I would like to thank you all for your time and effort in respect to our request for
advice. The only consistent theme appeared to be the varying opinions, from questioning our intelligence through to simple encouragement, punctuated by genuine advice and offers.
As a result of the latter, we have decided to enrol on an 18 week Yachtmaster course in the UK, which will provide us 2,500 miles of additional sailing experience, together with much practical and theoretical advice. We appreciate that such a course will not render us 'sailors' in some of your salty eyes, but we believe it will provide us with sufficient experience to sail around the
MED for 12 months, before contemplating our first
ocean crossing.
In respect to the 'best' yacht for us, the advice continues to vary enormously, from ancient mariners to the latest production line models. All I would add from our own perspective is that
circumnavigation for us at least, means spending 95% of the time in sheltered waters, with only 5% in true
blue water. During this 5% we will mitigate our exposure/risk through various means, which we will continue to evaluate and prepare for. No adventures are without risk and although we appreciate certain members concern, we all have different values and different appetites to risk and thus those that may consider us naïve and foolhardy, should realise that this is through their own eyes and certainly not ours. Of course if we sink, you will at least have the opportunity of the last post.
We will have many more questions I’m sure and so in the meantime, thank you for your views and hopefully at some point we shall see you all at sea.
FANDO