My Plan for Next Year and Onwards - Opinions ?

[simonmd]

Ok, as some of you may know, I'm presently selling my motoryacht to buy a sailboat and go cruising next year, or longer, who knows. In the last couple of months, i've learnt a huge amount from the members here and understand that there is no substitute for experience so i'd like to benefit from yours if I can. I have been involved with power boats for years but i'm still a relatively novice sailor.

Here's the plan then, once my motoryacht is sold, some time in the new year, buy a suitable sailboat of about 35-40ft. Then, after a few weeks 'shake down' getting to know my new craft with short voyages to and from my home base in Southern Spain, I'd like to spend the rest of 2011 exploring the Med'.

Here's where i'm still uncertain, towards the end of the year and once i've gained substantial experience in the Med', do I head East or back West? I know most European cruisers would normaly head accross the 'pond' to the Carribean but what about the Suez option? At some point in my travels, I certainly would like to visit India, Thailand, etc. but the obvious thing to consider is passing Somalia before I enter the Indian ocean.

Have any of you opinions, or better still experience, of this way round or would you still reccomend the East to West route?

Also, any other feedback would be gratefuly recieved, am I being sensible, any other tips? etc

[goboatingnow]

an east going circumnaviagtion is generally against the prevailing winds. It will be tougher.
Dave

[simonmd]

Ok thanks. Anyone else with any usefull insight?