Diver - New Sailor - 40' Cat?

[Live to Dive]

G'day guys,

I'm an Ozy working overseas (Qatar at the moment) and I'm seriously considering buying my first yacht. Sadly I haven't done a lot of sailing but enough to know that I like sailing and believe I would like a sailing lifestyle.

This site of yours is exactly what I need to make myself aware of the issues etc involved. Currently I'm leaning toward a Catamaran of around 40'. This might be a tad large for a single handed arrangement but I dive and plan to explore the whole sailing/diving thing. So figure I need all the space I can afford and of course I'll be living aboard where ever possible.

As I don't as yet have the skills to sail safely I'm planning to do some courses/training. Any advice (preferably in the Middle East)?

[Hydra]

Live to Dive,
I suggest that you take some training (all that you can afford), then rent a boat the size that you intend to buy. A few years ago, I met a guy with ideas close to yours. He wanted to go cruising round the world on a cat with wife and children but needed to learn sailing first. I was the instructor on a course he took, then he proposed that I be the captain on a 38' cat that he would rent before buying the same. I explained that I had no previous experience of cats but was willing to learn.

We went cruising for 2 weeks in summer in the Mediterranean, had calm, medium and rough weather. Then, I got to the conclusion that 38 feet are not enough for blue-water cruising on a catamaran, that I don't like the motion of a cat in a seaway and that he wasn't cut for the job of being the skipper.

Then, renting is a way to make some checks before committing a big lump of money.

Alain

[Ocean Girl]

Welcome, you probably have more knowledge than you think (being a diver and all). Sorry, I have no input for you on the Middle East, but I am sure someone will. I am new to this site and to web forums but I think there is a "destination" thread about the Middle East, try that for starters.
Good luck on your search,
Erika

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Diver,
Welcome aboard! A catamaran makes a pretty good diving platform. I've always had a hard time getting gear up over freeboard on my monohulls. Swim steps and such would be easier but I've never had them.
As a diver you know safety and gear checklists and probably have been on boats before. That's about all the similarities I can see but there probably are others that I don't see. Good luck in your pursuit.
Kind regards,
JohnL

[Live to Dive]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I see a bit of mail to other people thinking along similar lines to myself. Certainly a lot to think about.

I'll continue with plan to have lessons (life is often the journey and not necessarily the destination) and Rent a couple of yachts as suggested. Can't really go wrong. Lol.
Cheers.

[Ocean Girl]

"life is often the journey and not necessarily the destination"

You sound like a sailor already

Erika

[Randy]

Look at this thread: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...-new-post.html Peter is working along the same lines as you though maybe with a more serious tech diving bent.

Also, Maxingout in this forum is very familiar with the mideast and sailing there as well. I've always wanted to dive the Red Sea.