Sailing around the world on a budget

[Halcyon Yachts]

Lin and Larry Pardey coined the phrase, "Go small, go simple, but go now". They have inspired and encouraged many others to set sail despite limited incomes. What would you consider to be the minimum budget to go on a sailing adventure around the world? And if you were going to do it with limited funds, what kind of yacht would you choose?

 

[Sea Change]

You spend what you have available. It's possible to do it on a shoestring but generally if you have the budget to make life a bit more safe, interesting, and comfortable, then that's what you do. We all have a standard we want to meet and that varies from person to person.

For me, I want a boat with a reliable inboard engine, enough solar to be self sufficient for power and cooking, a good dinghy, up to date sails, rigging, and working instruments. I want an in date liferaft and other safety gear, and I want a boat big enough to house my family, with a spare cabin for all the spares, toys, and junk. We managed to achieve that with a 1970s 39ft boat that cost about £40k by the time we were ready to sail away.

If you are single or a couple and willing to sacrifice some of the requirements I had, you could do it much cheaper and much smaller. You can turn a blind eye to the age of your rig, you can sail without an engine or instruments, you can hot bunk with your other half to save space. Your life on land must be pretty grim if you consider that an upgrade, but each to their own

 

[Blueboatman]

Enough boat and dosh to get going.
The rest sorts itself out . Needs must and all that!
In my lived experience anyway

 

[davethedog]

The budget is different to all people. We have met people (normally single) doing this on small (sub 33ft) vessels with no "luxury " items such as solar, watermakers, internet etc all the way to peop[e that consider doing it on a budget to having a 1m plus vessel with all the mod cons.

Main issue I feel is that times and society have changed and so now lots see internet when crossing oceans as a must have etc

Our first Atlantic crossing was in some ways better as we did not have starlink (just iridium go for weather etc) and as we normally sail just the 2 of us we found we chatted more and also played games etc . Stark contrast to Starlink crossing...

Either way, technology has moved on and we are now somewhere in the middle with some mod cons (watermaker etc) but always aware that at any moment they modern (and usually expensive) stuff can fail so need to be prepared to revert to a more modest style!

 

[lustyd]

We’re about to start our adventure. It’s different depending on circumstance. Young people who intend to work when they return can do it with something approaching zero. We are not that young so this is early retirement for us as returning to restart a career doesn’t seem fun and with inflation and politics the way it is you kind of need to own a house or you’d be homeless when you return.

Having done the sums, and decided to take some risk and assume £1k/month is doable it’s surprising how much you do need at 45 to pres the eject button. We’ve also been surprised just how hard it is to exit a fully fledged life with cars, jobs, possessions and a home. Not emotionally but logistically hard.

The yacht? We tried to buy an Oceania 423 and a Sun Odyssey 45.2 and both failed at survey. We’ve not seen a single other yacht we fancy so will be going in a Sun Odyssey 36.2 and will contemplate where a watermaker will go along the way

 

[capnsensible]

We’re about to start our adventure. It’s different depending on circumstance. Young people who intend to work when they return can do it with something approaching zero. We are not that young so this is early retirement for us as returning to restart a career doesn’t seem fun and with inflation and politics the way it is you kind of need to own a house or you’d be homeless when you return.

Having done the sums, and decided to take some risk and assume £1k/month is doable it’s surprising how much you do need at 45 to pres the eject button. We’ve also been surprised just how hard it is to exit a fully fledged life with cars, jobs, possessions and a home. Not emotionally but logistically hard.

The yacht? We tried to buy an Oceania 423 and a Sun Odyssey 45.2 and both failed at survey. We’ve not seen a single other yacht we fancy so will be going in a Sun Odyssey 36.2 and will contemplate where a watermaker will go along the way

Brilliant. We did a couple of Atlantic circuits on our Moody 33. Very basic. We spent more time having great runs ashore, swims, exploring, yadda yadda than many we met who were always fretting and fixing stuff. Lots of which was not really necessary.

