Sail away: how to escape the rat race and live the dream

You long to escape the daily grind, buy a boat and sail away. This book will inspire your dreams and show you how to turn them into a reality – be it an extended cruise or years away. Written by a yachting journalist who has sailed away for 8 years, together with the contributions of 100 other blue-water cruisers, there are tales a plenty of what it is like to do it from around the world – west, east, north and south. There is also practical advice on everything from choosing a boat to crossing oceans. You’ll be guided through each step of the preparation before casting off on your adventure of a lifetime. There’s information on everything the would-be blue-water sailor needs to consider, including safety, communications, children, ocean passages and budgeting. Learn about routes and destinations around Europe, the Caribbean, the Pacific and beyond to help you cruise the Mediterranean or Baltic, cross the Atlantic or circumnavigate the world. Colour photographs and charts will inspire and inform in this essential guide for the 21st century blue-water sailor.

Table of Contents

1 Turning the Dream into Reality

2 Saving Up to Sail Away

3 Choosing & Equipping Your Boat

4 Children on Board

5 Time to Go

6 Life Aboard

7 Deciding Which Way to Go

8 Blue-Water Sailing

9 Cruising the Caribbean

10 Hurricane Season

11 The Pacific & Beyond

12 Sailing Back

Picture Credits

Further Reading