General Info: I'm in the ARC+ for November!

[Wendi]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

G'DAy Wendi,

The wording of your initial post lead me to believe that the boat was brand new from the dealer. Apparently not so...

Seems that it is actually a used boat that has done offshore work before, and that may be better for you, or it may be worse! Better in that she should already be well equipped for passage making (which new boats NEVER are), but worse in that until tested, you can't trust any of the systems on board. PO's and brokers combine ignorance and deceit to mislead buyers in all too many cases, and for me, personal attention to the myriad systems and bits onboard a modern cruising boat is a must, even before a coastal passage, let alone a transoceanic one.

Is a month long enough to do this? Perhaps... if you and your crew are skilled and very hard working, maybe so. But if anything that you test fails to satisfy, and any outside work is required to rectify the problem, then all bets are off. Consider that many of us, as experienced long distance cruisers with boats that we are intimately familiar with would take a month or more to prepare for such a departure.

In general, any externally imposed schedule is a hazard to a cruising sailor, and in the case of an expensive rally and all the group pressures associated with the situation the departure date can cause fatal errors in judgement. To me, your situation is worrisome. I hope that you weigh these ideas and come to a safe conclusion and enjoy your new boat whenever and wherever you sail in her.

Cheers,

Jim

So how would you suggest I get the boat delivered to the Caribbean? It is only 2 years old and equipped for this. But it sounds like getting it delivered is going to take months according to you. You say "Your situation is worrisome". So if it is not ok to find a captain to deliver the boat, or find a captain to join my crew to deliver it with me, and doing this with a group of other boats and the support of the ARC and all the prep time of over a month, how am I supposed to get it across?

I thought it would be better and safer to do it with the ARC, with the prep classes they have, the support of other boats and a well qualified captain. I am so discouraged now.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by Wendi

I was posting looking for a captain or experienced crew. I am so disheartened now. I thought I had it all figured out and just needed to find the right captain to join my crew. Now I guess I should just forget it?

Don't let naysayers deter you. You are on the right track and should do fine once you get a skipper.

[Wendi]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Am I reading this correctly? You are only finalizing the purchase of a brand new boat that will then be delivered sometime between now and November of this year, and then you, not knowing how to sail (or at least being at the stage where you want to take ASA courses on board) are going to do a trans-Atlantic passage?

Count me out! Seriously, this sounds pretty hubris laden to me. I do hope that you will reconsider this plan and give the boat and yourself at least a few months and few hundreds of miles shakedown before heading offshore.

Cheers,

Jim

You assumed I don't know how to sail? I have sailed my entire life. I just don't have an ASA which I would like. I really thought I was just asking to find an experienced captain to join my crew of experienced sailors so I had the best game plan.

[goboatingnow]

Wendi. Is the boat already in the canaries.

Main thing you need to ensure is all the rigging both standing and running is 100% sound and any weaknesses replaced. Then ensure sails are all good , seams sorted etc.

After that you need to ensure the self steering is 100% and you have spares.


Next the electrical system must be up to sustaining the vessels for the long journey. Ie adequate charging sources which tend to exclude diesel ones.

Rigging , sails , self steering , electrical power after that you can make do.

Las palmas in the run up to the ARC is not the greatest place to fix a boat. There are chandleries and some specialists but they can be busy

Best of luck

Dave

[Wendi]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Don't let naysayers deter you. You are on the right track and should do fine once you get a skipper.

I am feeling very detered, now. I thought I had it all figured out, and I paid for the ARC+ opening. Now I feel like crap. Thanks for your nice thoughts, I need more of that.

[LakeSuperior]

OK! If you have sailed all your life you know how to sail. Have you ever owned and maintained a sailboat? If so then you know what to do to get your new boat ready.

If not, but if you have an experienced skipper with sufficient time to address issues raised by Dave plus more then no big deal. If he is experienced he will want sufficient time and will work these issues.

Give us some benefit as we are extrapolating on your OP and it sounded not so good.

[Wendi]

Originally Posted by LakeSuperior

OK! If you have sailed all your life you know how to sail. Have you ever owned and maintained a sailboat? If so then you know what to do to get your new boat ready.

If not, but if you have an experienced skipper with sufficient time to address issues raised by Dave plus more then no big deal. If he is experienced he will want sufficient time and will work these issues.

Give us some benefit as we are extrapolating on your OP and it sounded not so good.

My original post was just asking for crew, like captain or skipper. If it is a captain I could do the ASA cert on the way. I already have a skipper on my crew.
Asked for a captain and instead got a beating.

[monte]

Don't be disheartened Wendi, you are on the right track. Try get on board a month before with a skipper or at least the seller if he is available for a shakedown sail down the coast. A 2 year old boat Lagoon shouldn't need major work done if it has been maintained up to scratch. Definitely pay for an experienced skipper if you or your friend aren't confident. A couple of weeks down the Portugal coast will get you your sealegs and you can decide in the Canaries if you want to continue on board or leave it to a delivery Skipper. I assume its this L400?
2011 Lagoon 400 Sail Boat For Sale - www.yachtworld.com
You just need a contingency plan, all sailors do i.e. I'm heading toward The Canaries but if the weather doesn't play ball, I'll stop in at Portimao and wait for a weather window. Then I'll head to the Canaries and do any repairs/maintenance necessary.
If they don't get done in time for the ARC (not likely) then you postpone the departure date till you are ready. You still benefit from the pre ARC seminars etc, and maybe catch the fleet along the way anyway.
Sailing to a schedule is a bad idea, but you can still (and should) plan a schedule and make every effort to stay on your schedule, and always allow ample time for weather,
Don't worry, your plan sounds perfect and so long as you put the time into making it happen there's no reason it shouldn't.
Some people think because the finite details of a plan aren't written down there is no plan, hence some of the negative reactions.
You probably won;t find a skipper who can do an official class, but I'm sure you can find a competent one who can teach you a lot along the way.
Good luck !

