Getting Ready to Go!

[hems]

We've just purchased a Dean Cat, located in Greece and are preparing to head off to a new life! We're taking the family, we live in Costa Rica currently and will be starting off slow, learning our way through. I'd love any advice and hope to see you out there.

[freetime]

What is your plans??? where to go... i will be at ibiza/mallorca in august.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by hems

We've just purchased a Dean Cat, located in Greece and are preparing to head off to a new life! We're taking the family, we live in Costa Rica currently and will be starting off slow, learning our way through. I'd love any advice and hope to see you out there.

Advise.........Hmmmm.............

Be careful.

Have fun.

Congratulations.

[Cheechako]

Advice? hmmm..... it's all about weather windows and not being in a hurry.... congrats! have fun

[CatGirl]

My advice. Take your time, never be on a schedule and always wait for the right weather. It's just not worth it to go just because you want to move on but the weather isn't right. Also it's important to give each other space or at least quiet time, a boats a small place to live. Don't forget to get off and exercise or at least do some yoga on the boat, it really helps!

[snort]

Hems,
Living in Costa Rica and heading off to Greece to go sailing on a large catamaran? You've got to tell us more about your life! I think I want advice from you.
I'd say, pick up the best books for learning all the ins and outs of sailing and/or bring someone along with experience on that type of boat until you learn how to handle it in all conditions (some conditions will have to be "in theory", but just so you'll know what to do).

[Randy]

Your cat should sail well. the thing multis is to allow them to be throttled back, they can be overstressed with not heeling over like a mono. 'Maxingout' in this forum has a wealth of good advice for cruising on cats: Welcome to Maxing Out

[Atlantic42]

Get the best most reliable autopilot you can afford. Buy twice as many solar panels as you think you'll need (min 500watts) to keep everything charged. Get a 18' sea anchor properly set up and know how to use it.

For your first multi day offshore passages ensure you have a minimum of one competent/experienced sailor aboard and a minimum of three persons so watch standing is more reasonable.

Wait for the right weather. Never be in a hurry nor put yourself in a position to feel pressure to go offshore without near perfect weather... it does exist and is worth waiting for.