On Thu, 24 Feb 2005 07:33:28 -0500, "Armond Perretta"
wrote:

wrote:
... I have been struck by how
often and for how long cruising sailors report they are under
engine power. From what I have read, it would appear that sailors are
under engine power for something in the 80-90% range.

This depends to an extent on how one defines sailing, or cruising, or both.
I suspect the majority of sailboat owners are weekenders whose calendar is
not their own. This means getting back to work on Monday, etc., and that
means diesel. The same constraints apply to ICW travelers who want to make
the requisite 50 miles each day to keep on "schedule" and get where it's
warm.

On an offshore trip things change, and if you are heading over to Bermuda or
beyond, you get more concerned with comfort, safety, and other creature
comforts, and "flopping along" in light air doesn't seem much of a hardship.
I cannot power all the way to Bermuda, but my little boat has sailed there
several times with no ill effects. This isn't an either or thing. If you
are running from Charleston down to Saint Mary's Entrance offshore, I don't
think you will want to sit around and wait for wind when things go light

I must say that the only time I remember motoring past a boat under sail in
light air is when daysailing in protected waters. Make no mistake about it:
that diesel is what makes sailing possible for the vast majority of cruising
sailors.

Good point. One thing we do to maximize sailing is avoid choosing our
destination as long as possible. Then, when we have chosen, we
calculate the motoring radii to it for 1, 2, 3 hours in case the wind
dies. That way we can go on sailing in light air as long as possible.

How to choose the time we would like to arrive? If we aren't trying to
make distance, it might be to allow cocktails and picture taking in
daylight.

We can follow this procedure most of the time because we normally
cruise off season. The coming season will be different, since we will
be on the New England coast during July and August. There may be
problems of crowds.



Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a


"Curse thee, thou quadrant. No longer will I guide my earthly way by thee." Capt. Ahab