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Hull #36 I came across the Okeechobee Waterway solo in two days, then crossed the Gulf directly from Fort Myers in late May. I took an extra twenty gallons of fuel, in four plastic cans tied to the stern rails on the steps. We motored out of Fort Myers for twelve hours in light east winds, then picked up a nice southeasterly and set the spinnaker. The next morning we were hit by a cold front, with 20-25 knot southwesterlies, veering all the way to the northwest over the next twelve hours. We beat into it with one and sometimes two reefs in the main and the small jib. Then it blew out of the north for another 24 hours at 25-35 knots, (most of the time with two reefs) finally veering to due east for the last 24 hours. We motored while it was due east at less than ten knots, then when it picked up enough (18-20 knots) we jibed our way into the Port Aransas jetties with the spinnaker up, hitting 10-12 knots frequently, 14 knots occasionally, with a peak of 17 twice. The trip took five days and one hour. That is 820 straight-line nautical miles in 121 hours, a 6.8 knot average. I did not touch my reserve fuel, and still had forty gallons of fresh water in the tanks. I was not worried about the boat not handling it. The scariest part for me was when it was out of the north at 22 knots close reaching, and I had one reef, then it would gust to over 30knots. With beam seas capped with foam, you had to sail conservatively, and get that second reef in quickly when it piped up. I had two experienced hands, (it was my first offshore delivery) and a brand new boat, so that helped with my confidence. I would go over your boat with a fine tooth comb, and maybe a marine surveyor, if you do not have a lot of experience in offshore deliveries. The hull is extremely stable, but while overpowered with the steep beam seas, I got a little scared a couple of times. Twice I had to go to bare poles (base wind above 30 knots, once in Atlantic, and once in Gulf), and I felt totally safe. The caveat is to sail underpowered in gusty conditions. The time of year to do your crossing is also critical. I think May is the best month, since you are not in hurricane season, and you have the least likelihood of getting a front (although that didn't work for us). Tropical systems are a possibility all the way into November, when you begin to have the big northers. Bill Worsham of Port Arthur, Texas did cross with hull #12 in November or December, so maybe he can give you some insight. |
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