routes to take to sail around the world????

[chris2998]

so yeah I have this crazy life long dream to sail around the world so how do you know what routes to take??I know i'd be going through the Panama Canal.. are there books that tell you about the different routes and all or what?? then I'm sure it would be helpful to have some kinda chart plotter maybe it is called to help guide you around the world so yeah what books or website do I need to go to and read to learn about all this?? I don't even know how many books I've orderd already from Amazon to start my life long journey of reading and preparing for my dream.
Thanks a bunch

Chris

[CharlieJ]

Well, "Ocean Passages for the World" would be one. There are a multitude of other books around with descriptions of routes, etc. Google "Ocean Cruising Guides" for a whole stack of them.

Look into Pilot Charts also- those can be found online. They show weather patterns for various times of year all around the world, with winds and percentages of storms.

Then you'll need to look into the Coast Pilots. They are available online also

Google by those names, Pilot Charts and Coast Pilots, and you'll find sites.

I wouldn't recommend relying on a chart plotter alone, but I guess if you carry several spares you'd be ok. Best to learn Celestial for long distance passage making. Charts are only really needed near shore- offshore you use plotting sheets mostly anyway.

Planning to go through the canal, you best not have a schedule. I understand the wait these days for a yacht to transit is , or can be, several months. Getting expensive too. Might wind up being cheaper to truck a boat across someplace else ;D

[chris2998]

Thanks for the info I'll have to read tomorrow I gotta get some sleep and the panama canal I'll worry about in a few year when I get there LOL Thanks for the info goodnight.

Chris

[chris2998]

is there a certain ocean passage book because amazon has like I don't even know how many??

Chris

[AdriftAtSea]

A good standby for routes is Jimmy Cornell's World Cruising Routes. 

[dnice]

Also,

Read other peoples circumnavigation stories (There are tons of online stories and blogs recounting circumnavigations, as well as books).
They all pretty well detail the route they took, and you get the benefit of their experience along that specific route.

And check out your local library, it took me a while to figure out I could read most of the books I wanted to for free, I still buy the ones I can't find at the library, and if I find one I would like to keep for reference or future reading I buy it. But for the most part, the library has kept me pretty busy this past year.

[CharlieJ]

Also, for those who haven't discovered it yet, there is the "inter-Library " loan system. You fill out a form on the book you want, they find it in whatever library, and send it to you. You usually have 4 weeks til it's due and can renew once if no-one else wants the book.

I've never struck out, and I've gotten sailing books from some amazing libraries- like one on cruising multihulls from a library in Kansas ;D

[chris2998]

Thanks guys thanks alot. Library hmmm I haven't seen one of them sice I was about 10 LOL dam thats pretty bad. I had to think a minute where is the closest to me LOL I usually read online about most things. Yeah I am starting to learn about these Blogs and other people stories. Been following Zac Sunderland and will probally email him sometime and ask about how he liked his route.

I'm hoping in about 3 years I can do this my only concern is well I don't have the experience and the only way to do it is to get a boat and get some experience. What are your thoughts on this? I mean I know not to just get a boat and go within a month that would be suicide I am the kinda person who likes to train and really prepare although things are gonna happen out there that you can't control.
I guess I'll get to more reading to decide on how to prepare and when I feel I'm ready.
Thanks guys

Chris

[dnice]

chris, this is a whole new discussion by itself... but I think you've already answered your question.

I'm hoping in about 3 years I can do this my only concern is well I don't have the experience and the only way to do it is to get a boat and get some experience.

I am in the same situation. I have no prior sailing experience, (and no boat) yet here I am planning to sail around the world within the next few years.

For me, I know myself well enough... I know I can get a good foundation in sailing fundamentals and then take it from there on my own, With the help of reading, asking alot of questions, and just plain figuring it out.

Specifically, I am spending the next two years, saving for the boat, learning fundamental sailing skills I need, and studying as much as I can. Once I get the boat, it will still be another year minimum, more likely 2 years, before I actually set sail. And even then, I don't think it will be on a planned circumnavigation. I intend to 'test the waters' in the Bahama's and 'move up' to the caribbean and south america, knowing eventually I will take the plunge across the pacific. This is all mostly due to my financial situation. My plan is to spend the first year of my Cruising Life close to home, more than likely I will be out of money within a year and can come back to replenish the kitty and think about how it all really went.

