Would you take a Bavaria 32 across the Atlantic

[BrianH]

I remember talking to an engineer who had been involved in the design of a new high speed train some years ago. They were concerned that a bird strike could be serious, so they borrowed a "chicken gun" from an aerospace specialist company - used to test big jet engines to see how they could cope with a bird strike. They pointed the gun at the front of one of their trains and fired - they were disturbed to see that the chicken went through the windscreen, demolished the rear wall of the driver's cab and caused havoc throughout the front passenger space before ending up lodged in the rear wall of the carriage. They went back to the owners of the gun to ask for advice on how to make their train more resilient - the first question that the aerospace engineers asked was "You did defrost the chicken first, didnt you?"

That's a lovely story ... but could someone - an engineer even - really be that dumb?

But their concerns were perfectly valid. I once caught the Thalia train (Belgian TGV) from Paris to Brussels and on arrival, walking past the locomotive saw a duck impaled on the section just below the cab windscreen - frozen o) in flight with outstretched wings looking just like one of those kitsch, wall ornaments of diminishing-sized ducks in flight; this was the biggest one. That also could refer to the thread drift - apologies to the OP.

 

[prv]

That's a lovely story ... but could someone - an engineer even - really be that dumb?

Afraid it's an urban myth that has been doing the rounds for several decades now

Pete

 

[Sailfree]

We live in a world in which a starter boat has to be 34' long with hot and cold pressurised water, fridge, freezer, central heating, chartplotter, AIS, 40hp engine and so on. Sails are optional, I think.

We started with 36' and 30HP as the realities on modern life is that unless I could passage plan for +5kts I would have difficulties combining sailing with the then work commitments. Second point is 36' gave sufficient comfort (all the extras you mention except freezer) that SWMBO is happy to still go on extended sailing holidays after 16yrs (albeit with an even larger boat now).

Be 6 weeks this year but probably plan for 3 months in future years if family commitments/weddings don't get in the way.

Had one woman, a friend of SWMBO, out on our boat once who admitted that she refused to ever sail with her husband. He was a purist and always sailed, never used the engine, and would think nothing of sailing his smaller boat to cherbourg, having a cup of tea and something to eat, then sailing back without ever stepping ashore. it became apparent that sadly they lived separate lives.

 

[30boat]

Had one woman, a friend of SWMBO, out on our boat once who admitted that she refused to ever sail with her husband. He was a purist and always sailed, never used the engine, and would think nothing of sailing his smaller boat to cherbourg, having a cup of tea and something to eat, then sailing back without ever stepping ashore. it became apparent that sadly they lived separate lives.

Can't say I blame her.The man only thought of himself.

 

[Tomahawk]

I would be a dead man if I went sailing on Tomahawk without my First Officer…
Would be equally if I didn't take her for a beer when we get somewhere...

 

[Sailfree]

I would be a dead man if I went sailing on Tomahawk without my First Officer…
Would be equally if I didn't take her for a beer when we get somewhere...

Same as mine.

I was making the point that purists with small boats and a porta loo often sail alone while those that do consider SWMBO's wishes and get a "large" starter boat often end up sailing together for years.

There are a bunch on here that don't consider you a sailor unless you start on an old boat sub 24' requiring lots of maintenance and preferably long keel. If you havn't served your time working up from small old boats they appear scornful and consider you are a Johny come lately/cheque book sailor and your opinion is worthless!

 

[toad_oftoadhall]

I remember talking to an engineer who had been involved in the design of a new high speed train some years ago. They were concerned that a bird strike could be serious, so they borrowed a "chicken gun" from an aerospace specialist company - used to test big jet engines to see how they could cope with a bird strike. They pointed the gun at the front of one of their trains and fired - they were disturbed to see that the chicken went through the windscreen, demolished the rear wall of the driver's cab and caused havoc throughout the front passenger space before ending up lodged in the rear wall of the carriage. They went back to the owners of the gun to ask for advice on how to make their train more resilient - the first question that the aerospace engineers asked was "You did defrost the chicken first, didnt you?"

http://www.snopes.com/science/cannon.asp

 

[EuanMcKenzie]

are we talking the new model or older version. My mate has a 2002 bav 32 which is a nice boat and certainly very comfortable inshore. Its also fast down wind. We got 9 knots in a gust with a fresh breeze and good waves. However, in those conditions it really likes to be steered to keep it on course and flat and i found it very exposed when compared to my boat as the cockpit seats are high and comings are low and the helm stands ready to fall out the back.

the fridge is a nice deep box which holds a lot if you pack it well and stays cold if you have sufficient mass within.

I'm used to a centre cockpit in a heavy long keeled MAB so very different.

I don't doubt it could make it but it but i'm not sure it would inspire me to do it again!

