Dear HUNTER Owner, Ankara, April 16,2006 I am Saygýn O. MERDINLER, retired Lt. Col. From Turkish Air Force, born in Ankara 1946, married with S. Kamuran MERDINLER. We were dreaming to have a sailing boat and to make a circumnavigation since several years. Following my retiremen, I have continue to work with the companies in Defense Industry 10 years. In this period to realize this dream we saved money and reading several books and studying for long distance offshore sailing. In January 2004 we have found a second hand HUNTER 340 sailboat, build in year 2000, from internet site Yachtworld. We continue to discuss with broker via internet and recently decided to see that boat named DANIELA moored in Monty’s Marina, Coconat Grove in MIAMI. We fly from Ankara to Miami with my wife in February 9, 2004. In ten days we have check the boat, made a trysail and then do the necessary procedures to take over and changed name Daniela to TAY. After buying the boat, our plan was to make Atlantic ocean passage and via Mediterranian and Egean sea to sail to Turkey. But we did not have any experience on offshore sailing, even night and day continious sailing. Also we were not familiar with the electronic navigation systems and equipments. In the past our total experience on sailing was two weeks only with the rental sailboats in Turkey. So we planned as a first step, to sail some period in Florida coast to exercise, to prepare ourself and to get used to the boat and also to get familiar offshore and the ocean sailing. . When we prepare the boat and ourselves for ocean passage, May 15, 2004 we started from Florida and first stop was Bermuda, after then Azors, Portugal, Gibraltar, Spain, Ýtaly, Greece and finaly came to Turkey in September 24, 2004 by passing Atlantic Ocean, Mediterranian,and Egean seas. We finalize this long distance sailing, nearly 6000 nm. with only two sailors (me and my wife), our roote was from west to east of the northern part of Atlantic which called the harder part to pass, with the 34 feet pleasure boat. This long and tough sailing was a great adventure and experience for us, with HUNTER. We loved HUNTER more and more in every mile. In the other hand, during this passage; we did not have a Life raft, SSB radio, Windwane, Solar panels, Wind generator, some extra and special Sail sets (as Storm jib, Spinnaker) because of our short budget. So it was a great success for us to finalize this route. During whole trip we did not have a chance to met anyother HUNTER on the see, so we always feel our selves alone. Now as a second phase, we are planning to make a circum navigation starting from Turkey, continue to the west, to compleate an Atlantic, Pasific and Indian ocean passages, via the Red sea and Suez canal back to Turkey again. After summarizing our history we have couple questions: 1. Do you know any other HUNTER 340, who did the same route with us in the past? 2. What do you think about, if we can compleate the necessary equipment and devices what we need, is it technically possible to compleate the circum navigation with this HUNTER 340 without doing any other reinforcement and alterations? We will be so glad if you can give an answer to these questions. Those will be a good guide for us to plan our feature. Yours sincerely Saygýn O. MERDÝNLER & Kamuran S: MERDÝNLER Sailboat TAY YALIKAVAK MARINA BODRUM - TURKEY Cell: +90 544 843 45 40 smerdinler@yahoo.com skmerdinler@yahoo.com
Sailing from Miami to Turkey
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You Are Your Own Best Expert
...it seems to me. You have already sailed in a variety of conditions and it would seem you are the best judge of what you need in the way of equipment. I think your list of electrical generating, safety and communications seems right. As to the boat, I would contact Hunter by e-mail and tell them what you plan and what modifications they would suggest. There have been reports of several 34's and one 340 doing some long distance cruising, but I think most of them are 'out there' doing it rather than monitoring these boards. Sounds like a great adventure! My congradulations. Rick D.
...it seems to me. You have already sailed in a variety of conditions and it would seem you are the best judge of what you need in the way of equipment. I think your list of electrical generating, safety and communications seems right. As to the boat, I would contact Hunter by e-mail and tell them what you plan and what modifications they would suggest. There have been reports of several 34's and one 340 doing some long distance cruising, but I think most of them are 'out there' doing it rather than monitoring these boards. Sounds like a great adventure! My congradulations. Rick D.
Mods and route
I too plan on circling the globe with my 376. The equipment you listed is a start. I would also replace all hatches and sky-light glass with stronger/thicker glass. I would also make sure I have as much (no less then 400 amps) batter capasity as possible. Also make sure you have at least 3 bidge pumps with some kind of alarm to inform you that they are turning on. The more the better and the alarm is so you will know you have a problem while you still have time to fix it...not after the pumps burnout. Also take a spare part for everything from fresh water pump to alternator to fuses/wire/connectors. Also learn to diagnose electrical and machanical problems because you will have them. Don't forget paper charts for your entire trip and a backup GPS (handheld). Also plan on taking extra water and fuel because hunter boats (under 44') don't have enough tankage so you will have to plan on where you will store that water and fuel (you will be at sea a few times for 30+ days without land but you already know that). Another great safety tool is the EPERB. Now...for your route. It might be a good idea to change your direction and run with the trade winds. If I were you, I would sail back across the Atlantic to the Panima canal and then island hop along the south Pacific Islands to the Indian sea and then through the red sea to the Med sea. Reason is, you will not be fighting the wind and current going that direction. As my mentor tells me "Sailing is long-time tradition. Everything has been tried and if it worked, they would still be doing it." Most take the trade-winds route. You made good time crossing the Atlantic last time. Sounds like you missed the gales. If so, don't expect to always miss them so be prepared.
