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

[macanudo]

We did 28k Nm in our 2000 Leopard 45 (pre Moorings) sailing cat taking off from Cape Town into Indian Ocean against Aghullas current up to Seychelles returned (didnt find the positve current on return!) back to CPT then Atlantic traditional route St Helena, Brazil, nothern S America, E Caribbean, Eastern USA up to Annapolis. Bahamas. Cuba. Western Caribbean Mexico North to Bermuda twice & eventually back transAtlantic. All sorts of weather, sea & current states & some worriesome times amongst the great times. The whole cruising venture we averaged 7kts.

Not being a purist our guidelines were when SOG fell to 5kts consider all factors that other contributers above have mentioned but invariably when consistently below 5kts we motor sailed on one engine & it was generally much more confortable & got us to destinations before storms or per East COast USA enabled us to get in & anchored safely before the afternoon thunder & lightening ! Still miss it Good luck

[donradcliffe]

In half of my deliveries I never turn off the engine. Sometimes the boats have failed batteries, and sometimes the prevailing winds are 25k in my face, and I take advantage of the lulls.