[C320-list] Bluewater sailing

[Larry Frank]

Bob,

You asked precisely the right question.  In many situations a full keel
might be preferred.  The question really is, is a C320 adequate for the
intended passage and weather?  This is an individual opinion.  Remember the
guy who used to be a Cruising World editor who sailed around the world in a
Catalina 27?  I wouldn't do that, but he obviously made it.

I sailed my C320 510 miles across the Gulf of Mexico round trip and did not
feel as if I was taking any big risks because of the design or construction
of the boat.  I would have been more comfortable with a larger full keel
design, but that is not the boat I have.

Larry
#246



-----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 8:36 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