Atlantic Crossing Costs
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- Опубликовано: 21 мар 2022
- This is the video of my book @ www.gentlesailing.com/ THE ATLANTIC CROSSING GUIDE which describes the costs and what is involved in equipping your boat for a trans- Atlantic voyage -Gets down to the nitty gritty or what is really essential and what it is going to cost. It has the routes and options of when and how to go! When you've seen the video consider the book which of course goes into even more detail and is available from www.gentlesailing.com/ as an instant download
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Another cracking video Micheal - cost wise it seems like toss a coin between transport and sailing across. I remember some years ago back in Oz I was taking some friends for a few days sailing out along the Barrier Reef in Queensland - 'Wow' said one of my friends, as we cruised along in a fair breeze 'This is the way to travel, and it doesn't cost a cent' - I was left with a lifelong bowel affliction from laughing so much. It's a cruel world.
LJ your right - I was surprised myself at the numbers when I was making this video - and it really is 50-50 I think on the options - Cargo ship or own bottom - Boat owning is amazingly expensive but I believe golf and flying are too .. but sailing is more fun,,,
😂😂😂😂😂 you don't say !!!😂
Listening to you is absolutely fascinating. Thank you very much for making these videos. I’ve watched every one of them
Glad you like them! Thank you for watching the channel
another great video michael, very detailed view of what it takes to prepare for a long offshore passage. thanks again
Glad you enjoyed it - I suppose heading for Hawaii is more likely for you - Thank you for watching
I have been watching your videos for a long time and tomorrow I am buying my first boat, thanks for helping and explaining so many things Michael.
That is so exciting! How wonderful that you are getting your first boat... So pleased if my videos have helped
Fair winds and safe landfalls
So much info delivered perfectly in Michaels inimitable “gentle” manner …fab!
Glad you enjoyed it Sigasco - Thank you for watching
A joy to watch and listen to a world of knowledge. I wish I were crossing with you. Fair winds.
Stephen thank you for watching and the kind words
Michael. Lovely discussion and channel. I simply cannot wait to for my passage from Ellös to the Caribbean in 2024-25, so hearing you plan it is such a pleasure and so educational. Thank you, thank you, thank you!! Tom
Tom that sounds like a wonderful plan you have - I have never sailed as far north as Sweden but would love to - looks like a brilliant cruising ground - Have you seen The Atlantic Crossing Guide video? It sort of covers more than just the money and might be interesting?
Brilliant as always - thank you Michael
Thank you Danial - glad you enjoyed it
Great videos, been enjoying watching your channel, Ive recently purchased 2 x 100W flexi solar panels with Epever Tracer 20A MPPT solar controller (MPPT is far better than the cheap PWM controllers) all for around £290 including 5 meters of solar cable, 200W of solar is going to give you approximately 12AH charge rate, 110AH deep cycle batteries are £60 each right now with 20% offer, £295 gets you a 3KW pure sign wave 4 stroke generator weighing 35KG, they do a smaller 2KW model weighing 15KG again pure sign wave for £200, also 20A battery charger £65, this is all from Ebay with 20% discount offer, you dont want to cycle your batteries below 50% if traditional wet lead acid and the bulk charging stops at around 85% of charge, so your only able to bulk charge 35% of capacity from 50-85%, so you dont want generators/battery chargers/alternators running to charge above 85% (takes too long wastes fuel) I would of thought 200W of solar with a decent performing alternator would suffice, an alternator rating output is cold max RPM, so as soon as you start up and it warms this rating drops dramatically on temperature and non max RPM running, I would imagine a 55A alternator would only be charging at around 20A during the bulk charge once warm half throttle, I would imagine a nice 100A alternator (plus spare) charging at 40A during the bulk from 50-85% half throttle would be a nice addition and far better than running a petrol generator even using a 20A battery charger rigged onto it , you probably know all this anyway, just pointing out some offers you may be interested in to power a new wheel pilot which I hope would cope with pleasant conditions and one of 3 the crew hand steering during times of strain on it, they can earn their fresh bread ha ha just to add a combined solar MPPT controller/1000W pure sign wave inverter/20A battery charger is only £230, £260 with wifi, also the best option is one small 10A MPPT controller per 100W solar panel this doesnt costs much more and gives much better performance when the boom sail stack is shading a panel.
Thank you so much - this is the 'comment' I was hoping to get with so much info.. I am really out of date with my solar electronics and was dredging up memories mainly... There really is only room on GH for one 100 wat panel on her Bimini but I will look at Epever right now... I have read about MPPT controllers and will follow your advice - I did install a big Balmar alternator into my Moody 36 with it's big Thorneycroft engine and whilst it certainly produced the amps the constant belt slippage and breakages were a bit of a pain - with a little 18hp engine and not much space I'm not sure but will look at it when I get back... So grateful for the input
Watching from Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹 . wishing you all the best for your voyage.
Hi Randy Wish I was out there now - Have good memories of Chagaramus Bay anchorage and the islands just north - wet and cold here!
Michael I am just starting to watch your videos and I must say they are incredibly informative and your stories and they way you tell them make me feel like a kid again. Thank you for all of this and I plan to purchase all of your books.
Thanks for watching and I'm delighted you are enjoying the emails
Excellent piece: it nails down every single detail.
Glad you like it Simon - thank you
Alot to consider on this trip. best of luck with the planning
Thanks! So pleased you found it intertesting
thanks for another brilliant informative video, bit of an eye opener.
Jamie it was for me when I started doing the sums - interesting that the cost between going cargo and own bottom are so similar
Hello Michael. I love watching your videos way down here in NZ. Your Atlantic crossing cost video was extremely interesting even though my sailing days are over. Cheers.
Chris hi, So pleased you liked the video and it clearly brought back memories - I loved sailing into Auckland from Fiji and enjoyed my stay greatly in your lovely country - thank you for watching
Thank you for yet another great video. Thank you.
Thanks for watching Peter - glad you liked it
Thank you Michael. I do hope you make the crossing, I'd love to see the video!
Thanks for watching - I certainly wouldn't be short of material
Great video! One can argue that some of your biggest expenses of your list like solar panels, extra battery can be nice to have even in Caribbean. Others like Windvane and iridium go can be easily resold after voyage or kept for the way back :)
Looking forward to future videos and best of luck!
Your right I think Tomasz. But it's a lot of stuff that is not 'essential' just to sail in the Caribbean area
Michael, Instead of the Sat phone try a Garmin Inreach or Inreach Mini. Costs about $350 for the mini. You connect with a monthly service plan, $60 for one month to cross the Atlantic. You can get your GRIB weather and Blue Tooth it to the Ipad. You can also type and send text from the ipad via the mini. Additionally you always have your Lat Long for your stand alone GPS. Go to the minimum monthly service for the Carribbean, or no service at all. You can also add medidal evac insurance for a year quite cheaply.
