follow me as i attempt to sail around the world
follow me as I attempt to sail around the world on board my Lagoon 46 sailing catamaran called Reality commissioned in 2022
About ME
The reality of living full-time on a sail boat.
Follow me on board Reality as I sail the world (hopefully) on my Lagoon 46 sailing catamaran.
Ditching the normal nine to five grind of suburban life. I have sold my home and a large part of my business to fulfil my childhood dream of adventure on the high seas.
With little to no sailing experience. After five years of meticulous research, preparation and lots of learning. I am finally ready to head for the salty seas on the 18th of June 2023.
I want this to be a creative channel, for like minded people, where I share the trials and tribulations of full time live-aboard on a sail boat, as I learn the ropes.
With my triumphs and failures (and I'm sure there will be many) as I approach 60 I hope to entertain and maybe even inspire but my only concern is "Have I left it too late?".
Happy sailing
Gary
The purchase of Reality and why
Now at the age of 60 and for as long as I can remember I was always interested with anything to do with the sea, my father kept marine fish and watched anything on TV to do with oceans and marine life, such as Jacques Yves Cousteau and Sir David Attenborough . In my mid 20s i became the chairman of a local private dive club Safe and Sound based in the UK. If I wasn't working you would find me in the sea diving somewhere or at the Walnuts Leisure Centre in Orpington Kent my home town where I was born teaching adults and children how to dive. With 600 dives under my belt I intend to continue this amazing way of seeing what lies under the Ocean I'm sailing on. I've been very fortunate to have dived the red sea on many occasions as well as many places in the Mediterranean Caribbean Indonesia the UK the Pacific the Atlantic and the Indian ocean. with 200 wreck dives 100 drift dives and a few hundred reef dives.
SV Reality is a Lagoon 46 Catamaran built in Bordeaux France . Lagoon is part of Groupe Beneteau and the largest yacht builder in the world with almost 6000 Lagoon Catamarans built to date and hundreds of thousands of other yachts such as monohulls sports and super yachts. They also own a number of other well known brands such as Jeanneau Prestige Excess to name a few . The first CATAMARAN was built in 1984 by the group known as Lagoon . The range today starts at 40 feet and ends at 77 feet although they did build 38 foot catamarans at one point so at 46 feet SV Reality is one of the smaller catamarans that Lagoon build. However she is the most popular. The first Lagoon 46 to be built was in 2019 now having almost 500 built counting Reality. Reality is hull number 275 . She is very popular for private ownership but she shines in the charter market as one of the very best available for luxury live aboard for her size . The charter version has 4 double cabins with their own ensuite and the private market like SV Reality is an owner version 3 double cabins with their own ensuite and this means the starboard side is just for the owner and is more suited to full time live aboard.
I commissioned the build of Reality in mid 2020 during the covid period with a 1 year estimated build time. She arrived in the UK in late November 2021 on the Hamble River in Swanwick Marina at Ancasta International Boat Sales head office a little late due to covid issues in the supply chain. She was delivered from Les Sables-D'Olonne La Rochelle France by Tim Ball. Here she went through 6 months off upgrades to make her a full time liveaboard sailing vessel and long distance cruising yacht .
WHY I CHOSE A LAGOON 46 CATAMARAN....
