After my “boisterous” run from Beaufort to Ft Pierce FL a few weeks ago, I have found myself wondering about the insurance company restrictions on travel south prior to November 1st due to hurricane risk. Yes, I get the need to avoid hurricanes. However, to head out into the North Atlantic as the gales of winter are heating up carry it’s own risk.
I would very much like to take Pandora to the Caribbean in a few years and have attended a few seminars sponsored by a new rally “The Salty Dawg Rally” in conjunction with the Annapolis Boat Show. This rally, like the Caribbean 1500, are designed to connect sailors who wish to take their boats south with others who are doing the same thing, either for the first time or again after many years.
While participants travel in company in each rally, each boat is really on it’s own out on the ocean once the “fleet” leaves port. One of my friends crewing with Pandora on our way south this fall remarked that when he had done the Bermuda race he had only rarely seen another boat once the fleet had spread out after the first day until they approached the finish line. And this, in spite of there being literally hundreds of boats participating. Other than that, they were on their own for much of the race.
In the case of a rally, you hang out with others prior to the start and again at the finish and yet, during the run you are really all by yourself with know one around for most or all of the trip.
While Pandora was never more than 25 miles from shore for the 550 miles between Beaufort and Florida, we only saw a few ships and no small boats at all, during our three day trip. It seems that the “comfort” of traveling in company on a voyage will only get you so far. If you think about it, the difference in boat speed of only 1/2 knot will leave the slower boat over the horizon in a half day. That’s not a lot of time to be out of sight and matching your speed to another vessel isn’t very practical, especially if the boats are of very different design.
This November the Salty Dawg Rally left in early November from Hampton VA ahead of a cold front to make the run south to the British Virgin Islands. In spite of careful preparations, a number of boats got into trouble. According to the US Coast Guard, they assisted a total of five vessels, rescuing the crew of one. The amount of CG hardware used to assist and rescue was impressive and include helicopters, 100′ cutters and airplanes.
Here is a video, taken by the US Coast Guard out of Elizabeth City NC. It looks to me like the couple rescued were in their 60s. Pretty frightening. I sure hope that I never have to hitch a ride with “Coasties”,
As competitors, the Salty Dawg Rally and the Caribbean 1500 differ from one another in a number of ways. Perhaps the biggest differences include the fact that the SDR doesn’t require participants to have their boats inspected by the rally organizers which the 1500 group does. Instead, they take the position that participating boats re responsible for being certain that their boats are in condition for an ocean voyage and that they have to make the decision to leave on their own based on weather information provided to everyone equally. The 1500 has an “official” start while the SDR tells skippers to leave when they feel that they are ready and that the weather is appropriate for them and their boat. The SDR rally is also free as opposed to the 1500 which charges a pretty steep entrance fee in exchange for additional services.
This year both the SDR and 1500 left from Hampton at about the same time that I had my rough run south. However, the boats that ran into serious trouble were all from the SDR with no major reported problems from 1500 participants.
I agree that the decision to leave port needs to be made by the skipper and that the condition of the boat is also his or her responsibility. Having said that, my experience with the rigger in Beaufort who declared that Pandora’s rig wasn’t “offshore ready” and the conflicting advice that I received in Florida and from the rigger in Annapolis that had redone my rig a few years ago, made me realize that getting good professional advice about Pandora’s condition is critical and that knowing if she is ready for an offshore run or not, is clearly beyond my personal expertise.
So, who’s right? Is the Salty Dawg Rally, with their “skipper is totally responsible” position or the more “hand holding” approach of the 1500? It’s not for me to say except that getting a full review of the boat’s condition and readiness is a complex question and to get full assistance from a rally organizers may be just what is needed for many.
All I know is that in spite of the fact that the fleets in both rallies left from the same port and at about the same time, that the only boats that suffered major gear damage and needed outside assistance was from the rally that didn’t require independent seaworthiness inspections prior to departure.
I expect that there will be considerable debate about these two rallies in the coming months and it will be interesting to see how things develop.
Me, my recent experiences have made me even more aware of how much can go wrong when the “going gets rough” at sea and I am resolved to continue to be sure that Pandora is the best possible condition before we head out into the great blue.
Even more, as the winter gales begin to heat up and the threat of hurricanes is behind us, the time that insurance companies say it’s OK to be at sea, there is no question that being at sea is always serious business and any offshore voyage should’t be taken lightly.
What do you think?
I took the 1500 and I’m glad I did. The inspector noticed what I had not: that the nut that holds the bolt that attaches the boom to the mast was loose. Do you like your boom, he asked. Sure, I replied. Well then let’s tighten up this nut and put a locking one behind it he suggested. Still, in our rough passage gear broke — a shackle for instance. But you have to at least start out with as much working a possible.
And though you may not see the other boats, except possibly an intermittent masthead light on the horizon at night, they are out there with you, within 20 miles, and will assist if called, pursuant to the unwritten law of the sea.
