Where would you cruise for a year?

[Max Simmons]

We've been doing some thinking lately of what to do as retirement looms closer. Barring any disaster (and that's a pretty big bar RN) and if the stars align, we're looking at retiring in the next two years. Initially the plan was to do some long term cruising here in the NW and then sell the boat and buy another in the Florida area and explore down there. Having now been to Europe several times and along the edge of the Med, we're now mulling this as a future cruising ground. We want to do this while still young and healthy enough. No interest in ocean crossings, just island hopping. Thinking 42' Grand Banks or similar as its close to the same layout of our 38 OA. They seem to be available pretty much anywhere. Guessing purchase budget around 300-350K. We're still in the spitballing stage but wondering pros and cons of a plan like this.
Interested in hearing from folks that have cruised the Med, or other locale suggestions for extended (1 yr+) time and what you liked or didn't.
Thanks

 

[ksanders]

If you are in the PACNW which from your post looks like you are...

The place to spend a year cruising is the Sea of Cortez.

Mexico... perfect beaches, great food, and better people is calling your name!

This is where the cruisers all go. Some stay...well many stay right here.

There are lots of TF members here in La Paz, all great friends! I met my wife here years ago now. We have a home, and business here, as well as a permanent slip in Marina De La Paz.

 

[mvweebles]

I've never cruised the PNW but folks sure seem to love it.

We met a hive of cruisers based on Mazatlan. They'd leave their boat there and return around Thanksgiving and cruise through Easter or so. Decent jumping off point for Sea of Cortez or head south towards Banderas Bay with dozens of anchorages with small Mexican beach towns.

One suggestion if you chose someplace further south - the exterior teak on a GB42 would be tough. Also lack of covered outdoor space - flybridge isn't a great proxy for hanging out.

Good luck with whatever you decide

Peter

 

[guy with a boat]

A lot depends on what weather you like.
My answer in order of preference is:
1. PNW/BC to SE Alaska
2. Bahamas and Caribbean
3. Mex/Sea of Cortez
4. Med

Mexico is hot for me/us, and logistics can be difficult (parts, service, etc.). Lots of good things about it also, but the #3 spot for us.
Bahamas and Caribbean is wonderful with lots of variety, and all is warm with warm water. Challenges include weather part of the year, hurricane season, and remoteness (pro and con). The only place there that I tried to get boat parts was the Bahamas and was able to get what I needed shipped to me immediately and easily.
Do your own research into cruising the Med. Rules are different for each country but there are lots of time limitations for foreign boats and people. I haven’t cruised our own boat there but have visited. Once I looked deeper into the details we decided against it. It is still the one of the 4 on the list with which I am least familiar from a cruising standpoint, so take my conclusion with a few grains of salt.
BC and SE Alaska is our #1, for variety, scenery, wildlife, people, accessibility and ability to avoid crowds if desired. I expected to move on after 2/3 seasons but haven’t seen anywhere near everything, and haven’t found another area we would rather be.

 

[CharlieO.]

Puget Sound to Prince William Sound

 

[Mambo42]

We spend most of the year (April - November) in the Eastern Med (Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece and Turkey) and have been doing this now for several years. There are so many islands (several thousand) to visit, so many different cities, villages and archeological sites to see that we will not leave this area.
The western Med (Spain, France, west coast Italy) is not really as protected as our part of the Med, good anchorages in that part are difficult to find and subsequently what is available is very expensive and extrmely crowded.

 

[Hyperion]

The loop is a great trip. We did it on a GB 36 and now own a GB 42.

 

[Uisce Beo]

I'm looking at the same question. My options are fairly broad having both US and EU (Irish) citizenship. We are looking at the Baltic and PNW as neither of us enjoy hot weather. So that rules out Mexico and Bahamas and Carribbean and, for the most part, the Med.
We're going to charter in both places and then try to decide.

 

[Bmarler]

I may be prejudiced, but the whole Alaska, British Columbia, Washington state area can take a lifetime to see thoroughly. Go north in the summer, south in winter. The winter is a little wet, but temps are still reasonable. I grew up in se Alaska and am still in awe of how beautiful it is. British Columbia too. Simply gorgeous.
Washington is where I live now, and have lived aboard for thirty plus years. I simply don't get tired of this area.

