than the detailed planning, but might give you extra inspiration! Get your ICC and Cevni, make your supports for your mast, attend to the important fuel and water issues and just go. Nothing is complicated on a simple boat like yours and only you to consider. France is pretty civilized and you will soon find your own way of living and enjoying the experience. Go down this summer through the main canals, bit of sailing in the Med, overwinter there or in Spain ( Barcelona is good) and come back next summer through the Canal du Midi.

when taking my boats up canals I have been using the little air cooled Honda

the fact that it is immune to weed ingestion is a great comfort

it is a frugal little beast

reverse is achieved by rotating it around

unlike others I have had no problems with the clutch

but by crikey it is noisy

D