cross an ocean in a Hurley 18

As said boats you size have sailed long distance. The only issue is food and water, for an Atlantic crossing we stocked up with one months worth, you wouldn't believe how much that was. The main thing to do is work out how much food and water you can carry then plan a passage distance and time to fit the amount of water and provisions, knock 5% of the distance in case the passage is slow and you coud run out of them.
 
hegge,

if you're still out there...

I once met a young couple in a Hurley 18 travelling through the French Canals en route to the Med', they were doing everything independently and having a great time.

I know it's hardly the Atlantic - for a start you can stop and go for a walk most of the time - but when I went aboard I was very impressed how they used the space available.

The boat, sublect to a good checking over and sensible modifications, can do it if you can.
 
dylanwinter said:
well the jump to no charts is a large one

however, since you suggested it

a chartlet for the starting point and a similar one for the ending one would be handy

not sure that tides have much to do with crossing the atlantic

not sure what pilotage is in the modern world

certainly in the time of GPS and good weather reports it means a different thing from what it did in the 70's

so I guess I am saying that navigation is now a tiny part of any such endeavour.

I myself find a pea stick to be primary main aid to pilotage

D
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Well old Columbus did it and with my seconhand atlas or even a kids Globe somewhere in the States wouldn't be too difficult to find....... at least the |OP\ knows its there
 
Sailingsaves said:
Decent lee cloth.

Decent pillow and bedding.

Goretex bivvi bag

Self steering obviously.

Life line / tether to go with harness lifejacket.

ais transponder with warning alert to wake you up (if no radar).

A very decent grab bag and liferaft.

Emergency vhf aerial.

Epirb

I'd want a sat 'phone.

Water still or hand operated water maker.

Some means of drying clothing.

Parachute flares.

Waterproof camera to capture the highs and lows.

Decent powerful torches.

Keep electrics simple but robust and well greased. - spare fuses and spares for most things from halyards to sails.

Waterproof camera to capture the highs and lows.

I'm sure there is more, but the above springs to mind.

Good labeling system for where stuff is stored.

Then let us know how you got on.

Good luck
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+ another Hurley 18, to carry everything, towed behind.
 
dylanwinter said:
every journey starts with a single step

and in this case the first step is be just thinking about it

what happens after that is up to you

when I was a young bloke - and bored at work - my plan was to buy a Hurley and sail it across the Atlantic

then Jill got pregnant

now I just potter from port to port making films

I am still curious about what happens inside your head when you spend six weeks alone on a small boat at sea

but I cannot think of a way of financing such a venture

so I doubt that it will ever get past the first step

D
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You got your little red book out didn't you!
Can I unmask you as Jeremy Corbyn?
 
l'escargot said:
So would your advice to the OP be that he can set off across the Atlantic with no navigational skills whatsoever as long as he takes "a few battery powered GPS devices" - that he needs no idea of pilotage, understanding of tides, the ability to read a chart or indeed even to have a chart?
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What pilotage & understanding of tides?
He's crossing an ocean, not playing in the shallows close to the beach.
 
ronsurf said:
The biggest issue are storage - food and water and equipment. The smaller the boat, the longer it takes, the more food and water you need. It's obviously do-able as it's been done before. Consider the Shane Acton route - down to the canaries, then wait, up to a year if need be, then cross with the trade winds using twin headsails connected to the tiller.

Make sure you have plenty of time. When Shane Acton did it - he had no reason to come home. His boat was pretty new at the time, so you need to make sure yours is in good order.

Good luck and fair winds
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Just pointing to where the sun sets, will eventually bump into something.
 
dylanwinter said:
when I was a young bloke - and bored at work - my plan was to buy a Hurley and sail it across the Atlantic
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As a teenager I wanted to rail around the world in the Whitbread race.

Last year I was delighted to sail around the Isle of Wight in RTIR. Funny how dreams can change, yet can still be as exciting.
 
alant said:
What pilotage & understanding of tides?
He's crossing an ocean, not playing in the shallows close to the beach.
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So where is he leaving from and arriving at - or will he just materialise somewhere offshore and stay there for evermore? I would've thought an instructor would know that the riskiest bits of any crossing are often leaving port and arriving in a port - several "Captain Calamities' have demonstrated that by failing to even get out of the harbour when setting out on epic voyages unprepared. You could cut your crossing time down and improve your chances of arriving in the right place by taking into account the Atlantic tidal currents too...

That of course is making the assumption that he is going across, he only said an "Atlantic cruise" - he could be day sailing on the West coast of Ireland for all we know...
 
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l'escargot said:
So where is he leaving from and arriving at - or will he just materialise somewhere offshore and stay there for evermore? I would've thought an instructor would know that the riskiest bits of any crossing are often leaving port and arriving in a port - several "Captain Calamities' have demonstrated that by failing to even get out of the harbour when setting out on epic voyages unprepared. You could cut your crossing time down and improve your chances of arriving in the right place by taking into account the Atlantic tidal currents too...

That of course is making the assumption that he is going across, he only said an "Atlantic cruise" - he could be day sailing on the West coast of Ireland for all we know...
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Just follow one of the ferries.
 
There is lots of good advice on the post re the ins and outs of an Atlantic voyage. Presumably the op knows what he is doing and can sail. To me the main thing to have to worry about is the weather. You have to get the weather window right. I have been 'upside down with my head in the bucket' in the Atlantic and I was on a destroyer at the time and no I wasn't drunk. I just think that once the novelty has worn off it would just be very uncomfortable in real terms. But a big hats off to anyone who does it. Respect.
Mick
 
I think either Hegge is pulling our legs or should give a fewore details of his plans if he wants useful suggestions.
Huleys always 'look the business' even the 18 but I think a bit more room would make it more comfortable. I don't think there'll be any room for foam bouyancy, you'll be stuffed to the gunnels with provisions. 42 gallons of water for a start - you don't want to get dehydrated in the tropics. Creating waterproof compartments on a H18 would be a challenge as well as would stowing a liferaft somewhere.
I'm offering no more opinions till we hear where he's planning to go.
 
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