is my plan feasible?

[kggkgg]

I am reaching that stage where I feel like taking my wife to cruise the south pacific for 6 months to get away from the pressure of work , mortgages etc. I've always wanted to visit all those tiny islands.

Trouble is my experience of such things is zilch. my sailing experience is almost totally coastal UK chartering (3 or 4 times year last 10 years). I have never owned before. My longest sail is La Rochelle to Portsmouth. (I have had coastal skipper for 15 years). I've never been caught in a gale either.

Would it be possible for me to plan and execute such an adventure with my level of experience bearing in mind that I dont have time to take the odd month or two off here and there to practise long distance cruising. I will have to chuck in the job and do it properly or I cant do it at all.

Any advice or places to get advice much appreciated. I am assuming I would have to buy a boat for the trip and sell it at the end. Any advice on where to start (buy) and finish (sell) would also be helpful.

thanks
bigK

 

[tcm]

i see no reason why you couldn't do it. Loads set off around the world on far less experience. Uk coasts are amongt the most iffy in the world, and one thing that charterers have is adaptability from one boat to the next and next - not just doing the same ole thing insame ole place with same ole boat.

You wd need some decent pilot guides as first shot of course, read up about it. I wd google for info for starters.

Plenty of charter boats out there but praps not too happy about long-distance cruising of them, dunno. They are fairly cheap anyway but wd take time to sell i spose.

One idea wd beto find a boat for a sale and offer a deal to rent it?

 

[SQUIRRELS]

Spend £16 or so and buy a copy of 'Sell Up and Sail' by Bill & Laurel Cooper. It will really get you thinking about more issues than you ever thought possible ranging from why to what you'll miss from home life, budgets to life at sea in general. Contains lots of 'questions' that you and your wife can answer and score on, guess it could help you make a more informed decision.

 

[trinity393]

there are a US couple who run pacific sail training weeks in the south pacific based on a big Hallberg Rassy [49] - the rationale is to give people a taste of what the big ocean is all about before they commit big bucks to buying an ocean going yacht and ditch their jobs. I cant remember their names or website - but there was an article in one of the US mags (cruising world?)about them recently and some googling should find them. Sounds like a good idea to me

 

[snowleopard]

Worth going to one of the YM Blue Water seminars where you'll meet like-minded people and some who have done it before.

 

[Ben998]

Yep - do it. Read everything you can, don't be afraid to ask what seem like daft questions and give it a go. I'd see if you can charter a boat for a 2/4 weeks first to see how you adapt to life on board before comitting to a 6 month trip.

cheers,
Ben

 

[kggkgg]

Where best for a 2-4 week trial?

This all sounds like really sound advice . Thanks everyone. I like the idea of a 2-4 week charter as a taster of life aboard. i could just about plan that within annual leave before finally throwing in the towel.

Any suggestions as to location for a 2-4 week blue water live aboard trial? (we could feasibly go at any time of year whatever's best).

ta for all your input
K

 

[trinity393]

Re: Where best for a 2-4 week trial?

I found the website of the people in the pacific who specialise in giving you a taster of the liveaboard life its http://www.mahina.com/