Living the dream...

Gixer

Gixer

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 Nov 2015
Messages
1,122
Visit site
Hello,

Over the last few weeks I've been doing a lot of thinking about my retirement and want some advice. I'm 42 at the moment so have a few years of work ahead of me but just want to gather some thoughts.

My dream would be to spend a few years sailing the Med with my wife. how long exactly? where exactly? I don't mind at this stage. When I was younger I wanted to do a world cruise but I've come to the conclusion I'm no Bernard Moitessier.
Bit of background on me. I've owned a 27 foot yacht on the south coast of the UK for 11 years now and enjoy the maintenance side of owning a yacht as much as sailing. As a family we spend our summer holiday chartering in the Med and its so relaxing out there.

I have a couple of questions to anyone doing this,
Is sailing around the Med for a few years as enjoyable as I think?
If you were to do this again what would you do differently?
Any good books to read?

Thanks

Dave
 
Well Dave it would be if it wasnt for all the charter boats :)
I had a good 30 years at it now with breaks in between, last time we left the UK was 2009 and only gone back for a week each year ,
When I first heading out my plain was to cross the pond in them days I was a solo sailing but ended up turning left and coming into the Med if I had to do it all again , I just wouldn't turn left and keep heading south.
 
Thanks for the response sailabouttvic, we've noticed a big rise in the charter boats just in the last 10 years :)
If you did keep heading south, where would be your ideal destination?
 
A while ago, I would have said go ahead and make your plans, far better area for sailing and living than UK. Biggest problem is, at the moment we don't know what the future holds. As of now, EU citizens can have the boats there and roam indefinitely for as long as we like. All that is set to change when we Brexit and, unless a deal is done, boats based in UK will lose their EU VAT status and people will be restricted to 90 out of 180 days. Many of us have taken up residence in an EU State and based our boats there to avoid these restrictions but, that's not an option for many.
 
I agree with what's Graham said , although any one planning to sail further afield would have that problem any way .
As for the Med I just wonder if there a deal or not that country's within the EU will come up with some thing or still us cruisers find away around it , one way of another full time liveaboard like my self will have to work something out .
 
Thanks guys, I've got a few years yet to worry about this.
Hopefully they would have sorted something out by then :)
 
We went when I was 35. We had no kids and planned to go for a year.

8 years later we came home with two kids.

Much prefered the Caribbean, Bahamas and the USA but the European Atlantic coast and the Balearics were also fun.

53 now and can't wait to do it again. Not having kids on route next time though! ;)

I can highly recommend my wife's book whilst you are in the planning stage www.sailawaybook.com

(I think the printed version is better)
 
Gixer said:
Is sailing around the Med for a few years as enjoyable as I think?
Click to expand...

Staying in the Med in winter would put a different complexion on things, I gather. (Not having done it myself, only being there late-ish in the season!) And of course the simple alternative of leaving the boat somewhere for the winter and popping back home has its own complexity...
 
AS one who had long distance sailing ambitions but then life, one thing and another then health issues got in the way do not think you have forever to plan and then take off into the blue. Go as soon as you have the money to do it and when you still have your health, waiting for the ideal time and ideal boat may be a step too far. Enjoy.
 
C08 said:
AS one who had long distance sailing ambitions but then life, one thing and another then health issues got in the way do not think you have forever to plan and then take off into the blue. Go as soon as you have the money to do it and when you still have your health, waiting for the ideal time and ideal boat may be a step too far. Enjoy.
Click to expand...

Very, very true.
 
jonic said:
Very, very true.
Click to expand...

I decided to retire at 53, several friends thought I was mad. We got rid of expensive cars, downsized house and moved the boat away from UK. Had to self fund from savings until pensions kicked in but, I've already had 20 years of retirement, most of it pottering around on the boat. A couple of friends who were going to do it but wanted a few more years income, never got around to it.
 
Graham376 said:
I decided to retire at 53, several friends thought I was mad. We got rid of expensive cars, downsized house and moved the boat away from UK. Had to self fund from savings until pensions kicked in but, I've already had 20 years of retirement, most of it pottering around on the boat. A couple of friends who were going to do it but wanted a few more years income, never got around to it.
Click to expand...


I think you planned it well. I retired at 39 when kids were still pretty young, sailed a lot, skied even more, and life was great.

Referencing the OP: after a while I got a bit tired of cruising, missed the racing, and missed my old business life. Took a long cold look at the comfortable but goofy yacht I was buying and had a dose of the heebie-jeebies; so I cancelled that. Accepted a few consultancy-type non-jobs and but soon bored with them, whereupon I bought my old business back and never looked back. Now I can go sailing for decent periods with the necessary IT aboard to work from there, although that doesn't always work that great :rolleyes:

Yet I couldn't be happier dossing off for a week or 10 days here and there to sail a triangle basically bounded by Dingle , Porto, and Portsmouth. And if the weather is nice I can almost always leave Friday afternoon and come back Monday morning, although Monday afternoon feels like bunking off school :)

My advice, don't go by what suits other people. Take a month or so off work and see whether you really like the cruising liefestyle 24/7/365. And if you do (y)(y)
 
Thanks guys, that's really good advice and what I needed to hear.

CO8 - I totally get that, I think its the same for having children, if you wait until your financially and mentally ready you'll never 'do it'.
dom - Now you sound like you are living the dream :), your are right though, need to try the lifestyle out before committing.
Graham376 - I think that's my plan at the moment

Guys, are there any particular skills you have learnt and wished you had before? doesn't have to be boat related.

Dave
 
dom said:
Accepted a few consultancy-type non-jobs and but soon bored with them, whereupon I bought my old business back and never looked back. Now I can go sailing for decent periods with the necessary IT aboard to work from there, although that doesn't always work that great :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Looking forward to the first zoom call from a rolly anchorage, need a lamp swinging behind my head.
 
Gixer said:
Guys, are there any particular skills you have learnt and wished you had before? doesn't have to be boat related.
Click to expand...

Can't think of any particular skills. One of the biggest deal breakers we have seen is marriage breakdown - boat goes or I do! We had worked together for 15 years before retiring so it wasn't unusual to be together 24/7 and my wife enjoys boat life. Some wives are there on sufferance and we know quite a few who have parted company. Since living on board for extended periods, we actually do less sailing than weekending and holidays, no longer just day sail for the fun of it. We have kept the house so only on board 6 -7 months p.a.

Boat wise, learn to DIY and prepare it for hot weather before leaving UK, it's easier to source suppliers and get work done in your own language. Stock up well with spares.
 
Relationships break up followed by Heath is the two major problem I think for it to go all tits up .
But I lay money liveaboard couple will have a better chance of coming out of this still as a couple then most couples who only spend time to gather at weekend .
 
jonic said:
Someone once told me "Never confuse your career with your life".

Wish I had heard that earlier! :)
Click to expand...
Bit of blanket there isn't it?

I got myself qualified as a sailing instructor, worked at that in the Uk. Decided to push it out, we bought a boat, moved aboard and I've been working at that and delivering yachts for a bit more than twenty years. :cool:

That's taken me all over the place, cruising teaching, running our own school , blah blah. Career, hobby, the lot all wrapped up in a fab fun bundle!

Never say never.....
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

Sea Change
AEC 1 & 2 courses?
Replies
10
Views
394
colind3782
colind3782
M
net worth of yacht brokers
2
Replies
35
Views
2K
Tranona
T
W
Downsizing to your boat.
2
Replies
28
Views
732
Wansworth
W

Share this page

Top