How to Cross Any Sea or Ocean: 6 Tips from the Pros

For many yachtsmen, a trip across the ocean is the brightest and biggest dream. However, in the process of mastering the sea craft, one usually comes to the understanding that a passage across the conditional Atlantic or a long sea passage without calling at ports are essentially not very different. Yes, each of the four (not including the Arctic) oceans has its own character and features, but the sequence of actions in conquering these endless water spaces is approximately the same.

Andy Schell, an experienced yachtsman and racer, describes his recent voyage across the Atlantic: “We sailed with a crew of 10 people. The 2,200-mile crossing took just under 11 days – surprisingly comfortable, fast and even fabulous. However, all this is the result of painstaking preparation. During the trip, I asked myself: “What do I need to think about during the preparation stage so that both a leisurely cruise and a regatta go smoothly and intensely?”

Ultimately, it all comes down to preparation and planning. These two steps are the most important in the entire journey. They determine how quickly or slowly, pleasantly or not so much, with or without problems, you will get to your destination. 

Who is this advice for?

For everyone who can read! And for those who are interested in learning a little more about the sea. Also for those who dream of sailing across the ocean. For those who have already done it. And even for those who are not going to do it and love Mediterranean cruises. These practical tips will be useful for any yachtsman.

What is more important than planning

A small lyrical digression: according to Andy Shell, with whom we agree, the most important aspect of any sailing trip is medicine and everything related to the health of the crew and skipper. 

Maintaining your health and immunity, treating wounds, and supporting the sick are more important than anything else. Unfortunately, many yachtsmen leave filling their first aid kits and learning emergency procedures until the last minute. Don't do that. 

Provide detailed instructions to the crew or family members regarding everything related to their health and safety. It doesn’t matter how good your cruise plan is if it is marred by injuries or poisoning. This is especially true when you are going to exotic places. Local cuisine can be too much for your stomach and intestines, so pay attention to what you and especially your children eat.

What doesn't matter

Bam-bam, it happens! As in everyday life, there are a number of misconceptions and strange myths in yachting. In particular, these myths give rise to the wrong idea of what exactly is needed to cross the ocean. In this section, we will draw your attention to some things that will not affect your long passage in any way. Well, or their impact will be minimal.

Yacht design

The ocean can be crossed on any type of watercraft. The ancient Polynesians, who were able to cross the Pacific Ocean on rafts, are proof of this. Okay, this is not a scientifically supported fact, but we still have arguments in favor of the fact that the size of the yacht is not as important as the ability to reef the sails.

Over the last 50-80 years, people have been tirelessly trying to set a record for the smallest size of yachts and ships capable of crossing the ocean. We wrote a whole big article about this, which you can study follow this linkFor reference: in 1993, Tom McNally crossed the Atlantic on board a 1.6-meter-long boat.

The same applies to the type of boat hull. Monohull, catamaran, trimaran – it doesn’t matter at all. If your goal is to make a long passage, it is feasible on any type of hull. The main secret is to have sufficient skill to control your boat.

On-board systems

Sailors have been crossing seas for thousands of years, and oceans for a little less. It would be strange to make the fact of successful transition dependent on the types of navigation systems or batteries. The same goes for sail materials and boat engine types. 

Much more important than the specific brands and types of devices on board is their condition and durability. Any system, sail and rope will serve you for many years with proper operation and timely maintenance. 

Don't buy into the hype for some "ocean" equipment, because there are no yacht devices designed only for the ocean. Of course, a lot depends on the boat's certification, but most yachts of 12-14 meters in size can be delivered to the other side of the ocean without much difficulty.

All in all, strip away the unnecessary and focus on what really matters for an ocean or offshore sailing trip. Now we'll talk about the important stuff.

What matters

In total, we have collected six tips from Andy Shell, which he has derived from his extensive experience. These are tips and recommendations that even experienced yachtsmen should listen to - perhaps there are tips for them here too.

Sailor's skill

Once upon a time a wise man said: "The more you know, the less you need." And he was absolutely right! The winged quote fully meets all the needs of yachting. Gaining experience, you will see more and more clearly what is important for you personally, as a yachtsman, and what is not.

This will concern both sailing techniques, and the principle of collecting provisions, and equipment, and clothing for cruises. Seamanship shapes a person, polishes him and educates him. The number of nautical miles traveled is not yet evidence of great experience. The opposite is also true. 

It all comes down to experience and skill – you can be the most well-read of sailors, but your hands won’t learn to tie knots without practice, and your rich sea experience won’t always help you successfully lead a crew.

The more experience you have in handling a yacht under both sail and power, working in confined spaces, offshore maintenance and repair, reading charts and interpreting weather forecasts, and understanding radar charts, the easier it will be for you to cross the ocean.

Output: Skill is the basis for successfully crossing an ocean, sea, or lake. Skill without real experience remains a theory that quickly fades from the mind.

Weather and its secrets

The hoary antiquity has long been lost in the centuries and today the process of weather forecasting has become much simpler. Thanks to powerful weather systems and means of communication, a sailor in the 21st century risks being caught by surprise by a sudden storm much less often than a hundred years ago. The most accurate forecasts, as you probably know, fall on the interval from 24 to 48 hours. This time is quite enough to clearly plan part of the route during the passage.

However, at sea, there is a big difference between "forecasting" the weather and "reading" it. Weather forecasting is done by meteorological and coastal services. They also transmit weather data to sailors. However, the weather near the shore and on the open sea can be very different, which will greatly affect your journey.

Reading the weather is a more complex process. To read the weather, it is not enough to look at the sky, see cirrus clouds and say: "It will rain tonight." It will not. Or maybe it will. Such a "prediction" is akin to fortune telling on the street. We need to READ the weather. And for this, we need to know the basics of meteorology, the influence of wind, atmospheric pressure, cyclones and anticyclones, temperature on the weather. 

