MacGregorSailors.com

Chinook wrote:...I ran the jib out in the 10 knot southerly breeze, switched tanks, and ran at 2800 rpm the rest of the way. I only used 7 gallons of gas the rest of the way across. Big lesson learned on how to make a crossing in a MacGregor.

This may sound like a stupid question, but...

Why wouldn't one aim to *sail* rather than motor? Granted, one would perhaps have to wait a tad bit longer for ideal conditions, but I'm thinking that with a steady blow from the south, it'd be a nice reach the whole way.

At the very least, wouldn't one want to motor-sail? (which seems to be the approach Chinook arrived out in the end).

???

Sea conditions. It is less than a 70 miles trip over and the winds almost never come from the south and waiting for winds to go over, you may have a long waite.

Winds with any North in them and the waves are too bad. I only used 10 gals on the trip over and the time before I used less than 8. Ideal casting off is 24 hrs after north winds died and winds less than 10 mph or winds from South and West. East is not to good as it is on the nose and can create some bad motion. It is doable if you have the time to waite for good conditions. Sometimes taking 3 or more weeks.

After you are there, the winds are not that big of deal unless you are crossing "Tongue of the Ocean" or through one of the cuts in Abacos. Shallow seas do not allow the waves to be big and bad.

Really nice trip.

Whenwe made the trip to the Bahamas (spring 2004), we only had one year's experience with the boat, and frankly, my sailing credentials were pretty limited. This excursion was our first out of sight of land, and the longest open water crossing we'd ever attempted. It was a pretty big deal for us, and I was a bit apprehensive. We prepared as best we could, but my thinking was to make the 70 mile crossing in as short a time as reasonably possible. Also, everything we'd read about cruising in Bahama waters advised against making landfall in the dark. Trying to arrive with sun fairly high in the sky, so you can read the water depth visually, was highly recommended. Lots of coral reefs, and they don't go in big for Aids to Navigation out there. Under sail over an extended period, I'm doing very well to average 4 knots. That works out to an 18 to 20 hour crossing, which was way more than I wanted to spend out there. And, I don't have autopilot. By averaging 6 knots, we were able to cut the crossing time down to 12 hours, which was far more acceptable, and allowed us to make port in mid afternoon.

I've become a lot more comfortable with the sails since we made the Bahama trip. On extended cruises I try to sail as much as possible. I tend to evaluate the distance I'd like to travel on a given day, and then determine how long I'm willing to spend getting there. I then translate that into a minimum acceptable speed under sail. If the winds ease, and our speed drops below my limit, then I'll motor sail. On longer trips, I tend to motor at 5 to 6 knots, turning 2500 to 3000 rpms, and getting as much help from the sails as I can. That allows us to get the best possible range from our fuel supply.

Chinook wrote:...Under sail over an extended period, I'm doing very well to average 4 knots. That works out to an 18 to 20 hour crossing, which was way more than I wanted to spend out there. And, I don't have autopilot. ...

That pretty much answers it for me. Thanks.

Chinook :
What make and size motor are you running on the back?

I see JamesV is running the same set-up as I have, a 50 HP 4stk Merc. BF.

We're running the Nissan TLDI fuel injected, oil injected 2 stroke. It has an oil reservoir that needs filling periodically. I get about 300 miles on a gallon of oil.

Forgot to mention, it's 50 hp.

Ahoy! Yea Matey!
Land a ho
Sails ahead .

Captain Calico James V. where ya be now ? Rumors be, you be finding Gold!!! Gold by the bucket and now you be sneaking off on your own with a Princess of an Island kingdom......

Thanks for the good thoughts. I wish it was true.

I did a stupit trick fighting with my anchor around Dec 20th and the anchor won. Injured some muciles in my sholder and thought that it was best if I stuck it out in Man of War Cay. Nice area and still in the middle of everything. Much better now. Probably will make this a home base until the springs winds calm down (about 2 months).

Just had some of the worst weather that I have seen here with gust topping 49 mph. Nice to be on a mooring in a protect harbor like Man of War Cay.
I will get out and post some more pics soon.

James I like my version better. . . . .
Its still really cold here and the snow is a foot deep or deeper anywhere I try to walk or even look. Hasn't been above 28 for what seems like forever.
Too cold and with little to no sun very depressing at best. Cant even think about doing all that needs be done on the WW&S.
Big Fire today at Skipper Buds Marina and repair. Winthrop Harbor North Point Marina IL. He holds over the winter in excess of 500+ boats . A very Big Fire so they are saying, but they are for now not telling how many boats are involved.
Lucky for me , I am looking RIGHT NOW at one Mac Gregor 26M that summers up there, but she is in no danger of that fire, as she sits next to my garage frozen to the gravel pad she calls her winter slip.
Fair Winds Good Rum and Young Maidens .....

