Round the world: the last word?

Everyone’s dream, a real change of lifestyle – there is just one way of obtaining it: by ‘going all the way round’, completing the adventure and succeeding in coming back to your departure point, thus proving that the world really is round. Sailing round the world is a dream, an objective; for certain people, it is a reason to live.

Changing your life... An aim for more and more of our contemporaries, tired of having to chase time and not seeing their children grow up. The aim: To live, to sail, with no other constraints than those we fix ourselves. To discover the world, have some nice encounters and above all, enjoy life, quite simply.
But nowadays sailing round the world is not reserved for millionaires or experienced sailors.

Round the world : the last word ?

The crossings (Atlantic, Pacific, Indian...) will remain etched in your memory. Under spinnaker (or gennaker), downwind, all you have to do is enjoy them!

The Atlantic

However let’s be clear: sailing round the world is a real adventure. It is no longer a question of a bit of eyeball navigation between the islands, but one of completing a full circuit of the earth. You don’t leave for a voyage like this without being well prepared. The skipper and his or her crew must bear in mind what awaits them: A minimum of three years – but five years is ideal for enjoying it to the full and taking the time to discover the wonders which surround us, at your own rhythm. On a round the world voyage, there are stopovers in some wonderful islands, but also crossings of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, before returning via the dreaded Cape of Good Hope. A real high seas itinerary, which requires you to have a boat in top condition and perfectly maintained. In return for which, a round the world trip is perfectly feasible. The only obligation is to be in the right places at the right periods.
We start with the Atlantic, often the first big crossing the crew will have to face. Leaving from Europe, and before tackling the actual Atlantic crossing between the Canaries and the West Indies, you will have to cross the Bay of Biscay. To avoid very bad weather, it is best to leave between May and the end of August. If you are leaving from the Mediterranean, you will have to cross the Golfe du Lion at the right moment. Between May and October ideally, by keeping an eye on the weather, you will be able to cross it safely and head for Gibraltar, then the Canaries. Once in the Canaries, you will have to wait for the official end of the hurricane season (November) before you set off. But over these last few years, we have seen some very violent phenomena at the end of November, and even in December. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, it’s best to leave at the beginning of December, to arrive in the West Indies for Christmas. What better gift could you offer your crew? As we have seen in the previous pages, the West Indies can easily delay you for several years. Here you can sail from Grenada to the Bahamas, following a string of wonderful islands. And what can we say about the coast of Central America? Mexico, Belize, Venezuela, San Blas, Guyana... There is something to suit all tastes, and once again more than enough to spend a lifetime there. It will take you at least one or two years to get to know this cruising paradise well. And while cruising in ...

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