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diff --git a/saved-articles/so you want to sail around the world.txt b/saved-articles/so you want to sail around the world.txt new file mode 100755 index 0000000..ac8bf5d --- /dev/null +++ b/saved-articles/so you want to sail around the world.txt @@ -0,0 +1,662 @@ +--- +title: So You Want To Sail Around The World +date: 2008-08-30T20:37:58Z +source: http://www.webmoxie.com/seawind/dream/index.htm#sails now: https://web.archive.org/web/20090311015130/http://www.webmoxie.com/seawind/dream/index.htm +tags: guide, nature, ocean, research, sailing, travel + +--- + + The Dream +--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +So you want to sail around the world? Or sail to fabulous Tahiti? Or to +the glamorous West Indies? Do you dream of following puffy cottonballs +of tradewind clouds for day after day over seas of unbelievable colors +with the wind always astern and always just right for reeling off 100 or +more miles a day? Would you like to pit your wit and stamina against the +sea, and emerge triumphant and yet strangely humble before the mighty +forces previously raging? Do you dream of snug, palm-lined anchorages +where you can fall of the boat, swim ashore and bask on white coral +sands? All of this can be yours as seen by the long voyages taken but +people of all backgrounds and training in a surprising variety of small +boats. + +I, too, had these dreams and they burned with enough fire to enable me +to realize them. Recently, I completed a circumnavigation of the world, +largely singlehanded, in *Apogee*, a 30 foot SEAWIND ketch. An average +sailor before starting, I had dreamed and saved enough to buy and outfit +*Apogee* with a bit left over for the voyage. *Apogee* followed the +usual tradewind route around the world, and the voyage was unusual in +only two respects. *Apogee* is the first fiberglass boat to sail around +the world, although I had no idea that this would be the case when I +started. In addition, *Apogee* is one of the few yachts that has the +very dubious distinction of being attacked by a school of whales. + +In the middle of the Indian Ocean, 700 miles from the nearest land, +*Apogee* was sailing herself comfortably under twin jibs. I was just +finishing the dishes - doing them in the cockpit as usual. I had gone +below to fetch a dishtowel when I heard a tremendous bang, and *Apogee* +shuddered from keel to masthead. What, I wondered, could be out here so +far from land? Looking in the wake after mounting the cockpit, I saw a +dark shape in the water astern. My first though was that it was a +massive tree trunk, but then the shape moved and I saw that it was a +whale! Before this really had time to sink in, there was another +shuddering bang - sounding drumlike with the reverberations in the +fiberglass - and only then did it become frighteningly obvious that +*Apogee* was being attacked by a school of whales. + +What could I possibly do? Was there any way to drive them away? I had no +gun and only one small fish spear that would only antagonize them, I +suspected. Soapy dish water, oil, detergent - was there anything I could +pur into the water to deter them? Should I prepare to abandon ship? + +These thoughts ran through my mind as I stood in the cockpit too +frightened to go below, watching three or four whales swimming abreast +of *Apogee*. And as I watched, steaming through the seas came a dozen +more bearing down on *Apogee* like torpedoes, until the water all around +was filled with fins and blunt noses poking out to see what kind of +creature *Apogee* was. I could have scratched the backs of the nearest +ones. + +Again a terrific reverberating bang, and I thought about the layers of +fiberglass which were taking the beating -- perhaps it could stand +several bashings, but what if 20 or so of the brutes decided to line up +and bang away at the same spot on the hull like machine gun bullets -- +what then? + +I retained sufficient presence of mind to estimate their length as +slightly more than one-half of *Apogee's*, small perhaps as whales go, +but sufficiently massive to prevent me from going below to rummage my +camera out of its locker. After looking around at the whales (would they +be kind to a defenseless life raft and dinghy?) and they looking at me +with their pigs' eyes for perhaps 20 minutes or so, they gave up to my +utmost relief and gratitude. When finally certain that the school was no +longer following, I went below to see if there was any damage. +Everything seemed OK. *Apogee* brought me safely through another crisis! + +After thinking it over, I suspect that the first encounter happened when +*Apogee* hit a sleeping whale, because it seemed to be stunned and +rolling with a motion unusual in whales, when I first sighted it a boat +length behind. There is no doubt that the other two were deliberate +rammings. The limited reference material aboard suggested that the +whales were either false