We had a 36.2 as our own school yacht. I spent the equivalent of probably a couple of years aboard. Fab boat, I would happily have cruised on her too.

I've delivered lots of yachts as far away as Tahiti without one so I wouldn't stress about a watermaker...

 

[Wansworth]

My very limited experience of world girdleing I would say it’s a state of mind even just leaving your home port and off down the coast you may have to stop to work or mend stuff but ineffective you are on your way…..I have met quite a few voyagers and the most successful had a skill to trade ,one was a cook one aboatbuilder one an engineer and a couple who had excellent painting and varnishing skills,I found work on a farm,teaching English and painting watercolors.A boat say for a couple would be 30 foot plus bowsprits etc and a motor although a small boat can be sculled an engine is a plus .Dont overstock as most civilized countries have eatable food …..I stocked up on tinned fish and Galicia of course was and is the capital of tinned fish,,error…..money,what you have with maybe a standby emergency stash………carry a spare anchour or two

 

[RunAgroundHard]

When I was younger, in the 1990's, I part built a Wharram Tangaroa Mk IV catamaran. A very low cost build but time consuming, sold partially built. I was Wharram mad for a while and would have happily sailed around the world in one. Today I would buy something like a Rival 32, or 34 around £15k. A budget of £1000 a month sounds about right for a 3 year voyage. In the mid 70's, early 80's sailing on a budget books suggested £3000 was needed to sail around the world, which equates to about £40k today.

 

[lustyd]

Brilliant. We did a couple of Atlantic circuits on our Moody 33. Very basic. We spent more time having great runs ashore, swims, exploring, yadda yadda than many we met who were always fretting and fixing stuff. Lots of which was not really necessary.

We had a 36.2 as our own school yacht. I spent the equivalent of probably a couple of years aboard. Fab boat, I would happily have cruised on her too.

I've delivered lots of yachts as far away as Tahiti without one so I wouldn't stress about a watermaker...

Thanks and I know you had one and I’m certain it’s enough as you say, they are genuinely great boats. There’s no question we’d be more comfortable on something bigger though just for storage for things like a bike, a watermaker, winter clothing for Ireland and Scotland (oh for a Schengen passport!). We will make it work until we find better or we realise we can’t have everything. I’m certain it’ll be the latter. For now I’ve changed the “hanging lockers” which barely fit a short sleeve shirt, for shelving where we can store clothing and that has transformed the boat for cruising. We love the boat without question, but we still dream

 

[Tranona]

All theoretical of course for somebody in his 80th year, but my Golden Hind 31 would still be my boat of choice just as it was my dream boat over 40 years ago. Personally I could manage quite well without the mod cons on the domestic side, but would take advantage of modern communications. One observation I have about then and now with the same design boat is how much daily averages have risen as a result of better sails and particularly feathering propellers which together can add 15-20% to average speeds.

 

[lustyd]

I have met quite a few voyagers and the most successful had a skill to trade ,one was a cook one aboatbuilder one an engineer and a couple who had excellent painting and varnishing skills,I found work on a farm,teaching English and painting watercolors.

I really hope I can rekindle this spirit. I’ve given up a rather successful career in the hope I can get back to being more capable. Money doesn’t breed happiness it breeds weakness and laziness and worse it often makes people less healthy, it has with me.
I have loads of practical skills and love using them but somewhere along the way money has left me doubting that I could make those skills pay and ruined the desire to do them as a job for money.
There’s a lot to be said for some discomfort.

 

[lustyd]

somebody in his 80th year

Assumed you were about 50 based on your posts!

 

[Wansworth]

I really hope I can rekindle this spirit. I’ve given up a rather successful career in the hope I can get back to being more capable. Money doesn’t breed happiness it breeds weakness and laziness and worse it often makes people less healthy, it has with me.
I have loads of practical skills and love using them but somewhere along the way money has left me doubting that I could make those skills pay and ruined the desire to do them as a job for money.
There’s a lot to be said for some discomfort.

