A Sandwich, A Sail & Playing Favorites
Someone asked me recently if I had to choose a sailing vessel to do the distance, explore the world (by myself) or with up to 3 other people i.e. "Sail The World" what would I choose?
I am by no means an expert sailor in any sense of the word. To be completely fair I would call myself an enthusiastic novice sailor. I can read paper charts but they still make me nervous if I’m honest so yeah, call me lazy, but I much prefer to use the chart plotter on a screen, and I know my way around a cockpit fairly well and the various lines, halyards, jib, genoa, boom vang, down-haul, etc..
So before I tell you the type of boat I would choose let me share a sailing story:
Several years ago I sailed on a Morris 38 out of Mammorneck NY up the Maine Coast to Rockland. We motored and sailed but probably motored mostly. The Morris is a good solid heavy boat - a generic average sloop-type cruiser. Comfortably accommodates 3 and 4 is a bit tight. Not very good in light air although we did manage 4 knots with just the genoa in a late evening breeze. It’s a cruiser intended for people who are not at all in a hurry to be anywhere but a stout boat to be sure.
En route back to New York at the end of the summer we had moored in Kittery Maine for the night before setting off to Sandwich Massachusetts, the first port (or last) depending on your direction at the northerly (or easterly) most part near the mouth of the Cape Cod Canal.
We were on a south-westerly approach after having crossed most of Cape Cod Bay which was about a 100 nm stretch if I remember correctly. Most of this leg of the trip was motoring and for the reason we later discovered was not paying attention to critical systems before getting underway, things began taking a precarious turn. Quickly losing sunlight plus having to dodge a minefield of lobster pot buoys the engine eventually died. No power means; no depth finder, no running lights, and no anchor lights which means BIG TROUBLE. We quickly looked at the paper charts for a safe place to drop the hook for the night as light was scarce and you never want to drop anchor at night, especially in areas where the coastal depths change constantly and especially if you don’t have anchor or running lights. We spotted a little place called "Ellsville" - about 10 miles from the Canal which is along the eastern shores of Massachusetts. If you look at a nautical chart between Boston and the canal there is almost nowhere to safely put into any protected area and as “luck” would have it most of the Massachusetts coastline on this stretch is all beach. So with no wind and about 1 hour of daylight left yes, there was a tad bit of panic on board.
So with much consternation, the logical thing to do was to put the main sail up to keep us moving but there was little to no air and it was mostly just luffing the sail. Cape Cod Bay is mostly shielded from the ocean currents and winds particularly during the summer months so it tends to be a bit like Long Island Sound at times - meaning: flat and dead. We started to head towards Ellsville making barely 1 to 2 knots. Skipper went down below to check the combine switch and low and behold we had power! To say there was relief would be an understatement.
We were able to finish motoring back and by the time we reached the breakwater at the head of the canal, it was dark. I was designated to look for rocks and waves. Yes, we had good date electronic nautical charts plus a very good depth finder but at night you have to stay frosty, especially when entering a very busy Channel.
So, what would I choose for a Globe Trotting?
Preface:
It’s important to understand that if you are going to be making this kind of commitment to sailing long distances - or the world - your boat is going to be your “home”. As a rule, I have been told that 40 ft (or more) is an absolute must for big journeys offshore & comfort at sea.
I like things that last and I tend to appreciate things that don't break too easily. Call me practical but boats are probably the least practical modes of transportation and arguably the least practical places to live (sort of), hell, you could even say they’re the least practical things known to man. So why would anyone want to live on a boat at sea you ask? Well, that’s not an easy question to answer. For some the sea calls and few people answer not because it never occurs to them but because it’s all of the etc’s that occur with said calling.
Being at sea, on the water is calming and introspective. The sea elicits a melancholy overture and for those who are introspective, being at sea gives them a window beyond this world. It’s a primordial, dare I say almost a spiritual calling. When one decides to be on the sea all other human considerations are immediately off the table and that might include building a life on land, a business, or even a family.
