Anyone with a 35.5 Legend or similar have any recommendations on sailing to the Philippines?

[Bleach_Bottle]

Anyone taken theirs across a pond? The most mine has seen is the Gulf of Alaska in early September. Aside from the obvious: rigging, rudder inspection, sea anchors, etc, what are some special considerations or modifications to improve safety & durability? Apologies if this has been beaten to death, I’m not finding a ton of info.

 

[David in Sandusky]

Here is an in depth discussion of your question. It includes Henk Meuzelaar's description of modifications to his Hunter 43 which he sailed to the South Pacific, and then around it for 10 years. Ocean crossing

My understanding is that the Hunter Legend 35.5 was designed as a high performance coastal cruiser. If I were choosing a boat around that length to sail across the Pacific Ocean, I would pick a boat with a clearly "blue water" design. Roger Marshall's "Choosing a Cruising Sailboat" is the best book on this topic.

But you are asking a different question - what are recommendations if I am sailing my Legend 35.5 across the Pacific. I would start with Henk's list of his modifications to his boat at the link above, and read Marshall's book. Your boat will probably perform very well up to gale conditions. The key question is how will you handle it if you are caught in a powerful storm with huge waves? How will your boat perform if a breaking wave inverts it in a storm? By design, an Island Packet 35 would recover much more quickly than the H35.5 if inverted. How do you assess this risk? You probably would not face such a storm on a cruise to the Philippines. But what is your contingency plan with your boat if it does happen as it has to others?

 

[Benny17441]

A production boat designed for coastal cruising has undeniable design choices that make it imposible to turn it into a blue water cruiser. Yes, many able captains have made ocean crossings in less than adequate rigs but it is likely their knowledge and experience that has carried the voyages rather than any boat upgrades. Recognize your boat has a top stepped mast and rigging which is not as strong as the keel stepped mast in a blue water boat, your boat has a spade rudder which can be more exposed to damage from debris found in the water. Your hatches are considered made of plastic, make sure they are fitted with strong latches. Your cockpit lockers are not sealed and may lack secure locking latches. The light displacement and shape of the hull does not provide for comfortable sea motion, this can beat you up in a long passage. A large cockpit, companionway entrance and windows are comfort and style designs which can pose a threat for large water intrusion. I can understand if it is a one time moving of the boat to the Philippines but would not consider if for extensive blue water cruising. Brush up on your weather forecasting skill and communication equipment, foul weather tactics and study your possible routes and legs for seasonal characteristics. Sometimes a longer route with stopping points along the way make for a safer and easier trip. Fair winds.

 

[Bleach_Bottle]

Here is an in depth discussion of your question. It includes Henk Meuzelaar's description of modifications to his Hunter 43 which he sailed to the South Pacific, and then around it for 10 years. Ocean crossing

My understanding is that the Hunter Legend 35.5 was designed as a high performance coastal cruiser. If I were choosing a boat around that length to sail across the Pacific Ocean, I would pick a boat with a clearly "blue water" design. Roger Marshall's "Choosing a Cruising Sailboat" is the best book on this topic.

But you are asking a different question - what are recommendations if I am sailing my Legend 35.5 across the Pacific. I would start with Henk's list of his modifications to his boat at the link above, and read Marshall's book. Your boat will probably perform very well up to gale conditions. The key question is how will you handle it if you are caught in a powerful storm with huge waves? How will your boat perform if a breaking wave inverts it in a storm? By design, an Island Packet 35 would recover much more quickly than the H35.5 if inverted. How do you assess this risk? You probably would not face such a storm on a cruise to the Philippines. But what is your contingency plan with your boat if it does happen as it has to others?

I certainly hope most of those aren’t completely necessary. Thanks for finding that for me. I’ve mulled the idea of adding a few sheets of 1708 under the bow & adding a second forestay. I’d think buying another boat in the Philippines would be preferable beyond that, but I’d lose the chance of sailing her there myself.

 

[Bleach_Bottle]

A production boat designed for coastal cruising has undeniable design choices that make it imposible to turn it into a blue water cruiser. Yes, many able captains have made ocean crossings in less than adequate rigs but it is likely their knowledge and experience that has carried the voyages rather than any boat upgrades. Recognize your boat has a top stepped mast and rigging which is not as strong as the keel stepped mast in a blue water boat, your boat has a spade rudder which can be more exposed to damage from debris found in the water. Your hatches are considered made of plastic, make sure they are fitted with strong latches. Your cockpit lockers are not sealed and may lack secure locking latches. The light displacement and shape of the hull does not provide for comfortable sea motion, this can beat you up in a long passage. A large cockpit, companionway entrance and windows are comfort and style designs which can pose a threat for large water intrusion. I can understand if it is a one time moving of the boat to the Philippines but would not consider if for extensive blue water cruising. Brush up on your weather forecasting skill and communication equipment, foul weather tactics and study your possible routes and legs for seasonal characteristics. Sometimes a longer route with stopping points along the way make for a safer and easier trip. Fair winds.

That’s some good advice on sealing the hatches & I may also add rubber latches to them.

I would definitely make as many stops as possible, especially considering being stuck on a paint mixer for several weeks.

It would most definitely be a one time relocation, with the occasional offshore.

 

[Bleach_Bottle]

Update: I managed to find some more info. The chatbot I used came up with this, but I couldn’t seem to cite its sources:

Instances of Hunter 35.5 Legend Crossing Oceans or Sailing Blue Water
Incidents and Successes:

• 2008: Eric and Julie Kunze sailed their Hunter 35.5 Legend, "Cheers," across the Atlantic Ocean from the Azores to Bermuda and then on to the Caribbean. They encountered a force 10 storm during their crossing but managed to navigate through it safely.
• 2010: John and Beth Leonard sailed their Hunter 35.5 Legend, "Serendipity," on a 5,000-mile voyage from Annapolis, Maryland, to the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, and Puerto Rico. They encountered heavy seas and winds during their journey but completed it successfully.
• 2012: David Seid sailed his Hunter 35.5 Legend, "Wanderlust," around the world, covering over 30,000 nautical miles. He encountered various challenges, including pirates and rough weather, but ultimately completed his journey.

Modifications:

• Many Hunter 35.5 Legends that are used for blue water sailing undergo modifications to improve their performance and safety. Some common modifications include:
• Strengthening the hull and deck to withstand rough seas
• Installing a stronger mast and rigging
• Upgrading the sails to more durable materials
• Adding a watermaker for creating fresh water from seawater
• Equipping the boat with solar panels and wind generators for electricity
• Installing a self-steering system for long stretches of solo sailing
• Increasing the fuel capacity for extended range.