Passage Planning - eg Newport (US) to Solent - Sailing

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alant

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You have purchased a 'pre-owned' yacht (<50') in US & intend sailing it back to UK.

(1) Which route would you favour? (& why)
(2) What equipment is essential? (electrics/comms/watermakers/sails/etc)
(3) Apart from weather, what other essential 'routing' checks would you carry out?
(4) When would you depart?
 
I am planning a transatlantic passage leaving from the Windies in April 2008.

In reply to your questions :

1) Bermuda - Azores - Ireland - mainland UK.
Why? Bermuda is a lovely wee island to visit - lots to see and do there. And it makes a convenient break on what is otherwise a long passage.
And I have never been to the Azores, so that is incentive enough for wanting to stop there.
While who can bypass Ireland unless you are running short of time?

2) Essential equipment - One has to establish what is essential, and what is desirable...... Nelson and Co managed quite happily without water makers and chart plotters, but I am sure that if they had them, they would have been overjoyed!
But I would definitely have :
A ham radio, with email via winlink (I cannot afford or justify a satellite phone),
A GPS with a couple of handheld back-ups, as they are so cheap now,
Proper charts,
A sextant with tables (cos I am old fashioned),
Perhaps an EPIRB (although Blondie Hasler had a point when he famously said (before the 1st OSTAR in 1960 I think) that 'every herring should hang by it's own tail'.....
LOTS of water in bottles - they cant go wrong.
This list could get rather long.....

3) Check in with Herb's net and the Transatlantic Maritime Net for excellent weather advice.

4) April is a good time to leave from the Caribbean bound for Bermuda, but it might be a bit too early if leaving from Newport (?).

Just read Snowleopard's post above - yes, just buy the Atlantic Crossing Guide from the RCC, and that should tell you pretty much everything you want to know - it is an excellent book (for passages both ways).
 
Hi, I did the same sailing last year from Bridgeport NJ to Finland via Azores and Falmouth.

1. via Azores so that you can have a stop and maybe you like to pay the VAT there.

2. SSB radio, sat. phone, EPIRB, liferaft if sailing a monohull ( my boat is a catamaran, anyway had one)several GPS's in case of breakage and radar is really usefull during foggy nights

3.information of Golf stream is very usefull as well because it's not constant and instead of helping you , you might get 1,5 kn against

4. in the beginning of May
 
I am doing the same trip next year.

My boat is in Chesapeake bay at the moment and I am hoping to see the start of the final leg of the 5 Ocean race on 15 April from Norfolk Virginia.

I plan to leave USA first week of May for Bermuda. 4 or 5 days there then off to the Azores. Should be there first week June, then set off for La Coruna again after 4 or 5 days and get back to UK end of June.

Keeping below 40 N for as long as possible as weather is normally very good.

I dont have a watermaker. I will just have lots of bottled water on board.

You probably will need loads of diesel as there is often not enough wind.

I think SSB is essential. I will also have a Pactor 3 modem to send and receive emails via winlink.

Boat wise probably the only things are a pole to hold out the genoa tight and a boom preventer.

Send a pm if you would like some info on the ssb instalation

Have a good trip
 
the most common route for that passage is Newport - Bermuda - Azores - Falmouth. Best time is summer as weather is supposed to be better and shorter nights make for easier watches.
My preference is to go straight across and catch the Atlantic Drift [Gulf Stream] all the way, although I have never quite managed it due to breakages.
In terms of equipment I have never had long range comms, watermakers or relied on my electrics which have always let me down. But I've never sailed a big boat like yours over. I do carry an EPIRB and a life raft just in case - this gives a lot of peace of mind.
In terms of weather not having long range comms I rely on interpreting my own weather using a barometer and wind direction - sometimes I am right. I do carefully read the routing charts for the season when planning my passage - they can be found free here:

http://www.nga.mil/portal/site/maritime/...ec24fd73927a759
 
Oh two other things I think are essential - firstly have spare sails as they have a tendency to rip, particularly around the seams. I carry three Genoas and 2 mains.
The other thing I think is essential is wind vane steering. I don't know anyone who has made it over without breaking their electric autopilots. While wind vane steering doesn't like like winds it will put up with any form of wind or sea state. The worse the weather the better the wind vane steering like it. Most people who have them swear by the Aries. Personally I am a fan of Windpilot at 13 kgs the Pacific Light [which would be too small for your boat] doesn't weigh my stern down too much and still puts up with everything that can be thrown at it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I don't know anyone who has made it over without breaking their electric autopilots.

[/ QUOTE ]
Just for your information: I made it with Raymarin 4000GT+ tiller and it worked fine all the way from US to Finland /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
I agree with Glayva - a windvane is absolutely essential!

We have a Hydrovane, and I think it is wonderful.

In actual fact, so long as they do their job effectively, they are ALL wonderful.

