The big question

Posted On 09 May, 2014

Hi – Tom Cunliffe here.

I asked Peter what made him decide to buy a motor yacht in Auckland then cruise her against prevailing winds and currents to the UK, rather than just loading her on a ship like everyone else?

This what he said:

I spent many years looking for my next boat. It hasn’t been easy, but I suspect there are many more people out there with similar criteria.

I want to be able to go places that other boats don’t. I really need range so I can be freed from the motor-yacht skipper’s constant concern about the next fuel stop. My wife has described our 35ft motorboat as being like ‘camping on the sea’. She’s got nothing against boats in principle, she just doesn’t want to be given a hard time. All in all, conventional boats hold little appeal. I needed to find some genuine comfort for her – and I don’t mean the sort of fancy cushions and flashy design that seduce folks in boat shows. I’m talking serious comfort when it matters. Speaking purely for myself, I was excited by the idea of a long-range, blue-water sailing boat. My wife puts up with my love of the sea faithfully, but really wants to remain more or less upright, so what about a catamaran? Well, I just don’t like them because, having considered all the arguments on both sides, my own gut feeling is that they aren’t going to be great in really bad weather. I’d looked at most of the long-range motorboats. They have their attractions, but the recurring theme is that the range they claim can only be achieved at snail’s pace. I don’t go seeking bad weather, but it was critical to find a boat that could handle it if ever we’re caught out. I’ve been at sea long enough to know that backup systems are vital to safety and also to peace of mind. This boat has them in spades.

As for bringing her back by sea on her own bottom, it just didn’t seem right to take such an able vessel and plant her on the deck of a ship. Also, I wanted to get to know her and her systems. What better way than to motor her home half-way around the world in the teeth of the prevailing weather?

The fact that I know a marine engineer and a naval architect who were both up for doing the trip helped me make the decision. With my marine electronics background, an engineer on hand plus a naval architect, I had the basis of a very strong crew.

Tom Cunliffe