MANY people dream of taking time out to explore the world. For most, it remains a dream. But for a Tavistock family, the dream is about to become reality, as they literally sail off into the wide blue yonder. Graham and Bridget Coiley sold most of their garden, saved and worked hard in order to buy their 50ft ketch Double Waters. They have spent the last few months kitting it out and making ready for their big adventure. Come August, they and their three sons, George, 14, Jack, 12, and Jed, 9, will leave Plymouth and head south. Leaving school ? Tavistock Primary and College ? the boys will be educated on board and perhaps as importantly, attend a crash course at the university of life. Graham, who worked in medical sales until he left last month, and Bridget, a midwife, are experienced sailors. Graham said: ?My first sailing was dinghy sailing as a scout. When I was at university I went cruising and when Bridget and I got together we went on quite a few long distance trips. ?Post-university we worked on boats in the Med and we sailed across the Atlantic in a 30ft boat. ?We hatched this mad plan about three years ago, to move on board and live on the boat.? The family intends to sail to Gibraltar initially, stopping off in France, Spain and Portugal en route. The first big challenge is the crossing to the Canaries, which they hope to reach in late October. When the timing is right, they will face their biggest challenge so far, the 3,000-mile Atlantic crossing to the Caribbean, where they are aiming to spend Christmas. Graham said: ?I think at that point we will have to take stock, see how we are feeling. If we?ve completely scared ourselves out of our wits we may have to think again. ?We might be back in two months ? that would be embarrassing!? ?If we can say yes, it?s good, we?ll make the decision to carry on and that means going south, through the Panama Canal and into the Pacific.? A big step to take ? at their speed, the family will then have to commit to another two years at sea. Graham said: ?Once you?ve got halfway, the attraction is to go all the way. To say we?ve sailed across the Atlantic is good, but to say we?ve managed to go all the way around the world, as a family, would be quite an achievement.? So what do the boys think of their parents? ?mad plan?? Graham said: ?George and I did our VHF radio course together, Jack and I did a diesel engine course. We?ve encouraged them to do everything there is to do in terms of sailing and maintenance. It has to be that way ? it would be ideal if it was like that in the house! ?They like the idea of visiting lots of places and the adventure side of it. Not being at school is quite okay ? the big downside is missing their friends, but we are fairly confident they will meet new friends. ?Doing the routes that we are, there will be a lot of other boats doing the same thing at the same time, it?s a bit like a sailing community. ?And we have the lap-top and e-mail so they can keep in touch with home.? The computer will be an important lifeline to the Coileys, not only for contact with home but for educational purposes. Graham said the schools have been ?very supportive? with advice on recommended reading, and the family has most of the books and materials they need to keep up with the boys? curriculum. So was there anything the couple would miss while they were away? Bridget said: ?I will miss my girl friends, but hopefully we will make more friends over the next few years and it isn?t really a long time ? it will go by in a flash.? The couple said the most tiresome aspect in the run-up to D-Day was mountains of paperwork. Both Graham and Bridget are remarkably calm about the challenges that lie ahead. Surely the idea of taking a family across thousands of miles of ocean in a small boat has to be pretty scarey? Graham said: ?It would be scarey if we ran into something vast unexpectedly and we are certainly not thinking it?s all going to be plain sailing and wonderful. ?Our biggest priority is safety, so we are being belt and braces in terms of making the boat as safe as possible. We?ve spent a lot of money and time getting the right advice. That?s not to say you can?t get caught out by nasty weather or a collision but you just have to be as prepared as you can be? He said the long legs of the journey would be tough, partly due to sailing for weeks in the open ocean and partly due to the necessity of keeping a 24-hour watch. So what are they looking forward to most? Bridget said: ?I think just being together as a family and experiencing things as a family. I do want to sail in the Pacific, partly because we?ve never done it, and people say the Pacific islands are really something else. Graham said: ?I think being able to manage the boat safely, arriving in places and having to be self-sufficient is going to be pretty rewarding.? Times readers can keep up with the Coiley family adventures on their website, http://www.doublewaters.co.uk">www.doublewaters.co.uk
