An 'xx' Footer in the Roaring Forties

[Armada01]

I just want to get a feel for whether a certain lenght of yacht is perceived adequate, so let's assume that the vessel is perfectly seeworthy and built for ice. It's more about the behavior of a size of yacht in potentially hard sailing conditions.

So, my question is:
The minimum lenght of l sailing yacht I feel like setting off in the roaring forties (let's say from Ushuaia to the Antarctic peninsula), is:

[Wotname]

I have always been a "less is more" kind of person. I don't have R40 experience (yet), but others have successfully voyaged the Southern Ocean in 30 Ft. (e.g. David Lewis - Icebird etc).

I am not suggesting small is better, rather that small can be satisfactory. However you state the vessel will be perfectly seeworthy (sic) and built for ice; therefore my perception would be that any length would be adequate given this qualifier .

Of course bigger is usually more comfortable and any comfort would be appreciated in these waters. Maybe I should have voted 65 ft .

[Armada01]

seaworthy that is....off course

[Armada01]

Maybe I should have added that it is sailed shorthanded (2 crew). That off course can have an effect on how good you feel to be out there....

[Armada01]

Actually, I believe this trip would be in the screaming fifties, in stead of the roaring forties. Well, anyway, you might get scared shitless in either...

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Armada01

you might get scared shitless in either...

That's pretty much the reason I haven't voted

[Hud3]

I would think that for traversing that part of the world, the sailing characteristics of the yacht in huge, following seas (surfing) would be more of an issue than length. Bernard Moitessier's Joshua was about the same length (about 12 meters) as the Smeeton's Tzu-Hang, which pitch-poled and capsized. Reading about their experiences in the Roaring Forties, as well as Vito Dumas' is very illuminating.

[Hampus]

It's not a matter of size, rather of technique I'd rather go in a seaworthy 20ft boat designed for the purpose than in a 35ft boat designed for cruising our sheltered archipelagos, it's not really a matter of size.

/Hampus

[Hud3]

Agreed. Moistessier picked up on Dumas' technique. Let the boat run--no drogues or trailing warps--and steer to put the stern 10-15 degrees off the perpendicular from the face of the wave as it crests.

[gonesail]

if you really want a hull built for ice and rocks then go with steel which would dictate a length of 35 to 40.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by gonesail

if you really want a hull built for ice and rocks then go with steel which would dictate a length of 35 to 40.

Maybe, maybe not - Again Icebird was 30 ft, steel and sailed from Australia east-about to Antarctica, Cape Town and back to Australia.

As to size, Miles Horden single handed from NZ to South America via the Southern Ocean and back via the tropics in a 28 Ft'er - 1997.

[Knowazark]

Having never sailed the roaring forties or the screaming fifties, I am, unfortunately, not in a position to provide informed comment from personal experience.

I have seen footage of the "interesting" sailing conditions that can occur in these latitudes from on board Whitbread Round the World yachts etc and I have talked to crew members who have been there and done that and it certainly looks and sounds like it could be a exciting ride to say the least.

I believe the Volvo 40s handled the southern ocean just as well as the Whitbread maxis and that suggests to me that overall length is probably not as critical as the general design and handling characteristics of the boat and the ingenuity, seamanship, bravery (perhaps stupidity) and tenacity of the crew on board.

Personally I don't think the size of the boat would matter much to me because I'd be hiding in a locker in the foetal position crying for my Mummy for much of the time anyway.

[imagine2frolic]

Was it 25ft. with My Old Man and the Sea? It's the combination of boat & skills would be my guess.......i2f

[slomotion]

Originally Posted by Armada01

So, my question is:
The minimum lenght of l sailing yacht I feel like setting off in the roaring forties (let's say from Ushuaia to the Antarctic peninsula), is:

I agree with Knowazark. The contemplated trip will leave the plain old Roaring Forties far behind and take you where few cruising boats regardless of size would be a wise choice.

[Armada01]

Hey everybody,

In this poll I made it isn't about getting expert advice on which size yacht is adequate for the roaring forties or screaming fifties, it's to get a feel for what the average boater deems appropriate, based on their own experience or on accounts they have heard, seen on TV. With appropriate I mean, what he /she feels comfortable with, not the minimum size possible.

So please anyone with an opinion, feel free to vote!

Tx a bunch!