I guess I'll get to more reading to decide on how to prepare and when I feel I'm ready.

thats basicly it, just keep moving forward until your ready.
For myself, i find it best to make short term goals, they're easier to keep and you get a great sense of accomplishment when you meet them. So my first goal is to take basic sailing lessons when I get to OH, then my next goal will be to buy a dinghy or something, then I'll move on to the rest, one step at a time. In the end the 'plan' is still the same, but its much easier to stay focused this way. (For me)

hope that helps. atleast we know we aren't the only crazy ones out there!

[chris2998]

Thanks dude yeah I say 3 years it could be more like 4 but I think I will be able to buy the boat in a year I have a good amount saved for the boat. I've really been reading alot on the southern cross, pacific seacraft which I have fallen in love with it's beauty but gosh still pretty high in price and I like the Ericson I like the layout out of there boats it can be a small boat but still feel big is which I like. I took some sailing lessons lessons like 2 summers ago been looking some to buy a sunfish boat to play around with on the lake near me. I know this is nothing like a 30 footer but it will still help with my skills. I'm a welder I really can't take alot of time off but to maybe take a couple of weeks of in a year and maybe sail around Louisiana and into the Gulf of Mexico some to build my confidence and skills. I wish I could take a year off and make the big plunge to the bahamas before I try sailing around the world but it just won't happen. When I have the boat and money saved I will be quiting my job for the circumnavigation hopefully it won't take anymore then two years to do it which I have to save for. From reading on this guys site who told me about this forum http://www.atomvoyages.com/ if you are conservative you can sail pretty cheaply it sounds like especially if you can do it by yourself. Check his website lots of great info on everything.

Chris

[rtbates]

You need to get some experience BEFORE you get in too deep. Ever been off shore in a 30+ knt storm? 20 foot + seas?

Read this http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f55/offshore-sailor-needs-advice-20095.html and lots of other good stuff from this site. Lots of off shore experience here. I won't spoil the suspense by giving away the ending. But do read the entire thread...

Dreams are great and I obviously applaud your's as I'm a sailor. But the reality of a storm at sea can be a real dream buster. You should try real hard to get off shore in SOMEONE ELSES boat in a good storm. See how you feel and then realize what it will be like when all the decisions are your's and your's alone.

Best of luck with your dream. I'd go around west to east.

[chris2998]

you're right dude I need experience there is no question about that and have thought about that paying to go for a week cruise somewhere or something. I can say I have been in 8ft seas on Lake Ponchatrain and it was some scary sh*t the lake being so shallow the waves are very pointy and steep and crew didn't have a clue we should have reefed but we didn't one lesson learned there. I understand that it isn't gonna be all honky dory there is gonna be some hellish times out there
but will take your advise and try and experience some ruffer weather.

Chris

[newt]

These posts bring up an interesting issue. Is there someplace we can go in cyberspace to pick up crewmembers who need experience sailing? I may well be taking a boat from Seattle to Panama and up to Florida in the next year.  Eager learners would be welcome as deck hands.... But I would not want just anyone- abandoning ship would not be optional (except at port) :o, but fighting the weather, although not looked for, could happen. I have often thought that solo would be better than whinning or mutiny.
Just thinking....

[chris2998]

I have looked at crewfinder and stuff but I don't know about going that rought it is dam tuff to find a good roomate on land but to do it on water ummmm nope unless I could spend a few weeks with them and learning about that person. as much as I'd like to find someone to get experience from reality is I'll be buying my own boat and working my way up

[AdriftAtSea]

I think one of the best ways to find good crew is word of mouth from sailors you trust the judgement of.  Finding them off of the internet or bulletin boards is a bit too unreliable IMHO.  Building a list of people that you can draw on as crew is a good thing. 

[Manannan]

