crossing the pacific in a motor yacht

May 2002. These categories range from A to D, and they determine what type of waters the yacht was built to navigate. Was this a highly manipulative gesture? I’ve owned a 36 foot coastal cruiser for the last seven years. They have weather systems and advanced computers that help you calculate and master the long trip of crossing the biggest seas. Design. Serious concern followed, especially among the globetrotting graybeards onboard who’d previously dallied in spots like the Straits of Malacca and the Red Sea. Tim Weston 439,952 views. You May Need to Upgrade Some of Your Systems, Your Crew Should Have Ocean Crossing Experience. “How ya doin’?” asked Jeff Leishman. Leishman knew this, of course, thanks to his son Brett who’d attended college with Christiansen in Flagstaff, Arizona. Regardless of one's plan for the western Pacific, this route passes by or through the Galápagos Islands, the Marquesas, Tuamotus and Society Islands (Tahiti). Sagebrush was more his style. This is not only in case … Yachts crossing the South Pacific follow the southeast trade winds. He has completely rebuilt two RVs in which he travels with his family for months at the time. Solar panels work great on sunny days while the panels are angled towards the sun. A watermaker will give you the ability to make your own potable water throughout your journey. Thoroughly well-maintained, rigorously checked and carrying spares and extras, as many as possible. But when that stopped, it was like everybody just left. Aurora’s galley was like raw protein central. The hiatus in Adak lasted five days. You wanna join us, say, as the chef?”. Oddly enough, that old observation came to mind just recently. That yacht is Argo, an Outer Reef 88 Cockpit Motor Yacht. All Rights Reserved. But it was Tom Waits who was critical to Harlow’s survival. After examining Aurora’s two-tier engine room (with its twin 965-horsepower MTU 2000 M72 diesels, twin Cummins Onan 99-kW gensets, and twin 1,800-gpd FCI watermakers) and her elegant, teak-joined interior layout, I wandered up to the bridge and took a seat. Derek Christiansen is a fairly young fellow, but he’d been working the culinary scene for years when Leishman called. Over the last 35 years, this three-time circumnavigator has undertaken four voyages to the Pacific Ocean, roaming its waters far and wide, from southern Chile to Alaska and from Easter Island to Papua New Guinea, with visits to every island group in between. A category C yacht is rated to be used inshore. “Provisioning in China,” Christiansen reminisces, “was something of an adventure.”. “I’m tellin’ ya, Bill, there was fish juice,” he says, “and duck juice (chicken was out, due to a local bird-flu epidemic), and pig juice—every kind of juice you can imagine—and it was all over the place. Hydro-generators, on the other hand, can generate power 24 hours a day.  This is because the water’s movement powers them, and since you’ll be traveling day and night, you’ll always be generating energy. He admitted the whole deal, according to Leishman, after serving a meal of perfectly grilled filet mignon one evening, backed up with an equally fabulous green-bean-and-bacon casserole. Spend three to 12 months at sea on one of our specially kitted sailboats for bluewater sailing. Not every motor yacht above 30m can realize a transatlantic trip. The plants! He grew up on the coast where his dad took him boating from a young age. Yachts are not “cruising the Pacific”, they are in limbo. But time passed without incident. The yacht Pacific was built by the famous Lurssen Shipyard as Project Josi. Many people have crossed the Atlantic and the Pacific oceans in yachts and many other types of watercraft. A collective sigh of relief was breathed. The phone rang. Ocean-Passage Planner. And I was worried Bob and Diane would come back and see how I’d turned their gorgeous new boat into a horror show.”. There were modern neighborhoods, huge administration buildings, churches, hospitals, warehouses, police stations, prisons, airplane hangars, even a McDonald’s restaurant—all empty, abandoned. The motor yacht will need to be able to hold more than enough fuel for the trip, though. Category “A” Yachts Are Ideal For Open Oceans. The delivery of a brand-new Nordhavn 120 across the Pacific from China proves one thing among others—the world still offers many far-distant, untrammeled places, accessible to mariners only. (See our feature on the best yacht for an Atlantic crossing) North is fastest. ... ”, Years ago, one of the great glories of offshore passagemaking could be summed up in one little apothegm: “Everybody back home really knows where I am, but then again they don’t.”, “You have to remember, though,” advises Leishman, “that a different set of conditions exist today. Living the dream crossing the Pacific Ocean aboard a Riviera 68 Sports Motor Yacht by Admin on July 23, 2019 July 