Steve thank you - that's really useful - I will go to the site now and look - This new coms stuff is a really big learning curve...
The Inreach is great - send and receive texts anywhere on the globe and generally good marine weather information for any point you request it for - but I don't think it will receive GRIB files?? I know several have asked this question but I've never seen that it has been done. Would be fascinated to learn how to use an iPad to do this as Steve Lancaster suggests. Garmin's marine weather service for Inreach is, as I said, good and very useful, but it is not a GRIB file. There are videos on youtube that show what you get with their service.
I had a look and am not convinced and visited the ARC equipment site as lets face it that organisation has far more experience of transatlantic sailing than any of us... they seem to feel that the best substitute for a SSB is Iridum go in it's marine form - and making the comparison myself between that and the Garmin (and I am a great Garmin enthusiast) I don't think the Garmin is in the same league - but I could be wrong - frequently am...
Where are you now Michael ?
Go all the way Michael- I think if you go back to a similar vid from you I recommended that you have to sail - quite proud of that - thank you for all the info
Johan I remember your comments and at the time thought I absolutely would not consider sailing across = now!!!!???? Well foreseen!
@@SailingGently Actually I just wanted you to sail vs the shipping way - cheers Michael
Another wonderfully informative video, Michael. I wait to see whether your head rules your heart and you either take Golden Haze across on a transporter, or throw caution to the wind and sail her across with the various kit upgrades! Fair winds… 👍🏼
You've summed it up precisely! Thank you.. The problem with kit upgrades solution is that I really need to start doing it during the summer and positioning her south... The easy way is wait for a ship out of Southampton or La Rochelle
Really nice, thanks👏🏻
Glad it was interesting - thank you for watching
Great video Michael! Looking forward to the sailing into Beaulieu video! Gib I think is now in the Schengen area so may count towards the 90 days. Ryan and Sophie Sailing (youtube) had their Iridium Go give up in the middle of the atlantic - they had a Garmin inreach that they ended up using (after getting someone to renew their subscription) as a backup and were able to get weather information via that. The high price of fuel with oil at the moment is likely to affect shipping rates too. Kind of hoping you decide to do it - if only for the story and the video afterwards :-)! With that review, I'll definitely have to read Laura's book!
Tom thank you for watching - this coms problem is really interesting - I have friends who have sailed both ways across with just an EPIRB and their VHF and of course were absolutely fine. Being out of touch for two or thee weeks is not the end of the world and there are inexpensive tracking beacons if you have someone on land to monitor your progress - was the Iridium go with Ryan and Sophie the Marine version or the standard hand held? And of course out at sea in the wet salty environment electronics often fail sooner than on land... I simply don't know at the moment - I hadn't thought about fuel costs and shipping - thank you - I wonder how the world will be six months from now....
Hi
I agree with others that the outlay to have the boat shipped is dead money. By equipping the boat you still have the value of the equipment to use again or sell on.
A Garmin InReach mini would be worth considering. Lots of info on other RUclips channels.
I plan on using 2 100W rigid solar panels attached to the guard rails like Dodgers this summer. Kept 1 attached this way over the winter and it survived fine.
Best of luck and fair winds. Thank you for all the videos etc
Paul I sort of agree but equally all the 'gear' does not enhance the re-sale value of the boat - In fact sometimes it makes them less attractive to people who just want to cruise locally... I'm not sure about solar panels on the guard rails - if it gets really rough big waves hitting the could pull the stanchions out or bend them... I think all you can expect from solar panels is that during the few hours around noon they will put some charge into the batteries - Not even the superb Sailing Uma manages without a back up (portable generator) and really need to plug in once they are dockside...
Thanks for another very interesting video. Your Atlantic crossing one showed up in my feed this morning and I enjoyed it and this one. Cruising remains a dream for me, but one I doubt I will be able to make happen now. I am really taken by your simplicity quest, and hopefully it is a subject you can expand on, perhaps after your Caribbean sojourn. From the comments it sounds like you have decided to ship your boat after all, which sounds to have a lot of merit given your goals, experiences, and circumstances. Many thanks for sharing your experiences.
Andrew I am glad you agree enjoying my videos... I think the cargo decision is right for me but a couple of girls left my home port of Boulogne a few months ago heading south to the canaries..They are French and will end up in Martinique where we can compare noted...
@@SailingGently watching this again doing some planning/dreaming/scheming. Did you ever met up with the other boat and compare experiences? I get the sense that the shipping option worked out quite well for you overall. Did you ever find a GPS unit?
Very interesting, thank you !
Glad you enjoyed it Richard - Thank you for watching
Michael...01:41 overboard seems apt🤣....Iridium go ... is the way to go from others ive seen use them who swear by them. Oh im SO pleased your going to sail instead of transport..so many people will be looking forward to watching. oh be careful on Mindelo some scroats tried stealing Sailing Sunday's tender... Great vid as always.
Thank you for that and for watching and the Mindelo info...
Hi Graham. Warning ! Do Not use Honda Generators on Boats. They are very Dangerous as they are not able to be integrated into even a Necessary AC Boat Wiring Circuit which has to be completely isolated from a Boat DC Circuit. I only found this out from watching the Pacific Yacht Systems talks and lectures videos on their RUclips Channel. Something else I foundvout from them, as I'm going for a Full Cockpit Bimini for essential Sun Protection for my boat, is The New High Quality Flex8ble SolarvPanels (Do not get Chinese ones or Polycrystalline ones, stick to Monocrystalline ones) Can now be fitted onto the top of Bimini's. Not Cheap, but now give about the same output as rigid panels. If your Boat tracks well, and you have balanced the helm, Easy to check, as on an auto pilot course, switch it off, andvif your CoursecChanges, the autopilot is working hard to keep the boat on Course, so adjust sails until the boat stays on track, then turn the autopilot back on. Also, the new autopilots, you can reduce the sensitivity to reduce power consumption, If tracking well, you should on long passages be able to switch it off to help get Batteries fully Charged. If you are using lifepo4 House Batteries, there's an interesting one made by SOK, 12v 206 ah, availablevwith, or without battery heating. Heating not needed, as they have low temperature Cutout in the inbuilt battery monitor, which saves about 300 euros, Without Heaters, about 1100 euros tops. We're high quality Cells Grade A, and internal construction is top notch. My House Bsttery Bank will be allmof those with luck, and with max Solar plus a Superwind 350 Wind Generator, running systems should be fine, including a 12v Watermaker. I'll probably have a proper Marine 3.5 kW diesel generator, that can be wired properly into a good safe AC Circuit for Boats, and able to heat water for Showers, plus power a portable single zone very safe induction hob, which can knock a big dent in cooking gas consumption - basically just using gas for simmering. Plus handy for a bit if charging if no wind or Sunshine for a few days. I'll be living aboard for quite a considerable time hopefully, so lots of Boxes to tick. With Solar on the deck Saloon Roof, in mast furling to reduce Boom shadowing of the Solar .panels there, a Rear Arch for Solar and Wind, plus the Bimini Panels, there should be easily enough power for the electronics, plus Watermaker for the Autopilot not to be worth worrying about, or a Refrigerator with no freezer compartment as well so no power hungry automatic de icing timer. Hope thatbhelps, as sure don't want you electrocuting yourself, and dying on passage. Best . Bob. 👍
Really interesting information - thank you
Always extremely informative and well done . Thanks and pls let us know how you get on :)
Thank you Tommaso ! Will do!
