New . . . with Dreams

[Searanger50]

I am married, 2 kids (we lost the 0.4 somewhere) both grwon up and flown the nest. For the last 6 years me and the wife (Sandy) have started living our dream: we bought a boat. Ok, some of youi won't call it a boat - it was a 37 foot motor cruiser with two huge engines and two huge fuel tanks. We lived on it for just over a year, caught fire 3 miles off the East UK Coast and found ourselves out in a force 7 in the Thames Estuary on the way down to Ramsgate. Had many good days too over the year.

The dream was to retire and cruise the inland waterways of Europe. Then the fuel went up, and up and up. We sold it and bought a Dutch Ijssellark - a barge built around 1915. It was a wreck. We've spent the last 5 yrs restoring her. The fuel's still going up and the Governments helping my forthcoming pensions to go down. Time for a change of plan.

It was Sandy's fault. She decided we should try sail. We went away for a weekend Start Yachting Course to try it out - in November of course. Had a force 7 (something about us and this number) in the Medway estuary on the first day and zero blow with fog on the way home. Did a lot of motoring though. We were hooked.

We did a lot of research, read a lot of magazines, joined a YC, crewed for people, mainly racing but some cruising. Learnt a lot. Did some courses, learnt some more. Now at Day Skipper with theory to Yachtmaster. Still a lot to learn.

Now the day of retirement is rushing towards us - 4 yrs. We plane to get our boat - A yacht this time - within the next 2 years. Sail it and update it and then it's the world. Travel and adventure - not too much adventure please God.

So here we are. reading about all your adventures, learning more and hopefully finding good advice as we move the dream along to fruition.

Hi all. Nice to meet you. I'm Kevin.

[MarkJ]

Hi Kevin,

Welcome to the forum.
4 years will go pretty quickly
I get lots of useful information from here, so hopefully you can too.


Mark

[RiverRat]

Welcome aboard! I'd love to see some pics of that barge. Are you doing any canal cruising? We'd have loved to do some canal cruising during our London years, but never quite got around to it. Be sure to let us know when you choose a sailboat.

K

[rgscpat]

Welcome Kevin! There is no one perfect boat -- (except maybe for the next one!) and Time on the water is good (even sometimes in Force 7!).

[MichaelC]

Welcome, Kevin. Remember that a bad day sailing is better than a good day at work. There is for sure one boat out there which will grab both your hearts. Never settle for second best. Have a great time. And yes, this website is full of fantastic information, and laughs, and .... well, lots more. You'll see.

[barnakiel]

Hi, Kevin & the Family,

I think you can start cruising with the barge while looking for THE boat. I think some Dutch (sailing) barges have cruised extensively.

b.

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Its good to have you here. I once read a great book about a fellow restoring a barge and living in France. Can't remember the title but I found it interesting and entertaining.
kind regards,

[matauwhi]

G'day, Kevin. Welcome aboard. You will have lots of fun over the next years with the research on finding the next boat. CF is an excellent source of that information. All the best with making the next "dream" a reality. Cheers.