You can do this by looking for a certification plaque that will be mounted on the bulkhead. I bought my Gemini after watching the owner (Tony Smith) of Performance Catamarans crossing the Atlantic Ocean for a delivery run in a 2002 Gemini 105MC, The northern Atlantic is similar to the Southern Ocean, Bass straight and the Tasman sea where I live, So I needed a boat that could handle huge seas and very bad weather, At least one person on the crew should have some experience making an ocean crossing. 18/10/2012 Author: Multihull Central | General news. It will take around 20 days or more to cross the Atlantic ocean and potentially much more if you are using your sails instead of the motor. With the advent of new technology the high tech necessary for ocean cruising catamarans is now affordable. The largest yachts are more than capable of making that trip easily, with good planning and professional mariners at the helm. While you probably wouldn’t want to do an ocean crossing in this vessel, it might be able to handle one of the weather stayed calm for an extended period of time. This means that it can head away from the protected harbors, but it shouldn’t go very far. Podcasts, books, music, movies, the list goes on. Catamaran Guru™ | Mobile: +1 804-815-5054 | Fax: +1 443-782-0208 | Email Us. Trawlers and ocean going motor yachts designed for passage making and coastal cruising in comfort and safety at an affordable price. If you’re planning on making the trip on your yacht, make sure you have the right boat for the job, the right crew for the journey, and the right technology to make everything simple and easy. This could be a reason why the average live aboard will choose a monohull over a catamaran. This question comes up more often as more people are sailing and chartering catamarans. Sailing in 35 knots of wind and with very little wind, 5 meters of cross waves and beautiful ocean sunrises. We had a 45 ft monohull that we cruised on for 34,000 NM and we have done about 15,000 NM miles on different cats, all in different conditions and oceans. Unfortunately, this isn’t true, and your route will largely be dependent on trade winds. With the modern technology for weather forecasting available today, one doesn’t need to be in severe weather. Remember, it takes more than 20 days, at least, to cross the Atlantic ocean. Of the 25 multihulls, no two had crossings that were exactly alike. Of course, this is in comparison to a monohull vessel of equivalent length. Actually, sailing any boat in big waves is not easy. This being said, not all yachts are capable of making these trips. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. When it comes to choosing boats, I vouch for going small. The cats where flying through the air!What will happen on a sea anchor? “I have heard concerning stories about cats flipping in strong winds”. Not only this but yachts, in general, tend to need more power than other vessels. The best power generation system is a system that makes use of all of the technologies available. It can handle strong winds and waves of up to 13 feet. Sailing Across The Atlantic In A Catamaran. Your energy requirements during an ocean crossing can be extremely high. National Regatta Series Gets New Director. Knowing how to adjust to a changing sea state and deteriorating conditions with the right skills and techniques is your key to a successful ocean crossing. I knew nothing about boats at the time. Skippers ranged from first-time ocean-crossers to professional delivery captains; crew ranged from a newborn child to seasoned salts; boats ranged from a 62-foot Gunboat to a 38-foot Lagoon. We have been sideways on a 30 ft wave in a 40 ft catamaran just outside of St. Helena off the West African coast and all the boat did was to skid down the wave sideways, not a pleasant feeling to be sure but definitely not dangerous. Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands. They are longer than 40 feet and can take on waves of up to 23 feet. What Are Small Bluewater Sailboats? Richard Bost had those, too. These categories range from A to D, and they determine what type of waters the yacht was built to navigate. How to Remove Bottom Paint. This reduces the stress on your boat, makes the ride more enjoyable, and even makes it quicker. We look forward to see you at the show. Most catamarans do perform quite well in open waters and are regarded as safe vessels to be offshore. I am Gary Fretz with my co-hosts, Stephen and Estelle Cockcroft. Custom Trimaran 105 CharterYacht. Most yachts will need daily cleanings as saltwater can quickly take its toll on a yacht’s decks and make the windows difficult to see through. An ocean-going cat, well designed, with a 50% (or greater) beam to length ratio, is unlikely to turn over. A large motor yacht can potentially make the trip as well if it is designed for it. For this reason, many veteran sailors say that you should bring about 1.5 times the amount of fuel you think you’ll actually