Also right about the Laura Dekker book: it's excellent.
It is Simon, isn't it!
Interesting & revealing.
I was surprised as well when I was putting it together!
If you do this trip, and I hope you do, I would be interested in following along if you fancied having a buddy boat. I am based in Southampton and want to make this trip myself next year. I will certainly be using the information and your guides in any case. Another great video. 👍
I think I am more likely to ship her out there at the moment but...... Glad you enjoyed it Daren
Hi Michael, thanks for another interesting video. Regarding the charging with a generator option, if you added a “battery to battery charger” to charge your domestic batteries from the main engine alternator you would get somewhere in the region of 25 to 30 amps per hour, which far exceeds what you would get from a small petrol genny.
With the much better efficiency you would use about the same volume of fuel. Battery to battery chargers are relatively easy to fit, there’s no change to the alternator. Victron make a good 30amp one (Orion Tr Smart) which is about £250.
Dave thank you - just been to have a look - I think you are saying I feed the alternator output into the alternator and the Victron will put out 25-30 amps - brilliant - thank you so much - a lot to learn!!
@@SailingGently Basically, alternators are rubbish at charging your domestic battery bank. As the battery bank gets charged (and gets more “full”) the alternator output drops. So by the time you get to 80% the alternator will only be giving in the order of 10% of its output. These “battery to battery chargers” get round that problem by “forcing” the alternator to provide a higher output, even when the battery bank is getting “full”.
Dave you are right - I always had that problem when I was long distance sailing but an argument is 80% of what - in my previous boat a a Westerly 43 I had a huge battery bank - vast - and 80% would run the Nav and light stuff for several nights before I needed to run the engine to charge...
@@SailingGently Problem with lead acid batteries is that you slowly destroy them if you don't charge them to 100% regularly. With lithium that's different, they like to sit at 80%. But then charging them is completely different as they take whatever charge you give them without any resistance (almost). With lithium the problem is protecting your alternator from burning out as they're not designed to work under 100% load for long periods of time. I have a 500Ah lithium battery that's being charged either by solar via a mppt controller or a dedicated 120W charger that charges the 4 cells individually. This last charger can be connected to either shore power or to the engine battery, drawing 10 amps so the alternator doesn't get overloaded.
@@SuperDirk1965 Dirk I am so pleased to have your expertise on board and it's really interesting what you are saying - next time I need a new battery I will look at the Lithium route again - really grateful ror the information and suggestion
Forty years or so ago most of that gear wasn't available, you would still have done the trip at little more risk, probably no more risk. I believe we have wrongly come to believe this equipment is essential when generally it isn't. I believe in Bill Tillman's approach to sailing, chuck all of it over the side, if only metaphorically..
Fred you sound like me - except I used to voyage with a sextant and books of tables etc and could always find my position within 10 miles or so but now I have a GPS (actually several) and can find my positon without tables or calculations to within 10 feet instantly! Less romantic, less skill but really useful on a foggy day!
Fascinating stuff as usual Michael, a great reference work for any would-be transatlantic sailor. How will you select the crew and would they contribute towards the costs?
Glad you found it interesting - I think it was a useful back up to The Atlantic Crossing Guide - it's certainly generated above average 'views'... With 'crew' on a passage I run a purse which pays for food, marina fees and fuel - everyone on board contributes equally to the purse... The crew funds all their own travel expenses. The deal is there is no deal - they can get off the boat any time they like if they don't like me - and I can ask them to leave anytime I like if I don't like them .... It's worked fine in the past - I am not really looking for experience rather enthusiasm and compatibility -
Love ❤️ 💖 ❣️ your channel
Thank you so much Chief... Really pleased you like it
Just to also add you wouldnt charge using the Honda 12v charging at 8 Amps, you would use a 20/30 Amp battery charger plugged into it.
Thank you - I will now go off and look at battery chargers - last time I had a portable generator on board which I used mainly in connection with the SSB I just used the battery charger that was built in...
Great information Micheal. Could you not sell the additional kit once the crossing has been completed? Would the generator be useful once their? A little more off grid. Thanks Martin
Martin I have been thinking along those lines but there is no real market for wind self steering gear or sat phones in the Caribbean - stacks of boats that have crossed the atlantic with all this gear up for sale... and not selling - The thing with Caribbean Islands is that they are all within 40 miles or less or each other - you need to run the motor to get the hook up and get out of the anchorage and again when you arrive so that automatically puts amps in... then a solar panel to power the anchor light and.... It's pretty easy living in a boat out there and you really do not need all the Blue Water stuff... In my opinion
I've just recently discovered your channel and I'm finding your videos very informative. I wanted to ask your opinion on the use of a satellite device like the Garmin inReach on crossing's for weather forecast, Would it be worth the trouble or expense to have one on the trip?
Hi nevertoolate, Very pleased you like the channel - Yes I think for an atlantic crossing, it's really useful to be able to get weather forecasts whilst en route and if the worst happened to be able to communicate with others - It's a learning curve for me as well but my impression is that Iridum Go with weatherpredict is probably a good solution - if you are sailing on into the Pacific then a SSB is the way to go
You're a great sailor and captain. I hope I have the honor of meeting you one day.
You are too kind Ahmet... Boating is fun. I'm sure we will meet up one day
@@SailingGently As a captain on a 100 feet wooden boat, I am preparing for the Atlantic crossing between Turkey and Brazil, you are my most important guide for the moment. Thank you for your valuable experience.
@@ahmetozgonul3602 thank you Ahmet sounds like you have a wonderful voyage ahead of you. I wish you fair winds
Michael
@@ahmetozgonul3602 Have a wonderful voyage Ahmet - so pleased to be able to help a bit...
Im sailing my little 31 foot to Faro next month, leaving it on land until october/november for my own atlantic crossing. Very good boatyard, about 230 euros a month. For long range com i got myself a garmin 86i, no calls but cheap and reliable texts.
