aquadreams

Actually 4 electric winches and 2 furling sails - the main in-boom. I'd prefer a second furling head sail and an in-boom main, but hey, maybe next time....although next time i might choose a 50ft daggerboard catamaran if i felt i could sail it and afford it....

Hi Joe,
sorry, I just saw your comment from December. Did you get boat yet? Ours has 3 electric winches. My husband has sailed it single a few day-times - once in 40 knots. I feel comfortable when on night watch on my own, furling and unfurling sails (due to low wind). I have only been 15nm offshore, though, at night in light conditions. We don't have a huge amount of experience and are finding the Jeanneau good for learning to live aboard and do our first ocean sailing on. Planning first passage this year - from Aust to New Cal. We bought this particular boat because it was a stronger build than a lot of newer, similar production boats. It's a 2002. Apparently, as you say, in recent years the build materials on a lot of production boats have been a lesser quality. We chose the 52 ft because we have 2 kids and it is our home. It's the biggest boat I've ever sailed and I like the size, but so far we haven't had a lot of repair or rigging replacement costs, so maybe that's why.

What is the best month to cross to Bimini and stay several months?