In calm weather you can cross the Atlantic. I friend of mine when delivering a helicopter was asked if he was going to fly at night over the mountains and he responded "the aircraft is in good flying shape and the weather is fine, don't worry I wont tell her that it will be dark and that we are flying over mountains" The boat won't know how far offshore it is. Your boat as limited by size, age and production design does have certain limits to handle foul weather whether in intensity and /or duration. I'm not familiar with your vessel and it's condition but in general terms a hunter your size should be able to handle 50 knot winds and 7-10 feet seas for 10-20 hours. Your ability as a captain to endure and protect the boat in handling the seas will make a huge difference on how she'll weather. Rather than testing the boat's limits I would place my emphasis in weather forecasting. How far ahead can you look to a reliable forecast clear of the conditions above described 3, 5, 7 days? What is your ability to update that forecast daily as you move. We all here about the storms weathered at sea by sturdy ships and fearless sailors but the reality is that a long distance cruiser may experience foul weather for much less than 5% of his time at sea. The majority of the time the seas will range from excellent to bearable. That is probably thanks to the advances in weather forecasting and communications. There is an old maxim, Sail the weather not the Schedule. Only you as the Captain of the vessel can decide how far she can go out. Sorry, but there is not a simple answer. Preparation and prudence are highly encouraged.
