When I first started looking at sailboats, I knew nothing about them. Which make and model should I get, what size should I get, and what features should I look for? But most importantly, I thought I needed to purchase a bluewater sailboat because I wanted to sail around the world like many of us dream of. The reality can be far from that and maybe you won’t set out for a circumnavigation and instead might sail around the Carribean. Along the way, you might realize that you don’t even need a bluewater boat in the end.

What is a bluewater sailboat? This is something I wondered about when I first started researching it. A Bluewater sailboat is a boat designed and built to sail long distances offshore, be self-sufficient, and able to withstand heavy weather. When you are crossing oceans, your vessel needs to be able to carry large quantities of fuel, water, and food. Storage space becomes extremely important, which many smaller weekend sailboats lack. It also needs to be able to hold up to large seas and the constant strain of sailing; the rigging will get tested. In general, it should be of heavy displacement with a full keel and a protected rudder. It also needs to be energy sufficient, as there are no marinas with full hookups out in the ocean, so solar panels or a wind generator are necessary.

I really got caught up in trying to check all of those boxes while searching for the “Perfect” sailboat. It didn’t take long to realize that these types of boats were also more expensive and out of my budget. Instead, I started looking for something to get me started that would be comfortable enough to accommodate my partner and I as full-time liveaboards. I am so glad I did this.

Bluewater is great, but not necessarily needed, because if you are new to sailing, let’s be honest, you probably won’t sail across an ocean right away. I first purchased my Hunter 33 in 2018 and managed to sail all the way from Lake Erie in the Great Lakes to the Bahamas, and spent many seasons there. I even know of people who crossed the Atlantic Ocean with it. We got caught up in crazy squalls and seas with our sailboat, and it held up.

It is hard to know what features you need when you first start sailing, and personally, I believe that you might as well just get started with something cheap and upgrade later once you actually know what you want and need. In 2022, we purchased a larger and heavier sailboat, a C&C Landfall 43; we were now a family of 4. It is not what you would call a bluewater sailboat by any means. However, over the 7 years in the boating/ cruising world, we have concluded that boats of all sorts cross oceans. Some will be more comfortable than others without doubt. With the Hunter 33 I first had, waves and head wind would drastically affect how it sailed. The sailboat would slow down and bounce around a lot more. On the other hand, the C&C Landfall 43 is much less affected and can carry its speed much better. Think about the same size of waves on a kayak versus a cruise ship. It isn’t the same experience.

Sometimes it can be easy to get caught up in the technicalities and planning, and we quickly start overthinking. We’ve met families of 5 sailing in a 35-foot wooden sailboat who completed a circumnavigation in 11 years. Remember, your first boat is most likely not going to be your last if you enjoy it. And the ocean crossing you are dreaming about might be a few years down the road, and for many not at all. We have sailed the Bahamas for 5 years now, sailed down the US East Coast twice, made it to the Turks and Caicos Islands, and now the Dominican Republic, and have experienced all sorts of weather from bomb cyclones, lightning strikes, tornadoes, squalls, and rages. Not only is the boat choice important, but also your mental readiness. Get out there, but don’t be reckless either; watch for the weather carefully and maintain your sailboat well. Get to know it. We haven’t crossed an ocean yet and are truly enjoying sailing around the Caribbean and came to the conclusion that we don’t necessarily need a true Bluewater sailboat. But remember, in the end, you are the one who needs to choose what is right for you and your adventure.

Anne Alexandra Fortin
Cory and Alex share their adventure with weekly videos on their YouTube channel “Wildly Intrepid Sailing”. Their dream is to travel the world and to live without any regrets.