Ahoy from the Netherlands

[Duuk]

Hello there cruisersforum!

For a while now I have been cruising these forums and I learned a lot from you guys during that time. So I thought it would only be so fair to introduce myself to you guys.

Currently I'm a sailing loving student from the Netherlands and I'm investigating the possibilities of doing a long-distance cruise when I'm done with either my bachelor or masters degree. Since the last 2,5 years I have started sailing, varying from open boats, cabin yachts to old dutch barges.

At the moment I still have to get a lot of coastal and offshore experience. For now I've only sailed the dutch inland waters, lakes and the Wadden sea so I still have a lot more experience to gain. Also I'm trying to figure out the finances of my plan, sadly enough nothing is for free. So I'm trying to save some money and in the meantime I try to predict how much such an endeavor will set me back.

So I've got lots to do and then I hope to leave in about 2 to 5 years time.

And that concludes this noble introduction

[westsail374]

Welcome! Lots of good reads, info, and friends to be made here!

Enjoy!

[markpierce]

Welcome!

[boatman61]

Hey Duuk.... about bludi time...
we were getting nervous you peering over our shoulders....
Welcome to CF and best wishes for the year ahead...

[Duuk]

Wow, what a welcoming atmosphere!

For the interested sailors, this is the barge I'm currently a deck-mate on. It is owned by a dutch student sailing association
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...cture15199.jpg
(mm can't get it to work as image.. still says it is an remote image...)

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
It's good to have you posting here.
kind regards,

[SaucySailoress]

That is a gorgeous boat. I have stayed on one in the Netherlands, but never had the chance to sail one... lucky you!

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Duuk.

[Duuk]

Originally Posted by SaucySailoress

That is a gorgeous boat. I have stayed on one in the Netherlands, but never had the chance to sail one... lucky you!

It sure is, I get about 20-30 sailing days a year on it In my (humble) opinion every sailor should at least once have sailed one of these old dutch barges.

I mean see this beauty during a race:

[Teknav]

Ahoy and Welcome! How much money to save when you plan on cruising on someone else's boat...there are factors that can reach the moon in determining a cruising budget. A good start would be a minimum of $150 USD per day of sailing, and no less than $7,000 USD in the bank when venturing out across an ocean for an extended period of time. In your budget, you have to estimate the cost of a round-trip ticket to your home as well as the cost of needing a life-saving medical intervention. Mauritz