Greetings, Has anyone sailed a 18.5 or other small Hunter to the Bahamas from Florida? Any and all info or advise would be appreciated. Thanks Tom
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Ron
This is a Joke... Right???
I went to the photo album to be sure I knew what a 18.5 was... Are you nuts?? That thing is four feet longer than my old sunfish. There are a very few trailerable boats I would take off shore.. And that ain't one of them. Do yourself and the Coast Guard a favor and DON'T GO!
I went to the photo album to be sure I knew what a 18.5 was... Are you nuts?? That thing is four feet longer than my old sunfish. There are a very few trailerable boats I would take off shore.. And that ain't one of them. Do yourself and the Coast Guard a favor and DON'T GO!
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Jim Maroldo
OK...
Tom, this is June, not April 1st! You've GOT to be kiddiing! Either that or you're looking to be on the "Ripley's Believe it or Not" show! Jim Maroldo s/v: Lil' Wass Ett
Tom, this is June, not April 1st! You've GOT to be kiddiing! Either that or you're looking to be on the "Ripley's Believe it or Not" show! Jim Maroldo s/v: Lil' Wass Ett
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Edward L Smith
That trip has been made from
Ft Lauderdale several years back. The boy didn't know he couldn't and it was a 14 ft daysailer. Of course you understand the risks, don't you? It's your life. Now I might try if I had an escort of at least an H26. Don't let the old salts scare you. Most of them have done stupider things from time to time. That is, them that survived anyway. I have no idea what the Coast Guard will say when you deposit your Sail Plan. Fair Winds and Calm seas.
Ft Lauderdale several years back. The boy didn't know he couldn't and it was a 14 ft daysailer. Of course you understand the risks, don't you? It's your life. Now I might try if I had an escort of at least an H26. Don't let the old salts scare you. Most of them have done stupider things from time to time. That is, them that survived anyway. I have no idea what the Coast Guard will say when you deposit your Sail Plan. Fair Winds and Calm seas.
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Ron
Ed
I've done a lot of stupid things in my life, but not "stupider." That one takes the award for this week.
I've done a lot of stupid things in my life, but not "stupider." That one takes the award for this week.
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Clyde
Is This Trip Really Necessary????
The Gulf Stream is about 40 miles wide and it moves from east to west up the US coast to Europe as a result of the difference in heating and cooling on the surface of the earth. The Gulf Stream velocity varies from 5 knots in the center to less than one knot on the outer edges. The stream’s speed will also increase with a strong south wind. When crossing the stream you must allow for the drift to the north by steering your boat further south. Assume the average speed of the stream is about 2.5 kt. If you have a "Stink Pot" and it can cruise at 50 kts per hour from Port Everglades to Bimini, then the trip would be about 47.4 NM and you would plot a course of about two and one half miles south of your destination. A Hunter 18.5 has a theoretical hull speed of: Hull Speed = (1.34) * (15.5)^0.5=5.28knots It could theoretically take you about nine hours of sailing with a theoretical northern drift of about 22 NM, assuming you could sail at your hull speed for the entire open ocean voyage and the Gulf Stream's northern drift was a constant 2.5 kt and did not vary. You would have to plot a course of about twenty-two and half miles south of your destination if you use your compass and charts. You could use your hand held GPS for navigation, but what if it fails? How much drift? What's the boat speed? What was my last known position? How far am I from land? Your hand held VHF is line of sight only, are you going to hope some other vessel will hear your message and send it on to the Coast Guard? Open ocean crossing can be done by small sailing vessels, it has been done before. One of the cardinal rules in ocean crossing is weather. A small sailing vessel must wait for the perfect weather window of opportunity before he can attempt to do an ocean crossing. Do you have enough time to wait for the perfect weather window? How about when you reach the Bahama, do you have enough spare time to wait for a weather window to open up for your return trip? Your theoretical hull speed is just slightly faster then the Gulf Stream's maximum speed! You could be out on the ocean sailing, but with ZERO ground speed! Doing an open ocean crossing in a small craft can be done, you have to be really good, the weather has to be perfect, and you have to have been born under a lucky star. Are you that good? Do you feel lucky? If you are going to sail in Florida, sail the ICW. There are beautiful beaches and state parks where a Hunter 18.5 can anchor away from most other boats. Recreational sailing should be fun and not a life or death adventure. You ask for advice, that my advice. Fair Winds. Clyde