 

[Mac2]

The inside passage. Beauty, wildlife, fishing, crabbing, shrimping, year round cruising, 500 miles with endless inlets and islands, and, more importantly, protected waters.

 

[Captain DJ]

Well, having cruised all four of the most oft-recommended locations:

1. The Great Loop (did half NYC to Nashville, clockwise/wrong way)
2. The Caribbean (parts like Cuba, Yucatan, Cayman, Belize, Bahamas, Exumas, etc.)
3. The Sea of Cortez (Gulfo de California)
4. Salish Sea (Puget Sound, Straits of Juan de Fuca, San Juan Islands, Gulf Islands, Sunshine Coast, Desolation Sound, etc.)

I have to add that for us it is all dependent on the time of year you cruise. PNW gets too rainy, cloudy and cool for us half the year and conversely the Caribbean and S.o.C. gets too hot and potentially stormy in Summer. The American Great Loop is not even guaranteed to be our preferred temp during a full one-year cruise (70-80 F or 21-27 C). But I think we are a bit spoiled.

Having read forum contributions of folks that have two boats, one for half the year in PNW and another in more tropical areas for the winter months. Albeit expensive, that seems like "eating the heart of a watermelon to me".

We have a home in San Carlos and decided a center console dinghy on a trailer for Sea of Cortez from early Nov-late May was a good fit for us and then a mid sized pilothouse trawler in Puget Sound worked well for a typical 100-120 day cruise each year. We had a GB 42 Classic when we did the Southern half of the American Great Loop and some island cruises back about 20+ years ago.
We are on the verge of considering selling the Pilothouse Trawler in PNW to upgrade to a REAL Passagemaker designed by Steve Seaton that has already done some Trans Atlantic Voyages. Will keep you posted.
Whichever you decide, there is always lots and lots of prep time and always remember, The Most Dangerous Thing on a vessel is a RIGID Schedule. Always take time to pick your weather wisely. And enjoy every day, even the boring or terrifying ones.

 

[O C Diver]

If you come to the East coast, I can highly recommend wintering in Florida and cruising the Great Lakes in the summer. You won't live long enough (cruising mostly summers) to cruise the Great Lakes, North Channel, Georgian Bay, Lake Champlain, Rideau canal, Trent & Severn canal, and the Erie canal.

Regarding Europe and the Med, I would take a long hard look at all in costs. Between boat, insurance, dockage, repairs, fuel, health care, and traveling between the USA and Europe. I have no idea what the expenses are, but wouldn't want to feel financially handicapped because I hadn't done my do diligence.

Ted

 

[captmikem]

We spend most of the year (April - November) in the Eastern Med (Croatia, Montenegro, Albania, Greece and Turkey) and have been doing this now for several years. There are so many islands (several thousand) to visit, so many different cities, villages and archeological sites to see that we will not leave this area.
The western Med (Spain, France, west coast Italy) is not really as protected as our part of the Med, good anchorages in that part are difficult to find and subsequently what is available is very expensive and extrmely crowded.

I will second this.
Eastern Med would be my choice, so much to see, short trips to many nice places. Turkey and Croatia are especially nice. the whole southern, eastern and northern coast of Turkey have many anchorages and marinas, food is great, People are friendly and many speak english and there so much to see ashore. It is like Greece without all the people and hassles. Northern and southern Cypress are wonderful and Israel has lots to see and do. Western Med is just too crowded and pricy.

I like La Paz and the Sea of Cortez but most folks there become liveaboards and do not go out much, maybe one day a month at the most, too much trouble to get the boat ready or something.

Or if you found a boat for sale in New Zealand, you could easily spend a year or two there cruising, then sell the boat and go someplace else. South Island is fantastic with few people, lots of Fjords and lots to see and do ashore.

Hope you have a great adventure.

M

 

[Bleonard]

If you are in the PACNW which from your post looks like you are...

The place to spend a year cruising is the Sea of Cortez.

