Fresh sailor

[Lange]

2-3 of my friends and me are planning to sail for a year on the east coast of Australia for almost a year. No idea of what to buy or what to look for in a sailboat. We even consider sailing to like malaysia are something. Anything to recomend? we have a year to prepare so we are hopefully not so fresh in the game at that time. But still. Tips would be very much appreciated.

thanks

[mikeronie]

If none of you have sailing and navigation experence it is my opinion that you not try this trip until you get the training and experence. The ocean can be very unfriendly.

There are a lot of boats out there that can make the cruise. I have an Island Packet 350 which I would feel comfortable making that cruise on. A sailboat is a compromise.
Mike

[FrankLanger]

I agree with the previous post, and suggest that you prepare well. You and your friends should take seamanship and navigation courses, sail with others as crew, read books about cruising in the areas you are planning to sail, perhaps even charter a boat for a week to get the feel of sailing together and managing a boat.

Before buying a boat, I would strongly recommend you have the boat surveyed by a professional surveyor who knows about your plans to sail offshore--a boat needs to be stronger and equipped differently for offshore sailing than for coastal cruising.

Good luck!

Frank.