SSB and watermakers

[Auspicious]

I used an SSB and Pactor modem daily on a transatlantic for both e-mail, grib files, and wefax. Most of the way across I checked into Herb's (Herb, not Hank) weather net. I could certainly have made it without the radio, but I was very glad to have it.

I did not have a watermaker and didn't really miss it. I carry 125 US gal of water in tanks and had another 20 gallons or so in jugs and bottles. The water we carried was generally more than adequate. Baby wipes did wonders for personal cleanliness. I crossed in May/June taking a more or less straight line from England through Azores to Bermuda and on to the US. A more southerly route at a warmer time of year might have put more pressure on water. YMMV.

sail fast, dave
S/V Auspicious

[svmoose]

We have sailed the same stretch of water and we had a lot of fun. Don't skip Flores in the Azores, it's very special! It's a bit out of the way, but it is definitely worth it!
We have used (and are still using) an Icom SSB radio and we are very happy with it. When you are in Bermuda you will meet other yachties that will sail the same route as you and most of the time (when we were there as well) somebody (or you) will set up a net for the passage. Different people will have access to different weather sources and will share that over the net. Sat phones etc. are not at all necessary and far too expensive. Once you have the SSB radio, everything is for free! We have an iridium phone but use it only in case of an emergency. There are nets on the SSB radio, ham and non-ham that you can listen to or participate in. Tons of weather info is always available on the net. I cannot tell you which frequencies though, we traveled the Atlantic 7 years ago and things might have changed.
Have fun, we loved Bermuda but the Azores were really special and it still has that special place in our hearts!
Duncan & Irene, SV MOOSE, Malaysia