Sailing off into the sunset - advice needed

[ColdFusion]

Thanks V much for all your replies so far. Interesting range of advice being offered - we're leaning towards retaining some kind of investment in property and then renting out.

We started looking for suitable boats some time ago - a Sadler 34 seems a good balance between size/cost/seaworthiness, as does a Westerly Discus. Also considered Beneteau Oceanis 321, 331 and 350 but reputation for seaworthiness (or lack of) is putting us off. Any opinions on this or similar?

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[BrendanS]

Stingo is off round the world in a 390 after the doom sayers told him it wasn't up to it, and he seems to be doing fine so far.

Hasn't Jimi got a 331?

<hr width=100% size=1>There is no such thing as "fun for the whole family."

 

[Sailfree]

You may find firm opinions on this Forum regarding new AWB's eg Baverias/Bennies/Jennies. As someone says Stingo raised a lot of comments for dreaming of going off in a boat that wasn't long keel ocean going friendly. Stingo is now doing it ( after much forum discussion & advice). Good luck to him and I hope he enjoys many years of happy sailing. We hope to follow in his path!

IMHO providing you know the limitations of your boat and using good seamanship (including when to run & seek shelter) it can be done but modern boats have an AVS between 115 to 126 degrees. The RYA traditionally recommends for ocean going a minimum of 140 degrees. And boats with good reputations such as Rustler 36 and Contessa are in the 150 to 155 range I believe.

Look at the boats that complete the ARC each year (many are AWB) but bear in mind that they are picking a favourable weather window. I have heard that some people have managed to cicumnavigate without ever meeting more than a F5. I found the statement hard to believe and take the view your boat/equipment and yourself should be prepared to cope with bad weather as I believe that at some time on extended cruising YOU WILL encounter bad weather.

If you are considering a Sadler ask on this forum for comments. Most sailers are extremely helpful and generous with their advice and often hard won experience. You may meet one who will take you for a test sail and share their experiences with you.

I don't know enough about the Sadler but one of the advantages of having a limited budget appears that you are forced to buy an older boat and generally these have a higher ballast ratio and avoid the trend for wide beam/spacious accommodation and hence the large part form/shape stability contributes to the stability of modern boats.

Initially we are making do with an AWB but I choose one with an advertised AVS of 130 degrees. I will constantly review that decision with experience gained. We we have a trysail, storm jib and some form of Drogue but along with the EPIRB I will be happy if after a few trips I can state that buying them was unnecessary for our journeys and hence a waste of money!

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[Twister_Ken]

\'Traditional\' design vs \'modern\'.

There's a man called <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.street-iolaire.com/>Don Street</A> who has done a bit when it comes to sailing. The only time he has ever injured himself on a transatlantic crossing was on a 'modern' design he was delivering, where he fell from one side of the saloon to the other (some 14 feet, he says) and broke a couple of ribs.

There's a lot said about the merits/demerits of old vs new in yacht design, but IMHO the real division is between boats that are designed as accomodation, and those which are designed as passage makers. The boat which hurt Don was not designed as a passage maker.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[Robin]

I personally have little faith in mathematical formulae to decide whether a boat is suitable for long distance cruising or not but would avoid extremes of all kinds. A super heavyweight will need heavy and expensive gear and will be frustratingly slow, a super lightweight will not be a good load carrier and fully laden may put too much strain on the lighter gear, a super wide may have loads of space but possibly be unbalanced on some points of sail, a super narrow may be initially tender and be cramped below.

Having previously owned a Westerly 33 Ketch which has the same hull as the aft cockpit Discus I would rate that very highly, many have gone transatlantic and done full circumnavigations and one is documented as surviving F11. In the Westerly range I would also consider the Conway 36 or Corsair as well. The AWBs that are frequently discussed here should also not be written off out of hand, especially those from the late 70's and 80's whose prices may fit your budgets. Quite a few of these were built as cruiser racers and came from well respected designers, many competing very succesfully in long distance short handed races such as the transats. We currently own a 1988 Jeanneau Sun Legende 41 designed by Doug Peterson that is a very well balanced and quick boat that I would be happy to take off in, despite the AWB tag it might attract, and there are others. You might find for the price of a Discus 33/Sadler 34 you could look at nearer 40ft, the extra length will bring more speed, stowage and comfort below. I would look at say the Benneteau First 38 and 375 and the Jeanneau Sun Fizz 40 to name just a few which would all be similarly priced to the Discus/Sadler options.



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[beneteau_305_553]

Go over to USA and buy a 40 footer over there. Same number of dollars as pounds here. Perhaps a Hunter 40 with a proper double aft cabin for about £30000.?




<hr width=100% size=1>Richard