Round the World Cruising Yacht - Westerly, Moody, Amel - Am I on the right track?

I too found Snooks posting interesting, but agree more with Laika. It is necessary to have the self-confidence to overcome caution, and take the plunge, in order to get started on a long-term voyage. Trying an ocean passage first, Ocean Yachtmaster style, is the only prerequisite I'd want to insist on. That will test the ability to cope with seasickness and an innate fear of the open ocean in a small boat.

Beyond that, what is it that makes some voyages happy and successful, others miserable and shortlived? I've mentioned self-confidence, and with that people with all levels of skill go, and manage to face the challenges as they arrive. As Snooks implies, money helps, but I've seen many getting by on a shoestring, picking up work on the way.

If there is one thing above all others that I think identifies those who get the most out of voyaging, it's having a committed partner who wants to go as much as you do.
 
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AndrewB said:
I too found Snooks posting interesting, but agree more with Laika. It is necessary to have the self-confidence to overcome caution, and take the plunge, in order to get started on a long-term voyage. Trying an ocean passage first, Ocean Yachtmaster style, is the only prerequisite I'd want to insist on. That will test the ability to cope with seasickness and an innate fear of the open ocean in a small boat.

Beyond that, what is it that makes some voyages happy and successful, others miserable and shortlived? I've mentioned self-confidence, and with that people with all levels of skill go, and manage to face the challenges as they arrive. As Snooks implies, money helps, but I've seen many getting by on a shoestring, picking up work on the way.

If there is one thing above all others that I think identifies those who get the most out of voyaging, it's having a committed partner who wants to go as much as you do.
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I think your last sentence is probably one of the wisest comments on this thread so far.
People on board who are chronically not happy to sail or feel insecure, or frightened or nervous make it tedious for those of us who are the opposite.
I count my blessings being lucky that SWMBO likes sailing, is a marvellous cook underway in any weather and lastly that neither of us suffer from seasickness.
You really find out what your partner is like when you are out far from land and it blows hard, because sailing in flat water on sunny days is not the yardstick.
My SWMBO had a true baptism of fire as we were caught by the tail end of a hurricane on an Atlantic crossing. The sea was white and the spray came across like gravel.
Of course she was scared stiff at first; it is the unfamiliarity of it. But soon enough when she saw how calm I remained and when I explained that if I was frightened then there was something to be frightened of she got her act together. We trailed a Seabrake under bare poles and sat in the cockpit, harnessed, and drank tea. During the night with no moon the sea lit up owing to the phosphorescence present. We sat in the cockpit and enjoyed the display. But she does not like fog and she does not like windless days. She says a flat oily sea to her is disconcerting. So you are right.

I have a centre cockpit sloop. I must remark it is a particularly dry vessel. The cockpit is deep and offer a sense of security. Very dry in a following sea and only occasionally spray bound on close hauled but the spray dodger takes care of that. So horses for courses, thumbs up.
 
Thanks to all for the above advice and comments. Some excellent advice in there I'm sure.

Just to answer a couple of things which have come up: I would be planning to circumnavigate via the canaries to panama and on through the pacific. Then decide where to head after that (rounding Afica or having boat shipped through suez (At great cost)) I would plan to take as long as I can over it, obviously avoiding the inclement weather patterns at the appropriate times of the year. I'd guess at least 2 years, longer if I break the trip to go back to work for a few months here and there.

A couple of people mentioned experience - no I don't have a huge amount and it is currently the biggest thing holding me back - oh to be over confident and reckless, I might never set off at this rate! What experience I have has been varied and on several different boats in varying conditions (including sailing in to Falmouth harbour in a force 8-9 while on a Day Skipper course!) I wish I could have started younger but until recently budgets have limited me to dinghy sailing. The reason for my post is that I don't want to buy and equip a smaller or less 'blue watery' yacht and then have to upgrade at a later date. I want something that is capable of circumnavigating but would give it and myself a thorough shakedown over a period of time before attempting any real distances, I would also plan to cross the Atlantic as part of the ARC or similar for a bit of a safety net and also moral support / confidence (and socializing!)

Having done more research and spoken at length to a few owners I am fully sold on Amels. I will probably go for a Sharki or Santorin, slight differences in size and equipment but both appear to be capable, easily maintained and I have heard the phrase 'bomb proof' used more than once.

