I Would Like Some Opinions/ideas

[Greenante]

I am 16 and would like to sail in the pacific during a gap year 2012-2013. This will sound silly but lately a few peple i know went on gap years and see a bit of the worls and it is something i want to do before a get "square". i have done a lot of dinghy sailing and i am starting to get onto yachts wait the aim of gaining a yachtmaster it is a much tougher task than dinghy sailing but the main idea remains the same. i know i will need experance etc to go on such a trip. i have jookely put the idea to a friend of my dads who owns a 50ft live aboard iif i could use his boat. sailing is something i am passionate about. i love being out on the water. i know to many of you this may seem an absurd idea but i am determed to make it happen. i would like some feed back/opions.

ps sorry for bad grammer etc its not a strong point. i hope you can make sense of it.

[MMNETSEA]

Greenante



I guess from your post that you are presently a student somewhere on the West coast of Wales, UK.

The plan to spend your 'gap year' sailing in the Pacific needs a little filling out :-

To start with, you will need to think through and define the purpose; you will need a budget plan; a starting point and a destination; the type of sailboat; will you be unpaid crew or will you pay to charter or will you be the skipper on your own boat.

As your 'gap year' is still a year away. Good advice would be a reason to research libraries, the internet, yacht clubs and sailing schools in your area etc.. - remembering that sailing an offshore sailboat requires more than knowledge and the experience of sailing, but the ability to maintain, diagnose and repair if possible, all equipment and systems aboard the modern sailboat.

[delatbabel]

I would say do it. Do your research first, get your experience up and study the coursework & theory required for RYA offshore yachtmaster / coastal skipper (they are the same theory). Learn a bit about diesel engines or electricals and you should be fine. Most skippers, assuming they have other crew on board, will be happy to take you after a bit of a trial run. I know I'd prefer an enthusiastic newcomer over a seasoned pain-in-the-*** any day.