Many families dream of sailing around the world together, but few ever take the plunge. It's a big undertaking, to be sure, but it's also an incredibly rewarding experience. If you're thinking of setting sail on your own family adventure, here's what you need to know about planning and preparing for the voyage.
Start With Your Why
Why do you want to sail around the world? What are your motivations? Answering these questions is an important first step in the planning process because your motivations will guide your decision-making as you move forward. Are you looking for adventure? A chance to slow down and connect with your family? An opportunity to see new places and learn about other cultures? Once you've identified your why, you can begin to make decisions about where to go, how long to stay, and what kind of vessel is best for your needs.
He who fails to plan, is planning to fail. - Winston Churchill
I am someone who likes to take life as it comes and never plan far ahead. In most aspects of my life I still act this way. But when it comes to sailing, especially when preparing a trip, planning is key. It can prevent you from getting into serious trouble. You don’t want to go out sailing when a storm is headed your way.
Map Out Your Route
The next step is to map out your route. Where do you want to go? For starters, like we were 2 years ago, it's important to have a clear idea of your route. Keep in mind that weather patterns and conditions can vary greatly from one region of the world to another, so it's important to choose a route that makes sense given the time of year and your vessel's capabilities.
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I recommend buying at least one of Jimmy Cornell’s books. We have World Cruising Routes and World Voyage Planner on board, these are both full of information about the best routes and the safest times to sail them. These books contain comprehensive information on world weather systems and the pros and cons, attractions and dangers of different routes at different times (taking into account weather, currents, wind directions and strengths, piracy, …)
World Cruising Routes contains more than 6,000 waypoints, useful for planning and lots of practicalities.
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World Voyage Planner is meant as a companion volume to World cruising routes. The main objective of this book is to help sailors plan the outline of a voyage in any ocean of the world with suggestions of alternative routes to certain destinations, recommended times and seasons, attractive places en route and strategically located ports of call to be used in an emergency.
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They’re the perfect reference books to have on board when planning long trips.
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Procure Your Vessel and Outfit It For Travel
Once you know where you want to go and what is the best time you’ll need a boat that is in good condition. A new one or a used one? A monohull or a catamaran? They each have their pros and cons but whatever you decide there will always be a certain amount of work to do before you’re ready to set sail.
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With a new boat, you may have to deal with things like registration and making sure all the paperwork is in order. You'll also need to buy any necessary safety equipment and you might want to install solar panels, a water maker, a generator, … if you haven’t ordered these items as an option from the factory. A used boat, on the other hand, is often already fully equipped but you may need to do some repairs or maintenance before it's ready to sail.
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You'll also need to stock up on supplies, lots of them. Keep in mind that when you cross an ocean you will probably not sail back anytime soon. So stock up on the things you love, they might not have them in other places or they are super expensive over there.
When we left Europe to sail across the ocean, someone gave us this advice: If you love wine take at least 200 bottles with you. We thought it was an exaggeration and only took about 36 - which we quickly regretted once we ran out of wine.
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And of course, when you’re out on the ocean, it’s important to be prepared for any emergency, such as bad weather, mechanical problems or medical emergencies. To be safe on board you’ll want personal flotation devices and safety lines! When you’re sailing far offshore for long periods you’ll need a satellite receiver for the weather and communication. And in case things really go wrong you’ll need an epirb, a liferaft and a prepared grap bag.
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There are always things can that break especially when they are under pressure for a long time so it's very useful when you’re able to fix mechanical problems yourself, make sure you have spare parts and the right tools on board.
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Buying a first aid kit is an important step in being prepared for medical emergencies. There are different types of first aid kits for different purposes. For example, daysailing kits are designed for short trips near shore, while offshore kits are meant for longer voyages. Be sure to choose the right type of kit for your needs.
Knowing how to use the items in the kit is just as important as having them on hand. In a medical emergency, every second counts, so it is essential to be prepared. A first aid course will teach you how to handle different types of emergencies, and it could one day save your life. And a reference book like the one we have on board also comes in useful.
Here’s the link to Skipper’s Medical Emergency Handbook, this book will supplement the expertise you already have on board, helping you make the correct diagnosis and administer the most appropriate treatment. It also gives guidance on assessing the severity of medical problems, outlining whether the casualty should be managed on board, landed, or evacuated at sea.
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As you can see the planning process can be daunting, but it's also exciting. After all, you're about to embark on an adventure of a lifetime! So before you set sail on your new adventure, be sure to do your homework and get your vessel ready for the journey ahead.
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