40
“If only there was an ocean, it’d be perfect here!”
We’ve all heard it, and more than likely we’ve all said
it at one point or another. Arizona is undeniably one
of the most beautiful states in the nation (magazine
dedicated to our highways? Check.) but in spite of it
all, the siren’s song will sometimes grows so loud that
we need to trade saguaros for the sea.
But then you arrive at the shore, only to look out on
the horizon at those big boats cruising off to ports
unknown. Suddenly even the nicest patch of beach
begins to lose its luster. What’s it like out there? Amplifying
this question is the kid flinging sand into the
breeze, seagulls stalking your snacks, and, due to our
determination to live forever and make sure nobody
has any fun, you had to leave the single malt with
your cigar back in the car.
Who hasn’t felt that desire for freedom and escape?
It runs deep in our psyche, and leaving it all behind
land is one of the finest ways I’ve found to bring
peace to that part of our soul.
However, as experienced sailors can attest, being able
to buy a yacht and being able to use and care for
one are two very different things. A great start is to
wander the marina and strike up a conversation with
someone on the docks (e.g. “Beautiful boat! Thinking
about getting something similar. What do you
love/hate about it?”). But at some point, just as you
hire a real estate pro when buying or selling a home,
the same wisdom applies to the yacht world.
Deciding what you want to get out of yachting is one
of the first and most important questions you need
to ask yourself, says Jeff Carson, a yacht broker with
Marine Servicecenter in Seattle.“Do you want to see
tons of places? Do you have a limited time and need
a go-fast power boat? Or are you retired and living in
Arizona, looking to escape the heat of summer,
and want to go cruising or see the last wilderness
of Alaska,” asks Mr. Carson. All good considerations,
lest your Navy of one becomes confined to
a slip in the marina.
Health considerations should also be taken into account.
If you have knee or shoulder problems you may
want to look more at power boating, given the physical
demands of sailing, suggests Mr. Carson. Cranking on
winches to raise and lower sails, the coordinated chaos
of being “rail meat” (those guys and gals leaning over
the side are counterbalancing the lean of the boat a.k.a.
its “heel”), and other on-deck and maintenance activities
can take their toll after a while.
Floating in a “best of both worlds” space between the
raw physicality of a mono-hulled sailboat and the
pushbutton luxury of a power yacht are catamarans.
“Cats,” as they’re called, look like two sailboats in one.
They can offer spacious luxurious interiors and perks
like electronically adjustable sail trim and remote autopilot
for easy sailing. And when the weather gets
nasty you can be sealed up inside, comfortably motoring
back to a port as you might on a power yacht.
Mr. Carson adds that cats are more stable because
they keep two hulls in the water, allowing them
to sail flatter. This means your beer tends to
stay where you put it instead of falling overboard
while underway. And deck space is more usable
and easier to walk on without the heel a monohull
would have in motion.
As usual, comfort comes at a cost, and Mr. Carson
floats a few ballpark prices suggesting that a 40’
monohull might range from $250,000-300,000,
a similarly outfitted catamaran would be in the
$480,000-500,000 range.
So now what? You’ve chosen a boat, you’re both
Ready to channel your inner admiral? Here’s how, plus three
locations and captain profiles to inspire your next weekend getaway
or set sail for a adventure of a lifetime. -By Kevin Greaney
When is a rope not a rope?
When we sail we call it a “line.”