If anyone is interested I found a series of youtube clips posted by the youngish owner of an Amel Maramu 2000 called SV Delos. This is exactly how I imagine cruising to be, please tell me I'm right!! :)

Thanks again to all and fair winds
 
nickpre said:
Thanks to all for the above advice and comments. Some excellent advice in there I'm sure.

Just to answer a couple of things which have come up: I would be planning to circumnavigate via the canaries to panama and on through the pacific. Then decide where to head after that (rounding Afica or having boat shipped through suez (At great cost)) I would plan to take as long as I can over it, obviously avoiding the inclement weather patterns at the appropriate times of the year. I'd guess at least 2 years, longer if I break the trip to go back to work for a few months here and there.

A couple of people mentioned experience - no I don't have a huge amount and it is currently the biggest thing holding me back - oh to be over confident and reckless, I might never set off at this rate! What experience I have has been varied and on several different boats in varying conditions (including sailing in to Falmouth harbour in a force 8-9 while on a Day Skipper course!) I wish I could have started younger but until recently budgets have limited me to dinghy sailing. The reason for my post is that I don't want to buy and equip a smaller or less 'blue watery' yacht and then have to upgrade at a later date. I want something that is capable of circumnavigating but would give it and myself a thorough shakedown over a period of time before attempting any real distances, I would also plan to cross the Atlantic as part of the ARC or similar for a bit of a safety net and also moral support / confidence (and socializing!)

Having done more research and spoken at length to a few owners I am fully sold on Amels. I will probably go for a Sharki or Santorin, slight differences in size and equipment but both appear to be capable, easily maintained and I have heard the phrase 'bomb proof' used more than once.

If anyone is interested I found a series of youtube clips posted by the youngish owner of an Amel Maramu 2000 called SV Delos. This is exactly how I imagine cruising to be, please tell me I'm right!! :)

Thanks again to all and fair winds
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I believe the SV Delos is a Super Maramu. I enjoy their clips and wonder how somebody so young can afford it, he asked himself jealously....

A Sharki is also on my shortlist. It just makes sense. Sharki (12m) about €50-70k Santorin (14m) about €110-120k. Amel said that they developed the Santorin from the Sharki in response to owners' requests to have more independence between the two cabins. The basic difference is that each cabin now has its en-suite heads. It also has a larger lazarette which can take a partially inflated dinghy.
 
You need to think about what you will need and how much it will cost. If you are serious then you can look at things like the Exploration 45 with water tight bulkheads http://www.garcia-yachting.com/site/voilier.php?id=39 of a Discovery 55 with the same. But there are hundreds of boats that cruise all over the world without these things. If it was me I would look at a really well spec'd second hand boat and work out your needs, do you want to have friends on board or are you sailing alone, do you want a water maker and a generator or wind generator or photo-cells (Where will you fit them). This question is only one you can answer. You are on the right lines, you don't want a racing boat you want something conservatively rigged and tough. So a Contest, Oyster, Rustler, Alu-boat, Moody, Warrior etc are all suitable. Equally if you go to youtube you can see video diaries of people going around the world on lightweight French boats, it wold not be my choice but it can be done.

 
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I think the Santorin also has a lot more electronic systems than the Sharki. I'm torn as part of me wants some of those systems (and the extra space, slightly more modern look etc) but I cant help but think a 20 odd year old boat, heavy on electronic gadgets could be pretty nightmarish to maintain...

Re the Delos crew, I was wondering how they afford it too...They don't fully explain their finances. He starts off with a marine mortgage on the boat which would be understandable but then he somehow pays it off within a very short space of time. There must be a lot of money in IT!!
 
Two good books to read are Shrimpy by Shane Acton and the Bumfuzzles story [ don't know if it is a book but the story is here. http://www.bumfuzzle.com/2003/09/01/septemberoctober-2003/#respond

Neither boat would be an obvious choice but both made it round just fine as did Taleisin [ no engine] and a bog standard Beneteau 38 [ no modifications they just picked it up and left.

So don't overthink on the boat.
 
