| This can be a fun topic but I wonder if, after having just read
all the replys to the Tania Aebi note, it would be more valuable
to discuss what we learned as a result of making those long passages.
I, unfortunately, have not taken my own boat very far at all. However,
I've crewed on some average length trips.
Newport, RI to Southwest Harbor, Maine, crew of 4, watch captain,
Hughes 38. Ran out of fuel! New engine, didn't have all the
fittings tight and fuel was spurting into the bilge; keep an
eye on your equipment, make frequent checks of fuel levels,
water levels (and potability), in general add to the watch routine
a thorough check of mechanical and electrical systems.
Also I was told to navigate from Newport to the canal and I didn't
know how back then. I managed to match light characteristics
of the bouys to the charts but was pretty scared (we did get there
ok, however). I took the power squadron course as soon as I
returned and many other courses since then.
Portland, Maine to Newport, RI. crew of 3, first time as crew, second
time as skipper, Hughes 38. On the first trip an upper shroud
broke. Learned something about maintaining equipment and
anticipating gear failure.
Newport to the Bras D'or lake in Nova Scotia, crew of 3,
Hughes 38, fairly uneventful trip.
Newport to Portsmouth NH, crew of 7, gale force winds, seas 18 feet.
remainder of crew seasick, I sailed through the storm alone. What did
I learn? Know your shipmates and what you can expect from them.
Make sure the crew can keep on crewing in severe weather. A
similar story could be told of an overnight race I crewed on.
Norfolk Virginia to Newport RI, 32' dutch build steel sloop with
battenless sails. Crew of 4, Once again encountered a gale but
this time the crew did a good job maintaining their watch schedules
so though we were all wet and tired noone was exhausted and
during the daylight we had a ball in the large rollers. As
far as battens go, I'd never be without them! That main could
not hold its shape or any wind. This was a very slow passage but
exciting and beautiful too.
Newport, RI to St. Georges Bermuda, Little Harbor 50, crew 6. What
a luxury trip! We left about 8 hours after the start of the
Marion - Bermuda race this year and got into the same fairly
nasty weather the racers had. I guess I learned way back on
my first long trips that when I think I should change sails
or reef I should do so immediately rather than wait to see what
happens. I had the experience of being cook for the evening
in a growing gale, sweating profusely below in the heat of the
cabin, with a large pot of boiling water on the stove when we
got hit with a very strong gust. I was flung across the cabin
( a long way on a 50 footer!) and could only pray that the boiling
water didn't follow. A mad flurry followed as the other watches
hurried to furl the genoa and set the staysail. Preceeding all
this I had been to the lower spreaders to repair a sharp spot
that was shredding the genoa; it was rough and I was already
partially drained physically. That night on watch I continued to
sweat, but it was a cold sweat. I was becoming hypothermic and
was in pretty bad shape. I let my watch partner down by curling
up in a corner to sleep and try to get warm. I still feel guilty
about this but that guilt keeps the lesson foremost in my mind
- Don't push myself past my limits, be careful to replenish lost
bodily fluids, don't boil water in heavy weather!!! I am
fortunate to have been with a good crew, had I been alone I could
have been in real trouble (shades of the Corinthian Cup race
a few years back).
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