The average house in the UK today costs around £290,000. But rather than buying a house, you could spend that money on a yacht instead. While it might sound a silly comparison, the potential to cruise in comfort, at fast speeds, with most of the comforts of home, can be a big factor in making a cruising sabbatical happen – particularly when you’re trying to recruit family to join you.

John Boughton and crew did the ARC crossing on his Grand Soleil 50. Photo: ES Productions

Buying a Yacht for £250,000-£500,0000: Call to adventure

For many owners participating in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, the yacht they have bought to take part marks a turning point in their ownership journey, one where they’ll live for an extended period of time afloat, rather than just holidays and weekends, crossing an ocean for potentially three weeks or more.

Some ARC participants will go on to circumnavigate. Each owner has usually completed an extensive search to find a balance of performance, comfort and, of course, something within budget. “The fleet for the ARC and ARC+ (which routes via Cape Verde) is pretty diverse,” explains Rachel Hibberd from the World Cruising Club.

John Boughton’s Grand Soleil 50. Photo: John Boughton

“This year, which crosses in November, we have everything from a Contessa 32 from 1980 and a 1976 One Tonner, to newly launched Hanses, Oysters and Nautitech catamarans. Pretty much every brand is represented within the fleet. The average size of yachts has crept up slightly over the years and is now around 14 to 15 metres. The average age of yacht is around 20 years old.

“The biggest changes over the years have been the increasing numbers of catamarans and the number of new and one-year-old boats. In terms of people, we also have more families sailing with young children and generally a slightly younger demographic.”

The Norton family bought their Oyster 56 to sail round the world on The Bluewater Rally. Photo: Sheila and Brian Norton

At the larger end of the ARC fleet, yachts worth well over £2m can be seen, often new, but between £250,000 and £500,000 is a middle ground: comfortable mono- and multihull yachts that are well set up for an ocean crossing with little compromise.

Close to perfect?

John Boughton had owned three yachts and already completed one ARC crossing when he bought his Grand Soleil 50 in advance of the ARC 2024. His choice of boat was led by experience. “We had a 43ft Elan Impression the first time we did the ARC. We wanted something that was faster and more comfortable than the Elan, but could also easily be handled by two once our ARC crew (totalling four) left the boat.”

“We’d owned two aft cockpit Moody yachts in the past. I knew that while the aft cabins were big, the compromise of a centre cockpit boat on outside space was a big one. Once you get somewhere warm, you spend much less time below deck and comfort on deck becomes more important. On the Elan we owned before, we ate perhaps three meals below deck throughout the whole season.”

Photo: James Mitchell/WCC

“We looked at all sorts of deck saloons, also Oysters, but we didn’t quite have the budget for a larger one, which means the cockpit would have been quite tight on room,” he explains. When it came to sailing, the Grand Soleil’s appeal was that she was fast for her size and also offered something Boughton insisted upon.

“I really don’t like in-mast furling, and she has a fully battened mainsail, which worked well for us. For downwind light winds we ran with an asymmetric only. This made things easier short-handed. We had a carbon pole but only used it for the genoa. Overall, I think the sailing configuration was something we really got right,” explains Boughton. When it comes to things he would change, Boughton explains that there were only minor improvements to make. “The freezer was a cheaper model that used a lot of power, so we replaced that.

We also upgraded the solar, with additional panels we used only at anchor. We considered fitting a generator and there have been some occasions in the Med where that could have been useful for some form of air-conditioning, but generally we haven’t missed it.” Following the ARC, Boughton had the yacht shipped back from the Caribbean and is shortly to list her for sale with Berthon.

Article continues below…

Battery power onboard hundreds of ocean-crossing skippers share their secrets

Power on board is a key equipment issue for all bluewater cruisers, whether preparing a boat for a first transatlantic…

How to prepare for an Atlantic crossing with the ARC

Every autumn the pontoons of Las Palmas are a hive of activity, as hundreds of yachts prepare for an Atlantic…

Cruisers compromise

However, there was one compromise. While most new generation cruising yachts of around 50ft have long motoring ranges, John Boughton’s Grand Soleil had a modest 280lt fuel tank. With not much wind towards the end of the ARC crossing, he found the boat needed a little more fuel than he had in the tank to make landfall in St Lucia.

Sheila and Brian Norton making the most of the liveaboard life on their Oyster 56. Photo: Sheila and Brian Norton

An ex-Royal Navy helicopter pilot, Boughton used a Navy technique to transfer fuel between ships. “I put out a call to other yachts via the ARC WhatsApp group, something we checked regularly via Starlink internet. A catamaran nearby responded, and we arranged to do a ship-to-ship transfer on a long line with several jerry cans of fuel they could spare,” he recalls.

Starlink also came in handy on another occasion: while he was on passage he became a grandfather and was able to video call family back home. “A major change from my previous ARC a few years before,” he notes.

After the big adventure

The Norton family bought their Oyster 56 in 2009 to take them around the world on The Bluewater Rally, which started and finished in Gibraltar (it no longer runs). Sailing as a family of five, once they’d completed their circumnavigation, they kept the yacht and continued to use her regularly.

“We had her in the Mediterranean for five years in Malta and Turkey, then on the South Coast on the Beaulieu River. After that, we headed to Norway. On the way, we discovered the West Coast of Scotland, and despite having circumnavigated, we realised we’d never sailed anywhere more beautiful,” explains Sheila. “We sailed into an anchorage one day and, all in the same place, at the same time, saw seals, an otter, deer and then an eagle above us,” adds Brian.

Southerly 42RST, 2010 is a Shallow draught cruiser that has completed a trip through the Canal du Midi to the Med, well-maintaned and ready to go again. Three cabins, in-mast reefing, bow thruster, full cockpit tent. networkyachtbrokers.com

From Scotland, the couple sailed to the Shetland Islands, Faroes, Norway, and spent over 100 days cruising Iceland. They are now planning to head to Greenland and possibly Newfoundland. For the Norton family, the 56 has proved adaptable to all the sailing they have undertaken, more recently mostly double-handed. “A big part of it is that we really know the boat and what she can do from her being our home.”

An emerging obstacle

Bluewater boats that are well equipped and well maintained are selling quickly in today’s market. With the newbuild sector seeing significant price increases due to rising raw material and labour costs, a used yacht that’s ready to go is likely to not be listed for long if it’s reasonably priced. Those buying new for the ARC are also having to order their yachts with longer lead times.

Southerly 42RS, 2006, Night Song. One of only four prototype 46RSs built before the more famous Southerly 49, this example has been cruised internationally and at home. Swing keel and three cabin layout. Lying Essex, UK. clarkeandcarter.co.uk

Internationally, broadly the same trends are being seen across the used market. In France a market analysis suggested sales are moving fast above €300,000, particularly when the yacht is well maintained. Another report from TBZ yacht management suggested that a 5-10% price correction post-Covid had now fully settled, with offers falling lower as well.

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams.

Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.

Note: We may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site, at no extra cost to you. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.