I believe it would make it but i suspect it would get wet inside from minor stanchion base leaks etc.

My wife would love us to own it though! Horses for courses

Oh and my old boat has very big fuel and water tanks thank you. Where did the myth come from that old boats have small tanks?

 

[JumbleDuck]

There are a bunch on here that don't consider you a sailor unless you start on an old boat sub 24' requiring lots of maintenance and preferably long keel. If you havn't served your time working up from small old boats they appear scornful and consider you are a Johny come lately/cheque book sailor and your opinion is worthless!

Perhaps we should introduce these people to the equally fictional bunch who think the only possible way to sail is in a 34'+ AWB with all mod cons and sneer at anyone who enjoys anything else?

 

[capnsensible]

Yeah,I guess your willy keeps getting in the way...

Yes and no.

 

[Sailfree]

Perhaps we should introduce these people to the equally fictional bunch who think the only possible way to sail is in a 34'+ AWB with all mod cons and sneer at anyone who enjoys anything else?

its not a fictional bunch but a bunch that manage to keep their wives/partners in reasonable comfort and sailing with them so they are the f*cking bunch.

The two bunches don't need introducing - they meet on here!

 

[maby]

its not a fictional bunch but a bunch that manage to keep their wives/partners in reasonable comfort and sailing with them so they are the f*cking bunch.

The two bunches don't need introducing - they meet on here!

And, in most cases, are very civil to each other, but I don't think I've ever seen a member of the "large boat" brigade being rude to small boats - you do find a few the other way round...

 

[Sailfree]

And, in most cases, are very civil to each other, but I don't think I've ever seen a member of the "large boat" brigade being rude to small boats - you do find a few the other way round...

Correct.

I often point out to crew that sailing is a great leveller and the grin on someones face in a small boat creaming along under sail is just as big as ours

 

[JumbleDuck]

And, in most cases, are very civil to each other, but I don't think I've ever seen a member of the "large boat" brigade being rude to small boats - you do find a few the other way round...

In my experience, smaller boats - that's smaller than mine, you understand - go with great certainty, vigorously expressed, on all matters to do with sailing.

 

[geem]

are we talking the new model or older version. My mate has a 2002 bav 32 which is a nice boat and certainly very comfortable inshore. Its also fast down wind. We got 9 knots in a gust with a fresh breeze and good waves. However, in those conditions it really likes to be steered to keep it on course and flat and i found it very exposed when compared to my boat as the cockpit seats are high and comings are low and the helm stands ready to fall out the back.

the fridge is a nice deep box which holds a lot if you pack it well and stays cold if you have sufficient mass within.

I'm used to a centre cockpit in a heavy long keeled MAB so very different.

I don't doubt it could make it but it but i'm not sure it would inspire me to do it again!

I believe it would make it but i suspect it would get wet inside from minor stanchion base leaks etc.

My wife would love us to own it though! Horses for courses

Oh and my old boat has very big fuel and water tanks thank you. Where did the myth come from that old boats have small tanks?

My old boat has a 450 litre fuel tank and 780 litre water tank. It's crossing the Atlantic this year. 34 years old

 

[temptress]

Oh, there are ways of doing it - friends of ours have recently sailed across - but I'm still not convinced that it is feasible to run a power autopilot close to 24/7 - ours seems to have a noticeable effect on our battery charge in just a few hours. The people I know that have done ocean crossings all seem to rely primarily on wind vanes.

Modern autopilot are a different beast. On my last ocean crossing I decided not to fit a windvane and have not regretted it. Looking across my current a anchorage I see you maybe 30 odd cruising the boats. I can only see 1windvane on a Swedish 28 footer right next to me. We know them and they use the autopilot first with the windvane as the backup.

A stock of Bay 32 is more than capable. I Just load up with food and water and enjoy the sailing.

 

[temptress]

Maybe for the first day or two, then you get bored of it (same direction all the time, nothing to see, etc.)



My opinion based on actual experience rather than supposition

Ocean sailing is very different to day sailing/weekending. I think it's brilliant, but it can get rather boring at times.

I agree with your 2nd point which is why I like to steer for a few hours each day. It is enjoyable especially as you don't need to stick strictly to a course and can have some fun learning to sail fast and approximate a course.

 

[temptress]

You do have a point.When I'm sailing solo offshore there's always something to do,reading usually takes the back seat most of the time.

Completely agree

Incidentally we left the Canaries last February and I finally got round to topping up to fuel tank last week. It took just under 120ltrs. That is one Atlantic crossing via the Cape Verde and 4 months cruising the Windward Islands.

 

[temptress]

I missed off my list heaving to for a swim and also rubbing suntan cream on scantily clad ladies.

That last one can take some time........

Dam I never seem to have any around when I need them.....

 

[westernman]

No. I would not. But you can, and others do.