BLUEMOMENT

I’ll admit to having lurked here for a while, and I’ve found this site to have made for enjoyable and entertaining reading. I’m hoping to be able to return to sailing soon after a few years enforced absence. I’m planning to buy my first yacht, possibly a Hurley 22 or Achilles 24 in order to spend a few seasons boning up on my sailing skills, before changing up to something a little bigger for prolonged cruising, my ambition being to retire before my 50th birthday and set off around the World. I work in the offshore sector, so I get three weeks off at a time, which should allow plenty of time for cruising, and I’m hoping to base myself in what appears to be a favourite area of many posters, the west coast of Scotland.

I hope that you’ll be happy to keep me entertained and informed for a while yet, and I look forward to reading more about cruising in some of the most scenic, and challenging, waters around.

Andy

Hi Andy

I see that you joined some time ago so a belated Hello. If you've been lurking then you'll have noticed that Silkie, the prolific poster and TAASC sails a Hurley22 so I've no doubt that you'll get plenty of good advice from that quarter, and maybe a wee taster of the joys of sailing a 22 if you ask nicely!

Ash

PS When I was 25, I had hopes of retiring at 55, but it doesn't seem very likely now unless the Lotto comes through.

Hi, Ash, yes I've been lurking for quite some time now! I've had a good look at Silkie's website too, with a view to sailing an H22. It's on my wish-list.

Let's see what Santa brings me this year.

Welcome aboard Andy. You are clearly a man of good taste and refined sensibilities so you should fit right in here. I take it you'll have come across the Yahoo Hurley group and Oscar Vermeulen's site. The new HOA site isn't up to much yet though I'm afraid.

How much sailing have you done?

Hi. Yes, familiar with both, and good reading they make too.

Sailed on the Baltic with the Army, and a fair bit down in the West Country, which I found far too crowded for my liking. I don't suppose many hundreds of miles being towed around the North Sea on a drilling rig counts?

Looking forward to getting afloat on my own vessel soon.

Taste and sensibility? Unlikely!

I'd be careful before buying a Hurley - you need a liver that an Ox would be proud of.

After my time in the Army, my liver's pretty-much pickled. I got a job on the rigs so I get half the year to dry-out.

Did I mention I like Lagavulin?

Oh you'll be fine company for the Pope - that's one of Silkie's nom de foams by the way - he likes to tread water on occasion.

I would simply echo others' welcomes.

Three weeks at a time on the West Coast could give some really great trips!

I think your choice of starting boats is eminently sensible. I'm fed up with the letters and posts you see elsewhere along the lines of "what would be the best 36 footer for a first boat? Oh, and we want to buy new of course."

Re. retiring before 50: I take it you do know that from 2010 it won't be possible to draw pension before 55?

FWIW for many years I planned to retire at 55, then earlier this year I was made redundant / took early retirement at 54

Grand stuff the Lagavulin - particularly when its cauld.

Andy Ottaway wrote:Did I mention I like Lagavulin?

I think a berth just became available on the good ship Silkie.

Thanks for the welcome, Dave.

As a result of getting my knees thoroughly trashed at the service of Aunty Betty, I'm getting a small pension each month, plus I'm able to stash away a fair bit from my wages for future ventures. The financial planning is all squared away, part of which was the selection of a small yacht to start off with. I've given this plan a good deal of thought, and no small amount of research, for which this forum has proved most valuable. While many dream of owning a plastic white blob, with all the whistles and bells, I'd rather have something that'll look after me in a blow, that sails in rather than on the water. My ideal yacht, one which I've long hankered for is a Twister, but at current prices it might have to wait a while.

Of course, something may happen that throws a spanner in the works, but I have an easy-going attitude to what life dishes out!

Silkie, when you get back on the water in the Spring, I'll be round with a small libation, or two.

You'll be very welcome with or without the water of life.

Andy Ottaway wrote:My ideal yacht, one which I've long hankered for is a Twister, but at current prices it might have to wait a while.

If you can't afford a Twister - then look at the Vega - similar (folkboat) inspiration but relatively cheap for a 27 footer, and lots around the Clyde.

Ash

PS - Of course I'm not biased

Cheers for that, Silkie. I suppose its too early to be looking at when you might be slipping her back into the water?

Thanks for the tip, Ash, the Vega certainly ticks all the boxes.

I couldn't find this link during my last post.

Click Here, then click on Yachts, then enter Vega as Text and Class ID as Field.

Thesed are just the Vegas involved in racing on the Clyde.

Not that I'm involved in racing, or even on the Clyde for that matter

Ash