Hi,

My name is Laura and new to the forum. Have always been a huge fisho but now my partner and I have decided we are going to join the world of sailing so I would like to ask the following, extremely naive questions and please, would like everyone's opinion if you want to reply as we are now on a huge learning curve. We have always owned a Power Cat but have decided now wind is our friend and want to travel further afield in our boat. Doing this in a power cat with current diesel costs really make it cost prohibitive. We want to live on it for a minimum of 5 years so looking for something quite comfortable. So here are my questions, if I may please.

1. Does anyone have any experience in purchasing a boat from overseas and either shipping it over or sailing it over? Pros and cons of buying from Australia and overseas?
2. We have only just started looking at sailing cats (looking at 38'-50'). Any words of advice of what to look for, what to be careful of?
3. I came across a website where you can sail from either the US or Europe, in a big group, has anyone ever done this and if so, how did you find it?
4. Our sailing experience is really next to nothing so can anyone recommend a place where we can go back to basics and learn how to sail a cat? I understand there are many companies out there but wondering if anyone has had a good experience with a particular company.

So, sorry for my basic questions but please feel free to contribute any words of advice you may have.

Regards,
Laura