On passage, what speed do you decide to turn on an engine?

[sailorboy1]

I waited till i got below 1 knot and stayed a while an hour ago.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by StuM

On one offshore race with light winds and an adverse current, we watched an island disappear over the horizon in fromt of us and re-appear hours later when the wind finally picked up a bit.

[HeywoodJ]

Originally Posted by StuM

On one offshore race with light winds and an adverse current, we watched an island disappear over the horizon in fromt of us and re-appear hours later when the wind finally picked up a bit.

Our worst day’s run put us 17 miles further from our destination than the preceding noon fix

Sometimes a bit of swimming and some meditation is all you can do.

[geoleo]

5kn IF I have the fuel----then its always with main up to steady and hope for a wind boost somehow.

[Icarus]

Originally Posted by Nahbrown

curious what speed you are willing to put along at without the iron wind assist. With most catamarans having two engines and two fuel tanks we may be willing to motor sail a bit sooner than our mono hull brothers. I know we are willing to turn on one at a time to split the hours and fuel consumption.







Assume there are no weather threats or the like forcing you to speed up.





Me. I am fine in the 4 knot range. Seeing SOG in the 3s makes me reach for the ignition.

Unless I have to get to certain location on time I just enjoy the day
On an ocean passage and the wind drops there isn't much point to motor

[MicHughV]

It's interesting to note that no wind is just as much of a problem as too much wind.

If I had to make a guess, I'd say most sailors would prefer too much vs. too little..

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

But really...a schedule invariably dictates when the key is turned.....there should be law against sailors having schedules...even Boatie's delivery date should be adjusted to " I'll get there, when I get there"...

Sometimes that's not acceptable to the owners, barring extreme weather and risk to boat and crew.
Several deliveries have been for owners whose boats are their homes and they have had to return to their own country to give birth.. UK, Holland, Switzerland for example and they need the boat/home to return to at the desired port by a certain date..
I do however make it clear, for me to make that date may involve a large fuel bill.. for example on one trip Florida to Gib, I motored nearly 90% of the way due to headwinds, mostly light <10kts.
Otherwise I have no schedule for my own boat or deliveries.
My 1st 47day nonstop Caribe-UK had me becalmed for 5 days in the Western Approaches under a big high.. total no wind days 11 for the trip.

[JPA Cate]

Sailing is always done at the behest of Momma Nature. You can't control what she gives you. All you can do is work with her.

I asked myself why do I have my own particular version of this? I think because I started out racing, no engine use allowed after the 5 minute gun. So I'm a beginner, and the rule I learned did not include motorsailing. My earliest training, as it were.

So now, I understand about simply accepting what the weather gods have on offer. And I've also learned they are sometimes mischievous thugs, too, so its best to keep an eye on what's happening in the sky and at water level....

And, mostly we sail, unless there's a strong reason to get somewhere at a particular time.



Ann

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by Icarus

Unless I have to get to certain location on time I just enjoy the day
On an ocean passage and the wind drops there isn't much point to motor

Not just on an ocean passage.

I have pretty exclusively coastal cruised as a permanent live aboard for the past twenty years and still often have to remind myself, when I'm about to crank up the donk, that:

"You're not really going anywhere mate, you're doing this for a lifestyle. Leave the noisy, vibrating, diesel guzzling thing at peace and enjoy the day even if it's only going by at a couple of knots."

I usually then throw my arms up and out and let loose with a good "YEEHAA" and wander down below and make a cup of coffee to enjoy with my new found appreciation of another great day at sea.

[ScottMeilicke]

Sailing the salish sea (Wa state, USA), there are a fair number of obstacles and tidal currents through various cuts and passages. While I try to sail and time it all out, often I don’t sail as well as I would like and have to motor to beat the sunset or a current shift.

I am getting better at planning, and sometimes break up even a modest 30 mi sail into an evening sail for 10-15 mi, taking advantage of the afternoon winds, positioning myself for favorable tides and winds the next morning. It often turns a one day hustle into a two day delight, with time to sail the zephyrs and have good timing for sailing tricky passages that most people motor through.

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

It's interesting to note that no wind is just as much of a problem as too much wind.

If I had to make a guess, I'd say most sailors would prefer too much vs. too little..

Gee I must be in the minority then. I prefer too little wind than too much any day. Too little wind won’t ever sink me and I’ll always get to my destination.

[Nahbrown]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

Gee I must be in the minority then. I prefer too little wind than too much any day. Too little wind won’t ever sink me and I’ll always get to my destination.

I’m with you!

35kts at night with building seas south of Bermuda was NOT preferable to 7kts and deciding whether to motor sail or not.

[sailorboy1]

Too much wind normally isn't a problem. You just reef and sail fast. The main problem with too wind is it comes with too much seas and that equals a sucky trip.

[boatman61]

Have seen several couples split up over whether the engine goes on or not.
Reason.. Unreasonable suffering caused by days spent slopping about at sea because the skipper was a 'Sailor'

[Pegu Club]

Like all things boat, it depends, yesterday we did an overnight from Beaufort SC to St Mary’s Georgia, we, for this passage wanted to ride the current out and back in, the wind died off over night so we started up big red (the 16hp Beta), but most of the time we are content down to two ish knots, relevant to conditions, and time constraints.

Fair winds,