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09-03-2011, 05:53
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SV Irie (Eastern Caribbean)
Boat: SV Irie: Foutaine Pagot Tobago (35')
Posts: 15
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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
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09-03-2011, 07:25
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#2
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C.L.O.D
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 8,232
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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!
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09-03-2011, 07:54
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: On the boat - Carib, Chesapeake
Boat: 58 Taswell AS
Posts: 1,139
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Re: You don't have to be rich to go cruising!
...but it makes it more comfortable!
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09-03-2011, 08:33
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#5
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cat herder, extreme blacksheep
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: furycame alley , tropics, mexico for now
Boat: 1976 FORMOSA yankee clipper 41
Posts: 18,967
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Re: You don't have to be rich to go cruising!
congratulations and welcome and what boatman said.....
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09-03-2011, 10:38
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Clear Lake Marine Services - Seabrook, Texas
Boat: Gulfstar, Mark II Ketch, 43'
Posts: 2,359
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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!!!!
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09-03-2011, 10:47
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Depends
Boat: Cabo Rico
Posts: 770
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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!
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09-03-2011, 11:11
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Cocoa, FL
Boat: Wittholz 39' Cutter by Kanter, CSY 37 Cutter
Posts: 595
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Re: You don't have to be rich to go cruising!
Welcome to CF, waiting to hear your ideas and experiences.
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09-03-2011, 11:30
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: New Bern NC
Boat: Searunner 34 Trimaran
Posts: 1,660
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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)
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09-03-2011, 12:17
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SV Irie (Eastern Caribbean)
Boat: SV Irie: Foutaine Pagot Tobago (35')
Posts: 15
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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...
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09-03-2011, 12:29
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: cruising northern Australia
Boat: Islander 34
Posts: 318
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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...
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09-03-2011, 16:05
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Australia
Boat: CT 54... for our sins!
Posts: 2,083
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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
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09-03-2011, 18:32
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 20,420
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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.
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09-03-2011, 18:48
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: between the devil and the deep blue sea
Boat: a sailing boat
Posts: 20,420
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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
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09-03-2011, 19:01
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Trunk (boot) of my car
Boat: Tinker Traveller...a dozen feet of bluewater awesomeness!
Posts: 1,230
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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!
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