Trip Calculations

[RobertoH]

Hi all,

Well, here is a real "Newbie-Land-lubber" question for y'all.

Is there a format or spreadsheet to provide an approximation of time travel between ports? A long story, but I am trying to estimate how long it will take our group to sail approximately 3,000 miles. This will include around 4-5 stopovers at various ports. My basic navigation planning will be turned over to an experienced skipper to fine detailing.

We will be on a 63' racing yacht; just cruising thought. Here are a couple of legs as examples:

Seychelles to Salomon Islands - Approx 1,300 miles
Salomon Islands to Cocos Islands - Approx 1,800 miles

The distances I just quickly estimated on Google earth to get a basis idea. I do understand there is much more involved in estimating (wind, current, sail size, etc.) but I am looking at some sort of "rule of thumb" or way to guesstimate how long each leg will take.

I did do a search on the site but to no avail. So, given that silly questions will be asked by beginners, can anyone provide a little insight?

[Sapperwhite]

There is a really nice program called Visual Passage Planner that brings together a lot of info into one package. It isn't free though.

Visual Passage Planner 2

[RobertoH]

Originally Posted by Sapperwhite

There is a really nice program called Visual Passage Planner that brings together a lot of info into one package. It isn't free though.

It looks very straight forward to work with. Thanks for the link! I will most likely purchase it and download online. But I would kind of like to hear from those experienced with the program.

Is anyone familiar with this software?

[PBzeer]

Get an "average boat speed" or "cruising speed", based on how you plan to sail during the voyage. Then get your cruising speed under power. This will give you an approximation of how long it will take to cover the distance.

[gtod25]

Keeping in mind that puff boats do NOT have ETA's they have destinations.

Keep the following figures in your head;

4kts for 24 hrs = 100 (+/-)
6kts for 24 hrs = 150 (+/-)
8kts for 24 hrs = 200 (+/-)
10kts for 24 hrs = 250 (+/-)

Depending on your speed you can work out the approx days to go. Think in days not hrs. Any more complicated calculations based on your actual boat speed at the time will just drive you nuts.

[Sapperwhite]

Originally Posted by RobertoH

It looks very straight forward to work with. Thanks for the link! I will most likely purchase it and download online. But I would kind of like to hear from those experienced with the program.

Is anyone familiar with this software?

I've played with VPP1, the older version, and it was simple.

Don't go rushing into anything just yet though. Shop around some and do some more digging. There are probably other tools similar to this that may be less expensive or even free. Pencil and paper calculations are practically free (you do have to suplly your own materials).

EDIT: By the way, just because some computer program tells you that you will see X amount of wind, X amount of current, and X wave height with X ETA on X passage doesn't mean jack. Nothing is certain. You still have to really plan your trips in the real world based on real time conditions and forcasts.

[RobertoH]

PBzeer - thank you for your input.

gtod25 - thanks for the estimations. It took me a bit, but I caught on to thinking in days and not hours. I definitely want to follow the K.I.S.S. principle so not to go prematurely gray working on Einstein level calculations. The skipper will also give me a hand learning navigation with hard copy charts, which I look forward to.

Sapperwhite - Good to hear you have played with the software. I have searched a bit and found a few programs. But I think I will stick with this software unless others chime in with something better or cheaper. (I'm tired of surfing). I definitely understand your last, and will only use such software for basic planning leaving real world calculations to the skipper. Again, I plan on learning a lot on this trip; including "quill to parchment" calculations.

Thanks again guys.

[camaraderie]

I would guess that a boat your size could comfortably plan on 150 miles per day...giving a 3 week passage time without layovers. Prevailing winds should be in your favor and you have a fast boat so I would not be surprised to see you crack off 200+ days but I would be more conservative in my planning.

[gtod25]

I'm sure you have thought of all these, but for what its worth, my priorities for an extended sailing trip are as follows;

1. Carefully choose and pack your clothing for the trip. Think warm and dry and don't pack too much. You wont be dressing for dinner.
2. Locate your bunk space and get it set up for rolling around.
3. Stash comfort food, candy, nibbles, seasickness meds. etc. close at hand.
4. Take books, ipod etc.

Most of us have great plans of what we wish to do on a long sailing cruise, read War and Peace, learn astro navigation, learn to play to play the guitar. IMHO this seldom pans out. Unless you have outstanding weather (which you may) the routine will consist of watch keeping, sleeping, eating, bodily functions, watch keeping, sleeping etc. etc. interspersed with occasional bouts of terror, seasickness and asking yourself "what the F%^k am I doing here".

I've just returned from a Transatlantic (on a much bigger vessel) and that was pretty much the routine. Fair Winds.

[Plumper]

Don't forget the comfort level. It is fairly easy to push a boat to the point where no-one onboard is comfy. A couple days at 20 degrees of heel, sailing to windward at 10 knots takes all the fun out of it.