Preparation
.. of the crew & the boat. Think through every possible stress situation (weather, seas, mechanical breakdown, crew health, etc) and plan for them with your crew. Crossing the Gulf Stream can get rough, and the shoals in the Bahamas can snag the unwary. While the basic structure of the boat might be certified for offshore use, you should spend some time to "bullet-proof" your systems for safe, efficient operation under all possible conditions. Fundamentally, start by making sure that everything is in top working order. There are many cruising books & websites that offer advice. For the crew, mental & physical preparation is essential. Generally, the crew is the initial limiting factor offshore. Do some carefull departure, enroute (both ways!), and destination planning to factor routing, weather, seas, currents, and coastal piloting. File a Float Plan with friends at departure & destination point. The USCG considers "offshore" for Search & Rescue purposes as pretty much anything beyond 20 nmi out or 300 ft depth. They have a pretty good record of successful rescue if they can effect it within 6 hours from notification -- basically coastal, in-shore incidents that can be handled by smaller, more numerous boats. These boats are limited by a "30" rule -- if the sum of windspeed and sea height exceeds 30, they won't go out with most boats. That also means they have a good idea to know where to start looking (e.g., an accurate distress report &/or a Float Plan). Offshore and/or heavy weather Search & Rescue is much more difficult & involves scarce assets (e.g., aircraft, larger cutters, commercial ships, etc.). In short, when you venture out beyond the coast, you can count upon being VERY alone. --RonD
