Sign of the times

I did the west country run many times in a Halcyon 23 and a Trident 24, plus cross Channel. Two weeks with 2 kids and on the west country trips a border collie as well. We sailed every weekend from Easter to mid-November and in those days lived a 2hr drive away but we went every Friday irrespective of weather and on several occasions slept in the clubhouse because it was too rough to get out to the boat in the dinghy in the dark. My daughter had her first sail on the Halcyon at 3 weeks old.

Yoof today are not committed enough.
 
Lake Sailor

I was 50 a couple of weeks ago. My first car was as a rust bucket held together with Isopon, my first house was a little 3-bed semi with a downstairs bathroom.

In 12 weeks time I take delivery of a brand new shiny white AWB (not a big, only 30 ft). Why? Because I can. After all these years I can afford it. Well I can afford the repayments!

I'm not new to sailing, over 25 years I've had 8 different dinghys and a MacGregor, but that doesn't quite fit the bill of working up through the ranks.

Just because you haven't come up the hard way doesn't mean you are not committed to sailing.
 
Kim, you are a special case. I started in Cruisers in my mid 20's had I waited to 50 I could have saved for a new boat instead of being perpetually broke.

In any case anyone brave enough to admit to a MaGregor on here deserves serious respect. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
First bus was a A35 van, with hand made aluminium cills pop riveted on. Ran it for two years, covered trips to Cornwall and Scotland.

Brian
 
The market does seem to have moved to entrants wanting a 36' new "starter" boat. Very different in France and Spain where new small boats still sell in large numbers. Personally, I think it has a lot to do with the success of the UK charter market meaning that lots of people want to buy the sort of boat they chartered on holiday.

I think it is a big shame. For most day/weekend use I have a lot more fun sailing a 24 footer than a bigger boat. Many people who start with a big boat would be much better off with a smaller boat. If they or their family don't like sailing it would be a much less costly mistake. That Seamaster 23' sounds like an ideal starter boat. Mind you isn't 20hp a bit overkill for a 23' boat?
 
I have an aweful lot to learn, but am very excited about getting into it all. I know the qualifications are much maligned by those with experience on here, understandably as nothing (as with the car analogy) substitutes for experience - they will give me a start though and, I hope, help me avoid anything too costly or painful. The game plan is solent this year, beyond but coastal the year after and cross the channel the year after. Quicker than that will be a bonus
 
Best of luck, thats a good plan. I fumbled around locally for a season before going out to the Whitaker Beacon and turning right.
Still enjoy all the local nook and crannies too.

As I have a shiny AWB and an MAB in need of TLC, I have a foot in both camps!
 
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