Preparation - Pacific Crossing Notes: A Sailor's Guide to the Coconut Milk Run - page 9

Get Set…
Too many people expect to simply buy a boat and sail off into the sunset, but there's noth-
ing simple about it - a lesson that becomes all too clear in mid-ocean. We've seen the sad
remnants of other people's dreams rotting away in marinas around the world, often at the
first port of call after a major crossing. That's why we strongly recommend buying and
sailing the boat you will cruise on for at least a year before setting off on your grand adven-
ture. Every boat has its own history, its own quirks, and its own aching joints. For your
own safety and peace of mind, you should get to know a boat before you sail away from
the safety net of home.
We owned our boat for eighteen months before we set sail and look back on that cycle of
seasons as one of our most valuable learning experiences - a time in which we learned to
walk before we ran. Over those months, we completed several short passages and made
countless repairs that helped us get to know our boat - not just superficially, but deep down
at the bottom of lockers, up the mast, and under the keel. The mistakes we made and les-
sons learned helped get our first cruise off to a good start. We discovered what our tool box
lacked and bought what we needed while still in a familiar place stocked with parts. We
also discovered that the aging engine that had checked out beautifully in our pre-purchase
survey was developing problems - and that replacement parts were no longer manufac-
tured. In a year of weekends and short vacations, we bashed knuckles and toes, dragged an-
chor once or twice, and soaked in many a contemplative sunset. Generally, we learned to
call her home. Eventually, our “patience” (though at the time, I felt anything but patient)
paid off in two enjoyable long-range cruises.
Putting in overtime on boat work