So JamesV what is your time costing you in the Bahamas?
Have you or are you keeping any record? I am thinking an overall weekly or , monthly cost. Just kind of a run down.

You can spend as little or as much as you like to keep you happy. In Jan and Feb I was spending $ 1000 per month and I had food on board but did not eat much. Dec was more costly because I gave my mother a vacation here.

Starting in Mar I will be cheep.
No mooring, saves $ 100 per month. Most are $ 200+ per month but very safe.

Use only solar to charge batteries. Saves about 1 gal a day $ 5 X 30 = $ 150

Not eating out saves $ 200 to $ 300 per month. It is only good, not what you would expect in Key Largo. Some places I will not go back to. Another is cleanliness standards.

Sail and not motor about $ 40 per month.

Use only free internet $ 20 per month.

Eating from food brought from the states saves $ 200 per month. that is no fresh veg's or bread.

on edit I should add taking showers on board and not at the marina at $ 5 a time = $ 150 per month or $ 75 for every other day.

In Mar, Apr and May I hope to spend less than $ 300 per month. I need to.

I do not know if your family will like it. Food here is 2 to 3 times what you would pay in the states. For me, If I do not spend $$$ then I get to stay cruising that much longer. It is worth it.

Please note that the food in Marsh Harbor is $ 1 per item cheeper than in the out islands. I have heard the same about the other bigger cities in the Bahamas. Beer is $ 10 per 6 pack in Marsh Harbor and $ 15 per 6 pack in Hope Town. Worst example.

I suggest that you do 2 different rundowns and talk it over with your family and try it out for a week. Poorer quality food is sure better when it got up to 80 degrees on Feb 23 and you did not have to drive to work.

Feeling a lot better and will be moving the boat around starting latter this week.

I should have mentioned a good daily vitamin. Until the early 1900's sailors had vitamin deficients of all kinds. It was unknown. On just getting by with food, one should find a cheep daily vitamin and take it daily. If you are sick or injured take 2 or 3.


MUSH for 3 to 4
1/3 cup white or yellow corn meal
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups water
2 tablespoons butter or 4 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
mix corn salt and water, bring to boil and simmer for 7 to 10 min stirring constantly. Add butter/oil and whatever

Cornmeal Pancakes
1 1/2 cups corn meal
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
if wanted add 1/2 cup nuts, raisins etc....
2 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon oil
1 to 1 1/2 cups water
mix dry ingredients, add water & oil. Mix until moist. Let stand for 10 min. Makes 15 - 20 small pancakes

Fort Clatsop Salmon/Fish Chowder, more of a soup, 2 to 3 servings
4 cups water
2 to 4 veg or chicken bullion cubes
1/4 pound salmon or fish
1/2 pound sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 cup funnel
1 small onion. peeled and chopped
salt and pepper
Add bullion to water and boil, add fish, potatoes, onion, fennel. Return to boil and then simmer for 20 to 25 min until veg's are tender.


Good web site -
Paul's Low Cost, Healthy, Low Carb, No Refrigeration Required Menu Plan

http://cruisenews.net/recipes/index.php

Thanks James;
My trip ( I am 56 and retired) will include my wife for part of the time and then she leaves and a buddy flies in from MN. He leaves and my daughter/ s maybe both fly in and stay at a hotel but sail a lot and maybe do one night ( just so they can say they lived as Pirate's) on the boat and treat dad to numerous meals and drinks out and no doubt leave behind lots of goodies.
Its said by most who meet me, that in the kitchen I can turn chicken shi_ into darn good chicken soup. So I will be looking at what I should stow on board. I see lots of zip locks and a seal a meal for the initial provisioning.
A few cases of wine no doubt and a few cases of Coke as well for rum and coke. Thinking 12 oz cans stow here and there pretty easy
Are you seeing Sea Cucumbers? They are an awesome delicacy.

James V wrote:MUSH for 3 to 4
1/3 cup white or yellow corn meal
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups water
2 tablespoons butter or 4 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
mix corn salt and water, bring to boil and simmer for 7 to 10 min stirring constantly. Add butter/oil and whatever

Oh, man.... Fried mush is one of my favourites from my southern youth!

For Fried Cornmeal Mush, you do all of the above, then pour it into a loaf pan and put it into the fridge overnight... then next morning you have a jelled cornmeal mix. Slice it into 1/4" slices, pop them into a pan of hot oil and fry until golden and lightly crisp on both sides. Serve with maple syrup.

YUM!!