Some good points
Phil,You make some good points and I certainly do not intend to or do I condone "Hunter bashing". You are absolutely correct when you suggest that any vessel should regularly check bulk heads and chain plates. My concerns regarding the chainplates on the 45's comes from personal experience on a clients' boat that did experience these very issues in moderate conditions, Yes, this could have just as easily happened on other boats.A comment that has been expressed here that I couldn't agree with more is the preparedness of the equipment and crew. We present seminars throughout the country regarding offshore preperation. In my mind, as well as those on our team, there are 3 equally important legs of a triangle to help ensure a sccessful passge. 1) the boat, 2) the equipment and 3) THE CREW. Many of the vessels that have been abandoned and left to drift over the past several years have been found weeks, months or in two cases I am personally aware of, 2 years later drifting around the Atlantic. Other than the batteries being dead, the boats were no worse for the wear. Another point well taken is the thought that people in "famous" offshore boats gain a false ense of security. I couldn't agree more. Our orgnization has the opportunity to deliver and sail just about every type of sail & power vessel manufactured in the world. In the past 12 months we have delivered erything from custom offshore racing sleds, to Hunters to Catalinas, to transoceanic trawlers and small ships. During these times we have seen many, many days of crystal clear perfect weather, but we have also seen weather that would make the heartiest captain think twice about going back out there. In any given year, most of us that do this for a living will have a trip that makes us ask if we will ever go back out again. "Yes we always seem to." A comment was made regarding a a fast boat is safer since it cuts down transit time. I agree, the shorter the transit time the better, but one must be prepared to deal with the situation that comes up when the weather does go south. Two years ago, we were 10 miles from the sea bouy at Charleston, SC. Radar was clear, as was the weather fax & local NOAA forecast. The seas were flat and we were making 7.5 knots SOG. Within 30 minutes, a micro system blew in and we were beating into 40+ knot winds against a very confused gulf stream. Within 2 hours the seas had built to 10' with about a 3 sec period. It took 10 hours to beat off that lee shore and make it to the sea bouy. These types of events are not unusual and as a result the boat, equipment & crew must be ready to deal with it. In this case, a "fast boat" would not have help us to out run the weather.There is nothing more alluring to those of us that earn our living on & from the seas than being out there. As I have indicated several times over the past few days most boats will take much more than we as crew can. If you want to get a better feel for how your particular boat, whether she be power or sail Bayliner or Nordhavn, Hunter or Valiant, talk to the delivery guys who sail these vessels through all kinds of weather day in and day out. At the end of the day, they are probably your best source of data for how your vessel will handle. These guys have nothing to gain or lose, by offering their views and experiences.As I close this long and rambling post let me add this one last thought. A dear friend of mine passed away this week. He has been planning to go cruising, and had been planning on leaving this year for the past 6 years... He never made it. We see this all too often. Go now and enjoy yourself, there is nothing more wonderful than a sunrise or sunset at sea!!!dave