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The Sailor

A rig, a forecast, and the specific pleasure of arriving somewhere without using the engine.

The Sailor

You sail, or you want to. That single fact changes everything: the boat, the crew, the itinerary, the kind of guest who enjoys the week and the amount of money the whole thing costs, which is less. A performance cruiser of thirty five to forty five metres is the sweet spot, and a captain who can actually sail is not optional.

What works about it

Lower running costs, a smaller crew, oceans crossed without a fuel plan, and a boat that can be raced once a year in front of people who understand what they are looking at. Sailing yachts also keep crew, because the people who take those jobs want them.

What to watch

Your guests. A sailing yacht asks something of the people aboard, and half the people you invite will not enjoy being asked. Keep the heel modest, plan short legs for the first two days, and have a motor yacht week in the calendar for the friends who would rather be on one. Also budget the rig properly: it is the largest maintenance category after paint.

The boat it points to

  • A performance cruiser of 35 to 45 m with a lifting keel
  • A captain and mate who have raced, not only cruised
  • A sail wardrobe with a replacement plan, not a hope
  • A programme with one regatta in it
Sailing Yachts
Rig, range, silence, and the case for canvas.
Catamarans
Volume, shallow draft, stability and the berth problem.
Charter Destinations
Itineraries, seasons, the two-continent calendar, and what a week really costs.
Marinas
Where the boat lies, what it costs, and how to read a harbour.

Use it now

Sail or Motor Passage Planner Running Cost Model

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The Log

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