Mexico... perfect beaches, great food, and better people is calling your name!

This is where the cruisers all go. Some stay...well many stay right here.

There are lots of TF members here in La Paz, all great friends! I met my wife here years ago now. We have a home, and business here, as well as a permanent slip in Marina De La Paz.

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[Bleonard]

I followed you from Ressurection ay to LaPaz. Impressive feat alone.
Even followed you are Seward area. Headed to Swd next week for our annual (35th consecutive) boys in boats trip for a week. We now have 1 Lyndell 42 and 3 Ocean Sport 30/33 always headed to NW Fijord... not as nice as LaPaz, but what can you say about tradition. Keep your hooks sharp and fare sailing!!.

 

[HuffinandPuffin]

It’s a whole different kind of cruising but the inland waterways of the UK are really fun. You can buy a really nice Narrowboat for around 100k

 

[ksanders]

I followed you from Ressurection ay to LaPaz. Impressive feat alone.
Even followed you are Seward area. Headed to Swd next week for our annual (35th consecutive) boys in boats trip for a week. We now have 1 Lyndell 42 and 3 Ocean Sport 30/33 always headed to NW Fijord... not as nice as LaPaz, but what can you say about tradition. Keep your hooks sharp and fare sailing!!.

Thanks!!!

Right now we are in Santa Barbara California, slowly working our way up the coast back to Alaska.

 

[long-cours.62]

Look at a chart of "Canaux de Patagonie" thousand anchorage; islands ...ok humidity and cold but clearly not a crowed place

 

[PNK]

My favorite is the Maine coast, where there are over 4000 islands to explore, and they are all different. Many are uninhabited or have minimal summer people, but there are also busier spots including Mt. Desert, Monhegan, Vinalhaven, Swans, etc. Great marinas and anchorages all up and down the coast, and amazing builders to visit, especially on the Blue Hill peninsula, where you also have the Wooden Boat School. Good fishing and food almost everywhereWhen the weather starts to turn you could head south- you'll have a lot of company! - since you said the Florida area and the Bahamas also interested you.
Hard to make a bad choice from all these suggestions!
Peter

 

[Ken E.]

Max, the PNW (WA, BC, Ak) has been mentioned above as great cruising grounds. And the summer months, May -> September, are exactly that, with plenty of sun and long days. Winter up here is a different story though especially for boating. Yes, there are hearty souls and well-equipped boats that are out for the winter and like it. But it's dark, damp and cold, and many of us don't share their enthusiasm. I go to Arizona for the winter and SE Alaska for summers, which for us is a great mix.

 

[t/t CVN69]

There's always the traditional E Coast Snowbird scenario.......Bahamas, Keys/Florida, ICW to New England and even hop over to the Canadian Maritimes. You could spend years doing this and still not see it all while staying in comfortable climates. Parts/service won't be an issue, plenty of airports for those coming and going, and did I mention plenty to see and do? The Chesapeake alone can take 3-4 months. A few weeks there each year spring and fall (summers get a but sticky) spread out over several years.... Same with the coast of Maine and points in between. I've done this route professionally and am looking forward to more travels on IKE. Best of luck!

 

[mvweebles]

After watching this thread for a while, I'll change my response(#3) to "wherever you can make it happen with the least amount of time and effort." PNW may be perfect but if you're on the East Coast, it would take a lot more time and money and involve a lot more risk.

Cruising is about living the dream. It's a mindset that can be fulfilling almost anywhere. Don't let external factors hamper the dream.

Peter

 

[Bmarler]

After watching this thread for a while, I'll change my response(#3) to "wherever you can make it happen with the least amount of time and effort." PNW may be perfect but if you're on the East Coast, it would take a lot more time and money and involve a lot more risk.

Cruising is about living the dream. It's a mindset that can be fulfilling almost anywhere. Don't let external factors hamper the dream.

Peter

Completely agree. I’ve never cruised the east coast, but if that’s where I found myself , that’s where I’d cruise. Either coast has a lifetime of possibilities. Add in the loop, Great Lakes, etc. it’s all in what you make of it.