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Thames 4 Blood · 07-03-2013, 07:06

Off topic completely but Witzgall... Just always been curious... Are Wauquiez yachts as good as rumour has it? I wonder if there was a change when they were taken over? I just like the idea of them is all...

DDabs · 07-03-2013, 10:46

Sweet list of upgrades. Have a safe voyage, let us know how it goes!

Thames 4 Blood · 07-03-2013, 13:07

Thanks, will be online once we are in Gibralter.

**boatman61** · 07-03-2013, 13:13

I delivered a Wauquiez Chance 37... sailed like a dream... mind it was a '73...

goboatingnow · 07-03-2013, 16:07

Don't forget to install a Navtex display , excellent way to get good forecasts all down that coast and into the med. invaluable and cheap to buy

Dave

DDabs · 07-03-2013, 16:29

Where in the Med. are you going?

Johnathon123 · 07-03-2013, 16:34

How nice is it to not see a single "production boat" basher in response to this guys question! I am sure he will have a great trip and he is obviously taking safety seriously by the sounds of it.

I remain extremely jealous of you and wish you luck.

Cavalier · 07-03-2013, 16:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnathon123

How nice is it to not see a single "production boat" basher in response to this guys question! I am sure he will have a great trip and he is obviously taking safety seriously by the sounds of it.

I remain extremely jealous of you and wish you luck.

+1 - this is one of the most constructive threads i've read for a while. "It makes one's heart swell!"

barnakiel · 07-03-2013, 18:03

Upgrade your oilskins unless they are top specs already. If you run into any bad weather, you want to be dry and warm as long as possible.

Make sure your galley is set up to work in any conditions - you want hot and tasty food, especially if it is doggy outside.

Super duper AP goes a long way, I like twin units where applicable. Then an efficient and reliable way to reef down. Minimize effort required, maximize boat's ability to sail safe 'by herself' in the upper range of wx.

Other toys and things you can mod while in port while rethinking the things that pissed you off on your last passage.

b.

Thames 4 Blood · 07-03-2013, 21:24

Thanks all for kind words and advice!
We are on an open ended cruise so hoping to spend at least a couple of years in the Med, maybe longer? Then who knows....
I think there is a big hole in my weather. I have always planned for Med cruising where radio is usually enough ( I thought... asking myself some very big Qs on that now...) I had always thought to go Sat phone if we went further affield but would prefer to avoid the expense until its really needed. I am now pretty sure I need Navtex at least.
We both have ocean grade oileys so thats a tick.
I hope the galley will be fine but the thought of me in the galley in a blow gives me the horrors... Id rather be on deck.
Finally, going to sound thick now... AP? What is AP?
Thanks
Mark.

goboatingnow · 08-03-2013, 03:03

For Weather in the med, Ive found VHF to be fairly useless, The best is either Navtex or the Internet.

Forget about Satphones, a good cell phone will do in most places.

Remember you need good sun shades like a bimini and often some forward shade when at anchor or in marinas, it can get quite hot. Mozzie screens are useful too. Dont just equip the boat just for Biscay , I mean thats just a three day trip and its then forgotten.

Youll find the inner forestay never really gets used either, youll just roller furl.

Id forget about the wind vane, spend the money on solar.

As to cooking and galleys, you will learn to manage, because you do need to eat!. Try to ensure that the crew in a blow that arnt needed dont stay on deck, get them into bunks, sleeping reduces sea-sicknesses.

Good luck.

**boatman61** · 08-03-2013, 03:22

I tend to rely heavily on the VHF for weather... UK to 100miles S of Ushant one picks up CG weather reports, in the Biscay if things look like going nasty ships and other boats heading N let me know whats ahead.. once in range of Spain the Spanish broadcast regular forecasts and all the way down the W coast of Portugal Roca Control will happily give you updates and states of harbours... quite a few close when theres a blow... you've seen the Peniche surf I take it...

.
In W Med the Spanish give regular reports... just listen out for "All Cheeps, All Cheeps..."
Sicily, Italy the same.. helps if you know at least one of the Latin tongues.. then you'll get the drift.. a little voice recorder is useful as some rattle through it pretty fast...

Greece through to Turkey was a problem tho.. don't understand either..

Have a grand time..

Thames 4 Blood · 08-03-2013, 04:12

I hope your right about the storm sail. If I find I am in need of it then things are not going according to plan... I view it a bit like the life raft. You dont set out with a view to using it :-) The issue is that I have a 145% foresail which is exactly what I wanted. Ideal for most conditions and means that with a pole we wont need a spinnaker to make reasonable way with the wind behind. BUT... Its not going to furl down well enough to give service in a real blow.
Have a bimini and a hat!
I am very aware of our lack of experience and I am quite sure that what seems very important now wont be an issue in 3 months time while things that havent occured to me yet will drive me batty.... Thats all to the good though. Its a journey. As long as we have the safety bases covered everything else can fall into place with a Pina-Colada in one hand and a bit O Bob Marley on the Ipod dock...
Cant wait!

Thames 4 Blood · 08-03-2013, 04:17

Just out of interest and while I am skiving away from the bathroom I should be tiling... We have a good friend who is an RYA examiner coming to sail with us for the 1st 3 weeks. Get us accross Biscay in one piece and shake us and MoonShine into some sort of shape. His name is Paul and he is a star, a teriffic teacher, a great guy to share a brandy with and a bloody good laugh!