Cruising Clinic | Jackie Parry - author

July 18, 2014
by jackieandnoel 1 Comment

CRUISING CLINIC – What’s so great about cruising?

This was my second question to Noel when we were searching for our first boat – (see the first question here).

At this point I hardly knew the front end of a boat from the back end. I also found the cruising world completely mind-boggling.

Noel’s response to this question, ‘getting to port’, holds a lot of truth (for us). I love being out there but with only two of us on board, after several days of a tag-team match (one is always on watch) it does become tiring. The constant demand on your body to move three-dimensionally, twenty-four hours a day, causes fatigue (the reason most accidents occur). Plus we are always looking forward to exploring our next destination.

What’s it like?

Sailing oceans is not like a plane or car ride. Nothing is certain except a vast puddle of water and a great stretch of sky. The days pass, measured not in hours but in distance. It’s dynamic, fantastic and petrifying all at the same time. There is rarely pattern or logic; you deal with what’s received, as it arrives . . . moment by moment.

Most of all, and from a personal point of view – cruising for years was an incredible experience – it changed me. It made me a better person, I saw the world, I learnt so much about everything – other people, cultures and most of all I learnt more about me.

8 months in Ecuador and our lines need some serious cleaning!

Living aboard can be incredibly satisfying but also more work than you can believe.
Like anything, it is what you make it.
If you can’t imagine what it is like, have a practice run. The issues that may arise are sometimes not obvious.
If you run out of something in the galley, you probably won’t be able to nip out and pick it up.
If a fault develops do you have spares on board? Or are you able stir-up your creative juices, and make repairs with whatever you have at hand?

Finding and fixing a leak in a tight spot stirred up my creative skills!

Some of the things you think will be wonderful might become a nightmare, conversely enjoyment will be found at unexpected times and places. It can be different to what you expect, but if you stick it out, you will start to love the life for other reasons. To grasp our meaning, check out our FAQ under SAILING STUFF above – and ask your questions. Down the line I’ll post an article called Pelagic People, detailing a day in the life of being on board.

Also, check out Ecuador Expenditure (also under FAQ on our website), which includes details of what we did and spent for a month.

Some cruising highlights:

Joining an amazing community, the fraternity of boats on the move
Helps you find who you are and the cruising life shows you how to take time to live
You are in command of your time, not someone else, weather becomes your dictum
You are at the helm of your life, not someone else – take charge!
You meet incredible people
Your geography improves
You will learn a multitude of good skills, mechanic, cook, electrician, cleaner, painter, carpenter, machinist . . . . etc, (the list is endless!)

A chore? Not really in beautiful Aitutaki

More help

1) The idea behind Cruisers’ AA (accumulated acumen) our book for cruisers, is to help you go cruising now, answer all your questions, and help you to create happiness on board and in your life. As you read through these posts (and our book), you will figure out what does and does not work for you in order to step closer to a contented life. Most importantly, remember that you will not have the time to take on everyone else’s opinions or ideas – do what is right for you. It is all about your adventure and the self-discovery your journey will bring. Do write, we would be interested to know what you discover.

2) Read Reality Reflections of Sailing here.

Next time: Calculating your cruising costs

July 18, 2014
by jackieandnoel Leave a comment

Cruising Clinic Snippets – Don’t sweat the small stuff

This was advice from a long-term cruiser and a friend.

I had to stop and think about this for a bit. I knew, with just five small words, she’d said something remarkable.

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Months of hard growth on the lines – days of cleaning . . . is it worth worrying about?

What is the small stuff on board?

The laundry (in cold water, by hand)
The blocked loo (marine toilets are renowned for this delightful occurrence)
The entire boat turning into a workshop
Running out of gas in the middle of cooking
Salt saturated cushions that just won’t dry
A lumpy sea
Too much wind
Big waves

Split stuff behind the cooker - is it worth getting worked up about it?

Cleaning behind the cooker – is it worth getting worked up about it?

So when do you ‘sweat’? Well usually you don’t, usually there’s no time.

Maybe you’d sweat during a storm, which can last for days. But, generally ‘sticky’ moments on board are in bursts:

fingers of lightning
winds shifting to create an untenable anchorage
dragging anchor
broken rudder . . .

. . . these are moments when you may sweat . . . IF YOU HAVE TIME.

Instead of sweating you’ll be too busy doing what’s necessary.

