David Tyler wrote:

Here's a good list of cruising boats under 30ft that's worth looking through for inspiration. Especially the ones that have taken part in the Jester Challenge, marked with an asterisk.

https://www.sailboat-cruising.com/cruiser-yachts-under30.html

Very few production boats have been specifically designed with extended cruising in mind. One of the best is the Vancouver 27/28, but as they are very much admired, the price has remained high.

An Ocean Cruising Club Special Award was made in 2011 to Matt Rutherford, on completion of his astounding 309 day, 27,077 nm solo non-stop circumnavigation of the Americas in his 27ft Albin Vega St Brendan. 

So there's another boat that can make difficult passages, in the right hands.

David Webb wrote:

Hi Raymond,

have you thought of a Golden Hind? There are I believe two versions, 26 and 31 1/2 feet long. They are a well traveled design and very seaworthy, you see them all over the world voyaging quite successfully. They are plywood or fiberglass construction and have a long shallow central keel with steel plate bilge keels that allow them to dry out upright. They would convert well to junk rig.

All the best, David.

Just had a look on the internet and there is one for sale in Bangor, Wales at 7950 pounds, one in Gibraltar for 12,000 pounds and one in Auckland, New Zealand for $11,000 NZ. All have fiberglass hulls with plywood decks and are 31 foot six inches long. There are a lot of them about and David Tyler had an Eventide once, a near sister by the same designer, Maurice Griffiths. I have not looked very thoroughly but there seem to be quite a few for sale out there at reasonable prices.

Ivory Gull is actually a GRP 'Lone Gull II' design, also from Maurice Griffiths. 

I have to take issue with David Webb's comments. Maurice Griffiths was very much a Thames Estuary sailor, and was out of his comfort zone on the rare occasions when he sailed down the English Channel. His designs reflect this. I bought the mouldings for Ivory Gull when I could only foresee short holiday cruises between the Solent and the Isles of Scilly. When I became able to leave paid work and cruise further afield, I quickly found that Ivory Gull was not really in her element when cruising on the west coasts of Ireland and Scotland. 

The triple keel configuration manages to get the worst of all worlds - poorer performance, and more difficult to scrub between the keels than with twin keels; no easier and no less fraught than using legs to dry out with a single keel.

The fact that Golden Hinds have made ocean passages just, I think, reinforces the two sayings: "Any boat can make an ocean passage, given the right circumstances" and "Go now, in the boat you have, rather than wait until you can get the 'ideal' boat".

Matanie is a great boat though she has been sun bathing not for maybe 5 years in Portugal.  Those masts always seem a bit skinny to me.

Worth a look and an offer though.

Raymond Liljeros wrote:Dear David. You are right, I only crossed between Sweden and Norway 40 years ago with my father who looked very serious as we surfed back home on some big waves as the rudder vibrated  intensely . But now that I prepare for blue waters I did not mean heave to for resting or eating which I did when sailing my Snipe when young but I was more looking for survival during an unexpected heavy storm even though this is rare. I read Storm Tactics by Lin and Larry, Get Real Get Gone and Singlehanded by Andrew Evans who races which I won't. So after this and reading on forums Even if heavy storms are unusual I don't now whether it is safe to buy a flat bottom Southerly or twin keel version to get close to beaches and up rivers and through canals as well. Some people say that a full length keel is the only really safe way to go. And steel ! Junk rig seems to be heavenly when alone or with non sailors. For the moment I plan to sail during some years from the Mediterranean sea to the carribean sea and through panama to the Pacific Ocean during the European winters (November - March. The southern oceans, not this time Thank you for your help.  My budget is 30 000 euros plus 10 000 for equipment 

to help us to give you sensible advice, could you confirm whether you will cruise alone, or with a partner and/or family? 28 - 30 ft is a good size for one person, and 33 - 35 ft is a good size for two people.

I see that Matanie still seems to be for sale, and this might be a good match for your planned cruising - with this proviso: the rig probably ought to be renewed, with larger diameter masts and new sails; but you should be able to manage this within your budget.