30, 2019 0 NEW CALEDONIA: Living the Life isn’t simply the name of Regan and Sandra Fleming’s much-loved 68 Sports Motor Yacht – it’s a creed they’re now experiencing to the fullest while wandering the tropical South Pacific. Who Determines How A Yacht Is Categorized? Twice. Has most of the amenities of home in a tiny package. Last year, when we carried out our annual survey of ARC skippers, we found that yachts of between 46ft and 55ft had a battery capacity, on average, of 700ah, rising to 1,000ah for yachts … Fail to do this, and you’ll find that the crew has to spend a lot more time navigating and a lot less time enjoying the journey. “From where to where,” asked Christiansen, looking around his lubberly quarters, smack dab in the middle of America’s great southwestern desert. “But I put my Bose headphones on and stuck with Tom for two whole days. How do you make a living on the road? Sleeps four comfortably, six in a pinch. Oh yeah. The aura of long distances still lingered over her, though, perhaps in part because, after Dutch Harbor, the Nordhavn delivery crew added Kodiak Island, the Gulf of Alaska, Dixon Entrance, and the Inside Passage to her long itinerary before saying goodbye. But Smiloff took care of Aurora’s crew, offering weather and other information via VHF (the vessel’s satellite dishes were blocked by neighboring mountains) while rough seas and winds in the anchorage obviated coming ashore. This is an ocean that will test your skills in self-sufficiency as, in all likelihood, your nearest port for any major repairs or parts will be several weeks travel away. “But hey,” says Grover, “with all that said, Adak was a very spooky place. While working for an oceangoing-tug company as a young man, I observed three distinct seafaring types: those who preferred to ply inland waters; those who specialized in “milk runs,” carrying bulk cargoes coastally; and finally those, like myself, who favored long, long, long hauls to South America, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia. Crewmembers asked each other, “Was there indeed a threat from Habomai pirates? Modern technology makes meeting these needs much easier. A category D yacht is only rated for inland or sheltered coastal waters. Gordon Lightfoot. They’ll do well as long as the waves don’t reach heights of over 4 feet. Yeah, it is hard to get away from it all these days. Your energy requirements during an ocean crossing can be extremely high.  Not only this but yachts, in general, tend to need more power than other vessels. How to transit the Panama Canal in your yacht - preparation, costs, top tips and more for a smooth crossing from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean I was talking with Nordhavn’s vice president Jim Leishman at the time, about the delivery of the company’s new 414-ton 120-footer across the Pacific Ocean last summer from China, through the Bering Sea and the Aleutians, across the Gulf of Alaska, and down the Inside Passage to Vancouver, British Columbia. I was talking with Nordhavn’s vice president Jim Leishman at the time, about the delivery of the company’s new 414-ton 120-footer across the Pacific Ocean last summer from China, through the Bering Sea and the Aleutians, across the Gulf of Alaska, and down the Inside Passage to Vancouver, British Columbia. I climbed a ladder and went aboard. So, will music, of a certain type, cure seasickness? Long Range Yachts. Can you believe?”. Jimmy Buffett. This is because strong winds and currents can drastically increase the amount of fuel needed to complete a voyage.  For this reason, many veteran sailors say that you should bring about 1.5 times the amount of fuel you think you’ll actually need to complete the voyage. These magnificent yachts are now cruising some of the world’s most exotic waters, have received accolades from owners and the marine industry by setting the standard that defines 40 years of evolution by Riviera, Australia’s largest luxury motor yacht builder. She has a unique color, which seems to change in the sun. Crossing the Tasman Sea in True Comfort Aboard a Blue Water Desalination-equipped Riviera 72 Sports Motoryacht. It takes a significant amount of time to make an ocean crossing. Your Motor Yacht Should Be Able to Carry 1.5 Times The Amount of Fuel You’ll Need. In addition to having good navigation equipment, here are some systems you may want to consider upgrading to make life easier on the ocean. More than the rest, we loved the blue distances, the reliably reassuring watch systems, and the regular meals. Pacific Crossing Pacific Log Pacific Route Pacific Passage Planning Society Islands Tahiti Tonga Tuamotus Vanuatu . “It was an apocalyptic scene—like the Twilight Zone,” concludes Grover. Certainly, but, adds Leishman, it saved the young fellow from being put ashore on a small, deserted Aleutian island. He has filmed and interviewed people living in tiny houses and RVs since 2011. “We went into this house on a hill, in fact, and it still had the plants in the windows. When you’re looking to buy a yacht, make sure it has been rated by this institute.  