Would you take a Bavaria 32 across the Atlantic

We have spent the last week on a bav 40 in the leeward islands, whilst she takes the 30knt winds with a couple of reefs in quite well, and the accompany swells that go with it, I am not sure howa32 would cope, so no I wouldn't.
 
What's all that diesel for? My reading matter of late may be a tad out of date - Sopranino, Very Willing Griffin, My Ship Is So Small, My Lively Lady and so on - but I didn't think that great big alternators and hundreds of litres of diesel were needed to cross oceans under sail. Have I missed something or has the RYA mantra of thou-shalt-switch-on-the-engine-whenever-thy-speed-falleth-below-five-knots taken hold of ocean voyaging too?

Ideally you'll want the autopilot on 24/7. Also the fridge, instuments, and AIS will be on constantly, and the nav lights at night. We found that we had to run the engine twice a day for about 2 hours each time to keep the batteries topped-up. So you'd need enough fuel for at least 80 hours running. In addition to this, you might want to be able to motor if the wind dies (some people are happy to sit it out, but others aren't, and whether you can sit it out also depends on the amount of food and water on-board).

So I would fuel-up for the 80 hours for charging, and then 3 days of motoring on top of that, just to be sure.
 
Well to play Devils advocate...
Changing the subject from "would" to "could"...
A standard stock Bavaria 32 will not make it (under certain conditions).
So considering all the conditions experienced by many cruisers over the years making that journey what percentage of trips wouldn't the boat make it?
If I think of a well known racing driver he set a limit of 20%. Wouldn't race if he thought there was a greater than 20% chance of not making it.
So what percentage figure would you set? 5%, 10%, 20% chance of the boat not making it. Assuming a stock Bavaria has a 20% chance of not making it can you reduce the percentage by customising the stock Bavaria 32 so it nows meets your acceptable risk level. (I suspect a stock Bavaria has an almost 100% chance of not making it.)
Customising may include going up a size for the standing rigging. Taking spares to replace likely breakages etc. This may even mean jsut carrying spare sails/ropes. Our stock sails on our Dufour came unstictched the first season. Bench seats collapsed due to items being glued after they were varnished. A stock Bavaria 32 only comes with one battery. So would one battery get you across?
So previous responses have implied the boat could do it but have hinted only with customisation. The question is really "How should a Bavaria 32 be customised to cross the Atlantic."
 
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I would assume that few, if any, would use a powered autopilot on that crossing in a 32 footer. The power consumption will be far too high and the boat too small to carry the generating capacity to run it. Surely it's either a windvane or hand steering, isn't it?

I don't think so. The only time I crossed the Atlantic was in a 21 footer and the VERY power-hungry autopilot ran nearly 24/7. Few autopilots on pleasure boats will have the same power consumption that mine had, and I managed just fine.

A 32-footer would feel like luxury - imagine having a fridge, heads and a foam mattress to sleep on!

In answering the OP's question - if choosing a boat to do a crossing I would probably not choose a Bav32. But (having never sailed one - just knowing by reputation) if I had the chance to go across on one, I would not be put off by the kind of boat.
 
Ideally you'll want the autopilot on 24/7. Also the fridge, instuments, and AIS will be on constantly, and the nav lights at night. We found that we had to run the engine twice a day for about 2 hours each time to keep the batteries topped-up. So you'd need enough fuel for at least 80 hours running. In addition to this, you might want to be able to motor if the wind dies (some people are happy to sit it out, but others aren't, and whether you can sit it out also depends on the amount of food and water on-board).

So I would fuel-up for the 80 hours for charging, and then 3 days of motoring on top of that, just to be sure.

Doubt you can get that much into a Bav32 (or other 32, quite honestly) - you'll certainly need a lot of jerrycans strapped on!
 
