Atlantic crossing

[uforea]

A friend of mine has bought a steel ketch in Chesapeake Bay (not sure where exactly) and with two crew are planning to sail her to the UK in May this year. Only one of the three has any real sailing exprience.
Any help or advice from the Forum would be much appreciated.

Ted.

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[Fin]

Go on the QE2

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[Becky]

Seems a bit early in the year, but you could read The Atlantic Crossing Guide which gives an enormous amount ofinformation. Failing that, either ship the boat back or advertise for someone with the necessary expertise. Otherwise I should imagine insurance could be a problem.

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[stephenh]

He would be advised not to take the shortest route (great circle) as this goes too far north with attendant fog and ice.

Head straight for the Azores is the traditional way and then to the UK.

May is a good time , don't leave it too late - hurricans can slot up the eastern coast of the US from late June onwards....

Don't cross the Gulf Stream in a northerly - can get quite rough...

Have a good engine and lots of fuel for the area around the Azores - can be very flat for days.

What size is the boat ?
good luck - sounds fun

Stephen

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[uforea]

Thanks for your input. Boat is a Dutch built 42ft cutter rigged ketch. In steel of course and weights 24tons.
Ted.

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[AndrewB]

May/June is the best time of year for this crossing. As you say, they'll have trouble with insurance, and probably go without. While not impossible with limited experience, the chances are they won't enjoy it.

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[mike_bryon]

you can buy the services of a delivery skipper at a very reasonable rate. it might be worth talking to a few who advertise in the yachting press - many are happy to sail with owners and owners crew. it will amount to weeks of sailing instruction, you will get to know lots about your new boat ,you will enjoy it far more, the skipper may be able to arrange insurance. We will be in the Azores June and July maybe we will see you there. best of luck.

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[Jeremy_W]

Good choice. But the owner has to remember that a delivery skipper is precisely that: a SKIPPER for the duration of the passage. Uforea's friend will have to follow orders from his hired hand. The orders may be courteously phrased but they will be orders. No delivery skipper who wishes to remain in employment will gratuitously pull rank on the owner but nobody should employ the experience and expertise of a delivery pro and then object when "I should be grateful if you would attach your harness" becomes "harness attached NOW!"

Also remember that delivery skippers have an interest in completing the passage asap. Ten minutes after the Horta Yacht Services guys have fixed the GPS aerial they're charging to the farmers' market, list in hand. An hour later they're under way. Owners who might never be there again are interested in chilling out at Cafe Sport, catching the ferry for a day's climbing Mount Pico and whale-watching day trips.

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[mike_bryon]

Completely fair points about the downside of a delivery skipper. However they may agree to a spell in the Azores if you arrange it in advance and pay them for it. You might then find that the skipper is more than prepared to join you for a drink in Pete's Café and may help you visit some of the more rarely visited islands and anchorages. They are fantastic cruising grounds.

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[Abaker]

Establish clearly at the outset who will be the skipper, you or the owner. Two experienced crew are enough provided one is a competent skipper who can manage passage planning, provisioning, navigation, watchkeeping, health & safety at sea, etc. The owner or skipper will have to deal with questions of insurance (yacht & medical) & VAT exemption or payment.

I agree that Atlantic Crossing Guide by Anne Hammick is the best single source of info. Her paperback Ocean Cruising on a Budget also offers much common sense on deciding what is essential. Weather patterns differ from year to year. Averages show that May likely will be colder and have more gales than June. Either month is OK. Leave by early June to nimimize risk of an early hurricane. Stay south of 38 N Lat until reaching 45 W Long to minimize risk of an iceberg. Avoid wind against current in the Gulf Stream. Go north from Azores to find some wind and to avoid Biscay.

Satisfy yourself that the yacht is adequately prepared and equipped: recent survey of rig; sails, steering, plumbing, engine, electrics, electronics in good order; autopilot/windvane self-steering; SSB receiver for weather; charts & pilots; functional galley & seaberths; 406 EPIRB, liferaft, & other emergency & safety gear; offshore medical kit. Take along and use enough Stugeron for entire crew, expecially the inexperienced ones; it's not available in the US, and is better than US alternatives for preventing seasickness with minimal side effects.

The Chesapeake is a great place to prepare a yacht. Either exit from the Bay requires fairly demanding piloting (Delaware Bay in the north or Hampton Roads in the south) so go out in daylight & good visibility unless someone aboard has local experience.

On our Atlantic crossing (three-up in a good 34-footer) our start was delayed by high water problems in the Erie Canal. We left New York City 17 June 2002, arrived Horta 9 July, stopped there 2 weeks, then took 2 weeks more to Falmouth, during which we saw about 100 whales one day. Our worst problem was too much calm, just out of NY and again just out of Horta. We averaged 100 mi/day. You might do 125. Allow about 4 weeks at sea and as much time as you can in the Azores. Enjoy.

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[uforea]

Thanks Alan for your reply which is what I was looking for, very helpful. A delivery skipper is a luxury that cannot be afforded so they will have to rely on their own skills. They aim to be as prepared as possible and the Yacht is already well equipped just needs all systems checking.

Thanks, Ted.


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