With a sufficiently developed skill in reading the weather, you will be able to interpret much more clearly not only what you see with your own eyes, but also the forecasts of meteorologists. This is the art of a sailor. You can learn to manage a yacht in a week, and the ability to catch the slightest changes in the weather is developed over the years.

However, your learning of this skill will go much faster. Modern weather forecasting has a fairly high accuracy. This will help you to have a clearer idea of how exactly the weather works.

Output: Any sea voyage requires knowledge of the weather and the principles by which it works. Without these skills, you won't get very far on the ocean.

Sail

Can you determine the weather for the next two days by the wind? And what will you do without sails in the middle of the ocean with knowledge of the weather? That's right, nothing. Therefore, to conquer the ocean, you will need sails. Preferably - for all occasions.

The ocean, especially the Atlantic, is a dangerous place where weather conditions can change quickly. To avoid losing control at the most inopportune moment, it is advisable to have several sets of sails with you in case something goes wrong or you have to adapt to difficult conditions.

Andy Shell recommends this set of sails:

• Mainsail – with external reef hawses on the lower luff and full battens.
• The jib or genoa is the main headsail that will be used for the 90% time.
• A smaller jib or a flatter jib is for sailing against the wind and for situations where a regular jib is not enough.
• Storm staysail – for successful passage through a storm or bad weather.
• Gennaker, asymmetric or symmetrical kite.

The set is individual and may differ from yachtsman to yachtsman. Andy also advises to pay attention not to the brand, but to the material. Note that it is the material that plays a decisive role in the durability of the sails. It is also worth paying close attention to their condition and, if possible, not to exploit them "barbarically", that is, to give excessive loads.

Output: you need to assemble your own universal set of sails. You should be familiar with this set, understand the purpose of each sail and how to manage them correctly.

Communication

There are sails, keep your nose to the wind… But how can you find out about the real weather forecast without communication? Without communication, you can’t! Many yachtsmen love yachting because of the feeling of freedom it gives during travel. You are in some backwater on the outskirts of the Mediterranean – and no one can reach you because you are outside the network coverage area. However, Elon Musk tried to make sure that the boss does not lose sight of you. 

Starlink today offers a simple and effective way to get Internet access from anywhere on the globe. Thanks to this small black and white antenna, you can get weather forecasts, listen to music, and even watch movies. Such a device is really an indispensable thing, because you can also notify your loved ones that you are okay and that you are on the specified route.

However, Starlink is not the only thing! Elon Musk's antenna, alas, is not enough to support emergency communications. An emergency or breakdown communication system must be present on board without fail. For example, the Iridium Go! handheld radio is an excellent universal tool for sending and receiving emails, downloading weather forecasts, and sending distress signals.

In the open sea or ocean, the presence of such a station is critically important. It is thanks to such devices that rescuers have the opportunity to quickly respond to an accident and come to the rescue. An illustrative situation with an emergency occurred last year, when whale sinks yacht in middle of pacific ocean. We recommend you read it.

Output: Communication devices are vital at sea and in the ocean. Don't skimp on buying such devices, because the safety of your crew depends on them.

Provisions and drinking water

Andy recalls an unfortunate situation in the late 2000s when an electrical system on one of the boats failed during an ARC regatta. He says: "Along with the electricity, the fridge and freezer went out. The boat crew had planned their food consumption, naively believing that there couldn't be any problems with the electricity or refrigeration. 

They had not taken enough emergency rations with them. So, a week before the end of the regatta, they had to send a message to the organizers asking for provisions to be delivered. Needless to say, this was a serious lapse in planning."

During a long passage, you are unlikely to have a yacht nearby with extra provisions. For a successful passage, it is necessary to clearly plan not only the consumption of provisions, but also the method of their preparation. Do you have a plan in case of a breakdown of the gas or electric stove? Is there enough food that does not require additional heat treatment?

The same applies to the operation of desalination plants and the capacity of drinking water tanks. In the case of drinking water, it is necessary to have an emergency supply of fresh water in case of a breakdown of the desalination plant.

Output: In addition to the basic food and water supplies, you should have an emergency supply that will be used in difficult or critical situations. Do not neglect creating these supplies, otherwise you risk being left without provisions and water.

Maintenance

While the hull type and onboard systems are not the most important, quality maintenance is critical. A boat with poor naval architecture, if properly maintained, will perform much better on an ocean or sea passage than a perfectly designed but poorly maintained yacht.

When it comes to tools, Andy advises following the rule: “If you need a tool once, borrow it, but if you need it twice, buy it.” There is nothing more frustrating than being faced with a simple repair at sea while out at sea and not having the right tool at hand. 

Before going out to sea, examine the condition of the boat, decide on the necessary set of tools. When going to the store, choose the highest quality tools, do not spare money. By the way, tools also need to be regularly maintained so that they are in working order.

All potential problem areas on board should be prioritized. Problems can be “safety critical” or “minor.” All your efforts should be focused on solving critical problems. Minor problems can wait until the end of the cruise. The main thing is that you do not forget about them.

When equipping a boat for a cruise or passage, study the onboard systems. Which of them are "connected", i.e. interdependent? Try to separate them, localize them. This will facilitate potential repairs.

Output: Knowing the yacht's problems and solving them in a timely manner will protect you from sudden problems. Perform maintenance on the yacht as often as possible and do a check-up before any trip to the open sea.

New video on the Interparus channel🎥

Used yachts, used yachts... How much in these 6 letters. In a new video on the Interparus channel, Sasha Goron will tell about a very interesting experience of buying such a yacht. Enjoy watching!

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14.09.2024