Taking a Sabbatical on a Boat: Dream or Reality?

Spending an entire year traveling by boat isn’t just for billionaires. With a little organization and good preparation, it’s achievable for many, financially speaking. If you survey the anchorages in the Antilles, you’ll find many sailors (on professional breaks) from diverse backgrounds: tradespeople, employees, civil servants, professionals, small business owners, and even doctors and nurses.

And if you ask these happy sailors, they’ll tell you:

They don’t regret their decision to take a sabbatical.
The biggest difficulty was deciding to leave and put their professional life on hold. After that, it’s just a matter of organization!

Who Can Take a Year Off on a Boat?

There are three slightly different scenarios depending on one’s status: the employee, the self-employed, and the retiree. For the latter, they are the sole decision-maker. They’ll receive their pension whether they’re on land or relaxing in a Caribbean anchorage. They just need to arrange to receive their mail. For those who are employed, especially the self-employed, it’s a bit more complicated. They’ll need to organize the continuity of their work during their absence. A replacement to take care of your clients/patients? Telecommuting? A competent team already in place that you only need to brief occasionally? Whatever solution you choose based on your profile and profession, solutions exist today to organize yourself, (almost) easily.

What About Employees?

Legislation allows everyone to take a long-term leave, without having to provide justification to their employer – but with their agreement – for a period of 6 to 11 months, renewable once. Sabbatical leave is open to all employees, whether on fixed-term or permanent contracts, executives or non-executives, if they have worked for at least 36 months in the company, have already worked for at least 6 years, and have not taken a sabbatical or benefited from a professional transition project or leave for creating or taking over a business in the 6 years prior. You must apply at least 3 months before the planned departure, but it’s advisable to anticipate it as far in advance as possible to allow your employer to organize themselves. At the end of the sabbatical, the employee returns to their position or an equivalent one, and their salary. Note that during their absence, the employment contract is suspended, but the employee is still part of the company’s workforce and, as such, retains their social security coverage.

The employer can propose different departure and return dates, but can only refuse if the employee’s departure risks creating detrimental consequences for the proper functioning of the company, after receiving advice to that effect from the Social and Economic Committee (CSE).

Which Boat for a Sabbatical?

Monohull, catamaran, trimaran, sailing or motor, new, recent or used, whatever the bottle, as long as you get drunk… The choice of boat will depend primarily on your financial means, but also on your taste in sailing and, of course, your sailing program. If you already own a boat that meets your specifications, all that remains is to equip it for this particular type of sailing, do a good maintenance or even a refit, and… off you go on your adventure. If your boat isn’t suitable for your project, or if you don’t own one, you’ll need to find the right vessel. And, invariably, the question of buying or renting will arise.

Rent or Buy?

Long-term rental has a certain cost. But also an important advantage: you won’t have to rack your brains for months on the choice of boat, its equipment, or the problem of eventual resale after your trip. Except that… long-term rentals have almost disappeared from the offers of professional renters. And for the few who offer this service, the bill can be steep.

Another solution if you don’t want to embark on a necessarily long and tedious buying process: find an arrangement with a private individual. A choice that can be wise but without the security or guarantees of a professional… If you opt for long-term rental from a private individual, it’s advisable to have a rigorous expert appraisal carried out before and after the rental. A precaution that will reassure you about the condition of the boat you’ll be living on for many months and that will guarantee your landlord a return in the condition it was in at the start. A way to get your deposit back more easily!

The lack of availability of units for long-term rental forces the majority of sailors tempted by a sabbatical to leave on their own boat. It remains to buy it new or used.

A New or Used Boat?

Since we’re talking about the cost of a sabbatical, the purchase of the boat is obviously the bulk of the investment. An amount that will vary considerably depending on the type of unit, its age, its size, and of course its condition and the preparation it will require to take you comfortably on your trip.

A new, well-equipped boat, purchased on a lease and then resold after your long cruise, is a defensible choice. You still have to choose a boat that is in high demand on the market, be certain that the shipyard won’t release a new model to replace yours by the time you return, and finally, anticipate the resale (by entrusting it, for example, to a broker). One unknown remains, namely the state of the used market at the time of your return. Some periods are prosperous, others… a little less!