killer whales or pilot whales. + +This is the type of ocurrence that I hope all yachts can avoid, but it +made a vivid impression on me which will always be filed along with the +other pleasant memories of the trip. To help others so that they may +share in these more pleasant experiences, I offer some notes and +comments on my voyage, some observations and preferences born of that +voyage, and most of all, encouragement to try it yourself! + +What kinds of people make long-distance voyagers? Uniting them all is +love of the sea, sailing and adventure. Herculean strength is not +necessary as shown by the singlehanded voyages undertaken and completed +by women. A certain determination and stamina count for more than +strength alone. Handiness with tools is a help since much of the +maintenance of the boat must be done by the crew. But most important is +the *will* to do it. With this, you can learn the techniques of boat +handling, upkeep, navigation, and the myriad other areas where nobody's +expertise is complete. + +My own prior experience was not unusual among the members of the +cruising community. Never having set foot on a sailboat until ten years +before starting out, I gained cruising experience on other people's +boats as well as on two of my own before *Apogee*. When I left Virginia +in June 1963 bound for the Virgin Islands, I had never been offshore +overnight, or even offshore by myself, or even taken a sight in +"earnest." Now 5 years, 40,000 miles and nearly 400 anchorages later, I +feel that this was sufficient experience but on the meager side. The +more coastline cruising experience you can get, the better. + +What else does it take? A suitable boat, good sails, engine and gear, +good planning, and the inevitable factors of time and money. These are +but hurdles to be overcome if you have the will and determination to +voyage. Perhaps you will find this booklet helpful in getting started. + + + + + +* * * * * + +[](/web/20090311015130/http://www.webmoxie.com/seawind/dream/img/15.jpg)\ + Boat +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +What boat is suitable for long distance cruising? A glance around the +cruising ports of Papeete, Panama, Fiji, Durban and the West Indies will +offer a tremendous variety of sizes, types, constructions, and designs, +most of which have crossed an ocean. + +Having owned and lived aboard *Apogee*, a stock fiberglass ketch for 6 +years, I can unhesitantingly recommend fiberglass construction for any +long distance cruiser. Steel boats may be stronger and perhaps less +expensive, wooden boats more pleasing esthetically, but reduced +maintenance and the freedom from worry more than outweigh the advantages +of other types of construction. Rust or teredos are no problem if the +bottom paint is scratched, and when the nearby slipway is weeks or +months away, such a problem can be a nagging irritation.*Apogee* has +been a source of relief during her varied experiences on primitive +slipways, or upright on the beach with steadying lines from the +masthead, and during the whale attack and grounding. + +Boat size and crew size are closely related. the more crew you have, the +larger the boat to carry them comfortably, and the more work the boat +demands in handling and maintenance. Attempts to reduce the +proportionate share in money and effort by having a large crew aboard +have rarely been permanent. Different objectives, different personal +tastes, and the daily friction of living together in a confined space +have led to frequent and upsetting crew changes at major ports. +Experience shows that the most harmonious crews are a family, two people +(perhaps man and wife) or the ultimate escape from crew problems - the +singlehander. A good assumption for planning is that at one time or +another, you will have to sail and maintain the boat singlehanded. + +Basically, the larger the boat, the more comfortable you will be, both +at sea and at port. In port, there is more living space and stowage +space for items that contibute to comfort, and at sea, the motion will +tend to be easier, very important in voyages of two or three weeks. On +the other hand, initial investment, the work involved in boat handling +and maintenance, and the running costs will increase with the larger +boat. + +Initial investment and maintenance aside, the recent singlehanded +Transatlantic race has shown that boats of close to 60 feet can be +*raced* by one man under far more severe conditions than the cruising +yacht will normally encounter. However, all of the largest entries were +light displacement racing machines, hardly designed for comfort as a +floating home, and the skippers were mostly active young men who were +keyed up to month of maximum effort. + +Although *Apogee* is 30 feet and about 6.5 tons, I feel that one person +(a singlehander or a husband of a husband-and-wife team) can sail and +maintain about 40 to 45 feet if the displacement does not rise above 9 +tons