What about a job on those Shadow Boats?

YES! · 11-04-2006, 09:15 PM

for re-posting my reply, lurker - I thought it had been lost in space, and as you can see by the length, I would have hated to re-invent the wheel.

To your latest comments, the really significant advantage to the forward house is that it allows construction of the huge (70 feet long by 36 feet wide) hangar. During transits and passages, all the toys, the helo, the tenders, everything goes inside the hangar; you close the stainless steel roller door and head to open water. All is stowed, secured and protected from the elements. There is a significant savings of wear and tear by keeping the gear enclosed.

Why would you cross an ocean in a Wally 118 or anything else less than 300 feet? All you do is beat your yacht, beat yourself, or worse, beat your crew to death. Put it on Dock Express along with the Yacht Escort Ship and give the crews a holiday. They will be much the better and your yacht and equipment arrives as it departed, with only some slight exhaust residue on the decks.

lurker · 11-04-2006, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YES!

Why would you cross an ocean in a Wally 118 or anything else less than 300 feet? All you do is beat your yacht, beat yourself, or worse, beat your crew to death. Put it on Dock Express along with the Yacht Escort Ship and give the crews a holiday. They will be much the better and your yacht and equipment arrives as it departed, with only some slight exhaust residue on the decks.

I certainly wasn't thinking about or even suggesting crossing with a Wally 118. I am not suicidal, and I think there is a good chance that the boat won’t make it if you factor in the reliability aspect of it.

I was thinking of something like the first 151 foot explorer yacht Turmoil by Vripack. I know that it made a few transatlantic crossings and had been to places up north like Greenland. I am thinking that a 250 footer is probably more appropriate for this task than the 151 footer with a shadow. I have to say that this is a special case. Maybe only one in a thousand 50m+ yacht owner are like that?

YES! · 11-05-2006, 07:10 AM

The only limitation to trans-oceanic crossings is the operating range of the vessel, i.e., how much fuel, wind or favorable current you have.

Kon Tiki (a raft) proved the trans-Atlantic capability as have hundred of people in 30 foot sailboats - singlehanding none-the-less.

I do not even know the range of a Wally 118, but with a Yacht Escort Ship, she can go anywhere! Just hold on and enjoy the ride.

When clients ask about trans-oceanic capabilities, I tell them the realities of a 3 week plowing through the water with nothing-to-see journey (that is why sunrises and sunsets seem so beautiful) and suddenly the requirement to sail across is not so important. It is actually quite a boring trip unless you have to say "I did it." If they insist, I recommend a 150 footer or greater just from a comfort perspective. I know they will still likely have the crap kicked out of them on some leg of the journey. I have personally been on 1200 foot aircraft carriers taking 25 degree rolls in 35 foot seas and seeing steel handrails literally ripped off the bulwarks. There is no ship big enough to face God's angry sea. If it doesn't sink, you can make it. But do you really want to?

Your comments, lurker, on the "Sail It or Ship It" thread are correct with respect to the combination of ego, maturity and available time. 99% of owners do not cross. I know Perkins sails but did he do a crossing or just talk about it?

lurker · 11-05-2006, 09:58 AM

Wallypower 118 has a rante of 1500nm@9 knots, or 380nm@60 knots. Since you will need to be followed by a shadow and be refueled, you will probably be doing 9 knots. I think I had rather be on a full displamcent boat, the shadow boat crew will probably endure the trip better.

I would still do it if Scarlett Johansson on board, like in the movie The Island.

Kevin · 11-05-2006, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YES!

Kon Tiki (a raft) proved the trans-Atlantic capability as have hundred of people in 30 foot sailboats - singlehanding none-the-less.

Minis regularly race across the Atlantic... single-handed, just 21 feet long (a goal I aspire to one day). So yeah, technically anything is possible.

Quote:

I do not even know the range of a Wally 118, but with a Yacht Escort Ship, she can go anywhere! Just hold on and enjoy the ride.

She can go 1500nm at 9knots. I'm assuming this is when powered by her two auxiliary Cummins diesels and not the three turbines.

lurker · 11-05-2006, 10:10 AM

Actually I think there is a big difference between actually sailing across the ocean in a smaller sailboat (76' or less) than a huge mega yacht (150' up). The experience and the bragging right earned are totally different.

I would love to give it that a try with a 76' sailing cat one day, but I wouldn't want to do it in a 150 footer powerboat. Just because I will feel that I gain a lot more if I actually sailed.

K1W1 · 11-05-2006, 11:06 AM

Hi

I have done NZ to UK on a 16m Ketch in 1983, Palma to Antigua on a 26m Ketch in 1986.

I have also done 12 Trans Atlantics and a Round the World (1997-2000)run in various size Motor Yachts from 40 to 55m.

The sailboats were a good buzz and a real adventure especially the NZ to UK trip.

The Motor Yachts were also a good buzz and an adventure just a different sort!

There is something to be had for unlimited freshwater and hot showers, active stabilisation and airconditioning or am I just showing my age!!

lurker · 11-05-2006, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K1W1

There is something to be had for unlimited freshwater and hot showers, active stabilisation and airconditioning or am I just showing my age!!

How about sailing in one of those? http://www.matrix-yachts.com

EDIT: oh and btw, well done sailor.

Garry Hartshorn · 11-05-2006, 11:30 AM

This is what I have against cruising in multihulls, great fun inshore but out there, well it's up to you.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...D%26safe%3Doff

Garry Hartshorn · 11-05-2006, 11:32 AM

Sorry I know that got a little of topic

lurker · 11-05-2006, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Garry Hartshorn

Sorry I know that got a little of topic

I guess I will have a shadow boat to go with me then.

I see your point, but keep in mind that those racing tri is a bit different than a large crusing cat. Anyways, if you prefer monohull, take the Wally 100' Dark Shadow. Such a beauty.

Speaking of sailboats. I wonder if we will see a shadow for a sailboat. If they can afford a 100'+ Wally/Nautor Swan, they can probably afford a 115' shadow.

Garry Hartshorn · 11-05-2006, 01:09 PM

Yes a Shadow with a rescue helicopter on deck sounds like a good idea. If you want to play like that can come to.

Garry Hartshorn · 11-05-2006, 01:37 PM

Talking about a shadow for a maxi, Don't know if anyone has done it but not a bad idea. I know many if not most maxi yacht have at least one if not more shipping containers that are sent ahead with spares ect............. Why not have a shadow with accomodation for the race crew and workshop ect.

dallas tacon · 06-03-2009, 10:23 AM

if you look at Velsheda, they regularly are followed by Bystander, a purpose built motor vessel built to the roll pattern as the yacht and carry all the extra gear..as well a following tender should something occur. And it looks the part with colouring to match and hosts the beer kegs for the crew!!
Visione follows Morning Glory about and Ranger charters Christin O fairly often......gives new meaning to ride hard and put away wet!!!

K1W1 · 06-03-2009, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YES!

Kon Tiki (a raft) proved the trans-Atlantic capability as have hundred of people in 30 foot sailboats - singlehanding none-the-less.

Hi,

I think that there is some confusion here: Thor Heyerdahl crossed the Pacific not the Atlantic on Kon Tiki.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kon-Tiki