Today I moved aboard Sonic Boom. Last time I was aboard was 3
months ago, when I was in Tortola looking at boats, and met the previous owner.
Pretty much everything I own is with me in my sail bag. I’m so excited, looking
around the boat, checking everything. I want to use the head, make some tea,
test my cabin and most of all go for a sailing. I’m also a bit worried and a
lot broke, and will be until I get to St. Martin and hopefully get some work.
I’ve been through a lot to get here. I wanted to say the
hardest part was making the decision to actually do this, but really it was
getting the finances together. Once I’d seen my boat and decided I wanted to
buy it, I flew back to Europe, using my Virgin Atlantic air miles. Virgin might
not be the cheapest airline but the best by far.
Monaco
I cashed in my pension, withdrew all my savings, and I
worked in the South of France and Monaco for a while as crew/deckhand, cleaning
and delivering luxury mega yachts, to get some extra money. It was Nice.
Cannes
Now I’m onboard I think back to Santa Cruz, and the sailing
courses I took there in Monterey Bay with Pacific Sail only 6 months ago.
Pacific Sail, Santa Cruz was an amazing school. Not just the great teachers and
great boats, Monterey Bay was a beautiful place to learn. There were seals and
sea otters in the marina, and humpback whales breaching alongside our boat out
at sea. Although I had originally wanted to take courses in the Caribbean,
where I would be sailing, the 8-day course in Santa Cruz was much cheaper.
I am not an expert sailor, and hadn’t really been sailing
since childhood. So, before buying my boat, I had decided to get cruising and
bareboat certified; it’s a good way to reduce your boat insurance. And
hopefully it means I’m less likely to crash.
Trinidad, California
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