How to cruise on a small sailboat? How to ensure the safety of the crew on the high seas or in the ocean in bad weather? How to deal with unexpected situations while sailing? Here are some tips:
Small Sailing Boat Cruise: Crazy or Reality?
AUTONOMY
Water
With a stainless steel water tank under the V-shaped couch in the bow cabin, and water supplies under the cockpit, a crew of three can count on a minimum of 175 liters of drinking water. Because an average crew of three uses 5 liters of drinking water per daytherefore, it can be autonomous for 38 days at sea.
Longest voyage without entering the harbor, possible for them is 3124 miles in 30 days in the Pacific Ocean between the Galapagos Islands and the Marquesas. In second place is sailing in the Atlantic Ocean - 2976 miles in 24 days.
If these cruises lasted longer, for example, due to a gust of sail, breakage of the mast, light wind or something else, in this case the team could only rely on the mercy of the rain.
The daily intake of fresh water for drinking, cooking, personal toilet and dishwashing is 10 to 12 liters per person.
For desalination of sea water a manual watermaker can be installed, but in truth, its efficiency is rather low - about 1 liter per hour. Do you start to wonder if the effort spent on operating a manual desalter is worth the result !? But you have to sweat well (in the literal sense of the word) to get 1 liter of "precious liquid"!
Regarding the electric watermaker, such have just appeared for small boats. Therefore, the most effective and simple way to obtain fresh water in tropical areas, where there are frequent rainfalls, is the collection of rainwater. An awning stretched over the cockpit (which, by the way, saves from the scorching sun in the heat) will help in collecting rainwater. A plastic container is attached to the edges of this awning (namely, under it), where rainwater is drained.
Small sail boat cruise
Food
Small galley can be equipped with a small stove with a stopper and one single cooking pot. This will be quite enough for a crew of 3-4 people. You can also use a pressure cooker. It has a big advantage over a conventional saucepan, since its lid is hermetically sealed (which is convenient in case of rocking), and it is also very economical (food is cooked in it much faster).
It should be noted that seawater may work well. for cooking cereals, pasta, vegetables, but only in a ratio of 1/3 to drinking water, that is, in order to save fresh water, you can use sea water.
With regard to food supplies, the following example can be given: a crew of four adults who are stocking up on food for a 21-day voyage (+ 10 days for any emergencies) must take 300 kg of food with them.
In case of minimum food supplies, take with you: cereals, pasta, as well as vegetables and fruits that are well stored, for example, cucumbers, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, oranges, lemons, grapefruits, mangoes, pineapples and more. It does not hurt to bring multivitamin juices and purees with you (especially if there are children on board).
Energy
The power consumption of a small boat like the Wal comes down to a navigational light at the top of the mast and a GPS. The 18W solar panel is enough to charge a 31 amp battery. For a boat of this size, installing a wind turbine is problematic. The 3.5 l / s outboard motor can only be used for a limited number of maneuvers.
SUN PROTECTION
In the middle of the ocean, the sun beats down with unrelenting force, so don't forget your hats! A canopy over the cockpit is required, since the crew is most often there. Wear sunglasses, and to avoid burns, use sunscreen on exposed skin.
SECURITY
As the architects say Etap 21i, Alain Martain and Yannis Mavrikios, the successful outcome of swimming depends on many factors. These architects always try to deal with those shipyards for which the safety of the crew is always at the forefront.
First of all, the boat should not be overloaded. For a small sailboat, the load is no more than 350-400 kg. For example, a crew of two adults and one child will carry 280 kg of food and water supplies and 120 kg of materials (tools, outboard motor, minimum clothing, electronics, documents and additional equipment).
We add that the distribution of additional weight, for example, water tanks, must be correct.
Crossing the English Channel on board Etap 21i loaded with water, Alain Martain and Yiannis Mavrikios noticed that the boat goes better in the breeze, and during the waves it is better to go "empty".
FAILURES
Structurally robust Etap 21i, like 500 other specimens, 90% of which have a keel tandem, while sailing, he had practically no serious injuries, apart from the rudder feather damaged by the turtle.
Yan van speybrock, a shipyard employee, says that “2 rudders are more vulnerable than horizontal rudders... But replacing them is very simple. It is enough to remove the core and unhook the rudder, just like on the lifting keel. "
And instead of loading spare mainsail armor, which is almost never needed, on board, you should take an extra rudder with you. The participants are well aware of this. Vendee globe.
RIGGING
Modifications implemented by the Etap 21i Wal creware filled with meaning. So, the addition of a third row of reefs is a must in order to walk during the breeze. In addition, the weak engine power does not allow a boat as small as Wal to go as we would like. With a mainsail with three rows of reefs and a partially twisted staysail, the sail combination is 'robust'. And no storm jib on board! And only the second staysail is the same size as the first (original). The second staysail is wound on a twist and allows sailing with a tailwind without a mainsail.
The Etap 21i rigging is equipped with an additional guy exactly in order to better support the mast under the spinnaker. The only pity is that Etap21? was not equipped with a gennaker or light asymmetrical spinnaker, which take up little space and are quite effective in some cases. But this will remain on the conscience of the team.
Small sail boat cruise
BAD WEATHER
Small sailboats are more likely to suffer from bad weather. No matter how you study the weather reports and no matter how you choose the best periods for your sailing in the ocean, you will practically not be able to avoid adverse sea conditions. This will have to be fought. The most important thing at such moments is to carry out the right actions. During a storm, you need to lower the mainsail and tilt the staysail towards the bow of the boat. This will help slow your boat down. Use a floating anchor to resist the raging waves.
COMMUNICATIONS
Yiannis Mavrikios says that "you need to be able not to overload the boat, loading the most important things on board, while not forgetting about the necessary." Necessary while sailing is the ability to connect to the land and use the Internet. To keep in touch with the ground, use a satellite phone. It is very convenient, although quite expensive.
05.11.2017
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