You can do this by looking for a certification plaque that will be mounted on the bulkhead. You can also cross the oceans with a yacht with sails. “China,” Leishman responded, “to Vancouver, British Columbia—whataya think? But he also let me know that maybe, just maybe, it’s not changed all that much. To do this, of course, they have to be able to cross over wide-open seas. Nordhavn delivery skipper Paul Grover was on watch in the Bering Sea when the weather turned really, really bad. Many yacht owners, however, choose to use one of the shipping companies to transport their yacht. It would be best to have a big enough tank to hold the amount of fuel you expect to burn. I know you can sail across the Atlantic or Pacific in a 30-40foot sailboat and many people have done it in much smaller craft. A category B yacht is designed to go offshore. Oddly enough, that old observation came to mind just recently. I’ve heard horrific tales of their type, nearly enough to keep meself out from the waters.”, Speculative conversations occurred. And eventually, Aurora and her crew entered seemingly pirate-proof, American-controlled Alaskan waters. This cuts down on how much freshwater you need to pack and makes your yacht more self-sufficient. A yacht built to this style is meant to tackle everything from the icy waters of the Arctic to the rough waves of the South Pacific in monsoon season. It can handle strong winds and waves of up to 13 feet. Some experience and adequate preparations are important for a safe adventure. After getting permission from her owners, I visited Aurora this past spring in Port Moody, British Columbia, just north of Vancouver. They are longer than 40 feet and can take on waves of up to 23 feet.  These boats can also take on strong winds of at least 47 knots. ... on a 2-week adventurous crossing of the famed Ditch with their brand new and highly customized Riviera 72 Sports Motor Yacht. Click here for Nordhavn’s contact information and index of articles. That's why I was imagining a 50' motor yacht being able to make the trip. You can use them on lakes and rivers and even protected harbors. The weather’s bad and it’s gonna get worse.’”. Good news? If you are motoring in a big yacht, you will need more than that. At length, it was decided that the big vessel would make the first and only weather-related stop of the trip, despite the fact that she was Canadian-flagged and not officially documented to make an impromptu entry into an American port, even an exceptionally remote one like Adak. Her bow had also been lofty, and impressively massive. Read more about Morten here. Brett’s probably goin’ too.”. It’s a nice boat. Go to anchor in Sweeper Bay. In the skylounge. With well-established high pressure, a direct ... and Joshua Shankle tells the story of his mid-Pacific. So what exactly are the types of things you want in a motor boat that would make it realistic in crossing the Atlantic … Sailing yachts can make it by simply using their sails without being wholly dependent on fuel, but what should a motor yacht owner consider when starting such a journey? However, as the seasons progress, yachts will need to leave the cyclone belt of the South Pacific. Although they take various courses as they filter through Oceania, the great majority call at the inexpensive and friendly island nation of Fiji. Yachts in Panama, Galapagos, French Polynesia, Fiji and other Pacific nations are currently in local isolation. Long cruises through uncharted territory are this yacht type's specialty. What length of boat would you need to attempt a trans-Atlantic crossing? How much fuel capacity would this boat require? Richard Bost had those, too. We would love to hear your thoughts! Both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans can be crossed in a yacht.  You can cross the Pacific and Atlantic oceans on a sailing yacht or a motor yacht. Riviera Sports Motor Yachts have reached a significant milestone in production with the completion of hull 20. Previous Next . Any boat crossing from the Pacific coast of the Americas all the way through to Australasia should be pushing off for the crossing in great shape. The reason being, a yacht is going to be larger and more difficult to manage alone than a small sailing craft would be to manage alone. ... having crossed the Pacific in a previous yacht. Wind turbines can create an impressive amount of energy in high winds.  However, most people will want to travel downwind, which reduces the amount of power that the wind turbine can generate. This is especially true if you’re making the crossing on a yacht. We loved the beauty of the things you see, hear, and feel when you’re hundreds of miles, maybe even thousands of miles, from anywhere. This one might be obvious, but you’ll need to pack a lot of food for your voyage. Sailing yachts are often better suited for longer ocean crossings.  