Max hi, Faro sounds interesting I'll think about that and thanks for the Garmin 86i info - I'll look at that too..
@@SailingGently Is there are reason you are not planing to cross the bay of biscay brest to coruna? I did it a few times on larger boats without any trouble so i thought i save myself some time. And i also hope so save some money. I know you mentioned easy steps for single hand sailing, but to me its a good test for the larger passages coming.
@@maxb2787 Maybe due to insurance reasons? The insurance company can dictate how many crew you need to have, etc.
I can also recommend the GPSMap 86i. We used it as an alternative for an EPIRB, Satphone and Backup GPS for the crossing this year. The Weather info is not great (no Grib Support), but with a land based person to provide bigger picture weather info it turned out fine. I also prefer two way sat communication for emergencies instead of an EPIRB.
@@jwagener1234 That's interesting Johannes - thank you - I will look more carefully at the GPSMap 86i. - I think a EPIRB at less than 500 is perhaps a useful passive back up but .... I think weather is really useful - even if you can't do anything about it!!!! Can alter course sometimes...
I think I will get the book from the young lady that wrote it. But I have my mind up that I'm going to do this. I want a fairly large live aboard for people to come and stay and live aboad. I built a remote control plane and would like to build one with pontunes. I love the incite you give in your videos. One my loan comes through I will be buying some you fellows the coffies you all so earned for your videos. 😃
Andrew I'm delighted the vides (and books) help you progress your project...
Don't forget Michael to factor in your health/abilities with said health/mobility. Some of the kit you would acquire would certainly find a home via the Ebay, so some return on your sunk cost's, other equipment would obviously enhance GH sale ability.
Mark thank you - I do have to accept I am not 30 any more and indeed factor that in - one of the reasons for choosing Martinique is that I am a French Resident and in the French health system so all those french islands are good for me.. like being at home... The trouble is shipping the stuff back - I have thought about it - and with customs dues and freight even high value stuff is difficult - and the market out there is not easy -
@@SailingGently Michael, none of us is getting any younger, I'm in my late 50's. Just finishing up my Yachtmaster Shorebase next Monday with the IRCPS. I wish you well with whichever decision you make, though as a fellow sailor I'd be biased towards the sail.
Thank you Mark - I started with a shorebased course - and never did any others as that taught me enough to get out in a little 22ft yacht and sail her to Cherbourg 3 weeks after buying her... Enjoy your sailing it is a wonderful pastime
Very Good TY!
Thank you David. Glad you liked it
Hi Micheal, thank you so much. I have been learning so much watching your videos and found your adventures truly fascinating. My wife ventured to say I should join you for this crossing after watching this video with me. I couldn't be happier to hear that. It might be too late to contact you, but perhaps we could communicate privately to see if I meet the cut as your crew? Love to hear from you, Micheal. Thanks again.
Joseph hi,
I would love to have you as crew bu I have decided to put her on a ship this autumn as it's less hassle and cheaper...
Been sailing around channel ports for the last weeks and made up my mind to have a relaxing Christmas in Martinique....
Thank you for the kind offer
Fair winds
Michael
@@SailingGently Thank you for your reply, Michael. We wish you a wonderful holiday sailing this Christmas. But still, it is regrettably, a great opportunity missed for me. It would have been a dream sail with you. Perhaps another time then. Joseph, Singapore.
East to west is much easier and I would have thought cheaper. I crossed this year Grenada to to Croatia, with 4 and it was a lot for my friend. I am sailing back again in April May and with new RAYMARINE etc about 12000. Still cheaper than a ship. Please check dinghies for glue good enough for Caribbean. I also think a 5 hp outboard is best . Less is ok depending on anchorage. I use and love Hydrovane. East to west downwind is a twin headsail for me. There’s loads to think about ….. how much is essential is different to what you like.
Very interesting and helpful comments and opinion Trevor ..Thank you for taking the trouble and for viewing the video
A really useful video for anyone considering a cross Atlantic trip.👍 So, the sailing holidays yacht at 0:28 - library footage or an escape to the sun?😉😀👍⛵️
Really pleased you liked it Norman. Footage from a sailing school - I'm not sure if I had a drone that I could sail, control and catch it alone!
Hi Michael I been watching some of your videos especially the pirate issue episode I am looking at buying a yacht in greece Beneteau 351 and sailing to Qatar via the Suez what’s your thought
Ian hi,
Beneteau 351 is a good boat - I think the pirate situation is a lot better these days and it's luck really - most yachts get through fine keep well offshore and maybe don't run AIS transponder and keep off the radio and don't use nav lights at night -
Vendee Globe - what are your views and opinions on this sailing race? Thanks for your videos, they are so good. :-)
Glad you like the videos Katrine - Vendee Globe is another world really - high performance racing machines with generators and all electronics you can imagine, sailed by people truly into racing and performance ....
I would be very skeptical about those solar panels. Being a camper vanner I can tell you virtually every vanner out there would never use flexible solar panels. They simply are not reliable and stop working in no time at all. The only good ones are rigid panels but if you cannot mount them then obviously they are not good for your boat. Still beware of the flexible panels.
Rob thank you for the warning - I will look again at alternative solutions
Decisions, decisions. What happens when you bring Golden Haze back? Or is the equipment so short lived that you start again?
Glad you enjoyed Laura's book.
On the batteries. Consider LiFePo4. They charge to 90% without charge rate falling. A proper charge controller is essential1. But don't mix with AGM. People do, but the charge/discharge profiles are different. Net result is that without a special management unit, you end up with lithium doing most of the work and killing previously good AGMs. There's a lot of info, good and bad on the web.
Kev hi,
Yes; the book was truly brilliant and I intended to credit you with bringing it to my attention and then forgot - will do so on the next one - sorry!
I doubt I would bring her back - there is a good market for yachts out there but mainly in the luxury range but she would sell for sure... The gear is on lots of boats out there and really does not enhance the saleability or value. I am never 'in love' with particular boats - I just like them in general - like a few other things... wine etc
I agree about batteries and enhanced charging methods - in my previous blue water incarnation, I was deeply into powerful alternators and super charging systems, wind power and solar power and had an arch on the stern full of 'stuff'.. Looking back it was not value for money and often created problems - I am now into the 'keep it really simple' style of gear... Just the essential basics... None of the extras are required if you keep a boat in the Caribbean and just go out there for a few months in winter to cruise the islands - 99% of the boats i see out there are as they were delivered by the builders - Only essential is a Bimini!
@@SailingGently don't worry about crediting me. I wasn't expecting it. Laura's book is excellent in many directions. For me it's a lesson in determination and perseverance. As well as an introduction to the sailing life which you clearly love.
