Retirement on the horizon

[MyCatLife]

Good morning from South Florida.

I've been lurking for awhile.

Retirement is still several years away,... but I am fortunate enough to be able to go part time (75% then 50%) prior to full retirement.

My wife and I are extensive travelers, and a sailing family.

Our plan includes a sailing cat for extensive cruising / semi live aboard for 3-4 months a year.

We looked into the charter ownership programs... not for us. The charter benefits would be perfect but the limitations on spec'ing the boat and the risk of excessive wear and tear / imperfect maintenance not worth whatever benefits the discount chartering may provide.

Planning to buy a well equipped nearly new 2-4 year old performance cruising catamaran in about 5-6 years. This means the new models being debuted now will probably be in the sweet spot for purchase in our timeframe.

When we are 2 years out,... if the used market is thin,... we could order new, but I have only ever bought boats 3-5 years old.

Leading contenders today would be a Balance 456 vs Seawind 1370. Might downsize to a 42 footer at decision time. Certainly no bigger. Lot's of time to go to shows and continue chartering to find the optimism boat for us.

Here to learn more about long term cruising / live aboard.

That's it in a nutshell.

Simon

[LittleWing77]

Originally Posted by MyCatLife

Leading contenders today would be a Balance 456 vs Seawind 1370. Might downsize to a 42 footer at decision time. Certainly no bigger. Lot's of time to go to shows and continue chartering to find the optimism boat for us.

Welcome aboard!

Love that freudian slip (bolded above). Maybe a neoligism of optimal+optimism...? Teehee

There was a recent and fantastic saga with S/V Jolly Dogs a Seawind that hit a refrigerator or container floating just below the surface (starboard hull, if I remember correctly) on the way to the South Pacific. With some astute emergency repairs and juducious sailing, they made it back to Seattle and are now in refit.

Another Victim of...? in the Pacific
https://www.cruisersforum.com/forums...ic-253135.html

Seawinds! Great boats, apparently!

Warmly,
LittleWing77

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Simon.

[MyCatLife]

Thank you Gents. Happy to be here.

[LittleWing77]

Originally Posted by MyCatLife

Thank you Gents. Happy to be here.

Nope. Sailors can be women, too, eh?

Check my picture.
LW77

[MyCatLife]

Originally Posted by LittleWing77

Nope. Sailors can be women, too, eh?

Check my picture.
LW77

My bad! Of course they can!

And my wife is really pushing for this to make sure it happens... She's really wanting to go to Annapolis in a few weeks. She's definitely an equal in this endeavor.

A good friend of our's daughter was 2017 Rolex Yachtswoman of the year (Erika Reineke).

I should have known better to check.

Mea culpa

S

[Pete7]

Matt and Jessica (members on here) are currently up to their necks in fibreglass dust building a cat from moulded panels. However, I did like their review of the Dazcat 18 months ago. Sailing Uma also had a 150m delivery trip on one.

Sadly out of our budget or I would have one in a flash.

Pete

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bszq...nnel=MJSailing

[LittleWing77]

Originally Posted by MyCatLife

My wife is really pushing for this to make sure it happens... She's definitely an equal in this endeavor.

More properly known (on this Forum, anyway) as "the Admiral ".

Originally Posted by MyCatLife

She's really wanting to go to Annapolis in a few weeks...

+1 Go to Annapolis!
You'll have such fun. One of the best boat shows in the world.

LittleWing77

[MyCatLife]

Originally Posted by LittleWing77

+1 Go to Annapolis!
You'll have such fun. One of the best boat shows in the world.

LittleWing77

I grew up sailing there. Know it well. Kept our boat on Mill Creek near Cantler's Riverside Inn if you're familiar with the area. Haven't been back in a few years though.

Balance and Seawind are both there... but not with a 442 / 1370. (But a 482 for Balance). With that and whatever Covid restrictions are in place at the show, probably not the optimum year to go.

Next year is certain,... and Miami in Feb is a sure thing.

Best regards

S