"Joe" wrote in message

I have seen boats as small as 22 footers cross but I wouldn't
want to do it

How come?

Wish I could recall the name of their book, but a man and his wife sailed
their 20' Pacific Seacraft Flicka from the US left coast to the South
Pacific. The overriding theme of the book was the constant, incessant
beatings they both took from their passages in such a tiny boat. They quit
counting bruises and contusions after a while, there were far too many of
each. A few serious injuries as well. His wife flew home, forcing him to
single-hand on the homeward legs. Then only HE got beat up.

Small boats, while capable of making open water passages, simply don't offer
the level of comfort most humans have come to expect while sailing. Length
generally equals comfort.

Max