I recently completed a boat delivery from La Rochelle (France) to the Turcs and Caicos Islands, via the Canary Islands and Cape Verde. It took over a month and a half, with a few stops along the way. This transatlantic crossing was rich in experiences, and I share below some of the lessons I learned along the way.
The practical use of the CPA/TCPA pair is to evaluate the risk of collisions. If the CPA of a boat is zero (or close to zero), there is a collision risk and the skipper should alter the boat’s current course to increase the CPA.
Here are some pictures taken during the Atlantic Crossing. Most are taken between La Rochelle (France) and Mindelo (Cabo Verde). They are all availlable on Jean-du-Sud’s instagram account.
Is it faster to sail downwind a straight line or to gybe from one tack to the other? The answer, of course, depends very much on the boat performance and the prevailing winds. It is however possible to provide some practical guidance with a little use of theory.
I must say I wish I had tought of the « Spencer » shaft design prior to ordering parts (see the install guide for pictures). It is an elegant solution to reduce drag induced by the propeller.
This article is the first of two about installing a complete inboard power train on an Alberg 30. Its focus is on the design. An inboard power train is not the sole engine paradigm compatible with Alberg 30s. Although not covered here, one may also be interested in the design where an outboard engine is installed in the aft lazarette (AtomVoyager, 2020).
I am preparing for an ocean crossing. We will be leaving La Rochelle, sail south the Canary Islands, which will be our springboard for the trade winds. We hope to finish our crossing in Antigua, but our final destination is Nassau. It is a bit late in the season, as...
Prior to the invention of computers, calculators, or even sliding rules, having what is known as a « sine table » was however of critical importance.
How did we find those values?
Celestial navigation has the reputation of being complicated, obscure and, depending on your relation to mathematics, bordering black magic.
