Sailing the Atlantic...
 

About 35 years ago I had the opportunity to sail across the Atlantic in a 26 foot sailboat. I declined(duh...). Their crossing back and forth was successful. How about any of you? Have you crossed a large body of water(Atlantic / Pacific) in a sailboat ?
Anybody who has done it I have admiration for ..... kind of like running with the bulls in Pamplona!

If you did it how comfortable did you feel doing it?

Great stuff. I hope/dream of sailing to Bermuda one day. My only experience at the helm was a few miles offshore from NJ back to MD. Humbling. Made me realize I was nowhere ready to get out in the ocean.

A local guy recently took the northern route around north america and back to Annapolis. 26' boat solo. Amazing.

I have sailed across the Gulf of Mexico. A race from Pensacola Fl. to Isla Mujeres.

For myself, sailing is like rock climbing or ski racing. You have total faith in your equipment and if it is perfect shape, have a great time.

Yes, there are limits to everything and you have to know those limits and in the right situations those limits are stretched.

Myself, have never sailed across the big pond cuz time seems to be the problem but more time on my hands is becoming a reality in the near future.

The currant sailboat I have is a awesome coastal cruiser, handles PNW no problems, a joy to sail, been in winds up to 50K, NP.

Going in the open pond for days on 24/7 sailing would be a different story, with the right equipment, NP.

That guy that sailed from Annapolis thru the northern route in his 26' was a sailor stud for sure.

Have a very close friend with a Amel 48' slipped in Deal, MD, its a tank in the water cuz it parts waves.

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Here is our former ride. Tevake took us on many trips all around the Pacific.
Highlights include surfing in Tahiti, diving in Fiji, Having great times in New Zealand.

Plus rising to the challenges and pleasures of passage making.

Low point was dismasting half way between Fiji and N Z making for a very slow finish to that trip.

Crossings are mostly easy going, its that 3/5% of the time thats not so easy and makes for the stories. I lived on a small 25' boat for 7 years here in the islands.

Its more like a sports car than a R V. quite tight.

Cheers Richard

PS a 26 foot boat would have become very small for more that one on a longer crossing!

26ft seems a bit small for that trip. what kind of boat was it do you remember?

My friend had a Contessa 26 foot. Later he got a 32 foot.
They were gutsy guys aged 30's .....

I've sailed to and from the USVI from the west coast of FL, non-stop. it isn't quite the Atlantic, but a multi-week trip. The boat for both trips was a 36' Columbia.

I would definitely sail across an ocean under the right circumstances. I don't think I would do it with the number of crew and general boat condition that I did on my other trips though. There were three of us aboard, so our watches were 4 hours on, 8 hours off. It sounds easy enough, but you tend not to sleep all that well in the close quarters. Also, there are sail changes and various things that call for all hands to be up in the middle of your "sleep" time. After a while, the lack of sleep wears you down. Also, the Capt wasn't as concerned with safety or boat maintenance as I would have liked. Nothing bad happened, but it very easily could have. With at least 4 crew, a well prepared boat and a safety conscious Capt, I would definitely do it again.

My father sailed his 60 ft wooden ketch from Vancouver to Hawaii in the early 70,s he was planning to go further but fell in love with the islands and never left until he was in his 80,s , moving into a nursing home

I am a sailor, not a sailors sailor, not too dumb, not too stupid...but this i do know.
One time you can sail across all is well....next time maybe never be herd from again.
"Do you feel lucky?"
This is the 26 Foot wood Thunder bird i built. its great for over nights..Yes some have sailed to all points....Not me !
LOL


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I never sailed across the Atlantic, Pacific, Southern Ocean, Whit-bread or the like. But in 1980 when I was 14 I sailed my sunfish across the Delaware bay and back. I left from the beach by the ferry terminal on the Cape May side at 7AM. I made landfall on the Lewes Delaware side shortly before noon. Made the return trip at 1PM arrived back at the Cape May terminal a little after 7PM. In my early twenties I made the same crossing in my Hobie 17. Not nearly the same experience. By the time I was 21 I was far more experienced and the Hobie bigger and faster.

When I think back of the Sunfish crossing I get the shivers. A 12 foot boat 3 inches off the water slow as a jellyfish. Not enough water to stay hydrated, no means of communication other than a whistle, my shirt and a hand wave. The potential for squall's to pop up. None did thankfully. The worst no one new I was going because I was afraid they would say no.

I remember watching this movie growing up and just being transfixed on how much fun it would be to sail around the world like this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dove_(1974_film)

Well I contacted my sailing friend who I have not seen for at least 10 years and he said four of them sailed to Bermuda from Canada in a Contessa 32 back in the 70's. Now the other friend now has been sailing around the world for about 5 years with his wife. His present boat is considerably bigger. He is now in Scotland.