Choices.

There are many facets to the yachting lifestyle. Putting weather aside there exists a list of unpleasant experiences that are avoidable.

You don't like feeling cramped and confined with too many others? You want a boat big enough to give that space.

You enjoy your privacy? There are beautifully engineered rigging solutions where you with perhaps a loved one, cat and dog are enough to manage a blue water cruiser designed for short-handed sailing.

Concerned about safety? That question has an answer in two parts.

Firstly, most of staying safe lies in the decisions that you as skipper make. Get experience. Study. Get some more experience.

You need to be able to shunt trains of thought as easily as a railway engineer. You should never lose sight of the big picture as you focus on a detail. Remain aware of everything that is happening and everything that could happen.

Secondly the design and quality of the vessel you sail is pivotal. Make sure that the marine engineer that birthed your choice has a history and respect. Speak to other yachtsman. The all have favorites and will be eager to explain why.

Every sailor or sometime to be sailor have preferences. Because of the limited available space on a cruising yacht, choices need to be made. 

I might enjoy a 4000 nautical mile range from the engine but the volume of fuel that would take uses too much space on a 50 foot sloop.

If you ever do need that range, 20 litre jerrycans secured to the rails running around the foredeck solves the problem. You can sell the jerrycans and remaining fuel after arriving at your distant destination.