Hello PUPsters, I have over many months maintained co-orespondence with several on this board. I have been planning for more than one year to ship my boat to Europe and spend 5 - 7 years cruising the rivers. I already have made arrangements for a captain (Russian) to join me on my first river trip - the Volga, from St. Petersburg to the Black Sea. Two weeks ago however, I learned that the World Cruising Club was once again organizing an "Around the World" rally. I had planned on taking the Millennium rally with them in 1998, but had family problems and missed it. Now I must decide whether or not to try again. Although I still keep a small (27') sailboat, I have not ventured offshore on a sailboat in nearly eight years. To do this voyage, I believe a sailboat, although not required, would be the best way to go. I have looked at a few boats and have bounced their merit off with the likes of Bob Austin. The question I have is whether or not, at age sixty and lacking recent offshore experience, I should attempt this 20+month tough voyage, or not. Your thoughts will be MOST APPRECIATED and if you are successful at talking me into it, you will be invited to join me for a leg! Tommy