Falmouth, Cornwall to Falmouth, Jamaica - Advice ?

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mercer

Thanks for all the advice, please keep it coming!

I was wondering if anyone can recommend good charts to get/where to get them for such a trip.

Personally I like the Imray Passage Charts like C19... the Finisterre to Gibralter one... it has 12 inset plans for secondary ports along the way... all good enough to navigate with... cuts down a lot on charts when coasting just plan the runs accordingly... another useful thing might be an almanac for the areas your passing through...
The Purists on here will cry foul on this but I suggest you check out the second hand book shops for any less than 5yrs old... useful for reference if you want to go of track with their Chartlets... and info about bottom, foul areas etc...

An any harness advice? i.e. where should they be fastened, what type of rope?

I'd have two clip on points in the cockpit... 1 each.. with good sized backing pads... the life line try to run as centre of the boat as possible and should be wire.. one cockpit to mast... then mast to bow...
the harness should be of webbing not rope.. and no longer than 60% the beam of the boat...

Cheers

Might be an idea to fasten footloops from the middle two stanchions to give some foot purchase to clamber back in if you slip... on the longer passages

[Johnny Mercer]

Hi Boatman61

Your all your advice has been very helpful cheers! If we are planning on doing a full crossing from Falmouth Cornwall to Falmouth Jamaica, do you know which Imray charts will we need to cover the whole trip?

Do you get the wire custom cut somewhere, with fastenings either end then?
And is it worth just getting one of those life jackets with a built in harness and using that for everything? Do you know of any e books on the subject of harnesses by any chance, or any books that tell you how to fix a harness system on a small yacht?

Cheers,

I know there is probably some daft questions here so sorry about that!

Johnny.

[boatman61]

Your best bet is plan your route and desired stopping points along the way... Google Earth is perfect for this.. even has a tool for measuring distances....
Once you've figured your route then go here Imray nautical charts and nautical books from Imray, Admiralty Charts and pilots for sailing navigation from Imray, Laurie, Norie & Wilson Ltd www.imray.com
You can then pick and choose from the library and order on line... often a lot quicker than the local Chandlers..
No point me looking... this is part of your curve.. I just do pointers...
As for the life lines... you could knock them up yourself or get them made up by a rigger for posh... then just measure the length from your through bolt to a fitting by the mast and from there to the bow... PFD with harness is good and if you can afford it go for the auto inflate one with manual back up...

[atoll]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mercer

Hi Boatman61

Your all your advice has been very helpful cheers! If we are planning on doing a full crossing from Falmouth Cornwall to Falmouth Jamaica, do you know which Imray charts will we need to cover the whole trip?

Do you get the wire custom cut somewhere, with fastenings either end then?
And is it worth just getting one of those life jackets with a built in harness and using that for everything? Do you know of any e books on the subject of harnesses by any chance, or any books that tell you how to fix a harness system on a small yacht?

Chee

I know there is probably some daft questions here so sorry about that!

Johnny.

see david carne,behind macsalvors in penryn,they can makeup lifelines and rigging.
im in falmouth so if you need help send me a pm
cheers atoll

I know there is probably some daft questions here so sorry about that!

[svtadpole]

You guys sound like total greenhorns ... it would be advisable to spend as much time as poss aboard ... maybe cruising your local area ( south UK ? ) before heading off into the big blue ...

Regarding your question on charts ...
for sure you ought to muster a couple of laptops ( 1 in use & 1 spare ready ) ... install OpenCPN & beg/steal/borrow all the electronic charts you can lay your hands on ( many are available as free downloads using Emule, Limewire or other PtoP utilities ) ...
also beg/steal/borrow or buy paper charts relevant to your planned route plus charts covering areas you might need if you are forced to alter your sail plan ...
take (at least ) 2 handheld GPS ... ensure they interact with your laptops as well as operate stand-alone

by now you ought to be getting the message of "the rule of two" ... ie carry at least one spare of everything ...

Regarding your question of a "mast light" .... your boat must be correctly lit ( navigation lights ) ...

You need to address the question of power for the boat ... a combination of wind/solar is regarded as the norm with ready power available via the boat's main engine/alternator ... your boat does have a motor right ?

Batteries ... the more & bigger so much the better but understandably space on a small boat is always at a premium ... install your batteries securely ( they are heavy items & if not securely strapped in place will fly about unpleasantly in rough seas or in a knockdown/rollover scenario ) ... also carry battery servicing tackle ( distilled water ... hydrometer ... multimeter ... considered extreme but I also carry H2So4 in case I lose battery acid in an upside-down event ) .... as an extra backup I carry a jumpstart powerpack thing ...

In an earlier post you enquired about water ... someone else advised a hand operated watermaker ... good equipment ... keep it handy too if you have to take to the liferaft .... you do intend to carry a liferaft ... right ?
Also ensure you carry some means of catching rainwater ...

An EPIRB is a must-have item ... make sure it is properly registered ... remember the "rule of two" ? ... 2 EPIRBS are better than one ... I carry a PLB & a SPOT as backup ...

Carry spare sails & have the means & materials on board to make repairs ...

Food ..... carry as much dried & canned food as you have space to stow ... remove labels from cans & write on what the contents are in permanent marker .... also coat the cans with a light film of vaseline before stowing .... dried foods should be removed from their packaging & contained in waterproof canisters ... drop a few bay leaves in each canister to keep weevils at bay ... take fishing gear & FISH ... at least trail a decent hook with an attractive lure on it whilst underway ... having said that, don't be disappointed if you don't catch anything - open a can instead ....

Remember the "rule of two" ? .... carry spare bedding/sleeping bags .... keep them dry along with spare clothes etc by double wrapping in stout black sacks or, better still, in vacuum storage bags ...

Your route ... consider going via Azores & Bermuda then on to the Caribbean where you will reach a good choice of stop offs before Jamaica ...

Don't forget the sun cream, sun hats (plural) & a comprehensive first aid kit ...

Flares .... handheld - starshots - parachute types ... take some of each along with coloured smoke indicators & water dye indicators .... strobe lights (plural) ...

Comms .... the basic minimum is Marine VHF ... with DSC is preferable ... also carry a handheld VHF as backup & to take into liferaft if things turn pearshaped .... if you can afford it then a SSB rig is well worth the investment .... also if you can afford it a Sat Phone will keep you in contact with loved ones & SMS messages via satfone are quite cheap ... the SPOT gizmo also sends out a pre-programmed text email with a hyperlink to Google Maps to a list of email addresses -

Engine fuel .... fill your main fuel tank .... ( wise to filter it on the way into the tank ) .... then carry spare fuel in jerrycans .....

Cooking fuel .... ensure you carry enough & if using propane, be aware that your UK cylinders might not be refillable in other countries ... if using methyl/alcohol be aware that this may not be available in other countries .... hell - once you get to Jamaica you will be able to burn RUM in yr coocking stove ...

Weatherproof clothing .... avoid the high-fashion high-price yachtie clobber ... you cant beat a good rugged set of "slickers" & a sou'wester ...

Harnesses (plural) .... good quality rigger's or scaffolder's harnesses will do the job & be way cheaper than yachtie ones ..... bolt on a stout eye-shackle in the cockpit to clip onto .... run a jackline secured bow to stern down each side of the deck to clip onto if going forward ... I recently switched from rope jacklines to flat nylon webbing ( no rolling underfoot ) ...

That's the extent of my input ..... unless I think of something else ...

Bon Voyage .... as they say in Froggish

[boatman61]

Intriguing route for two 'Greenhorns'....

[atoll]

wouldn't reccomend going via azores and bermuda,except may be on the way back!!

[svtadpole]

Originally Posted by atoll

wouldn't reccomend going via azores and bermuda,except may be on the way back!!

yep ... I would go west from the Canaries ...

BUT .... these guys are obviously greenhorns & on a shoestring budget & don't appear to have a pedigree bluewater boat .... so perhaps island-hopping would be best for them ?

[Johnny Mercer]

I've never heard of the term 'greenhorn' (perhaps because I am one), I have been dinghy sailing every couple of months for about 12 years some in Norfolk Broads, but also in the North sea, I also have some yacht experience. Before we undertake the trip we intend to try and sail to the Scillies in order to gain extra experience. We also intend to read up as much as we can on things like navigation, equipment/how to use, and storm procedure. Admittedly we still have lots to learn but some of it (for example man over board routines) I have already been trained in. The boat we are looking to buy although small (27ft) was designed for cross ocean trips, with a small crew. It is a heat molded ply boat designed as a concept in the 60s (hence no class). I've got the feeling it might have been 'fairey' of southhampton that made her but need to check. She's crossed the atlantic twice in her life time the most recent being in the eighties. I've had a boat builder friend survey her and he's thinks that with a bit of work she can be made sea-worth again (she comes with rigging that has been kept in a house and never been used, so will not need replacing). I think that with the right research/practice we can get her to make the trip again this year. We intend to do all we can to succeed, and know we have lots still to find out, hence (greenhorns or not) we are on this forum. Thanks again for all your advice, please keep it coming! Johnny.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Johnny Mercer

The boat we are looking to buy although small (27ft) was designed for cross ocean trips, with a small crew. It is a heat molded ply boat designed as a concept in the 60s (hence no class). I've got the feeling it might have been 'fairey' of southhampton that made her but need to check.

Would be interested in seeing a photo of her. Not sure what Fairey Marine made at 27 foot - hopefully it is a 26' Fairey Atalanta . If so, I recall from past Googles that a fairly active Owners Association.

[Gracies]

I almost always use UKHO charts, check their website or this link
Home
Also have a look at what Imray has to offer, especially for the european parts of your journey,
For a 27footer your most likely short on chart table space and imray do great half size pilotage charts for ports you may not be familiar with.
On the UKHO website they have a link to local dealers in the Uk. However for falmouth best bet is either

Bosun's Locker - Specialising in boat, yacht and general marine chandlery since 1946.

or

Fal Chandlers.

Go inside and ask them for the 2011 chart book, and then be very careful with selecting the charts you want,
remember full size admiralty charts are not CHEAP!!

[Gracies]

I´d reccomend getting back to school and learning navigation the old hard way, with a breton plotter, a pencil, and up to date charts. I´d reccomend going through all the NTM´s and updating your charts by hand yourself. You´ll learn a lot more and hopefully burn the route into the back of your mind.

I´d also reccomend that you read and re-read all the information on GPS and its faults and especially electronic charts, because it is only an aid to Navigation!! Learn to dead reckon and then use the fancy bits as a cross check.

Luckily your in part of the best waters in the world to learn to sail and to set off on your dream!!

[jitait]

I hope you guys realise how ambitious you are being.

If Falmouth to the Scillies seems a big drip, you've got a whole long way to go before you do Canaries to Caribean.

It is do-bale - even safely - but you need to take your time, work up your skills - both classroom based and practical - in easy stages, and make sure you're not dangerously over reaching yourself at each stage.