Seven Spades said:
You need to think about what you will need and how much it will cost. If you are serious then you can look at things like the Exploration 45 with water tight bulkheads http://www.garcia-yachting.com/site/voilier.php?id=39 of a Discovery 55 with the same. But there are hundreds of boats that cruise all over the world without these things. If it was me I would look at a really well spec'd second hand boat and work out your needs, do you want to have friends on board or are you sailing alone, do you want a water maker and a generator or wind generator or photo-cells (Where will you fit them). This question is only one you can answer. You are on the right lines, you don't want a racing boat you want something conservatively rigged and tough. So a Contest, Oyster, Rustler, Alu-boat, Moody, Warrior etc are all suitable. Equally if you go to youtube you can see video diaries of people going around the world on lightweight French boats, it wold not be my choice but it can be done.

Click to expand...

I visited the Garcia 45' at the Salon Nautique because I really thought that it corresponded to what I would like as an exploration Range Rover type of boat. I came away feeling disappointed. I found the interior cramped which is the last thing you want when you intend to spend a lot of time on the boat. Probably attempting to put too many berths in her, but that was Jimmy Cornell's wish: to be able to accommodate family and friends.

However, in terms of quality, Garcia are probably the best of the aluminium boat builders.
 
TQA said:
Two good books to read are Shrimpy by Shane Acton and the Bumfuzzles story [ don't know if it is a book but the story is here. http://www.bumfuzzle.com/2003/09/01/septemberoctober-2003/#respond

Neither boat would be an obvious choice but both made it round just fine as did Taleisin [ no engine] and a bog standard Beneteau 38 [ no modifications they just picked it up and left.

So don't overthink on the boat.
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Agree. There is the danger of obsessing over the boat when there is a big choice, and forgetting the objective which is to go sailing. If you get fixated on one design, which will almost certainly be one where there are very few built you may never actually find your dream. The reality as you say is that it can be done successfully in many different types of boats - at least 20 suggested in this thread already.
 
Hello Nickpre,

Amel's are meant to circumnavigate; apparently, more than 90% of the boats have done one RTW. Mine will do her first one with me; this is unusual as she is 25 YO and only sailed the Med. Ours is a Super Maramu 53 footer.

I bought her cheaply and am completing a refit as we speak... plan on some modern electronics and check all the kit to ensure reliability, source reasonable spares and you are off on RTW.

We sailed in a 50 knot Meltemi within a few days of picking her up.... YAWN!! Beautiful boat concept. The owner's web site will assist you anywhere on your travels. Amazing. Start by looking at yachttworld.com
 
Monique said:
Humm... as usual, the presentation of this boat is superb. Well done Sir! (Wait... the boat is indeed in great nick)
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Thank you.

I really enjoyed photographing her as she really is good.

I went through everything with the owner and noted he had fitted things like a dual fuel filter system, enabling filters to be taken out of line for change whilst leaving the engine running on the other. He has set her up well but is now going to 55ft - also in Aluminium - to cruise northern latitudes.

I looked at the Garcia at SIBS and was most impressed.
 
Ludd said:
If you can find an Amel that fits your budget-----there's your answer.
Nowadays, though, with modern sail handling equipment, the advantages of a ketch are somewhat reduced.
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That's certainly true. There may also be the problem of fitting a windvane. The mizzen can be a great balancing sail and a good ketch rig can be made to steer itself on most points except a run. But it couldn't be a substitute for a vane. Also, of course, extra windage, reduction in pointing ability (surprisingly slight in some modern ketches) etc.

I suspect, though, that Amel would not still be selling ketches if there were not some clear advantages as well. I'm not an ocean sailor (nor do I aspire to be) but I've been across Biscay a few times and sailed the whole of the Atlantic coast of Europe and a fair bit of the Baltic as well - mostly in two masted rigs. Some reasons to like them (as I do) include:

Many uses of the mizzen, other than a driving sail - counteract bow windage, balance steering, riding sail, windvane for a tight turn to windward etc.
Versatility - jib and mizzen is a wonderfully relaxed rig when there's enough wind to reach hull speed without the main (but not a really heavy weather rig when I would want the sail area inboard and, in any case, the mizzen may not be as well stayed as the main), the mizzen staysail can be a powerful driver in light to moderate winds on a reach
Ease of handling - a ketch will heave to beautifully and stay hove to while you reef or drop the main. No worries about being in two places at once - you can take your time
Power - not so good on a run or on the wind, but a powerful and relaxed rig on a reach
Looks - for me, more "row away factor" than a sloop or cutter - and the mizzen staysail always brings out the cameras

I wouldn't mind an Amel ketch if anyone has one to spare :)
 
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