Atlantic crossing

[zoidberg]

The 'current' edition of Yachting World has a lengthy article about Atlantic Crossings in teams/groups/flocks.....
It extolls the benefits of joining - at a price - one of the organisations that ease and facilitate this 'bucket list' adventure for families.

If memory serves, lots of other families and individuals have passed that way under their own steam.

Which way would you prefer?Ploughing your own furrow, or mob-handed...? And why.....

 

[Stingo]

Definitely not with a rally i.e. sailing to someone else's schedule. And I'd go single handed again, which was so peaceful. On two crossings with crew, there were conflicts. On one of those crossings, if I'd been able to jump ship, I would have.

 

[capnsensible]

8 out of 12 I got paid. The other 4 were very pleasant on my own boat, twice with amigos and twice just me and Mrs. S. I enjoyed them all.

However, I reckon that things like the ARC have enabled masses of normal people have a lifetimes adventure that otherwise would not have happened.

So what I'm really saying is that there is no staff answer, just opportunities.

 

[BurnitBlue]

I think rallies help the inexperienced to untie the lines and set out across the Atlantic. It provides an alternative reason to leave the harbour. Not just to decide when to leave while waiting for perfect weather for a three week non-stop sail across an ocean. Instead they are going for a long sail surrounded by freinds in their own boats instead of being surrounded by a big empty unfreindly ocean.

Once under way in a following trade wind it is easier to keep going. The point of no-return is passed quite quickly despite being eventually surrounded by an empty unfreindly ocean.

 

[zoidberg]

The point of no-return is passed quite quickly.

'Memories... like the corners of my mind'.....

I used to need to calculate 'Last Point Of Diversion' and 'Point of No Return'..... and other such stuff. I'm willing to bet your Raymarine MFD can't do clever tricks like that....

 

[franksingleton]

I have never made an Atlantic crossing but it has always seemed to me that planning to arrive Antigua in time for Xmas is not a good passage planning tool.

 

[steve yates]

Never with a rally, its like paying to be sherpaed up everest.

 

[harvey38]

Do it in company for experience then on your own when you have the courage

 

[Stemar]

I'll never do it now - too old and unfit, and Madame doesn't do long passages, but I understand that so many people shadow the ARC that they have their own acronym - NARCs. Most of the advantages of the ARC, in that there are plenty of other boats around should you need them, but none of the hoo-hah and cost.

 

[Supertramp]

I suspect people do it as a social thing, especially where families or groups are involved. There is also the sense of keeping an eye on others and others keeping an eye on you.

I also think there is a lot of shared learning encouraged, both in what equipment you buy but also how you use it.

In answer to the OP, I would plough my own furrow,. However I would take notice of the experience and choices of others.

 

[capnsensible]

I have never made an Atlantic crossing but it has always seemed to me that planning to arrive Antigua in time for Xmas is not a good passage planning tool.

That's kinda round the hurricane season. Boats leaving to sail west generally do so around the end of November as its due to finish. Even a slow crossing gets you there by Christmas. Even mebbe with a Cape Verde pit stop. Gives maximum time cruising for those who want to sail back before June.

Why am I saying this to our weatherman? No disrespect!!!!

Edit to add: Christmas Dinner ashore in Jolly Harbour, Antigua is Brill but beware boxing day hangover. Although traditional Premier League football is available for afficionados.

 

[capnsensible]

Never with a rally, its like paying to be sherpaed up everest.

Understand that. It's not really for me either. However, within hours of the ARC start, yachts loose visual contact quite quickly. That leaves the Safety coms net. These days, as technology has advanced, many yachts crossing carry, relatively cheaply, things like Iridium Go amongst others to enable routine weather forecasting, shore contact, yadda, yadda. So sort of the same as a personalised ARC.

 

[franksingleton]

That's kinda round the hurricane season. Boats leaving to sail west generally do so around the end of November as its due to finish. Even a slow crossing gets you there by Christmas. Even mebbe with a Cape Verde pit stop. Gives maximum time cruising for those who want to sail back before June.

Why am I saying this to our weatherman? No disrespect!!!!

Edit to add: Christmas Dinner ashore in Jolly Harbour, Antigua is Brill but beware boxing day hangover. Although traditional Premier League football is available for afficionados.

We know the Caribbean pretty well, 10 charters covering S Grenada to US/BVI. a great area.

My point really was that the risk of tropical storms, even hurricanes, is increasing in November/December. I would not want to feel compelled to leave at pre-ordained time. OK, over a 3 week passage you cannot predict that you will not encounter a storm that might hit you 2 weeks ahead. But, at least, you can choose a start time with no storms predicted for the next week or so.

