Sailing to the South

[Stingo]

Scruff

Just do it. There are plenty of opportunities for earning along the way. At the risk of plugging my own website (see signature), other cruising yachties need the skills of other cruising yachties, so create yourself a freelance profile. Without knowing your skills, you can earn a bob hull scraping, diving to clear anchors, there is plenty if IT work eg my GPS won't talk to Vista, varnishing, cleaning and so on. And all pay more per hour (circa US$15 - $45 per hour) than you need to spend per day.

 

[Supine Being]

To add to all the other voices regarding your career, I would say that taking a year out to sail to Oz would only enhance it. If I were interviewing you I would be impressed as it would show that you've got something about you. To me it would say that you're resourceful, able to manage risks, have some drive, and you're happy to back yourself to get it done.

Honestly, if an employer didn't see any interest in this, you have to question whether you want to work for them.

 

[AndrewB]

Everyone is being rather "right-on" about this. Let me sound a word of warning.

Long-distance saling doesn't suit everyone's temperament. Some people who try it, find they hate it. But it isn't easy to give up quickly, without wasting the huge effort of preparation and often a lot of money.

As you have no experience, you do not know whether this is true of you. At very least, before you commit yourself too deeply, arrange to try out an ocean passage (start a separate thread if you want to ask how to do this).

Even if that is OK, you may still not like ocean voyaging. Occasionally it is scarey. It can be a lonely life at times. If you take someone else, you are thrown so close together it is a relationship that you have to be really sure of.

If you are very close to your family, you will miss them badly - this is a common reason for giving up. If your long-term plan is to have a family of your own, and to establish the resources for their security and support over the years, then this is not a step in the right direction.

Up to you.

 

[idpnd]

if you have a dream give it a go otherwise it will be just a regret.. although bashing a dream into the harshness of reality can be a bit tough too

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/feb/01/top-five-regrets-of-the-dying

nice article by the way

 

[scruff]

Thanks for all the responses guys. Genuinely grateful for all the positive feedback.

I'm more than a little relieved that my winter-blues, itchy feet, wandering thoughts aren't purely rooted in fantasy.

It's also a relief that the idea could be perceived by future employers as a worthwhile thing to do / have done.

As for whether I have the proper constitution to undertake this trip; it's impossible to tell without trying surely?

I do know that a couple of years ago, I did crew a trip across to Norway so not entirely unused to not seeing land for a few days. Also the subsequent landfall was one of the most magical moments in my life; dawn approach to Skudneshaven (sp?) and tying up in the town square at breakfast. Simply beautiful.

It's the memory of that trip which makes my feet all the itchier.

I hadn't considered making money en-route. I'm naturally reticent to taking money from friends, and I would imagine (perhaps disingenuously) that the cruiser group would feel similar.

That said, I am an Energy engineer, specialising in renewables and know my way around a diesel, in a course fashion. I can also wield a soldering iron so I may have a skill set that could be of use in a remote anchorage.

My plan for my summer holiday, before I commit to anything further is a jaunt around Rockall. This will be about a 650mile round trip, and I think a relative decent test whether or not being at sea for so long is for me.

Also, I mentioned the trip to my girlfriend the other night in a half jokingly manner. I wasn't laughed out of bed, which was nice. In fact she admitted to being quite keen to see the south seas.

Not sure how the reality of sh*ttinig into a bucket would temper the ideas of the Marquesas however.

I will spend some time reading the blogs recommended and we'll just have to see where the idea goes...

 

[Stingo]

I hadn't considered making money en-route. I'm naturally reticent to taking money from friends, and I would imagine (perhaps disingenuously) that the cruiser group would feel similar.

That's one of the wonderful things about the cruising community; some people (unreasonably) expect free labour while others realise that your time is chargeable. At the end of the day, the choice is yours and you should decide whether to charge people or not. If you do, your income will probably exceed your expenditure. RESULT!!! Beer tokens for the next few days.

