Our two year anniversary meant that I wanted to go back over our previous posts on statistics and see how we’ve done. There are some nice easy figures here that speak for themselves and others that need a little explanation. Easy ones first then:
- Total trip so far number of weeks – 104
- Total trip so far number of days- 730
- Distance covered (nautical miles)- 10,810
- Total days sailed on- 224 (31% of total days)
- Total nights on passage at sea- 88 (12% of total days)
- Total number of nights in marinas- 235 (32% of total days: 140 in yr 2, 95 in yr 1)
- Total number of nights at anchor – 407 (56% of total days: 203 in yr 2, 204 in yr 1)
- Total nights spent away from boat- 86 (12% of total days: 79 in yr 2, 7 in yr 1)
- Total engine hours- 994 (427 in yr 2, 567 in yr 1)
- Total number of places stopped at- 148
- Total number of anchorages- 134
- Number of countries / principalities- 26
- Total number of times aground – 2 (in yr 1)
- Total number of dragging incidents – 2 (in yr 1)
- Total number of collisions – 1 (in yr 1)
- Total number of sails damaged – 2 (in yr 1)
- Number of babies had – 1
- Number of Mexicans living aboard – 1
- Number of transoceanic canals – 1
- Number of dinghies set fire to – 1
Ok, so some of these are a bit silly but all true. Interesting to see that we’ve spent the same number of nights at sea as we have done off the boat. The huge leaps in marina nights and nights away from the boat are a direct result of having our first child this year. Also, fingers crossed, we’ve not been quite so drama-filled this year as groundings, collisions and sail-ripping incidents haven’t increased. And, surprisingly, even though it felt like all we did was motor this year, we actually had more engine hours in year 1. Also, I hasten to add, that the setting fire to the dinghy incident was very much accidental. It’s important to note that floating paper fire lanterns and beautiful anchorages at New Year are a bad combination…
How did we make out on the money side of things?
- Total average weekly spend on living expenses – £171.50 = £8,918pa (2 people) (£172 yr 2 £171 yr 1)
- Total average weekly spend boat maintenance, kit & insurances – £100 = £5,200pa (£89 yr 2 £111 yr 1)
- Total average weekly spend – £357.50 = £18,590pa (£402 yr 2 £313 yr 1)
The figures for living costs cover all our food provisions, eating out, household groceries, clothes and general travel expenses. It also covers all our fuel costs, standard marina costs, customs and country cruising permit charges, and charts and navigational aids. Boat maintenance covers anything spent out on the boat, things that were replaced, upgraded or required materials to mend.
The total spend includes everything else. Year two has some fairly major ‘everything elses’ such as the medical costs associated with having our baby girl in Mexico including the extra marina time, travel and accommodation needed and the various bits of paperwork for her dual citizenship; our transit of the Panama canal; a new (ish) computer and a new headsail.
Why are these figures important? Well, we’re doing this purely for the experiential value of the journey and it helps immensely in working out if we can keep going for another year (or two, or three!) to have a precise understanding of what we need to keep us going.
It may prove controversial to be so open about our expenditure. However, I find it really interesting that most people outside of the cruising community think of the sailing life as very glamorous and exotic. The reality, for us at least, is that it’s a lifestyle that is only sustainable with a lot of hard work and keeping a close eye on the pennies. But, as an experience, it’s proven to be exceptional value for money.