5 college kids sailing Caribbean waters

[Chuckbear]

Chuck-the decision to haul out is made before the storm approaches. Most do not haul here. Also the insurance from boat US said they do not cover damage from named storms no matter where you are.
So the big difference seems to be where you weather the storm, texas or nassau.
Do you ever haul for hurricanes? And where are you right now chuck?

Well we left Houston several months ago after being there for two years and missed out on Ike. The yards in Clear Lake were pretty full from boats being hauled before Ike. We are currently in South Carolina. Yes you haul before a storm and that is the point, you can't do that in the Bahamas since haul out facilities are rare and the locals fill them up first. BoutUS most certainly does cover for named storms, you just pay a higher deductible. Yes we have hauled for hurricanes but only twice. Given our 17 years of living aboard and cruising the US coast and the Caribbean and after 15 named storms, given the choice, I would not want to be in the Bahamas during a hurricane and probably not even for a strong tropical storm. How about you, how many named storms have you dealt with both in Texas and in other areas? Perhaps you have some first hand experience weathering a storm in both areas you would like to share to add to the discussion.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Only one hurricane for me Chuck. So you pay a higher premium to get covered for all storms and to cruise in non-US waters? Generally you don't haul since you only hauled twice out of 17. Do you anchor out and ride it out on the boat or do you head inland?

 

[Chuckbear]

Only one hurricane for me Chuck. So you pay a higher premium to get covered for all storms and to cruise in non-US waters? Generally you don't haul since you only hauled twice out of 17. Do you anchor out and ride it out on the boat or do you head inland?

We have done both. Most times we were anchored out, and a few times at a dock, although that is my least favorite option. Based out of the Florida Keys for 10 years we did leave the boat and evacuate in the cars ONCE. Never do that again. Generally we don't haul out but many do, and since you mentioned BoatUS, they and several other insurance companies offer an option in their coverage to pay your haul out fees for a named storm. BoatUS is one of the largest insurers of toy boats but very few serious cruisers use them. There are several very good companies that cover longer distance cruisers anywhere in the world. And yes these premiums are higher but in all of our years we have never had a claim. But the point of this discussion is the Bahamas in Hurricane season in a sailboat. It is a foolish decision in my opinion and based on our traveling there several times, not during storm season. I can think of no anchorages I would like to ride out a serious storm on any of the islands. we can count 6 close friends now that have lost their boats over the years in hurricanes in the Bahamas.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Do you avoid the bahamas/caribbean during hurricane season? If so where do you go. And where do think these 5 college kids should go instead of there?
I have to say I love the trawler on your website. I looked at that a few months ago. Is that what you are cruising around in now (I'm think I am more of a trawler kind of guy, but don't tell anyone)
My first hand experience was anchor the boat away from the dock with a 100 lb ingot on a bridle off the stern, tie in some lines to the bow and hope and pray for the best. The surge wasn't that bad so nothing happened to my boat. The boat was in corpus christi near mustang island so as you said there is pretty good protection there.
I'd rather not have any first hand experience weathering out a storm in the bahamas or anywhere else if I can avoid it. But I don't think I will always get exactly what I want. I would like to try out the cruising lifestyle. I'm trying to make some money this year so I can.

 

[tommays]

Older and Wiser and stil taking risks

Having done a few things like hit a log on Long island Sound and lose the outboard on a out going tide with my parents when i was young on and a new poorly equiped boat (15 minute test ride NOT)

So about 3 am the CG found us and towed us in to Port Jeff because we were lucky to be spoted but someone on land


And then there are the many races were the SEA was clearly the boss and was just being nice and letting us live through it


I still go out and do all these things BUT i am also far more prepared and far more aware of how ugly it can get.

Which is why i allways want people to work there way up slow SO they can handle things when it does go bad .

 

[Chuckbear]

Do you avoid the bahamas/caribbean during hurricane season? If so where do you go. And where do think these 5 college kids should go instead of there?
I have to say I love the trawler on your website. I looked at that a few months ago. Is that what you are cruising around in now (I'm think I am more of a trawler kind of guy, but don't tell anyone)
My first hand experience was anchor the boat away from the dock with a 100 lb ingot on a bridle off the stern, tie in some lines to the bow and hope and pray for the best. The surge wasn't that bad so nothing happened to my boat. The boat was in corpus christi near mustang island so as you said there is pretty good protection there.
I'd rather not have any first hand experience weathering out a storm in the bahamas or anywhere else if I can avoid it. But I don't think I will always get exactly what I want. I would like to try out the cruising lifestyle. I'm trying to make some money this year so I can.

