Git a new Albin Vega; Advice on Equipment ?

[gjordan]

I will have to agree that a conventional bimini is awkward on a boat your size, but on a passage, sun protection is important and big floppy hats only do a little. I havent asked yet, but do you have a dodger/spray hood? No matter what route you take you will have enough windward work to benefit greatly from a dodger. It also gives you something to attach a small sailing awning to. I looked at photos of Vegas and the boom has about the same clearance as my Contessa 26 had, and I almost always sailed with the small awning up. It makes the cockpit cooler and makes the below decks a little cooler. Because you dont have stainless hoops in the way, it causes very little interference and attached with shock cord, you can still maneuver quickly if needed. Baking in the sun takes the fun out of sailing. Your height will matter little since you dont spend much time standing up on a passage. On another note, skip the 45 lb anchor. That is way overkill for your size boat and awkward to stow, handle, retrieve. I am an advocate of big anchors, but 45 lb is too much. Enough for now. _____Grant.

[Bleemus]

How do you get to BC from Caribbean without the Canal or around the Horn? Peru?