Passage Plan

[MarieK]

I am hoping to take my (new to me) boat away for the weekend, the longest leg of the journey will be 140 miles from Lough Swilly in Donegal to Ardglass on the Co.Down coast. I have spent the last few months gauging her consumption (with help from some forumites, thanks Blackfeather). She can carry 570 litres and here is the breakdown

RPM L/H Knots Range
1250 8 7 500
1600 17 8.5 285
1900 27 10.4 219
2300 44 11.8 155
2500 52 14.5 159
2900 66 18.1 155
3200 74 22 169
3900 110 27.5 142.5

However I plan the passage I will be pushing against 3/4 knots of tide for at least 3 hours, in my view I therefore do not have enough fuel for the passage, I want to keep a decent reserve. I therefore have two solutions 1) carry 150litres in tanks 2) do part of the trip at displacement speed.

What are the views of the forum?

Thanks
Ryan

 

[DAKA]

This is my guess to add to all the others, just pick the one that suits you best and enjoy the weekend /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Top the tank up before you leave on the first leg.
Travel @ 20 knots
top up at the end of the first leg
Only count miles @ 20 knts (exclude harbour miles)

That will give you about 1.45 mpg which is a safe range of 140 nm


I would need to know my boat well before I went on the 140 mile leg.

Jerry cans are not really much use while on passage unless you can find a sheltered cove to top up.

 

[[2068]]

Including a 20% reserve, that's a boat with a 125nm range.

Is there no way that leg can be broken up? Two legs of 70nm sounds a lot more like fun. Attempting to refuel at sea is something I've never tried: probably easy enough in calm /sheltered waters, but probably not so easy bouncing around in the atlantic.

Running at displacement speeds for part of the leg would definitely work - so long as the tides were in your favour!

 

[Kawasaki]

Trips like this are great but unpredictable cos of weather usually.
I would plan for a 2 leg 2 day gig.
More interesting, less stress and time for a beer or two.
Cripes ! thats what its all about innit? /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[John100156]

Agree with previous posts: I did a 150NM crossing from mainland Spain to Majorca last year. Allowed 1.5MPG hence 100 gallons with 20% spare = 120 gallons. Filled the tanks with 125 gallons. Hit some heavy seas enroute and must admit to being a little nervous as I approached the Cabo De Formentor! If in doubt split the journey (if you can) with an additional fuel stop, one less thing to worry about! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif