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20-03-2014, 10:09
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Newport RI
Boat: Pearson 303
Posts: 19
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First time offshore
Hi all,
I have been invited to sail a Hinckley 52 from Virgin Gorda to Newport, RI. with two friends who are both commercial captains and one is a dear friend. Now, although I have sailed and owned sailboats for 15 years, it has nearly all been daysailing and to tell the truth I have never sailed offshore and am more than a little nervous.....should I be???? Once we are underway we have no way of knowing the weather ahead of us except for the VHF. This makes me nervous too!! What kind of weather would be typical for this run the first two weeks of April?? Am I looking at something that is going to be a test of physical endurance? I am 56 and not very athletic but in good health. Any advise and encouragement or otherwise would be much appreciated.
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20-03-2014, 10:33
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cowichan Bay, BC (Maple Bay Marina)
Posts: 9,703
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Re: First time offshore
Offshore and only VHF?!? In this day and age, not having reliable weather is simply foolhardy, unless you're Boatman! See the Atlantic Delivery topic.
__________________
Stu Jackson
Catalina 34 #224 (1986) C34IA Secretary
Cowichan Bay, BC, SR/FK, M25, Rocna 10 (22#) (NZ model)
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20-03-2014, 10:40
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 5,983
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Re: First time offshore
Personally I think you 3 guys will have a great time. While I have well over 30,000 miles offshore I have never sailed the route your planning but I'm sure its a reasonable trip. Its really not as exciting as your mind has got it played up, getting good sleep has always been my problem for the first few days but after that I sleep like a baby (wake up every couple of hrs. crying) seriously it will be a great learning experience for you and you might even get bit with the bug. Weather varies even with professional forecasts so you only get to choose the day you leave. Barometer, cloud formations and wind direction give you lots of heads up on weather..just go and have a great time and don't forget to check back in and tell all of us about your first real sailing adventure.
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20-03-2014, 12:25
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Newport RI
Boat: Pearson 303
Posts: 19
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Re: First time offshore
Thanks Stu & Rob,
Thanks for your input. Perhaps I am overthinking this (watching too many Deadly catch/Bering sea series). Lets see what others think..
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20-03-2014, 12:31
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, Ontario
Boat: Hunter 340
Posts: 635
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Re: First time offshore
I'm thinking that just VHF for weather is a bit foolish.
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20-03-2014, 12:34
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Catskill Mountains when not cruising
Boat: 31' homebuilt Michalak-designed Cormorant "Sea Fever"
Posts: 2,114
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Re: First time offshore
You can pick up a Kaito / Degen 1103 HF radio receiver or similar for about $75 and get offshore weather.
Also . . . will you have an EPIRB or PLB on board? PLBs are only $250 these days.
Have a great trip!
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20-03-2014, 12:35
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#7
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: gettin naughty on the beach in cornwall
Boat: 63 custom alloy sloop,macwester26,prout snowgoose 37 elite catamaran!
Posts: 10,594
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Re: First time offshore
if they ask you to bring suspenders , stockings and makeup i would be very afraid!
otherwise it should be a great trip,at the right time of year!
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20-03-2014, 12:38
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Newport RI
Boat: Pearson 303
Posts: 19
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Re: First time offshore
There is an EPIRB on board. That radio seems worth the investment (Jeez if I could spend that much on a boat...I think I would have one of these!!!!) ....Thanks for the manly advice Atoll!!
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20-03-2014, 13:16
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#9
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S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
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Re: First time offshore
Have you asked the same questions of the 2 captains you are planning to go along with? I bet that 52' Hinkley has more than just a VHF.
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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20-03-2014, 13:38
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Newport RI
Boat: Pearson 303
Posts: 19
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Re: First time offshore
Yes, I have asked that question.....hence my misgivings.
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20-03-2014, 13:41
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#11
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S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
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Re: First time offshore
Well you are an experienced sailor, if you don't feel comfortable don't go!
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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20-03-2014, 13:42
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#12
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W
Boat: (Cruiser Living On Dirt)
Posts: 49,082
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Re: First time offshore
BTW: Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, irishmike.
__________________
Gord May
"If you didn't have the time or money to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"
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20-03-2014, 14:04
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2003
Boat: Alubat, OVNI 47
Posts: 379
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Re: First time offshore
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cormorant
You can pick up a Kaito / Degen 1103 HF radio receiver or similar for about $75 and get offshore.
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Great, inexpensive advice, however, you will also want to have a running laptop onboard, an audio cable from the radio to the laptop, an application to view an save weather faxes, possibly an external antenna, the weather fax transmission schedule, and of course knowledge/experience on how to interpret the information.
__________________
Chip
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20-03-2014, 14:30
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2003
Boat: Alubat, OVNI 47
Posts: 379
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Re: First time offshore
To be sure some of the faxes are in plain English and need no interpretation.
__________________
Chip
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20-03-2014, 14:42
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Tiverton, RI, USA
Boat: ex-Tartan 40
Posts: 619
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Re: First time offshore
You should have a great trip. Will you be going straight through or stopping in Bermuda?
South of Bermuda should be relatively easy going and a good opportunity to get your sea legs and learn to enjoy the overnight watches. The potentially challenging part will be crossing the Gulf Stream. April and May can bring some pretty unpleasant storms which create very unpleasant conditions in the Stream. If you're stopping in Bermuda, you'll have access to weather info and can pick a good window for your crossing. If you're going straight through with limited weather info, it's more of a crap shoot.
__________________
- David
S/V Sapphire Tartan 40 #71
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