When it comes to Private sailing yacht ownership there are really only 3 types off yachts Monohull's Catamarans and Trimarans the last two known as multi hulls , they all have benefits and disadvantages over each other. There are also many types of power yachts including catamarans. On this blog I'm referring to sailing yachts. There is no right or wrong here. For me the Catamaran is the most comfortable at anchor as the Trimaran sails the quickest and still retains good storage and lots of good space for on board comfortable living. The monohull in most cases but not always is the cheapest to buy and cheapest in Marina fees and many sail very well especially up wind with good storage lower down in the bilges. The mono hull comes in a few different lay outs such as the centre cockpit deck saloon and rear cockpit and motor sailor a combination of a sailing and motoring yacht. Although most modern sailing yachts nowadays come with an engine or engines and can be used as a sailing boat or as a motor boat or used in combination , the difference is a motor sailor is geared around the use of its engine and the sails are used only as a way of gaining some extra power from the wind the main source of power is from the engine. The mast is normally shorter with smaller sails and on many the hull shape is designed for more lower space below and most have a large bridge deck covered saloon with a higher boom. But whatever boat you chose and why , i suggest you do the research and research some more and then a little more. This took me over 2 years before i made my final decision . Unfortunately for me most of my research was carried out during covid and viewings were limited or non excitant. I was able to view a few new catamaran's such as the Lagoon 42 and 46 the Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 and Saona 47. Most of my research was carried out on line. Watching you tube video's and there are thousands to study and get a feel for what you might want. The best way to find out what you might want or not want on a sailing yacht is to go to one of the many boat shows. The Southampton international boat show the closest to me was counselled due to covid. The next year it was opened and a great show with most of the popular boat brands in display. Another important thing to do is to go sailing on the different types before you make any type of choice. For me i already knew that i suffered sea sickness from sailing on mono hulls but other people I've meet over the years have been fine on a mono hull but felt sick on a catamaran. Budget and maintenance cost must also be taken in to account when choosing a boat and how are you going to fund it.. The type of equipment you would like and want on board , these are sometimes as expensive as the cost of the yacht itself. And are you short handed sailing or single handed sailing , if so the lines running back to the cockpit would be advisable. Remember research research research. Joining Facebook sailing groups is all so something i found helpful.
80% of the time whilst sailing the world i will be on anchor or in marinas so comfort was very important me , plus Reality will be my home for many years so i wanted lots off space , and room for when i have guest on board. The Lagoon 46 is manageable short handed.
Reality although fitted out extensively for long distance ocean passages is by no means anything more than a production boat built by the hundreds and a similar high performance Catamaran would cost 2 or 3 times more. I have sailed a handful of Monohulls and have suffered seasickness on all of them. After sailing Reality nearly 2600 nautical miles i have only suffered once and that was as we left the UK on our first night passing the Needles off Isle of White in very heavy seas. Lots of knowledgeable people will tell you that the the Lagoon range is no more than a floating condominium. And lacks performance when it comes to sailing. Although there are many faster catamarans on the market at the same length , they are twice the price and more with far less living space that are built around speed and performance. We are sailing at 9 knots in 18 knots apparent wind whilst on our way to Mallorca on a broad reach whilst i type this blog. I'm not racing around the world I'm cruising at a comfortable pace with comfort in mind .
OVERALL AND IN MY OPPINION the Lagoon 46 is value ( if there can be such a thing with yachts ) compared to other production catamaran builders. They are comfortable at anchor and underway they are stable under sail compared to monohulls they sail relatively well and hold there price. In fact your struggle to find a used one , and if you do its probably sold waiting a survey. The brand is recognised world wide for warranty repairs and servicing. Parts used that are not factory built are brands that are also recognised world wide and will ship parts globally. She is also fitted with twin Yanmar diesel engines the best marine engines ever built in my opinion. Other production Catamarans are not .
COMMISSIONING REALITY
Reality was commissioned in March 2022 after 10 days sea trials around the Jurassic south coast in the UK by myself and Tony Clark from Sailing Gurus www.sailinggurus.com with only a few minor issues needing attention .
1ST HOME BERTH
On May 20th 2022 she was moved from the Swan wick Marina on the Hamble river Southampton waters in the UK over to Guernsey for customs clearance , then down to Cartagena Spain her 1st home berth with the help of Tony Clarke , Oliver Browne , Lee Sales , David Brown my younger brother and myself .
2ND HOME BERTH MONTENEGRO
From August of 2023 Reality will have a 1 year home berth in Porto Montenegro. However she will spend September in Croatia before returning .
.
Learning the ropes
Follow my journey from an almost complete novice Sailor to eventually (hopefully) sailing around the world on board SV Reality.
I estimate this will take me between 7 to 10 years.
My Mission
I want this website to be for like minded people. Where i can share the trials and tribulations of full time live-aboard on a sail boat, as I sail around the world sharing my experiences as I go.
Hopefully learning and inspiring in equal amounts.
.
.jpg/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:370,cg:true)
