Where do you all go in the winter?

[geem]

What about hurricane season?

hurricane season is in the summer. Go home in the summer. Our season starts in 7 weeks time!

 

[Heckler]

All encouraging so far. We will be med based maybe near to French canals in the south first year.

Jim
our experience, swmbo was still working so had to wait for summer hols. Mid July took off, worked our way down from Holyhead, Fishguard, Scillies, Laberwrach, Camaret, Loctudy then to LaCorruna. The last was a three dayer, sailed the first day then engine on for two days, the wind was on the nose.
Then day trips around Finisterre and down the Spanish and Portuguese coasts. Stayed in Bayona and CasCais for a couple of days. Then Sines to Lagos in one hit. Then to Faro for the winter in Bruces Yard.
The marinas in the Algarve start to get expensive July August and Sept. Thats why we went to Bruces. Live and work aboard no probs. Its very clean and tidy with a few of the reprobates from here living based there. Its a good fallback after a long trip whilst you get your bearings. Talk to the travellers there, serious good craic, good info. Grahamm376 is a mine of information. Once you have got used to having actually done it then you can decide what to do! Turn left or right!
S

 

[geem]

This is our - revised - plan too.

As a matter of interest: would you consider it safe to lay up ashore in Martinique, or is that too far north?

We are laid up in Jolly Harbour Antigua. We are on a full cradle with masts off and tied down to the chains set in concrete. We have yachts around us who are also on full cradles. It is as safe here as anywhere if a hurricane comes. We have more chance of being hit here but the yard is better prepared than the Grenada yards as a consequence. I have seen the aftermath of hurricane Ivan in Grenada in 2004 and I don't think they have learnt much

 

[Artic Warrior]

I go Thailand from jan to end of march,,,..Sit on a beach and be very very lazy

 

[blampied]

Go home for Christmas,
because no one makes turkey dinner like my mum!

 

[blampied]

French canals down south? That's what we thought last year (last year was our first year) assumed that it had to be warmer on the south French med coast area than back up north in Jersey where we came from. What a mistake it's far colder, something to do with the Alps one side of France, the Pyrenees the other side and the predominant winter winds blowing the cold down off them. End of October we left the boat and went home for the winter. We were told for reasonable winter liveaboar weather, you need to be Barcelona or south of. We're now headed for Cartagena, (only about 150 miles to go)

 

[TQA]

We are laid up in Jolly Harbour Antigua. We are on a full cradle with masts off and tied down to the chains set in concrete. We have yachts around us who are also on full cradles. It is as safe here as anywhere if a hurricane comes. We have more chance of being hit here but the yard is better prepared than the Grenada yards as a consequence. I have seen the aftermath of hurricane Ivan in Grenada in 2004 and I don't think they have learnt much

Actually that is not the case. Pics are from Spice Island marine in Grenada. Cradles and tie downs.

View attachment 54119View attachment 54120

Also there is a new yard in Clarks Court Bay in Grenada that has a travelift with lifting capability of 242 tons, width 40ft. and draft 13ft which I am pretty sure is the biggest in the Carib. N.B. It is also bright green. No prizes for guessing the nickname.

 

[temptress]

We are trying to work out what we do in the winter when we become liveaboard. Our anticipated area for kick off is the Med, Greece/Turkey but who knows after? Our issue is that our finances mean that we will have to rent our house out to pay for the living on the boat, which is great in Summer, but maybe not so in winter. Also, we can't afford endless trips back to UK either.
So, for those cruising on a bit of a budget, what do you do in winter? Do you lay up in a yard and liveaboard, or lay up and rent a cheap apartment for the winter? Fly home and plonk yourselves on the kids?
How many stay afloat?

This will make the difference to us of working for an extra 3 or 4 years to stoke funds, or having to return to work occasionally on contract to do a top up. Neither is palatable unless we have to!

Sail to the Caribbean for the European Winter then back to the Med for the European Sumer? Although we did sail through the winter in the MED as well - you do not have to stop just keep an eye on the weather - depends on you.

FYI - I am currently working to top up the kitty..... back to the boat in Jan.

 

[sailaboutvic]

We are trying to work out what we do in the winter when we become liveaboard. Our anticipated area for kick off is the Med, Greece/Turkey but who knows after? Our issue is that our finances mean that we will have to rent our house out to pay for the living on the boat, which is great in Summer, but maybe not so in winter. Also, we can't afford endless trips back to UK either.
So, for those cruising on a bit of a budget, what do you do in winter? Do you lay up in a yard and liveaboard, or lay up and rent a cheap apartment for the winter? Fly home and plonk yourselves on the kids?
How many stay afloat?

This will make the difference to us of working for an extra 3 or 4 years to stoke funds, or having to return to work occasionally on contract to do a top up. Neither is palatable unless we have to!

{This will make the difference to us of working for an extra 3 or 4 years to stoke funds, or having to return to work occasionally on contract to do a top up. Neither is palatable unless we have to!}

If you wait till you can afford to go, (delaying it a few more years,)
you may fine you will never go.

Work out a budget and keep to it.
If you over spend one months then cut down the next.

Winter is probably going to be the most expenses time,
Mooring fees, and socialising, heating , flying home and doing all the job that needs to be done.
but you can cut back on some of the cost by,

making your stop over shorter and cutting down on Marina fees, there no need to enter a Marina on the first of October and stay till the end of April,
But a lot of Liveaboard do feel they need to and miss out on some great cruising.