Some eye watering costs there.
@@kevgermany Yes it's crazy money - For me it was the social life descriptions and the way you get used to long distance sailing and after a while at sea you are sad to be arriving at the destination - her writing is odd but captivating,,,
A battery to battery charger does the same job as voltage sensing relay or master switch, it does not generate more charging amps from an alternator, you want the diesel engine generating as many amps as possible by fitting the biggest alternator you can fit, even if this is used only for the Atlantic crossing, changed back when there.
Thanks - sorry I misunderstood - not very tecci!!! My instinct at the moment is to go the windvane route which I know works and if I shipped it back to Europe it would certainly sell at half price on Ebay... just leave a few holes on GH to fill...
@@SailingGently To be honest the way things are going your better off keeping your wind vane fitted to the boat rather than sell it, I'm talking economics here and I bet the new price of that wind vane will be going up 10-15% per year, the inflation situation is set to become far worse and continued it seems, its wise to invest in anything you can physically feel and touch especially if it would hurt if you dropped it on your foot, few nice silver or gold bars springs to mind.
@@wongerwonging8109 not sure wind vanes are in the same league as gold bars but I take your point - thank you...
@@SailingGently I was just looking at some 10 year old receipts and comparing to todays prices, it was a bronze propeller, stainless steel davits and cabin lights, all 3 are still sold and amazingly all 3 were up 100% in price over that time frame and the average wage is up 30%, the wonders of hidden inflation.
Great video. I am assuming you have discounted the option of selling Golden Haze in Europe and then buying another boat out in the Caribbean. May be yachts cost more out there?
Duncan I did look into that - problem is selling you are going to loose the brokers fee 6% for starters and of course all the existing upgrades never get additional price - the cost of boats out there is similar or higher and there are very few small boats - majority are 40ft plus so I think 12,000 would easily vanish going down the sell / buy route... and end up with not such a nice boat!
@@SailingGently Thanks for your reply Michael, I now appreciate that selling in Europe / buying in the Caribbean isn't a viable option.
Although the cost are nearly the same, at the end you will have all of those extras on your boat as well as another crossing under your belt. If you end up selling her then youll have all of this on the boat as extras and if all else fails youll be able to put much of this back on the second hand market.
You make a good point except the market in the Caribbean is flooded with 2nd hand self steering gear and SSBs. In my experience all the 'stuff' you add to a boat above 'normal' does not increase it's value but does make it easier to sell.. Having sailed over 45,000 miles and gone around the world I don't sail these days for notches rather just for fun!
@@SailingGently oh ok i understand. So if you do have a ham license does it make a difference and does adding an antenna make you more susceptible to lightening strikes? I ask because i had an antenna get vaporized once and it fried all of my equipment connected to it even with insulators
@@MotorcycleMouse Well I think having a Ham License can only be a good thing and there are still lots of sailing nets out there I am told.
I was hit by lightning - mast head and every single thing in the boat including the SSB and nav lights was fried... I'm not sure that the backstay SSB antenna had anything to do with it.. It was the mast!
If the Oceanis 323 only has 18hp and only one 100W flexi solar panel can fit on the Bimini this changes things a little, what output is the alternator?
I'll have to look when I get back to France - few weeks - it's a bog standard alternator but charges the 2 battery bank in a few hours - but of course since I've had Golden Haze I've only done coastal sailing with the odd overnight and mainly pulled into a marina and plugged in... It is only this pesky 17 day passage that creates a 'amps' issue and I am really leaning towards the windvane solution
Oh yes - sun shades need to be lower. A Bimini is minimum but sun sets below it. Also I swapped 220 AGM for 220 lithium . Game changer. I have 2 x 80 w solar but more would be nice. Wind gen does not work downwind very well . Iridium I used this year and it great . I already have Iridium extreme and red box. Apart from ais think about an Echomax. The truth is that the more money you have the more toys. If on a budget think of the bare minimum.
Very interesting and useful comments Trevor - than you for watching!
Another thing to consider is actually getting anything completed by a yard or 3rd party.
Between labor and material shortages, the bid for work makes it hard to keep up with someone who will simply outspend you.
So as you keep getting pushed back by promises of "next week", Mr big is in and out during the same timeframe.
that makes it important that whatever you're contemplating should be something you might conceivably do by yourself in a pinch.
For example, designing & fabricating solar arches, wiring, installation and configuration vs buying a portable genset and literally plugging it in to the battery bank 1 minute later.
DIY has always been a prerequisite, but it may be that it's becoming the only option.
You are right of course and when I was a full time blue water sailor I went from being useless with a spanner to being quite good - did most things myself - Installing wind generators, solar panels, controllers, shunts, monitors etc Even totally re-rigged the boat wit Sta-lock and new wire But time ashore and getting older makes it harder and these days I do try to get an expert in to do it for me... And as you say trying to actually get them on the job is a nightmare!
@@SailingGently I came across this video of a sailing couple beach landing their bilge keel
ruclips.net/video/K8Uvn6w3Lt8/видео.html
Nothing special of course - especially in the UK. what did catch my eye was another example of the use of the little red portable genny (honda).
If it's becoming more difficult and expensive to access/use/afford marina facilities, doing work remotely with portable power could portend yet another trend.
All of these options have of course been around for awhile. I'm more curious about the ebb & flow to see if certain options are (once again) getting more popular.
Interesting research Michael, I'm sure you have thought of just paying a skipper to sail Golden Haze down for you?
Or,..(the cheapskate option)..dare I say it, sell GH, fly to the Caribbean and buy a similar yacht a few weeks before cyclone season voids the insurance policies, race it as far down to find an affordable marina to haul out for the stormy season. Then fly home for the EnGlIsH sUmMeR, or stay in Barbados drinking rum?
Cheers
Brian TopHat 25'
Bri hello,
I've looked at buying over there and it simply does not add up - cost of selling - brokerage fee and all my present upgrades 'overboard' and the fact that the Caribbean has very few smaller boats - normal minimum size around 40 upwards and more of less same price as Europe ...
Sailing her across myself is fine but she does need basic 'ocean' equipment and that's the cost of it all - I agree there has to be a better way than the options in the video but at the moment it escapes me!!
@@SailingGently I see, well wishing you all the very best Michael.
Remember that once you buy all of this stuff you have it for any other voyage you make.
Captain thank you and of course you are right but actually I have to accept my regular ocean crossing days are over and now I just want to cruise with the odd overnight or two -were I younger I would totally agree with you!
I was thinking the same, especially with the upgraded autopilot for use on shorter journeys. Id consider lifepo4 batteries too. Thanks for another great video Michael.