Using crew finding sites to find a good crew is not a so bad idea and if not the best way, a fairly good one.
I found out that people who register themselves on those sites are really willing to sail, or learn and they also take a risk : signing on with a bad skipper on a wrong boat. The risks are equal both side, or should I say,
there is more risk for the crew because he or she may end up in a bad situation, somewhere if they have to leave the boat because of incompatibility. That can lead to very bizarre situations......not pleasant at all.. There is always a risk no matter even if your crew is the best friend you know from high school...or somebody else best friend or former best crew... if you have never sailed or be on a boat with this person, the experience may turn out to be a big mistake. A complete stranger can become your best friend, and your best friend can become a complete stranger after a few days at sea. I heard horror stories as much as good ones, you can only rely on your good judgment of character, and should try to put yourself in the crew shoes. The fact is you are sharing your little vital space with a stranger. As the owner it is your little world, as the skipper
you have the responsability of it and are in command, that can lead to some abuse of  power and some skippers can be really .... (well you know what :o..). On the other hand the most common critic and the worst to bear I think is to have a crew who does not respect your stuff, who think he or she is better or can do better than the skipper. I often heard that it is better to have a complete inexperienced crew
but willing to learn that an experienced one who brags a little bit too much.
For most of people willing to be a crew, their best chance is those internet sites. Some are better than others, the rest is up to you to know how to filter informations and how to judge people, there is also a good part of luck and  it requires a little time and effort, but the result can be really rewarding for the crew and the skipper.

[Captain Smollett]

I have little experience on this issue of 'finding crew' as I mostly either singlehand or sail with my family.  I have taken quite a few folks for their first sail and have taken friends sailing, but hardly count those situations as 'crew.'  That said, I do tell "guests" aboard my boats that they can participate as much or as little as they wish, and I will teach all I can in our time together if they are interesting in learning.

But as for actual 'crew,' folks aboard expressly for the purpose of helping sail the boat, I've only actually done that once and that was CapnK  (and of course, I cannot discount Craig helping out as "pilot" in his home waters)!!

But here's my two cents on the topic.  My opinions here are the result solely of reading many tales of OTHER'S experiences, but here I go.

It does not seem to matter too much how you actually MEET your new crew.  Internet, word of mouth, etc, all methods seem to produce both good and bad relationships.  What seems to me to the be the way to go, though, is to daysail or overnight or some such with new crew as much as possible before committing longer term trips with them.

On a daysail you can learn pretty quickly their competence and compatibility and you are not too far from the dock if things don't work out.  If prospective crew refuses to do short sails to 'prove' themselves to you, I'd say that's an indicator right there.

Finally, I think it best to approach the arrangement as business deal...with CLEARLY defined roles.  "Too many chiefs" does not work well on a boat, and all too often, we hear/read stories of folks complaining because their role aboard was not specifically defined.  Calling someone "crew" is insufficient...they need to know what their job is, what the watch schedule will be, etc.  And the skipper is not always the most experienced person aboard, but he IS in charge - the buck stops with him and he bears the responsibility.

By the way, I'd sail again with Kurt or Craig without a second's thought. 

[Bill NH]

If you'll be sailing overseas with crew you don't know very well, or even touching in a foreign port, make sure you (the Captain) hold your crews' passports, and also either return airline tickets or enough $$ to buy them from your destination (unless you agree beforehand to fly them home).  If a crew member jumps ship overseas before you had planned, YOU may be responsible for their repatriation!   >:(

[newt]

As usual, the discussions in this group tend to be good. I agree with prior sailing and getting to know the crew.  What payment do you usually offer? The chance for bluewater? Of course. But how about $$ when you arrive at your destination, but none before?
And for those of you that have done some serious bluewater work, how many crew are ideal? 3, 4? I think most of our boats would be too crowded with that many, but with the 40 footer that I am delivering 4 may just right.
Finally-repatriation law- does that apply to pleasure boats? And what is it? :o

[xirii]

For a 40' boat with 4 comfy berths, 4 is perfect.  3 is doable, but the watch splits are better with 4.  Three hours on and nine off are a nice pattern to fall into, and everyone gets a decent chunk of time to sleep, resulting in more efficient crew when on watch.  I sailed Miami-Mallorca as crew on a boat with 4 (44').  It was a nice, relaxed, comfortable ride with all crew in a generally good mood (when not seasick, we had one neophyte who took a while to adjust to the motion :-X) despite the storms encountered.  I sailed Bahamas - Newport non-stop on a boat with 3 (36').  We encountered a similar ratio of storms, and weathered them in a much more tense atmosphere, and with excessive napping upon reaching port. 

I find it amusing to be advocating more crew on a forum which I was so happy to find for it's 'small' attitude, but I do believe that (especially on a delivery!) the crew should fit the boat.  While 4 would be crowded on most of the boats around here ;), it'll make a big difference on a rushed trip on a bigger boat.   

When will you be heading out?  (Do you have 2 months to find your crew and test them or 6 months?)  Either way, good luck!