"Jere Lull" wrote in message
news:2008100619140616807-jerelull@maccom...
On 2008-10-06 06:37:49 -0400, "Roger Long" said:

"Wayne.B" wrote

Yes but there were, and still are, some risks:

I had dinner last night with the research vessel captain & mate who have
about 50 years experience in the waters of Chesapeake Bay and offshore
around the capes. I told them what S&L are up to and they said "They've
got more courage than we do. I hope they don't make a habit of it."

I'm reminded of the saying that airplane pilots have:

"There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old
bold pilots."


The much discussed corollary to that is that taking weather risks and
getting away with it tends to affect future judgement. They pulled this
off but I too hope they don't make a habit of it. If someone with years
of experience had done it, I would be thinking, "Good weather call." but
it looks different for a second offshore passage.

As one who counseled them that Hattaras could blow up unpredictably in any
given hour, particularly this time of year, I have to say it seems they're
taking appropriate actions and precautions, are using every available
input.

They're staying enough clear that they could heave to for many hours, seem
to think it might be a nice change. They motor-sailed for 50+ hours to
take advantage of the existing conditions vs what was predicted to be on
the horizon. They're now obviously heading towards Charleston to ride out
expected nastiness -- and probably to take on a bit more fuel.

They aren't real sailors or they wouldn't rely on their diesel so much. They
left when they should have known they would have to do a lot of motor
sailing because of the light winds mostly from astern. Plus, they're bucking
a Gulf Stream current whether they know it or not. I warned them they should
have gone the Bermuda route but, noooooooo.

Their priorities were to get to Miami to meet some friends there. So they
compromised on their ability to sail by leaving in light wind conditions.
Real sailors put sailing over meeting friends on a schedule and would have
left when a nor'wester was in the offing and rode the damned thing all the
way to mid-Florida. Winds from the northwest, even when strong, since
they're blowing offshore don't get a chance to heap up the waters very much.
Staying close inshore under those conditions makes for a very fast passage
with no need to ever run a stupid engine.

Wilbur Hubbard