Thanks Finbarr - glad you liked it - I'm on a sort of keep it simple route at the moment but.....
if there was a severe global food shortage and unrest, would you hunker down on land or take your chances at sea, look for a small island, etc? thanks again.
I think the boat option... Fish in the sea... fresh water is a problem and there are not many uninhabited islands with fresh water constantly available
I've just started to plan my own crossing for 2025-26 window.. it's nice to see other calculations has been made before... most of the issues that you've take in consider are pre-solved for me, such as 3x185wp solars on top of chrome arch, 3x150Ah AGM service-bank, new bimini & sprayhood, extra water tank etc... Some of them are I have to spend £££ as well, such as twin genova, pole, EPIRB and sat-com...
There's just one thing... I'm wondering if it's OK to rely on one Raymarine hydrolic AP that never had any issue since I bought the boat and made 1500nm per summer in Med for last 3 seasons? or it's a bit reckless behave? Couse I literaly have no place at transom to fit anything more... swim platform foldng lines, sternline rollers, OB engine, 3 davits (2 for dinghy and one for OB), dbl backstays, webasto intake and exhoust, ventilation holes etc... I couldnt even put a rod holder for trolling.. so it looks like windvane is not an option 4 me... there's an option to buy a 2nd hand on-wheel AP without installing and keep it in cabin as a backup but seems like it'll be a quite expensive backup.. I saw a system using genoa sheets and tiller with rollers combine as a windvane but my boat has pedestal and wheel, no tiller except the emergency thing in locker... learning that methot may be the solution... What do you say about it?
Yes Sedat the cost of equipping the boat for an Atlantic crossing is a bit eye watering... But you seem to have made a good start.
The self steering issue really comes down to how many crew you will have if the existing autopilot goes AWOL... Assuming there are 4 of you then helming the boat constantly for 3 hours is fine and if you had to do that for 2 and a half weeks - 3 on 9 hours cooking, sleeping, eating and assisting in sail changes etc is possible if pretty unpleasant. crew of 3 very difficult 2 or less a no no..
I cannot believe it is impossible to fit say a Hydrovane on your stern - does not need cables to the wheel .... or most other systems. The boat I went round the world with had a stainless arch, davits, outboard motor crane bathing ladder etc etc and I still found space for the vane fixings.
If your electric auto pilot breaks down 3 days out then getting back, up wind into 20-30 knots is going to take a week...
I think a spare Hydraulic auto pilot system is an option but expensive and you will need spare pipes and oil and the shills to fit it all at sea...
@@SailingGently thanks for so quick and detailed respond Michael... I cannot believe too but it is what it is LOL it starts at port edge with an huge chrome old school roller attached to pushpit that holds 20mm x100 mt old school thick stern lines... right next to it there's a 2.15mt folding gangway, that screwed to th transom... it has control lines and locks goes and comes from the top of the mast... this is port side :))) then there's a 120cm wide swim platfom (she's an 2009 Bav 38Cr btw) starboard side is way worst than the other... Possible problem you mentioned is at it's worst on my trip, it'll be a solo crossing... My wife and kid will leave the boat in september for school somewhere in MED and go back to Turkey, then I'll make the rest my own... So a working autopilot is crucial issue... as far as I know AP's at the helm are gentle things but they're also easy to repair, but the hydrolic ones are just the opposite, hard to brake but once it's gone, it's gone... btw I'm saying hydrolic but I actually donno that, just assume, it seems like an hydrolic piston, maybe its a worm bar with an electric motor or whatever else it can be LOL... anyway, thanks for help...
@@sedatkasrat I would take take some photos of the stern and send them to Hydrovane, windpilot, scanmore, whisper etc and see what they say. I am 100% certain all of them can offer a mounting solution.
Having once had an electric autopilot break 1 day out of Madeira bound for Gib and a further 3 days and night to go,,,,I would never, ever, venture offshore alone without windvane steering. Your electric autopilot is then a backup.
if you wanted to convey 6 people and 4 cats by sail from florida to columbia, what is the min size boat you would use so that its not a dangerous cramped condition? thanks
I think the age of the boat is a consideration when it comes to living space. Modern boats tend to be beamier - and better designed than older less expensive boats of the same LOA... If you go Florida, Texas, Mexico etc it can all be done in coastal sailing - but you don't want too deep draft - My guess is around 35 ft would be comfortable - Actually my modern 32 footer has lots of space below and anyway in the 'tropics' you mainly live in the cockpit - I am not an expert on the requirements of cats but stacks of boats have then on board..
You could need this equipment should you want to bring the boat back to France or UK. When you move on to another boat you probably would want to sell in France or England as you would get more for it
You could be right although I have not noticed a significant price different in the Caribbean to Europe.. Except for ex charter boats!
I got a quote to move a cat from Turkey to NZ. last year they quoted triple the price that was quoted the year before LOL
Yes that worries me that with this fuel crisis merchant ship rates might go up even more!
do you need to register with a country when passing through their territorial waters or only when you intend to anchor/come ashore?
No requirement to check in but in another countries territorial waters you are subject to their law and rules. Some countries like Algeria will not allow you to enter their waters without a visa but when I clipped the edge of Algerian waters leaving Tunisia for the Balearics the Algerian coast guard called me on VHF to know where I was heading, crew details and registration and at the end of it just wished me a safe passage... Sensitive countries will interrogate you if you enter their waters either by radio or by sending a 'gun boat' to board you
The Beneteau 323 is CE B rated. Is it good enough to cross oceans?
Yarpen much smaller lighter boats have crossed the Atlantic - I think it is more to do with the skipper than the boat - Beneteau 323's are very well designed and built - If I were going round the world again I would go for a heavier and larger boat like my Moody 36 was but in the end a glass bottle with a cork in it is the most unsinkable item out in a ocean
The relatively new tanger marina bay is a great new marina in the heart of the city,only 18 euro a night and very secure quick check in and check out help this helps.all the best from spain
Good to know Jonathan, Thank you for that and indeed for the price! I've visited Tangiers a dozen or so times but always the fishing harbour and not since the New Marina was built. Really useful to know - I'm grateful
Interesting dilemma... for me shipping the boat across is "wasted" money as you will be spending a similar amount of cash on equipping her for the crossing, but you will have "things" to show for your outlay... the biggest cost is the windvane which you have suggested you won't use again so ditch that idea. You also said your autopilot is on its way out so replacing that would become a wear and tear expense as it would probably need replacing shortly after anyway... could you put funds saved from not getting windvane into a rear arch for larger solar capacity? I'm hopefully buying a boat in the coming months as a liveaboard, unfortunately I have another 14yrs or so to work before I can cast the lines for good... Fair winds!!
