Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 09-03-2011, 05:53   #1
Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SV Irie (Eastern Caribbean)
Boat: SV Irie: Foutaine Pagot Tobago (35')
Posts: 15
You Don't Have to Be Rich to Go Cruising !

Hello cruisers, prospective cruisers, wanna-be cruisers and dreamers,

My name is Liesbet and my other half Mark and I have been sailing, cruising, living and working on our 35' catamaran Irie for almost four years now, mainly in the Eastern Caribbean and mainly with our dogs who -unfortunately- have both passed away.

I just wrote an article with general information about the "actual" cost (still a relative topic) of the cruising lifestyle. I thought it might interest some people out there, who think such a dream is impossible to achieve. As with anything: it's all about choices (and not luck as some might call our lifestyle) and money should not be an excuse to get you sailing (and fixing) your own sailboat in exotic places. You can find the story on
Xwaters.com | Liesbet

For anybody interested in other stories and contemplations about our life and journey on SV Irie, check out It's Irie

Enjoy the reading and the pictures and I hope to see you out here some time in the near future!

Liesbet
Liesbet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2011, 07:25   #2
C.L.O.D
 
SaucySailoress's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,232
Re: You don't have to be rich to go cruising!

Hello Liesbet,

It's a pleasure to meet you! Judging from your blog you are clearly a very interesting person, leading an idyllic life - and I can't wait to join you in 15 and a half months (not that I'm counting too closely!!)

I hope you enjoy it here on CF, myself and others love to hear stories and advice from experienced sailors like yourself!
SaucySailoress is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2011, 07:54   #3
Registered User
 
speciald@ocens.'s Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: On the boat - Carib, Chesapeake
Boat: 58 Taswell AS
Posts: 1,139
Re: You don't have to be rich to go cruising!

...but it makes it more comfortable!
speciald@ocens. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2011, 08:06   #4
Senior Cruiser
 
boatman61's Avatar

Community Sponsor
Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: PORTUGAL
Posts: 30,585
Images: 2
pirate Re: You don't have to be rich to go cruising!

Hi Liesbet... Welcome to you and Mark...
Don't tell it all please... makes it harder for the rest of us 'Low Budget Guys' as the big bucks charge in in an effort to stretch their 'Big Bucks' and drive us out by inflating costs.... again.
__________________

It was a dark and stormy night and the captain of the ship said.. "Hey Jim, spin us a yarn." and the yarn began like this.. "It was a dark and stormy night.."
boatman61 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2011, 08:33   #5
cat herder, extreme blacksheep

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
Images: 56
Re: You don't have to be rich to go cruising!

congratulations and welcome and what boatman said.....
zeehag is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2011, 10:38   #6
Registered User
 
Unicorn Dreams's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Clear Lake Marine Services - Seabrook, Texas
Boat: Gulfstar, Mark II Ketch, 43'
Posts: 2,359
Re: You don't have to be rich to go cruising!

Welcome to CF
__________________
Formerly Santana
The winds blow true,The skies stay blue,
Everyday is a good day for SAILING!!!!
Unicorn Dreams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2011, 10:47   #7
Registered User
 
PamlicoTraveler's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Depends
Boat: Cabo Rico
Posts: 770
Images: 17
Re: You don't have to be rich to go cruising!

Oh great...another blog I am going to have to follow on a daily basis. It looks good!
PamlicoTraveler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2011, 11:11   #8
Registered User
 
brutb's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cocoa, FL
Boat: Wittholz 39' Cutter by Kanter, CSY 37 Cutter
Posts: 595
Images: 4
Re: You don't have to be rich to go cruising!

Welcome to CF, waiting to hear your ideas and experiences.
brutb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2011, 11:30   #9
Registered User
 
Mark Johnson's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: New Bern NC
Boat: Searunner 34 Trimaran
Posts: 1,660
Re: You don't have to be rich to go cruising!

Hi Liesbet,
Really enjoyed reading your stories. They made me miss those warm tropical waters and the life of daily adventure. We also spent a considerable amount time in St Martin. Next time, if you haven't already done it, go to the Sunset Bar & Grill, next to the airport. When the jumbo jets taxi into position stern to the fence, you run out and hang on to the fence. (leaning forward with head down & eyes closed)... When it hits the throttles, you get a category 5 for a few seconds! It really is a hoot!

Welcome to CF...



Mark (also)
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	ps_2010_08_25___16_46_41.jpg
Views:	246
Size:	139.0 KB
ID:	24848  
Mark Johnson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2011, 12:17   #10
Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SV Irie (Eastern Caribbean)
Boat: SV Irie: Foutaine Pagot Tobago (35')
Posts: 15
Re: You don't have to be rich to go cruising!

