100 days on the hook!

[stevensuf]

So this is our 100th day away from marinas, we have been either sailing or at anchor and our 150th day since leaving home.

Water has been a pain since the watermaker gave up, new parts are on way but finding it is a pain.

Electricity has been good , the 320w of solar have worked well so far in the med.

80M of anchor chain has helped us anchor where others cant, and the kobra 2 anchor has been terrific, sets so easy and holds very well, makes the expensive fancy name brands look well over priced.

Rolling, the blight of anchorages, lots of planning and checking of weather can help lessen this horrible thing, i wish more had been mentioned about it before.

Shore access, one thing to think about. A good tender and an even better lock n chain, think really good stainless and very thick.

Space yes, small boats no thanks,get as much as you can, that narrow hulled full length keel may be great in that storm you are probably never going to meet, but in the 21st century, a bit more beam is far more useful.

Air con/generators etc? well i would not spend 20k on factory fitted options, a small honda and portable aircon unit will do just fine for those odd days that you really need them,

The portable ice maker. i thought a gizmo, but so great when you dont have to wait for drinks to cool in the fridge and very cheap.

A good inverter that will run many things is also very handy.

Live aboard Cruising, the thing that started as a dream ,became and adventure and is now normality, with the normality becoming more of an adventure as the thought of future destinations looms ahead.

It aint all fun n games, but it is certainly better than 9 to 4 and suburbia!

[gathhill]

Great post , keep em coming !

[atoll]

something to bear in mind in the med as autum progresses is the changing nature of the weather,mistrals,tramontanas,bora's and sirroccos become much more prevalent by the end of september..........dont be lulled into a false sense of security in an anchorage that is open to the sea,you need to start watching the weather very carefully if anchored out.

low pressure systems over the sahara can bring very strong winds from the south and east,making nw protected anchorages leeshores in the space of 30 minutes!

[stevensuf]

Alex, Tell me about it , got stuck in fornells in menorca by a mistral for a week, luckily fornells is very well protected The cliffs around cassis were something to see. Sitting in pollensa just now, protected from most angles, next stop soller north of mallorca, good from most directions as well.

You are right though, it does lull you into a false sense of security then try and kick you up the rectum.

Roll on the caribbean, just need to fix a few things first, that list keeps on getting longer. need to learn shorthand soon!

[Ex-Calif]

Great real life report - Many thanks!

[SunDevil]

Awesome. Are you doing much on shore each day?

MAGMA Rock 'n' Roll Stabilizer System at West Marine

I would be getting one of these, even in a catamaran.

[atoll]

Originally Posted by stevensuf

Alex, Tell me about it , got stuck in fornells in menorca by a mistral for a week, luckily fornells is very well protected The cliffs around cassis were something to see. Sitting in pollensa just now, protected from most angles, next stop soller north of mallorca, good from most directions as well.

You are right though, it does lull you into a false sense of security then try and kick you up the rectum.

Roll on the caribbean, just need to fix a few things first, that list keeps on getting longer. need to learn shorthand soon!

if you are going to soller try to get tucked up as far as you can in the ne corner,it can get a bit bumpy in a strong mistral.

if you are wintering in the med it might be time to look for a marina on the mainland,the ones in mallorca are horrendously priced.

if you are heading for the carib,now is a good time to cruise the atlantic coast of morroco.

[gjordan]

Stevensuf, Do you have a trysail? To stop the violent rolling try hoisting it (if you have one) as high as you can and sheet it to the stern. Adjust the sail up or down to get it as flat as possible, and you will be amazed at how it takes the snap out of a roll. It also works for motoring on a windless sea with big swells. It keeps you from beating your main to death. It is worth a try!!!!!____Grant.

[FSMike]

Originally Posted by stevensuf

Rolling, the blight of anchorages, lots of planning and checking of weather can help lessen this horrible thing, i wish more had been mentioned about it before.

Stevensuf -

Have you tried rigging a bridle to your anchor rode to hold the bow into the swells when you have a contrary wind?