Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 04-12-2021, 11:33   #1
Registered User
 
DMF Sailing's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Somewhere in the Gulf of Maine
Boat: THEN: Indefatigable Bristol Caravel #172; NOW: 42 makes of other people's boats (and counting)
Posts: 872
Images: 4
Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

Inspired by Don C L's contribution , post #437 in the multiyear 'What exactly is a bluewater boat' thread that refuses to die,

I ask you: What makes one a 'bluewater skipper'? Your stories, your tales, your successes and failures. I can read books and articles, but nothing is as riveting as having you all go at each other.

And me! Got at me! I'm an inveterate coastal cruiser who's probably got more hours at the helm of a keelboat than a lot of you, but has Zero (0) ambition to go more than 30 miles offshore. However, one can always learn new tricks, and they do have some wind and waves and trouble out there where I am, so I'm sure I'll learn something new.

Bonus question: What do you do to prepare your boat for 'bluewater passages?' We've all read a ton about AWB making passages... those of you have done it, what, if anything, did you do to feel comfortable/in control out there on your jennie/bennie/hanse/bavaria?

Feel free to use smilies and dismissive putdowns on me, the OP, but please try to be nice to each other.
__________________
We ran aground at 2300. Dad fired off flares all night, to no avail. In the morning, Mom called the Coast Guard and demanded to know why they had not responded. "But ma'm," came the abashed reply. "Yesterday was July 4th!"
DMF Sailing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 12:13   #2
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: South Africa
Boat: Leopard 40
Posts: 717
Images: 1
Re: Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

aqfishing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 12:57   #3
Registered User
 
Stu Jackson's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Cowichan Bay, BC (Maple Bay Marina)
Posts: 9,703
Re: Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DMF Sailing View Post
...............
.....................
I can read books and articles, but nothing is as riveting as having you all go at each other...........................
............................

These anecdotes would be different how?



I agree:

Furthest I've gone offshore = 25 nm to the Farralone Islands off San Francisco.

__________________
Stu Jackson
Catalina 34 #224 (1986) C34IA Secretary
Cowichan Bay, BC, SR/FK, M25, Rocna 10 (22#) (NZ model)
Stu Jackson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 14:45   #4
Registered User
 
DMF Sailing's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Somewhere in the Gulf of Maine
Boat: THEN: Indefatigable Bristol Caravel #172; NOW: 42 makes of other people's boats (and counting)
Posts: 872
Images: 4
Re: Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu Jackson View Post
These anecdotes would be different how?



I agree:

Furthest I've gone offshore = 25 nm to the Farralone Islands off San Francisco.

I gotta believe, given the diversity of the 440+ posts about what exactly a bluewater boat is, there ought to be plenty of variations on these questions.



As you know, there's blue water 25 miles of shore, but that's not what anyone means! (there was a "what is blue water" thread a while back)
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	Screen Shot 2021-10-29 at 1.52.54 PM.jpeg
Views:	182
Size:	68.9 KB
ID:	249338  
__________________
We ran aground at 2300. Dad fired off flares all night, to no avail. In the morning, Mom called the Coast Guard and demanded to know why they had not responded. "But ma'm," came the abashed reply. "Yesterday was July 4th!"
DMF Sailing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 15:05   #5
Registered User

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Francisco
Boat: N/M 45
Posts: 291
Re: Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

It's a pretty simple definition in my book - coastal cruising means you can pick and choose the weather to move around in and plan to get back to a safe port if the weather deteriorates. water sailing">Blue water sailing involves passage making when you can't call the weather and therefore have to contend with whatever comes your way.

Nothing to do with stories, etc. - it's simplistic way to denote if hops are short enough to take advantage of forecast weather windows, or if the duration is longer than forecasts are accurate.
beetle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 15:34   #6
Moderator
 
JPA Cate's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: aboard, cruising in Australia
Boat: Sayer 46' Solent rig sloop
Posts: 28,400
Re: Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

Our first offshore passage was from San Francisco to Oahu in Jim's Yankee 30. We deemed it necessary to take a 20 lb. sack of onions with us. This was based on an estimate of 1 onion per day per person, for all the days at sea. No idea why we didn't buy separately, for the trip over, and then for the trip back (Maui onions are super).