The great thing is, those moments where you don’t have time to sweat are great training for when it really matters.

Rough seas – do what’s necessary to make the boat safe, then relax

Yes, cruising can have its shitty moments, it can be scary, but each challenging moment will build your confidence and faith in your boat and yourself – creating comfort and a more relaxed life that just keeps on improving.

Tomorrow is the next instalment on our CRUISING CLINIC – What’s so great about cruising?

Stop by and let us know what you think.

July 11, 2014
by jackieandnoel Leave a comment

Cruising Clinic – How much does cruising cost?

When Noel and I decided to go cruising, as a complete beginner I had two very pertinent questions on my mind. I asked these questions as we hopped on the back of Noel’s motorbike, searching for a boat.

‘So, what’s it going to cost, running a boat?’

He replied, ‘Everything we’ve got.’

A little perplexed, but not yet deterred, I then asked, ‘What’s so great about sailing anyway?’

Noel, with his brutal honesty and years of experience with boats replied, ‘Getting in to port.’

‘Good grief’, I muttered. After about two hours of silence while I digested these little gems, I said, ‘Why do it then?’

Without hesitation Noel responded, ‘It’s the closest thing to freedom I know.’

That did it for me. It was right then that I was sold on the idea. Sixteen years later I still see the wisdom in his answers.

What’s so great about sailing . . .?

I’ll write about the ‘what’s so good about sailing?’ question down the line. Right now, I guess you’re thinking, ‘well so what?, that doesn’t help me very much.’ However, think about this: cruising WILL cost you everything you have, if you let it.

So, let’s look at the right questions to ask to see if we can make sense of all this:

1) What budget do I have to purchase a boat?

2) What will it cost to run?

3) How will I earn money along the way?

4) How can I save money along the way?

Boats can be as expensive or as cheap as you make them. We find that living on board is a cheaper way to live, but we know how to save money, I am extremely prudent with our dollars and we employ smart tactics. AND you have to start with a good boat, then maintain it – constantly (a job a day, however big or small).

We were still trying to figure out where to stow everything!

Now, let’s try and find some answers.

1) What budget do I have to purchase a boat? Whatever budget you have it is extremely likely that you will find a boat you love for a ‘bit’ more and go over your budget. This amount does NOT include:

a) all the unexpected problems found during survey that need to be fixed

b) all the things the vendor neglected to tell you that needed to be fixed

c) all those things that just pop up at inopportune times that need to be fixed

d) on-going maintenance and repairs

e) additional equipment (your own ideas/wants)

Summary: Keep at least 10% of your budget for those unexpected issues.

A job a day kept Mariah ship-shape.

2) What will it cost to run? It depends on where you started from. If you are really lucky and have a good, well maintained boat, then it will also depend upon:

a) the size of your boat*

b) amount of use (little use is not always a good thing)

c) your skills (can you maintain it and carry out repairs? Or do you need help?)

d) your time

*(great examples on actual living costs on various sized boats, on Sail Far Live Free: http://www.sailfarlivefree.com/2012/12/what-does-it-cost-to-go-cruising.html)

3) How will I earn money along the way? Be creative. Use the skills you have. Other cruisers need expertise in all areas. We’ll tackle this subject later on too. However, running your own business is not easy on land, don’t expect it to be easy while cruising. You have the added challenge of communications.

4) How can I save money along the way? This is the easy bit – if you are prepared to change your lifestyle.

Stop spending it! Really. Don’t eat out all the time, figure out how to fix stuff yourself. Learn how to get the best bargains on boat equipment, learn how to keep food for weeks and weeks (without a fridge if necessary, we did for nine years), anchor out and avoid mariner fees. I could go on and on, and I did in our book Cruisers’ AA (accumulated acumen). I’ll supply more tips down the line, on each of these subjects.

If this all sounds off putting, well you’ve given up too soon. Cruising life is fantastic, but it is not for everyone. If you like a challenge, can adapt to new situations and want to enjoy your life in a way you never dreamed of – then maybe it is for you.

A good boat to start with & on-going maintenance will ensure you get to all those places you dreamed of.

I’ll write more on all these subjects (1-4) in the coming weeks. Cruisers’ AA (accumulated acumen) covers all this and much more in far greater detail, see www.jackieparry.com for more information – available in paperback & ebook). (Or look at the top of this page and follow the links!)