How Much Does It Cost To Sail Around The World?
If you’ve ever wanted to sail around the world to see everything that the vast oceans have to offer, you might have wondered whether it was a trip you’d be able to afford. While taking an airplane from one country to another is rather affordable, a sailing trip has a lot of other considerations, like the number of port stops, the duration of the trip, and mooring costs.
How Much Does It Cost To Sail Around The World?
The cost to sail around the world varies based on a number of factors. Simply put, a boat that is retrofitted to go sailing offshore will cost at least $30,000. Additionally, each person on the trip should plan to spend somewhere between $8500 and $18000 a year for food, lodging, mooring, and more depending on frugality.
If you are still sure that you’d like to sail around the world, you might be wondering how those costs break down, what unforeseen factors you might have to consider, and how to plan for your trip financially. We’re going to cover all of these things in detail.
Price Breakdown
The most expensive part of your trip will be the boat you plan to sail. No matter which boat you purchase you will need to kit the boat for sailing trips offshore. The minimum you should expect to spend on a boat that’s been kitted is $30,000. Of course, you could spend a lot more for a larger boat that could hold a lot more people or that has more amenities.
Beyond the boat cost, there are a vast number of other costs for sailing. These include:
1. Mooring – Staying at a mooring ball can cost as low as $15 per night, but if you need to drop anchor at a marina, it might set you back somewhere around $100 per night. You’ll need to decide if you want to drop your anchor out at sea, or if the convenience of being at the marina is worth the cost.
2. Transportation – If you decide to go inland, you may need transportation to get from place to place, especially if you are looking to sightsee. Some travelers avoid major costs by bringing their bicycles along and riding to wherever they need to go. Still, others use a car rental, which can cost between $35-$100 per day depending on where you are at and what type of car you rent.
3. Storage – If something comes up and you need to store your boat for a time, the price is going to be extremely variable. It’s a hefty cost, however, so you’ll want to plan accordingly. Expect that a 7-day haul-in could cost in excess of $500. Be prepared with a little bit of emergency savings.
4. Maintenance – The industry-recommended amount of money to save for maintenance is between 10 and 20 percent of the boat’s value per year. Keep in mind that if your boat has recently been refitted that it may only cost around 10 percent, whereas an older boat that hasn’t been refitted might need more maintenance. The other factor is whether you’ll do the maintenance yourself or have it hauled into a yard to be done by a professional. If you have the skills to do it yourself, expect it to cost significantly less.
5. Gear – If you plan to be offshore you’ll need to have a few other pieces of gear, including a satellite phone for emergencies, a life raft, a rowboat for rowing in if you won’t stop at a marina, and much more. You could end up spending as little as a few thousand dollars for this expense, but you could expect to spend up to $20,000. This is an initial cost and is important to figure in when you buy your boat.
6. Insurance – In general, you should need to get both boat insurance and medical insurance. Boat insurance is rather variable and is largely dependent on where you plan to sail and how big your boat is. This can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars to over $2000 per year. Health insurance, on the other hand, can be as much as $4000 a year for international insurance, while you could also opt to purchase local health insurance from whatever destination you’ll be going to.
Looking to sail around the world? Here are the 2 cheapest boats to do so with.
7. Food – Food costs are highly variable and depend a lot on whether you are planning to eat out a lot or cook most of your meals. Plan on eating a lot of local foods when you travel, which will enrich your travel and also reduce your costs. Imported foods are the most expensive. You should plan to spend the same on food as you do currently, keeping in mind that you will likely not eat the same.
8. Water – It might sound silly being surrounded by water, needing to factor in the cost of water. But you need to prepare yourself to pay for the cost of fresh water. It’s not terribly expensive to fill up, and many gas stops will fill you up for around $5. It’s just something to keep in mind.
9. Fuel – You’ll need both cooking fuel and fuel for the boat. Like with most of the things on this list, the cost is highly variable depending on where you stop. You won’t need much cooking fuel – $50 per month should be more than enough. Do research for your boat fuel ahead of time and plan ahead based on the cost per gallon.
10. Customs – Each country you arrive in has a different policy about how much you have to pay to come into the country with your boat. Additionally, you may need special visas if you plan to stay for a certain period of time. Researching ahead will help you to drastically save costs here so that you don’t get stuck in a country that costs an exorbitant amount to stay. As an example, it costs over $1300 to visit Panama.
11. Phone Bills – You’ll need a convenient way to make calls and access the internet. Perhaps the easiest way to do this is to buy local SIM cards from your destination. This cost can be anywhere from $10-$40 for as little as 5 GB of data.
12. Personal Expenses – These can include hygiene care and household items. Expect to spend somewhere around $25 per person per month on these expenses. You can purchase items like soap, shampoo, sunscreen, and moisturizers. If you are committed to using eco-friendly options, you’ll need to pay even more.
13. Extra Costs – This can include dinners out, sightseeing, and souvenirs. The costs for these things are totally optional but can make sailing around the world very fun, so budget for this stuff accordingly.
Unforeseen Factors
Many people who go sailing don’t factor in that they might have to stop at a yard for maintenance unexpectedly, which could cost them a lot of money in and of itself. If you find yourself near a country that you weren’t expecting to sail into, you could have to pay hefty fees. Plan ahead and make sure that you have an emergency fund set aside in case of unforeseen factors.
Additionally, you’ll need to do routine maintenance on your boat, so don’t forget to factor in the costs to get that done and where you’ll take the boat to do it. You wouldn’t want to forget to get the important things taken care of that will keep your boat in tip-top shape!
FAQ
How big should my sailboat be to sail around the world?
The ideal size for a sailboat to sail around the world is between 35 and 45 feet. This size boat is fairly easy to maintain but has enough cargo space to last for several weeks’ worth of supplies. Additionally, it’ll handle larger waves well.
How do I legally sail around the world?
You’ll need to pay attention to what legal documents are required to come into port at a specific location. You may need to pay certain fees and you will need to have your passports, as well as visas for certain locations. You will also have to pay attention to quarantine regulations for each country you want to visit, as well.
Please note: This blog post is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Please consult a legal expert or medical professional to address your specific needs.