need to complete the voyage. We cruise on our catamaran with a sea anchor (a 15 ft diameter parachute) in case of a storm and quite frankly, when we’re hanging on the sea anchor we are as safe as any monohull in similar conditions. Checking out our Boat Finder tool is an excellent way to find the best boat for you and your family, but if you want to limit your search to the best boats for ocean boating, there are some special considerations to take into account. Catamarans are safe in rough seas because of more stability, smaller draft, easier maneuverability, higher speed, and less floating so less seasickness in agitated waters. In this post, I’ll go over some of the important facts you should know about yachts before you decide to make your voyage: Yachts are categorized into four main categories. … Preparing for an Ocean Crossing Read More » Small bluewater sailboat. This will save fuel but be slower because of the boat’s characteristics and since you are much more dependent on the weather conditions. Within a couple of days, the bread which we had purchased was mouldy and within a week and a half all the fresh vegetables had seen better days, Cape Verde isn’t the best place in the world to victual for an Ocean Crossing, much of the fruit and vegetables are well below par of the supermarket produce in European Countries. A category D yacht is only rated for inland or sheltered coastal waters. This 47-foot catamaran has been acclaimed by the nautical press for all the advantages it offers: volume, comfort, conviviality and exceptional seaworthiness. We would love to hear your thoughts! By Cruising World Editors. I just like this one. It takes a significant amount of time to make an ocean crossing. One of the main reasons for this is that they can sail themselves for an indefinite amount of time. Some yachts will not hold enough fuel to complete the trip and will typically be shipped on freighters designed for this. You might think that you can easily shorten the time it takes to cross the Atlantic or Pacific oceans by making it a more direct one. I remember being in this very predicament on my monohull when cruising in the Mediterranean off the coast of France. Sailboats. minor damage really wow really good anchors. This is … People. In fact, some areas of the Caribbean and the Florida Keys can be off-limits to boats with deep drafts as it simply isn’t safe for the boat to navigate these waters. We do know of a couple of instances where large waves off Richards Bay on the East coast of South Africa and one off the Wildcoast of South Africa capsized catamarans. Sailboats. Kirsten N. is a native of South Africa and typically skippers at least two longer ocean-crossing deliveries each year, as well as a number a shorter coastal trips. You can also cross the oceans with a yacht with sails. Full disclosure, I sailed one of these boats across an ocean. We have been in very bad weather in both and they are both survivable. During this time, you’ll need to meet your food, water, and energy requirements. What I mean by this is that you’ll end up traveling in a direction that follows the prevailing winds, so you are mostly traveling downwind. Remember the boating flag rules if you travel abroad. Your email address will not be published. So, are catamarans safe for ocean crossing when you have to sail in […] In contrast, a catamaran made for hardcore sailing is more about speed and excitement. It would be best to have a big enough tank to hold the amount of fuel you expect to burn. Your email address will not be published. We had a 45 ft monohull that we cruised on for 34,000 NM and we have done about 15,000 NM miles on different cats, all in different conditions and oceans. Increasing the size and number of freezers you bring with you will increase the amount of meat and fruit you can bring. What About Turning Over? Catamarans are fast, stable, comfortable and as safe as any vessel out there”. Your Motor Yacht Should Be Able to Carry 1.5 Times The Amount of Fuel You’ll Need. A pair of veteran monohull voyagers put a new Bluewater 50 catamaran through its paces on an ocean crossing. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. Force eleven!!! You can cross the Pacific and Atlantic oceans on a sailing yacht or a motor yacht. The motor yacht will need to be able to hold more than enough fuel for the trip, though. Since a catamaran can regularly do a 220mile day on passage, it can outrun bad weather fairly easily with some notice or at worst, place oneself in the most favorable position to avoid the brunt of a storm. The drawback is that they do not work nearly as well when they’re shaded, and every day is not a sunny day while out on the water or land for that matter. They do this through the use of wind turbines, solar panels, and hydro-generators. Another positive safety issue is of course redundancy. More Sailboats. Hydro-generators, on the other hand, can generate power 24 hours a day. Top multihull designer Nigel Irens