Bermuda (?)

[opie]

A little bit of philosophy, if you will let me....
I was a lurker here for 1 year and by now a owner of a 26X for 2 years. My admiral and I overnight near shore and trailer the boat when eer the winds are above 15kts or there is a storm predicted of coming. Doing so has kept me a boat owner and provided me with the admiral's company and sometimes assistance in sailing and piloting and all the cooking and gentle comanionship at night under anchor. I read sailing and cruising magazines all the time. I have checked out and read every boating and sailing book my tow local libraries have. I read cruising logs on the internet at every chance. I dream the true Walter Mitty-type dreams of sailing far distances and cruising islands all over the world. The admiral laughs at me........
She is willing to go out on fair days and only when she can get back to the ramp in about 1 hour or less. We have gone out three miles in the ocean, but she goes down below and suffers in silence until we get back close to shore.
If you read as much as I have you will fiind a common thread of all the articles and books. And that is WEATHER. It makes for very adventureous tales. Anchors dragging, capsizing, hard agrounds in rocks and surf, demasting, rigging failure, rogue waves, rogue storms, perfect storms, lightning, containers and dead logs in the water..... Yes,, I know, only the adventures or mishaps usually get reported. The perfect cruise into the sunset certainly gets press and publication from time to time, but reading cruise stories with so many problems makes me believe that problems do happen with regularity. Does that make me lose my dram? Heck, no. I dream all the time. I dream Conch Cruiser dreams of Bimini and Dry Tortuga, and the Beer Cruise dreams along the Gulf Coast. I spill my dreams to my Admiral and get squashed like a bug.......
My decision so far is to try to keep going out under her restrictions and maybe she will gain more confidence. I certainly had read enough stories of guys that lost their sailing partner forever when she refused to go back on the boat under ANY CIRCUMSTANCES after a mishap.
So, what does this have to do with Bermuda? Just that it is a brain fart to have such a dream or question unless you troll along a dock in Florida for a sweet and crusty new first mate and give up your old one. Are you ready to do that? I brain fart every day many times. Wear it as a compliment.

[ozman]

Hope this works, just joined, boatless, hope to sway mama soon. I've sat in the wings for a long time taking in all the good info. Bermuda, born there. The mileage of 500 odd is correct, there is an annual sailboat race from NY to Bermuda, it use to be escorted by the Coast Guard don't know if they still do it. It's a beautiful place to visit but very expensive, water is crystal clear, seeing the bottom at 60 ft. is not uncommon. Crossing the Gulf Stream "yikes". A trip across the pond to BDA in a sailboat was always a dream my dad "may he R.I.P" and I had. People have sailed around the world in boats muuch smaller than a Mac, I guess it all boils down to planning, the right time of year, and GUTS. If you decide to do it let me know and I'll have the relative's meet you at the docks in Hamilton, take you out for dinner and a stiff drink, you'll probably need it cause you'll have to sail back home. lol.

[DaveB]

Terry,
I live in FL. have over 40,000 miles experance in Sailing all types of boats and one I will tell you about.
I totally rebuilt a 35 ft. Pearson Alberg for a 3 yr. round the world cruise. with a bullet proof hull and all rigging,interior,engine,all state of art cruiseing gear I left Cape Cod Ma. in 1982 and jumped off Beaufort NC for the 1200 mile run to St Thomas and came within 150 miles of Bermuda.
3 days out ran into 40 ft. waves with breakers 6 ft. high beating for 3 days.
The sleek 9 ft 8 inch beam with a full keel drawing 5'-6" was a cutting machine with bullet proof hull and as the Aires self steering vane z down the waves and headed up flying thru the breakers she would slam down with such a force the hull sound was deafing.
This went on for 3 days and tho the boat would handle it easy my only crew was my girlfried that was tucked in with lee canvas the 3 days.
So when you mentioned Bermuda with at least 450--600 miles from shore in some of the roughest waters on East coast I couldn't take you serious in doing this with a Mac.
Mac. is a coastal cruiser and tho many have sailed over the 52 miles to Bimini and further they have to watch the weather very close and have a harbor of refuge very close at hand to protect themselves.
Even thinking you can just power over to Bimini at 15 knots is no can do because even in a calm day you will find 3-4 ft. swells and you want rudders and centerboard down, thats 6 knots.
The 3 knot current is nothing you want to bargin with in any wind from the North.
It takes many years to understand Sailing and the more experance you have the wiser the decision.
Dave

I am new to sailing and dont know the area off FL coast, I wonder if you would run that smart mouth to someone if they were there....

[maddmike]

Nice Dave!

Much more constructive (and spot on!) comments for a 'Newbe', It's just better when we keep the new guys interested and on course to respecting what mother nature can throw one's way if you're not paying attention, mis-informed or not well prepared. By and by, 35' Pearson, nice sailing boat, delivered one from Fl. to St. John ( Ivory Sea), told the owner I'd trade him even up for my CSY 44- he didn't bite!

MM

[Bawgy]

Not Questioning your seamanship at all . But why did you go so far east to get to the BVI. 150 miles is quite a dogleg from Beafort NC to BVI . Was it the favoured route for wind ? Again Just curious

[TerryB89]

Thanks for all the reply's
I only asked about Bermuda because I always thought it was closer to Fl than the Bahama's. I have no plans to leave the Fl coast. I've been stuck in Indiana all my life have no clue how far Bermuda is from Fl. I always see people talking about going to the Bahama's, just wondered why no one spoke of going to Bermuda. Now I know.

