Advice for a beginner.

[StuM]

Originally Posted by Ex-Calif

(edit - PS - You clearly know how to handle a boat. You probably know how to stay safe. You can motor the cat until you learn to sail it. It's not that hard to sail. It's harder to sail fast. It's really hard to sail fast where you want to go. You'll have plenty of time to learn.)

+1.

[W3GAC]

We spent two years cruising Caribbean on our 46' ketch so I'm a little biased toward agreeing with your initial focus on that area. Plenty of great islands, safe cruising area, dependable trade winds, good snorkeling/ diving, and close enough to 'good ole USA' for friends/ family visits and better medical care should you ever need it.

But a strong consideration in weighing pros/ cons of multihulls will undoubtedly bring much opposing views. It's not that I have any issue with multihull sailboats, per se... it's just many marinas aren't laid out for their extra beaminess. It's better in the Caribbean because of all the multihull charters and the marinas have had to make changes or lose significant dockage/ restaurant business. And, charters usually moore out a significant number of nights easing the marina congestion issues. But here on east coast areas... NYC/ NJ/ MD/ Chesapeake Bay area where we have been for last 10 years... most marinas have not updated/ or want to update to wider berths (they will have to reduce total slips to make room). The result is you'll find marina/ yacht club options can be much more limited/ costly than less beamy boats. Since 'life,' Winter, and lack of large protected mooring areas in these more crowded NE waters result in our boats sitting at a dock a greater percentage of time, it's a bigger issue up here. Our Yacht Club, for example, can not accommodate any multi-hulls except at the visiting yacht T-head where only limited time tie-ups can be arranged. If you have no plans to return in these areas this may not be so much of a consideration. But then I didn't think I would ever return to the land of Winters.


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[Cadence]

Originally Posted by downunder

Sounds like a good plan going for a Lagoon 440. Very comfortable and sails quite well according to 440 owners and with a flybridge you like. definitely an advantage helming in coral areas. Search for a number of threads here on Lagoon 440's.

As experienced boaters you will only need some assistance learning sail handling techniques for a short time perhaps trying to get sailing on someone's else's catamaran or chartering. Don't listen to those who suggest to get a small sailboat first. Just get your vessel and get sailing.

Let me second that!

[Rustic Charm]

Just another little bit of advice, spend more time sailing than on cruising forum.