We've done lots of inshore racing.....

[Alan]

...and had plenty of success at it. Next year we're planning to do the Marion/Bermuda Race. This will be our first experience at offshore racing. We think that we've got a really good crew and a fast boat. There will be lots of planning and preparation, but we cannot anticipate things we just don't know about. Anyone with any gems of advice for this race?

 

[Darrel]

ORC Regs

Alan, The Notice of Race will probably spell out the need to have the boat ORC compliant.Lots of safety gear, EBRIB, Life Raft, MOD PolePFD's etc. Lots of equipment will be required. Some you can rent, others you will need to purchase. I recently received the invitation and Notice of Race for the Newport to Bermuda Race and I believe a copy of the Regs was included. You may be able to get a head start by visiting the web site for the Race and downlaod a copy to assist in your planning process. There will be required inspections of your boat and all gear that need to be documented as part of the entry process.Radio, communications and weather report receiving equipment above normal inshore equipment can also be required.Hope this helps with your thought starters and best of luck in your preparation and ultimate goal of participation in the race.Darrel

 

[Andy Howard]

Marion/Bermuda Race

I'm looking forward to following your progress both in preparation and execution. It will be nice to see a Hunter do well as I know you will.My other hobby is deep sea fishing so I've spent some quality time just floating around in the Gulf Stream. It really is a river in the middle of an ocean. I'd spend some time getting familar with your "river crossing". I would guess that the race is won or lost with how you play the eddys.The link has some good background info.

 

[Cliff Ruckstuhl]

The Mac

Doing the MAC even tough it is on the Great Lakes the consider it a off shore race. With this we need to have a boat load of emergency gear. MOB Pole, Bilge pump to be operated in and out of the cabin, emergency rudder system, Lift raft just to name a few. The list has stopped me from doing the race on my 28.5. I end up doing it as crew. One thing to consider, not sure how the salt water will efect it. We do not take any drinking water. We have a filter and make it up as we go. We do save allot of weight because of not having to carry to carry 20-30 gallons of water of drinking water.Cliff H 28.5 "Red Dog"

 

[Alan]

Thanks for the ...

...safety gear list. We already have all of those things. I was thinking more about 40ft swells, 50kt winds, the Gulf Stream, and that sort of thing. We've raced plenty in 30kts, but the biggest swells on the Sound rarely get to 10ft. Sailing in a seaway where the horizon disappears in big swells for a large part of the time is something that I just don't have any experience with. Also, I'm thinking about what it must be like to bend on a trysail with 35-40kts blowing. We can carry our main until 35kts, but we've never had to go to a trysail. I'm alotting 2gals of water per day per man. 9 man crew for 6days equals 108 gallons of water. At 8lbs per gal = 864lbs. Maybe I'd better get a watermaker.