Thank you all for welcoming me (us) to this wonderful community!

To Boatman: Don't worry, we budget minded cruisers will always be ahead of the game and figure out how to enjoy life and its beauties without losing ourselves in the rat race or spending the big bucks. There will always be those places that will please us for their basic ways of living. simple beauty and genuine culture not desired by others. There will always be islands "off the beaten tack", surrounded by reefs, in "challenged areas" or without so called "necessities". I do agree with your remark about cost inflations, which I blame on richer, ignorant or inexperienced people who pay whatever they are charged in countries where you are supposed to bargain and who blindly pay all the fees "officials" (illegitimately) charge, no matter how high or ridiculous. It's those people who make it impossible for us to visit certain countries because of the locals' new attitude that every sailor will buck up and pay whatever is charged, raising the prices. Please, think, consider and discuss whether fees are appropriate and don't give in to bribes!

To Mark: Maho Beach, where the Sunset Bar is, will always be an amazing experience and the highlight of St. Maarten. I don't go there often enough (we do hear planes take off all day from our boat, however), but at least a couple of times every spring, ideally with visiting friends or family. To almost be able to touch the landing jets is quite spectacular and to hold onto the fence while the biggies take off is invigorating! Only experienced the take off once, when I forgot to take my sunglasses off! Afterwards, I was looking behind me on the ground in hopes of finding them. Mark laughed, suggesting I'd better go for a swim about a mile out into the sea where I would have a better chance of finding them! I've learned my lesson. It is more fun to see other people get sand blasted and purses being blown out to the Caribbean Sea...
Liesbet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2011, 12:29   #11
Registered User
 
farotherside's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: cruising northern Australia
Boat: Islander 34
Posts: 318
Re: You don't have to be rich to go cruising!

Hah, I was *just* on the Wirie site - I doubt there's that many Liesbets out there cruising, especially on an s/v Irie.

Welcome to the forum, you'll likely have a customer in me pretty soon - as soon as I figure out where to mount a Wirie on my rail-less trimaran...
__________________
how far can you go? I'm on an expedition to the farthest location possible!
https://farotherside.com • ham: VE0FOS • tiktok: @farotherside • instagram: @farotherside
farotherside is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2011, 16:05   #12
Registered User
 
VirtualVagabond's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Australia
Boat: CT 54... for our sins!
Posts: 2,083
Re: You Don't Have to Be Rich to Go Cruising !

Welcome to CF.
Enjoyed your articles on Xwaters.
It's rare to find a writer who can engage and share, without being nausiatingly self promoting.
You've found the mark perfectly and I will continue to enjoy your articles. Well done
__________________
One must live the way one thinks, or end up thinking the way one lives - Paul Bourget

www.windwanderer.weebly.com
VirtualVagabond is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2011, 18:32   #13
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 20,420
Re: You Don't Have to Be Rich to Go Cruising !

Hi,

THX for sharing. I will read the article now.

I do not think will ever afford a FP Tobago in any case (ban a winning lotto ticket), so wondering what you meant when you say 'you don't have to be rich ...'

Cheers,
b.
barnakiel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2011, 18:48   #14
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 20,420
Re: You Don't Have to Be Rich to Go Cruising !

Hi,

I have read your article. I think it is great. But I think the title of this thread here may be misleading.

"... Once you own a cruise worthy sailboat and nothing substantial breaks, a yearly budget of around $20 000 (including daily expenses, maintenance, haul-out and boat repairs) for two will get you sailing (and fixing) your boat in exotic places..."

Yes, but it is NOT a small budget at all.

I think 20k per year is a lotta. How do you generate this amt of money while you are cruising?

We have sailed a RTW on 20k and it was 3 years' worth of sailing.

Not to criticize at all, as I found your article very interesting.

Only to add a perspective to the word "not rich".

On the second thought, 'you don't have to...' BUT it does not hurt either, does it.

;-)

Big hug,
barnie
barnakiel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-03-2011, 19:01   #15
Registered User
 
snort's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Trunk (boot) of my car
Boat: Tinker Traveller...a dozen feet of bluewater awesomeness!
Posts: 1,230
Re: You Don't Have to Be Rich to Go Cruising !

Hi Liesbet,
I bookmarked your website, I liked it so much. So, tell us who the good broker in Annapolis is so we can give him/her more business!
snort is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
cruising

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Am I Poor or Is Everyone Else Filthy Rich rjrap Dollars & Cents 110 03-09-2010 19:44
Sailing Is for Rich People kb79 Dollars & Cents 209 23-07-2010 11:15
I'm Not Rich, But I Need a Cat Under $100k - Any Advice? sww914 Multihull Sailboats 66 03-05-2010 09:15

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 05:05.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.