Early retirement sounds great, and feels even better. I must admit that Glen did contemplate (for 2-3 good minutes) if he wants to get another job, but soon came to the realization it will only be a job related to sailing, his biggest passion. And where better to see what is going on on the yachting market, other than the BOOT. So we made quick travel arrangements, and Dusseldorf, here we come!
Dusseldorf Boat Show was everything we expected, and more. So much choice, for any budget. We arrived there with no agenda, just browsing through the stands and boats on display. But at the end of day one we were smitten by the Amel 55. We had hot dreams about her, and we were both convinced she is the boat for us. Glen appreciated the technical and practical specs of this model: the engine room with access from the deck, ketch rig, protected nav station, watertight bulkheads, etc. I was charmed by the modern looks and the sundeck. The next day we went back to Amel stand, to drool more over her! And yes, she looked just as amazing as in the previous day, if not even more.
We spent 3 full days at the show, and looked at all types of blue-water cruisers: modern, traditional, aluminum hull, cats… And each type of boat had it’s own pluses. But Amel 55 was still in the back of our minds when we returned to Dubai.
So I guess we will just have to buy a yacht and start sailing…
4 comments
We LOVE watching your adventures every night during this COVID time- so happy and upbeat during a very hard time You are an inspiration to two “elderly” envious sailors.
John and Mary, Thanks for the nice comment. Its for viewers and readers like you that keep us motivated to post.
Glen – although this is a dated post and you ultimately ended up with the HR 54, wondering why you moved away from this warranted excitement of the Amel 55? Price, options, etc.
Thanks
Fred, Yes, at the time we were totally smitten with the Amel 55. I really wanted a ketch rig initially but didnt like the dated older Amel designs. This new design was striking. At least, in the boat show it was. Since then we have seem them on the water and not so impressed. They look very square and “blocky”. Anyway, to your question, although the show-offer they gave us we VERY good (Euros 980k, for the show baot that had loads of extras fitted) if we had stretched to pay that, we would have had zero left in our banks or savings. And we knew that when you buy a new boat, you need at least 25-35% more money to actually be able to sail Oceans (liferaft, dinghy, outboard, Epirbs etc etc). So in the end, it was finances that stopped us. But now we are very glad. We have the right boat and at the right price and we love her. I know now I would have regretted the Amel vs the HR54.
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