What happens to all the wannabees?

[sck5]

I know more than one wannabee who thinks boats are kind of like cars in terms of maintenance. They don't realize that you are constantly fixing things and really have to enjoy doing it yourself at some level or you can't cruise to faraway places. Even new boats need constant upkeep - it really isn't at all like the BVI charter they went on where they could just ignore everything and call the chase boat if something more major cropped up.

I found I actually enjoyed the enforced stays at random places waiting for parts, or figuring out what the hell had gone wrong with some piece of equipment. Really really helps not to have any kind of a schedule. (also really helped to be in the Caribbean where the enforced stays were at one or another of a bunch of pretty nice places to be forced to stay)

[pablothesailor]

I had an idea, to travel the world, a friend of mine suggested I did it by sail boat, only problem was I had never Sailed? I joined this forum in January of 2011, I read a lot, used the search section a great deal to answer questions and eventualy became confident enough to ask my own questions! I eventualy went on to take my competent crew and then Day Skipper courses! I have started to down size in preparation, more importantly I have worked out all my finances, running costs,etc, I have a solid plan that I would never have had if I had not had the expertise from many of my Friends on CF! I am not sailing yet, but I am now boat hunting (A 36ft SV)! I continue to read here almost daily! I dont suppose everyone that posts on here manages to complete their dream, however, if you have been able to inspire 10% of them to enter into this unique and special world, then you should feel some pride!

[mbianka]

Came across this story out of Salt Lake City. Floridians and those in the Bahamas keep and eye out for the Estobelle Jazz:
Coalville man builds boat to spend retirement in at sea | ksl.com

[Ballenxj]

Originally Posted by mbianka

Came across this story out of Salt Lake City. Floridians and those in the Bahamas keep and eye out for the Estobelle Jazz:
Coalville man builds boat to spend retirement in at sea | ksl.com

That's one tenacious wannabee.
-Bruce

[Wannabe-007]

Well, I suppose this is as good a place as any for my first post...

I'm still a Wannabe, but i'm also still dreaming, scheming, and planning... To be fair, I'm also still bringing Wifey along - one step at a time.

I'm in NZ, currently rum racing a Hanse 37, and racing on a Young 88. I just got home from being part of a 3-man delivery - bringing a 60' cat to NZ from Tonga.

One of these days, we might end up selling everything (or mortgage everything), and sail away. So much to learn before then though - about sailing, the life, and about ourselves.

So as far as this Wannabe goes... I'm still Wannabe'ing.

[Seaworthy Lass]

Originally Posted by Wannabe-007

Well, I suppose this is as good a place as any for my first post...

I'm still a Wannabe, but i'm also still dreaming, scheming, and planning... To be fair, I'm also still bringing Wifey along - one step at a time.

I'm in NZ, currently rum racing a Hanse 37, and racing on a Young 88. I just got home from being part of a 3-man delivery - bringing a 60' cat to NZ from Tonga.

One of these days, we might end up selling everything (or mortgage everything), and sail away. So much to learn before then though - about sailing, the life, and about ourselves.

So as far as this Wannabe goes... I'm still Wannabe'ing.

Hi 007 (or can I call you James? )
Welcome to CF.
Sounds like you are getting some great experience under your belt. Good luck with making your dreams become reality - big oaks from small acorns grow

[got seashells?]

We are on track to make the life transfer in less than 2 years. We started by going to Annapolis and then to Florida to take lessons and will go back this year to get certified. We will sell the house this spring after we purge the things no longer needed then start looking hard and heavy for the boat. That will give us time to fit it to our needs and do any repairs that may be needed. Then the retirement party and off we go.......that is the plan so far.

[Mr B]

My Passenger was a Wannabee when I went to Fiji to pick up my boat.
She is terrified of any water deeper than knee high,

She got onto a sailing forum and was conversing with a sailor of many years experience, who scared the bejeesus out of her,
I had a hell of a time getting her on the boat after that,
I said to her, spend some time on the boat first and see how you go, Then if you dont like it, you can fly home,
6 weeks on the boat in Fiji, she absolutely loved it, But wasnt prepared to do the passage home to OZ, so she flew home,
She flew up and joined me again in Bundaberg and we came down the Tasman towards Melbourne, she was seas sick for six days straight,

