The Plan

My wife and I decided to buy a cruising yacht and go offshore cruising. I had done it once before and dreamed of doing it again. I guess I talked about it enough that she caught the fever, too, so we began to look for the perfect blue water cruising boat.

I had gone cruising before for three years to and through the South Pacific in a Yankee 26 without an engine. It was not a cruising yacht, but a racing boat, light and fast, with a very quick motion that would wear a crew out in short order. It would not stand up very well to strong winds and seas, and the absence of an engine made it risky to visit many destinations, like small atolls with difficult passes.

I wanted something different this time, namely, a real blue water cruiser with an easy motion, moderate displacement, and very strong construction — a cruising yacht we could sail anywhere without worrying about whether it could take it. We also wanted a powerful, reliable diesel engine that could propel us to places that were very difficult or dangerous to navigate under sail alone. We would name the boat the Swan.

After a lot of research into cruising sailboat designs, we decided on the Pacific Seacraft 34, a proven offshore cruising yacht designed by Bill Crealock. With many global voyages to its credit, the Pacific Seacraft 34 seemed the best blue water sailboat for us. All boats are a compromise, but Pacific Seacraft compromised the least in the areas we believed were necessary for accomplishing our particular plans. So, we sold our house and pretty much everything else of value and began looking for one.

This site chronicles the selection, purchase, outfitting and voyages of the Swan. Our first ocean cruise aboard the Swan is planned for March, 2008, to the Marquesas and beyond.

 

Updated 5/4/07

(Updated “Voyages” and added another voyages page: “The Society Islands”)