sail around the world

I never had a sailing experience before, and my Steve is a sailor for his life. I never thought about sail around the world by a sailing boat before since I was more of “land/earth” person relating to that I have a strange fascination toward the desert..

I am not sure sailing is another challenge or the thing I will take it as natural…

Despite having not sailed for about 20 years, I can’t get this out of my head, so… In 2010 I am going to set sail from England on a journey around the world. Maybe with sponsorship and maybe a companion(?), I’m going live aboard and visit as many places as possible for as long as it takes. It was one of my Dads dreams too but sadly he passed away prematurely a couple of years ago without doing it so I’m going to do it in his memory.

I was just recently in California, back home for a glorious week. I went sailing with my dad on his Hunter 41DS both Saturday and Sunday of that week. When I left, I took with me a Latitude 38 – yay boat porn! – and a copy of “Maiden Voyage”, the story of then-18 years old Tania Aebi, who accepted a challenge from her father to singlehand a 26’ sailboat around the world. I don’t know where my dad dug this book up – he has odd sources sometimes, but I’m betting a boat show for this one – but I loved it.

Perhaps the most endearing part of it was how human Tania is. She speaks quite frankly of being absolutely terrified and feeling totally in over her head at the beginning; if she hadn’t, I’d have questioned her sanity.

Anyway, I read this book, and it sparked in me the “I want to do that too!” impulse. I’m still pondering it. I would really love to sail around the world…but could I handle doing that alone, without going absolutely crazy? Not to mention my relative lack of experience. I’ve never done any offshore cruising before. The farthest offshore I’ve sailed is…oh, I don’t know. How far out is the lightship buoy off San Francisco? Or Duxbury Reef? Because I did the Duxship regatta with a friend of my uncle’s last year, along with my uncle and my dad. But that’s it for offshore. Beyond that, I’ve just sailed around the Bay and once or twice down in Monterey Bay, out of Santa Cruz.

But I think the experience loses something if you do it with people.

But I’m in a relationship, and I’ve done the long-distance thing – for four years! – and I’m sick of it. It would probably mean the end of things for L and I.

Only I probably couldn’t take him with me anyway. He doesn’t swim well and doesn’t really like sailing.

Oy. This is going on my goals list, but tentatively for now.

I love the Ocean, salt water runs through my veins. I want to see everything, go everywhere. It’s my goal to spend a whole year traveling the world and never see winter. I don’t know how to sail, but I’m sure I’ll love it. I’m taking my first sailing class this summer.

I used to race sailboats, but I’ve stopped. Ever since I started sailing I wanted to sail around the world. Tania Aebi’s book, “Maiden Voyage,” which is an account of her solo around the world trip,was one inspiration for me.

Used to have the money and not the time…now I have the time but not the money!

Have been thinking about doing this for a long time. Just have to put down a date of when it’s gonna happen or it prob neven will. Need to read up on a lot of stuff though, any recomendationes in that respect would be welcome.

Amazing.

I did this from age 6 to 16 with my parents.
It was an amazing way to grow up.

sounds good. i want to travel and get out of my hole here in a desert!