Well, since Randall asked who else might be out there planning a circumnavigation, it’s time to speak up. I’ve mentioned a number of times that I’m in the planning stages of such a trip. What I’ve learned in the last year is that the technical issues are far from the most difficult. It seems that the life issues present the biggest challenge. I’m lucky, because our children are just getting out of the nest. At ages 23 and 21 they are just now demonstrating we can leave, and they will be just fine. Both sets of parents are fine, which likely won’t be the case in 5 or 10 years. Our health is ok, but both the wife and I have felt the effects of aging. Part of why I want to go now is I don’t think I will be able to in 15+ years. We have some money saved away, and our house is paid for. I’m willing to trade the house for a boat, knowing it will be trading an appreciating asset for a depreciating one, but chalking this up to the adventure of a lifetime. My plan is to depart prior to turning 50, which is in 4 years. I’d like to own the boat at least a year prior to departure, which means if I build one I need to order it next year, if I buy used, I have another year to save money and find the right boat. The boats that are in contention for me now are the Nordhavn 46, 43 and 40, or the new Krogen 44. If I were buying a boat today, it would be the Krogen. There are several reasons for this. First, I believe the boat is capable of making the trip. Second, it’s a more livable boat than any of the Nordhavns I could afford. Third, when I look at the systems that go into the Krogen, I know I can support and fix them. When I first went in the engine space (can’t really call it a “room”) for the first time I thought, ok, I can see and maintain everything in sight. This is something I’ve never been able to say when in the engine room of a Nordhavn. Don’t get me wrong, many people will tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about, and lord knows I don’t have the experience to counter many of these opinions, but it’s my money and life, and this is what I think! The route would be west around the globe, departing from Seattle. Total trip time would be about 4 years. I’m trying to capture various aspects of the trip planning and preparation to publish a guide or information schema that will help others go through the same process. I’d like to make a contribution to the world of voyaging under power, and sharing this experience would be wonderful. One of the neatest aspects of being involved with this list is sharing the experiences of those that are out there. I’d love to write you from a remote bay in the Solomon Islands via SSB radio or a sat phone modem. The reality is the number of people that want to do this is very small, in part because there are so many unknowns. What does it cost, how much experience do I need to have, what are the risks, where to I get fuel on and on and on. This forum has already been an invaluable resource for addressing many of these questions. I hope that by the time I leave, there have been another dozen ahead of me, because I know I’ll benefit from them sharing their experience. Thanks, scott