or so, and if the hull is fiberglass. + + + + + +* * * * * + +[](/web/20090311015130/http://www.webmoxie.com/seawind/dream/img/9.jpg)\ + Engine +----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +An engine on a short handed boat is like an extra crew member. More +islands are available to the boat which can power through tricky passes. +Electric lighting, a boon in the tropics, is convenient with an engine. +With sufficient fuel, an engine will make a more pleasant time of the +deadly monotonous calm periods encountered on nearly every long trip. +Entering harbors at night becomes easy with an engine, saving an +annoying night jilling back and forth at the harbor entrance. It may +even avoid a possible catastrophe, With all these advantages, nearly all +the world cruisers have engines. + +On the other hand, an engine can be smelly, a nuisance, and may require +what seems like excessive time spent in maintenance. If the intended +cruise lies away from good repair facilities and easy parts +availability, annoying time delays may ensue. I have known boats to be +practically immobilized with the loss of an engine - no running water, +food spoiling in the refrigerator, no lights, and no cooking facilities. +Complete reliance on the engine for necessities and comforts is myopic +on long distance cruises. + +There is a choice between gasoline and diesel engines. By all means try +to have a reliable diesel engine in preference to gasoline. The only +disadvantages of the diesel that I can think of are increased initial +investment, and larger size and weight, but the latter problem can +usually be overcome with modern diesels. Apogee was equipped with a +Graymarine gasoline engine, and the basic engine has given no problems - +in fact the head has never been taken off in the 6y2 years since +installation. Nonetheless, I have spent many hours in the hot engine +compartment doing maintenance and repair on all the external equipment - +electrical system, fuel system and water system. For extended cruising +take spares for as many parts as possible: fuel pump, carburetor, coil, +plugs, generator, starter, water pump or their diesel equivalents. + +A hand-start capability is a distinct advantage. Sooner or later, the +batteries may fail, and there is nothing more frustrating than not being +able to start the engine when it is needed. + +Finally, I do not think it wise to put ultimate dependence in the +engine. With confidence under sail, tricky conditions of maneuvering, +like short tacking through a narrow channel, or sailing to a dock, will +not cause confusion and panic if the engine stops or refuses to start. + + + + + +* * * * * + +[](/web/20090311015130/http://www.webmoxie.com/seawind/dream/img/19.jpg)\ + Sails +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +Dacron sails are wonderful for cruising as well as racing. *Apogee* has +sailed around the world with the original suit of Ratsey and Lapthorn +sails supplied with the boat. There are, to be sure, many repairs +dotting their once pristine surfaces, and their set is perhaps not good +enough for serious racing. Chafing of the seams has resulted in nearly +completely restitching, by machine when a sailmaker was available, and +very tediously by hand when not. Many boats carry a hand sewing machine +for sail work as well as the many sewing jobs that occur above and below +decks. Chafe and sunlight are the chief enemies of Dacron. Careful +attention to chafe comes naturally. Sunlight, however, is the more +insidious enemy because it is progressive and because large areas of the +sail may be affected. *Apogee* has three new panels in the mainsail +primarily because the sail cover was left off on the long voyages under +twins when the main was not in use. *Apogee* started the voyage with 8 +sails: main, mizzen, two identical working jibs (which also served as +the twins), a \#2 genoa, storm jib, mizzen staysail and spinnaker. All +of them are currently in use. I would now substitute a drifter for a +spinnaker as being a more useful sail under light cruising conditions. +In New Zealand, I added a spare mizzen without battens and with +provisions for reefing. Less than a month old, that mizzen rendered +excellent service in a four day storm just after leaving, which *Apogee* +rode out hove-to under jib and mizzen, then storm jib and reefed mizzen, +and finally mizzen, then storm jib and reefed mizzen, and finally under +bare poles for one of these days. + + + + + +* * * * * + +[](/web/20090311015130/http://www.webmoxie.com/seawind/dream/img/20.jpg) +\ + Fitting Out, Provisioning and Cooking + +In fitting out a yacht for long distance voyaging, safety should be the +first consideration. Like the cautious man who wears a belt and +suspenders, it is worthwhile considering two ways of doing the important +things, such as carrying sail, starting the engine, navigating and +emergency procedures. If not belt and suspenders, at least make sure +that the