One of the main reasons for this is that they can sail themselves for an indefinite amount of time. Christiansen was lucky. February 4, 2021 3:00pm Top yacht design concepts released this month February 4, 2021 2:00pm Live: Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta set to proceed in June February 4, 2021 1:30pm 34m Lynx yacht Robbie Bobby looking for a new owner February 4, 2021 1:15pm Second 44m Bering B145 explorer yacht sold with 2023 delivery The longest crossing is the Pacific Ocean, a roughly 3,000 nautical mile stretch between the Americas and the French Polynesian islands. You should bring 1.5 times the amount you expect to burn. Having completed her voyage from China many months before, she was floating peacefully in the shadows of an immense boathouse. Just a few months later, Christiansen stood anxiously surveying the galley of Aurora, the biggest vessel Nordhavn’s ever built. The initial stage presents a challenge because the winds can be light and the currents contrary in the Gulf of Panama. This being said, not all yachts are capable of making these trips. For a medium-sized yacht, you should expect to have at least 500 gallons of fuel (2000 liters), unless you have sails. Pacific has a strikingly low profile exterior design by German Frers. “I see you have safely and uneventfully passed through the Habomai tides,” wrote a guy identifying himself only as Nelson, “Be there any concerns or preparations of protection taken in the unfortunate case of a Habomai pirate threat? Depending on the weather conditions, it can take significantly longer to cross the Pacific ocean with a large yacht with a strong motor. A yacht can generate its own power using the sun, the wind, and the water. I don't cross oceans, but if I did, I would cross in a sailing monohull. “But Adak’s harbormaster, Elaine Smiloff, was a really nice lady,” says Grover, “and she was like, ‘Sure, no problem. How Much Fuel Is Needed To Cross The Atlantic & Pacific ocean? You may not see anyone for days in the ocean, and even if you do, they probably won’t be able to tow you back to shore. Some people have extravagant dreams of a life filled with adventure. From its massive flybridge with an expansive boat deck sheltering the aft deck below, to its wide side decks and well-protected foredeck, this design is meant to be safe at sea. This being said, not all yachts are capable of making these trips.  If you decide to cross either of these oceans, you’ll want to make sure you have an ocean-faring yacht as well as the equipment and skills needed to make the trip. Here is a photo of when I first took ownership. I took the opportunity to do that in 1999, when I received an unrefusable offer from the owner of a Hatteras motor yacht who wanted to … Nordhavn employees made up most of the rest of the delivery crew, and yes, Leishman let me know during our conversation, that ocean travel’s changed a good bit since the days when I was routinely doing it. This being said, you don’t have to own a sailing yacht to cross the Atlantic or the Pacific.  A large motor yacht can potentially make the trip as well if it is designed for it. As the boat approached Attu, an ominous message arrived via Nordhavn’s web-based interactive forum. For this reason, you’ll probably want to hire a crew or bring along plenty of friends or family members that can help you make the trip.  At least one person on the crew should have some experience making an ocean crossing. Bring a backup autopilot system or spare parts for your existing system so that you can make any repairs necessary to keep it working throughout the entire trip. This is the 6 th in a series of articles provided for the yachting community by the team at Denison and will review what is involved in the decision to use a transport ship or make the crossing on a yacht… Remember, your freshwater needs aren’t just restricted to drinking water.  You’ll need fresh water for bathing, cooking, and for washing your yacht off as well.  Most yachts will need daily cleanings as saltwater can quickly take its toll on a yacht’s decks and make the windows difficult to see through. I CROSSED THE PACIFIC ON A 2 MILLION DOLLAR YACHT - Ep 64 - Duration: 9:02. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. Christiansen, inspired by his nautical readings, had covertly slipped the piratical message into the forum stream. In sailing, thousands cross the Atlantic every year in 50' boats. “It’s like we’re the last of the cowboys,” I used to tell myself back then, “ridin’ the last, last frontier.”