Now that is interesting. I'd like to try it.

Capt. Mooron wrote

Certainly Scout... I've done it myself in open water. Mind you I had a
high
speed inflatable to make the passage and eased the sails to reduce speed.

Have you ever sailed an "Articulated Schooner"..... it's what we call it
when you arrange to tow another boat behind you [upwind only] ... both
vessels under canvas, no aux... and you'll want to trim the aft vessel to
be
just slightly slower. You do have to board and trim on tacks but the
effect
is eye catching! Best we've done is 3 boats...

"Scout" wrote
| Ok, so you're sailing offshore, way offshore. You're sailing
single-handed
| but with another boat doing the same; your friend's boat is a few
hundred
| yards away. There are no other boats around for at least 50 miles. You
need
| some item (e.g., a cold beer or a torque wrench, doesn't matter) and
it's
on
| his boat. How do you get the item? Would you ever abandon your boat to
raft
| over to him? Under any circumstances?
| It's a purely theoretical in the places I sail, but I'm wondering if
ocean
| sailors ever leave their boat to autopilot.
|
| "Bart Senior" wrote
| Anyone ever sailed in a fleet of boats?
|
| On Thursday, I balanced the boat on a close
| haul and snuck up on the kids sitting in the bow
| while the boat steered itself, and waited to see
| how long before they noticed no one was
| driving.