Like your comment…..you an add struggle ,fear and sense of wonder

 

[Tranona]

Assumed you were about 50 based on your posts!

Oh I wish - you would not see me for dust - or a curling wake. Last Monday was our monthly "crusties" lunch at the club and I dubbed our table the senior common room - almost all retired teachers or academics bemoaning the state of the world and particularly education. From the comfortable positions of mortgage free homes and inflation linked pensions.

Not that I am complaining as I have filled my life with many good things and now living far beyond my sell by date. However I feel more at ease with my grand daughter's peers going through their university experience.

If I want to escape reality I can always sit in the cockpit of my GH and imagine creaming down the trade winds at 6 knots with the rudder humming away to keep me company.

 

[Daydream believer]

To go back to the OP's question. The sailing Brothers You Tube series of videos have shown how they have reached Australia in their Rival. "Atlas" ( is it a 34 or 36?). But inspite of their love for their boat they have had to admit that they need more room & are selling her, for something larger. Further videos will tell us what they have decided upon, although right now they have gone home to see their family. That suggests to me that they may have had enough of being slung around in a box. Regardless of size. They need a break.
As for how much money- It seems that they survive off you tube income & poncing off patreons. Not the sort of way I would like to live. But many do. Beats begging in shop doorways in Ramsgate.

 

[RunAgroundHard]

To go back to the OP's question. The sailing Brothers You Tube series of videos have shown how they have reached Australia in their Rival. "Atlas" ( is it a 34 or 36?). But inspite of their love for their boat they have had to admit that they need more room & are selling her, for something larger. Further videos will tell us what they have decided upon, although right now they have gone home to see their family. That suggests to me that they may have had enough of being slung around in a box. Regardless of size. They need a break.
As for how much money- It seems that they survive off you tube income & poncing off patreons. Not the sort of way I would like to live. But many do. Beats begging in shop doorways in Ramsgate.

A couple I indirectly know, who are sailing an Allures 45.9 and are three years into a RTW, have flown home a few times. I suspect that boat size has little to do with it. I have no idea how common RTW's fly home, but it would not surprise me if it was not unusual.

 

[capnsensible]

Thanks and I know you had one and I’m certain it’s enough as you say, they are genuinely great boats. There’s no question we’d be more comfortable on something bigger though just for storage for things like a bike, a watermaker, winter clothing for Ireland and Scotland (oh for a Schengen passport!). We will make it work until we find better or we realise we can’t have everything. I’m certain it’ll be the latter. For now I’ve changed the “hanging lockers” which barely fit a short sleeve shirt, for shelving where we can store clothing and that has transformed the boat for cruising. We love the boat without question, but we still dream

Should you 'select to uptick your maritime aspirations' I can also say that the Jenneau 45.2 is a good choice. I sailed one for a school in Gib and took her across the Atlantic twice. Comfortable and still good passage times loaded up.

Some friends of ours here have one and on our occasional visits for coffee, it's like a brill trip down memory lane.

 

[Stemar]

"Go small, go simple, but go now"

When you take that to its logical conclusion

18' seems to be about right.

 

[newtothis]

When you take that to its logical conclusion

18' seems to be about right.

I think Shane Acton's biggest expense on his voyage was the cigarrettes that eventually caught up with him at an early age.

 

[Sea Change]

A couple I indirectly know, who are sailing an Allures 45.9 and are three years into a RTW, have flown home a few times. I suspect that boat size has little to do with it. I have no idea how common RTW's fly home, but it would not surprise me if it was not unusual.

Whether you feel the need to fly home is unrelated to boat size. If you just want to get off the boat for a while, it's generally easier and cheaper to find budget accommodation on land.
We've found that a few days in a marina makes the boat seem much bigger. Suddenly you have instant walk ashore access, you have a pontoon finger to dump things on, and getting out of each others' hair is much easier than when you're out at anchor. You are no longer bothered about power or water, and you have access to much better toilets and showers which you don't have to clean.
It's a bit of a luxury for us though, and we haven't done it since we left Europe.