By way of New Year's resolution I promised (threatened?) to start this thread, or rather series of threads, to help owners of medium light cruisers/racers such as many of the larger Hunters, Catalinas, Beneteaus, Jeanneaus, etc. decide what areas of their vessel they might want to examine carefully and possibly modify or reinforce before making longer offshore or bluewater passages. Potential buyers of these types of vessels might be interested as well, of course. For the purpose of this discussion I have decided to define offshore as out of range of VHF but within helicopter rescue range, typically about 25 - 250 NM (500 NM with advanced refueling, if I understand well) and blue water as anything beyond helicopter rescue range. Since we are talking about medium-light designs and I don't think it makes much sense to rebuild our vessels from the ground up I automatically limit my own thinking of bluewater cruising to the Tradewind belts, with relatively short forays in to the Variables. No higher latitude cruising. No cruising in the hurricane season. The objective of these threads is TO COVER ONLY THESE TOPICS that discuss specific (real or perceived) shortcomings of the above, relatively lightly built vessels for offshore and bluewater cruising, not to rewrite the general handbooks on these topics. Obviously, the first task is to identify these special areas. I have tried to attach a draft list below in the hope that we can perhaps reach agreement on these subtopics before I try to start off the first technical discussions. Finally, the idea is certainly not to start a monologue - I don't pretend to have all the answers - but rather to initiate a lively discussion. Then, if Phil will promise not to loose these threads too soon, we can all refer aspiring new cruisers and buyers to these discussions, thereby saving everyone a lot of time. One thing I cannot promise is to keep my posts short (it takes far less time to write long ones ;-)) Flying Dutchman "Rivendel II" (Legend 43, hull #1) Topics to be covered: (1) Rigging and Sailplans (2) Rudders, autopilots, windvanes (3) Anchoring, mooring, berthing (4) Decks, windows, hatches (5) Seaberths, floorboards, doors (6) Heavy weather and survival tactics (7) Miscelaneous
