Crossing the Pond . . . Columbia Sabre ?

[otherthan]

just curious!
someone at the marina owns a superbe columbia sabre, must be the sexiest sailboat iv seen...he claims this boat would cross the atlantic much safer and faster then my turkey...needles to say I want your opinions just for the fun of it.

The sabre looks to me like it was built to race across oceans?

[Jim Cate]

G'Day Jobi,

From memory, the Sabre was a 5.5 meter round-the-bouys race boat "cruiserized" by putting a deck, trunk cabin and minimum accommodation in the long, skinny hull.

Could it cross the Atlantic? In the hands of a competent sailor, yes. Safely? Well, that's dependent on the wx, the skipper and the route chosen. Fast? No faster than most other boats of similar LWL... possibly a bit faster than your Hinterholler if a course with lots of windward work was chosen (that's where these old designs tend to do their best). Now, thebig unasked question: Comfortable? Hell no! A design with very low freeboard and narrow beam, with a minimal available volume for stores... sure wouldn't be my choice for voyaging.

YMMV.

Cheers,

Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II lying Church Point, NSW, Oz

[otherthan]

hahaha Thanks for your insight...the guy sure didnt look like a sailor to me...more like an arm chair sailor...but it was loads of fun just being with him at the pub.

sailors be it ocean going or marina junkies are never boring

cheers

[simonmd]

5.5 meter??? Are you sure? I'm sure there's some mistake there, my inflatable tender is 3.1m for heavens sake!

[boatman61]

Its been done in a 14ftr NY to Falmouth... not my cuppa tea...
I might be mad... but not that mad....

[colemj]

Originally Posted by simonmd

5.5 meter??? Are you sure? I'm sure there's some mistake there, my inflatable tender is 3.1m for heavens sake!

The 5.5 designation is a fit to a racing ratings rule, not the overall length of the boat.

The Sabre (without the interior) was originally designed to compete in the 5.5 meter class for the Olympics (I think), then the rating changed disqualifying the design and Columbia made it into the Sabre for club racing.

Mark

[simonmd]

Ah so it's not the length, phew. Anyone who says thay've got a 5.5m boat that would easily cross the Atlantic needs locking up! I know it's been done, there was some mad Frenchman who went over in an inflatable Zodiac in the 60's, maybe 70's but not something you'd reccomend for sure!

[otherthan]

Originally Posted by colemj

The 5.5 designation is a fit to a racing ratings rule, not the overall length of the boat.

The Sabre (without the interior) was originally designed to compete in the 5.5 meter class for the Olympics (I think), then the rating changed disqualifying the design and Columbia made it into the Sabre for club racing.

Mark

at the time she was disqualifiyed because she was fiberglass not wood...5.5 it was...you are right about olympics
cheers

[simonmd]

So what did the 5.5 refer to then, LWL, mast height or what?

[markpierce]

Based on my experience, I would not make a trans-oceanic trip in a small boat. I've done five trans-Atlantic and three California-Hawaii trips on cruise ships, as a passenger. Met strong storms (at least 60+ mph winds, 50+ foot waves) on two of those trips in the Atlantic, and rescued three sailors from a something-like-40-foot sloop in the Pacific. Yeah, trans-oceanic small-boat voyages are commonly made, but you are taking a substantial risk.

I see it coming. Please throw just soft fruits, not rocks, at me. Thanks.

[fstbttms]

I know that the Columbia 5.5 is a very tender boat and is probably a terrible choice to cross an ocean in. I have zero experience with the Sabre (other than seeing the occasional example) but my guess is it would be every bit as much a death trap as the five-five.

[otherthan]

Originally Posted by simonmd

So what did the 5.5 refer to then, LWL, mast height or what?

(((The International 5.5 Metre Class is a class of racing yachts initially designed under the rules of the International Yacht Racing Union (IYRU) that is now known as the International Sailing Federation)))

The sabre is a 32.5ft full keel boat

[ozskipper]

Classic Plastic- Columbia Sabre

If this is the class of boat youre talking about . no thanks. All Cockpit and no cabin. It would be a very uncomfortable sail across the pond. With no space below and no protection in the cockpit.

It would however make a great day boat with lots of space for friends to all fit in the cockpit at the same time- something only racers can normally do.

Cheers
Oz

[marc2012]

Had one yrs ago,fantastic sailboat.They were very well built material wise.Hull to deck joint designed by someone who thinks water runs uphill.VERY spartan interior not suitable for long trip.marc

[boatman61]

It'd be great for an adventurous singlehander with sailing experience... bang a sprayhood ond side dodgers on her... good auto pilot and she's good to go.. Oh and rollerfurler Genny
Yes... there are folks who'd do it happily
Its how you look at it.. you're voyaging so 80% of your time is on deck... if the weathers warm that can go upto 95% as one can sleep in the cockpit... the most is snug under the hood with a cushion and a good book or sounds..
On reaching land all you need is somewhere to sleep. cook and 'dispose'... its like hotels... go 5* or YMCA.....
But hell.... I'm easily happy