Flying home , if you fly back three or four times over he winter pick your Marina carefully, traveling back and fro to the airport can set you back quite a bit. Much, much more the the flights.

socialising, it nothing to wipe out 20 or 30 euros on a night at the Marina bar buying drinks for others, that alone could set you back 600 euros over the winter.
That's without going out for meals.
That's not to say you can't socialise, socialising is a big part of cruising,
but do most of it on board.
Some of our best time is having friends on board for drinks and meals.
Remember everyone budget is different, just because your friends go out for meals and prop up the bar three or four time a week , it does mean you have to.
we met people who have told us there budget is 55K a year and they can just about manage,
it's very clear why there need so much you only need to have a night out with them to see why.
good for them, they can afford it and why not, but maybe you can't,
we can go for nearly three years on that budget.

First work out if you both really want to become Liveaboard, if you partner only doing it to keep you happy, your dream might last that long.
Next Work out how many years you wish to cruise for.
Work out your budget.
And go for it.
You only have one life.

 

[FullCircle]

{This will make the difference to us of working for an extra 3 or 4 years to stoke funds, or having to return to work occasionally on contract to do a top up. Neither is palatable unless we have to!}

If you wait till you can afford to go, (delaying it a few more years,)
you may fine you will never go.

Work out a budget and keep to it.
If you over spend one months then cut down the next.

Winter is probably going to be the most expenses time,
Mooring fees, and socialising, heating , flying home and doing all the job that needs to be done.
but you can cut back on some of the cost by,

making your stop over shorter and cutting down on Marina fees, there no need to enter a Marina on the first of October and stay till the end of April,
But a lot of Liveaboard do feel they need to and miss out on some great cruising.

Flying home , if you fly back three or four times over he winter pick your Marina carefully, traveling back and fro to the airport can set you back quite a bit. Much, much more the the flights.

socialising, it nothing to wipe out 20 or 30 euros on a night at the Marina bar buying drinks for others, that alone could set you back 600 euros over the winter.
That's without going out for meals.
That's not to say you can't socialise, socialising is a big part of cruising,
but do most of it on board.
Some of our best time is having friends on board for drinks and meals.
Remember everyone budget is different, just because your friends go out for meals and prop up the bar three or four time a week , it does mean you have to.
we met people who have told us there budget is 55K a year and they can just about manage,
it's very clear why there need so much you only need to have a night out with them to see why.
good for them, they can afford it and why not, but maybe you can't,
we can go for nearly three years on that budget.

First work out if you both really want to become Liveaboard, if you partner only doing it to keep you happy, your dream might last that long.
Next Work out how many years you wish to cruise for.
Work out your budget.
And go for it.
You only have one life.

Thanks Vic, the cost of travel(thanks for the tip about travel from airport to marina) is what is vexing us most really. We have already worked out we can't afford marinas all the time at any part of the year. We are committed to liveaboard, and do need to get clear in the UK first so we can do it sustainably. Our budget appears to be about the same as yours.

If my boss isn't reading this, I will go in 2 years and 3 months time. That is realistic for us, we will be just about 60 when our mortgage is done. Boat is almost ready now, as I have been modifying it since purchase, just got to get the rest of the solar and the tent/bimini done, and we are all set. So about £5k to spend yet.

We become infinitely richer when we reach 66 as we will then have the rest of my private pension, and of course the UK state pension, but I have allowed for 'borrowing' part of the early pot against the state pension coming later, so we will se an apparent overspend for the first 5 years, which will balance up after.

 

[capnsensible]

But do you move to a winter deal marina, stay on the hook, or tie up to the town quay?

Marinas.

Gib lots. Two in Lanzarotte. Two cruising Carib. One Estepona.

First one, Haslar, Gosport.

Have boat, will travel!,

Hope your plans go well. As ST mentioned too, dehumidifier best thing ever. :encouragement:

 

[tcm]

Sail to the Caribbean for the European Winter then back to the Med for the European Sumer?

I did this for 5 years. It's quite expensive - getting the boat just right for a transat is not like oh we'll sort that next season or the season after that. By comparison, hanging about in (say) San Carles marina over winter and then anchoring around the islands or wandering down the coast is cheap as heck, and might be doable in a boat (and with crew) not quite so ocean-ready.

So, is it the social life with a bit of sailing for you Jim - more Europe sorta thing? Or getting out there to the carib, Azores, Pacific, rtw or wot, hm?

 

[FullCircle]

I did this for 5 years. It's quite expensive - getting the boat just right for a transat is not like oh we'll sort that next season or the season after that. By comparison, hanging about in (say) San Carles marina over winter and then anchoring around the islands or wandering down the coast is cheap as heck, and might be doable in a boat (and with crew) not quite so ocean-ready.

So, is it the social life with a bit of sailing for you Jim - more Europe sorta thing? Or getting out there to the carib, Azores, Pacific, rtw or wot, hm?

Yep, you got it Mat, 85% social, 15% sailing mebbe even staying for weeks/months in one place. I would love to do the whole planet, but I am realistic enough to know that Mrs FC may not be up for it. Might end up doing a transat to Carib then up the Intra Coastal Waterways, but may ship crew for that long bit. The problem is only there until the state pension kicks in, so 5 years.

 

[GHA]

or having to return to work occasionally on contract to do a top up. Neither is palatable unless we have to!

It's actually quite nice to get a break from the boat now and again IMHO, then come back with renewed excitement for pastures new and some cash in the pocket