How to do a 18 month circumnavigation from San Francisco?

[cwyckham]

Originally Posted by Randy

I spent about 1 1/2 yrs in the Horn of Africa helping out with CTF 150 (the multinational antipiracy coalition). The point of convoys for commercial vessels as well as yachts was and is to facilitate monitoring by the limited defenses forces and it was effective. One warship with its helicopters could easily protect a large number of vessels during their transit through the areas of the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and east of Africa.

Now that makes sense. If you have an escort, then staying close to the escort is wise. But I don't think most convoys of sailboats have escorts?

[cwyckham]

Originally Posted by atoll

here is a good account of mahidi,and gandalf travelling in convoy,i was about 18 hours behind them ,this one has a happy ending,for those thinking of travelling in convoy.

Violent Pirate Attack On Two Yachts Off Yemen — Noonsite

I'm familiar with this one. The sailboats were well armed, allowing themselves to give each other cover. They also got really lucky in that they managed to ram a fast moving boat with a slow moving boat (I believe the rammer was a steel boat, if memory serves).

So I guess my conclusion is that if have armaments, either on at least one of the vessels in the convoy or an accompanying vessel, then herding makes sense. However, unarmed boats seem to herd together in a belief that this will help.

Anyways, I've hijacked this thread and I apologize for that. Someday if I really care enough I'll start another thread instead.

[zboss]

Originally Posted by socaldmax

Ill call Charles Manson and tell him the great news right away!!

He'll be delighted!

He's hardly charles manson. I think you get my drift.

[socaldmax]

Originally Posted by zboss

He's hardly charles manson. I think you get my drift.

I knew exactly what you were saying. I was just having a bit of fun. But here's my drift...

you only get one chance to make a first impression. The OP made a very bad first impression with me. So, just like Charlie Manson, I'm not giving him a second chance.

The way I see it, people don't pretend to be rude. They can pretend to be nice for a short period to get something they want from you, but if at some point they act rudely, well, that's just who they are. So he might act nice for a bit to get the answers he wants, but I'm not going to excuse his initial approach.

[Captain-Shawn28]

Yolo if your still reading this thread.

I have to highly agree with the member that suggested you sail around south america. Personally i would sail down to mexico to start with your crew and make my way through centrel america the panal canal around south america (and cape horn) and back up to san fransico this alone is one hell off a trip for any unseasoned salior but at least you would be somewhat along the coast and near land for most of the trip. You can take in the carribean and latin america you and the crew can party and experience other cultures and have the time of your life. Theres always time for europe and asia later in life. I would highly advise you try coastal sailing in your local waters in rough water first as well personally i recently single handed 30hrs at the tiller picking up my new boat and got caught in 45knot winds and 12ft seas when the vhf report called for 15knts and 3ft in the georgia straight after battling that (loosing my lunch) was a good experience on seeing what me and my cascade 36 can take when it gets really rough and it gets a lot worse on blue water. A good chart plotter solar panel/wind setup will go a long way but paper charts a sextant and navigational knowledge to use them is a must. Myself im finishing up doing some upgrades and repairs on my boat, liveaboard full time 3 years now 2nd boat. Saving up funds and its off to mexico this winter if things go as planned. I would also suggest asking around your local yacht club who has actual offshore expeirence there and picking there brain over a couple drinks maybe have them check out your boat. Someone looking over your rigging, sails, rudder condition(rudder pin), tiller, hull etc goes a long way to finding out what you really have got. The dreams there and its possible just some knowledge carefull, planing, good gear selection, coastal experience, goes a long way in making the good/safe trip of a lifetime your after.

Ps get an EPRIB survival suits good dinghy and a SSB radio anything less would be uncivilized lol

Cheers

[sailfun]

I disagree you can make a nonstop trip in 18 months easy with the right boat. not everybody wants to spend 2 months at every stop they make.
You can do it!! rock the dream

[blackswan]

Download the free American NGI Atlas of Pilot Charts and/or get Jimmy Cornells modern version of the same thing. This will help you plan around the various tropical storm systems and hopefully pick the right seasons for good winds.
For an initial plan look at the tropical revolving storm seasons for low latitudes worldwide. This will give you the season/areas to aviod.

It will take some time to research your plan and I think you will come up against edge of season time constraints which will mean marginal sailing conditions and/or higher risk.

Myself and most cruisers (as you have read) wouldn't consider circumnavigating wihin this time frame hence it may take a little time for some one who has done this to respond.

Good luck.

[SaltyMonkey]

Are we bloody well there yet? My banananas are getting warm.

[gunkylump]

Originally Posted by YoloSF

We bought the boat and delivered it ourselves last week. It's already outfitted for bluewater cruising and needs some minor upgrades, so we'll be able to focus on sailing and doing some longer trips in the next year or so to prep the crew. My friend actually volunteered to crew for someone I introduced him to and arrived just 3 days ago to the Marquesas from San Diego! So we're doing our due dilligence to build up experience before we leave.

Hi Yolo!

Quite the thread you have going here! Some equipment you may want to have on board.....watermaker, SSB radio, a SPOT or some search thing so we can follow your progress, perhaps some solar panels and a good wind generator for cheap power creation, a weather fax, satellite phone, an extensive inventory of spare parts, sail repair kit in case you rip or tear a sail, heck, I've probably repeated someone else's post of all this, or you already have it all covered, but thought I'd throw it at you anyway. Good luck, keep the updates coming on yours and your crews progress. I find this whole concept very interesting, mind you not my desire to make the same type of run....I'm kind of old and slow!

gunk

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