Your right 'reality' it is a dilemma - In the past I've had the big stainless arch with wind generator, couple of solar panels and all the antennas mounted on it and the boat decked out with half a dozen different anchors etc - all for blue water sailing.. and actually in the Caribbean or the Med you really do not need all that gear... I am loath to drill all those holes and put all that stuff on her when it really is not going to help normal sailing - On a bigger boat it's maybe not such an issue but on a little 32 footer it is... I really am not decided and need to do some more sailing in her this summer to see how things pan out - My previous boat was 43 foot and that was very different!
@@SailingGently That makes sense, it's a big size difference. It's one of those questions without an answer!! Whichever you choose will work and it will ve the right decision for you, but it is interesting hearing other people's opinions and advice. You have infinite more experience than me that's for sure!!
Yes I think size matters - and don't forget the Hiscocks, Slocum et al did it with none of the gear we are talking about very successfully!
@@SailingGently Totally agree, it's so easy to get lured into a whole raft of "needed" stuff. Certainly GPS has changed the landscape since these pioneers (or when I was hoping to get cruising in the 80's). Reading through all these comments is a source of excellent information. I stumbled over this video a month or so back and it was a great 'reset' on what is truly needed. ruclips.net/video/zCBjAQ5FUg8/видео.html
Michael
Did you ever do England (or GB) to Asia and if so can you please please tell us about it? the voyage, the possible problems and ofcourse the fab bits …also can you school us in how we sail from our little island to the med in particular the Greek islands (love it out there on the water) and the Turkish emerald coast if you have had any experience there …tell us everything you know please 😁…at this point although I didn’t know before it would be remiss of me to ignore the fact that I am urging and instigating the director of so many childhood tv shows inc Z-Cars! to do my own bidding …internet is great innit 😎
My God Michael you have lived a life!
Life is not a rehearsal ....
Michael, what’s your take on the general suitability production boats for this trip? Beneteau/Hanse/Jeanneau/Dufour, any difference in your opinion?
And length Michael, what would you say is ideal length to be manageable by small crew & adequate hull speed/room/comfort/safety
I circumnavigated in a Angus Primrose designed Moody 36 and whilst not the 'prettiest' she was as near perfect for Blue Water sailing as I can imagine - wonderful accommodation and sailed like a witch! www.michaelbriant.com/sale.htm
I take it AIS will be added or already installed .
Yes Dennis, I installed AIS and Radar as standard - mind you AIS is less useful mid Atlantic I think.
newbie question about auto-pilots. Is there a circumstance where the wind can change or heading knocked off by waves, etc & the boom goes slamming to the other side? can this happen on auto-pilot and present a hazard? thx
With electronic auto pilots they (generally) are put on a heading and despite wind changes will try to keep the boat on that heading - until you do something about it. The other problem is that they become less efficient the worse the conditions get as opposed to wind vanes which actually get better in stronger winds and follow wind direction changes... Because auto pilots are not sensitive to the wind you can indeed gybe but a preventer on the boom when this is a risk - helps
I know I’m not the only one, but I could secure 20-25 days of free time of you wanted some crew for the crossing to make life less complicated
Christopher thank you I will remember - the problem is that from tangiers to canaries is 5 days then wait for weather to do canaries to cape verdes another 5 days and wait for weather to head out for martinique 17 days so the total time is more like 6 weeks ... and counting
@@SailingGently 4 week, or 6 weeks. Who’s counting. I’m sure arrangements could be made regardless,
If you can sail her for the same cost as piggyback transport, why not have one last crossing? The self-steer option seems preferable to the autopilot/generator configuration despite the higher cost. You were going to buy the dinghy and raft anyway, and the gear you won't use again could be sold afterward, lowering the net cost.
Barney it's interesting what you say but equally what bugs me is drilling all those holes and buying all that extra gear just for 17 days and ending with a small boat bedecked with 'stuff' it really does not need for the Caribbean life style - but! Will probably make the decision much later this year!
crossing an ocean - is there always some risk that a boat will encounter seas that are simply too big to avoid capsizing? thx
You need to understand weather forecasting - there are destructive winds - Hurricanes but they can and should be avoided - provided you are off shore you could put out a sea anchor, take off all sails, fix the helm, go below and close all hatches and wait till it's over - but like in a motor car - normally you expect to survive any sailing trip
Before using a flexible solar panel for crossing a ocean find a few others who have been successful with them. My other comment is 100W is very small amount. expect 0nly 50% rating of the output due to weather, angle of the boat to sun and less than optimum angle on the sun from sunrise and sunset. 500 to 1000 watts above the Bimini and Lithium batteries and charge controller to power electronics and water maker, if you have one, are good things to consider.
Kenneth thank you - in the past with non flexible solar panels I never found they were sufficient to keep up navigational gear and nav lights plus a bit of domestic usage but did help - and all I want is that there are some amps going in. Really grateful for the advice about Lithium batteries - Even Sailing Uma resort to a generator now and then I see....
Only last 10 days without food, 😂 my 3 week fast may disagree with you there ;) I know what you meant though, water is paramount
Not having a clue about your situation apart from what you vid, and having no, lets say, emotional ties to a boat.
I'd be tempted to leave GHaze where she is...
Maybe sell her, Rent her out, or just put on the hard.
As you are planning extended time in the Caribbean, just buy a boat there, Yes more expensive, (but if selling after a few years you benefit from that too)
GH is insured for 50k? and you intend spending what will turn out to be another 20k plus the time, wear and tear on you and GH.
I guess only you can decide if you are trying to recapture your youth with a possibly exciting crossing, at the expense of a nice Gentle fly over, then pleasurably peruse a few boats and get on with the main event of exploring the CBean.
But whatever you do I'm sure it will be a lot of fun. FWinds
Good way to diet - I must try 3 weeks but I think I would 'keel over'...:-)
I started all this as I just wanted to sail all winter in the Caribbean and it seemed so easy just to stick her on a ship - and before Covid it was!!! I had insurance and a berth lined up..
As the cost of shipping went up I began wondering about just sailing her across with a couple of crew then I made the video and the work load of preparing her then getting her south seemed .. a lot.
Looked at buying out there and keeping her here and that is still possible but I am not seeing the sort of boat I want for the money I have available - but it only takes One!!!
I am a believer that the trick is not to make decisions unless you really have to because normally decisions make themselves as options close out...
It will be fun cos that's the whole point - I hoped
Fair winds
Hi Michael just wondering how you are old chap...all ship shape n bristol fashioned i hope. Hopefully your transatlantic sailing...take care and all the best you old salt.
I am! As I said in the email! Finding summer sailing in the Channel a bi over crowded!
It seems people jump off the boat into the water without concern, even deep at sea - is the risk of shark attack so low or is there always that risk but people normalize to it?
