Circumnavigation?

[Wardy]

For the second time, we are trying to sell our house and live aboard. Then this sudden thought struck me... If we decide to do a passage in our future plans, maybe down the eastern seaboard of the US through the gulf of Mexico and onto S America... would the boat we buy be able to cope?
At present we are considering a Motor sailer, Colvic or Finnsailer. QWould we be better off considering a full blown yacht?
What sort of changes would we have to make to prepare a boat for such a voyage?


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[Sea Devil]

for going up or down the eastern seaboard of the USA in the intracostal waterway from New York down to Florida Keys a motor sailor is very suitible. Even more so a pure motor boat.

If you want to cross oceans then a very large - oceon going motor boat with sufficient fuel capacity is also very suitible (if you have large pockets to pay for the fuel and the boat in the first place)

If you have more modest funds then there is a lot to be said for a more traditional yacht - If only that probably you will make the ocean passages in a faster time and when you have to go to windward then it will do it better than a motor sailer.



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[AndrewB]

Plenty of motor-sailors go blue water cruising. Speed is never of the essence, and as far as possible you avoid long windward passages so good windward performance is unnecessary, just so long as you can count on reasonable progress under sail on other points of sailing. That having been said, the passage from the US eastern seaboard down towards the eastern coast of South America (if that is what you mean) is essentially to windward. But there are sufficient islands to accomplish that route in reasonably short hops mostly under power, as thousands of Americans do each season.

A book would be needed to cover all aspects of how the yacht should be prepared for a circumnavigation. Although some trade wind routes are not onorous, the yacht may benefit from being beefed up a little to ensure it can cope with prolongued heavy weather and/or a knockdown, as well as the pressures of a long passage. You must have equipment, spares, knowledge and procedures in place for coping with a range of emergencies with limited assistance.

 

[steve_cronin]

No problem...

Our next door neighbours have sailed their Beneteau Evasion 34 "Tacks" (Tacks Evasion - get it?) from the UK to The Cape Verdes and then on to South America, down the eastern seabord of that continent and I have just this morning received the following from them

"OLA AMIGOS. Nice to hear from you both. Well since last time we spoke things have been very hectic, and the last season was very long. When we returned to Tacks last year we sailed down the coast of Argentina rounding Cape Horn, then into the Beagle Channel where we spent some time doing some small alterations to her, to ready her for the 3 month cruise through the widerness of the Patigonian Channels Chile. The weather was awful as expected, and by the time we made it to Peurto Mont Chile, we were very depressed by the constant gales, rain, and snow. However we were looking forward to the passage across the Pacific to Easter Island and Tahiti, but 6 days out of Chile our water tank was leaking so bad that we made an emergency stop at Robinson Crusoe Island, about 500 miles west of Valpareiso Chile. It was very dissapointing as it was a brand new vetus water tank but it had over 20 holes in it, we recon that it had been on the shelves for we dont know how many years befor it was sold and forwarded onto us. Any way unable to repair the water tank to our satisfaction, and unable to find enough water containers on the Island, we had no other choice but make our way back to Chile. Unwilling to spend 5 or 6 months in the grip of an Antarctic winter in the south of Chile, we made our way to a small yacht club in the north, the name of the city is Iquique it is situated in the Arica desert, just what the doctor ordered, lots of sunshine and a small friendly yacht club. This has given us the oppertunaty to do some repairs to Tacks and get her ready for next season. Our plan now is to sail north to Equador mid Feb, spend a few weeks, plus pick up our permit and leave for the Gollapagos mid march, spend a few weeks there befor leaving for the Marquises some time mid April as the cyclone season should be well over by then. We have been invited to spend Xmas with friends in Buenos Aires, and some other friends have invited us to stay with them in Rio for 3 weeks in Jan, so a return to Blighty for Xmas and New year is out of the question, however spending the winter in a tropcal climate has its advantages. Well thats all from us for now catch up with you again soon Mike and Cathy TACKS xxxxxxx"

An Evasion 34 is a motorsailor which many would only think suitable for Channel crossings. Mick & Cathy have proved otherwise.

Steve Cronin




<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion