Sea: Sailing the Sea?

Question

My childhood dream was to travel the whole world/sail all the sea's but its really difficult for me. I live in a abusive, religious (were Muslim), home and was difficult for me. I suffered for 8 years, was very lonely and didn't really had a reason to live. I always wanted to accomplish my dream, no matter what but I can't, I'm a women. My parents always says that, it really broked my heart and after that, it felt like there is no reason for me to live. I always wanted a family, a family that I feel happy with. They hated me that time but right now, there showing love but I still can't forgive them. My friend helped me escape, she called Child Support but there was a big problem. They found no proof that there was abuse in my life, but they know that there was no fairness and where trying to fix the problem right now. I was forced to live with my family, I still remember the hard memories back when I was little. I want to leave and set sail to sea but I will die of course. Continue..

Answer 1

To sail the sea you need seamanship knowledge, especially deep sea sailing.

Your best hope is when you get a little older, find a boat that needs a deckhand (shipmate) and get practical knowledge. Reading books may help, but it is not near as valuable as practical knowledge. Navigation is a must, and although there are many electronic aids, (radar, depth sounders, GPS, SSB, VHF) that are helpful, you must be able to find your way without electronics, old fashioned navigation. You must always be prepared for the unexpected.

Here you are talking about sailing around the world, well sailing in calm seas is fun and easy, but crossing oceans means storms and bad weather, not much fun, to say the least, and this is where knowledge of the sea is a must. Even seasoned sailors often find themselves in trouble when caught in storms.

My experience at sea:

Nearly fifty years as a commercial fishing and towboat captain, both coastal and deep sea. Have weathered many storms, and faced one shipwreck (by fire at deep sea). I have personally rescued many people that got into trouble at sea, and that was mostly because they did not know what they were doing, and were not prepared. (inexperienced)

Answer 2

Buy a sextant, or a GPS. Study maps of the world and learn as much as you can about latitudes and longitudes.

I would recommend getting all the books and literature on boats. If your parents don't like you doing stuff like that read story books like "Carry on Mr. Bowditch" or Moby d**k. I can't believe how much I learned in Moby d**k...but not about navigation. Learn weather patterns - become very familiar with them.

If you do buy a sextant get all the info you can on how to use it (yes it is still out there)

And I think www.edmundscientifics.com (I'm not sure if that is the actual URL) sells a real working sextant, but it may cost just as much as a cheap GPS.

I wish you the best of luck. I really wish to go to sea one day myself, but my situation is nothing like yours.

May God watch over you and keep you safe!

Answer 3

If your post is to be believed (I have no reason to believe that your post is a hoax), you have some tough times ahead of you.  Women in Arab countries are not given the same rights as men (we are led to believe here in the west) so jumping on a ship even as a stowaway would be difficult at best.  

I agree with what others have posted that you can find out a lot by reading on the internet about boats and sailing as well as in books if they are available to you.  But without experience which you would not be allowed most likely, it would be difficult to officially sign up with a ship, meaning a commercial ship like a tanker or a container ship.  You could stow away which would be rather dangerous but it might be a way to get out of your country (which country by the way?).  

I doubt that it would be possible to find a smaller private boat that would take you on as crew but that is also a possibility.  You could pretend that you were a boy and hang around the waterfront.  If you have some useful skill such as cooking or agility you might be a desirable crew member.  Just watch out for most people as they will be quite interested in the fact that you are a woman.  

I do not know exactly where in the world you are but I feel for you (if you are not just having fun with us - your English is pretty good).

Good luck.

Answer 4

For what it is worth, most people your age feel the urge to get away from their families.  It's God's way of helping to form new social units.  For the time being you can read.  In English, which you are obviously proficeint, "The Annapolis Book of Seamanship" or "Chapman's ..."  tend to be very good references.  (I forgot the whole title of Chapman's.  It is so much the authority that people I talk with normally refer to it by one word.)  

Try to steer your university experience to a coastal area.  You can meet boaters and gain experience.  A boat which is capable of blue water cruising is not THAT expensive if it is used.  You can also sign on as a crew member on someone elses boat.  Good luck.  God loves you.