When we did the two night passage from Boqueron at the SE corner of Puerto Rico, to Big Sand Key, a sandbar at the SW corner of Turks and Caicos, we got together with other cruisers while waiting for the weather window and agreed to call in to each other twice a day — security in numbers.
Thanks for your thoughtful post, Bob.
Bob,
As a Salty Dawg participant there are two items I need to say. One, is that there were 0ver 100 boats in the Salty Dawgs which were more than 4 x the number in the 1500. Two, having talked to a 1500 participant, that group also have “problems”, although none were as serious as a few Dawgs. The 1500 of course will not publicize those. Pre inspection should be done by all (and not a day or two before the voyage). But it is the responsibility of the captain/owner regardless of any outside organization requirement (even boats going south without the blessing of an organization). That is prudent seamanship. Hopefully, the owner/captain has enough experience with his/her own boat to be able to do this. What should be discussed is the trend toward bigger and lighter “blue water boats”. Heavy boats cost more and are slower but are round the buoy racing boats up to off shore challenges? Will slight corrosion compromise a fitting? How will the crew fare on a quick rolly platform for 48 hours? How close do you want to live on the edge? Do you really want to cross an ocean in an egg shell? I liked the Dawgs Rally, it was a real show of non commercial commeraderie (sp?) and seamanship. The communications were fantastic and the friends we met were terrific. We are now enjoying the BVI’s after, yes, a challenging voyage.
Bill: You bring up good points. It does seem to me that some boats being sold as “blue water” capable aren’t really up to the task. Me, I have become convinced that getting a professional to go over the boat is critical. It’s easy to live with a boat, well kept or not, and to become casual about it’s condition. I guess some folks don’t want to go to a doctor for a well-visit for fear that they will get bad news. Perhaps the same can apply to ocean going boats.
Thanks for leaving your excellent thoughts.
Bob
I agree, you can get “casual” about your own boat and sometimes an outsider will see things in a more critical light.
Hello Pandora:
An excellent report about the rallies. I have made the passage many times but never as part of a rally. Curious to know, how many of the yachts are crewed by between two and four persons? Have you an idea about that?
Best, Norm in Boston
(My wife follows your wife’s blog!)
Norman: Thanks for your thoughts. Having read more about the incidents since posting I am beginning to wonder if perhaps it’s better to go alone so that there isn’t any potential to make decisions because you don’t want to be “left behind”. With regards to the number of crew, I did see that the crew featured on the video I posted from the Coast Guard showed them rescuing just two. Me, I would not do that trip with just one other as there is just too much opportunity for problems with gear, such as an electronic autopilot, to not have backup bodies aboard. As fatigue is often a reason for rescues, having more on board should impact that issue as well. I also spoke to Chris Parker, the weather router, and his feeling is that it’s better to leave from Beaufort NC as opposed to Hampton as it cuts off a day of sailing to get across the stream and into more favorable waters. This makes it easier to make the run through the worse parts and take less time. As a result, you can go with a shorter window. There is certainly plenty of room for debate here. Perhaps I should write about less controversial issues like anchoring…
So pleased that your wife is reading Brenda’s blog. That’s terrific. I read it too.
Bob
Bob:
Thanks for the reply. Don Street has spoken often about leaving from Beaufort, NC. I think he has also written about it in a cruising magazine. Hatteras is a hard place and I find North of Hatteras to be harder. The problem is getting around the corner if you can’t cut the corner when heading down from the North East.
The best delivery I ever made was a December 15 departure from Newport and an arrival in the BVI right after Christmas. It was cold for a few days until we crossed the Stream and then the best ocean sailing ever. We left on the front of a high and broad reached to warm water. Very nice!
I also very much agree with you about going alone. This has to do with an old saying that calendars are the most dangerous things on sailing boats. That said, the friendships associated with races and rallies are worthwhile.
My question about crew is based on my interest in short handed racing. My wife, Elizabeth, and I do some DH races and enjoy them. The next most logical crew organization is, I think, 4-handed. I have made many DH deliveries and a few 3 or 4-handed ones. I find that more than four is a hassle. Do you find that voyaging boats are sailed shorter distances by two and longer distances by three or four? That is sort of my observation. Any thoughts on that?
I have an idea about designing and running a “2×4 Rally” for sailors planning voyages. The plan is to have a 100+ nm event that allows sailors to stress test their systems in the Mass Bay and Cape Cod Bay area. The two by four relates to the min/max crew size.
Anyway, we are noodling out a plan for our first year of retirement. Your stories are inspiring. As for knitting, we have made a couple of long trips and E has brought her knitting bag but not picked up one stitch the whole time. Either I need to plan better or she needs to be on board more often?
Best regards, Norman
Boston
oh, yeah… I lived on Rum Cay for two months as a kid in the early 60s. I’d like to see the place again. I think you had or linked to some pictures.