Watched the launching of a Wayfarer today.

[KREW2]

Not just any old Wayfarer, but two guys who are going to sail around Britain.

They launched from our club slipway at about 11.30. Two minutes later they had the spinnaker up, and were heading out of the harbour to round "The Bill"

For those who may be interested in following them here is a link to their website.

http://www.xtremedinghycruising.com/Default.aspx#map-area

 

[fantasia7628]

Fantastic effort.
They have set themselves an epic challenge. I can only wish them the best of luck and shall be following their progress.

 

[dancrane]

That certainly is a hell of a challenge. The length of each stage (200 miles non-stop) is exceedingly ambitious in a dinghy; likewise the numerous scheduled nights under sail.

I'd think plenty of two-man crews with purposeful ballast-keel cabin boats would consider this plan pretty bold.

Ultimately it's all going to come down to the wind. Force 2-3 on the beam or astern, and they'd be laughing all the way. Constant F4-5 on the nose, and I reckon they'd quit.

 

[alpha100]

They are following in glorious footsteps though.

I remember reading 'Ocean crossing Wayfarer' by Frank and Margaret Dye, very many years ago and thinking that I would not have the skill, the stamina, the determination or the 'balls', to undertake such an epic voyage in a small open dinghy.

Good on them, and memories for a lifetime. Very best wishes.

 

[KREW2]

Certainly a challenge, and I will enjoy following their progress.
I thought they were going into Brixham for a first night stop over, but not so.
Two hundred miles a day seems a lot. Would they calculate that as COG or VMG.

 

[jimi]

Certainly a challenge, and I will enjoy following their progress.
I thought they were going into Brixham for a first night stop over, but not so.
Two hundred miles a day seems a lot. Would they calculate that as COG or VMG.

its 10 legs of c200 miles each, with each leg c 72 hours so 60/70 miles per 24 hours .. seems realistic planning.

 

[dancrane]

60/70 miles per 24 hours .. seems realistic planning.

Really? In a fairly slow dinghy? I know it works out very few miles per hour, but does each 3-day 200-mile leg take account of contrary winds?

I wish them the same luck I'll want for my own passage-making in a dinghy; but I predict they'll fall behind their schedule, unless their 200-mile plan is total distance covered, rather than actual progress in the direction they want to go.

 

[jimi]

Really? In a fairly slow dinghy? I know it works out very few miles per hour, but does each 3-day 200-mile leg take account of contrary winds?

I wish them the same luck I'll want for my own passage-making in a dinghy; but I predict they'll fall behind their schedule, unless their 200-mile plan is total distance covered, rather than actual progress in the direction they want to go.

I was presuming that they'd be looking for favourable winds as their target is 60 days and 10 legs of 3 days gives 30 days .. so 30 days to wait for appropriate weather windows. Also on the coastal legs (of which there will be many) they may well get the benefit of beam reaches on sea breezes. Good luck to them, hats off for even attempting it!

 

[KREW2]

Ah! my speed reading needs improving.
I read it at 200nm per 24 hours, that's why I thought it must be COG, even then it seemed a bit ambitious.
It looks as though they are going to make their target for the first hop. They have been going some 30 hours and eaten up about 120nm vmg

 

[Kermit]

Now that's an adventure.

Part of me would like to be with them, but part is glad I'm not.

Not sure what part would win if the offer ever arose......

Good luck to them and I'll be following their progress with interest.

 

[DanTribe]

Francis Gifford did this in 2010 in 72 days, clockwise from Waldringfield Suffolk. [search for Fran's big adventure]
I don't think she was pushing very hard, so 60 days should be do-able.

 

[dancrane]

I'm somehow reminded of Timothy Spall's exceedingly slow circumnavigation by sea-going barge.

Granted he had numerous other calls upon his time, but his fear of many passages, rivers and harbour entrances en route, made me think it must be quite a challenge in any boat...

...all the harder in a slow sailing dinghy with no engine. But perhaps Mr Spall's inner-actor was making a much bigger deal of it than was warranted.

I'll be very glad to discover that this dinghy-trip can be planned and achieved without major weather-bound delays and re-thinks. I'll be a bit surprised too.

 

[DJE]

Francis Gifford did this in 2010 in 72 days, clockwise from Waldringfield Suffolk. [search for Fran's big adventure]
I don't think she was pushing very hard, so 60 days should be do-able.

This chap did it in 76 days in 2012. http://www.thedailysail.com/offshore/12/62561/0/ludo-bennett-jones-completes-round-britain-voyage-in-a-wayfarer

With a little bit of help from the RNLI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TC4OsBUsUfQ

 

[Kelpie]

I'm somehow reminded of Timothy Spall's exceedingly slow circumnavigation by sea-going barge.

Granted he had numerous other calls upon his time, but his fear of many passages, rivers and harbour entrances en route, made me think it must be quite a challenge in any boat...

...all the harder in a slow sailing dinghy with no engine. But perhaps Mr Spall's inner-actor was making a much bigger deal of it than was warranted.

I'll be very glad to discover that this dinghy-trip can be planned and achieved without major weather-bound delays and re-thinks. I'll be a bit surprised too.

They're not that slow.
In coastal conditions I would bet that a wayfarer would work out faster than many other dinghies which may appear faster on PY, but which would in practise be slowed by the chop or by the frequent capsizes!

 

[dancrane]

Sorry Rob, I wasn't being disrespectful of the Wayfarer, and I know you're right about steady pace...I doubt this crew will be counting on planing, to cover distance.

Especially in boisterous conditions where a capsize could be dangerous and would certainly be a terrible delay. I bet I'd rather be in the Wayf than my Osprey at such times.

 

[KREW2]

I see they made Milford Haven at 0600. The yellow brick position doesn't give how many miles they have covered, so to work out an average speed would involve a bit of work.
I can't see anything on the website to say if they have a support team following them.

 

[Kermit]

I see they made Milford Haven at 0600. The yellow brick position doesn't give how many miles they have covered, so to work out an average speed would involve a bit of work.
I can't see anything on the website to say if they have a support team following them.

I hope they have a better time there than I did.

The coldest night I've ever spent on a Wayfarer was the night I spent at Dale.

 

[dancrane]

I see they made Milford Haven at 0600.

Am I alone in thinking that's pretty bloomin' impressive progress for a heavy dinghy, in four days, apparently non-stop?

I'm assuming there isn't much 'cruise' or 'pleasure' about this trip...well done to the crew...or are they actually terminators?

 

[jon711]

Francis Gifford did this in 2010 in 72 days, clockwise from Waldringfield Suffolk. [search for Fran's big adventure]
I don't think she was pushing very hard, so 60 days should be do-able.

I think (but could be wrong) that Fran went through the Caladonian canal, rather than round the top? These guys are going round the top, very impressive... (Not that what Fran did wasn't - got to say that she would beat me up next time she sees me otherwise!)

Jon

 

[DanTribe]

I think (but could be wrong) that Fran went through the Caladonian canal, rather than round the top? These guys are going round the top, very impressive... (Not that what Fran did wasn't - got to say that she would beat me up next time she sees me otherwise!)

Jon

Aah, That would make a big difference, I didn't realise that. Even more impressive!
Fran's trip was adventurous enough for me.