Advice for first time crossing an ocean

[wholybee]

Originally Posted by Snore

Weather information and using it to route the boat are essential

1. Buy or rent an Iridium GO
2. Buy LuckGrib app and the offshore and weather modules
3. Buy iWatchSat app to see where the satellites are so you know when to download
4. (optional) Buy or rent a Garmin InReach

The plan would be to use the GO to download weather into LuckGrib and use that to route. The iWatchSat app is used to make sure an Iridium satellite is in range before you try to download a GRIB. Using iWatchSat, you can avoid the cost of a big antenna, and use a little, portable stubby one.

Before departing, spend a few weeks playing with LuckGrib. It is a powerful product and understanding what it can do is important.

The optional InReach is for your friends to track you. Since the InReach comes with a tracking webpage, and unlimited texts ($60 plan) friends can see where you are and send text messages.

There should always be a Iridium satellite in view. There is no need to use anything to check that one is overhead. You do need an external antenna with a clear view of the sky, horizon to horizon. I've sailed 30k ocean miles, not only gribs put emailing pictures where I was connected for over an hour at a time. If you are getting frequent disconnects downloading gribs, something is wrong.

The Iridium also does tracking, though having a backup is nice.

[Snore]

Originally Posted by wholybee

There should always be a Iridium satellite in view.

Nope. This is incorrect. Many miles at sea, extensive testing have proven this wrong.

Not “should” there are blind spots. Check the app!

[Jimmyhenry]

At sea we use deep pudding bowls for meals.
We also work towards one pot meals.
Before leaving we cook many meals and freeze them in meal size zip plastic bags.
We freeze the full bags in a plastic box that suits the freezer space So maximises storage.
One water Drinking bottle per Crew labelled to make sure everyone is hydrated.
Life vest dedicated and fitted to the individual crew fitted with light, AIS, and recovery line buoyed. Crew must stow where they know they can get easily and use on watch.
Medicine. Every crew to complete an extensive questionnaire covering health/medicine, Allergies, also.
GRAB BAG. Apart from the standard, also put boat papers, passports, Wallets etc.
SSB is a great basic. World wide communication. The pactor system is brilliant and a great back up for gribs. Also gives email.

That’s a few items.

If you like fishing select heavy gear.

Pete

[ben2go]

Fatty Goodlander has good proven ideas to survive a storm at sea. He has a good book.All the weather info in the world won't help when a storm hits. It's hard to out run storms at 6 to 8 knots.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/15...language=en_US

[MicHughV]

....don't forget something to read....

[capriole]

Originally Posted by Mantas

Thank you everyone for advice.

Regarding Iridium Go, I already ordered one from Predictwind and was thinking of using their offshore weather app, but will check out other tools/apps that you recommended. First need to install Iridium and learn how to use it.

Weather routing service sounds like a good idea too, I would like to have second opinion on whether as non of us have any experience in meteorology of any kind.

Wine only from proper glass - understood!

Provisioning and cooking, this one is important, 4 men cooking on board its going to be big challenge. Any trick on how to store food to last long? we have a fridge and separate freezer, but somehow we should be prepared to loose them both or in general electricity on board. Dried/canned food for this scenario? regarding water we have water maker, but planing to take bottled water for emergency, how much would you take per person?

EPIRB - we have one, why do you need more?

Have done much offshore on a boat w/o refrig. used dry ice. Lasted weeks if done right. Liquids on bottom, perishables on top.

[CarlF]

A GO and an InReach is a great combination. The InReach also serves as a backup EPIRB (actually, I would use the InReach first as it allows a two way communication with SAR - and only use the EPIRB if the InReach didn't work)

The InReach also does weather - not as well as the GO but enough. You get a 5 day forecast from OCEANS for $1. Or you can text a friend or weather router ashore and have them send you forecasts. Two or three 160 character texts can provide a detailed forecast.

