Leaving; is it just a matter of daring to?

During the twenty years or more that Multihulls World has existed, many of our readers have taken the step. They left and came back. Often, these ‘adventurers’ confided in the magazine’s journalists, and our photo collection is full of their memories, immortalised in the world’s most beautiful places. From these thousands of experiences, each of them different according to the people involved, we can draw one conclusion: leaving for a sabbatical year (at least) really is worth it…

PRE-DEPARTURE WORRIES

Yet before actually taking the step and casting off, there will be so many anxious, sleepless nights, and so many questions to ask… And above all, the feeling of guilt at wanting to take the family on an adventure which is often a childhood dream that the other members of the family do not necessarily share...
Amongst the main questions asked before leaving, one that is asked most often is about safety. Generally, your own anxieties are relayed by grandparents and friends, for whom boats are dangerous. Although the possibility shouldn’t be ignored – accidents can happen - they are very rare on a classic Atlantic circuit.  The two biggest dangers at sea are fire and falling overboard. The builders and safety standards have considerably limited the risk of fire; here at the magazine we have not been told of a cruising catamaran completely destroyed by fire in the last twenty years… the risk of falling overboard is a real one. But a few simple precautions limit the possibility of falling overboard considerably: strong stanchions, well-positioned hand rails and above all, clipping on once the conditions demand it and systematically when on watch alone on deck. Finally, the stability of the catamaran’s platform contributes to safety and avoiding this risk.  Then there is piracy, illness or accidents a long way from any doctors… And the never-ending questions about the return. What will happen? Will we be able to integrate into society after having spent a self-sufficient year aboard our catamaran? And the children… How does that work out, etc… And then one day the desire becomes stronger than these constantly repeated questions. There are those who take the plunge and those who remain behind: those who dare and those for whom the dream will never become reality. In the opinion of all those who set off, the most difficult part is taking the decision. DARE! What follows, generally, is nothing but pleasure…

PREPARATION TIME

Once the decision to leave has been taken, the hardest part is done… The rest is just organisation! Certain people must then organise their professional life by taking a sabbatical year (or more). Others will resign purely and simply. Some people are lucky enough to be able to sell their business and leave as a free spirit, for a period which depends on the amount they have in the bank…
Potential long distance cruisers are all different and have had various careers. The one thing they have in common is their desire to ...