Having retired very young a couple years ago, I’ve been looking for something epic to do–something filled with adventure, daring, beauty and excitement. My long-term goal of climbing K2 collapsed after an acquaintance died there a couple years ago and he was a better climber than I. I am now considering sailing from San Diego to Hawaii and then exploring the islands of Tahiti, Fiji, and thereabouts over a period of several months.
I’ve talked to several friends who’ve made the trip and it all seems do-able and enticing. Problem is, though I am a competent sailor and navigator, I’ve never tackled anything this ambitious–not even close. Obviously, I will have to hire a skipper, and will need an experienced crew. Getting both is rather straightforward, however.
My concern, after inadvisably reading several books in the high-seas disaster genre, is the possibility of a sudden storm, a rogue wave, a boat disaster of some sort or simply running into modern-day pirates and ending up as shark chum. Truth be told, George Clooney’s “Perfect Storm” is giving me some pause, but I hear the south Pacific is usually quite docile and so my plans continue. Hundreds of sailors make this trip every year. I’m considering a steel-hulled boat in the 55-70-foot range. (A friend made a shorter trip in a 39 footer–much too small for my tastes.)
My question: have you any deep ocean cruising experience and, if so, what advice can you give? What kind of rescue support can we expect, if needed? What sights would you recommend? Stories of personality conflicts at sea?