[Navegante1105]

Hi,Wendy: I suggest, you can check the boat from where You start your journey( where the boat is standing now) and then, after the trip to Las Palmas,you can decide finally if the boat is in conditions for the ocean trip and the most important, if the crew is ready to do it( everybody knows their position in the boat and the things in responsability of eachother).
Regards, Agustín.

[Sailmonkey]

It was the ASA cert along the way that threw this off the rails I think. If you already know how to sail, and are comfortable enough with a strange boat to cross the Atlantic, then there is really nothing an ASA cert can do for you.

Delivery crews do this sort of thing all the time. Go over the boat with a fine tooth comb, beat it up for a while, don't plug into shore power at all to be sure you can sustain for a month, then go.

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by Wendi

"Asked for a captain and instead got a beating."

I just got a waiting list spot for the ARC+ Rally and paid my dues. I am really excited, and I am finalizing the purchase of a boat that I will sail away in. I have a couple of sailing friends that might want to come, but I really need to secure ONE or more good crew who will get us across alive and smiling.

And if there is a Captain who would want to do some training on the way, maybe get me my ASA, that would be really cool.
We are sailing a lagoon catamaran.
Anyone up for some fun? The ARC+ stops in Cape Verdes for 3-5 days, then restarts on it's way to St. Lucia. ARC+ leaves on Nov 10 and is 50 boats.

So excited. But nervous because there is a lot to do in a short time. Let me know if you want to join me!

I don't think you need to whine about the subsequent posts based on the parts of your OP that I highlighted. We "looked over your shoulder" and expressed reservations.

I will spell it out, you mention looking for someone to get you across safely - implies needing a captain like figure to do the thinking because you do not personally have the knowledge.

You talk about getting some "learn to sail training" - implies little or no experience.

Your OP also states buying a used boat with little time to understand it and all the subsystems before leaving to cross the Atlantic. As pointed out even a long time owner of a yacht would want at least a month to prepare.

These three data points from your OP raised the red flag. So why do you care what a bunch of people you don't know or respect think anyway? I would just ignore us.

[sailpower]

Originally Posted by Wendi

My original post was just asking for crew, like captain or skipper. If it is a captain I could do the ASA cert on the way. I already have a skipper on my crew.
Asked for a captain and instead got a beating.

You don't owe Mr. VERY, VERY SUPERIOR any explanation. Who is he to interrogate you? It's certainly not important to your dreams whether he understands or not. You really didn't get a beating. You are simply the recipient of some unsolicited "advice". Remember that free advice is always worth what you paid for it and unsolicited free advice is worth less than that. This is the internet. Other people are often happy to tell you how you should live your life.

Your time frame is tight but not impossible and you are seeking competent experienced crew. Once you have a competent Captain it will be his job to manage this project not some anonymous voice on the web.

Don't forget that you are trying to do what the coach potatoes never will which should provide you some amusement as you read their comments.

[Wendi]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

If you are offshore experienced, then your biggest concern is getting to know your boat intimately. Just hopping on a boat you've never sailed and crossing an ocean is seldom a good experience I think. Every boat has idiosyncrasies at the least, and bigger problems at the worst. For all you know the headsail furler jams under heavy wind.. etc etc...
Further is the issue of going offshore in a strange boat with unknown crew. Some people are just plain wierd, rolling around on an ocean with them in a small space could be a nightmare.
I think basically your plan is do-able, but you are going to have to be very good at reading people and very fast at ascertaining your boat's pro's and con's.. as well as going through a full system review, test and retest....

I am not going with a bunch of strangers. My crew so far consists of people I know well, and have sailed with on the Pacific ocean. I was just looking for a captain to join us. But thank you for the suggestions.

[LakeSuperior]

Originally Posted by sailpower

You don't owe Mr. VERY, VERY SUPERIOR any explanation. Who is he to interrogate you? It's certainly not important to your dreams whether he understands or not. You really didn't get a beating. You are simply the recipient of some unsolicited "advice". Remember that free advice is always worth what you paid for it and unsolicited free advice is worth less than that. This is the internet. Other people are often happy to tell you how you should live your life.

...

Don't forget that you are trying to do what the coach potatoes never will which should provide you some amusement as you read their comments.

Nice payback!!

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Wendi

I am feeling very detered, now. I thought I had it all figured out, and I paid for the ARC+ opening. Now I feel like crap. Thanks for your nice thoughts, I need more of that.

Hi Wendi... don't feel like crap... most folk here are over the top on safety and what's needed to get a boat across the pond...
Drop me a line with some info about the boat and your schedule and I'll take her over for you... solo.. 1,2 or 3 others... your choice... only difference is the amount of food and water consumed.
Check my link 'about me' at the bottom of this post and if your happy we can talk...

Edit; Should warn you... not your normal skipper... but most find me bearable... lolol