Whew! Ok. Message received.
I need to clarify though.
The new vessels in question have a delivery estimate of July 2023 Till about January 2024. Cruising plans start circa June 2024.
August '23 is a little early for my availability, but leaves leeway for delays and I can dedicate nearly full time starting in 2024. Expect to spend ~ 6 months outfitting and learning the vessel. Initial cruising grounds will be Caribbean, East Coast, then maybe we go through Panama, up the west coast to PNW and on to Alaska, or cross from Panama to somewhere. No planned ocean crossings for a year or so.
January vessel is the N51, a production yacht. If its on schedule I have 5 months to get it sorted before we cruise the northern med to France and into the rivers/canals. If its delayed, then I have less time for outfitting, but little things can be done while cruising in a boating friendly area and also protected waters. Would not Attempt ocean crossings till weather is right, maybe winter 2024/2025.
Since both vessels are new, aside from commissioning and multiple shakedown cruises, I have to allot an indeterminate amount of time to outfit, and then my own learning curve and comfort level. In either case crossing oceans is at least around a year out, while we cruise boating friendly and relatively protected waters. I have sailed in full gales, been in 20' seas. I do not wish to repeat either, though I am comfortable that I can manage as long as the vessel can, so, shortest hops reasonably possible, weather routing, carry extra fuel to make better time, and other strategies will ultimately be employed.
Used is still on the table. However, I don't have the time to invest in a used boat right now - maybe a few weeks a year, so owning it now it will just sit. Better bet is to wait a year to get a used boat, but then could be stumped by lack of a good options. Older and cheaper means more to upgrade, more that will likely go wrong sooner, more time spent fixing and upgrading rather than using. Couple N55's for sale right now, 2006 and 2007, one on each coast, single and a twin. Figure, throw $200k in upgrades at either one (thinking electronics, second genny) - but no time for me to work on it now, and then holding costs for over a year and half. Need these option a year from now.