People thought we were mad when we left home in a housebus with 2 kids.
Do your research and if it still grabs you go for it!! Just make sure you know enough about safety protocol and stuff and you're well equipped. I guess if you're going coastal you can easily come to shore if you're in trouble. Don't talk to the crocs.
For a while now I've had this yearning /desire to learn to sail and then sail all the way around Oz. Am I nuts?
From websites I've seen the trip is approx 6,500 miles and depending on how much of a hurry you're in could take between 3-6 months. I've never sailed before but have always loved the water and the freedom you'd get from sailing.
I've been looking at sailing courses in Melbourne which I think would take a couple of years plus putting in the sailing hours before I'd even think of doing the trip.
Anyone out there with extensive experience of sailing have any thoughts?
Hello Pinhead
I've sailed all my life and I think yours is an excellent idea. With all my heart, I would encourage you to go for it, do it and then write a book about it which would be snapped up by the sailing community.
Pinhead, we have been sailing for about 15 years, I walked into a sailing shop that did sailing lessons, did a course in 4 days that showed me how to sail a yacht, then we did a coastal navigation course, & radio certificate course with the coast guard, then learned by sailing Botany Bay each weekend.
We have sailed down the coast from Sydney a couple of times, getting caught in a storm on our return once which put me off ocean sailing for life, I don't like being out there in 5 metre seas.
sailing is like driving a car or riding a bike in many ways, you get your L's and learn more along the way, we are on our 4th yacht at the moment, but we are selling it because I injured my back & can't handle the motion of the boat anymore.
You can pick up a decent ocean going vessel for around $30,000 & up, we have a Compass 29, they are a good strong seaboat & have been known to sail around the world.
My advice to you, join a yacht club and sail with others on their boats, that way you get the experience needed and it's a hell of a lot cheaper than owning your own, it's not just the sailing you have to learn, you have to maintain it too, sometimes out in the middle of the ocean, sod's law they call it, all the best with your dream.
Thanks Skippy.
My plan is to join a sailing club in Melbourne and do various courses over 2-3 years following the advice of the people there and what they suggest.
I'd definitely build up my experience doing shorter trips before attempting sailing around Australia, even if it takes me 10 years to build up the necessary experience.
