Transatlantic queries/worries

[Notaclue]

Hi,
My other half is about to embark on a transatlantic crossing and I've got a few questions and concerns if you could help me out.
Here's what I know already - they're collecting the boat - a 38 ft - in France sailing down to the canaries and then accross to the bahamas.
1. What is the best way to stay in contact with him or is there any?
2. Any clue how long a crossing like this could take?
3. What are the absolute essentials he should bring?
4. Should I be worried?
5. What would be a good christmas present to get in the middle of the atlantic?

Thanks for your help,
n

[gerry]

1.If the boat has sailmail or winlink, a radio ssb system that will accept emails you can use that to communicate or if very wealthy a satellite telephone!
2.Crossing will usually take between 14 and 28 days. Depends on weather and boat. We took 32 days, friends took 19 days!
3.Make sure he has a lifejacket aboard, good sturdy sailing knife/multitool.Foul weather gear and a sunhat for later on!
4.No need to worry as long as the boat is suitable for crossing and sensible preparations have been made. It will be a fantastic experience.
5.Audio books and the means to play them are invaluable for the long night watches. A good fruity Christmas cake!

Hope he has a great trip!

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com

[Nausicaa]

Just to add to it, email via SSB is slow, so make sure emails are text only, no frills, no graphics, etc.

[Notaclue]

Hey Gerry ,
Thanks for your reply - it was great.
Don't know what's on the boat as they are brand new and the guys are just sailing them to the Bahamas for a charter company. Do all boats have ssb radios and the winmail or sailmail?
thanks
n

[gerry]

No. If they are charter boats very unlikely that they will have sailmail or winlink, looks like if you really need to keep in touch it'll be expensive!


www.gerryantics.blogspot.com

[Notaclue]

Hi,
I've been looking up winlink but it's all a bit confusing - what exactly is needed to use the winlink?
Thanks

[gerry]

Well, first of all you will need a SSB radio system installed on board. That is a radio that transmits on short wave frequencies.You also need a pactor modem,this enables text to be sent over the airwaves by connecting the computer to the radio! The other requirement will be a radio ham Licence, takes some time to acquire!

It is a system mainly used by liveaboard and long distance cruisers.

If you want to find out more try www.ybw.com go to the forums section and search for SSB email.


www.gerryantics.blogspot.com

[harryrezz]

If they are bringing across a brand new boat for a charter company then the boat itself will obviously be in good shape, but it will have minimal communication equipment on board so I'd say you'll pretty much have to forget about the issue of staying in contact during the crossing unless you have deep enough pockets to rent a satellite type phone - but it will be VERY costly.
The others posting have covered your other questions .... but as for a great Christmas gift while at sea, ummmm - how do you feel about making a parachute jump?

[gtod25]

I deliver boats and the worst thing you can do is arrange a communication schedule. Many things can go wrong with equipment, on board power supply, weather conditions etc. which would prevent him getting in touch. All you are going to do is worry yourself at the appointed time each day. Arrange to have NO communication until he reaches port, but agree that if he can pass a message he should do so (passing vessel with SSB e-mail, sat radio etc). HOWEVER DO buy him a personal EPIRB, it will be registered to him with you on the contact list. (ResQFix 406 GPS PLB or similar).

The boat will have its own EPIRB on board but a personal one is not overkill.

If he is on a charter boat it will NOT have SSB.

Fair Winds
Gerry (A different one)

[Notaclue]

Thanks for all the replies - the winlink doesn't seem to be a goer.
Nor does the parachute jump!!!!!!!!!!!!
The EPIRB is a really good suggestion - had a quick look at them now on the internet - about the same price as the satellite phone but probably a better use of funds.
n

[FLIGHT OF YEARS]

Hi,
My other half is about to embark on a transatlantic crossing and I've got a few questions and concerns if you could help me out.
Here's what I know already - they're collecting the boat - a 38 ft - in France sailing down to the canaries and then accross to the bahamas.
1. What is the best way to stay in contact with him or is there any?
2. Any clue how long a crossing like this could take?
3. What are the absolute essentials he should bring?
4. Should I be worried?
5. What would be a good christmas present to get in the middle of the atlantic?

Thanks for your help,
n

My daughter will be embarking New Year's Day on a solo circumnavigation, and we've found her sat phone is the best form of contact. It's instantaneous and the price is not bad at all.

Gene

[Notaclue]

Yeah the sat phone seems pretty good but it was that or the plb so we went for safety over communication. Bit of hassle with the plb as we can't register it in Ireland because there's no database kept here so I've sent the registration off to Falmouth in the UK.

The guys set off this morning from Les Sables D'Olonne so fingers crossed. They'll head out through the bay of biscay - which seems to be the icky bit - and then left and down along Portugal to the Canaries.

I've decided not to check any weather forecasts cos I'll just freak myself out but he was saying they should be clear until Tuesday and then a low is coming in. Fingers crossed.

[gerry]

So how are they doing?
Biscay in December can be a pretty unpleasant place. If you want to look at the weather for yourself have a look at www.passageweather.com it's easy to follow and , in my experience, pretty accurate.

www.gerryantics.blogspot.com