Sunday 19 May 2013

The Ideal Yacht

SPEED -
 is not important to us but we like nothing better on a sailing trip than when the engine gets switched off! 
That's when a sailing yacht's motion becomes harmonious with the sea and the wind. 
As long as we are making progress the time it takes to get there will be unimportant as we will already be home. It may of course be a different story if a storm is on its way 😗. 
HELM -
Also steering from outside when a squall hits seems nonsensical ( a word that was used by a fellow Yachtmaster classmate about one of the teachers explanations.  Much to our amusement as we were finding it difficult to follow also. Thanks Maureen. He knew his stuff mind )
So an inside and outside helm was chosen. 
KEEL -
After of course reading 'Sell up and Sail' by the Coopers a heavy displacement was preferable as we may have a lot of 'Stuff' being live aboard and the extra weight would be less of a problem. 
A long keel was chosen. Which should be the best in heavy weather and not bob about as much when at anchor. 
Also when you climb aboard a yacht in a marina and it doesn't tilt with your body weight it inspires confidence. 
SIZE -
We need a comfortable floating home that we are not going to get stir crazy in that is sailable by two people and not need a crew. About 40 ft we reckon. 
ENGINE - I'd rather have too much power than not enough. My experience of navigating the river Humber with my parents, when I was a boy, in a cabin cruiser was rather terrifying, especially when the engines weren't powerful enough to make headway against the tide when we overshot our intended mooring!
Fuel and maintenance costs also scare the hell out of me though. 
Location -
That is not going to be important to us as we have decided to start our adventure wherever we buy the boat. 
Initially we imagined buying a boat and kitting it out in the UK but what's the point? You can kit out a boat almost anywhere. 
You're ideal boat may have completely different attributes to the above. I am in no way an expert in all things nautical. 

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