belt is heavy duty. Items for convenience and comfort should +take second place in the case of conflict. For example, Apogee carried +heavier tackle than normal for a boat of her size - 50 fathoms of 5/16" +chain, 50 fathoms of 3/4" nylon rope, a 75 lb. fisherman anchor, and 40 +lb. and 22 lb. Danforth anchors. Normal anchoring called for the use of +the chain and the larger Danforth. Without a winch, getting all that +weight back aboard was sometimes a real chore, especially if anchored .n +10 fathoms or more. I felt much safer going ashore or in sleeping at +night knowing that Apogee had a firm grip on the bottom. Only when I was +careless about anchoring did Apogee break free, and then only 3 times in +nearly 400 anchorages, each time with no serious consequences. Two short +wave receivers and a chronometer-watch formed my belt-and-suspenders for +accurate time. Two sextants, one being plastic, provided the same safety +for taking sights. I debated a long time whether to carry a marine +radiotelephone, and indeed I haven't missed one, except for those few +occasions when it could have been useful socially. It is very annoying +to arrive back where you have tied the dinghy, only to find the damed +thing floating deflated on the surface like a huge skin. Rubber dinghies +are fine for relatively protected anchorages where facilities exist for +handling them. Although more difficult to sweat aboard and stow, a wood +or fiberglass dinghy will prove much more reliable over the years. An +outboard motor may make pleasant shopping or sightseeing if you are +willing to stow and service it. Kerosene, although not as convenient to +use as bottled gas or electric- ity, has served for all cooking and some +lighting throughout the entire voyage. It is cheap, available in the +most primitive places, and Primus parts for the stove are easy to find. +Bottled gas has several advantages: better control of the flame, +possibility of having a refrigerator, very little mess, and infrequent +refilling. However, fittings for the gas bottles are not the same all +over the world, I understand, and the safety factor is reduced. It is +surprising and perhaps inconceivable to those who have never been on a +long cruise, the amount of time and effort and dreaming that is spent on +things to eat and drink. In warm weather, far from the nearest +refrigerator, one can get the most compelling thirst for an icy cold +beer with the drops of water streaming down the sides of the glass. In +cold weather, the same yearning may be for a sizzling steak with all the +trimmings. The fullfilment of dreams like this were, alas, never carried +aboard Apogee. Much has been written about provisioning small yachts for +long passages and so much depends on whether the boat has reliable +refrigeration or a well insulated and capacious ice box. Perhaps the +only thing I can add is a simple recipe for fresh bread, not requiring +an oven- This recipe has been passed from boat to boat and has been in +constant use aboard Apogee ever since I learned of it. The bread is made +in a pressure cooker and the recipe calls for a cup and a half of sea +water. A tablespoon of sugar, and a like amount of dried yeast are +melted in the water, then four cups of plain flour are added and stirred +well. No kneading is necessary. The pressure cooker is well greased and +floured, though a heavy saucepan would do as well since the pressure +valve is left open. The dough is put into the pressure cooker and with +the lid left on, is left in a warm place for two hours to rise, then +cooked on a low flame on top of the stove for half an hour. The +half-cooked loaf is re- moved from the cooker, replaced top-side down +and cooked for a further half hour. Fresh bread is delicious, and has +never lasted more than two days be- cause the temptation is to eat it +all at one sitting. Much has been written about adequate water supplies. +For long voyages, an adequate minimum is 1/2 gallon per man per day. In +fact, with very little care, two of us existed on 5 gallons a week. +Thus, the tank capac- ity of the normal cruising boat will prove +adequate for most voyages. Keep a spare jerrycan or two full of water +for emergencies and if the boat has a pressure water system, turn it +off, and use hand pumps. A salt water pump in the galley will make it +easy to supplement the fresh water supply and is easy to install. + + + + + +* * * * * + +Navigation +---------- + +Ocean voyaging depends on celestial navigation, but its difficulty has +been overrated. The most important thing is to learn one method of sight +reduction and learn it well! Errors in arithmetic are easy to make on a +rolling boat if one is tired, but with a standard and well practiced +system, these errors are more easily traced. Most small boat navigators, +including myself, use the Air Navigation Tables (H.O. 249) and the +Nautical Almanac. General accuracy with sun sights is normally within +five miles, although if