I would make a list of things that can go wrong and have a plan. Here are a few:

- Genset/Alterator/Charger fails. Having no electricity is a real problem. Most boats do not have enough solar panels to support them. Have spares.

- Steering failure - test emergency system before leaving

- Autopilot failure - With four guys you could hand steer but won't be much fun

- Medical emergency - Tell your doc what you're doing and get prescriptions for several strong antibiotics and strong painkillers. Steri-strips. Quick-clot. Splint and neck brace. And other things the doc thinks you might need if a week from medical help.

Rig failure - carry dyneema to replace a stay or other piece of rig

Man-overboard - As others have suggested, an AIS MOB for each of you is probably the best strategy. Not cheap but you'll find the guy!

[barnakiel]

I agree with Carl above but I would say that rather than a Go and an InReach, get an Inmarsat phone and an InReach.


I say so because inReach is on Iridium constelation, but Inmarsat on its own. So you can buy some extra peace of mind by sitting on both wagons.


b.

[boatingisbetter]

We left Gran Canaria's Porto Morgan a few days before Christmas 1995. The biggest problem was all the cruisers who were discouraging our departure. "Dock Rot" is a common theme in major transit harbors. Most times when we tried to leave various locales, new found friends were trying to dissuade us from leaving. This was especially so as we prepared for the ocean crossing.

I think their thoughts may have been that they had been putting off leaving for so long that they might never actually do it. And for "safety" reasons we should also not leave.

There is no way to get more than a few days of desirable weather predicted in advance. So cast off the docklings when a weather window opens and ignore the howls of those who attempt to keep you from leaving.

We used grib files from the SSB as translated on the computer. Today easier options apparently exist. We really liked knowing what was coming weather wise.

Inexpensive, Spanish wines at the local grocery keep well in the bilges. Provision well and enjoy the milk run. Fresh eggs, garlic, squash, potatoes, canned meats/fruits/veg, pasta spices, corn meal... You may need to think beyond the fridge/freezer? I know we did with five guys. We stored plenty of bottled water in the shower stalls. As we would not have enough fresh water for showers anyway.

Motoring for five days total and several hours per day of generator use. We used 85 imperial gallons of diesel over 21 days.

Sailing to The Canaries was more difficult that crossing the ocean to St Lucia. Which is not to say that sailing to the Canaries was difficult. Though you will be on your own out there. We did not see another boat until St Lucia.

[robert sailor]

Make sure you have good light air sails. All the concern is about heavy weather but it's not that common in this area, light air and offshore sailing go hand in hand. Having said that the trades on this crossing are usually pretty consistent but often light going dead down wind.
You'll have a great trip, 4 guys makes it easy peasy unless they are not keeping clean, lol. Enjoy yourself, this is generally one of the easiest passages there is. R

[Jeremyls]

Good advice here ....

One point, the Iridium satellite constellation is a Low Earth Orbit constellation, this means they are actually only 'in view' for 7-8mins if you are on the equator. You dont need to worry about 'pointing' anything, or even knowing where the satellite is, so long as its pointed up and not blocked by anything it will be fine.

Enjoy your adventure.

[Fidsplice]

Interesting posts. Much on gadgets. People have been making this trip for at least 500 years. What worked then works now.
Presuming you have a sound boat (and it seems you do), the critical matter is enough food and water. Many posts address that well. When you head for the Caribbean, you really can’t miss land, so nav isn’t critical. Astro can be fun, but use Reeds tables. Excellent slim volume and technique, avoid the “big” books.

But the real issue. Who is skipper? Decide that, (and other roles if you need), and that is absolute for the voyage. Stick to your roles. Coining Broadway - it’s showtime and you have a 20 day (and night!) season. If you want to have arguments, that waits until you reach your destination.

Then set out your workload. Watches? I like 2 hours between about 10pm and 6 am. Then perhaps 4 hours. Off watch you get at least 6 hours sleep. You might like to sneak in a “dog watch” in this case 2 hours, sometime during the day so each person isn’t doing the same watches forever.

