You need to make a decision about iron wind. On a "delivery trip", I'll
use the engine when speed drops below 4 knots to push along at 5.5
knots ( about 2000 rpm on my 55' monohull and minimal fuel usage). This
strategy provides a pretty reliable 140-150 mile 24 hour run.

When I'm out for fun - it's no engine and no hurry.

Carl

I have a 2003 Beneteau 473 which puts down about a 46' waterline and has
approximately 1,100 Sq. Ft of sail between the genoa and mainsail.

This summer I left Baltimore, Maryland on the evening of June 25th and
arrived in Castine, Maine late morning of July 1st. Five and a half days
and 550 miles later for an even 100 mile a day average. Since we stopped
and spent an entire day and a half at Great Salt Pond in Block Island, Rhode
Island we only spent four days sailing for an average of 137.5 nautical
miles a day for a 5.75 Kt average.

We averaged 10 Kt. winds from the SW to the SE so we were running or
reaching all the way except the 95 miles to clear the C&D Canal and the
Delaware Bay. We also timed the Cape Cod Canal right so we went through on
a full flood tide. At night we would take one reef in both sails. Because
you are getting pretty far north we only had darkness for 7 hours a night.

You will have to retrieve historical data on the prevailing winds for your
trip. You may also want to pull tide and current data if that affects your
journey. I had the latest NWS 96 hour weater forecasts and I knew the
prevailing winds would be SW with some swing as far as SE. I also have
weather radio, weather fax and navtex on the boat. We timed the current in
the C&D Canal, Delaware Bay and Cape Code Canal so we would have the current
with us.

Assuming you know how your boat sails at various points of sail I think you
will find that you can come very close to your estimates. We missed our
estimate on our arrival at the R2 Bell at Block Island by only 2 hours. We
arrived in Castine, Maine within 3 hours of our initial estimate.

Regards,

Cap'n Ric
USCG Licensed Captain

After considerable thought and analysis ... I come up with = = 20 miles per
day.

The number could be much higher if: I didn't get up so late, decide to
make coffee and have a bagel, read the local paper of whatever town I am
moored in, spend time talking to numerous other sailors about such things as
moorings, docks, the nice ass on the girl in the marina ,,,

Then,,, I get her ready. Put this away, put that away, test this, test
that, make sure there is fuel, check the weather, talk on the marine radio
because it is fun, play with the dinghy, get out the charts, set up my
"sailor cd/radio/tape player", call over to other boats as to where they are
heading, ... have another cup of coffee ,, go below and clean up ... row in
to use the men's room at the marina with the girl with the nice ass ,,,


Finally set sail.


Sail for 4-6 hours. At 4-5 knots. Go approximately 20 miles but never in
the direction I want to go in because the wind is all wrong.


Check my handy Cruising Guide to the Maine Coast ..

Pick out a nice anchorage.


Sail in, start motor, drop hook.


Pour myself a cold diet pepsi.

Have an appetizer.

Pick out a movie for the evening and set up the DVD Player ..


Relax.



20 miles...

Anymore than that would be tough.


Its time to go lie down.
"AMPowers" wrote in message
news
Hey all,

Can anyone provide a link to references regarding reasonable mileage made
good for a given 24 hour period of sailing. I've heard estimates ranging
from 50 to 100 nautical miles per twenty four hour period for monohulls
and 75 to 150 nautical miles per twenty four hour period for catamarans.
This is assuming "delivery" style sailing, no stopping for pleasure, etc.
It also presumes that the winds are relatively favorable, not beating
upwind.

Any opinions, experience or actual data would be greatly appreciated.