Well to play Devils advocate...
Changing the subject from "would" to "could"...
A standard stock Bavaria 32 will not make it (under certain conditions).
So considering all the conditions experienced by many cruisers over the years making that journey what percentage of trips wouldn't the boat make it?
If I think of a well known racing driver he set a limit of 20%. Wouldn't race if he thought there was a greater than 20% chance of not making it.
So what percentage figure would you set? 5%, 10%, 20% chance of the boat not making it. Assuming a stock Bavaria has a 20% chance of not making it can you reduce the percentage by customising the stock Bavaria 32 so it nows meets your acceptable risk level. (I suspect a stock Bavaria has an almost 100% chance of not making it.)
Customising may include going up a size for the standing rigging. Taking spares to replace likely breakages etc. This may even mean jsut carrying spare sails/ropes. Our stock sails on our Dufour came unstictched the first season. Bench seats collapsed due to items being glued after they were varnished. A stock Bavaria 32 only comes with one battery. So would one battery get you across?
So previous responses have implied the boat could do it but have hinted only with customisation. The question is really "How should a Bavaria 32 be customised to cross the Atlantic."

I kind of wonder how you come up with your percentage.

I would have thought it nearer 100 per cent likely to make It. I have. Heard suggestions the keels fall of and they may fall apart spontaneously. But no credible evidence that the liklyhood is close to 100 per cent.

I would not choose one to sail across. A duck pond but other people like them. Is it as good as a nicolsen or rival or swan no.
Is it good enough. Probably.

What will the weather be like.? Depends when you go. Now would be less than wise.with any sail boat.
November or later would be better.
What will the weather be like in November till next May. Trades. F 5 ff 6 thunderstorms less likely bjt may be.
Down wind sea what 2 to 3 m?

Do I want to do it no not really.
Don't see why it would not make it.

Well one reason the crew might not make it if I was planning. The trip. Affter a couple of weeks of beens they might have died of scurvy. But the boat would probably. Fetch up on the shore of some island or central. America.
 
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I kind of wonder how you come up with hour percentage.

I would have thought it nearer 100 per cent likely to make It. I have. Heard suggestions the keels fall of and they may fall apart spontaneously. But no credible evidence that the liklyhood is close to 100 per cent.

I would not choose one to sail across. A duck pond but other people like them. Is it as good as a nicolsen or rival or swan no.
Is it good enough. Probably.

What will the weather be like.? Depends when you go. Now would be less than wise.with any sail boat.
November or later would be better.
What will the weather be like in November till next May. Trades. F 5 ff 6 thunderstorms less likely bjt may be.
Down wind sea what 2 to 3 m?

Do I want to do it no not really.
Don't see why it would not make it.

Well one reason the crew might not make it if I was planning. The trip. Affter a couple of weeks of beens they might have died of scurvy. But the boat would probably. Fetch up on the shore of some island or central. America.

My 100% estimate of "not making it" is based upon a stock Bav32.
Consider the prospect. A dealer has delivered to you an off the shelf Bavaria 32 in the Canaries. You are now about to set off across the Atlantic to Antiga. You can go to the supermarket and stock the boat with as many provisions as you want. Are you going to go? If not why not? At what point would you be prepared to go? Assume you have a favourable forecast.
 
So I would fuel-up for the 80 hours for charging, and then 3 days of motoring on top of that, just to be sure.

A total of 150 hours motoring is going to require 400l+ of fuel - and this is where Talulah's point about small light boat limitations come in. Heavier rigging is going to put even more weight where you don't want it, as is radar (almost certainly a must), solar gear, etc.

All of this is going to be difficult to resolve - and I would imagine the final compromise would be unattractive to sail or sell.

If it's the experience one is after, it's probably easier and cheaper to just buy a more suitable boat, do the trip and then sell it!
 
I will do it if they lend me the AWB..

New Exclusive! The Yachting Monthly Bavaria Challenge! Blue-Water Bavvy Boy!
Is a standard production line yacht capable of an ocean crossing...straight out of the box!!!
Over the summer, we serialize the trials and tribulations of Jerry C as he attempts to sail a brand spanking new Bavaria 32 to Antigua!!

After our groundbreaking Crash Tests, we continue to go where other yachting mags fear to tread!
How will Jerry feel after his 100th broach?
When the seabed is two miles down, how long does it take your keel to arrive there, when it falls off?
Only in YM this month, etc etc
 
What's all that diesel for? My reading matter of late may be a tad out of date - Sopranino, Very Willing Griffin, My Ship Is So Small, My Lively Lady and so on - but I didn't think that great big alternators and hundreds of litres of diesel were needed to cross oceans under sail. Have I missed something or has the RYA mantra of thou-shalt-switch-on-the-engine-whenever-thy-speed-falleth-below-five-knots taken hold of ocean voyaging too?


