Yachting World - July 2018

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to gales is paramount, and after a lazy season in the

Caribbean everything needs to be checked over.

For a run through some of the essential deck checks,

have a look at Part 6 of Skip Novak’s Storm Sailing Series

on http://www.yachtingworld.com or our videos on the

Yachting World YouTube channel.

Dan Bower also emphasises these basic checks. “A good

inspection and rig check before departure is a must, and

we rig for heavy weather with our smaller headsail on the

furler and have the staysail ready to go.

“We also consider taking some extra fuel on board to give

options around the high. Because of the water that will be

shipped going into a big swell, all items on deck need to be

well lashed down, and thought given to any water entry

points. We seal our chain hawse pipe and block off dorade

vents. Thought also needs to be given to what items you will

need to be easily accessible first, so that you’re not trying to

fight to the back of a windward locker as you’re landing off

a wave, or needing to access the forepeak for a spare rope.”

Fuel and spares

As well as taking extra fuel in jerrycans or flexible tanks,

don’t forget to pre-empt fuel supply problems by stocking

lots of engine fuel filters and lots of Racor water separator

filters. On most crossings you rarely use the engine, but if

it’s a light wind year its great to have the ability to push

through a wind hole and get into the wind on the other

side, more fuel gives you more options.

Also, consider buying a portable transfer pump as

juggling with funnels and pouring diesel at sea is a messy,

troublesome job.

To get the most from your fuel tankage, keep to your

minimum cruising revs. Boat manufacturers should be

able to give you a fuel consumption curve for your engine

so you can calculate your range based on engine hours

and how much fuel is in your tank.

Duncan Sweet runs Mid-Atlantic Yacht Services in

Horta, providing a great service, but one that gets very

busy in late April and May. He advises skippers to be

prepared to do oil and filter changes themselves.

“I get people coming in here to ask us to do it and I have

to say: ‘No, sorry, we don’t have time’,” he says.

Sweet also strongly advises that you carry key spares

you might need, and replace any you may have used after

your Atlantic crossing on the way out, such as pump or

autopilot parts. Getting spares out to the Azores can

be difficult and takes time.

“The average time people spend here is four to five i

Make regular
checks on
sails and
rigging, looking
particularly for
chafe damage