Atlantic circuit in a Hurley 18ft

[geem]

We are currently anchored in Nonsuch Bay, Antigua. We met a young German guy yesterday with a Hurley 18. He sailed from Greece to Antigua single handed in his Hurley 18. He is sailing back to Europe in May. The boat is super tiny.
He crossed from Lanzarote to Antigua in February this year in 30 days. Quite amazing for such a small boat. He has a Windpilot wind self steering system and a 4hp outboard. He carries a JSD and a conventional drogue. He also carriess a liferaft. He also has a kite board and 3 kites. Not sure where he puts everything.
He says he crossed the Atlantic using twin headsails. He seems to live off noodles!
It's amazing what you can achive on a limited budget if you really want to.
I think his trip back to Europe may be a somewhat bigger challenge than getting here.

 

[FWB]

Shrimpy pdf http://www.bluemoment.com/pdf/shrimpy.pdf

 

[Wansworth]

It’s the barrel syndrome

 

[geem]

It’s the barrel syndrome

To be fair, it's a proper little sailing boat

 

[Wansworth]

I know,always fancied one

 

[Wansworth]

Little well foundyachts are inherently stronger in all aspects in the normal run ofthings

 

[geem]

Little well foundyachts are inherently stronger in all aspects in the normal run ofthings

I am not so sure about that. He is worried about the vulnerability of his windows for the return trip. He plans to make storm shutters for them. They are actually larger than any window on our boat and half the thickness. He is also planning to replace the chainplates as they don't looks too strong. The mast sits on the deck but there is no bulkhead beneath. It relies on the curvature of the deck. He plans to fit a post that will be removable since it goes through his bed!

 

[Zing]

Shrimpy pdf http://www.bluemoment.com/pdf/shrimpy.pdf

That was a circumnavigation in a 19 foot plywood bilge keeler, a boat like this:
Caprice bilge keel sloop CAPRI

 

[geem]

That was a circumnavigation in a 19 foot plywood bilge keeler, a boat like this:
Caprice bilge keel sloop CAPRI

Yep, we chatted about that adventure with Nico over beers last night. He plans to sell the boat when he gets back to Europe. I asked him what boat he want next. He says something way bigger!

 

[Sandy]

He seems to live off noodles!

No wonder he is single handing the trip.

 

[doug748]

Always nice to be reminded that sailing is not all about what kit you can afford, there are hundreds of small boats like this having big adventures for very little money.

I saw three lads in a old Centaur working their way through France last year. Clubbed together, bought the boat went sailing. No new sails no new rigging, no AIS. Radar or fancy batteries, No blog or video story, just having a great time. They arrived late and pushed on early morning. Does your heart good.

 

[Wansworth]

The sirens in yacht chandlers won’t let you go to sea without the latest kit …..it takes a poor man to escape to sea unscathed ?

 

[mattonthesea]

The sirens in yacht chandlers won’t let you go to sea without the latest kit …..it takes a poor man to escape to sea unscathed ?

The chap in the LP chandlers told me that the week before the ARC set out was their best business week. Excitement and anxiety drove people to suddenly want that extra bit of kit.

I was buying a top of the range safety harness!!!

Also, I was told that my relatively small Rival 32 would have been a large boat 30 years before.

 

[Daydream believer]

Also, I was told that my relatively small Rival 32 would have been a large boat 30 years before.

For some it would be a large boat now ?

 

[Supertramp]

Having sailed similar sized boats I can imagine doing that trip, but can't imagine where he stows stuff. My two biggest concerns would be breaking crests and making to windward in strong winds. But the Hurley 18 and larger models are tough boats and with a proper keel. A mast post is probably sensible but they will be made with solid fibreglass and thick.

I remember comparing a Folk boat with our Westerly 22 and deciding we had far more space. But 18ft is truly compact!

Good luck to him - something to remember for a lifetime.

 

[jamie N]

Shrimpy pdf http://www.bluemoment.com/pdf/shrimpy.pdf

Just started to read this; it's super engaging!

 

[FWB]

Just started to read this; it's super engaging!

It’s a great read and one to read again, enjoy!

 

[Skylark]

Congratulations to your new German friend @geem it’s a great achievement.

An acquaintance of mine sailed a Caprice 18 single handed across the Atlantic. He lives in Macclesfield and this is his book

An Ocean Away: Small Boat, Big Dream: Amazon.co.uk: Clarke, Dave, Holloway, John: 9780955512407: Books

A few years later he rowed across, also single handed.

 

[Stemar]

An acquaintance of mine sailed a Caprice 18 single handed across the Atlantic.

It takes a particular kind of insanity to do this

A few years later he rowed across, also single handed.

Which only goes to show that some forms of insanity are incurable

Like the insanity of those who take on major wooden boat refurbishments, I'm glad in equal measures that it exists, and that I don't suffer from it

 

[MisterBaxter]

I feel weirdly drawn to this kind of thing although I'm not about to embark on it myself. I really like the Globe Mini 580s too. There's something very appealing about a small, simple boat.