Recommended stepping stone from dinghy sailing to yacht cruising

[DownWest]

Are you sure you want a yacht? I ask because the only similarity between a dinghy and a yacht is the sails. A yacht is primarily designed to get you from A to B and then enjoy B when you've arrived. The reality is that they're not very good at this. For the vast majority of cruises, the wind is either to light, to strong or from the wrong direction. In some thirty years of yacht cruising, I could count on one hand the number of times this was not the case and we had a great sail over some distance.

Because you'll be a leisure sailor with limited time (I assume) you cannot afford to drift along at a couple of knots. You'll therefore find yourself motoring or motor sailing a lot (by which I mean 80 to 90% of the time). Either way, you can reckon on making about 5 knots for passage planning purposes. That will not get you far and spending eight hours motoring across Lyme Bay quickly loses its appeal.

Once you arrive at your destination, you'll find that yachts are designed for sailing, not lounging. Some cockpits can be made reasonably comfortable with bean bags etc. but it's not guaranteed.

You mention the option of trailing a boat to different cruising grounds (and I infer leaving it there for the season). That makes sense. We did it for a while while with a Catalina 22. It broke two cars so make sure yours is up to the job!

I don't raise these issues to put you off, but it's best to be aware of the realities of yacht cruising. After some years dinghy sailing, I started cruising with that Catalina 22 (bought because it had sleeping room for me, my wife and three small kids). We then progressed through a Jaguar 27, Westerly Tempest (our favourite boat) and Moody 35. We thoroughly enjoyed all of it but the realities finally caught up and, like many yachties, we moved to motor cruising. Our Nimbus gets us from A to B in a third of the time and is a thoroughly comfortable place to be when we arrive. Whichever way you cruise, I'm sure you won't regret it. It's life changing!

Wow, that was a bit negative about sailing.. You seem to have missed the bit about enjoyment of the voyage, rather than the arrival at 'B'
Yes, I have used powerboats for commuting, but get bored after the first few minutes. Sailing is an end in itself.
Longest power trip was Vilamoura to Gib. Came back via Cadiz and Sevilla. Great trip, but later, did it several times under sail. Those were memorable. Motoring just got there quicker.

 

[Rhylsailer99]

Wow, that was a bit negative about sailing.. You seem to have missed the bit about enjoyment of the voyage, rather than the arrival at 'B'
Yes, I have used powerboats for commuting, but get bored after the first few minutes. Sailing is an end in itself.
Longest power trip was Vilamoura to Gib. Came back via Cadiz and Sevilla. Great trip, but later, did it several times under sail. Those were memorable. Motoring just got there quicker.

when i get to point B I'm disappointed because I'm no longer sailing so head back to A. Unless your thinking about sailing to the Azores or Bahamas but im in sunny Rhyl and a trip to Bangor does me.

 

[SimonD]

Wow, that was a bit negative about sailing.

Maybe, but is it inaccurate? Sure there is fun to be had (and I've had it) in trimming the boat to squeeze an extra bit of speed and there is satisfaction to be gained in using wind and tide to get to where you want to be. So, if you have the time and don't mind the frustration of contrary elements and you think the pleasure of cruising is in the journey, a yacht wins hands down. However, if you just want to get to new places relatively quickly and in comfort, live on one level, and have more outdoor space, a motor cruiser is the way to go.

 

[DownWest]

Maybe, but is it inaccurate? Sure there is fun to be had (and I've had it) in trimming the boat to squeeze an extra bit of speed and there is satisfaction to be gained in using wind and tide to get to where you want to be. So, if you have the time and don't mind the frustration of contrary elements and you think the pleasure of cruising is in the journey, a yacht wins hands down. However, if you just want to get to new places relatively quickly and in comfort, live on one level, and have more outdoor space, a motor cruiser is the way to go.

There is always Ryanair and AirB&B. Prob far cheaper than upkeep on a boat... Not to mention fuel prices biting a bit now.

 

[CapPugwash]

Maybe, but is it inaccurate? Sure there is fun to be had (and I've had it) in trimming the boat to squeeze an extra bit of speed and there is satisfaction to be gained in using wind and tide to get to where you want to be. So, if you have the time and don't mind the frustration of contrary elements and you think the pleasure of cruising is in the journey, a yacht wins hands down. However, if you just want to get to new places relatively quickly and in comfort, live on one level, and have more outdoor space, a motor cruiser is the way to go.

Dinghy straight to motor cruiser! Has anyone ever done that?

 

[SimonD]

Dinghy straight to motor cruiser! Has anyone ever done that?

Probably not. Most people with a motor cruiser skip the dinghy bit (and it shows!)

 

[James_Calvert]

We used to keep our sailing cruiser on the Medway but managed Normandy, Channel Islands, Brittany, and West Country summer holiday cruises, with some prepositioning deliveries.

I totted up hours under engine and under sail for a year or two. About 50% for one or the other. So actually a lot of sailing despite the distances involved.

Nowadays we already live in the West Country and sailing would be a much larger percentage.

We did have one holiday starting from the Medway. We motored home via Cherbourg, and various French ports, pretty much all the way from Jersey, wind was too light and behind to make good enough progress. Put me off any thought of a motorboat. Very glad of the Autohelm!

 

[DownWest]

Dinghy straight to motor cruiser! Has anyone ever done that?

Likely only those that had a bad experience. Not met one yet.

 

[fredrussell]

I think people tend to worry and think too much and if you want a sailing boat just buy one and worry about the rest later.

This is my favourite reply on this thread. I um-ed and ah-ed for a few years re buying a sailing boat. Wish I’d taken the plunge when the idea first came into my head - you only live once.

 

[ronsurf]

Corribee or a Hurley. Can be bought for under £2000. I went from a Corribee to chartering 32' boats in the Med, there was no real difference. There are Facebook pages for both boats that are good places to buy from. If you can cope with the small size they are excellent, capable boats.

I would recommend a first yacht without an inboard. It's one less thing to worry about and one less thing that costs time to service.