Cruising World – August 2019

BAA

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PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS and TECHNIQUES

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SEAMANSHIP

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alfway from Newport,

Rhode Island, to

Bermuda one recent

November, all four crews

on the boats in my offshore

sailing program listened rapt

to the drama unfolding on the

VHF radio. We could hear

only the U.S. Coast Guard side

of the conversation as they

rescued the crew of a boat in

trouble, but that was enough

for all of us.

It was a stinky night, blow-

ing 35 knots and gusting over

40 out of the southeast—our

course to Bermuda. The rain

was pelting down, and big

sloppy seas were coming from

three different directions.

On our matching 46 -foot

performance cruisers, all four

skippers had independently ar-

rived at the same solution for

With good preparation, a little patience and a solid plan, the sail south down the East Coast of

the United States for the winter can be the best part of the trip. BY ANDREW BURTON

1 LAUNCHING THE DREAM

3

Bodacious Batteries

PAGE 76

4

“Hot” Marinas?

PAGE 80

1

Heading South

PAGE 69

2

Adios, Hatch Boards

PAGE 73

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2019

The wind has fi lled in, and

helmsman Randy Smith

enjoys driving the J/145

Spitfi re on a screaming

reach north of the Bahamas.

Note the jerry fuel jugs for

making miles in calm spells.