Here's another chuckle for you. That boat had an ice box. Well, the ice was always gone by day 7. Here's a question you may never have asked yourself: what happens when the lid to the tomato juice pitcher comes off, the pickle jar spills, and the lid comes off the mayo while you are beating to weather to get around the Pacific High? It was a pretty disgusting mess, I can tell you, and Jim volunteered to clean it up by himself. The icebox had a teak grating in the bottom, so it required sanitization, too. Yes, we learned about making sure everything has been secured.

Ann
__________________
Who scorns the calm has forgotten the storm.
JPA Cate is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 16:06   #7
Registered User
 
DMF Sailing's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Somewhere in the Gulf of Maine
Boat: THEN: Indefatigable Bristol Caravel #172; NOW: 42 makes of other people's boats (and counting)
Posts: 872
Images: 4
Re: Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

Quote:
Originally Posted by JPA Cate View Post
Our first offshore passage was from San Francisco to Oahu in Jim's Yankee 30. We deemed it necessary to take a 20 lb. sack of onions with us. This was based on an estimate of 1 onion per day per person, for all the days at sea. No idea why we didn't buy separately, for the trip over, and then for the trip back (Maui onions are super).

Here's another chuckle for you. That boat had an ice box. Well, the ice was always gone by day 7. Here's a question you may never have asked yourself: what happens when the lid to the tomato juice pitcher comes off, the pickle jar spills, and the lid comes off the mayo while you are beating to weather to get around the Pacific High? It was a pretty disgusting mess, I can tell you, and Jim volunteered to clean it up by himself. The icebox had a teak grating in the bottom, so it required sanitization, too. Yes, we learned about making sure everything has been secured.

Ann
1) Onions! You were thinking of scurvy! See, I never need to worry about that on the 50-mile hop to Provincetown!

2) Tomato + aspic + mayo... there might be a decent sauce in that, if you, say, broil bluefish in it. The mayo sucks out all the oils that give bluefish an icky taste, and the tomato-aspic combo might be tangy and fun. Serve with onions and fried pickles!
__________________
We ran aground at 2300. Dad fired off flares all night, to no avail. In the morning, Mom called the Coast Guard and demanded to know why they had not responded. "But ma'm," came the abashed reply. "Yesterday was July 4th!"
DMF Sailing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 16:37   #8
Registered User
 
Chotu's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2018
Boat: 50ft Custom Fast Catamaran
Posts: 11,832
Re: Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

Quote:
Originally Posted by JPA Cate View Post
Our first offshore passage was from San Francisco to Oahu in Jim's Yankee 30. We deemed it necessary to take a 20 lb. sack of onions with us. This was based on an estimate of 1 onion per day per person, for all the days at sea. No idea why we didn't buy separately, for the trip over, and then for the trip back (Maui onions are super).

Here's another chuckle for you. That boat had an ice box. Well, the ice was always gone by day 7. Here's a question you may never have asked yourself: what happens when the lid to the tomato juice pitcher comes off, the pickle jar spills, and the lid comes off the mayo while you are beating to weather to get around the Pacific High? It was a pretty disgusting mess, I can tell you, and Jim volunteered to clean it up by himself. The icebox had a teak grating in the bottom, so it required sanitization, too. Yes, we learned about making sure everything has been secured.

Ann
This is one of the best posts I’ve ever read on any forum. Absolutely hilarious (in retrospect) and well written too.