We do avoid the Bahamas and Caribbean during storm season, But having said that we have been hit by two hurricanes in the Chesapeake, three in Virginia, one in North Carolina, one in South Carolina, and a tropical storm in Texas, plus a near miss, which we don't count, of a hurricane in Texas. the rest were in Florida. So there are not too many places to avoid them altogether. But along the eastern seaboard we can find many protected places to weather it out if need be, as a result, no damage claims. It is difficult enough when you have experience, but a wrong decision or misstep can mean the difference between an experience to relate to friends or a disaster. The advise from others to go slow and gain experience is wise. We spent a wonderful storm season in the Rio Dulce and watched Katrina and all the other storms march through the Atlantic and the Gulf. It is the first year we felt totally safe. We are enjoying the new trawler after many years on the sailboat and looking forward to a new style of cruising and new cruising areas that are not practical on the sailboat.

 

[Nereussailor]

Are you nuts? What about hurricanes, What about sinking? What about loosing your boat? What about making sure that you have every piece of electronics known to man, so you can be saved when your boat blows up? Oh yeah, what about if your boat blows up? What about the meteor shower that could drop pieces in your boat and sink you. What if the space station falls to earth when you're sailing over and hits you?..............
Plan out your trip thoughtfully, be safe and carry as much safety gear as you can afford, keep in touch with your family all the time letting them know where you are at, be safe, and as our racing committee said before each racing season, "don't hit any other boats and have fun"
It's not about the destination, it's about the journey. You will remember the trip for the rest of your life, and if you play it smart and sensible, your kids and grand kids will be there to help you remember it when you can't.

 

[tommays]

and we all are quite inexperienced

Could be me i would want to learn more before i get that far from land


(altough four of us have sailing license)

I really have no idea what this means ?


You live in Md which is a great place to kick around on a sailboat all summer ?

And at a 9' + beam and over 7000# trailering is really not going to happen on a budget

 

[Hermit Scott]

http://openbluehorizon.com/Front/index.php
Just to give you an idea of what can happen taking off unprepared. Here is a guy's site that tells his story. He is travelling around the world but no longer doing it in a sailboat.
Of course he was trying to cross the pacific and you will be island hopping.
Just some interesting reading.

 

[sailaway78]

Named Storms

Most policies I am seeing exclude all named storms, no matter where you are. Or are written to protect the ins. co. Many who live in the NE cannot head south before Nov. 1, or their ins. if void. Some require you to be below 12 degrees S. during hurricane season to have coverage. If you have a policy that covers storm damage, is extremely expensive. In the five years I have been in the Slidell area, have survived 4 major hurricanes, with no damage so far. Do not pull the boat, but am in a very protected canal. In the Bahamas, and most of Carribean, there is very little protection, no place to run, no place to hide. No place to pull the boat, and no way out of there when they shut down the airports. While I wouldn't say don't go during hurricane season, you have to know what you could be in for, and be prepared to live, or die, with the outcome.

 

[TimCup]

hermit Scott, buddy, come on now..

you want five guys with virtually no experience, on a boat they just got, to hop in (after magically getting it to S Florida- towing? don't think so; sailing? they don't think so) and sail to the bahamas?

You're probably right...what could happen at 5 mph?

I repectfully disagree. I could be wrong, but it sounds like these guys don't know how to properly tie up to a cleat!?! And you think they should go "for the experience"?

Shoot man, if you want to good stories, forget about these guys. Talk to the Coast Guard- they've got all KINDS of stories about ideas like this.

Sailing ain't rocket science, but 35 miles from land in wind and seas is a pretty bad time to start finding out you don't know what to do....and it sounds like there's ALOT these guys don't know..

Parachuting requires just 2 things- jumping out, and pulling the ring. Yet you either take a course, or jump with the instructor tied to you. How many things do you need to learn to sail?


cup

 

[thesailerdude]

you guys...I never thought sailors could be this funny. I enjoyed reading both postitve and most definitely negative feedbacks..there are several things that i should also cover

We will leave on May 17 and probably finish in third week of June..so we are not going into Caribbean in smack of hurricane season? hmm (but thats no excuse to not take any precautions)

We will buy att& 3G connect card and bring our laptop with us, so when someething happens we could contact anyone we wish immediately

I know this trip could sound dangerous, but what can i say? we are only young once

also i need to point this out...the boat itself is not that valuable to us because we plan to sell it at the end of our trip at price of 500...actually we expect this boat investment is going to cost us- we got it covered, but i am worried about 7,000 lbs trailering...how much will it cost? we are not poor but we are not rich either.

Thanks and keep on commenting!

 

[thesailerdude]

Also, thanks for giving me an awesome link, Hermit..openbluehorzion.com...wow that is definitely something i want to do someday...wow

 

[Napa Ed]

We will buy att& 3G connect card and bring our laptop with us, so when someething happens we could contact anyone we wish immediately

You could send a message but would anyone be there to see it and respond? You can rent epribs from boatus. They send the signal, coast guard is alerted, all automatically.
http://www.boatus.com/foundation/EPIRB/orderquote.asp

 

[TimCup]

Hermit Scott, I read a little of the blog you referenced

Frankly, this is exactly what I'm talking about.




