Is it Possible to Go Blue Water in a 13 Foot Guppy?

[pete2169]

I have a 13 foot guppy pocket cabin cruiser sailboat, It has dual saltwater electric motors and 160 lbs of thrust. I have just installed a lightweight lithum battery pack and 180 watts of solar pannels that I built in to the top of the cabin. I beefed up the riging and the hull to handle heavier conditions. I was hoping to take on the coconut milk run in 2013. Do you think it would be crazy to try? I have sailed it around in lakes, but I have never taken to the ocean. It has a wide beam for it's length and is pretty stable in choppy waters. I would like to sail it to the Vava'u Island group in Tonga. I have heard that someone crossed the atlantic with one in the 70's. I was thinking it would be possible to make it if I had others nearby to help me if I got into trouble. any ideas?

[Blue Crab]

Kinda gotta wonder what's the point? For folks who do try these stunt trips-- and I say that because no way it's going to be fun or even pleasant -- I'd like to see you and others have to post a bond that would cover the expense of your rescue, if needed.

[Sabbatical II]

Maybe there's some crewing opportunities here?

[Captain Jeffry]

Originally Posted by pete2169

I have a 13 foot guppy pocket cabin cruiser sailboat, It has dual saltwater electric motors and 160 lbs of thrust. I have just installed a lightweight lithum battery pack and 180 watts of solar pannels that I built in to the top of the cabin. I beefed up the riging and the hull to handle heavier conditions. I was hoping to take on the coconut milk run in 2013. Do you think it would be crazy to try? I have sailed it around in lakes, but I have never taken to the ocean. It has a wide beam for it's length and is pretty stable in choppy waters. I would like to sail it to the Vava'u Island group in Tonga. I have heard that someone crossed the atlantic with one in the 70's. I was thinking it would be possible to make it if I had others nearby to help me if I got into trouble. any ideas?

My first sailing Master in 1971 held a record (for a while) for sailing to Hawaii from SoCal in the smallest boat. I think it was a West Wight Potter. Thought was an 18? Did it with his son.. He was a very good sailor/celestial guru with dozens of thousands of blue water miles under his bottom at the time. Ted Foxx. My advise to do it on a 13' pocket cruiser you better have many skill sets including celestial nav and hopefully a way to get weather en route. Not to mention a vast knowledge of heavy weather sailing experience. You won't always have tradewind sailing and even hop scotching down to Tonga your passage time in between is huge!... Maybe a sat phone with a paid router on shore calling the shots. You'll be out there for a very long time. Longer the time the more often you are exposed to difficult conditions out there. Choose wisely~

[Reefmagnet]

Anything's possible. Tinkerbell was the boat that crossed the Atlantic 60's or 70's. Here's the online book of that voyage if you want more info Tinkerbelle, by Robert Manry : from Cleveland Memory

[Captain Jeffry]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

Anything's possible. Tinkerbell was the boat that crossed the Atlantic 60's or 70's. Here's the online book of that voyage if you want more info Tinkerbelle, by Robert Manry : from Cleveland Memory

Thanks, Crazy stuff! Wow!

[Reefmagnet]

No worries I read the book a fair while ago. It's a fascinating story.

[Captain Jeffry]

Originally Posted by Reefmagnet

No worries I read the book a fair while ago. It's a fascinating story.

I'll bet! Aren't they all? These guys were incredible.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by pete2169

I have a 13 foot guppy pocket cabin cruiser sailboat...
...I was thinking it would be possible to make it if I had others nearby to help me if I got into trouble. any ideas?

Any ideas? hell yes I have an idea: this is an ill considered proposal and one in which you blithely expect "others nearby" to bail you out when it goes pear shaped.

Your plan (if you can call this a plan) deliberately putts others in the position of having to risk themselves for your foolishness.

This is selfish, inconsiderate and foolhardy and deserves to be nixed by the CG as a manifestly unsafe voyage.

I'm sorry to be so negative, but someone needs to burst your bubble.

Cheers,

Jim

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by pete2169

I have a 13 foot guppy pocket cabin cruiser sailboat, It has dual saltwater electric motors and 160 lbs of thrust. I have just installed a lightweight lithum battery pack and 180 watts of solar pannels that I built in to the top of the cabin. I beefed up the riging and the hull to handle heavier conditions. I was hoping to take on the coconut milk run in 2013. Do you think it would be crazy to try? I have sailed it around in lakes, but I have never taken to the ocean. It has a wide beam for it's length and is pretty stable in choppy waters. I would like to sail it to the Vava'u Island group in Tonga. I have heard that someone crossed the atlantic with one in the 70's. I was thinking it would be possible to make it if I had others nearby to help me if I got into trouble. any ideas?

Pete who are you really? Post number 1 and it is like you have been here a long time and just want to push our buttons! Are you really a regular who made a new CF member profile to try to Punk us?

But in case you are serious, I think this is a terrible idea!!!

[atoll]

some nice music for your voyage................

Can You Withstand The Troll Song Bro - YouTube

[Sailmonkey]

The only way to prep for a voyage like this is to spend 3 months aboard in your driveway (never get off of the boat and speak to no one).

[carstenb]

Pete,

There are easier ways of committing suicide. Use them. Doing it this way will only end up putting others lives in danger - bad news. bad karma.

[skipmac]

Assuming this is not a complete troll.

Yes, it is possible in theory BUT if you have to ask the question then you are not ready to attempt the trick.

The only concievable way this could be done is by someone with extraordinary skills and experience. By the very fact that you are asking indicates you have neither.

[Jentine]

Go for it!!!! We need to thin the herd.