Blue water, open ocean

Stu Jackson · Feb 10, 2013

Chris Patterson said:
But I like being offshore, with nobody else, full rags up, autopilot set, cruising baby. LOVE it.
Like anybody else that has done this enough, I've been hammered a few times. Beat up, sick as a dog, tired, hungry, need a bath, wow. But that's what makes the good times good. If it's all good, nothing's good. (Think about that last sentence a moment).

Good one Chris. jibes' post was great. Our little daysail "story" is here:

http://c34.org/bbs/index.php/topic,6783.msg46861.html#msg46861

My son just loves the ocean, so do I. It's too darn "crowded" inside. I once sailed across Monterey Bay, singlehanded, which is 3,000 feet deep!!! No crab pots, no traffic, four hour sail on port tack, tucked into the starboard cockpit seat leaning back against the cabintop, read a book, got up every fifteen minutes to check around. Unforgettable cruise. Buy a five dollar kitchen timer.

The ocean is great. Solitude, nice sailing.

I try not to sail on weekends, but even during the week, the ONE other sailboat that's out with us ends up crossing tacks! Always happens, don't know why...

Keep reading. The Pardey books are very good. Richard Henderson's "Singlehanded Sailing" is excellent.

There ARE seasickness cures - reread my last post. You have to figure out what works for YOU. I have a punctured eardrum, so I'm always un-balanced (!) so never get seasick!!!

TomY · Feb 11, 2013

I've equipped myself and boat(s) over a couple decades, for coastal sailing. That for me here on the east coast is well under 100nm offshore. I don't plan to be out for more than 48 hours, and usually much less. That allows me to pick my weather. I would have to be very careless these days, to find myself surprised by weather in my coastal sailing.

Our safety equipment is simple USCG required for our boat.

This self imposed limitation includes the Bahamas and trips we often make between Maine and southern NE, offshore overnight.

With the boat you have, you could set your own coastal limits to include many cruises outside of the inlets, and do a lot of coastal sailing. That will give you experience and the confidence that only comes with experience. Good luck!

jibes138 · Feb 11, 2013

Another intersting item to consider in open ocean sailing is bugs. Once I was sailing to Marthas Vineyard and probably 5 miles off the coast of the island when we were attacked by a swarm of bees. One of my passengers was allergic to bees so it was a little frightening. What bees were doing in the middle of the ocean is a big question mark.
Then when about 100 miles off the Delmarva peninsula we were attacked by biting flies. We spent all our time with a flyswatter (should be USCG required equipment) whacking them when we weren't keeping watch or sleeping. What are flies doing over 100 miles out to sea?
Another interesting topic for ocean sailing is fishing while under sail. I haven't told my bluefish story in a long time but some of the old time SBO participants have heard it before. Maybe in a later post if anyone expresses interest.

keys please · Feb 11, 2013

Jibes, fish stories we all got'em like the flying fish that found my wife, she was hot as hell and 30...... leaning over the bow.. we were coming up next to a commercial dive boat with about 50 divers.... she leaning forward with lots of cleavage and a very nice one piece on.... the darn flying fish hit just perfect between her ah um a, well just between and went inside stright down to the jam box....wish the hell i had that on video would be worth millions.... she didn't know what had got her and yelled like hell stripped off her suit and went over the side.... i had seen the whole thing and could not stop laughing.... this did not make her happy, also the fact the dive boat took on one hell of a list as all the young guys crowded the rail...she was clearly not happy ... and i don't think evan today she sees the humor in it.... but as a good husband and trying to help out i handed her suit well she was still in the water and muttered ... damn exhibitionist....... later to realize that was a grave mistake on my part.... good thing i like raw tuna belly.... cause she was not cooking that night..... now lets hear your fish story..... all the best brian

Kermit · Feb 12, 2013

And, as a good husband should, you're retelling the story to yet another group of guys. Sounds like you're on your own for supper again tonight!

Roger Long · Feb 12, 2013

Chris Patterson said:
Myself, I'd rather sandpaper a wildcats butt than cruise up and down the ditch, I despise the stupid thing. Traffic, shoals, jet-ski's, barges, idiot's with little experience and too much boat combined with testosterone. It's like navigating downtown N.Y., while everybody's drunk. Nay nay.

I haven't found it that way at all but I always go south late and return early so it's un-crowded and I'm never there during local boating season. I've long suspected it would be awful. When you have it mostly to yourself, the Low Country is wonderful.

I've greatly enjoyed my offshore time, all of it on large sailing ships. It's after the second or third day, when your mind has cleared itself of shore life and you settle into the rhythm, that it becomes memorable for me. I’m not one of those people who believes in sleeping on autopilot with a radar alarm set so, as a singlehander, I’m going to be an anchor every night. With just a day from anchorage to anchorage, and no time to settle into an offshore passage, I find I much prefer having scenery close at hand and the mental stimulation of navigating along the waterway. I have never enjoyed those long day passages you can’t avoid, such as around New Jersey, when alone. I try to find crew for offshore day legs whenever possible.

If I found a permanent crew, which would have to be a woman for me in a boat this size, I would certainly do a lot more offshore passages, Bahamas, possibly Bermuda, Newfoundland, and beyond. In my age range though, they all have lives, grandchildren, gardens, etc.

