arc on bavaria 36 or 44

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firsttime

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I've got about 1,500 sea miles under my belt and have been offered a crew position on a Bavaria 36 across to the caribbean. I've read they're not that good offshore, having also been offered a position on a '44 is this any better or are they just for weekenders?

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Go for the 44

Bigger is more comfy. The ARC is either totally downwind or a rhum line crossing. It's generally a milk run.

NigeCh (ARC 2000)

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Check the inventory

I've sailed a couple of Bavaria's, mainly in the Solent, no real offshore experience in them but all I'd say is check the inventory, and can you get the third reef in when you need it? On both the Bavarias I've sailed you had to unthread the reefing line from the first reef and rethread it through the third in order to get a deep reef in. Seems a bit overcomplicated when you need to reef, even if you do all the threading early.

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Chartered a Bav 42 for 2 weeks this summer.

Not a quick boat in any direction.

Very heavy weather helm on a close reach or closehalled.
Had to put in 2 reefs and 6 to 8 rolls in the genoa in a F5 to stop her broaching.
Could only get 7 Knots out of her at best.

Not a lot of hand holds down below.
Loads of space when in a marina. Best place for her.

Not at all impressed won’t bother to charter one again.

We took a old Oceanis 350 out during the last weekend and had 8 to 9 knots in a F3/4.


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yep, as others said, ARC is a doddle, down hill all the way, check obvious things like fresh water, wind generator ok but as down wind then tow in the water type generator better, epirb sat fone etc, ssb good as free to use to talk to fleet, either bav fine I reckon, but where is boat now? delivery from uk to Canaries could be tiresome on 36t boat, but comfy on 44, if 36 footer I reckon depart falmouth and pick weather window carefully, said having done Brest 2 Bayonne 3 times and always wished I left from Falmouth.

ARC is holding hands across atlantic. Rumour is for this years ARC there is a sail past Macdonalds half way across...great intro to offshore.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sod the Healey - I think I'll buy an E-Type.
 
As Nige says it sd be down wind or a broad reach - the odd squall at 40 kts plus - thus need to be able to deep reef quickly. Mant light displacement yachts do it - even LEGENDS!!!! So for the ARC, it sd be OK and go for the 44 cos bigger is quicker (hull speed proportional to sq. rt of wateline length).

Check it is fully spec'd.

Think twice about a delivery thrash to the Canaries though. Many stories of distresss situations in light displacement boats across Biscay and around Finisterre. Dont do this sector unless you can take the time to wait for a window to avoid bad weather and make sure you know what you will do when the forecast proves wrong.

Gd Luck

<hr width=100% size=1>A pontification from the Panjandrum of orotund bloviation AD2003
 
Re: Check the inventory

That's fairly common on most single line reefing boats. There just isn't room it the boom for three pennants.

Steve Cronin

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Spent a week onboard a Bav 37 about two years ago. Nasty, nasty boat.

Very light displacement so extremely bouncy in any sort of sea. Not close winded by any stretch of the imagination. Serious weather helm in F6 with two reefs in the main and headsail half furled. Pulpit held on by blutack and a linear galley arrangement which was unusable at sea.

If you are doing a transAt do it on a proper seaboat = long keel and skeg hung rudder. Sure loads of people do it on tupperware boxes with fin + spade, but I for one wouldn't feel comfortable.

Just my opinion ;-)

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Let\'s be fair ...

The Legend Passage 450 was a 2nd hand boat and the photograph of the rudder break showed what was possibly an impact break right across the stock which could have be occasioned by the previous owner and not declared when the previous owner sold the boat. (And equally, not picked up by the Surveyor)

Had the rudder not broken off, the water would not have entered the boat at the stock boot. Perhaps there's a design problem here that both Hunter Marine and Lurhs Marine need to address.

Or perhaps it's an RCD category issue that needs to be reworked.

A Hunter/Legend is just as good as any other production boat on the ARC. It's a cruise in company (but find the company when you are in the middle of nowhere ???) that is normally straightforward. Sometimes it has its weather/wind/seas problems .... but overall it's the easiest way to cross the Atlantic.

As has been said above, it's often more difficult to get to the start than it is to do the crossing.

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Breadmaker

.. well I suppose countefeiting is only illegal in national waters .. unless of course its dollars you're making ...

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Re: Check the inventory

What was her name? I used to go out with a girl who worked in a bakery. She had very strong fingers and forearms from all the dough-kneading. Brings tears to my eyes just to think about it.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>
 
Last year I took my Bav40 from Falmouth to Finnestere and onwards to the Algarve (and back). Winds in Biscay ranged from almost nothing to one night and day of F7+ - all close hauled. At no time did I feel the boat wasn't easily able to cope. The third reef on a Bav is an option - so make sure it is fitted (even if you have to go to the mast to put it in). Yes they do, like nearly all modern hulls, tend to slam into a sea but that's no reason to opt for a slower, knackered old tub where you'll spend days on end virtually sitting on each other's laps :-)

I'd go for the bigger boat, just 'cos it'll be faster and more comfortable. perhaps a big consideration though is not just the boat, but the skipper and the rest of the crew. Could you get on with them in close proximity for 4 weeks? Does the skipper know his stuff? How many crew will there be?

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both the bavs are modern lightish boats so are never going to stand up the punishment that a more traditional yacht like a Rustler can take but don't let that put you off. Many of these yachts have done the crossing and what should be of more concern to you is the competency of the skipper and other crew.

I did the ARC Europe (coming back the opposite way) earlier this year on a Ben oceanis 411. It did slam when beating and is was an ugly duckling that rolled around quite a bit but I never had any doubts that it would get me home. I would go for the 44 if you want more speed and greater comfort but weigh-up the skippers carefully as harmony onboard is V-V important.

Hope this helps


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