Have an electric autopilot as well if you must, but keep that for if you are motoring for long periods.
Let the windvane do the work the rest of the time - it will steer a better course than any helmsperson and does not need feeding or watering, and never complains!
 
We did Norfolk, Bermuda, Azores, Plymouth in during Jul/Aug 2005 - a bit too late in the season. To add a few random thoughts to the good advice above ...

Our Raymarine autopilot worked fine all the way. Had a spare just in case.

If I was doing it again, I'd miss Bermuda and spend more time in the Azores: 3-4 days In Azores is nowhere near enough.

Had a lot of 'no wind' so carry lots of fuel

Watermaker - had one but it was not commissioned. Even it it was, would have probably still carried sufficient.

Getting routing info from Herb was very helpful

Globalstar comms (cheap to buy in the US and 0.70 Euros per min to use) with Ocens software was very welcome luxury. Not essential by any means but was great for emails, weather (gribs, gulf stream updates etc) and keeping in touch.

We fried two alternator regulators (probably by overuse) but thankfully had spares.

Make sure the crew all get on well before you set out.

Allow more time than you expect! It's such a shame to have to leave the landfalls soon after arriving becuase you have a deadline to get back. We took 33 days at sea and had 10 at landfalls, which was not enough.

Take fishing gear.
 
"But you're an Ocean Yachtmaser? I'd ask you..."

I know what I would do, but always interested in any other views/experiences.

The post was for 'academic' interest.
Often on this forum, there are questions asked about buying boats in US, then questions about delivery costs (sailing v shipping). The answers given above, will evoke the more adventurous to consider their options perhaps.
 
Oh Ok...
I'll add a bit then
I'd stop in th eAzores for a Month at least, I love the islands.
Kit I'd have a towed generator and a sextant and watch (with tables of course), in addition to what some others have added. Good sails sail cloth and a needle and thread...
 
Good answer Snowleopard.
I know that you have done all your research and are merely asking on this forum to get other perspectives and info but at first glance your post can read as though you are asking others to do your thinking for you,which of course as skipper on an ocean voyage is er interesting.
The only thing I would add (because you haven't stated what boat and in what level of commission it is)..is to allow enough time to work the boat up for the trip. I think Tom Cunliffe in an old article stated that 'you are statistically likely to encounter at least one gale on this trip'
Good way to buy the right boat though!
 
Regarding the route, I would come up to Maine first, but then as I live in Maine I am deeply prejudiced. I sailed up from the Caribbean for the summer in 1989... I could not believe how beautiful it is, and the lobstah (I am working on my accent) is delicious! Dolphin Dancer (Rival 34) is now based out of Camden.

As regards equipment, a stack of good books is essential.
 
"(although Blondie Hasler had a point when he famously said (before the 1st OSTAR in 1960 I think) that 'every herring should hang by it's own tail'....."

Think he was talking specifically about solo sailors though, in the days when you had to be completely self-sufficient.

"Having voluntarily assumed the risk, they were morally bound to accept the consequences. They should said Hasler 'drown like gentlemen' "
 
(Quote)
3.information of Golf stream is very usefull as well because it's not constant and instead of helping you , you might get 1,5 kn against

Erm, I am sure that's not right?

Surely the Golf Stream would give you a FOUR!!!! knot tide against /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Alan, maybe I am missing something here, but shouldn't all transatlantic sailors set off on a voyage with the understanding that they still have to be completely self sufficient?

In the last transatlantic rowing race earlier this year, about 4 or 5 boats capsized (and stayed upside down) within a week of each other, during some rather strong (but not uncommon) tradewind conditions - it was gusting 40 knots I think - fairly easy to cope with on a well found and seaworthy sailing boat, but a bit more hairy on a little rowing boat that can theoretically self-right.
EPIRB alarms were going beserk........ but everybody was rescued, with some heroic feats of survival and seamanship along the way.
However I wonder how many rowers would have entered this race if they did not have EPIRBS to fall back on if things go pear shaped?
 
"but a bit more hairy on a little rowing boat that can theoretically self-right" "However I wonder how many rowers would have entered this race if they did not have EPIRBS to fall back on if things go pear shaped?"

- Speaks volumes doesn't it. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I favour Hasler & Robin K-J's attitudes.

Each should be aware of the risks & look out for themselves at sea. Whilst in hope of assistance, we should not go to sea in the expectation of receiving it, should we be foolhardy.
I can have the luxury of risking my own life, but should I risk someone elses, even though gratefully received if in peril?
This also surely takes the adventure out of any endeavour.
 
I agree totally - if everyone set off across oceans following the basic philosophy of Blondie and Robin re being as self sufficient and independent (and seaworthy) as they possibly can be, as primary,
while perhaps still having the luxury of all the bells, whistles and gizmos (if they can afford them that is) for shouting for help as secondary,
then I am sure that the casualty rate re vessels phoning in and asking to be rescued would be substantially reduced.
 
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