In the case of buying a used boat, it’s easier to imagine making a neutral transaction. A sought-after unit that is already several years old hardly depreciates anymore. You can therefore hope to resell it for the price you bought it for. Again, depending on the state of the used market when you return from your sabbatical…

The Cost of Preparation

Solar panels, wind turbines, hydrogenerator, refrigeration unit, watermaker, suitable battery bank, a dinghy in good condition and sufficiently motorized… The equipment that is more or less essential for long-distance cruising is expensive. But they will offer you real comfort on board. Again, you’ll have to make choices based on your means, your real needs, and the added value they could bring when reselling your boat. So, be careful with options and overly personal modifications, which could be a hindrance to resale…

Safety is also essential, especially if you’re planning a (or two, in the case of an Atlantic loop) transatlantic crossing during your trip. A life raft that meets the needs of your sailing, individual beacons, etc. But also a serious weather service or a good communication system are essential. Again, the cost of preparation will depend heavily on your boat, your way of sailing, and your program.

Since we’re talking about preparation, let’s not forget that of the crew. Which will also have a certain cost! A first aid course is the minimum to take, just as special care must be taken in creating a complete on-board pharmacy. And if your route takes you to remote areas, you must be able to repair what can break down and spoil your cruise: a diesel mechanics course is then appreciated…

And During the Trip?

Here you are at the helm of a rented or purchased boat, well-equipped for your trip. All that remains is to insure it and set sail. Be careful, you won’t be finished with expenses… Don’t forget stopovers, port fees, clearances (taxes when you arrive in a new country – and in the Antilles, you change countries… with each island), visas, possible plane tickets to return if needed, and of course fuel. Again, the expenses won’t be the same if you’re on a 15-meter motorboat or a 10-meter sailboat. Remember that when traveling and even on a sailboat, you use the engine a lot, if only to produce your energy and run the watermaker…

Finally, don’t neglect unforeseen expenses: medical expenses, repairs on the boat, but also to enjoy excursions, visits, and unplanned leisure activities.

So, How Much?

As you’ll have understood from reading this article, the true cost of a sabbatical will depend heavily on the choice of your boat and your way of living on a cruise.

For the boat alone, between its purchase and preparation (and all the related costs) and in the event that you resell it properly after your trip, you can estimate its cost over the sabbatical year between 10,000 and 50,000 euros.

Some will spend much less by having found a beautiful, fully equipped opportunity resold at the purchase price, others much more with a new, over-equipped boat…

To this sum, you’ll have to add the expenses during the trip. An amount that, again, will depend considerably on how you like to live. There are ascetics who manage to get by with a budget of 1000 euros per month for two, and others who can afford to spend several thousand euros. The average expenditure for a couple on a sabbatical is closer to 2500 euros per month. A sum that allows you to enjoy life in port, good little local restaurants, and rent a car to visit the interior of the nicest islands. To each their own desires… depending, also, on their means! One thing is certain, on the water, you always spend much less than on land…

Concretely, a sabbatical on a boat, between the purchase, resale, and life for a year for two can cost a minimum of 20,000 euros and… much, much more! A reasonable average is around 50 to 60,000 euros. The price of a large sedan!

It Was Good? The Question of Returning

The best things come to an end, and that’s also the case with a sabbatical. You’ll have to return and find a so-called “normal” life. Returning to work for some, school if you leave with your children… Not so simple after having lived a full and complete life, alone, as a couple, or as a family. Testimonials show that it’s the children who are the most agile at adapting. They became sailors in a few days at the start, they become land dwellers even faster on the return, rediscovering their habits with relish. For adults, it’s sometimes more difficult and even painful. Some choose to write a book, keep a blog, or make a film to continue the adventure, and “come down” more slowly… In almost all cases, there will remain from this enchanted parenthesis, incredible memories and wonderful moments of sharing.

And if it was your turn?

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