Thanks for all the informative replies.
Understand the change
single handed lifestyle (actually i don't) but if you don't do it you will never find out. Sailing and
water has been my #1 interest since young age. I built my first
racing dinghy when I was 14y, and I just want to do this. Unfortunately I don't have a person to do it with. I've been thinking of other approaches such as
buying a bigger
boat and take on people, but its too complicated, at least at this stage.
The title might also be a bit misleading. I'm not looking to cross oceans all the time but rather to explore the world using the
boat as the vehicle and home. If I don't like I just sell the boat and move on.
Back to boat choices.
I didn't think the J-Boats as ocean capable but based on the input I browsed and a J/40 did a 6 year world
circumnavigation. The J-boats are to me "real sailors boats" (my values and we are all different), and a joy to "just sail". They have excellent web pages and owner groups and I'm starting to understand the pros/cons of the boat, biggest issue being
headroom. In terms of sailing it, I don't think you find a better
single handed ocean performance boat.
Totally agree about the FIRSTs. If a boat is designed for serious ocean
racing its likely to also be strong enough for non-racing
ocean crossing. The First 42 would probably be a great boat but the replacement the 42S7 (the newer the better) is within my
budget and certainly one of the boats on my short list. I’m less sure about the 40.7 as its quite cramped inside. it’s a small 40 footer.
Apart from potential lifestyle issues, I think the biggest issue when single handing is managing survival
weather and when **** happens. Most boats can be single handed in 30 knots but when it gets to 50 (which I never experienced) it’s a different deal. In storms what concerns me most is size or what is the optimal size. Bigger has its advantages but when things goes wrong then the problem is also bigger.
In high performance dinghies there is a
concept called "circle of goodness".... Make it lighter - reduce sail area - reduce loading .. and go around again.
If you would apply this to keelboats, instead of looking at a boats length, look at its
displacement, because thats the level of forces the elements will bring on your boat and the level of trouble you will get in when things goes wrong. If you compare a J/40 at 17.000 Ibs with the equivalent
displacement long keeler, which would be the best boat in rough
weather.
Thanks and cheers