In this sixth and final article in the column he has kindly agreed to write exclusively for Garcia YachtsBritish sailor and adventurer Pete Goss examines the risk-benefit ratio associated with a blue water cruising project. He demonstrates how "giving yourself permission to leave" will enable you to "fill a chapter with memories that will last a lifetime".
Looking back, my previous articles have largely covered the topics and themes I wanted to share. To expand further on these points would only result in a collection of details that can easily be found elsewhere. So I hope I've expressed, through these writings, what I felt about the following themes: follow your dream, choose the right boat, learn as you go along, avoid imposing deadlines on yourself, expose yourself sometimes - with caution of course - but above all have fun, make friends... and then you'll experience a truly rewarding voyage.
Everyone has dreams that can be realized effortlessly. For many people, the reality of life can unfortunately encourage them to miss out on their dreams, until it's too late. Others, often at odds with the majority, find the temptation to think outside the box irresistible: they feel compelled to make their dreams come true. A reality that demands unfailing determination and a healthy dose of courage.
In this article, I thought I'd outline a few strategies to help you look beyond the rail, gasp and rightly falter at the abyss of choosing to take the leap of departure.
It doesn't have to be this way, as there are plenty of ways to make the right parachute, or to make it less dramatic. This jump doesn't have to be a stomach-churning gamble that could compromise your overall life balance. It can and should be the start of a wonderfully rewarding chapter, one that will leave you with lasting memories. But first, and this is all the more true after a working life filled with responsibilities, you have to consciously give yourself permission to leave.
Once permission has been granted, it's useful to consider your immediate environment first, those touchstones that give meaning to life, by which I mean family, friends and work colleagues. Be aware that they may find it hard to accept the simple idea of the yearning for freedom that the sight of a clear horizon represents for you. Help them to grasp this aspiration, so that they understand that instead of abandoning them, you draw your strength from their support. Talk to them, offer them appropriate books, let them participate in the adventure and show them that they play a significant role. Take them out on the water to share your passion, and show them that safety is a priority for you. Bond with them by organizing a going-away party, and take them with you on a blog written with objectivity and honesty to share the highs and lows of the adventure.
Empathy triumphs over all kinds of emotions, so imbue them with the same excitement you feel for the trip. You can easily offer them this by inviting them to join you for the vacations. Our daughter supported us and sort of "admitted" our project until she joined us in the Bahamas. A few days later, she took Tracey aside to tell her that she now fully understood our desires, that she had empathy and that she was proud of her mother for what she had had the courage to accomplish. It's important not to let your family and friends feel a tragedy about the very thing that, for you, represents the greatest project of your life.
Reassure them that, thanks to modern communications, the days of disappearing over the horizon for months on end are over. With modern aircraft, unless you're in the middle of an ocean crossing, you'll rarely be more than twenty-four hours from home. On an Atlantic crossing, a decent forty- to forty-five-foot boat is usually no more than ten days from land. Designate a trusted friend to hold the short-term reins if need be. Share with him or her a crisis plan that covers modes of communication and includes a list of priority contacts. Discuss each scenario to make sure he's happy and confident in his role. Let's not forget that, although crossing an ocean is an important event, it represents only a small part of the actual calendar for blue water cruising cruisers. Of our two-and-a-half-year journey, only three weeks were devoted to crossing the Atlantic. Some partners choose not to make ocean crossings and to join you by plane: that's no problem! It's what suits you that counts.
Take into account the people on board, fully understanding each person's motivations, reservations and needs. Don't be inflexible: take honest stock every few months, comparing initial assumptions with current reality. Don't feel sorry for your mistakes, celebrate what you've learned and adopt the adaptability that comes with experience. Leave room for humor to highlight the little things - after all, it's a marriage between the two of you and the boat.
Don't worry about what other people think or do, because this new life is all about expressing your personal aspirations.
Don't set sail until you've put in place and tested the right form of support and assistance. Above all, do it on your terms - the departure does not have to be the departure date. You can choose to sail locally until the various issues relating to the condition of the boat, its systems and your ability to master them have been resolved. Take courses ranging from on-board medicine to sail repair, engine maintenance, weather and navigation. When you set out, you can choose to start with small steps that turn into big strides as you progress. Inevitably, as knowledge dispels fear, there will come a time when you can't wait to take to the ocean.
Join groups of like-minded people, like the Ocean Cruising Club, or sign up for an event like the ARC Transatlantic Rally, which is an extraordinary event, or the Grand Large Yachting World Odyssey. A shared project sees the level of risk divided, and it may be that sailing in concert between friendly boats is your thing. We really enjoyed sailing the Intracoastal Waterway (a network of canals and waterways along the east coast of the USA) with Ian and Michelle, who are now lifelong friends thanks to this shared adventure. All the time spent with experienced cruisers will be like a forum for you to download ideas.
You can hire the services of a professional skipper to learn things specific to your boat. Stop talking about emergency helm, install your own and set off on a crossing. Service your engine under the guidance of an engineer, practice man-overboard maneuvers in pairs, don't neglect basic routines, and hone your mastery of tasks like dinghy launching and sail handling.
Discover your strengths and play to them, as you evolve as a team: who should be at the helm and on the foredeck when anchoring? who's the best at controlling the spinnaker pole? and so on. How do you make decisions? Will you have a red card system? Define the areas of responsibility of everyone on board. Most importantly, don't project your aspirations onto others, because we're all different. Integrate these differences into the program so that it satisfies everyone.
Don't lose sight of the reason why you embarked on this journey. The boat is there to serve you, not you to serve the boat. When my wife Tracey and I set out, our pace was too fast and we got tired. A recalibration of the project set the tone for the rest of our time on board. Be indulgent with yourself, measure your progress by your own standards, not those of others. Look back and recognize how far you've come since you first left the dock with your heart pounding.
Boats are always ready but never prepared, and there comes a time when you have to take a deep breath and enjoy the freedom of casting off. You've done the hard work, and the fun is about to begin. Fill your boat with toys to explore the marine environment and enjoy this new lifestyle. A lifestyle that lets you live in the moment, with an infinite variety of what nature, places, cultures and people have to offer. It's all extremely rewarding, and I wish you all the best wherever your journey takes you.
This is the sixth and final article in the column by British sailor, author and adventurer Pete Goss.
Find out more about Pete Goss on his official website
