"The first one is about what the point of going is in the first place. Think less about costs and more about your experience - for many people an Atlantic circuit will be a once in a lifetime experience, so although you don't want the project to be financially ruinous, you also don't want to penny-pinch the fun out of your time afloat."
"Examples of little luxuries we allowed ourselves included hiring cars to explore the places we landed, eating out and staying in marinas more often than many of our cruising friends (our daughter loved running up and down the pontoons making friends with other families). In our view, you can be in the middle of Caribbean paradise but if you're stuck eating old provisions, in a rolly anchorage and unable to tour the island, you probably won't be having fun."
Sailing an Atlantic crossing requires commitment, action, and careful financial planning. Significant time and spreadsheets were used to budget for a year away and a partial crossing to Florida before selling the boat. Budgets will differ, but prioritizing experience over rigid cost-cutting preserves enjoyment. Small luxuries such as hiring cars, eating out, and staying in marinas can enhance family enjoyment and social opportunities. Being frugal to the point of missing island tours or enduring poor provisioning reduces the value of the trip. Travelers should either accept drawing down savings or generate income to offset costs and avoid false economies.
Read at Yachting Monthly
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