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Crossing the Atlantic

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by diesel one, Sep 23, 2011.

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  1. diesel one, Sep 23, 2011
    #1
    diesel one

    diesel one New Member

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    Hello................will be crossing the Atlantic in 2013, probably late August but that is open for discussion. Will be on a 50 plus footer, trawler, single engine with get home, 2250 gallons of diesel, solid electronics, stabilizers, etc. Experienced captain/owner.

    So........to the question.........what would be the best time frame, given historical data and realizing weather windows exist, would you advise?

    Diesel One
  2. lobo, Sep 23, 2011
    #2
    lobo

    lobo Senior Member

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    best is to get yourself a set of pilot charts of the north atlantic, or a software called Visual Passage Planner, and you'll have, for small $$, all the core information one needs to start with general passage planning
  3. diesel one, Sep 23, 2011
    #3
    diesel one

    diesel one New Member

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    North Atlantic crossing

    Thanks! Will do so.
    Diesel One
  4. wscott52, Sep 23, 2011
    #4
    wscott52

    wscott52 Senior Member

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    Just curious, what speed does the boat cruise at? Sounds like a blast if the weather cooperates.
  5. Pascal, Sep 23, 2011
    #5
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Crossing which way and from where to where??

    East bound from the NE is a very different scenario than west bound from the med to FL!!

    The big concern in late august is the hurricane season... Crossing at the very peak of the season isn't ideal. Some years (like this year) most systems recurve to the N/NE... Other years they stay furrther south into the SE coast or gulf.
  6. diesel one, Sep 23, 2011
    #6
    diesel one

    diesel one New Member

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    Atlantic Crossing

    The yacht normally cruises at 7-7.3 kts burning 4 to 4.5 gals. per hour, without generator and about 1 gal per hour more with generator running. Preliminary planning shows 15% reserve fuel to the Azores, with 1 hour of generator time per day, average--subject to change of course, weather, laundry, food prep, etc.

    At 7 to 7.75 kts knots, the engine is pulling between 50 and 70% of power at 1200/1450 RPM. At 1350 RPM, fuel burn is just at 5.3 gals. per hour without generator any more rpm it gets real close to 1 NM per gal. We will stop in Bermuda and the Azores for fuel as the captain/owner is real conservative regarding fuel reserve.

    Now having said all that, fuel burn/rpm statistics will be kept for the next 18 months so should have solid data to work with.

    Suspect we will follow the Nordhavn NAR routing.
  7. diesel one, Sep 23, 2011
    #7
    diesel one

    diesel one New Member

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    Atlantic Crossing

    Hurricanes are a MAJOR concern and one that will be taken wholly into account. August 20 is the "magic" date for 'canes and hopefully we will leave way before that.

    All is preliminary at this stage...........gotta start somewhere. If it was me, would leave in May/early June
  8. dennismc, Sep 23, 2011
    #8
    dennismc

    dennismc Senior Member

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    Atlantic

    If your Captain is "experienced: why are you here asking questions which he should have all the answers to ??

    Let's hope you do not end up a statistic in the SAR journals.
  9. Capt J, Sep 23, 2011
    #9
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    I don't know about crossing, however having a 10% reserve is NOT nearly enough on a trip like that. You are calculating speed and fuel burn on ideal conditions, crossing the Atlantic will never be ideal conditions. I would bring 500 gallons (or more, 750 gallons would be ideal) in a bladder on deck, your first 3-4 days of weather should be predictable, at that point you can drain the bladder into the main tank as soon as it will fit in there.....Plus you're going to be running the generator more than an hour a day, for laundry, a/c, and what about the watermaker? Does you're watermaker run off of DC power, if not you'll be running the generator more than an hour a day to make water. I would plan on a 30% fuel reserve MINIMUM.
  10. diesel one, Sep 23, 2011
    #10
    diesel one

    diesel one New Member

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    Atlantic Crossing

    Plan is to refuel at least twice--Bermuda and Azores prior to entering the Med. Therefore will have right at 40% reserve fuel--- Azores to Med. If the weather window looks "not good" will stay put until it does.

    Using ideal conditions--yes to start the planning. One has to start somewhere. As knowledge is gained, the plan will change, in fact already has. Estimating average speed to be 6 kts vs. 7.

    As to why am I asking the questions--so I don't appear to be that dumb to the captain/owner. I am experienced in and around the coasts. Open ocean--well many years ago when the earth was still cooling, spent time on very large gray ships trying very hard to stay dry under some "interesting" conditions--8-10 foot seas with 25 tons of aluminum doing 140 kts, bouncing around like a rubber ball and the only food around somewhere out there in the dark.
  11. Norseman, Sep 23, 2011
    #11
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    140 knots....:confused:

    Typo for sure.
  12. Capt J, Sep 24, 2011
    #12
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    The story sounds less and less real.
  13. diesel one, Sep 24, 2011
    #13
    diesel one

    diesel one New Member

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    Atlantic crossing

    The RF-8G approach speed to a carrier is 135-140 kts to start plus 1 kt for every 1000 lbs of fuel on board over a 1000 lbs up to 145 kts. So...........Down low, the "Sader uses fuel rapidly depending on the lenght of afterburner useage on the wave off/bolter which in turn depends on the amount of adrenalin flowing at the time. Due the math, 4 waveoffs/bolters and you need a tanker fast or you will go swimming if no bingo field close by.
  14. NYCAP123, Sep 24, 2011
    #14
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    I was so waiting for that.:D
  15. vlafrank, Sep 24, 2011
    #15
    vlafrank

    vlafrank Senior Member

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    F-8 Crusader ("sader"), definitely one of the coolest aircraft the Navy ever deployed. RF-8 = recon version of same. Good job, diesel 1.
  16. Kevin, Sep 24, 2011
    #16
    Kevin

    Kevin YF Moderator

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    I'd vote the F-14 over pretty much anything... :D

    Attached Files:

  17. CaptTom, Sep 24, 2011
    #17
    CaptTom

    CaptTom Senior Member

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    Diesel one, enjoy reading your posts and description as a fighter pilot. But curious as to August 20 as the magic date for canes? Peak of season is around Sept 10, mid season is Sept 1. Early and late season storms usually form in the Carribean, other times from coast of Africa. Bermuda has been active (re:target) this year.
    Glad to see you're planning early. Good luck.
  18. Pascal, Sep 24, 2011
    #18
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Mid august is usually when you see traditional cape verde storms start developing. I would really try to be in Azores by mid aug at the latest
  19. diesel one, Sep 25, 2011
    #19
    diesel one

    diesel one New Member

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    Atlantic Crossing

    Fantastic plane, ate F-4's for breakfast. Now......back to boats and crossing the Atlantic.
  20. diesel one, Sep 25, 2011
    #20
    diesel one

    diesel one New Member

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    Atlantic Crossing

    But curious as to August 20 as the magic date for canes? Peak of season is around Sept 10, mid season is Sept 1. Early and late season storms usually form in the Carribean, other times from coast of Africa. Bermuda has been active (re:target) this year.
    Glad to see you're planning early. Good luck.

    August 20 is a "magic date" for the start of the "real" hurricane season, yes I know it offically starts in June but.........historically not many prior to 8-20.

    I believe the owner/captain is reconsidering the August start date, If it was me, would follow the Nordhavn NAR dates and watch the weather real close.

    Picking up pilot charts tomorrow then start the studying. 18 months or so seems like a long time. but............
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