There are allot of sites talking trash about how awesome of sailors they are and how much of an idiot Ron is for doing this. I believe he could have stuck it out and suffered much longer, putting him in a much worse situation, but he did what he felt he needed to do to see tomorrow. I don't think any less of him for doing so. He has been through allot in his short life and he had a dream of sailing around the world, sipping a beer and enjoying life. He expected the ocean to be rough, but had no idea. We all make mistakes this was a big one for him. He lost his life savings, all of his possessions, and the boat. This is not an easy lesson to soak up emotionally. If he had thought about only those things he may not have been with us anymore, and for everybody that has read from the beginning and knows Ronnie personally, you can't help but love the guy. This is just another reason why we love him. Who volunteers for the Marine infantry, gets blown up in Iraq, suffers through recovery, has their dad die, tries normal life for two years, has a dream, follows his dream at all costs, prepares for an ocean passage for six months, gets into the ocean, loses their kayak, douses their cabin with gasoline, bilge pump stops working now pumping water out hourly by hand, freshwater contaminated, steering breaks, 20 to 30 foot waves, gets hit by a merchant ship, gets rescued, and is now on their way to China?


This guy prepared for 6 months, had every electronic gizmo on the market, had, by his reckoning, 95000 wrapped up in the boat (he paid 30k originally), and in the end, the boat is gone, and he's lucky he's not, too.

I keep thinking about those football players that drowned recently. In blue water, the penalties for small mistakes can be huge. I just think the risk for inexperienced guys is too great..


cup

 

[TimCup]

Sailordude!!!!

great to hear from you. Many people post and then they never respond or acknowledge the responses- well done.

Well, I see that, like my own kids, my sage advice has fallen on deaf ears. That's okay, I'm used to it. So as long as you're going anyway, let me give more unsolicited advice-

Buy a Spot- it's a cheap gps locating system. Messaging is VERY limited; however, it has a 911 button you can push if you get in trouble, and the coast guard can find you.

Rent an EPIRB. In a catastrophe (keel falls off, rigging breaks, etc) where you're thrown from the boat and spot gets lost, water will activate epirb and CG saves the day.

Go on an overnighter first. You'll learn 1000 things you never even thought of.

Read. About sailing. Alot. Learn to tie three knots- a slip knot, a permanent knot and a "rope to rope" knot. I can't break it down simpler than that.You'll have dozens of choices.

Visit Naussau. That's where most of the cruise ships dock, and there are women on those big ships, taking a cruise with their girlfriends, that are looking for the same adventure you are! The best part is the ships rotate every day or two...that is what you're going for, right?

be safe, and not too stupid. And be sure we know what's going on while you're there...


cup

 

[Bill Roosa]

contact anyone they want anytime they want????

Not beyond about 2 nm on an ATT G3 modem. That is 802 UHF stuff and NOT designed for "long range" communication. Oh yea you are going to need a ships license and radio telephone operators license for even this sort of rudimentary radio link when going outside the US.
EPLRB, VHF and Marine SSB are not only good ideas they are your last best hope to get help, talking to the helicopter and keeping abreast of weather. You can do lots of things in sailboats with just a little experience but have a shake down cruise first!!!

 

[sailingdog]

Frankly, this is exactly what I'm talking about.

This guy prepared for 6 months, had every electronic gizmo on the market, had, by his reckoning, 95000 wrapped up in the boat (he paid 30k originally), and in the end, the boat is gone, and he's lucky he's not, too.

I keep thinking about those football players that drowned recently. In blue water, the penalties for small mistakes can be huge. I just think the risk for inexperienced guys is too great..

He had every electronic gizmo, including HD video cameras... but couldn't be bothered to spend the money getting a 47 year-old boat surveyed... A survey of the boat would have cost far less than a HD video camera... and then, to top it off, he times his departure so he can make the local newscast. IMHO, that's having your priorities really screwed up.

 

[Hermit Scott]

Ronnie and I emaiiled a couple of times. I told him the projects I was working on, through hulls, he said he never even hauled his boat to look at the bottom.
His problem wasn't bringing the HD cameras or departing with the news watching. Those things are fine. It's the things he didn't do that got him into trouble. Well, actually IIRC his departure time was not right to be crossing the Pacific, but making the news just gave him some publicity.
I read alot of reviews about the spot. Most of them say don't use it like an EPIRB. From what I read if I had to choose between a spot or a epirb, I'd choose the epirb. The spot is a nice device though to let everyone know where you are.

Most of you know, but if I have the finances lined up by this winter, I am going to the bahamas. I will have this summer to prepare my crew, my self and my boat. So sailerdude, I can honestly say I feel ya about wanting to do this. But I have a wife now who depends on me to keep her safe. I can't be wreckless anymore. But wreckless was fun and to me it was worth the risk when it was just me.

 

[tommays]

Well

Trailer again 8'6" is the LIMIT then you need oversize permits

I realize i am and old fart now at 53 BUT i was only 26 when i went for it and bought the tan J24 NEW and i do try and keep my 21 and 24 year old kids alive also

I don't even want to think what a trailer would cost 5000 dollars + and then you need a truck with a 10000# towing capacity


My J24s total less than 4000# and you know its behind the Silverado