We’ve all seen the YouTube channels of people who appear to be average John and Janes - living a life that many of us live vicariously through. The truth is most of those YouTubers started with copious amounts of money, time, and planning. These people treat their exploits like a well-run business. Which brings me to another point. Unless you are someone who is very well organized, very self-disciplined, knows how to keep a schedule, and is not averse to routine - sailing is not for you. Some people who started weren’t any of these things and it wasn’t until they began sailing that gave their life purpose and meaning. Everyone needs a purpose. It’s what makes us human. Survival is perhaps the singular most influential thing that turns directionless people into competent human beings and being at sea will test your resolve over and over again on matters of survival until you either rise to the occasion or succumb to defeat.
Finally - A few Thoughts.. and The Boats
- Light performance cruisers and multi-hulls are fast BUT shit tends to break A LOT and OFTEN on light fast boats and if we’re being completely honest shit breaks a lot on ALL boats. All things are expensive on boats but they’re REALLY expensive on fast boats. The plus side of fast sailing boats is that they sail in light air with ease but once the weather becomes “angry” you have to sail smart, reef a lot, and reef often. Sailing lighter vessels also means you will tend to get less sleep because you have to pay attention a lot more attention when the weather decides to shit the bed. The slightest change in weather means making constant and precise adjustments. Sure you can single-hand a light boat but you’d have to be a bit OCD to do so (in my opinion).
- Heavier boats are obviously slower but things tend to break less or should I say less often. The structure and primary engines of a sailboat are her rigging and sails.
Heavier boats tend to be more like "work trucks", as such, they are designed to give their crews more carefree sailing and they are built with that in mind. Not having to reef in double-digit winds is a plus. Besides weather, fatigue is probably the number one enemy of all who sail, and when at sea if a boat crew cannot get proper rest their chances of surviving at sea are greatly diminished. Heavier and steadier boats provide a greater threshold of confidence over longer periods of time. A well-made vessel that precludes her owner from having to worry about her rigging for years if she is properly put together.
There are probably as many vessels to choose from as there are grains of sand in the ocean. Boats that I could conceivably be happy living with or on for maybe 2-5 years come down to precisely two, maybe three choices. One choice would probably be any Hans Christian boat. My personal preference would be the 43 Cutter-Ketch or 48T (with the doghouse) but any Hans Christian would be nice. While yes they are notorious for the copious amounts of bright work and teak maintenance they are among the sturdiest. Double enders are great, especially in following sea conditions.
I think it was in Stonington where I went aboard a Hans Christian 38 Sloop. This boat was like being in a comfortable bed and breakfast hotel. I like wood in a boat. Wood in many ways is visceral, organic and keeps you perhaps emotionally rooted (no pun intended) to the land which in some cathartic way provides a “balance between land and sea maybe? This older boat even had air conditioning which was pleasant because it was really hot out that day. Cockpits on the smaller HCs are a tad sparse but most of these traditional-style boats have that.
My other choice is unusual but I just happen to like them. The Freedom 44 cat-ketch with carbon fiber free-standing masts means no rigging which also means something less likely to fail hence less maintenance. Just two giant wind-surf-like sails and super easy to shorthand.
My third and perhaps my favorite would be a Cherubini 48 Schooner rigged. For their age, these boats are exceptionally fast. One sailor noted had a four-hour watch - and did from 11.5 to 13 knots for 4 hours consistently in 25-30 knots of wind. Some have reached 14 to 16 knots respectively and they sail exceptionally well in light air and do very well on all points of sail. Perhaps a testament to the Herreshoff-inspired designs. They’re damn pretty boats and shoal draft which lends the vessel to more real estate when looking for anchorage.
The reason I chose these vessels besides being somewhat self-evident is they are realistically within reach financially for many. Faster boats, Catamarans, and Trimarans do well in light wind. Faster boats will inexorably have equipment failures more frequently and thus incur greater expenses more frequently which means less time sailing and more time repairing.
If money were of no concern I would probably opt for the good ship “Beowulf”. A 78ft Aluminum Ketch, the brainchild of Steve and Linda Dashew who studied hull shapes, efficiency, etc to maximize every aspect of the sailing paradigm for 2 people. She’s also capable of sailing as fast as any global racer with extraordinary accommodations. Or perhaps the Alubat Cigale 16. Another aluminum vessel with extraordinary accommodations capable of sailing at all latitudes. All of the aforementioned vessels would be capable of sailing at all latitudes except the Freedom 44.