What is needed?

[oliv897]

So I am looking at getting a small 20ft Sailing Cruiser for me and my Fiancés Honeymoon...

What do I need exactly before I get out on the water? and is there anything I should know or do?

I also plan to take this on a very long trip... have people ever sailed great distances before in such small boats? we were hoping to tour around the coast of Europe in it starting at Ireland and working our way down to Italy/Greece! (and do I need a passport.. how does that work?)

I'm also wandering once it is in the water can it stay there for awhile before needing to be pulled out and cleaned?

Can any of you recommend a wesbite where I can learn everything i need to? (or suggest any sailing courses in the Devon area?)


Thanks for all your help!

 

[philld]

People have taken 20ft boats across the Atlantic, but I think you'd best start here. http://www.rya.org.uk/startboating/Pages/Yacht.aspx

There is a lot of useful info on this website about training, qualifications, and buying a boat.

 

[Seajet]

oliv897

- Not 897 Sqn by any chance ?

The answer in your position is to read everything you can, starting with Second_Spree's suggestion then things like ' Voyages of a Simple Sailor ' by Roger Taylor, ' Very Willing Griffin ' by David Blagden ( out of print, try Abe books ), ' My Lively Lady ' by Sir Alec Rose ( slightly bigger boat but excellent ), ' Shoal Waters ' by Charles Stock, and anything else you can get hold of !

To put it bluntly, you are talking about entering a Marathon before you can even toddle let alone walk; it's a big subject to learn, is long distance sailing in any size boat - get plenty of experience locally then see how you feel, and Top Tip - don't be too fussy about your first boat just make it cheap ands easy to sell on, you're almost certain to have different ideas of what you're looking for in a boat once you have some experience.

 

[[70521]]

or suggest any sailing courses in the Devon area?

I like Plymouth Sailing School, call Richard and discuss your plans.

http://www.plymsail.co.uk/

 

[onesea]

>What do I need exactly before I get out on the water? and is there anything I should know or do?
I would suggest doing a dinghy course for a week (or several weekends) the 2 of you to get to know a little about sailing. Any course make sure its the 2 of you, if you want her to enjoy it keep her involved from day one.

Take any opportunity you can to get afloat. Learn what you enjoy and what you do not enjoy, sailing takes many forms.

Look up Keep turning left by a member of this parish, sounds like the sailing you want to do...

As seajet says read up on the subject.

Take it step by step there is allot to sailing but none of it is difficult step by step...