In a series of previous posts I started to discuss how to prep medium/light production cruisers for offshore use. Although I have yet to finish that series, reports of poor chainplate design/construction in some newer Hunters have killed my appetite to do so until it is clear which models and years may be affected. Possibly because of such revelations and the ensuing hullaballoo, discussions on this board have taken a decidedly anti-offshore trend with most owners apparently resigned to designate their vessels as "coastal cruisers" and those dreaming of extended offshore passages planning to eventually switch to a more traditionally built "bluewater boat". Unfortunately, the time and cost involved in buying and equipping such a new vessel may well end up killing "the dream" altogether. This prompts me to review the basic considerations underlying my own positive attitude towards the use of larger Hunters, Catalinas, Beneteaus and Jeanneaus (plus a host of similar medium-light production cruiser brands) for extended coastal and offshore cruising, provided a few sensible limitations are observed. In order to stimulate good discussion, permit me to make three black-and-white statements: (1) there is no such thing as a generic "bluewater boat"; (2) medium-light designs make better allround tradewind cruisers than heavy vessels; and (3) coastal cruising is more demanding of boat and crew than offshore passagemaking. (1 - "bluewater boats"?) After more than 30,000 NM of extended passaging on our Hunter Legend 43 "Rivendel II" over the past decade, I have come to the conclusion that there are no real "bluewater boats" (as a meaningful generic designation) but only "blue water cruising grounds". The famously blue waters of the Caribbean, the Bahamas, the Sea of Cortez, the South Pacific, The Whitsundays or The Mediterranean, i.e. the stuff of which most cruising dreams are made off, is not really to be found in higher latitude destinations such as the North Sea, the Baltics, the Sea of Japan, the Tasman Sea or the Southern Ocean where the water tends to be more of a greenish gray, if not decidedly black, appearance. Fortunately, nearly all popular blue water cruising grounds lie inside the Tradewind belts and can be safely explored with seaworthy, medium-light production boats, built and equipped for extended coastal and offshore cruising. Naturally, we should also recognize two important categories of special purpose oceangoing vessels, namely strong "green water" cruisers and fast ocean racers. Green water cruisers, often erroneously referred to as "bluewater boats", really shine in the higher latitudes. Although with the advent of newer composite materials, superstrong boats do not necessarily need to be very heavy, the vast majority of green water boats is nonetheless heavily built, mostly to inspire confidence and improve seakindliness. Unfortunately, as all of us who have collected too much "stuff" on board over the years know from personal experience, nothing kills upwind performance faster than excess weight. With regard to ocean racers: although we gradually appear to see more fast, lightweight cruisers (whether converted sleds or newly built J-boats, HC50s, etc.) in typical bluewater cruising grounds I don't have any personal experience to contribute with regard to cruising performance and limitations. (2 - tradewind sailing performance) Although many heavy green water cruisers frequently venture into the tradewind belts and are often a joy to to sail downwind their generally poor upwind performance almost invariably forces them into the higher latitudes in order to make their easting for the return legs. There their weight and seakindliness become a major advantage (especially if you are immune to circular arguments.....). By contrast, many Hunters, Catalinas and Beneteaus sail equally well upwind as downwind in the Trades and therefore are not only very much at home in these waters but often have little need to venture into higher latitudes, thus avoiding one of the most common causes for running into heavy weather and seas. The big question is, of course, can these vessels also safely carry you to these cruising grounds? As discussed in my earlier posts on offshore prepping of medium-light production cruisers the primary requirements for offshore passagemaking are proper hull/keel/rudder/mast construction, redundant systems, careful maintenance, a mentally/physically prepared crew and recognition of structural limitations (no hurricanes, no higher latitudes). (3 - coastal cruising versus offshore passagemaking) More often than not, the offshore passage between the mainland and our bluewater cruising ground (or vice versa) needs to be combined with a demanding coastal leg, starting or ending at relatively high latitudes. In fact, a frequently heard comment from circumnavigators is that the worst conditions of their entire voyage were encountered near the American coast.... Hunters, Beneteaus, Catelinas, etc. are often said to be primarily built for coastal cruising rather than to be up to the demands of offshore passagemaking. In line with the abovementioned experiences of circumnavigators and other long-range passagemakers, I fail to see the logic of such statements. Not only is the worst weather often encountered near the American coast but both coasts do have a nasty habit of turning into dangerous lee shores that require excellent upwind ability to keep clawing off while making many potential ports of refuge next to impossible to enter. Moreover, coastal cruising puts a premium on readiness of navigational systems and crew. A single equipment failure (unless backed up by proper system redundance) or a short moment of crew inattentiveness can send ship and crew to the bottom. Not surprisingly, many offshore sailors -- present company included -- profess to getting a bad case of the jitters when approaching an unknown coast at the end of a long passage. In short, if you have your vessel and crew well enough prepared to confidently cruise the higher latitudes of the US coast you are certainly ready to make offshore passages in the lower latitudes (give or take a few remaining technical preparations). Have fun! Flying Dutchman
