"Wayne.B" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 05 May 2004 16:26:56 GMT, jeff feehan
wrote:
the problem with extending this reasoning to a long voyage is that fuel
capacity limits how far you can motor. to the extent that the PHRF
difference reflects differing light air performance, the extra time could
be
a lot more.
======================================

Even starting off with a boat that has decent light air performance,
once you load it down with cruising gear, fuel and water, performance
goes out the window in most cases. Add in a 3 blade fixed prop, a
slightly dirty bottom and heavily built cruising sails, and you might
as well figure on motor sailing in anything under 12 kts or so. It's
important to note that motorsailing is usually done at low engine revs
and is fairly fuel efficient. If you're range limited however you
don't have much choice except waiting fot the wind to cooperate.

One of the dirty little secrets of long-distance cruising, among others, is
that they spend more time under power than you might think. Of course, some
of it is just taking advantage of the time spent recharging batteries, might
as well get some extra speed out of that time.
John Cairns