[DaveB]

correction the SE Trade Winds.
Dave

As The Expert Donald Street said at the time (go due east until the butter melts than beat to St Thomas).
You want to make as much easterly you can before you pick up the SW Trade Winds.
Dave

Not Questioning your seamanship at all . But why did you go so far east to get to the BVI. 150 miles is quite a dogleg from Beafort NC to BVI . Was it the favoured route for wind ? Again Just curious

[DaveB]

Terry, the Annual race from Newport, RI. to Bermuda is comeing up shortly, most of these boats are in the 40 ft. + range with a very well equiped boat and crew. You may want to follow the race and will learn a lot of what they go thru.
Dave

Thanks for all the reply's
I only asked about Bermuda because I always thought it was closer to Fl than the Bahama's. I have no plans to leave the Fl coast. I've been stuck in Indiana all my life have no clue how far Bermuda is from Fl. I always see people talking about going to the Bahama's, just wondered why no one spoke of going to Bermuda. Now I know.

[TerryB89]

Where can I read about it or follow it?

[bastonjock]

ive loved reading this post,when guys like madmike and daveb pitch in,you know that the comments will be good ones.im a novice sailor and i identify with opie a lot,i too have the walter mitty type dreams,but i have spent some time on the water on barges working as a rig diver,i have a healthy apreaciation of the power of the sea,ive seen an offshore platform that was moved 6 inches by a wave,ive jumped into seas that were throwing 12-16ft waves at me(it was pitch black).

im thinking of maybee by next season ill feel experienced enough to have a go at the crossing from England to Holland

Bermuda is a slightly longer run from the UK,even if i strap a few extra gas tanks onto my mac,i dont think ill attempt that one,terry i think that there will be more than enough "adventures" around florida and the bahamas to keep your mind off of Bermuda for a while.

this is a great forum terry,its great for novices like ourselves,im itching to get my wet in a few weeks,im hoping for fair winds as my maiden voyage (sea) will be some 38nm,ive never felt like holding back on questions,id rather ask a stupid question here than find myself caught out in a heavy sea without an answer

My plan for Aprill the 18th is along with my wife and daughter, to put my boat in on a local river,motor down to an estuary and out across the sea and into whats going to be my home port,river trip will be 18 road miles and than its 38nm to port,no rocks to worry about just sand banks,lots of them my wife brought me in a small gift tonight,its a mug holder with mugs for the boat,my daughter chipped in with"can the pink one be mine dad" hehehe you bet

[acdave]

When Jumping off from Beaufort....the Gulf is about 150nm wide....its best to get across that fast and clear another 200nm SE just to clear the area where the storms are more frequent before turning south. If you leave on NW front you will make good time east ......blow right across it......you don't want to stick around in the Gulf...or you'll get beat up!

Bawgy wrote: But why did you go so far east

[John McDonough]

I spent my honeymoon in Bermuda. 1979. I rented a few Hobie Cats while there and started to figure out a way to Sail from the USA back to bermuda. After 29 years (and reading this post) I figured out the best way to get back to bemuda on my Macgregor 26. Purchse a 1000 foot rope, locate a cruise ship heading to bermuda and hook on. I wonder if I should fill the Ballast tank or leave it empty while in tow..

[DaveB]

Your smack in the Burmuda triangle 400 miles out, as you sail To St Thomas after 6 days the florecent from the saragrass sea picks up and the sea turns to the most brilliant blue, at night the reflection is so brilliant that no lights needed.
I caught my first Dolphin 7 days out trailing a 200 lb mono line off the stern (did that for 3 yrs with fish on the table) and used the sheet winch to haul in. Sometimes yellow tail be so big bent a 1/4 stainless steel hook straight.
On of these days will put all the slides on disks and share.
Dave

[Wind of Freedom]

Terry,

I live here in Jupiter Florida ... above West Palm Beach. I just got my 26X Mac in June last year. The Mac is just an awesome boat and I am so excited about all the possibilities it provides.

I just got back yesterday from a week in the upper Keys with 3 other adults ...

Let me tell you a little about myself ... I'm a very seasoned power boater ... been boating over 20 years here in Florida. I've never had a lot of money, so all the boats I've owned I've had to build or repair myself. I've owned 20 foot powerboats, but this is my first sailboat and it's one of the best decisions I've ever made. My family and I are so excited ... !

Anyway, about "big water" and small boats ... I'm no wimp, but now that I'm in my mid-40's it seems I get much more fearful more easily then when I was in my 20's-30's (funny how that happens). I've been known to load down a 20 foot bowrider with scuba gear and 5 adults and go out some very treacherous inlets here in S. Florida. I mean, I've done some wild stuff with small boats in big surf that most people won't do ... mostly because I love the water, but never had the money for a big boat.

Anyway, this last week, I just could not get into the dark blue water with my Mac due to the larger waves (15-20 knts winds all week) ... I mean, we were trolling with the fishing rods and we so wanted to get off the reef where it dropped from 30ft to 200 ft. It was 4-6 feet on the reef side, but when I approached the 200 ft ledge, the waved pumped to 6-8 and I just could not bring myselft to keep going and I turned her back into the reef side. Now, this may be because I have to get used to the Mac and get some trust in me first ... or, I could just becoming a wimp in my older more wiser days ... strange ... I don't know.

Anyway, the thought of going to Bermuda ... 600 miles on the ocean is just way out there for me to even ponder. I enjoy hearing from the seasoned sailors on this site like MadMike and I respect the boating knowledge ...

... in the end, I think the Mac is a very safe boat and it's just that I need more time on her to get used to the way she handles in larger swells ... also, wave frequency is a big part. Large 8 foot "rollers" are easier to handle the 6 foot choppier waves ...

Either way, I am so looking forward to spending the time to get comfortable with my Mac ...