The Gulf Stream is about 40 miles wide and it moves from east to west up the US coast to Europe as a result of the difference in heating and cooling on the surface of the earth. The Gulf Stream velocity varies from 5 knots in the center to less than one knot on the outer edges. The stream’s speed will also increase with a strong south wind. When crossing the stream you must allow for the drift to the north by steering your boat further south. Assume the average speed of the stream is about 2.5 kt. If you have a "Stink Pot" and it can cruise at 50 kts per hour from Port Everglades to Bimini, then the trip would be about 47.4 NM and you would plot a course of about two and one half miles south of your destination. A Hunter 18.5 has a theoretical hull speed of: Hull Speed = (1.34) * (15.5)^0.5=5.28knots It could theoretically take you about nine hours of sailing with a theoretical northern drift of about 22 NM, assuming you could sail at your hull speed for the entire open ocean voyage and the Gulf Stream's northern drift was a constant 2.5 kt and did not vary. You would have to plot a course of about twenty-two and half miles south of your destination if you use your compass and charts. You could use your hand held GPS for navigation, but what if it fails? How much drift? What's the boat speed? What was my last known position? How far am I from land? Your hand held VHF is line of sight only, are you going to hope some other vessel will hear your message and send it on to the Coast Guard? Open ocean crossing can be done by small sailing vessels, it has been done before. One of the cardinal rules in ocean crossing is weather. A small sailing vessel must wait for the perfect weather window of opportunity before he can attempt to do an ocean crossing. Do you have enough time to wait for the perfect weather window? How about when you reach the Bahama, do you have enough spare time to wait for a weather window to open up for your return trip? Your theoretical hull speed is just slightly faster then the Gulf Stream's maximum speed! You could be out on the ocean sailing, but with ZERO ground speed! Doing an open ocean crossing in a small craft can be done, you have to be really good, the weather has to be perfect, and you have to have been born under a lucky star. Are you that good? Do you feel lucky? If you are going to sail in Florida, sail the ICW. There are beautiful beaches and state parks where a Hunter 18.5 can anchor away from most other boats. Recreational sailing should be fun and not a life or death adventure. You ask for advice, that my advice. Fair Winds. Clyde
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Edward L Smith
When are you?
I think I would have a spinnaker and time my run for a high below the Bahamas so that I could sail downwind. Have you sailed offshore much. I hope you are acclimated to 6 foot or better waves. Take a good VHF and GPS and plenty of spare batteries. Plan what you will do for calm periods, they do happen. But think of the 'RUSH' when you make it! Personally, I don't think I would do it, but I wouldn't want to squelch your ambitions. I did some off the beach sailing in the Gulf off Padre Island near Corpus Christi and it was fun with a Hunter 170. By the way, Have you sailed out of sight of shore. That is a weird feeling the first time. Do pay attention to Ron and Clyde as they seem more level headed than I sound. Fair Winds.
I think I would have a spinnaker and time my run for a high below the Bahamas so that I could sail downwind. Have you sailed offshore much. I hope you are acclimated to 6 foot or better waves. Take a good VHF and GPS and plenty of spare batteries. Plan what you will do for calm periods, they do happen. But think of the 'RUSH' when you make it! Personally, I don't think I would do it, but I wouldn't want to squelch your ambitions. I did some off the beach sailing in the Gulf off Padre Island near Corpus Christi and it was fun with a Hunter 170. By the way, Have you sailed out of sight of shore. That is a weird feeling the first time. Do pay attention to Ron and Clyde as they seem more level headed than I sound. Fair Winds.
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Ron
Calm Down Ron
Sorry if I came on a bit strong... Have you checked the capsize screen for this boat? 2.43 is not good. It's not even a little good. If you want to sail OS, get a different boat. As some have mentioned, smaller boats have made the trip. The Pardeys sailed around the world in a 24 footer. But but but, their boat was built for it. Yours was not. Please, don't go. We'd miss you around here... Ron/KA5HZV
Sorry if I came on a bit strong... Have you checked the capsize screen for this boat? 2.43 is not good. It's not even a little good. If you want to sail OS, get a different boat. As some have mentioned, smaller boats have made the trip. The Pardeys sailed around the world in a 24 footer. But but but, their boat was built for it. Yours was not. Please, don't go. We'd miss you around here... Ron/KA5HZV
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Rick Webb
It Is Not Just Getting There
I was talking to a freind of mine who makes the trip frequently and his thought was "It is a very expensive place to visit. It is very reasonable if you bring your own provisions but if you have the means to live on the local economy you also probably own a large enough boat to make the trip"
I was talking to a freind of mine who makes the trip frequently and his thought was "It is a very expensive place to visit. It is very reasonable if you bring your own provisions but if you have the means to live on the local economy you also probably own a large enough boat to make the trip"
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