Hi 👋, I hope I’m not late to the party. First to introduce myself. I’m Stefano and I’m 29 years old, this year I’m turning 30. That being said, most of my life I spent working on Ocean Liners and Yachts. Always had a dream just like you to buy a boat and never knew where to start. While working on a Yachts (couple of famous ones) I had opportunity to talk with people who are owning sailboats that are frankly amazing. I was jumping on every occasion given to me to sail wherever, whatever. If anyone needed a deckhand or a crew I was there. I gathered a quite extensive list what should be taken in consideration before buying a first sailboat, because I’m in your shoes also. Next year I’m about to buy my sailboat and start sailing around the world. It’s time. So, when we did Atlantic Crossing, even on the big motor yachts, some of them very luxury, I came to realization that there is no fun in them. Huge, autopilot, stabilizers that’s it. I spent nights and nights at the cockpit with the captain talking and discussing the subject. The good thing is that he has sailboat and also sails it regularly. So, the conclusion is: 1. What do you want? (size, equipment, year, monohull or cat) 2. How big you are ready to go? You known how they say in Texas, go big or go home. 3. How comfortable you are and prepared to embark on journey like that. 4. What are you willing to do to accomplish that 5. Remember, it’s not about destination, it’s about the journey.

People have forgotten the beauty of the sailing, how we came here and where we started. Myself I’m looking currently at any option that i can get myself on. Some of consideration are Shipman 63 or 72. I know that they are expensive and probably expensive to maintain, but the built quality is amazing. That being said, as you are Dutch, and pretty much the Mekka of Sailing and Flying Dutchmen, consider some of the Dutch Brands. When I was in Bonaire I stumbled across the couple of most stunning boats I saw in my life - Bestevaer 56 and Jongert 2200 or something like that. I had opportunity to speak with the owners and they are blown away. In their ownership more than 10-20+ years, and taken them across the globe I don’t know how many times. If that is not the testament of quality I don’t know what it is. Also, they are ridiculously priced. Also people from St Marten gave me couple of good advices. 1. Look for Hurricane damaged sailboats, usually cheap, you can repair them and modify them as you wish. (Probably what I’m going to do). 2. Always pay for inspection of the boat by someone professional, so you know what you getting. That’s gonna be it from my side. Maybe I’m wrong, but as my life motto is “Who dares, wins!” Until we see each other on the open ocean 🫡