How To Sail Around The World?

How realistic is it to buy a boat and sail around the world?

• Could a middle class working man actually afford to buy a decent boat and be able to sail say from america to Europe? How about shorter distances like from USA to Canada or Alaska, maybe Russia? What kind of boat do you need to do that? It would make me ever so happy if it were possible.

• Answer:

  Of course it is; it's being done all the time. The fact that you're asking the question indicates you're at the very beginning of your preparation. You've got a lot of reading to do, all over the net and all the sailing books. You've got to learn how to sail. And you've got to find a boat. For starters, find a copy of John Vigor's "Twenty Small Sailboats That Will Take You Anywhere." There is controversy about his list, but it will give you a great place to start understanding what kind of boat you'll need. Don't even think of buying a new boat: be prepared to buy an old one and put a little elbow grease into it. Check out www.svKalaNag.com for photos and description of a complete rebuild, and a good reading list. Many cruisers have a mantra, "Go small, go simple, go now." Well, now may not be reasonable. Go when you're ready enough not to foolishly endanger yourself. But anyways, ya, the idea is perfectly reasonable, as long as you start thinking like a sailor and not a camper on the water.