I am getting tired of mostly motoring up and down the ICW alone for most of the year and am therefore taking a look now at returning to a shore based life. However, if there is someone out there with adventure still in her heart, I could probably be talked into sailing almost anywhere.

RichH · Feb 12, 2013

Nothing can beat sailing far offshore on a clear moonless night with light wind when the sea is on fire with bioluminescence, competing with the intense starlight .... a large intensely glowing 'silverheels' trailing the boat back to the horizon, and the bow wave lighting the way because of the 'sparklers' constantly firing off due to the disturbance of the bow wave. Then too, the 'meteors' of light close to the bow caused by large fish that are getting out the way and lighting-off the fire of the bioluminescence in long streaks like comets.

Ditto, too during daylight in benign conditions when the storm petrels - robin sized sea birds who only come to land to breed, the most common bird life in the entire world - but only seen at sea, are mobbing and 'dancing' on the surface with only their long legged feet and beaks touching the water to eat very tiny sea life on the surface.
Sometimes immense multi-acre sized schools of fish or dolphins 'chopping' the surface. Whales and dolphins breaking the surface, or sometimes 'just sleeping' on the surface ... and you have to alter course so as not to disturb them.
.... the flocks of exhausted teeny land birds who stop to rest for a time on your vessel before starting again on their journey ... and if they stay for very long times make you wish that your next long tack towards land will be a very long one ... and sometimes you do just to help them with their journey.

All incredible sights that you'll never or very rarely ever see close to land.

;-))))

25yearslater · Feb 12, 2013

You guys are killing me. With nine weeks to go till launch the memories of offshore ocean passages and lake cruising are flooding back. I am about to bust waiting to share something amazing with my sons who have only been on boats at the carnival.

RubyJean · Feb 12, 2013

Offshore

I always sail offshore, don't like traffic and would prefer to not see any other boat or ship. Generally speaking, I try to stay off 20-80nm out. this depends on where I'm going and Capes or Points as these can be a problem area. But I really am speaking of the west coast Pacific.
Also I prefer boats under 30', just don't care for the bigger ones. My brother is the opposite on this, he likes 40' and above. We have both crossed oceans.
You'll never gain the confidence until you start sailing offshore. But do learn heavy weather sailing. Also how to heave to, practice this on your boat in all conditions, it's the only way to rest in harsh conditions.... Michael..

jibes138 · Feb 12, 2013

Bluefish Story. Before I had a boat people used to tell me stories of how bluefish would attack you when you caught them, ripping flesh off you hands and arms like parahnas. You had to beat them with a club before they jumped up and grabbed you. So one day I'm trolling between Block Island and Cuttyhunk Island and I get a strike. My wife and young children are on board, so I depower the sail and reel in my first bluefish. Now I read somewhere that you can kill a bluefish by pouring vodka down it's throat through its' gills. So I get the fish in the boat and my wife and kids dive down below because they are scared to death. Then hand me up a quart of vodka and I proceed to pour some down the fishes throat while holding him/her down. Nothing happens, so I pour a little more. Still nothing. Half a quart of vodka later and the fish is one happy fish, it is as alive as ever. Now I don't know what to do so I grab my ballpeen hammer and put the fish out of its' drunken stupor. We had some nice fresh fish on the grill at anchor that night but my wife refused to eat it, couldn't get the picture of me with the ballpeen hammer out of her mind. The kids loved it. Happy fishing. By the way I was trolling a tuna clone with a torpedo weight to keep it down, boat speed was around 4 to 5 knots. I caught many blues over the years always around the mouth of the Sakonnet River and in Vineyard sound.

rigalio · Feb 14, 2013

I think if you have a project and you don't relise it it is just a dream.
I have a o'day 30 and it is for sale, I just bought a Van de stad 30 steel cutter and I will go out there with my wife and my african grey parrot ho thalks allot.
We are going down the St Lawrence river and get to Hailfax Novascotia and wait for passage to go to Bermuda and then Bahamas and to the carabeian seas we are plaining 2 years traveling or more. The steel cutter have a brain new motor and the hull have a new coating it is ready for of roading Ha.ha. Go for it you have one life to live only.

rigalio · Feb 15, 2013

Looking for life raft **** they are expensive is there some seccond hand to buy???

Rick D · Feb 15, 2013

Check the commercial repacking services, the ones who do work and fishing boats.

Delezynski · Feb 16, 2013

rigalio,

rigalio said:
Looking for life raft **** they are expensive is there some seccond hand to buy???

I have one, out of date and needs repack. Contact me off line and I'll make you a killer deal.

Greg

jibes138 · Feb 17, 2013

Instead of a liferaft take a look at this offering that is a dinghy, liferaft, sailing dinghy, etc. I have a friend who owns one and it is a really neat concept. Cost about 2900. plus accessories to customize it the way you want (sailing rig etc.). I am not in any way affiliated with this company.

http://www.portlandpudgy.com/

jibes138 · Feb 17, 2013

One issue if adrift at sea on a liferaft is waiting to be rescued. It would be highly advantageous to have a means of propulsion like a sail. The pudgy gives you that option and the mast and sail store in a tube in the hull so it isn't in your way. It is a really cool little boat.

Chris Patterson · Feb 17, 2013

I was thinking the same thing when I saw this little boat. A means of propulsion to save yourself. It IS a bit more proactive than sitting around in a rubber raft waiting on someone.

Blue water, open ocean

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