Crew Wanted: Captain, Crew for Hunter 450, Panama City to Fiji

[sydbab]

Hi we are looking at buying a 97 model Hunter 450 passage and seeking expressions of interest in sailing her from Panama City to Fiji.
This would suit someone with a lot of open ocean sailing experience who wants to do the South Pacific but doesn't own a boat. We would be willing to let you have the boat for a reasonable amount of time in exchange for sailing her to Fiji early in 2013.
The other option we are looking at is to hire a professional crew to just sail the boat more or less directly to Fiji with minimum stops.

This is all dependant on the opinions I get here as to the wisdom of sailing a Hunter 450 Passage on this long a voyage .
Thanks

[Loco Gato]

you are dealing with 2 different minds sets here and 1 would be easier on the boat and you. Let someone have your boat for a cruise to Fiji you set the pace of many stops, anchorages, bars and a higher risk for damage. With a professional crew, with their reputation at stake, fewer stop overs, just fuel and re-provisioning plus unexpected repairs and a faster delivery. Plus, my customer's boats anyway, arrive in as good as conditiion when we arrive as it did when we left, normal wear and excepted and expected. And then there is the insurance. Better coverage with a delivery crew than just handing over your boat to someone and a see ya in Fiji, have fun attitude. The boat is fine for the trip, it boils down to what condition do you want to recieve her in.
Just my 2 bucks worth( inflation)
Lynn A. Stokes
Captain
Eastern Pacific Yacht Delivery Service
Morro Bay, Ca.
stokesla@earthlink.net
805-471-0593

[jeffb33]

Wr are available if you want it delivered.

[tuvia47]

Hi
if u know,the sailing distance between Panama & Fiji is about 6500 NM .the average speed of your yacht will be about 6.5 knots = 1000 hours in motion = 1000 gallon of diesel fuel.
in my opinion the best & cheapest way is to send it with a ship all the way to Fiji.
regards

captain
T. Inbar

[sailorpirate]

We have made 3 s pacific passages and are available in early 2013 as a delivery crew for your vessel. Please contact us for rates and we can chat about what's possible....louis@247sailing.net

[sydbab]

Thanks everyone I am still tossing and turning on which way to go about this. will make a discision in the next couple of days.
Dave

[TOM]

Originally Posted by tuvia47

Hi
if u know,the sailing distance between Panama & Fiji is about 6500 NM .the average speed of your yacht will be about 6.5 knots = 1000 hours in motion = 1000 gallon of diesel fuel.
in my opinion the best & cheapest way is to send it with a ship all the way to Fiji.
regards

captain
T. Inbar

I think the idea is to sail the boat.

[sydbab]

I thought that was a bit strange too

[Kenomac]

We owned a 1998 Hunter 450 up until last June. Have your boat shipped. I personally wouldn't make the voyage you're planning on a Hunter.

[donomoore1]

I would be interested as a crew member. Let me know as things progress.

[TOM]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

We owned a 1998 Hunter 450 up until last June. Have your boat shipped. I personally wouldn't make the voyage you're planning on a Hunter.

Thats why he wants someone else to do it.

www.byamee.com

[donomoore1]

I am new to this site, so bare with me as I learn the ropes. I am interested in getting off land for awhile, and I know a woman who spent time in that area of the S. Pacific.

I am interested. Currently, I live in Tampa.

[Captain Jeffry]

Sydbab,
Your question/options of delivery method is not a new one. Many have toiled over it. If money is NO object, for sure have it delivered on a float on/float off/mast up method. Dockwise as an example. Decomissioning a sailboat like a Hunter 450 is easy. Getting her back together can run into some issues with wiring, chainplates, etc..especially in Fiji. Getting her to Fiji on a ship is not a normal drop off location. Why Fiji? Will you then sail her to Oz of Kiwi land?

If you have the correct Captian and crew you can save some money. Rest assured, the correct crew will get the boat to your destination in very good condition, and likely better than when they took charge of your vessel. CHECK references!

I've done this on a J-160 from Santa Barbara to Auckland and the boat was in fact better off when we arrived in NZed.

I would be very happy to discuss this with you ad help in any way I can.

Several years ago, the HUnter 450/456460/466 was a popular boat to buy and re locate in OZ or NZed due to the exchange rate. Very decent boat to sail to South Pacific, saw many of them en route a few years ago. I am good at what I do and have great crew who are great sailors. Many references available
My data:
I am a USCG Licensed 100 Ton Master Captain
STCW 95-TWIC certified-CPR adult/children-First aid certified-Safety and Sea certified-Sailing endorsement-All certs current. Consider myself a heavy weather specialist. I have 6 transpacific crossings including Trans Pac Race in 2011. I have many Mexico races with over 40 deliveries north and south between Mexico and California--Several dozen trips from SoCal to San Francisco-- I have over 120,000 verified blue water miles experience as of September 2012, including-- Los Angeles to Auckland, both directions, via Hawaii, Palmyra, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji southbound and Rarotonga and Tahiti northbound--Grenada to Ensenada via Curacao and Panama Canal-- Miami to Cascais, Portugal via Bermuda and Azores Islands-- ICW, Miami to Annapolis—Many trips up and down the West coast From Anacortes, Seattle and Portland to SoCal and in both directions. Columbia River Bar crossings, Seattle, Puget Sound and Strait of Juan De Fuca. Recently completed delivery of a Vagabond 47' Garden Ketch from Coos Bay to Port Townsend. Anacortes WA to Santa Barbara and will be delivering an Island Packet 370 from San Diego to Shelter Bay, Panama in late November/December.

Can email me: earthakat at msn dot com

Cheers!

[sydbab]

Originally Posted by TOM

Thats why he wants someone else to do it.

www.byamee.com

Originally Posted by Kenomac

We owned a 1998 Hunter 450 up until last June. Have your boat shipped. I personally wouldn't make the voyage you're planning on a Hunter.

I can see your point, we did this trip 2 years ago on a 52 foot Flying Dutchman yacht built by Tayana and got hit pretty hard a few times.

A guy we ran into on numerous occasions was on a 26 foot contessa and he had sailed it from Gurnsey UK and ended up in Bundaberg Qld but you can only take so much time off work and other people on this blog say that the boat would be fine. I would have no hesitation on sailing her down here ( with the right gear) which I may still do after all, as i would rather risk a battering at sea than be bored to death at work.
Thanks
Dave

[Kenomac]

There's a very big difference between a Tayana 52 and a Hunter 450. The Hunter is not heavy duty. The creaking and loud banging noises down below caused by the flexing bulkhead joints will drive you nuts. Also, you'll want to make some major changes/repairs to your heads and holding tank system on the Hunter unless you don't mind going in a bucket the entire distance. The 15 yr old rig, you might also have some issues there... get it checked out.