Tuesday, February 26, 2008
link to pilot charts
http://www.nga.mil/portal/site/maritime/index.jsp?epi-content=GENERIC&beanID=461216974&viewID=detail_view or http://www.nga.mil/portal/site/maritime/?epi_menuItemID=a633978aca46a1625b2a7fbd3227a759&epi_menuID=35ad5b8aabcefa1a0fc133443927a759&epi_baseMenuID=e106a3b5e50edce1fec24fd73927a759
Crew return trip
Note to crew - I am exploring alternative points of landfall, more on this later.
This is a copy of a note I sent to a group called island hoppers - no response, I think they are out of business.
I am sailing my boat to the Caribbean next year for the first time, and
I need to choose where to make landfall. The original plan called for
arrival in either the USVI, or BVIs, since their return will be easily
arranged from those locations, but for a variety of reasons, it would be
more convenient for those who remain onboard if we made landfall on any
of these islands:
This is a copy of a note I sent to a group called island hoppers - no response, I think they are out of business.
I am sailing my boat to the Caribbean next year for the first time, and
I need to choose where to make landfall. The original plan called for
arrival in either the USVI, or BVIs, since their return will be easily
arranged from those locations, but for a variety of reasons, it would be
more convenient for those who remain onboard if we made landfall on any
of these islands:
Antigua,
St Kitts,
Sint Maartin
Anguilla
Monserrat
And even possibly Guadeloupe, Dominica or Martinique
I will have a crew of 4 that I have to get back to the North Carolina.
What would be a cost-effective means of getting them home? Scheduled
flights to North Carolina? Scheduled or charter flights to a major
island airport? Charter?, Island Ferry to major airport?
I will also have people coming and going as I travel the islands, and I
need someone who knows the ropes...might that be you?
Friday, February 8, 2008
Divide and Conquer?
At this point we have more offshore crew than we need, and everyone seems pretty serious about going. There are 8 interested.
Madness will have 4 sea bunks with leecloths by the time we leave. This is with the V berth left empty, and two sharing the double in the aft cabin. The double will have two leecloths, one down the center, and one inboard, so nobody will be spooning. With two on watch, that leaves room for 6 total, and that is hot-bunking, which is not everyone's favorite approach.
Bruce and Karl are concerned about the duration of the trip, and would prefer a shorter time away from work due to vacation limits and job resonsibilities.
The itinerary discuusion held on ssca.org (re-published on this site) on NE-Bermuda-VI vs. NE-OuterBanks-VI leads me to understand that the Bermuda route has shorter segments that are not significantly more dangerous and it's longest leg is shorter than the Outer Banks route.
Considering these three factors, I am strongly favoring the Bermuda route with a subset of each team on each leg. What comes to mind is:
Madness will have 4 sea bunks with leecloths by the time we leave. This is with the V berth left empty, and two sharing the double in the aft cabin. The double will have two leecloths, one down the center, and one inboard, so nobody will be spooning. With two on watch, that leaves room for 6 total, and that is hot-bunking, which is not everyone's favorite approach.
Bruce and Karl are concerned about the duration of the trip, and would prefer a shorter time away from work due to vacation limits and job resonsibilities.
The itinerary discuusion held on ssca.org (re-published on this site) on NE-Bermuda-VI vs. NE-OuterBanks-VI leads me to understand that the Bermuda route has shorter segments that are not significantly more dangerous and it's longest leg is shorter than the Outer Banks route.
Considering these three factors, I am strongly favoring the Bermuda route with a subset of each team on each leg. What comes to mind is:
- NE - Bermuda
Crew: Walter, Walter, Bruce, Karl
Duration: ~ 5 days - Bermuda 1
Crew: Same as above
Visitors: Guests of above
Duration: up to 1 week - Bermuda 2 (may overlap with Bermuda 1)
Crew: Same as below:
Visitors: Guests of below
Duration: up to 1week - Bermuda - VIs
Crew: Walter, Jack, Mike, Martin, Bob
Duration: ~7 days
I know that Martin, Bob and Walter S are interested in making the whole trip, but that did not include an extended stay in Bermuda. I have not discussed this with Jack and Mike.
This plan works well for me, in that I get to spend a couple of weeks in Bermuda, which should not be tortorous at all. if we get more visitors than harbor bunks (6 assuming 1 couple, 2 couples makes it way more comfortable), there are hotels, and we could rotate to share the experience and the costs.
The down side is that if anyone wants to go the whole way, it could take over a month, or extra airline travel. Also, if people drop out, we are closer to dropping below the minimum. I think three is the undesireable bare minimum, four or five - ideal.
The upside is that everyone gets to go, we have good size crews, I have experienced crew on each leg, we get to stay in bermuda and bring guests, and we have a shorter longest leg.
Please consider whether this plan works for you and add your comments below so the whole team can consider them. I would like to use the site to record the discussion. I am going to try to have it send you an eamil alert when there is a posting or comment, please let me know if you do not want that.
Walter
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