Sailing Around the World: Discovering the Beauty of the Seas
The thought of sailing around the world alone, with nothing between you and the open sea is a romantic one. An adventurous and thrilling journey that can take months or even years to complete can bring about newfound perspectives, newfound strength and newfound understanding of the world around us. Taking a sabbatical to explore and discover the beauty of the seas can often be the single most life-changing experience of a person’s life. So, set your sails and let’s dive into the wonderful world of sailing around the world and learn what makes this journey so special.
Why Sail Around the World?
Sailing around the world offers many unique benefits. Whether you’re looking to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of daily life and unplug on your own escapade or looking to broaden your horizons in new ways, the seas have something for everyone. Here are some of the most rewarding benefits of sailing around the world.
• A Chance to Reconnect with Nature: Even if you’ve been out to sea before, there’s nothing quite like spending months alone out in open waters, unwinding and taking in the beauty of the horizon, the stars in the night sky, and waves crashing nearby. The journey is an opportunity to reconnect with nature.
• Opportunities for Adventure, Exploration, and Education: A journey around the world is a great opportunity to explore and discover many unchartered lands and their cultures and customs, as well as educational and fascinating historical sites, as you make your way around the world.
• A New Understanding of Self: Even if you’ve been out to sea before, a voyage like this helps you learn, grow, and have a newfound understanding of self. This can be a great way to face your fears and come out a better, more capable person.
• Physical and Mental Growth: Spending months alone at sea will require physical stamina and mental tenacity. One of the best things about this kind of journey is that it can be both physically and mentally demanding, helping to build your strength, resilience and independence.
• Meeting New People and Making New Friends: Although a voyage around the world may be a solo venture, you can and will meet new people and even forge new friendships while you’re out there.
Getting Started on Your Journey
Even if you’re a veteran sailor, embarking on such a long and unique voyage requires certain preparations and precautions if you’re to stay safe and make the most out of your adventure. Here you’ll find a few tips to help you get ready for your journey.
• Get a Boat: To fully enjoy your journey and make the most out of it without any surprises, you’ll need to do some careful research and find a suitable boat. That will depend on your expected route, as well as the amount of time you plan to stay out in the open sea.
• Learn the Ropes: Even skilled sailors should take the time to review the basics of navigation and sailing before heading out. Making sure to revisit your knowledge about boat maintenance, weather patterns and navigation will not only ensure your safety, but will make the journey more enjoyable.
• Secure Your Itinerary: Before taking off, it’s a good idea to have a general idea of the route you plan to take. This will not only help you stay safe, but will also help you plan out what to pack and get the necessary visas and permits if need be.
• Get the Necessary Gear: To take full advantage of this unique experience, you’ll want not only to make sure you pack the right items, but also that you have the right gear. Make sure you have all your necessities covered, including a well-stocked first aid kit, tools, navigation and communication devices and more.
• Allow Yourself Time to Adjust: Don’t expect to feel completely comfortable at sea right away, you’ll likely feel a bit overwhelmed at first. Don’t be too hard on yourself, allow yourself time to adjust and you’ll eventually find your sea legs.
Sailing Alone or with Others
Embarking on such a voyage also requires making a few decisions, one of which is to decide if you want to take on the challenge alone or in a group. Both have their own advantages, so here are some of the pros and cons to consider when making the call.
Sailing Alone
• Pros: Sailing alone is a very intimate experience and can help you better connect with nature and gain a newfound understanding of yourself. It also allows you to make decisions independently, sail at your own pace and budget, and makes traversing certain areas easier.
• Cons: Safety is a major factor when sailing alone, so you’ll be more vulnerable to certain dangers as you can’t count on a backup if you find yourself in trouble. Long-distance communication is also more difficult when you’re alone, so you may end up feeling lonely or isolated at certain points.
Sailing with Companions
• Pros: Sailing with people who share the same passions and interests is probably the safest way to go about such a long voyage, as long as you pick the right people for the task. You can pool your money to fund the trip and share the workload and it’s easier to stay connected and in touch with loved ones.
• Cons: A shared voyage can get complicated from a financial, physical and emotional point of view, so it’s important to correspond with everyone to ensure everyone is aware of the risks and can accept any potential pitfalls. You also won’t have as much independence as you would when sailing alone.
Tips for Sailing Around the World
Once you’ve decided to take on the challenge of sailing around the world, here are a few tips that should come into play in order to make the most out of your journey.
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Know your limits: Respect the sea’s power and spend some time researching the places you’re visiting. Knowing how to prepare for bad weather or dealing with dangerous currents takes time and practice, so know your limits and when to call for backup.
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Think ahead: To make the most out of your sailing experience, make sure you think ahead and do your research. Look for interesting destinations, customs, and cultures and plan accordingly.
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Budget wisely: A journey like this requires a lot of planning and doesn’t come cheap. Be sure to plan ahead and create a budget that will help you when it comes to making decisions and sticking to the itinerary.
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Stay healthy: Eating healthy, exercising and getting enough rest will keep you strong and alert while sailing around the world. Make sure to stock up on nutritious foods and drink plenty of water as you go.
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Take your time: The best part of sailing around the world is having the opportunity to take in all the breathtaking sites and discovering new cultures and people with no rush. Who knows, you may even find one of the most breathtaking sights yet.
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Share your story: Nothing can beat the joy of reconnecting with land after several months or even years out in the open sea. Documenting your journey, taking pictures and writing about your adventures is a great way to make sure that you’ll never forget them.
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Prepare for the unexpected: Preparing for the unexpected is key in a journey like this. Have a plan in case of emergency, think ahead and have contingencies in case something goes wrong.
A journey around the world is an experience like no other: an opportunity to explore the open seas and discover the unknown. There are a myriad of advantages to such a unique experience, not just the rewarding physical and mental growth such a voyage brings, but also the opportunity to discover whole new cultures and make a connection with nature. Of course, activities like sailing around the world require utmost safety and preparation, but with the right attitude and an eye for the unexpected, your voyage around the world will be one of the most remarkable and inspiring adventures yet.