Do your watches diligently throughout the trip. Enter your log data each hour (coz it gets really boring!)

Have a routine “5:00 drinkies”. If you allow booze, one can or glass, and tasty nibbles. The watch system also says who prepares which meals. Routine is essential on long voyages. I can’t stress that too much.

When you arrive, have your arguments, call each other a ****. Get wonderfully pissed. Whatever. Your discipline on the voyage (playing your given role) makes for a wonderful trip. Breaking that makes misery out of what should be magic.

What they did 500 years ago is what you need to do now. Because we only know the 500 years success stories. So they must have done it pretty right!

[barnab]

I think this year is a bit special, so what I would do on top of the usual prep:


Have someone on shore watch your destination's travel restriction and immigration procedure and text you (Iridium offers free texting on their website) if they change


Plan for 14 days quarantine when you arrive, this makes you trip a lot longer than usual.
Currently quarantine means wearing masks when outside the cabin (= on deck) and no leaving the boat so no swimming!


Good luck with your crossing!

[GrowleyMonster]

Originally Posted by Fidsplice

Interesting posts. Much on gadgets. People have been making this trip for at least 500 years. What worked then works now.
Presuming you have a sound boat (and it seems you do), the critical matter is enough food and water. Many posts address that well. When you head for the Caribbean, you really can’t miss land, so nav isn’t critical. Astro can be fun, but use Reeds tables. Excellent slim volume and technique, avoid the “big” books.

But the real issue. Who is skipper? Decide that, (and other roles if you need), and that is absolute for the voyage. Stick to your roles. Coining Broadway - it’s showtime and you have a 20 day (and night!) season. If you want to have arguments, that waits until you reach your destination.

Then set out your workload. Watches? I like 2 hours between about 10pm and 6 am. Then perhaps 4 hours. Off watch you get at least 6 hours sleep. You might like to sneak in a “dog watch” in this case 2 hours, sometime during the day so each person isn’t doing the same watches forever.

Do your watches diligently throughout the trip. Enter your log data each hour (coz it gets really boring!)

Have a routine “5:00 drinkies”. If you allow booze, one can or glass, and tasty nibbles. The watch system also says who prepares which meals. Routine is essential on long voyages. I can’t stress that too much.

When you arrive, have your arguments, call each other a ****. Get wonderfully pissed. Whatever. Your discipline on the voyage (playing your given role) makes for a wonderful trip. Breaking that makes misery out of what should be magic.

What they did 500 years ago is what you need to do now. Because we only know the 500 years success stories. So they must have done it pretty right!

Good post, but I have to say something about the gadgets. The reason they didn't use them 500 years ago was they weren't available yet, nor were batteries available to power them, nor the requisite supporting infrastructure. Magellan and Columbus would have been delighted to have most of them, after a demonstration. Imagine how many fewer Spanish treasure galleons would have gone down in hurricanes, if they had computers and radio and GRIB files, or WEFAX or even Radar. Or fathometers. And worse come to worse, VHF to let the rest of the fleet know you are sinking. Think of all the marine disasters directly caused by inability to verify position due to cloudy skies. A handheld GPS would have saved thousands of lives over the past 5 centuries.

A prudent mariner will have a certain amount of gadgetry aboard. Most of it is pretty cheap, in the context of a boat worth between $10k and say $1M. The prudent mariner will also have an open mind about so-called "obsolete" technology, particularly as backup. Kerosene lanterns, for instance. A small diesel stove. And yes, of COURSE a sextant, sight reduction tables, paper, and pencil, triangles, dividers/compass. And it never ceases to amaze me how many so-called self professed sailors DO NOT HAVE A DECENT KNIFE IN THEIR POCKETS or on their belts.

The little things add enjoyment and convenience, efficiency, and SAFETY, as often as not.

[Fidsplice]

Yup GM - agree totally. I was just interested that the OP didn't seem to have any ""ocean" experience and the fundamentals may have slipped through, because they are so basic yet so important.