Offshore passage: Winter capsize, roll over and recovery and dismasting in Class 40 yacht
Offshore and ocean passages are sailing adventures not to be taken lightly even in the balmy months. The following account is extremely valuable reading for all who venture to sea in small boats.
Heavy weather sailing: Preparation is the key
Sailing in hard conditions is by and large not really that different in the basics from sailing in "nice" conditions in that the physics remain the same albeit that errors are usually magnified much more quickly in 35 knots than 12 knots. The usual weak link is in preparation.
Short handed sailing in the Ocean: The Bermuda 1-2 and the Mini Transat
For those not sure of what I speak, a Mini, (aka a "650") is a class of boat, 6.5 meters LOA (hence the name) that is principally used for solo and DH distance racing, the pinnacle of which is a 4500 mile solo race across the Atlantic.
Short handed in the ocean: How heavy is your cockpit?
One of the bigger issues most folks don't realize is just how much water, read weight, their cockpit holds when full of ocean. In the Offshore Regs Book, right after the section on companionway hatches being watertight, comes the section on cockpit security, volume and drainage.
Short handed in the ocean: Safety, first!
Anyone voyaging in the ocean naturally wishes this adventure to be not THAT adventurous. In this case one of the early phases of planning, for either a passage to Bermuda, such as the Mini guys (and the rest of the Bermuda 1-2 fleet) are planning, or the O.S.T.A.R., is to contemplate the appropriate and required safety equipment one ought to have along.
Life raft stowage on cruising sailboats
Last winter I was helping one of my customers prepare for the Newport-Bermuda race. Comes April we were at the boat working on some things and he asks me where I thought he ought to stow the life raft.