| In five years, you could sail 2,500 miles in 12 beautiful | | | | Yacht, you can choose the yacht manufacturer. |
| cruising grounds across the world. You could sail 11 | | | | Sailtime's programme, for example, is targeted at the |
| different types of boat - and not do a single piece of | | | | typical UK sailing pattern - weekends, overnights and |
| maintenance! The key to this sailors' dream might be | | | | channel hopping. |
| signing up for an ownership scheme. | | | | Unlike a property mortgage, the monthly repayments |
| Look at taking beginner's keelboat sailing courses and | | | | on a loan are fixed, and any variation in interest rates |
| then have a look at your options... | | | | results in either extending or shortening the |
| Under an ownership scheme, the company charters | | | | repayment period. A fixed monthly repayment |
| your yacht for five and a half years (six seasons), | | | | certainly helps budgeting, and over the period of the |
| and during this time you get a percentage of the | | | | contract, income from chartering more or less funds |
| charter income. You are of course also entitled to a | | | | the repayments. Costs for holidays, therefore, are air |
| number of weeks sailing each year - either on your | | | | fares, provisioning and restaurants. |
| own boat or on an equivalent one anywhere in the | | | | WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT? |
| world, which includes the most popular cruising | | | | A contract often has an additional week at the end |
| grounds in the world. | | | | of the contract to inspect the yacht before |
| So why join the scheme? You can a) spend holidays | | | | accepting her. Get any defects put right, apart from |
| sailing in Turkey and the Greek Islands, b) develop | | | | reasonable wear and tear. |
| your sailing skills, c) explore the Med and decide | | | | A major concern is the condition of the boat. Do |
| where you want to base the boat long-term, and d) | | | | have surveys. It MAY save you a big bill and it WILL |
| purchase the boat over time. | | | | give you peace of mind. Be there during the survey. |
| There are various ownership programmes. The basic | | | | Follow the surveyor around, ask questions, take |
| economics are similar: the company charters the | | | | notes - unless you're already an expert, you'll learn a |
| yacht and provides you with an income that roughly | | | | lot. Putting the boat in slings for an hour is half the |
| covers the repayments on an 80% marine mortgage | | | | price of a full haul-out - useful if she is going back in |
| on the yacht. The major difference is the number of | | | | the water anyway. |
| days sailing (and the places you can go). Its important | | | | Be systematic - walk the boat from bow to stern |
| to decide on what you want before joining one of | | | | and try everything. You will probably be faced with a |
| these programmes. | | | | combination of repair jobs and missing inventory |
| Sunsail and The Moorings give you sailing all around | | | | items. Therefore, don't plan to sail off into the sunset |
| the world, but you are limited to two yacht | | | | at the end of the week. There could be lots of |
| manufacturers with charter company standard | | | | boats going through'end of contract' at the end of |
| specifications. Top Yacht and the Sailtime schemes | | | | the season - there will inevitably be a list ofjobs to |
| cater for single-location sailing (Turkey and the UK), | | | | be done over the winter. |
| but you can choose the specification and, with Top | | | | |