[C320-list] Bluewater sailing

[Pat Tyler]

I have to agree with Bob that a full keel is a little better for offshore. 
I've made the trip from Jacksonville, FL to Little River, SC several times 
with once being in a friend boat with a full keel.  The boat does track 
better which has it's advantages on a long passage.  That trip takes around 
55 to 60 hours and the straighter the course the quicker.  Other than that 
our 320's do a great job on those kind of trips where we get about 35 to 40 
miles offshore.  Some bad weather is almost a given on a trip of that 
duration.  Only once did we give up after getting beat up for a day and a 
half and come in at Charleston.  Personally I perfer the storms at night 
when they don't look so bad.  As far as I'm concerned our 320's handle the 
seas and wind as well as any.
Pat

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Seastream" <robert.seastream at comcast.net>
To: "C320-List" <c320-list at catalina320.com>
Sent: 12/01/2007 9:35 PM
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
>