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Newbie needs advice on path to circumnavigation

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Azikara, Jan 6, 2017.

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  1. Azikara, Jan 6, 2017
    #1
    Azikara

    Azikara New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2017
    Messages:
    1
    Location:
    Tokyo
    Hi all, I'm new here and aspire to do a circumnavigation with 2-4 crew in say 3 years from now and need some help with an idea I've had for how to get there.

    Before I take on something like this, I'd like to ensure that I'm qualified and have enough field and hands-on experience to be able to safely achieve my goals. So, in order to develop enough time, I was thinking about the following approach but have not thought it through thoroughly yet and wonder if it makes any sense at all.

    I'm currently on an international assignment for work and have choice of location when I repatriate. CA or FL are options - so, something close to water.

    Approach 1:
    • Complete requisite online courses
    • Complete practical course to secure Day Skipper credentials and ICC etc.
    • Concurrently, search suitable vessels. So far, I'm thinking of approx. 40' in the $150k range used but contemporary
    • Buy a boat over the course of perhaps 6 months to 1 year (no need to finance)
    • Keep it where I can access it every weekend and during vacations
    • Find a qualified Captain that is looking to get into chartering but perhaps doesn't have the financials to afford a boat
    • Strike a deal where the Captain can lease the boat to start his charter business (obviously this should make a positive business case for both of us)
    • In return, when not chartered out, the Captain and I get to sail in free time and I get to learn from him/her
    • Plan several multi-day trips to get overnight experience
    • Once I semi-retire in 3 years, I should have enough experience to execute on the circumnavigation plan
    • Captain can move on or maybe if it is working, I become an investor in his business and fund another boat
    Approach 2:
    • Complete the education and practical experience as above
    • Use charter / hire Captains to build time
    • Look for folks needing crew on multi-day trips and crossings and use those to build more time
    • When I'm ready, buy a boat and start the plan in the traditional sense
    Obviously #2 has much less risk and I am strongly considering it. But the benefits of #1 are that I get lots of time on the boat that I will use for my circumnavigation and I get to iron out all the gremlins beforehand as well as equip her and get all the maintenance done. I understand that I can also do that last part following path #2 as well.

    Appreciate any and all advice or insight.

    Thanks in advance!
  2. Ward, Jan 7, 2017
    #2
    Ward

    Ward Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2010
    Messages:
    269
    Location:
    Vancouver BC
    If you seriously intend to sail around the world (I assume you're talking about sailing...), the main thing you need to do is get experience. All that stuff about getting involved in a charter business run by someone else is just going to get in the way. You make it sound like you don't have much experience, so just get out there and get some. Learn to sail a dinghy, work up to something like a J/24 or other small overnighter, and go from there.
  3. ranger58sb, Jan 7, 2017
    #3
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

    Joined:
    Aug 20, 2013
    Messages:
    897
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay, USA
    Maybe not a bad concept for starting a business by funding a charter boat captain... (I'd have to think more about that)...

    But my first thought is that all those "every weekend" days could well be prime time for chartering. That, in turn, could mean you're cutting into his profitability, and/or you're not able to use the boat to your own best advantage.

    I think, with such an adventurous goal in mind, and with at least an inkling :) of an idea about how much experience you need to cram in between now and start date... I think you'd be better off buying a boat sooner, in the meantime learning to sail -- every weekend, every spare day you can find, every vacation -- on a Hobie Cat (or some such) and then a proper (sailing) dinghy and then slightly larger boats (the J24 suggestion, etc.), and eventually your own boat.

    I think I'd suggest you'll want at least 2 years experience with your own boat before setting off, and more wouldn't hurt. This partly so you have the sailing experience, but also partly so you have the maintenance and service experience. (12 years on our current boat, still learning.)

    -Chris