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Old 02-08-2014, 14:34   #46
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I am pretty sure that Bill Teplow would disagree with all of you nay sayers. He sailed Chubby, his Potter, to Hawaii. Then he sailed her up to Southeast Alaska. Google Teplow and Chubby.
Then there's Stanley crossing the Atlantic from Nova Scotia!
And his return trip East to West!
But wait, how about the crossing of the North Sea from the Isle of Wight to Sweden!!!!
Nah! Gulf Stream crossing? No way in hell! Far too dangerous!!
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Old 02-08-2014, 15:11   #47
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Re: Advisability Sailing to Bimini in December on a Potter

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I am pretty sure that Bill Teplow would disagree with all of you nay sayers. He sailed Chubby, his Potter, to Hawaii. Then he sailed her up to Southeast Alaska. Google Teplow and Chubby.
Then there's Stanley crossing the Atlantic from Nova Scotia!
And his return trip East to West!
But wait, how about the crossing of the North Sea from the Isle of Wight to Sweden!!!!
Nah! Gulf Stream crossing? No way in hell! Far too dangerous!!
��
Hey guys, the only thing you are confirming is that there are many ships of fools out there. I don't have a problem with that but they might.

Right Murph?

BZT
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Old 02-08-2014, 15:23   #48
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Re: Advisability Sailing to Bimini in December on a Potter

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BZT54, I lived and sailed in south florida from the 1970's to 2004. You would be amazed at the number of small unseaworthy sailboats that crossed the stream and cruised the bahamas (before GPS!) and lived to tell about it. From my roost in coconut grove I met many of them.

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And I would suspect, so has Davy Jones.....
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Old 02-08-2014, 16:40   #49
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Re: Advisability Sailing to Bimini in December on a Potter

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Hey guys, the only thing you are confirming is that there are many ships of fools out there. I don't have a problem with that but they might.

Right Murph?

BZT
Nope BZT what they are confirming is that the WWP is not a simple day sailor as you keep saying, but that it is a competent little boat. Repeatedly completing difficult passages denies your concept of the boat.

I wouldn't particularly want to do the trip myself, but see no reason that the OP can't... except for the schedule issues. I don't know how badly getting stuck would affect his well being. Potential job loss or some such severe consequence of not getting back on time could lead to a bad decision about the return trip, but only he can make that judgement.

I guess that puts me into the "don't do it" camp, but it is not because the boat is not up to the job.

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Old 02-08-2014, 17:53   #50
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Re: Advisability Sailing to Bimini in December on a Potter

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Nope BZT what they are confirming is that the WWP is not a simple day sailor as you keep saying, but that it is a competent little boat. Repeatedly completing difficult passages denies your concept of the boat.

I wouldn't particularly want to do the trip myself, but see no reason that the OP can't... except for the schedule issues. I don't know how badly getting stuck would affect his well being. Potential job loss or some such severe consequence of not getting back on time could lead to a bad decision about the return trip, but only he can make that judgement.

I guess that puts me into the "don't do it" camp, but it is not because the boat is not up to the job.

Jim
Jim, you are pretty good at explaining reasons to avoid the crossing. It puts you in the "don't do it camp" because you know better. You know that this competent little boat is just that, a little boat and you would be in for one hell of a ride if you missed your window.

And yes, it's on the OP to make the judgement call. I wonder which way he will go?

BZT
PS It only denies my concept of a Blue Water Boat. The stream is Blue Water therefore a no go for me and I suspect many others.
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Old 02-08-2014, 20:05   #51
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Re: Advisability Sailing to Bimini in December on a Potter

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PS It only denies my concept of a Blue Water Boat. The stream is Blue Water therefore a no go for me and I suspect many others.

Please show me where this is the definition of blue water by anyone else.


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Old 02-08-2014, 21:43   #52
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Re: Advisability Sailing to Bimini in December on a Potter

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Please show me where this is the definition of blue water by anyone else.


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The stream is not only Blue Water but it has a river going through it. In some cases this makes it more dangerous than open ocean because of limited sea room and traffic.

Your point?

BZT
PS Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....
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Old 03-08-2014, 05:04   #53
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Re: Advisability Sailing to Bimini in December on a Potter

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The stream is not only Blue Water but it has a river going through it. In some cases this makes it more dangerous than open ocean because of limited sea room and traffic.



