Crossing to Bermuda

[brak]

A friend of mine just started a single handed trip from Massachusetts to Bermuda. I sure hope it works out for him (personal interest too - I hope to join him on a later leg of the trip).

In any case, this being a widely read forum - if anyone happens to be on the route and see his boat - say "hi" (and report here too - he's got no tracking devices on board other than EPIRB, which hopefully he won't need ).

His boat is Hallberg Rassy 33 (Monsoon) called Moonwind.

[brak]

Clearly no one met him. It's been a week and he still had not arrived. What is the "reasonable" time to reach Bermuda from MA?
I figured 100 nm a day as a rule of thumb but by this measure he should be there in no more than 6 days. I suppose if he's only doing 3 kts, it could be a lot longer - but that sounds a bit too slow, though winds have been very light for the last few days.

[scottyt]

if he is single handing it 50 miles a day is decent, figure even at 6 knots a 10 hour day is only 60 miles. so figure 10 to 12 days

edit you think its 600 miles to Bermuda, hell its 500 from mass to maryland by road

[scottyt]

is he taking I65 or coastal hopping to NC before heading out. if he is taking the off shore route and has an autopilot then you are right he might do 100 miles a day maybe more. but i still think its more than 600 miles

[camaraderie]

Newport to Bermuda is 635 miles...Mass is probably around 700-750 depending on the departure point.
I hope your friend is not out there tonite.

[sailingdog]

well, the winds may not have been the most favorable for him, and the trip is probably closer to 750 or 800 NM depending on the winds... since as the crow flies going from boston to just NE of the tip of Cape Cod to Bermuda is 676 NM according to my charts. No news is better than bad news... but not as good as good news... Did he have an EPIRB or sat phone with him??

[brak]

He's going in a straight line, from around New Bedford - so he better be sailing about 24/7. I don't think stopping for the night anywhere out in the ocean is a very easy task (or even possible, heaving to won't be fun )

From where he left I measure 625 nm in a straight line (from the exit light at Buzzards Bay, which is where he called me from on Monday at noon). Winds are definitely appearing light in grib data I have, but not in a bad direction for where he's going. From NE or so - kinda on a close reach.

He does have a EPIRB and a life raft.

I called Bermuda radio and, sure enough, they haven't heard from him. I think it is still within a reasonable time frame for a next day or so, but from then on it will definitely be getting into a "something ain't right" category.

[brak]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

Newport to Bermuda is 635 miles...Mass is probably around 700-750 depending on the departure point.
I hope your friend is not out there tonite.

He very well may be. Whats tonight? The forecast from mailasail.com does not look so bad, but I don't know how good their forecasts are.

[brak]

btw, here is his boat-related web site: Beruta - 1974 Hallberg-Rassy 31 Monsun

[camaraderie]

Brak...I assumed the strong frontal system which swept the East Coast yesterday would be moving out to sea...but of course, your friend may be out of the danger area. Let's hope for the best. Here is the forecast:

GALE WARNING
.FRONT EXTENDS FROM 40N66W TO 35N73W TO 31N79W. WITHIN 120 NM NW
OF FRONT WINDS 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS TO 12 FT. ELSEWHERE WITHIN 180
NM NW AND 90 NM SE OF FRONT WINDS TO 25 KT. SEAS TO 8 FT.
.24 HOUR FORECAST FRONT TO EXTEND FROM 36N68W TO 33N74W TO
31N78W. WITHIN 120 NM NW OF FRONT WINDS 25 TO 40 KT. SEAS 10 TO
19 FT. ELSEWHERE WITHIN 180 NM NW OF FRONT WINDS TO 25 KT. SEAS
TO 10 FT.
.48 HOUR FORECAST FROM 31N TO 34N BETWEEN 71W AND 81W AREA OF E
WINDS 25 TO 35 KT. SEAS 8 TO 16 FT.

Bermuda is approximately 32N and 65W.

EDIT: Just took a closer look at the WeFax charts and it seems to me that the stronger gale winds and seas are being blocked and confined to more coastal areas. Hope so! Please keep us posted if you hear more!