sea conditions are rough and the sun is playing +hide-and-seek, I triple this amount for safety, providing there is no +other way of error estimation. On long voyages, I took a daily round of +three sun sights (weather permitting) and plotted her position at local +noon. I have used star sights only near landfalls and on difficult +passages among low islands or reefs, as in the Tuamotus. + +It is in the coastwise passages and short hops between islands that the +greatest navigational dangers occur. Having crossed an ocean or two, one +tends to get overconfident when faced with an overnight sail. This +overconfidence led to a near disaster for Apogee in Fiji. Because I was +unaware of currents, and because I thought that breakers would be easy +to spot in the moonlight, Apogee ran onto a weather reef and pounded for +an hour and a half before I was lucky enough to get her off unaided. The +moderate damage sustained, and the relatively easy repairs were a good +demonstration of the strength of fiberglass, and of Apogee's sturdy +construction. No doubt steel would have survived, but a wooden boat +would have suffered far more damage, I feel. + + + + + +* * * * * + +Freak Occurances and Heavy Weather + +In the hundreds of thousands of miles sailed each year by small boats, +there will naturally be some freak occurances. Waterspouts have been +sighted and even sailed through. Swordfish have attacked yachts as +opposed to game fishermen. Whales although normally pacific, can cause +damage accidentally or intentionally. However, few well-found yachts +have perished without good possible causes: hurricane force winds, heavy +steamer traffic, or owner's health in the case of singlehanders. + +It is difficult for me to write about heavy weather, because I have been +fortunate enough to avoid any of the itultimate storms". Except fo +squalls, Apogee has encountered sustained gale force winds or higher +only four times while at sea. In each of these cases, life aboard was +extremely unpleasant, and spirits were low, perhaps, but there was never +any.fear for boat or life. On another occasion, Apogee was bodily tossed +so that her mast was nearly horizontal by a hurricane swell reaching +shelving waters in the Coral Sea. There was a stupendous mess below, but +the wind was not excessively strong, and the experience was never +-repeated on that voyage or any other. Squalls also present a danger, +particularly if one arrives unseen at night. Wind velocities in some of +the squalls I have seen have been well above Force 8 for short periods +of time. Even a short period of time is sufficient for a shroud to part +or for the sails to blow out. Neither of these things has happened to +Apogee, thank goodness, but one squall did manage to flog a batten and +its pocket clean out of the mainsail before I was able to muzzle the +sail. + +With all these comments on safety and the dangers of voyaging, I would +hate to give the impression that sailing the oceans is unpleasant. just +the opposite, perhaps 50% of the trip has been superb sailing, 40% +reasonably good, and only 10% or less poor sailing. During the supurb +sailing, small boats can reel off some fantastic voyages. During the +Galapagos to Marquesas passage, which a good friend of mine +characterizes as "flying-fish weather", Apogee sailed 1285 miles in 8 +days for slightly better than 160 miles per day. At that time, it was +probably some sort of record for singlehanders, surpassed more recently +by Sir Francis Chichester, for one, I am certain. Apo,6ee's design +waterline length is 24 feet, and there was an unknown following current, +but it gives some indications of the amazing speeds for small boats +under optimum conditions. + +Tradewind passages are the superb sailing, and outstanding among these +is the 3000 mile stretch of that Galapagos to Marquesas passage. The +Indian Ocean crossing tends to be slightly rougher, but still very +enjoyable. Also superb sailing are short passages in inside protecting +reefs, the most memorable being the wonderful lagoon between Raiatea and +Tahaa, close to Tahiti. + +In Apogee's trip, the poor sailing would be characterized by the stormy +periods and those passages which took place in heavy steamer traffic. +Around the coast of South Africa, the steamer traffic is intense at the +present time due to the Suez closure, fogs and dead calms are frequent, +and storms can be violent. It is not at all unusual to sight 30 to 40 +steamers in one day, even when the coast is not visible. The passage +from Durban to Cape Town was the only time when Apogee had a man on the +helm 24 hours a day. Still, only selected parts of that 800 mile +coastline passage can be termed "poor". At other times, it was quite +enjoyable. + +Apogee's route around the world was selected to utilize the tradewinds +to best advantage. Different routes are quite possible, but less +enjoyable. The poorest choice is also the fastest - the old +wool-and-grain route