[C320-list] Bluewater sailing

[Jack Fitzgibbon]

We have sailed our 97 C320 #441 (wing keel) from West Palm Beach to Grand
Bahama Island. While not a Bermuda voyage, this trip was clearly out of site
of land for about 25 miles while making the 55 mile trip across the Gulf
Stream.  I was more impressed with the C320 on our return trip.  5 hours
into the crossing we encountered winds steady state at 19-20 gusting to
24-25 out of the NE in 5-7 ft seas, the boat handled exceptionally well. The
CE Class A rating is well deserved.   We are going again next June.

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at catalina320.com]On Behalf Of Robert Seastream
Sent: Saturday, December 01, 2007 9:36 PM
To: C320-List
Subject: [C320-list] Bluewater sailing


And to further stir things up:

For bluewater sailing, it's generally accepted that a full keel is
best.  Tracking issues aside, is a fin or wing keel boat up to such
sailing, particularly regarding safety in heavy weather?  While the 320
(and up) are CE rated class A (ocean), who on this list would feel
comfortable taking their 320 out of sight of land, say to Bermuda or
further?

In other news, we finally covered the boat today.  Took almost an hour
in the hot tub to thaw out!

Bob Seastream
'Intuition' # 906