Thanks, Ann
Chotu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 16:50   #9
Moderator
 
Don C L's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Channel Islands, CA
Boat: 1962 Columbia 29 MK 1 #37
Posts: 14,262
Images: 66
Re: Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

Quote:
Originally Posted by JPA Cate View Post
1 onion per day per person, for all the days at sea. what happens when the lid to the tomato juice pitcher comes off, the pickle jar spills, and the lid comes off the mayo while you are beating to weather to get around the Pacific High?

Ann
Yeah, I was going to say too it sounds like just break out the chips!

So.. I am very curious about the onion a day thing...
__________________
DL
Pythagoras
1962 Columbia 29 MKI #37
Don C L is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 21:22   #10
Senior Cruiser
 
StuM's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Port Moresby,Papua New Guinea
Boat: FP Belize Maestro 43 and OPBs
Posts: 12,888
Re: Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

Quote:
Originally Posted by DMF Sailing View Post
As you know, there's blue water 25 miles of shore
Or 5 NM in my case, but we have to go nearly 10 before we get more than 1000 metres under the keel.
StuM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 22:41   #11
Registered User
 
Fore and Aft's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Gympie
Boat: Volkscruiser
Posts: 2,652
Re: Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

DMF Sailing as a marine surveyor I have met countless blue water skippers and I would say balls, luck and ignorance are probably the most common traits. Not to often do I meet a well experienced skipper who then goes "blue water" I probably do but it is the characters that stick in your mind.
Same with "blue water" boats, if it floats then that is good enough to cross an ocean it seems.
Cheers
Fore and Aft is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-12-2021, 22:56   #12
Registered User
 
DMF Sailing's Avatar

Join Date: Jan 2021
Location: Somewhere in the Gulf of Maine
Boat: THEN: Indefatigable Bristol Caravel #172; NOW: 42 makes of other people's boats (and counting)
Posts: 872
Images: 4
Re: Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

Quote:
Originally Posted by StuM View Post
Or 5 NM in my case, but we have to go nearly 10 before we get more than 1000 metres under the keel.
Whereas I'd have to go 100 NM to get more than 1,000 feet under mine!

O, the perfidy of oceanographic topography!
__________________
We ran aground at 2300. Dad fired off flares all night, to no avail. In the morning, Mom called the Coast Guard and demanded to know why they had not responded. "But ma'm," came the abashed reply. "Yesterday was July 4th!"
DMF Sailing is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2021, 00:32   #13
Registered User
 
TeddyDiver's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Arctic Ocean
Boat: Under construction 35' ketch (and +3 smaller)
Posts: 2,731
Images: 2
Re: Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

Sailing offshore is not a special skill compared to equipping and storing the stuff for a long passage.. just my exp..
TeddyDiver is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2021, 00:48   #14
Nearly an old salt
 
goboatingnow's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Lefkas Marina ,Greece
Boat: Bavaria 36
Posts: 22,801
Images: 3
Re: Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

The sailing is usually quite straightforward off shore in my experience.
__________________
Interested in smart boat technology, networking and all things tech
goboatingnow is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2021, 02:12   #15
Registered User
 
double u's Avatar

Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: forest city
Boat: no boat any more
Posts: 2,510
Re: Who is a 'bluewater skipper'? What is 'bluewater preparation'?

..it used to be somebody who planned his/her way around the world with "Ocean Passages for the world" & Pilot/Routeing charts & found it using a sextant & tables & paper charts...
alas, no more...
__________________
...not all who wander are lost!
double u is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
Bluewater, skipper, water

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Lessons Learned Hurricane Irene- Hurricane Hole Preparation jacob30 Weather | Gear, Reports and Resources 7 21-01-2012 07:51
Preparation for Antifouling Paint landonshaw Construction, Maintenance & Refit 3 29-11-2010 14:03
Preparation for working on 12V High Amp circuits j-yelroc Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 21 22-09-2008 17:32
Storm Preparation GordMay Seamanship & Boat Handling 38 14-05-2007 13:41
Offshore Preparation ... GordMay Health, Safety & Related Gear 1 03-10-2005 20:09

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 21:32.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.