Members' Online Book: Voyaging Boats from Boréal, Chapter 9 of 20

Boréal 47—An Owner’s Experience

Christopher & Molly Barnes Published Jul 2, 2015 46 comments Updated February 12, 2019

"Sila" in the Chilean Chanels

"Sila" in the Chilean Channels

Eleven years ago, as we got back into sailing on a 35' Cape George Cutter, we hatched a plan to cast off the lines and head for the high latitudes.

Our preparations included sailing to meet John and Phyllis to talk "ideal boat", reading this website, taking a few courses, and stretching ourselves a bit further on our sailing vacations each summer. We also started thinking about a new and bigger boat.

On John's recommendation, we ended up visiting the Boréal yard in France and going for a sail. Soon after, we hired Colin (saving us a lot of time, money, and hassle) to help us draft our specifications and navigate the process of having a boat built on another continent.

Cast-Offs

Jump ahead a few years, we have cast off from our prior life, and now have 23,000 nautical miles, over the last 21 months, under the keel of Sila, our Boréal 47.

To continue reading login (scroll down) or:

Learn About Membership

Or

CLICK HERE to get to know us for free.

Book Chapter Navigation:

<< John and Phyllis Visit Boréal

“Eala Bhan” Sails Home—The Maiden Voyage of The Boréal 55 >>

Please Share

Meet the Author

Christopher & Molly Barnes

Christopher and Molly Barnes, and their two boys Porter and Jack, have just completed a 30,000-mile circumnavigation of South America in their Boréal 47, Sila, including cruising South Georgia—one of the toughest cruising grounds in the world. Not only do they write well, they are also acknowledged experts on risk management and motivating children, having founded and run a successful wilderness school for young people.

46 comments… add one

You must log in to post a comment. Log in now.

:comment notifications via e-mail. You can also get notifications without commenting.

≡ Menu

© 2002 – 2020 Attainable Adventure Cruising Ltd and the authors, all rights are reserved.

Nothing on this website or in direct communications received from us, or in our articles in the media, should be construed to mean or imply that offshore voyaging is anything other than potentially hazardous. Dangers such as, but not limited to, extreme weather, cold, ice, lack of help or assistance, gear failure, grounding, and falling overboard could injure or kill you and wreck your boat.

Decisions such as, but not limited to, heading offshore, where you go, and how you equip your boat, are yours and yours alone. The information on this web site is based on what has worked for the authors in the past, but that does not mean it will work for you, or that it is the best, or even a good way for you to do things.