is it possible?

[moth12']

hello all i am very new to sailing in fact i got my first boat this summer a 12' moth dinghy so that may make my next question a rediculous question but i will ask anyway. i have looked at a few maps and found that the closest island to miami is a small island that is part of the bahamas (not sure if it has a different name or not). it is about 75 miles off the coast, my question is: is my boat capable of a such a journey there and back or would the ocean swallow me whole? i of course assume perfect weather conditions though i know that is something that can not be assumed or depended on. any advice of good trips for me and my small boat would be appreciated...one more thing i am perfectly ok with sleeping on my boat even though it does not have a cabin. i am young and dumb so i can get by with less comfort and provisions than some of the older sailors. thank you for your help.

[GordMay]

Imagine yourself looking for an unnamed Bahamian island (say, Bimini), at an unknown distance (say about 55 nm) and location.
Assuming that the Gulf Stream is a “mill pond”, and that you’re boat is seaworthy: what is there, in this improbable scenario, that gives you any confidence that you could actually find the island?
NO ~ a 12 foot dinghy is not safely capable of reaching the Bahamas from Florida.

[moth12']

First I have more confidence in myself than anyone else has in me or possibly even themselves, i am the type you tell me it can't be done then I will do it. I have built a car and a house and I am only 21 years old (and i mean actually built a car and house, not just added on to them). I am not dumb enough to take off on a search of some random island in the middle of the ocean, I am only in the begining phases of research. I am uncertain of the technologies such as GPS that exist and uncertain if any of these technologies would or could help me. Perhaps it is better to go a longer distance with a bigger target to hit such as the bahama's main island. As you stated my boat is incapable of such an ocean going trip, that is why i asked. Other sources told me an experienced sailor could make it in my boat, but my inexperience would be a great hinderance to me. So to restate my second question could you advise me on any trips anywhere along the east coast that my boat and I would be capable of? Thank you for your help.

[GordMay]

You could start out in Biscayne Bay.

[moth12']

hey that is cool, thanks for the advise. that is probably a much safer place to make my first ocean voyage. i looked it up on the map and looks as though i could sail down through the bay and hit some little islands that are actually inhabited and have names. it looks like i could maybe sail to key largo?? perhaps a less likely chance of getting lost. do you know of any technology that can help me find my way?

[Talbot]

It is not the length of your craft that is the problem, but the seaworthiness of it. People have crossed the atlantic in boats that are shorter, but they were built for the task. The distance you are contemplating is perfectly doable in perfect conditions in that boat provided you have an escort boat (motorboat by preference,) and are willing to lose your boat if conditins deteriorate. even then the chances of making it in an open boat of that size are very small and USCG would have a fit if it was mentioned to them.

The equipment that you would need, food and drink (particularly drink) will weight the boat down and make the probability of aswamping more likely, even in a flat calm sea, a boat of that size is vulnerable to the wake of a big ship at speed, plus of course it is not going to be a flat calm day, cause otherwise there will not be enough wind.

[Lostmt]

I just don't understand why this young man has to be insulted. He ask a question about wanting to do something. It should have been explained the dangers of trying such a trip and where he should think about sailing his 12' dingy.

GordMay you are one of the admin on this forum and should be one that gives sound advice not insults. Makes people like me to not even want to ask a question.

When I first joined this forum I got insulted. Good way to make new friends.

[Vasco]

Lostmt,

I don't see anything insulting in Gord's reply. The question posed by moth12' in the header was whether it was possible. I guess it is possible, after all adventurers have windsurfed across oceans but the real question should be "can I do it?" Gord properly points out one of the problems moth12' might encounter and concludes it can't be done safely. moth12' states he's a novice. No novice should be in the middle of the Gulf Stream in a sailing dinghy no matter how good the weather is. It is not a place for those without rudimentary seamanship and piloting skills.

[moth12']

Thank both of you for the advice, i guess my big adventures will have to wait till i have more experience and a better qualified boat. as for now i guess i will have to stick to lakes and bays. I am as smart as i am and where i am (ahead of most people twice my age) because i have learned to ask qestions. my will power will crush any insult anyone throws at me. i know my confidence, capabilities, and credentials. please keep the advise coming, maybe different places to sail that would meet my sailing capabilities.

[Lostmt]

Vasco,
I feel that Talbot was the correct way to address this young mans question. No mention of his confidence or abilities just plain advice.

[jean1146]

Have you heard of Dr Alain Bombard? He is a french guy who went accross the atlantic on a little Zodiac I believe 30 or 40 years ago.very intersting story .JC.

[Tropic Cat]

Is it possible... was the question. Sure it's possible. Is it prudent? Hell, NO.

As Gord pointed out, Bimini Island is 55 miles from Miami Beach, yet it's across the Gulf Stream which is a nortoriously fickle stretch of Ocean.

If he learns to navigate, and
if he can pack enough food and water, and
if he picks a winter time departure date, and
if he doesn't endanger anyone but himself, and
if he feels lucky...

...then why not?

Looking back to when I was a youngster, I guess I did some pretty dumb things too.

Rick in Florida

[moth12']

thank you all for the advise, i too believe there is a right way and wrong way to answer any question, believe it or not a lot of people ask me questions about cars and houses because i have a lot of experience with those things. i believe i will heed the advise being given and stay within eyesight of the shore line in a small bay (or at least in a situation where i will hit inhabited land in 3 out of 4 directions). there i can safely practice sailing and using my tools (compass, charts, and maps). I am not a know it all kid, if i were i would not ask quetions, i ask older people questions all the time because they are much more wise than i am ~ i am also one of the few kids that will admit that. so please keep giving me advise, the outline of general information was very helpful from the canadian coast gaurd person. thank you all again for your helping me to begin a new hobby.

p.s. there is a fine line between adventure and craziness, and it is that line that i live on.

[moth12']

i just read the dr. alain bombard story, very interesting and in some ways parallels me. not that i have any scientific experiment to prove, but i tend to do things that people say can't be done. i'm right there with you on the genius and insanity thing. hahaha

this is a long shot but i remeber watching one of the olympic programs sometime during the 90's maybe the winter tokyo one and at the begining of the program they showed one of those 'heroic, feel good, will power beat all, survival' stories about two men who were somehow stranded at sea (my memory tells me on a piece of metal from a plane crash) for some unbelievable amount of time and finally a low flying airplane came by one evening and the light was hitting the algae just right and it was like a runway with these two stranded men at the end of it. point is i vaguely remeber the story and i was very intrigued at the time (obviously it has stuck with me this long). i don't know if they were athletes or why their story was covered but i'd like to read about it if anyone recalls it or a similar story, i am sure there are many of these types of stories.

[Charlie]

Originally Posted by rickm505

Is it possible... was the question. Sure it's possible. Is it prudent? Hell, NO.

if he doesn't endanger anyone but himself, and
if he feels lucky...

...then why not?

Looking back to when I was a youngster, I guess I did some pretty dumb things too.

Rick in Florida

I'm sure most of us have done some pretty dumb things in our lives. But what are the chances of a person not endangering someone else if they set out on an imprudent voyage. The Coastguard is going to be called out to search for the boat if it gets lost endangering the lives of the Coasties. And what about resources. An inordinate amount of $$$ would most likely be spent on an individual. Nothing personal to you Moth 12 but I believe that people who do extreme adventure sports should sign a waiver or just plain not expect any help. It seems like you have more sense than most 21 yr olds. I'm about twice that old and I learned to ask questions when I was young. Its listening to answers that I don't want to hear that I still have a problem with.

People should be responsible for their own actions.