What EXACTLY is a "blue water boat"?

[Bowdrie]

For that race they limited the boat size to between 32 and 36ft.
A pretty narrow range.
Had the limit been 38ft., and I was competing, my pick of boats would have been an Alajuela 38, they can move right along, and you can't hurt them.

[DeValency]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

It is interesting to note that in the recent golden globe reenactment race which specified boats of similar design (if not construction) to Suhali (sp?), quite a few of the boats failed to finish, and it was most often due to some failure in the boat rather than in the skipper (all of whom were pretty experienced and competent, especially compared to most of us WAFIs).

I think that ALL of those boats would have met the "certified by CF as blue water" designation... The winner and several other chaps sailed absolutely splendid passages, all without the aid of electronics or outside help (at least in theory), so kudos to them all, winners and DFL alike.

Jim

Good case, Jim - outstanding sailors and while I try not to use luck as a variable in our normal cruising life (that’s for a different thread…), indeed, technical/mechanical issues are the common reasons for race abandoning. While the boats designs in the race are not our typical cruisers (yet? &#128526, they definitely check many of our common checks - to name a few:
- exceptional strength and stiffness
- short handed support by all means
- extended tankage and stowage
- crew (of one…) protection from harsh elements
- stability under extreme conditions - well, the foils add a lot… in my Contest it is the extended wings - but as much as I try, can’t get to planning… 🙂

[wingssail]

Originally Posted by DMF Sailing

I think the very fact of IOR racing cruisers like a Serendipity 43 should put the final stake in the whole notion that there is one set of specifications, on paper anyway,* for what exactly a "blue water boat" is.

Thanks, Fred, for your updates to that Sailboat data page.

*other than that unreal Balance/Displacement figure

I see what you mean, the ballast should not be 10,000lbs, I don't know where that came from. In fact I don't have any documented figure but I thought it should have been a little less than 8,000. I'll see if sailboat data can revise it.