Asia vs Carribean as destination from Eu for lifestyle/liveBoard/Sailing???

[nauticalnomad]

I am in the Uk and have spent the last 5 years restoring a 45 ft yacht for ocean cruising. It's time to leave but can't make up my mind whether to go through the Med to Thailand and Spend time in Asia? OR... Go right from Morocco onto the Carribean? Please give me your opinions pros and cons on both? Previous experience??

[skipmac]

First thought, through the Med to Asia implies also through the Suez Canal. While things seem to better in the last year or so I would still be very, very cautious about sailing that area. Pirates are still active out of Somalia. The risk may be lower than in the past but the downside if you happen to be the target are just too unpleasant.

Why not see both? Sail to the Caribbean, hang out as long as you feel like it, then through the Panama Canal to the Pacific and SE Asia. The trip from Panama across the Pacific is called the Coconut Milk Run because it is typically an easy, downwind sail all the way across.

[boatman61]

Wot ^^HE^^ sed....
Another thing to consider is the Atlantic circle.. keeps a couple or 3 folk I know happy.. Canaries, Cap Verde, Barbados, Carib, Azores, Madeira and back down to the Canaries.. unless your a culture vulture the Med's pretty much a boring waste of space for sailing..

[nauticalnomad]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Wot ^^HE^^ sed....
Another thing to consider is the Atlantic circle.. keeps a couple or 3 folk I know happy.. Canaries, Cap Verde, Barbados, Carib, Azores, Madeira and back down to the Canaries.. unless your a culture vulture the Med's pretty much a boring waste of space for sailing..

Thanks for both. I am in Ipswich Uk being launched around June.. first stop is Faro then Im gonna decide. Im in Thailand right now doing some recon and the place is beautiful. I've lived in Sth America for 2 years previously and fell in love. Now Im torn between the 2. If the milk run is easy I'll do some research. Im still interested in hearing peoples opinions on the places for actually living aboard. Sailing is only half the part.. the destination is the final result as I've got nowhere else to go except to wherever....

[MarkJ]

Now that Yemen has been taken over by an Iranian backed coup I think you would be seriously silly to go through the Gulf of Aden.
All western embassy's have closed "Temporary Suspension of operations at British Embassy in Yemen, Wednesday 11 February 2015."

Of course you could go to Asia via the Pacific, a lovely run.


As to which is better the Caribbean or Asia, its very much personal preference. Many people love Asia, the people, culture, climate etc.

I don't.

I have sailed there, traveled there and enjoyed it in small doses but the polluted skys, polluted water, stench, animal welfare and depravity gets me down.


A clear sky. But its not BLUE!

An Asian marina.


On the flip side is the Caribbean.
Yes its different from Europe and the Med, but the influence is strong.
People speak English, the laws are English or French based, the food is English, French or American.
Its unpolluted and the skys are clear (except from occasional Saharan dust)

Caribbean.

Rum, beer and wine are all cheap and you are not breaking the law by drinking it.

Finally....: There is no terrorism. And no likelihood of terrorism.

With the Red Sea out of action you need to come to the Caribbean first anyway. why not spend a year or two here and slowly move on when you have had enough?

I will just sit here on a $1.25 Baguette and sip my $5 bottle of red wine while you think about it

[boatman61]

In that case mate.. no schedule or time limit apart from death...
I'd do the Atlantic circle once which will give you two seasons to do the Caribe islands then head for Colombia/Panama/Belize.. then through and head for the Marquesas.. as an EU citizen your not subject to the usual restrictions and bonds others suffer.. if you've not seen F Polynesia allow anything from a season to the rest of your life...
For me... WNW of Vanuatu has nothing to offer.. W & SW however...

[weavis]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Wot ^^HE^^ sed....
the Med's pretty much a boring waste of space for sailing..

Wash your mouth out!!
On the other hand, keep spreading it because then it will be free for me!!! Yes I know, I motor sail a lot...

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by weavis

Wash your mouth out!!
On the other hand, keep spreading it because then it will be free for me!!! Yes I know, I motor sail a lot...

Weavis... for those of us Brits with the urge to travel.. the Med is not a feasible option for escape..
1/ To many 'Little Englands'.. to many resentments..
2/ Bored shitless with history and culture in Europe.. leave that to those with little or no history to dribble over..
3/ Sailing is associated with romantic dreams.. buga all like that in the Costa's... AYOAYOYAOYAOYAY.. hic

[weavis]

Originally Posted by boatman61

Weavis... for those of us Brits with the urge to travel.. the Med is not a feasible option for escape..
1/ To many 'Little Englands'.. to many resentments..
2/ Bored shitless with history and culture in Europe.. leave that to those with little or no history to dribble over..

I agree. However.
I "escaped' to the USA, Ireland, South Africa, The Philippines, Cuba, Australia and Hong Kong.
Of all of them I loved the Philippines and Hong Kong. But I dont want to live there and conflicts exist.

I like Spain. It has issues and the East coast is boring as anything to sail in. It was the only country I got a diesel credit card.

I do like/love the Balearics. However.............. Greece is about to depart the Euro and Spain will get hammered senseless. Ive withdrawn assets "just in case" and will see what will happen. As for history and culture, Im OK with Spanish beer and wine production. The museums and bull fighting?..... not so much.

As for little Englands......... in all seriousness I RARELY talk with English people in Mallorca. Our circles are not the same. Always amazed at how going for local stores and venues allow this.

Why cant we all just get along......

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by boatman61

2/ Bored shitless with history and culture in Europe.. leave that to those with little or no history to dribble over..

Like me. "Over here" a 300 year old building is a national monument. They put a fence around it and charge admission. to go inside. "Over there" a 300 year old building is just another block of flats.

On the other hand, there is a little culture here and there in the US if one knows where to look.

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by skipmac

On the other hand, there is a little culture here and there in the US if one knows where to look.

Yeah... Burlington is nice...

[nauticalnomad]

Keep them coming.. I have both Uk and Australia passport coming from Aust originally. Got no intentions to go back because of the rules and I find it entrapment. I like the idea of Asia and It's semi corrupt outlook. THEY either take 75% of it "legit" in the name of tax or 20% in the name of bribes...

[weavis]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Like me. "Over here" a 300 year old building is a national monument. They put a fence around it and charge admission. to go inside. "Over there" a 300 year old building is just another block of flats.

On the other hand, there is a little culture here and there in the US if one knows where to look.

My first house was built in 1882.
My second was a 17th century farmhouse conversion.
My third was brand new. Warmer and ergonomic and not full of repairs that needed doing every few months.

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by weavis

As for little Englands......... in all seriousness I RARELY talk with English people in Mallorca. Our circles are not the same. Always amazed at how going for local stores and venues allow this.

No need to talk to them to want to get away...

In the Ionian just sail within visual distance of an English (or German) flagged yacht and be prepared to see way more than you want to see

[weavis]

Originally Posted by hoppy

No need to talk to them to want to get away...

In the Ionian just sail within visual distance of an English (or German) flagged yacht and be prepared to see way more than you want to see

In saying that, sailing the Lakes in Finland, a lot of people do the Sauna by the lake at the bottom of their garden and use the lakes to finish the sauna..... seen many things swinging in the breeze.......

Man is that water cold!