Cruising On A Cal 20
 

After reading the article in Sailing MAgazine about K.P. Chin sailing to Hawaii on a Cal 20 I feel very inspired. I am planning on a trip from Portland, OR to Mexico and Central America this next summer on a Cal 20. Anybody done anything similar on a Cal 20 or other pocket cruiser??

I would encourage anybody to read the article!!

Is there a reason that half the people here seem Hell-bent on trying to see the world via sailboat on $17.00 budgets? I really just don't get it, Kids. My advice is that blue water cruising and circumnavigating entails a boat of at least 30 feet, well built, a year to prep and practice on her, some well made gear, some research and a strict exercise program to adhere to. This "He did it on a Laser" crap is a recipe for possible disaster at the worst, but more probably at least utter disapointment most of the time. Just save up and buy the proper tool for the job. Like anything else.........

Read John Vigor's "20 Small Sailboats to Take You Anywhere". He STRONGLY disagrees with you. Not everyone can afford a 50k+ for a boat. Maybe you're sick of young, capable people with big plans, personally I'm kinda getting sick of old elitist yuppies who think you need to be born rich to sail a boat.

Willy,

I have been in contact with a guy who took a boat just like mine to the Bahamas. That doesn't make it a good idea and I don't plan to do it. It's nice to know that someone pushed the limits and got away with it. I understand why people do it. It sounds really exciting and I can imagine myself doing it and it is a fun little mental exercise.

How much experience do you have? Are you talking about sneaking along the coast ducking into protected anchorages along the way?

Rick,

$17.00 ?!?! Aw man, I gotta save my allowance for three more weeks! :D

Where did you get elitist yuppy? He didn't say you had to spend a lot of money on the boat, he just advised a larger one, some of which can be had for the right price, and some preparation, including a good exercise regimen...why the personal attack on someone trying to give good advice?

DJ-

Hey sorry about that, I didn't mean it to sound so hostile. It doesn't seem like Rick was really trying to give any advice, just belittle me and discourage me.

It's just solid advice, Pal. Take it or leave it. And just because Vigor says you can doesn't mean crap. Because everyone knows that the boat (a good one at least) will usually fare better than the person driving it.

And 50K is the perfect number for people seriously considering off shore work. Ten K is not even remotely close.

BTW, are YOU capable? That's by far the most important question........

And trust me, Yuppie is the last thing I am. I'm the youngest 50 y/o kid you'll ever meet. I live in go-heads and shorts and listen to AFI and Linkin' Park. And I love to share my adventures with kids and give advice and encourage them when I can. Safely and wisely, that is--not foolishly. But hey, have at it. And next time your here in So Cal, catch the Cal 20 fleet at work when it's blowing 22. That may cure you of your unrealistic dreams..........

After all these years I am very sorry to find out that I was only fooling myself when I did trans Atlantic trips on 22 footers, 27 footers 30 footers etc. At the time I thought I was having fun.

Willy,
A 20 foot Cal is a little light for my taste. You might have problems carrying enough provisions because carrying capacity and the boats displacement are related. The heaver the boat the more weight you can carry is a general rule. Also the smaller boat doesn’t work to windward in any kind of a headwind so you need to be very careful about your choice of route. And the usual caveats about preparing both yourself and the boat.
Good luck and enjoy,
Robert Gainer

Arbarnhart-
I've grown up sailing with my dad. We've cruised the Columbia River, Puget Sound, and the San Juan/Gulf Islands very extensively. Yes, this will be my biggest trip to date, but I don't see any reason I wouldn't be capable of it.

Thanks for the response!

Willy

Rick, so I now know I'm not cool, cause I have no idea what go-heads are, lol