I have jumped off a boat in calm weather to clear a prop with several miles of water beneath me... And swam in lagoons with sharks around - Whilst they can, they seldom actually attack humans unless there is a lot of panic splashing or blood from speared fish....
I'm a Liverpool based sailor, I would love to crew with you to the Caribbean, please let me know if you need some help to get out there.
Martin hi, thank you for the offer - I'm still deciding which way to go - ship her out or sail her out there...
Why not just a tablet with GPS and OpenCPN for navigation?
Bobbie it will work fine but the tablet in a cockpit in a gale with pouring rain is a problem but what you describe is perfect for planning -
If your going low key , why not use a garmin 72 hand held GPS, runs of batteries , fits in a lifevraft , still works if you get struck by power issues , the money you save get a garmin inreach , get weather and messaging , ?
David thank you - it's a thought ... I confess I am leaning towards sticking her on a ship if the price is right! It''s not the voyage it's all the preparation and drilling holes in the boat to load her with gear and the problem of getting her south economically - need to wait and see what's happening with shipping costs
@@SailingGently and wear and tear ,
@@davidwarnes5158 Exactly -
Hempel cruiser is not self polishing I don't think.
Tom you could be right... The Hemple I use here in France is self polishing and it's Cruiser or similar
Sir
Just pay the shipping. That is a lot of stuff to organize and install. At least 80 man hours don’t you agree?
Thanks
Paul you are man after my own heart - that is the conclusion I am coming to - thank you posting
Sailing
The most expensive way to get somewhere for free
Farq you are right - but it's fun bravely going where others have been before!
@@SailingGently very true. I was out on a Mike builder last weekend. And was as sick as a parrot. Does it. Calm down after a while. ?
It was absolutely awful.
Btw great channel 👍
I think it's all in the mind, but apparently Nelson was always very sick for the first 4 or 5 days at sea... Sturgeon helps as do the wrist bands - and after a few days and nights at sea you will be fine -
@@SailingGently I'm currently reading Eric Hiscock's book, Wanderer. Both he and his wife Susan always suffered sea sickness when they had stayed in port for a few days but thankfully it passed.
Wonderful books - I devoured them when big boat sailing was an impossible dream for me... they had an expression - 'Battleship courses' about sailing along a strange coast and not to do it....
After I watched the sara DECKER STORY ON NETFLIX I TOOK THE PLUNGE TO BUY A CAT AND SAIL FROM TAHITI TO NZ
Well done Mark - She is inspiring and that's a great trip you did - well done - I went via the Cooks, Tonga and Fiji but then I was cruising...
£300 for a battery? £250 for a navionics chart? £250 for a GPS receiver? Did you get them send by chauffeur from Harrods?
Gave hi ,
I do believe that often you get what you pay for! Pay peanuts get monkeys...
A quality boat battery of a large capacity is around £300.
Navionics chart of the 9 is 2-250. The excellent GPS with 12v feed and bracket is around 250.
Of course you can get cheaper versions but not always as good and seldom better. In my experience!
Can people sail into Russian waters like other nations or is that forbidden? I read about a guy who drifted from Alaska into their waters and was arrested. That was before the current problems.
All countries have a 12 mile territorial waters limit and inside that limit you are subject to the laws of that country... Some countries like Algeria, Israel, Australia, USA and apparently Russia require you to have an 'entry visa' before you enter their waters. If you do not have a visa you are indeed subject to arrest or what ever....
Have electric and hydrovane belt and braces
You could be right Robert - the existing autopilot is still working although it's getting old....
Insurance cost isn’t there… once that is factored in. Shipping probably wins
I am coming morfe and more to the same conclusion - Thank you
@@SailingGently no problem. Also - if you want a better price for a DYT service approach a Spanish office for pricing. Huge variances from agent to agent as they dictate the margin prices.
@@foodley123 Thank you for that. didn't know
But you can sell the hydrovan can't you? Crazy not a better solution has been found for water. Just tow a wave generator and cool the air to condence water imho..
Sadly there are dozens of Hydovane for sale in the Caribbean. Not a very sort after piece of kit out there
A Dragon fly trimaran will get you there 1/2 time as a momohull.
Plunky I am sure you are right - fast boats but the boat I have is the boat I have so it will have have to do it more slowly!
If it
Flies
Floats. or
Fcks
Rent It.
Not sure I agree with boats - a lot of pleasure in just owning them - a sort of 2nd home....
@@SailingGently yes agreed. I got seasick though last couple of times I went out
Any advice. Good sir
sailing your self, then you have the equipment because you don't know where you go next.
Peter you could be right but for me I just want a place to keep the boat permanently and visit to go sailing - this boat is not one in which I would do another circumnavigation
Hi
Niccolo i, thank you for watching
U seem to overthink everything. Why go down the Biscay coast in tiny port-to-port jumps? It's generally an easy 4-5 day trip straight across the Bay from England to La Caruna. I've done it a couple of times with absolutely NONE of the eqipment u talk about. And I do mean NONE. And I've sailed out to the Canaries & the Azores likewise. If u really really need all that stuff, maybe u shd stay at home.
Thank you for your thoughts Gorden. Like you I have crossed Biscay direct mainly.to Bayona some 12 times. A couple single handed and the rest with 1 or more crew.
BUT 5 days at sea is not for everyone. That is why I wrote Gentle Sailing Route to the Med so that folks who do not want to go offshore can still head south!
I originally sailed offshore with a sextant and tables. Today I have a plotter and multiple GPS... why not?
Absolute rubbish solar panels cost 400 battery's for two 120ah 150 each .
Garry I am sure you are right but I was looking for flexible panels that would go on my bimini as that't really the only space I have for them - and you are right about batteries but in my experience deep cycle marine batteries survive a lot longer and are more reliable - but the cheaper options have a place
Hi there Michael, my wife and I will also be crossing the Atlantic end of the year. We live in Tenerife, if you like we can meet up and go down in tandem, or probably with a few other boats of people I know and are planning to sail down, never a bad thing to have other boats close by. Our plan is leaving Tenerife towards cape verde on the 28th of December, then leave from cape Verde latest 10th January. Would be cool to keep in contact if you like ?
We will be starting a new RUclips chanel to record and publish our adventures as my current chanel i no longer use (i will explain to you if we ever do meet) No the less we are using our Instagram under my name and we will document our travels as we are heading further than the Caribbean all the way to Cartagena de Indias Colombia and live there for a few years. Would be great to meet and chat with you ⚓⛵❤️ All the best and hope to meet up at some point 🌴⛵
Carlos hi,
Would have loved to meet up with you but I think I'm just going to stick her on a ship... All I'm looking for is a better location for holiday sailing... Different for you I think.
Have a wonderful crossing
Michael