Small Boats & Atlantic Crossing

[Montanan]

Contrary to opinion size does not matter.

At a length of all of just 5 feet 4 Inch “Father’s Day” Is The Smallest Sailboat [and smallest boat] To Ever Cross The Atlantic Ocean. Sailed by Hugo Vihlen from Newfoundland to England.

In September 1993, lone sailor Hugo Vihlen made it to Falmouth after spending 105 days crossing the Atlantic Ocean by himself. While he was not the first to make the crossing, he was, in fact, the first to use a boat that only measured five feet and four inches, making it the smallest boat to ever cross the Atlantic.

This wasn’t the first time Vihlen made the trek, either. Back in 1968, he made the same trip in a slightly larger boat the April Fool, which measured five feet and eleven inches. Unfortunately, the April Fool was six and a half inches larger than Tom McNally’s five foot, four and a half inch boat which he sailed Across the Atlantic in 1993, claiming the Word Record for smallest boat to cross the ocean.

Not being able to stretch one's legs to a full extent when lying on one's back with legs curled for 105 days does make it rather difficult to be able to stand or walk upon making landfall.

Reference story here:

https://medium.com/@info_44554/5ft-4...n-fa6077c3ca8e

[Siberian Sea]

Yes, you can cross oceans on a boat less then 25 ft but....... why not have a bit more comfort, security and capabilities by choosing something a bit larger like a Westsail 32 ?

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Siberian Sea

Yes, you can cross oceans on a boat less then 25 ft but....... why not have a bit more comfort, security and capabilities by choosing something a bit larger like a Westsail 32 ?

Probably because the Westsail 32 is very hard to dock especially as a single hander and most sailors do not cross oceans.

As a weekend/ vacation sailor, this is a problem especially if the wind is high teens to 20 knots when you want to leave the dock

Then there's the slip fee where some marinas charge the full 39' of the Westsail 32.

[Flagman101]

Originally Posted by joelhemington

I believe they're called masochists

I have sailed with him.
I think he could do the Vendee Globe.
He is happy when he is just knocking down sea miles.
Non stop is how he likes it.

Also know Mylene Paquette, who actually rowed her way across the North Atlantic Ocean, west to east.
115+ days

[MicHughV]

Several people have rowed across the Atlantic

Rowing across the Atlantic
The journey of 2,302 nmi (4,263 km; 2,649 mi) set a record crossing time of 38 days, 6 hours and 49 minutes from June 27 to August 4, 2018 at an average speed of 2.5 knots (4.6 km/h; 2.9 mph). ... They achieved this by rowing across the Atlantic Ocean in 43 days, 15 hours and 22 minutes.

[Flagman101]

Most do it from east to west.
She did it from west to east takes a bit longer

[boatman61]

Originally Posted by Flagman101

Most do it from east to west.
She did it from west to east takes a bit longer

And.. is a bit further..

[Adelie]

Originally Posted by cooper1991

I'm following youtube episodes of a single handed crossing of Atlantic by a guy with a 26ft Contessa with a 5HP outboard.



Is this an exceptional sailor, exceptional boat of exceptional luck?



I know 26ft means no comfort and getting wet, but how small can you go to stay dry(ish) and have low/medium comfort?

Exceptional boat, yes.
Sailor, no idea.
Probably normal amount of luck.

In the 1980s an inexperienced 18yr old woman took a Contessa 26 around the world.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Adelie

Exceptional boat, yes.
Sailor, no idea.
Probably normal amount of luck.

In the 1980s an inexperienced 18yr old woman took a Contessa 26 around the world.

Yep, and the young woman, 18 year old Tania Aebi, had a bit of good luck going for her especially on that first leg from New York City to Bermuda.

Later one of her big problems was keeping old sailors at a distance until she met her future husband

https://www.simonandschuster.com/boo.../9781476747729

[Moonflow]

We sailed our previous yacht 'Wandering Star' UK to Australia in the mid 90's. (I will post a link to youtube). She is a Lemster Seacruiser 25'7" built of steel and built in Holland & launched in 1963, 5 t. Line drawing and photo below. It was an 11 month voyage via Panama and trade wind route . Only 2 storms Biscay and below New Caledonia. Great boat, for 2 people. The design is based on the Vertue but 6" wider.
Intro
https://youtu.be/3IvEcqFEx38
Part 1
https://youtu.be/eQER08bUKxM
Part 2
https://youtu.be/7wZE3e_LqUM
Happy sailing

[Luv2Sail2020]

Originally Posted by cooper1991

I'm following youtube episodes of a single handed crossing of Atlantic by a guy with a 26ft Contessa with a 5HP outboard.

Is this an exceptional sailor, exceptional boat of exceptional luck?

I know 26ft means no comfort and getting wet, but how small can you go to stay dry(ish) and have low/medium comfort?

Go look up the "Tally Ho" Sampson Boat Company youtube channel (if someone has not already mentioned that one, so hard to read every comment).
That young man sailed his wooden boat that he restored, I think 25' sailboat, no engine, sextant for navigation, skulls when he gets to harbor, across the Atlantic.

He is currently restoring a 109 year old wooden boat out in Washington state. Worth a binge watch to catch up to where is is at now on the sailboat build. Excellent shipwright.

[admiral 31]

John Riding & Sea Egg

https://www.efootage.com/videos/6177...a-egg-sailboat


https://www.efootage.com/videos/6179...egg-sailboat-2

[Seadevil]

I last crossed the Atlantic in a Moody 36 and it was just fine - all the gear - Hydrovane, SSB etc. I am taking my Beneteau 323 across this year by this method which seems to work out cheaper and solves the 90/180 problem
https://youtu.be/68tlYSdIJ3g

She is based in Boulogne so it seems to make sense!

[Seadevil]

I made this video about Atlantic Crossing a few months ago and it seems to be popular and useful''' It's imaginatively called

The Atlantic Crossing Guide

https://youtu.be/zpO0npASlI4

Probably more in the spirit of blue water cruising but this time I just want to get the boat to Martinique as quickly and cheaply as possible which is why I am going to put her on a ship as per


https://youtu.be/68tlYSdIJ3g

[double u]

"o tempora, o mores!" Not so long ago a fair proportion of the boats you'd meet in anchorages on the tradewind-rtw-route would be between 7 & 8m long...& every odd year sinc 1977 6,50m boats race across the Atlantic singlehanded...