Storm boards for the windows might be a good idea, but I'd check the strength of what,s there first; our boats are pretty well engineered and it's hard to conceive that they'd leave something that important out of the equation.
Epirb is good, and I bought one for overnight sailing in New England. AIS would be on my nice-to-have list, but not a deal breaker. So would the sprit and roller kite. I would put time into making sure the rudder was good and think about replacement steering rigs so if the worst happened, I'd have a plan. Dodger, yes! And some kind of sun shade. Water makers and wind generators are nice to have, but not necessary. I would carry extra diesel on deck and get lots of bottled water; call it 60 gallons or one gal/person/day, assuming 3 people and three weeks for the 1800 miles to the Azores. May through July is a good time to go. The strategy is to stay far enough north to stay out of the light airs of the Bermuda high and far enough south so the lows that roll across from Nova Scotia to England stay north of you. Catching the bottom of these makes for some big rolling seas and fun downwind sailing, but there's nothing to fear for a well-prepared crew. From the Azores to Gib is another 1000 miles, or 10 days, say. Then the whole Med is your oyster. I don't know the 34, but I wouldn't hesitate to take a well prepared 38, 39, or 40 across. Buying a boat there and sailing back is a different matter, time wise, because the only sensible thing to do is take the southern route via the West Indies in the fall, and then sail north in the spring. It's very easy to assign yourself interminable lists that forever delay your departure. Read some of the books by crazy Englishmen like Peter Pye and his ilk about voyages they made in thirties and think about how well it is possible to fit out a modern boat compared to what was possible for them. Andy Peregrine C&C 40 Andrew Burton 61 W Narragansett Newport, RI USA 02840 http://sites.google.com/site/andrewburtonyachtservices/ +401 965-5260 On Sep 1, 2013, at 13:30, Chuck S <cscheaf...@comcast.net> wrote: > Brent, > I think most C&Cs are built strong enough to make an Atlantic crossing, but I > would prefer a heavier, stiffer vessel like a Swan for such a task. > It made me ask the question: how would I prepare my present boat for such a > challenge? > > Here's a short list to start: > Rehead all rod ends > Add EPIRB, AIS, backup AutoHelm > Add Storm sails > Add sprit and rollgen for light winds > Add Dodger > Install backing plates to all lifeline stanchions. > Fabricate boards to cover the side windows should any be damaged, stow below. > Fabricate an emergency rudder. > Investigate drogues or sea anchors > Investigate desalinators > Consider a generator or water turbine generator > > Time of year is crucial; I'd probably prefer to do it between June and July, > before hurricane season > > Work; who can afford to take off that much time? Are we sailing the boat > back? Right away? Storage cost, slip fees in Europe? > Might it be easier to buy a boat in Europe and sail her home? > > Chuck > Resolute > 1990 C&C 34R > Atlantic City, NJ > _______________________________________________ > This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album > http://www.cncphotoalbum.com > CnC-List@cnc-list.com
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