I read these threads and I am always somewhat baffled. I grew up sailing many of these boats when they were new boats and have sailed on them in a broad range of of conditions in the 50 years since. While it is possible for a skilled skipper to sail almost anything around the world, I am totally baffled to see a thread recommending doing any serious distance cruising on some of these designs.
Compared to some of the much better designs which followed, boats like the Triton, Alberg 30, Vanguard, Luders 33, Seabreeze, and Alberg 35 were miserable boats to sail; rolly, tender, wet, slow, massive weather helm producing anachronisms. My family owned a Vanguard, it was a miserable boat in heavy air, and useless in light going without a 170% genoa. Have any of you tried to beat in heavy seas in an Alberg 35. What a nightmare- going from knockdown on the crest to rolling the stick out in the trough, to coming to a near stop trying to crest a steep wave.
These boats were never intended to be distance cruisers. They were designed as race boats and coastal cruisers. And yes, these boats were intended to be heeled to increase their waterline lengths to beat an ill conceived racing rule, and not as much as they heel without a skilled race crew. These boats were raced with crews on the rail, an a mainsail trimmer constantly adjusting the mainsail to maintain a 15-20 degree heel angle. Cruiser tend to sail these boats on their ear since they don't have weight on the rail. The result of heeling these boats is massive weather helm. The alternative to that is carrying too little sail area to over come their high drag. Both results in slow passage times but at least the too little sail area option is easier on the crew.
"Originally Posted by christian.hess
lastly these boats are great as when heeled over their waterline increases dramatically and they become much better performers when doing so...learn to sail your boat like the designer intended!"
In direct conversation with Phil Rhodes, my father was told that Vanguards should be sailed at 15 degrees of heel but Pearson did not put in the ballast as designed so they were tender. We added the suggested ballast which helped some.
But back to the original poster. I grew up in the 1960's with a rule of thumb that a distance cruiser should have displacement of approximately 5500 to 11,000 lbs per person. If you have 3 people that would suggest a minimum displacement of around 16500 lbs. That would suggest minimally around a 35 footer even by traditional standards.
But in any event, the OP was talking about sailing down to the Carribean, that means a bash to windward. Frankly, I would focus on a boat that can go upwind with a modicum of comfortable and cover some ground, because going small is easier with a boat that can turn in decent passage times, than in a boat that was slow even when it was designed 50 years ago.
Respectfully,
Jeff