+1 What on earth would you use all that diesel for??? On our Atlantic crossings we only use the engine for 'the coming in and the going out'. Turning on the power whenever the wind drops is not a realistic proposition-particularly on a 32 footer.

Last topped our fuel tank up in Florida 18 months ago............still reading half a tank!
 
My 100% estimate of "not making it" is based upon a stock Bav32.
Consider the prospect. A dealer has delivered to you an off the shelf Bavaria 32 in the Canaries. You are now about to set off across the Atlantic to Antiga. You can go to the supermarket and stock the boat with as many provisions as you want. Are you going to go? If not why not? At what point would you be prepared to go? Assume you have a favourable forecast.

To be honest. I don't know much about Bavarias. I went on a few probably including the 32 at my local boat Show last year. They appeared to be nice enough for most local sailing. Which to me would include going round vancouver Island or round lands end to a UK based sailor.

If it could survive those tests. I see no reason why a typical trade wind voyage at the right time of year would be to much for a nice new boat.
A few spare parts and a thought shake down before departure would be wise just incase the forgot to put the plug in or something else was not finished right. Some spare lines to replace a few sheets and perhaps a spare sail or some other recommend bits and pieces you might recommend for any boat new or old.

Why not a Bavaria 32 or any other popular new 32?
 
I will do it if they lend me the AWB..

New Exclusive! The Yachting Monthly Bavaria Challenge! Blue-Water Bavvy Boy!
Is a standard production line yacht capable of an ocean crossing...straight out of the box!!!
Over the summer, we serialize the trials and tribulations of Jerry C as he attempts to sail a brand spanking new Bavaria 32 to Antigua!!

After our groundbreaking Crash Tests, we continue to go where other yachting mags fear to tread!
How will Jerry feel after his 100th broach?
When the seabed is two miles down, how long does it take your keel to arrive there, when it falls off?
Only in YM this month, etc etc

Well. I tell you what. If you can persuade. Bavaria yachts to give us one. I will come with you. We can even ask hienz to sponsored us and provide the beans. Perhaps we can get a nice Bavariaian brewery to provide sponsorship and beer. As well.:rolleyes::)î

PS I can cook beans and can also cook tins of soup. Campbells baxters hienz even marks and Spencers. I remember a particularly taste tinned haggis. I have my own sextant. And compass.This
 
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A total of 150 hours motoring is going to require 400l+ of fuel - and this is where Talulah's point about small light boat limitations come in. Heavier rigging is going to put even more weight where you don't want it, as is radar (almost certainly a must), solar gear, etc.

All of this is going to be difficult to resolve - and I would imagine the final compromise would be unattractive to sail or sell.

If it's the experience one is after, it's probably easier and cheaper to just buy a more suitable boat, do the trip and then sell it!

Why would you need a radar?
 
A total of 150 hours motoring is going to require 400l+ of fuel - and this is where Talulah's point about small light boat limitations come in

Perhaps a small light boat would use a windvane, a trailing log and preserved food. I am pretty sure that small boats managed, and still manage,quite long trips without every electrical gizmo available.
 
Ideally you'll want the autopilot on 24/7. Also the fridge, instuments, and AIS will be on constantly, and the nav lights at night. We found that we had to run the engine twice a day for about 2 hours each time to keep the batteries topped-up. So you'd need enough fuel for at least 80 hours running. In addition to this, you might want to be able to motor if the wind dies (some people are happy to sit it out, but others aren't, and whether you can sit it out also depends on the amount of food and water on-board).

So I would fuel-up for the 80 hours for charging, and then 3 days of motoring on top of that, just to be sure.

The Jesters set off on Sunday, too late to warn them now I guess, hey ho.
 
An Azorean guy went around the world on his Bav 32.That should settle all arguments.I'd rather go accross in my Fulmar as I've been in prety tough offshore conditions and she proved to be able to take it a lot better than me.But a Bav 32 can do it.And going up a rig size doesn't make much sense.All Bavarias have Selden rigs .
 
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