Excerpt from CNN Travel Article
Is it for you?
As glamorous as the sailing liveaboard life can look on YouTube and Instagram, not everyone is cut out for it.
And just as there are coaches for nearly everything these days, there are sailors who specialize in helping people figure out if living on a sailboat might be for them.
Jim and Judy Brown of Sail Dauntless invite would-be sailors aboard their 55-foot Jeanneau sailing yacht (based out of Sag Harbor, New York this summer) to “get soaked and go sailing for a week with a seasoned crew with offshore and island hopping itineraries” while experiencing the realities and rewards of a liveaboard lifestyle, Jim Brown wrote in an email.
After that, if guests are still interested in the boating lifestyle, Brown says, the next step is to hit the books to study and get certified to safely operate the specific type of sailing yacht that sparks their interest.
A common misperception for people new to the sailing lifestyle, he says, is that you’ll “glide along to your next destination with fair winds and calm seas.”
And that doesn’t only apply to changing weather.
“People do not realize how expensive this lifestyle is, even with prudent budgets,” Brown says. Even ordering a simple repair part that might cost $15 online could cost many times that by the time it’s gone through customs and processing fees, he says.
New sailors might also be surprised by how long it takes to get places on wind power.
“If man could walk on water, it would be a better option if you are in a hurry,” Brown says. “Most sailing yachts average five miles an hour, so patience is key.”
Full Article Link: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/liveaboard-boat-life/index.html
