Uneducated Writer - Yacht from Miami to Monaco?

The answers given was not to the original poster and his hero, but if anyone could do this.

At this stage (and I doubt we will ever find out) we don't even know if the hero would know what a chart plotter is. I have similar doubting thoughts every time I read a book or see a film where a cop / doctor / company executive / Vatican Priest can fly a helicopter, shut down a power station or land an airliner. Hence I had to assume the hero had had similar exposure in a previous life to similar specialist skills, in this case the operation of a Megayacht....otherwise I would indeed be one of so many people.

A boat just happens to be sitting at the marina capable of trans atlantic range completely topped off with fuel and ready to go mechanically (that is nothing broken in the ER that the engineer is working on) and nobody on board doing watch that you need to tie up or throw over board.
It would be such big news globally that the Air Force or Navy would probably send out an F-16 to blow you out of the water.
I can not see it believable in a fictional story.
Better the hero pays off the crew for passage, or works his way through passage.

Did everyone note in The Perfect Storm the point where the author could no longer have testimony to go by (VHF dead) and had to use his imagination? He lost more than a bit of realism. Authors, if you want to write a book, write what you know about or make it a comedy. Even fiction needs realism.

I doubt many people would notice, and until the story of its recovery made the closing humor bit on a slow broadcast news day it would be unknown to all but a very few.

The idea that the military would care much less take action against a boat heading away from American shores is less believable than the original storyline.

Wouldn't it be nice if the O/P could learn to write in English correctly before attempting a novel?

All those Clive Cussler toiletpaper-in-waiting books where he does the navigation in kilometers and all the action takes place on huge vessels crewed by only 6 people. Trash, all off it.

I met one guy in Venezuala, Andre, who was Quebecois. When he left his dull State job to go cruising, he decided to improve his English by writing a sailing novel. It wasn't bad actually.

I read Sebastian Yunger's 'Perfect Storm' while working on a longline swordfish boat, finished it and started again all in one day. Out fishing for weeks on end, it normally works out a book a day. Mostly you are not that picky but Cussler gets my goat.

Hey Writerguy,
Seems everyone has forgotten Homer, Hemmingway and the other myriad writers of fantastical maritime tales. Like any good novelist, you'll have to do research on your premise, and you're not getting much help here. I'd suggest going down to a local marina and introducing yourself to a seasoned captain, tell him what you're up to, buy him a dinner and a rum (if your old enough), and you will soon find out whether you are on the right path for your-soon-to-be hero. He might even take you on board so you can see what it takes to run one of those things. Good luck, and keep writing!

Works both ways. Some yachts carry permanent crew, some yachts use delivery crew. Some charter yachts use both, they'll have a "permanent crew" who work the regional charters, then use a delivery crew for repositioning while the charter crew takes a break. Currently I'm on a 3 month on, 3 month off contract but get paid a year round monthly salary.

"I could see from California to Hawaii, but the complete freedom concept sounds almost too good to be true, even if a person has the financial freedom to do so."


That is truly disturbing. You don't even know what freedom you have and are OK with letting it go because it seems too good to be true?

We are doomed. Young writers are laying themselves down before the jackboots even sound on the cobbles.

Before launching into a fiction writing career, I suggest you spend some time reading history. A lot of it contains good sea stories so it won't all be wasted, hopefully.

"Hey, Cap...how many JD's do I need to buy you before you tell me how to steal your yacht ?"
TBH, I think the OP has already got his answer. At the very least enough information to change tack re the story line. If he hasn't already typed millions of words that hinge around a three day North Atlantic crossing by Megayacht, I reckon its not yet a write-off.

For better or worse, I'm going in anyway.

Stealing is the easy part (the owner's son-in-law left the keys in the ignition.) The kid/young man is looking for information on how to get from here to there - give him some ideas. I bet someone told Jules Verne that ships don't go under water, but he did OK with his book

There you go, the hero steals a nuclear submarine. Keys left in the ignition by the Commanding Officers son-in-laws Tibetian girl friend (I added the girl to offer the possibility of a World Domination sub-plot involving a country not yet done to death within the genre). The hero knew how to drive Nuclear Submarines as he had previously planned his escape across the Atlantic to the letter, including asking the right questions on a Nuclear Submarine forum.
He still didn't make it in three days though due to the giant squid.

I don't think that stealing the yacht in Miami would be that hard. All the hero needs is a sack full of hundskis and a charter yacht. He wouldn't have to do anything just hand over the cash get the boat rolling and dispatch the crew at sea. Happend in real life with the Joe Cool.

CODOG

Now you're gettin' it. So that submarine forum was helpful? Maybe this young OP should try there. BTW do you think Clancey knew how to steal a sub before he wrote Red October?

Getting what ? As I said before, this thread has offered up some help to the OP (WriterGuy). Within the various replies, he's been advised that a three day crossing is not possible within the realms of credibility. However, he has also been advised as to what type of vessel is capable of a three day crossing, if the writer wishes to stretch said credibility a tad. He has been advised as to how long a crossing would take if the hero had stolen a more typical Megayacht, with more typical speed and fuel capacity. He has also been advised as to how he would need to give his hero some prior experience with the operation and navigation skills required to cross the Atlantic in a Megayacht all on his own.....assuming the initial theft is as easy as turning a key. He's also been advised that a plane ticket is a viable alternative.....Considering the OP's original question, and broad scope of the possibilities, job done so far.
The OP has not yet not advised us that our help is lacking, only you have. Should he post again, and read through the thread, I'm sure he would thank the contributers so far, and fine-tune the original question and then I'm sure he would get more fine-tuned answers based on a modicum of plot credibility. I'd lay a bet that he smiles as he does it too.

No, but he had the good sense to choose one that was fully manned and operational with a master who was amenable to a lifestyle change.

Since you asked me, no I don't.
BTW...You own a boat, why couldn't the writers hero steal yours and get across the Atlantic in three days ?

That's easy.

Leave Government Cut, Turn Left and keep the flat brown dusty thing with the white bits sticking up about 2 miles on your left , time how long it takes to pass some big stacks on your left, keep going in same direction for tiwce as long again and then turn right, zoom out your chart ploter and look for the gap between Europe and Africa. Make a waypoint for this place and set the autopilot and then wait till you see it. You are there.

Don't forget to top up your daytanks, ballast etc as you go or you won't make it.

For those with Charts etc at hand I have done this as quick as I can type purely from memory so might have him headed for some navigational hazard like Azores but the author can deal with that when he gets there over a few beers at Cafe Sport

This thread has been stripped of unwarranted posts and placed into a new thread in the YF Club, which has been locked.

In the future, when a newcomer hijacks a thread, please refrain from responding until the mods have a chance to move or remove an unwarranted post. It get's messy when we have strip multiple responses, leaving a thread void of continuity.

And finally, if you can't conduct yourself in a respectful, civilized manner - void of condescending remarks - you are not welcome here.