The sinking of the boat at anchor didnt worry her, But the giant waves coming out of Broughton Island did,
She wont get back on a boat ever again, So now she is not a Wannabee, she is now a, not again ever
I have tried to explain to her, that Coastal hopping is nothing like a delivery cruise, when you wait for the right winds before you go any where, and its all cruisy sailing,

But she has dug her heels in now and is staying home,
she occassionally brings up her experienced sailors Correspondence, and his very negative comments, Which I explain to her are absolute crap. But to no avail,

She is one sailor that wont sail ever again,

[AirBoyzT]

Originally Posted by atoll

i would love to hear from some of the posters that join the forum with great plans,use our knowledge,tell us how they are going to do it,then nothing....

here is a recent one that never amounted to much:

SeeWorld TV with Jon Charron | An 8 Month Sailing Adventure Across The South Pacific – LA To Australia Through The French Polynesians

I guess I am the opposite of this....I had plans, and went out and bought a boat just last week. Now I guess I do have big dreams as I plan to make it to the bahamas in the next 3 years lol

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by got seashells?

We are on track to make the life transfer in less than 2 years. We started by going to Annapolis and then to Florida to take lessons and will go back this year to get certified. We will sell the house this spring after we purge the things no longer needed then start looking hard and heavy for the boat. That will give us time to fit it to our needs and do any repairs that may be needed. Then the retirement party and off we go.......that is the plan so far.

Have you even tried staying on a boat yet? You might consider getting just a tad more experience before you sell everything then buy and try.

Some folks get seasick, some cannot find enough to do especially in the am. Do you enjoy cycling or the gym. What will replace that? Then there are the rainy cold days in the small cabin. Just some thoughts.

I'm doing it the slow way with weekend and vacation trips (while I still work) which isn't the best way because by the time I get somewhat adjusted it's time to sail home, BUT I'm learning STUFF about this sailing business like being somewhat seasick but having to go forward while cruising to fix a jammed furler which included multipule trips back to the cabin for tools while the winds were around 18-20 with close, steep Chesapeake Bay entrance waves! Fun stuff especially the dry heaves that went with the experience.

Then you have those beautiful 70 degree days that start off at 40 and not much warmer in the cabin. It's just not the same as your average house or apartment and takes some getting used to especially if you are over age 25 or so.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by atoll

i would love to hear from some of the posters that join the forum with great plans,use our knowledge,tell us how they are going to do it,then nothing....

What happens is they don't get enough experience, take the plunge, then decide it isn't for them possibly like the folks I responded to above.

It's a huge change to switch from our fast paced, high tech world to the slow life of a cruiser. Also, even the cruiser guys it appears spend a lot of time on the internet just like the guy back home except the guy at home has many more conveniences available.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by thomm225

What happens is they don't get enough experience, take the plunge, then decide it isn't for them possibly like the folks I responded to above.

It's a huge change to switch from our fast paced, high tech world to the slow life of a cruiser. Also, even the cruiser guys it appears spend a lot of time on the internet just like the guy back home except the guy at home has many more conveniences available.

now as a cash buyer that is where you find the great deals in places like mexico,panama,trinidad,gibraltar,turkey etc.

some people say all cruisers are nut's.....all i can say about that is..it helps...

[thomm225]

Then there's the guy that retired to the " cruising life " but never seems to leave the dock. He has jerry cans and crap all over the boat plus a worn out $10.00 Walmart Tarp over the cockpit. He's usually shitfaced drunk by around 11am.

He can go on and on about cruising and all the trips he's done........

Damn, I think I just discovered a new retirement goal for myself!

[Blue Crab]

Originally Posted by thomm225

It's a huge change to switch from our fast paced, high tech world to the slow life of a cruiser. Also, even the cruiser guys it appears spend a lot of time on the internet just like the guy back home except the guy at home has many more conveniences available.

I wonder about the effect of this on cruising plans. Even in the 1960s, TV was a "vast wasteland", and it hasn't gotten better. The net tho, is so much more than 12 or 120 channels, and so much more interactive. Maybe that should read addictive.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by thomm225

Then there's the guy that retired to the " cruising life " but never seems to leave the dock. He has jerry cans and crap all over the boat plus a worn out $10.00 Walmart Tarp over the cockpit. He's usually shitfaced drunk by around 11am.

He can go on and on about cruising and all the trips he's done........

Damn, I think I just discovered a new retirement goal for myself!

generally referred to as "Character's",and great sources of local knowledge...........every marina should have one