Escape to the Sea?

NorthPaul · 12-08-2009, 12:11

How realistic is it to be able to liveaboard for years on end without being mainly tied up in a marina?

I'm thinking more along the lines of continuous cruising, even if that means spending periods at an anchorage or even drifting in the middle of an ocean/sea, inbetween the inevitable trips to shore for provisions and maintenance.

Is it feasible to be able to avoid the bad weather (through careful route planning and maybe choosing a suitable starting point) to make it enjoyable/safe to stay out for so long, or will it be inevitable at some point to need to seek shelter in a harbour/marina for more than a few days/weeks?

I suppose the obvious solution for a long cruise is circumnavigation, but I imagine that requires years of experience in bad/really bad conditions to be able to pull it off as there isn't a route that ensures mostly good weather?

Cheechako · 12-08-2009, 12:38

It's very doable....if "at sea" means also at anchor.... you dont have to circumnavigate. Head toward the equator for hurricane season and head north in the off season.

s/v Moondancer · 12-08-2009, 12:59

We only go into marinas when we have a pressing need, we are having some elecronics fitted at the moment, otherwise we don't spend a day a month in a marina; we have just spent 3 weeks 'on the hook' in Grenada.

Bad weather is hard to avoid totally but we have seen no more than 30-35 knots for the last 8 months between Charleston SC and Trinidad.

12-08-2009, 12:11	#1
NorthPaul Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: England, UK Posts: 4	Escape to the Sea? How realistic is it to be able to liveaboard for years on end without being mainly tied up in a marina? I'm thinking more along the lines of continuous cruising, even if that means spending periods at an anchorage or even drifting in the middle of an ocean/sea, inbetween the inevitable trips to shore for provisions and maintenance. Is it feasible to be able to avoid the bad weather (through careful route planning and maybe choosing a suitable starting point) to make it enjoyable/safe to stay out for so long, or will it be inevitable at some point to need to seek shelter in a harbour/marina for more than a few days/weeks? I suppose the obvious solution for a long cruise is circumnavigation, but I imagine that requires years of experience in bad/really bad conditions to be able to pull it off as there isn't a route that ensures mostly good weather?

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12-08-2009, 12:38	#2
Cheechako Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Skagit City, WA Boat: Fellippi 32 Posts: 2,371	It's very doable....if "at sea" means also at anchor.... you dont have to circumnavigate. Head toward the equator for hurricane season and head north in the off season.

12-08-2009, 12:59	#3
s/v Moondancer Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Caribbean and moving north Boat: Tayana 55 Posts: 357	We only go into marinas when we have a pressing need, we are having some elecronics fitted at the moment, otherwise we don't spend a day a month in a marina; we have just spent 3 weeks 'on the hook' in Grenada. Bad weather is hard to avoid totally but we have seen no more than 30-35 knots for the last 8 months between Charleston SC and Trinidad.