and leading skipper Brian Thompson discuss the considerations for safe ocean cruising Many experts in the industry like Mark Ellington, managing director of Multihull Solutions and Jon Morris, managing director of long-respected boat builders, McConaghy Boats, unequivocally: “Capsizing is a myth”. Check out our list of the best Cats that changed the game in boat design. Wind turbines can create an impressive amount of energy in high winds. Safety was a big concern… what if one of us gets punted off the helm and into the ocean while we’re on night watch? This is because strong winds and currents can drastically increase the amount of fuel needed to complete a voyage. www.sailfarlivefree.com/2012/06/blue-water-on-budget-5-budget-cruisers.html However, a monohull in similar conditions would also have capsized but it would have self righted because of its lead keel. FP Isla 40 Available For 2021 Business Program, What to Consider When Switching Your Yacht to Marine Lithium Batteries, Catamaran Guru & North Sails Summer Sailstice 2021. One of the main reasons for this is that they can sail themselves for an indefinite amount of time. Who Determines How A Yacht Is Categorized? But one common thread wove them all together: they had just crossed the ocean on two hulls. We tried to find a catamaran with an inside helm station, but unless you’re willing to spend more than $2 million on a Gunboat , an inside helm just wasn’t an option for us. Add a hydro-generator, a wind turbine, and some solar panels to your system, and you’ll have power day and night whether your crossing wide-open expanses or anchor at one of the islands along the way. Dufour 530 Boat Review. They have weather systems and advanced computers that help you calculate and master the long trip of crossing the biggest seas. However, this shouldn’t be the only determining factor. You could stay with the vessel for shelter and protection until you are rescued. In addition to having good navigation equipment, here are some systems you may want to consider upgrading to make life easier on the ocean. You may not see anyone for days in the ocean, and even if you do, they probably won’t be able to tow you back to shore. comfort, space and performance of a catamaran, Rare Opportunity! St. Tropez and St. Maarten – Two beautiful yachting destinations separated by thousands of miles of ocean. June 12, 2018. If you decide to cross either of these oceans, you’ll want to make sure you have an ocean-faring yacht as well as the equipment and skills needed to make the trip. I hope Stephen can help me to realize my dream. Required fields are marked *. People generally love the comfort, space and performance of a catamaran, but are concerned about the safety of a catamaran versus a monohull on the open ocean. A to Z Best Cruising Catamarans. When you’re looking to buy a yacht, make sure it has been rated by this institute. Digital Boat Show. If I had been on my catamaran, I simply would have motored in on one engine. When it comes to long term living on a catamaran, some things are more important than if we only do a single crossing; a liveaboard is about enjoying your house on the water. To ensure that the yacht is actually built correctly for trips over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, it should be certified by the International Marine Certification Institute. Did you find wrong information or was something missing? Survival of the crew in that case is much elevated. The reason being, a yacht is going to be larger and more difficult to manage alone than a small sailing craft would be to manage alone. Could they flip in such conditions? Updated: October 16, 2020. This person’s knowledge could prove invaluable both before and during the long trip. Numerically, the most common yachts for sailing across the Atlantic are ordinary production cruisers with standard kit, usually with upgrades of safety and … These boats can also take on strong winds of at least 47 knots. On the other hand, Category A boats are designed to sustain themselves for long voyages like a crossing of the world’s oceans. We have boats delivered trans‐Atlantic regularly. Now i’m looking to buy a cat through Stephen for all the reasons mentioned. We understand the dream of traveling the world by catamaran and created a one-stop-shop to make that dream a reality for you. Sailing yachts are often better suited for longer ocean crossings. Gear. Large bays and lakes can be navigated, and the boat can take on waves up to 8 feet high. Fail to do this, and you’ll find that the crew has to spend a lot more time navigating and a lot less time enjoying the journey. You can find a true blue ocean going monohull that will take you around the world and provide you with the comfort to live aboard for considerably less money than a catamaran of similar capability. Remember, your freshwater needs aren’t just restricted to drinking water. Two big cats where dropped on land, originally anchored about 200m from shore.