Your point?



BZT

PS Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

Thanks for supplying your unsupported assertion.

Many very experience sailors and yacht designers don't share your definition of the crossing from the US to the Bahamas as "blue water". In fact many consider crossings that can be completed in a day coastal cruising. Neither of the terms blue water or coastal cruising are truly defined anywhere.

But hey, your boat your choice.


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Old 03-08-2014, 05:24   #54
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Re: Advisability Sailing to Bimini in December on a Potter

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Please show me where this is the definition of blue water by anyone else.
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Old 03-08-2014, 05:40   #55
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Re: Advisability Sailing to Bimini in December on a Potter

Seems to me the boat isn't the problem. The 1 week vacation is the problem.

You'll be sitting there waiting every day for a weather window. If you get your window on Day 4 or 5 . . . do you go, hoping to come back 2 or 3 days later? Probably not.

So why not just plan to cruise the Keys, cruising from Day 1, enjoying every minute?
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Old 03-08-2014, 05:59   #56
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Re: Advisability Sailing to Bimini in December on a Potter

Can we stop arguing about the boat and more thoroughly define and advise the OP about the weather window he needs to make this crossing? The majority agrees the boat can do it.

I'll start. South winds. Any wind direction with a lot of S in it will really make this crossing easier.

Next...

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Old 03-08-2014, 06:06   #57
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Re: Advisability Sailing to Bimini in December on a Potter

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Seems to me the boat isn't the problem. The 1 week vacation is the problem...
This is really the issue, not the boat. I wouldn't want to sail over to the Bahamas on any sort of boat with only a week available for the trip. The chances of getting good weather for the crossing over and then the crossing back in a seven day period is just too small.

Given no time constraints, the WWP would be a fine boat for the trip.
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Old 03-08-2014, 06:07   #58
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Re: Advisability Sailing to Bimini in December on a Potter

Ignore chicken little, insofar as the boat being competent to cross to Bimini. Kidding, BZT, I think your intentions are good. This is a short, easy passage in proper conditions, and the potter is suitable. Not ideal, but all of us compromise in our boat designs, your's being very portable - but light.

I sailed a potter as my first boat, but moved up as I took it offshore more and more. Had some great adventures, and could drift out to sea in the tiniest little inlets that no other boats used. I also used the mothership for oystering, now I have to use the inflatable - which is suboptimal.

One week is not likely to get you there and back. Just have a backup in the keys, or the everglades if it's blowing. Lots of good cruising over there, but most of us in bigger boats would time that short crossing carefully too.

Plan it out, even if just an exercise for a future passage to Bimini when you have more time, at a better time of year. And plan a fallback, so that you can use your boat somewhere in S Florida when the right weather window does not present. Having to sail back in marginal conditions would be a nightmare, even in my boat it could become vomit city. As long as you respect the design limitations of the boat, you'll be fine. There is so much fun you can have in that little boat, I miss having one for the mountain lakes around my house.
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Old 03-08-2014, 06:55   #59
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Re: Advisability Sailing to Bimini in December on a Potter

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Plan it out, even if just an exercise for a future passage to Bimini when you have more time, at a better time of year.

Serious question. What is the better time of year? I thought most of the cruising fleet crossed during December and January.

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Old 03-08-2014, 06:58   #60
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Re: Advisability Sailing to Bimini in December on a Potter

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Thanks for supplying your unsupported assertion.

Many very experience sailors and yacht designers don't share your definition of the crossing from the US to the Bahamas as "blue water". In fact many consider crossings that can be completed in a day coastal cruising. Neither of the terms blue water or coastal cruising are truly defined anywhere.

But hey, your boat your choice.


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Hmm... my boat draws 6'. Anything greater than that I consider Blue Water.

All kidding aside, having been caught out in the stream and knowing first hand what it can do and has done to others is where I'm coming from.
I am sure the Potter can make it if he gets his weather windows, but remember that's plural.

To be honest you have to ask yourself, would you go across? If so, I applaud you. I have come to the conclusion that as far as blue water and boats go, bigger is (depending on design) always better. That teacup is not my cup of tea for that type of crossing.

BZT
PS Btw, Zzzzzzzzz.... was my way of say good night.
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