in the Roaring Forties. Any small boat which +attempts the three capes, Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin, and Cape +Horn, has my admiration. + + + + + +* * * * * + +[](/web/20090311015130/http://www.webmoxie.com/seawind/dream/img/13.jpg) Self-steering [](/web/20090311015130/http://www.webmoxie.com/seawind/dream/img/14.jpg) +------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- + +For short handed cruising, some form of self-steering is almost a +requirement. Even if the usual watches are kept, it relieves the +helmsman from the tyranny of the tiller. It is most disconcerting to +have the boat luff up with sails flapping, simply because the helmsman +wants to brew a cup of coffee. Of course, with larger crews of three, +four, or more, it may be desirable to require manual steering simply to +keep the helmsman awake. + +Since Apogee left the States, quite remarkable improvements have been +made in self-steering vanes, and they have been fitted to large as well +as small boats. Apogee has retained the earlier methods of self-steering +primarily because of the major structural alterations necessary to fit +the best of the vanes, but I would not leave again without vane +steering. + +Even with vane steering, I think that twin running sails would be useful +for any long downwind passages in the tradewinds. There is less chafe, +no fear of a jibe, and the boat tends to yaw less with the sail area +well forward. For those who may be contemplating such a rig, the details +are given in Figure 1. Some method of adjusting the total sail area such +as twin rollerfurling genoas, would be more flexible. Several times the +tradewinds have been too strong for the 330 square feet of Apogee's +twins, and many times it has been too light. With light winds, the +mizzen staysail helped considerably, but I found no really successful +method for coping with winds too strong. + +On beam or broad reaches, I used a modification of the jibsheet +selfsteering. It is extremely simple, requiring an extra snatch block or +two, some different sizes of shock cord, and a little experimentation. +For those who might like to try this on their own boats, a glance at +Figure 2 will help. + +Naturally, any well-balanced boat will self-steer on a close reach or +beat. With a ketch rig, adjustment of the mizzen enable Apogee to cope +with changes of wind strength for long periods of time without +adjustments. + +Apogee's twin running rig is the product of considerable experimentation +to achieve maximum control and stability under a variety of weather +conditions. The twins are two working jibs with interleaved hanks on the +forestay, both jibs being raised or lowered by one halyard. Normal +spinnaker poles are set on a normal spinnaker track, each to its own +car, so that the height of the inboard ends can be adjusted +individually. A short strop leads to two-part sheets. One end of the +sheet is led to the winch for easy adjustment. The other end is fastened +to a point well aft. A bight is taken in the fixed end of the sheet with +a snatch block and led to the tiller. Not shown in the figure are the +pole lifts. No foreguys are needed. + +Adjustment of the tiller lines, the sheets, the pole lifts, and the +inboard ends of the poles may be needed to produce the desired course +with minimum hunting. In strong winds, the poles are let forward so that +there is more belly in the sails. In light winds not too far astern, +Apogee has carried the mizzen, mizzen staysail and -main as well as the +twins and still self-steered. In beam to quarter winds, the arrangement +shown above produced fairly reliable self steering. Normal arrangement +is used with the exception that the sheet is led well aft before going +to the winch. A bight is taken in the sheet with a snatch block and led +across to the weather side of the tiller. Shock cord of suitable +diameter is used to balance the tension in the sheet. If the course lay +farther downwind than shown, the jib was poled out from the mast. The +other sails are not shown, but the mizzen was always carried, with the +main and mizzen staysail being added according to the wind strength. Of +course, all wind or sail operated self-steering methods only give a +course which is as steady as the wind direction. A singlehander usually +gets used the "feel" of this boat, and will be wakened by any major +changes of direction. But with light winds and clam seas, one can be +fooled, as I found to my disappointment one night when Apogee sailed +back towards her departure for 15 miles. + + + + + + + + + +* * * * * + +Finances +-------- + +Perhaps you have been leafing through these pages thinking "How much +does all this cost?" Initial investment can be estimated reasonably +well. Having a fiberglass boat, stainless rigging and fittings, and +Dacron sails will work yourself to reduce the costs. How much will you +succumb to the temptations of shore - good restaurants, some time in a +hotel, sightseeing trips in a rental car? You and your pocketbook will +be the guide. How about earning money on the way? It certainly is +possible. But not always easy. There is still a market for books and +articles about cruising, despite all that has been written, because +there are more people interested in boats and cruising. If you have a +trade - carpenter, electrician, mechanic, etc., there is usually +something available at the larger ports in Australia, New Zealand, South +Africa, and occasionally in the smaller ports. If you have had +experience with small boats in these trades, you can earn money wherever +there are boats. Visa and customs restrictions sometimes make it +difficult to stay in any pace for a long time. The day of the +beachcomber has passed in the glamorous islands of the South Pacific, +where immigration officials take a dim view of yachts arriving with no +money. Making movies for commercial showing or for TV is exacting and +best planned along with the planning of the trip. Chartering is +definitely a possibility in the West Indies, but charterers pay for and +have a right to expect standards of comfort and privacy that not all +cruising boats offer. In addition, most of the cruising boats who have +chartered have found their costs soaring so that it is not easy to save +vast amounts of money form the relatively high charter rates. As a +planning figure, I would suggest hat you have between \$100 and \$500 +per month for two people. With a small, easily maintained boat and a +relatively frugal existence, one might be able to meet the lower figure. +As the size of the boat increases, and comforts ashore and afloat are +added, the higher figure will be approached. There are boats that fall +outside these limits, but I assume that you want to leave before you are +too old to enjoy it without sacrificing all comforts. + + + + + + + +* * * * * + +Statistics of Apogee's Voyage +----------------------------- + +The following table will give an idea of the passage times which can be +expected by small boast under a variety of conditions. All of Apogee's +voyages over 1000 miles non-stop are included. Passage Nautical Miles +Duration in Days St. Helena - Grenada, West Indies 3880 34 Galapagos - +Marquesas 2990 22 Cocos - Rodrigues Indian Ocean 2020 15 Darwin, Aust. - +Christmas Island 1550 15 Reunion I. -- Durban, South Africa 1540 20 +Hampton, Virginia - Virgin Islands 1520 18 Balboa, Canal Zone - +Galapagos 1170 18 Whangerei, N.Z. - Suva, Fiji 1160 18 Suva, Fiji - +Russell, N. Z. 1110 11 It is obviously tedious to list the nearly 400 +anchorages of Apogee on the voyage. The following list gives the island +groups and countries only, along with time of year. Place Visited Dates +Hampton, Virginia June 1963 West Indies, Netherlands Antilles, Colombia +July '3 - March '64 Panama April '64 Galapagos May - June '64 Marquesas, +Tuamotus, Tahiti and Society Islands July '64 - April '65 Cooks, Tonga, +Samoa, Fiji May - Oct '65 New Zealand Nov. '65 - April '66 Fiji, Rotuma, +Banks, New Hebrides and New Caledonia May - Nov '66 Australia, Great +Barrier Reef, New Guinea Dec. '66 - June '67 Christmas, Cocos, +Rodrigues, Mauritus, and Reunion Islands July - Oct. '67 South Africa +Nov. '67 - May '68 St. Helena June '68 West Indies July - Dec. '68 +Bahamas, Florida Jan. '69 Total distance sailed: 39,000 miles Duration +of voyage: 5 ½ years, U.S. to U.S, 4 ½ years to circumnavigate Highest +daily run: 179 miles noon to noon. + + + + + +* * * * * + +Final Encouragement +------------------- + +If this book has whetted your appetite for voyaging and you wish to know +more, I can think of no better source than Eric Hiscock's Voyaging Under +Sail and Cruising Under Sail. Should you have the grit and determination +to start you on a long voyage, there is no better feeling than to see +our very first landfall lying dead ahead. You know that all the +planning, hard work, and money invested in the trip is just beginning to +pay off. The original slogan for the Seawind was "She'll cross an ocean +if you will" which my trip has confirmed. + + + + + +* * * * * + +About the manufacturer +---------------------- + +Allied Boat Company is located in Catskill, New York on a tributary of +the Hudson River. + + + + + +*Editor note:* Dan Smith*, the current historian is a wealth of +information on the company and has a more current ac**count to be +published.* + +*Transcription notes:**Allied Boat Company**is no longer in operation. I +couldn'd find a copywrite date nor any reference to who printed this +little book. We hope you enjoy it as well as the perspective it has +given us. A man rowed over to us in the Grenadines and said it belonged +on our Seawind, +[Moxie](/web/20090311015130/http://www.webmoxie.com/seawind/moxie%20lake/Island.htm) +our dreamboat.* \ + [Kirk and Sherrie](mailto:kirkchamberklain@hotmail.com) + + + + + +[back to +top](/web/20090311015130/http://www.webmoxie.com/seawind/dream/index.htm) + + |