How about casting off for a year of freedom? Setting sail is the stuff of dreams, but between dream and reality, meticulous preparation is essential. What's your budget? Should you buy or charter a boat? How can you organize your departure with peace of mind? Here's an overview of the questions you'll need to answer to turn your project into a successful experience.
Budget for a year at sea: how much does it really cost?
A sabbatical year at sea involves a number of expenses:
- Boat purchase or charter
- Insurance, maintenance and repairs
- Shipping and provisioning costs
- Visas and administrative formalities
The budget also depends on how you live aboard: marinas or moorings? Frequent provisioning or maximum autonomy with a watermaker? Some people finance their trip by renting accommodation or working remotely, while others opt for a minimalist lifestyle.
For a year at sea, budget between ?30,000 and ?60,000 including the purchase and resale of a 40-45 foot monohull, as well as a contingency reserve
Let's take a closer look at these costs.
Buy or rent your boat: the best option for you
The choice of boat depends on budget, project and technical skills.
- Purchasing a second-hand monohull or catamaran allows you to amortize costs over the long term, but means you'll have to manage maintenance and resale at the end of the trip. A catamaran offers more space and comfort, ideal for a family, but its budget is higher. A monohull is often more affordable.
- The rental is an interesting alternative for those who don't want to commit to a purchase. Some companies offer long-term leasing, with or without an option to purchase. Renting simplifies everything: there's no maintenance or resale to deal with. On the other hand, it can be more expensive over a full year than buying and reselling a boat.
A 40 to 45-foot sailboat (monohull or catamaran) is a good choice for a sabbatical year. These boats offer good habitability and are well suited to ocean cruising. Recent, well-maintained second-hand models avoid high maintenance costs. We will base our cost projections on this size.
Purchase :
- Monohull 40-45 feet 120,000 to 180,000 ? (+ ?5,000 to 10,000/year maintenance)
- Catamaran 40-45 feet 250,000 to 400,000 ? (+ 10,000 ?/year maintenance)
Allows you to amortize costs over the long term, but implies maintenance and resale. After a year at sea, a sailboat can be resold at the same price as when it was purchased, given the equipment added for navigation (electronics, safety, etc.).
Long-term rental :
- Monohull 40-45 feet 36,000 to ?72,000/year
- 45-foot catamaran 50,000 to 90,000 ?/year
Simplicity of choice, as there are no maintenance or resale costs, but costs are often higher over a one-year period than for purchase/resale.
Anticipating ancillary costs
- Insurance of the boat: ?3,000 to ?6,000/year
- Fuel 1,500 to ?4,000/year
- Provisioning 5,000 to 10,000 ?/year for 2-4 people
- Port/wetting charges 4,000 to ?12,000/year
- Schooling children: ?1,000 to ?3,000/year/child (CNED)
- Health and travel insurance 3,000 to ?6,000/year
- Visas and formalities : 500 à 2 000 ?
- Training and preparation : 1 000 à 3 000 ?
- Customized support : 3 000 à 10 000 ?
Why not call in a sailing planner?
Do you dream of a sabbatical year at sea, but don't know where to start? With a sailing planner, you can save time, avoid costly mistakes and leave with peace of mind:
- Project definition purchase or rental, itinerary, projected budget.
- Training navigation, weather and safety.
- Administrative and logistical preparation visa, insurance, accommodation on land.
- Anticipation any bottlenecks and suggest appropriate solutions.
Calling on an expert can give you peace of mind and optimize every expense for a successful trip.
Ready for the big jump?
Taking a sabbatical year on a sailboat is much more than a trip: it's a life experience, a timeless break to discover the world differently. This project, accessible to those who seriously prepare for it, is a unique way to reinvent yourself. Taking the plunge may seem intimidating, but every great adventure begins with the first step...
"The greatest danger in life is not taking risks, it's not taking risks." âeuros Mark Twain