I too plan on circling the globe with my 376. The equipment you listed is a start. I would also replace all hatches and sky-light glass with stronger/thicker glass. I would also make sure I have as much (no less then 400 amps) batter capasity as possible. Also make sure you have at least 3 bidge pumps with some kind of alarm to inform you that they are turning on. The more the better and the alarm is so you will know you have a problem while you still have time to fix it...not after the pumps burnout. Also take a spare part for everything from fresh water pump to alternator to fuses/wire/connectors. Also learn to diagnose electrical and machanical problems because you will have them. Don't forget paper charts for your entire trip and a backup GPS (handheld). Also plan on taking extra water and fuel because hunter boats (under 44') don't have enough tankage so you will have to plan on where you will store that water and fuel (you will be at sea a few times for 30+ days without land but you already know that). Another great safety tool is the EPERB. Now...for your route. It might be a good idea to change your direction and run with the trade winds. If I were you, I would sail back across the Atlantic to the Panima canal and then island hop along the south Pacific Islands to the Indian sea and then through the red sea to the Med sea. Reason is, you will not be fighting the wind and current going that direction. As my mentor tells me "Sailing is long-time tradition. Everything has been tried and if it worked, they would still be doing it." Most take the trade-winds route. You made good time crossing the Atlantic last time. Sounds like you missed the gales. If so, don't expect to always miss them so be prepared.
SECOND THOUGHTS
I would think twice and more about crossing the Atlantic in a Hunter product. There is a Yacht Transport cargo ship that operates out of south Fla that will take you to the Med. Cost wise, it is the best deal around. This is the link for that ship RD
I would think twice and more about crossing the Atlantic in a Hunter product. There is a Yacht Transport cargo ship that operates out of south Fla that will take you to the Med. Cost wise, it is the best deal around. This is the link for that ship RD
Hello Capt'n Bob
Please re-read the original post. Saygýn already sailed from Florida to Turkey. He is now looking for anybody that has made a circumnavigation with a Hunter 340. Thanks for the link anyway
Please re-read the original post. Saygýn already sailed from Florida to Turkey. He is now looking for anybody that has made a circumnavigation with a Hunter 340. Thanks for the link anyway
You are an inspiration
Col, I was highly impressed with your spirit of adventure. You and your wife must be very proud of your ability to take on a seemingly difficult project and pull it off successfully. Well done! I have sailed up to Bermuda from the BVI's and can only offer an opinion based upon that short voyage. Having said that, I think the suggestion to have back-up parts for everything is essential. Include the auto pilot and alternator plus the other suggestions. I personally would not attempt any extended sailing without a high quality water maker, and a method to charge the batteries without using your engine. That model of boat has very limited tankage and it becomes impractical to rig enough gerry cans to the lifelines for sufficient back up. You will find that when you are in the hot and humid climates that you will consume a lot of water. Most definitely, you will need the SSB, life raft and EPIRB. Check out this site for an example of a single female circumnavigating from west to east non stop. She is really a remarkable woman: http://www.avivachallenge.com. My sincere best wishes to you both, John Richard s/v Jack's Place
Col, I was highly impressed with your spirit of adventure. You and your wife must be very proud of your ability to take on a seemingly difficult project and pull it off successfully. Well done! I have sailed up to Bermuda from the BVI's and can only offer an opinion based upon that short voyage. Having said that, I think the suggestion to have back-up parts for everything is essential. Include the auto pilot and alternator plus the other suggestions. I personally would not attempt any extended sailing without a high quality water maker, and a method to charge the batteries without using your engine. That model of boat has very limited tankage and it becomes impractical to rig enough gerry cans to the lifelines for sufficient back up. You will find that when you are in the hot and humid climates that you will consume a lot of water. Most definitely, you will need the SSB, life raft and EPIRB. Check out this site for an example of a single female circumnavigating from west to east non stop. She is really a remarkable woman: http://www.avivachallenge.com. My sincere best wishes to you both, John Richard s/v Jack's Place
dockwise transport
just had reply for cost of shipping my hunter 37 from florida to france/med/ came out at 16000$ /tax into uk is 1.7% import duty, and vat on cost of boat shipping and duty@17.5%........paid 55k for boat so...55k+16Kx1.7%=sum sum x 17.5%=amount payable on entry into uk,not cheap eh!,,,,,,this is shipping with dockwise ,anybody want to sail it over for me!!!florida to uk
just had reply for cost of shipping my hunter 37 from florida to france/med/ came out at 16000$ /tax into uk is 1.7% import duty, and vat on cost of boat shipping and duty@17.5%........paid 55k for boat so...55k+16Kx1.7%=sum sum x 17.5%=amount payable on entry into uk,not cheap eh!,,,,,,this is shipping with dockwise ,anybody want to sail it over for me!!!florida to uk
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