Into the blue

[chris777]

I am looking for any advice for someone who is moving towards selling there house here in the UK and heading off towards the Ionian Islands, would welcome any comments advice from experience, my own level of sailing experience to date is with small dinghys, so i know I am quite a way off from achieving this yet!!, thank you all in advance....
Chris

 

[Slow_boat]

Myself and SWIMBO will be doing the same in about 5 years. She had never sailed and I had been ashore for almost 20 years so to see if she could get on a boat without throwing up and didn't get scared and that I could still do it, we took a 'villa-flotilla' holiday a couple of years ago .

While we were ther we spoke to as many liveaboards and long term cruisers as we could.
She loved it and I hadn't forgotten how to do it so I re-did the yachtmasters last year and we bought a 20 footer to sail while we work toward the dream.

So I advise; go for it but use whatever time you have not to dream but to prepare and plan for the future. It's not a dream or a plan or an ambition, it's the future you've decided on and will only be real if you make it so.

Books worth reading are 'Set up and Sail', 'Champagne cruising on a Beer Budget' and one about long term Med. cruising that I can't remember the title of. All from Adlard Coles.

Hope this helps

 

[chris777]

It certainly does help thank you for your input, I have already thought about the flotilla holiday route, as an introduction to the lifestyle, recomendations of "who's the best to go with" would also be useful.......
Regards
Chris

 

[poter]

Chris,

Try this lot
http://www.cosmosyachting.com/
in Greece sailing from Rhodes.

But in my opinion get some RYA qualifications over the winter & then go bareboat, it will give you much more opportunity to chat with other liveaboards & give you some idea of the independence you can have.

We did and thats it, bought the boat & goin crusin!! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

poter

 

[chris777]

Thanks poter,
will investigate the link, they look a proffesional outfit!.

Thats a nice boat you have there, would love to see some pictures of the interior, good luck with the cruisin, have you decided where your heading off too?.

a friend has lent me a book on navigation, so I am getting my head round that at the moment.

regards
Chris.

 

[Sea Devil]

I should do it - no problem - worth learning a little about navigation just in case the gps packs up - I know several people who have done more or less this and either had a wonderful time or scared themselves to death and packed it in. If you can sail a dinghy then you can sail a yacht - Voyaging is not brain surgery. You need a good book on yacht maintenance and good luck!

 

[chris777]

Working within the I.T industry, I see how easily technology can break down!!, never yet had to repair a faulty pencil or paper, well maybe an inflated gas bill.

I will reserve comment on the scared bit, watch this space.

can you reccomend a book title on yacht maintenance please?, as a matter of interest what book titles would you/anyone say would be invaluable to keep aboard, a bit H.G Wells "the time machine", a valid question as a novice though....

Regards Chris.

 

[Swagman]

When you do finally go - you should perhaps consider making your departure from the UK with Rally Portugal.
The event provides close support on your first leg of the UK - Greece adventure and is actually very good value.
We've done it twice on different boats and if one were to add up conventional marina costs for the event from Plymouth to Lagos - it would be much higher than the total rally costs.

We've met lots of lovely couples who used this event for their first steps overseas - and its difficult to express the value of the companionship and support given to those less experienced by the other particpants.

And if your partner is at all nervous about going off shore - IMHO a Rally will help her overcome any fears.

Cheers
JOHN

 

[ChrisE]

Maintenance book

Nigel Calder's book is the classic. It is the first place I turn when I've got boatie troubles.

 

[Sea Devil]

As the previous post stated : Boatowner's Mechanical & Electrical Manual: How to Maintain, Repair, and Improve Your Boat's Essential Systems (Hardcover) Is the most important book in the boat- covers almost everything - mine is almost falling apart with use and dirty finger marks!
The other thing is tools - Go to Halfords and buy the biggest and best socket set, Full range of ring spanners, a battery powered electric drill and adapt it to run off the boats 12 volt system.
Buy the Mary Blewit navigation book which really lays out how it done in readable form and keep it by your bed to look at each night. Do not bother with celestial navigation but do buy a cheap (back up) hand held - GPS and learn how to do waypoints and routes. check there are no gales in the offing - Get aboard - pull up the sails like in your dinghy and set off. It is wonderful! The best thing in the world!

 

[Talbot]

While having a good socket set is important, the cheaper smaller sets will also have the right socket and a srewdriver handle suitable for jubilee clips, and this is an invaluable tool I also have a large set of spanners - both from Argos cause they are easily replaceable after one of those clunk splash moments. check these out:

spanners
1/2" socket set
1/4" and 3/8" sockets

 

[chris777]

OK, thats the books sorted thanks, any recommendations on cheap hand held GPS please?

Regards
Chris.

 

[Sea Devil]

I should get any one that's cheap - I have always had Garmin - found the software program easy to operate - I think if you stick to one manufacturer then the system will always be about the same.. You do need to be able to throw in a way-point - verify it - and find a route and eta when all hell lets loose. Important to be familiar with key strokes because when you really need it badly everything will be crashing around...

I am certain other makes are good but I would always go for a garmin. Must be a marine version but as you will use to to learn on and as backup (keep at least one set of new batteries with it) it can be the cheapest available - Ebay?