The price of freedom: plan ahead to enjoy your long-distance cruise

Buying a boat is just the first step on the road to cruising. Insurance, maintenance and onboard lifestyle become the real captains of your budget. Here's why it's crucial to plan every detail so that your dream doesn't turn into a financial wreck.

Imagine yourself on the open sea, the wind in your sails and the endless horizon in front of you. The feeling of freedom is incomparable, but behind these moments of ecstasy lie less poetic realities. Financing a major sailing cruise doesn't stop at the price of the boat. Insurance, maintenance, stopovers and daily life on board are all factors that can quickly inflate costs. To avoid unpleasant surprises, good preparation is essential.

Case in point: "Insurance was the least of my worries..."

When Jean and Sophie bought their sailboat for a round-the-world trip, they thought they had everything planned. They had budgeted for the cost of the boat, the equipment, and felt ready to go. It wasn't until they arrived in the Azores that they discovered their insurance didn't cover sailing outside Europe. As a result, they had to urgently renew their entire insurance policy, at a cost almost three times higher than they had anticipated.

Insurance is an often underestimated expense. Whether you're staying in the Mediterranean or crossing the Atlantic, your insurance needs will vary considerably. A word of advice: it's best to opt for worldwide coverage from the outset, or to plan for extensions, even if they seem unnecessary at first.

"You never know when a breakdown will strike... "

Just last year, during a cruise in Greece, Marc and Isabelle had to interrupt their trip due to engine failure in the middle of the Aegean Sea. The verdict: 5,000 euros to repair a part that could not be found locally. Fortunately, they had allowed for a margin in their budget, but how many adventurers have found themselves short of cash when faced with this kind of situation?

Boat maintenance is a permanent lottery. Tiring sails, temperamental electronics, a lost anchor... The list of repairs seems endless, especially at sea. A good rule of thumb is to budget between 10% and 15% of the boat's value each year for repairs and maintenance. After all, a breakdown can happen at any time, and the further you are from the coast, the bigger the bill is likely to be.

Lifestyle: Escales or Robinson Crusoe?

Some adventurers decide to spend most of their time on board, living almost completely autonomously. This is the choice of David, a seasoned sailor, who likes to anchor in remote anchorages, catch his own fish and bake his own bread on board. " It allows me to limit my expenses while enjoying the peace and quiet of the most remote places "he says.

But others, like Claire and Pierre, take advantage of every stopover to discover the local culture, sample specialties ashore or visit historic sites. " We're not going around the world to stay cooped up in the boat "jokes Claire. But each stopover can quickly add to the budget: port fees, restaurants, local transport... Mediterranean ports, for example, can charge up to 100 euros per night for a 12-meter sailboat.

The sea doesn't forgive the unexpected

Whether you choose the life of a minimalist adventurer or that of a curious globetrotter, a grand cruising project requires rigorous financial planning. Buying the boat is a small part of the equation. The costs of insurance, maintenance and daily life on the water are all elements that every yachtsman must take into account if he is to live his dream to the full, without it becoming a money pit.

At the end of the day, as the saying goes: " At sea, as in life, it's not the unexpected that causes you to fail, but the lack of preparation ". Get ready to sail with peace of mind, anticipating every detail of your adventure. Every decision counts, and every euro spent should be an investment in an unforgettable voyage. Let yourself be carried away by the wind, but never forget that true freedom at sea is synonymous with meticulous preparation.

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