Can a Bristol 32 Circumnavigate?

[captlar]

A Bristol 40 is not a Bristol 32. You have a lot more displacement and waterline on your 40. They are beautiful old boats and good sailors (accepting the trade offs associated with full keel). As with all the old designs, she probably has less room below that a newer 35 footer, but I would take the 40 anywhere. I would not say the same for the 32. Yes, there are plenty of sailors doing it, but if that was my current plan, I would look further. There are, IMO, better choices.

Larry

[seabreeze_97]

Yeah, there are better choices, depending on what your criteria are. Probably best to not take what has been called "a bear" in rough weather. Best to just let the retirees (http://www.kestrelboat.com/index.html) deal with the difficult ones, and let the youngsters have the easy boats. They really don't make 'em like they used to.

[Ele5]

Hi Dan,
Can a Bristol 32... ?? shure you can! You also could take a rowingboat to cross the Atlantic and survive or navigate the Titanic and drown. The question is rather "How much risc are you accepting with that specific Boat for the desired purpose.?"
The fact is that non of this plastic vessels are truly suitable for circumnavigation-despite of whatever their manufacturer will tell you! As long as you are aware of this facts and your decisions concernes just yourself, you may do whatever you whant to do. But having your fiencée with you burdens you on a tremendous responcability.
Both of you must be in full knowledge of the possible riscs and be willing to prepare yourself for that challenge. Don't count on all that gigs and toys offered in the pleasure sailmags. It's allways perfectly gilt-edged but mostly merchand business and not worth a Penny. While daycruising and building up your skills read all about "Practical Seamanship, Mariner's Weather Handbook, Offshore Cruising Encyclopedia, Surviving the Storm (all by Editor & Autors Dave & Linda Dashew). Ifthen you still whant to start with that same boat- well - setsail!

good luck
elena

[sailingdog]

BTW, I believe Elena means Steve and Linda Dashew, as the authors of the books mentioned. Another excellent book is the Adlard Coles' Heavy Weather Sailing, which has been a standard reference for many years.

[paulk]

So.... any word from Dan, who has now had ample time, since starting this thread in OCT 2002, to complete his circumnavigation even if he did pick a slow pig to do it in? There may even have been enough hot air from some quarters on this thread for him to have gone around twice by now. Dan? ...Dan?... That's not you tied up on that OI40 in Tampa, is it? Cheers!

[seabreeze_97]

Hot air? Now, don't be so hard on yourself.

[leehaefele]

I owned a Bristol 32 and cruised 1 year NY-FL-Bahamas-FL-NY. A solidly built boat, very slow, lacked space and modern comforts. Tended to leak under toerail into lockers. This model had upper storage lockers with doors, some models had shelves. With the doors, storage was very good. The small stern did not allow a quarter berth, normally used as storage. Sail lockers would just fit Dahon folding bikes. Some things I would require on ocean xings: EPIRB, SSB tranceiver for weather reports and filing float plans, Life Raft.
Suggest that you look at a variety of boats, speed is actually a safety issue, including speed under power to make port & outrun weather.

[JaimesBeam]

Dang that was the most illuminating thread I've read in a long time.

Jim.

[miles1865]

i love my b32

[intrepidseas]

Interesting thread! I love my B32, too and have done some pretty serious sailing with her already. Planning to go even further now and maybe even try to circumnavigate. Not worried if she's the right boat, I'm only worried that I'll have too much fun cruising the Pacific and won't want to continue into the Indian Ocean!

It's like what some government official once said: "you go to war with the army you have, not the army you wish you had."

-Greg

s/v Intrepid, Bristol 32e
www.Intrepid-seas.com