Ocean Passage Making presentation at the Red Tabby
Can’t go under it. Can’t go over it. Can’t go around…
The First Mate and I tripped lightly last week down to the Red Tabby, eyes aglow, to listen to a presentation chock full of ocean crossing tips. Here are the…
…Highlights
Charts
You need to have:
- tons of paper charts for the region you are cruising (for an around-the-world race you need an amazing 380 (approx) paper charts on board – which is legally required)
- electronic copies of same
- Broadcast Schedules of the Weather Forecast
- Nautical Almanac – 1 per region
- Pilots
It costs 1000s £/$ to get all this, so look for as much as possible online – where you can often download it free (and make both paper copies and electronic copies). More and more stuff offered free online every day.
Self-Sufficiency
- On a good boat:
- everything has a back up
- everything is redundant
- eg. backup halyards – alternate tension between 2 halyards every 12 hours to reduce strain.
- Don’t rely on water-makers or refrigerators.
- Plan not to rely on them – treat them as an added bonus if you have them and they happen to still work.
- Use baby wipes to keep clean and save water!
- VHF range is only 25-50 nautical miles max – how will you get info/data, communication outside this range? Make sure you already have what you need before you go.
Preventing breakdowns – Attention to detail
- Constantly do checks – prevention is better than cure.
- Go through scenarios and plan for emergencies
- what if the rudder breaks?
- what if a shroud snaps?…
- Build tools and spares inventory with this in mind.
- Prevent chafe on metal, sails and lines before it happens.
- There’s lots of chafe on trade wind routes!
- Get rid of metal to metal connections – eg.. use spectra lines to tie on shackles to boom.
- eg. Use cable ties or seizing wire to secure shackle pins.
Choosing Crew
- Are they medically fit? Do they get seasick?
- Know and confirm the experience and skill level of your crew in detail.
- Can you rely on them to keep a proper lookout?
- Are they reliable?
- Do they have a long attention span?
- Reliability is more important than navigational ability.
- It’s helpful to choose crew with useful, different backgrounds eg medical, mechanical, communications experts…
How will a medical emergency be handled?
Effective helicopter range is 200 miles offshore – this leaves a big gap in the middle of the ocean where you have to handle medical emergencies on your own.
- Get pre-passage medical training – first aid, wilderness first aid, wilderness dental, pet aid, survival training…
- Choose crew with medical backgrounds, as above.
Are you preparing for an ocean passage? What other topics are you researching?
Cruising Lectures
Previously: Cruising in Oceania