 

[capnsensible]

We know the Caribbean pretty well, 10 charters covering S Grenada to US/BVI. a great area.

My point really was that the risk of tropical storms, even hurricanes, is increasing in November/December. I would not want to feel compelled to leave at pre-ordained time. OK, over a 3 week passage you cannot predict that you will not encounter a storm that might hit you 2 weeks ahead. But, at least, you can choose a start time with no storms predicted for the next week or so.

Understood.

The best bit about an East to west is that even if it does kick off, its possible to get south and cross at lower latitudes. We did this in 2005 when tropical storm Delta hit the Canaries. Went on down to Cape Verdes to dry out! Weather forecast was from Internet cafe on departure morning!

Coming back is a tad more interesting though.....

 

[franksingleton]

Understood.

The best bit about an East to west is that even if it does kick off, its possible to get south and cross at lower latitudes. We did this in 2005 when tropical storm Delta hit the Canaries. Went on down to Cape Verdes to dry out! Weather forecast was from Internet cafe on departure morning!

Coming back is a tad more interesting though.....

Agreed. When asked, I usually mention the Cape Verde option but with a later start date than usually used. Returning, must be more difficult being nearer extra-tropical storms and with the risk of hurricanes. There are more tropical storms in May than in the past. The old, “June too soon’” has little resonance now, nor has “October all over.” Climate is changing!

 

[john_morris_uk]

If I try hard I think I can see the attraction of the ARC but I also still think some of the claimed advantages are illusory. I really question whether it’s value for money. It’s not cheap and what do you actually get? A few days berthing and some parties?
On the positive side, it encourages people to make an ocean passage. (One of the great joys of sailing for me) They get camaraderie and parties and a chance to exchange ideas. (Except isn’t the latter what happens on these forums?)
The safety in sailing in company is a laugh IMHO. Firstly, as others have pointed out, after the first day or two, you don’t see anyone else. Secondly, even if you’re not part of the ARC and cross independently, you’re usually only a day or so away from a ship or someone else if you’re in serious trouble and fire off your EPIRB. It’s not quite the same as twenty years ago as comms have improved so much and most every ocean sailor has an EPIRB. We even have them on every lifejacket now…!
Years ago, the ARC was lots of small boats with families etc. Now it seems to be large boats with many of them with people paying over £3k each to do the crossing. We’re 39’ and we’d have been the fifth smallest boat in the recent ARC. It really put us off. Yes there are smaller boats with families in them but they seem to be becoming the minority.
edit: We also didn’t want to run to someone else’s schedule and we certainly didn’t want to end up in Saint Lucia as that would mean missing out on Barbados where we are currently.

 

[Wansworth]

My old books written by Hiscock and O Brian or AnnDavidson wrote about epic voyages which they were in their time now every body can masterGPS and associated electrickery and go,it wasthe freeing up from learning navigational skills that only allowed the relative few to cross oceans.I just wonder if paying to go in a charter yacht punters get the same benefit .

 

[Supertramp]

My old books written by Hiscock and O Brian or AnnDavidson wrote about epic voyages which they were in their time now every body can masterGPS and associated electrickery and go,it wasthe freeing up from learning navigational skills that only allowed the relative few to cross oceans.I just wonder if paying to go in a charter yacht punters get the same benefit .

Agree - try Humphrey Barton's Vertue XXXV. Never a dull moment and near the limit of man and boat. Admittedly a bit further North.

I don't think navigation put people off. Today there are more people with time and money. And a normal boat can do it with little preparation and offer a great deal more comfort (outside of survival conditions).

Preparing for an Atlantic crossing or an extended cruise is a part of the trip, and taking responsibility for your ship and crew is too. Some long term charters may get this but many will enjoy and remember the moment without the satisfaction and complication from sailing your own boat.

A friend sailed round the world in Clipper Race. I don't think he got as much out of it as he expected.

 

[Wansworth]

I still remember vividly my landfall on the north coast of Spain,up on the swell I could make out the lights of Sandander,then they disappeared,still a good twelve hours away.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I still remember vividly my landfall on the north coast of Spain,up on the swell I could make out the lights of Sandander,then they disappeared,still a good twelve hours away.

I think most of us who remember sailing without electronic aids have a few memorable landfalls. We also forget the nagging uncertainty (but I’ll maintain until I die that the uncertainty made us better navigators.)