 

[tcm]

Thanks for all the responses guys. Genuinely grateful for all the positive feedback.

I'm more than a little relieved that my winter-blues, itchy feet, wandering thoughts aren't purely rooted in fantasy.

It's also a relief that the idea could be perceived by future employers as a worthwhile thing to do / have done.

As for whether I have the proper constitution to undertake this trip; it's impossible to tell without trying surely?

I do know that a couple of years ago, I did crew a trip across to Norway so not entirely unused to not seeing land for a few days. Also the subsequent landfall was one of the most magical moments in my life; dawn approach to Skudneshaven (sp?) and tying up in the town square at breakfast. Simply beautiful.

It's the memory of that trip which makes my feet all the itchier.

I hadn't considered making money en-route. I'm naturally reticent to taking money from friends, and I would imagine (perhaps disingenuously) that the cruiser group would feel similar.

That said, I am an Energy engineer, specialising in renewables and know my way around a diesel, in a course fashion. I can also wield a soldering iron so I may have a skill set that could be of use in a remote anchorage.

My plan for my summer holiday, before I commit to anything further is a jaunt around Rockall. This will be about a 650mile round trip, and I think a relative decent test whether or not being at sea for so long is for me.

Also, I mentioned the trip to my girlfriend the other night in a half jokingly manner. I wasn't laughed out of bed, which was nice. In fact she admitted to being quite keen to see the south seas.

Not sure how the reality of sh*ttinig into a bucket would temper the ideas of the Marquesas however.

I will spend some time reading the blogs recommended and we'll just have to see where the idea goes...

jeez, don’t hang about if she’s okay about it? Go!! Over the side hanging off the shrouds and wetwipes is better than a bucket btw.

 

[gonad]

trip south.....

GO or forever regret it about a grand a month and you can live real well read moitessier

 

[Wansworth]

Some guywrote a book about atlantic crossing...he said do it bit by bit and at each stage you can see if you want to carry on or turn back......thats till it gets to the crossing! But there is lots of sea to sail before you get to the Canaries?

 

[jonic]

I do know that a couple of years ago, I did crew a trip across to Norway so not entirely unused to not seeing land for a few days. Also the subsequent landfall was one of the most magical moments in my life; dawn approach to Skudneshaven (sp?) and tying up in the town square at breakfast. Simply beautiful.



I am an Energy engineer.


Also, I mentioned the trip to my girlfriend the other night in a half jokingly manner. I wasn't laughed out of bed, which was nice. In fact she admitted to being quite keen to see the south seas.

.

I hope you've already left!! If not hurry up before you get over qualified for it!

 

[LadyInBed]

If you only want to take a year out consider taking a trip down the French canals to the med. That leaves your options open to keep going, do the return trip or winter the boat down there and return and pick up some work in readiness to continue the next summer. If you take to it you will definitely want to get back asap.

 

[BobPrell]

My plan for my summer holiday, before I commit to anything further is a jaunt around Rockall. This will be about a 650mile round trip, and I think a relative decent test whether or not being at sea for so long is for me.

A great idea!

Some youth was on these forums and talking about sailing across the Channel.

I suggested sailing out to sea to some arbitrary point with a lot less traffic around it.

Rockall should not need any paperwork, but ask the experts first.

 

[Frankie-H]

jeez, don’t hang about if she’s okay about it? Go!! Over the side hanging off the shrouds and wetwipes is better than a bucket btw.

I am told that the old MTBs & MGBs had 2 wrist straps at the stern for that purpose.

Yes, go for it don't wait. Your only other option is to work bloody hard until you have enough money. Houses etc to retire. BUT you can never be sure how that will work out. NO do it now & Lots of luck.

 

[JustinC]

As long as you keep up to date on the technological advances and changes in your particular field of work, you should be OK to get another job after a year out.
Whether you'd want to go back is another matter.
General rule in recruitment is that everyone's allowed to make one "mistake" in their career, so you Have credit!