. Morten is the founder of GoDownsize. Additionally, she organized a rental car once the weather eased a bit, helped with flight arrangements for departing crewmembers, and even came forward with a great going-away present—caribou hot dogs. This latter bunch was a breed apart. You’re rarely away from an Iridium phone, e-mail access, and the like. However, this shouldn’t be the only determining factor. In Fiji, the best time to look for a crew position is from August through October. The manufacturer or boat builder will initially determine which category the boat should fall under. It was a fine spot for a little daydreaming. But at the moment, it looked exceptionally grim, almost frightening. You can still see things and hear things and feel things that you simply cannot see, hear, and feel while using any other kind of conveyance. To ensure that the yacht is actually built correctly for trips over the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, it should be certified by the International Marine Certification Institute. Increasing the size and number of freezers you bring with you will increase the amount of meat and fruit you can bring. They do this through the use of wind turbines, solar panels, and hydro-generators. “Night watches in the open ocean are often wonderful—it’s undeniable,” he says, “Really, there’s something almost dream-like about the peace and well-being you sometimes achieve around mid-passage, under ideal conditions.”. Remember, it takes more than 20 days, at least, to cross the Atlantic ocean. Motor Yacht Pacific. In the wheelhouse. But then, onboard a certain sort of vessel, you can still do it apparently. On an ocean? Yachts rarely travel in the South Pacific from Nov to April, as that is cyclone season. Hereis a photo from last season after I had a new canvas enclosure installed. You might think that you can easily shorten the time it takes to cross the Atlantic or Pacific oceans by making it a more direct one. Both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans can be crossed in a yacht. It used to be part of the Distant Early Warning (DEW) line, you know, which monitored the Russians during the Cold War. In the sumptuous saloon. While we were delivering the 120, for example, I was reminded daily of all the calamities and troubles of the world. Making my way beneath the vessel’s towering, rakishly flared bow, I was reminded of a sea-punching Smit-Lloyd salvage tug I’d worked with on an oil-rig-towing job back during the 80s. In the galley. Morten teaches that on his YouTube Channel. Not really that many cyclones, in general, but if you get caught in one while on a yacht, well, let you might let your next of kin know in advance what to do with your things. Leishman, his brother Jeff, and a guy named Paul Grover were co-captains on the 6,000-nautical-mile, 38-day extravaganza. Aurora’s owners Bob and Diane Conconi, who were making the passage to Vancouver along with the delivery crew, arrived onboard well after he’d dealt with the juice issue. The communication blackouts that used to exist when you were crossing oceans are pretty much gone now. The faster your motor, the more fuel you will burn. Obviously, fuel would be the primary concern. Major-league meat is not sold in chaste, plastic-wrapped packages in China—it arrives dockside in huge chunks and Christiansen had been struggling to get three truck  loads all broken down and stowed for almost eight hours now. The threat of bad weather steadily pushed Aurora’s route farther north than was originally intended, and eventually she abjured a direct course to Vancouver in favor of a more northerly one around Attu (an island on the western end of the Aleutians), into the Bering Sea, and on through fabled Dutch Harbor. They make the crossing for about a week trying to avoid bad weather and severe weather conditions. We are reader supported. It is possible to make an ocean crossing by yourself, but it isn’t recommended. This person’s knowledge could prove invaluable both before and during the long trip.  You and your other passengers should also have some experience with long passages so that you all know what to expect. Of course, you could skip this step and go with mostly dry foods instead.  But honestly, what yacht owner wants to subsist on a daily diet of rice and beans? During this time, you’ll need to meet your food, water, and energy requirements.  You’ll also need to navigate the boat continuously. What I mean by this is that you’ll end up traveling in a direction that follows the prevailing winds, so you are mostly traveling downwind.  This reduces the stress on your boat, makes the ride more enjoyable, and even makes it quicker. On the other hand, Category A boats are designed to sustain themselves for long voyages like a crossing of the world’s oceans. And then he bought a Kadey-Krogen 42 and crossed an ocean. How Long Time Does It Take To Cross The Atlantic & Pacific Seas? This will save fuel but be slower because of the boat’s characteristics and since you are much more dependent on the weather conditions. Learn more about our Sabbatical Dream Yacht service. “I was feeling very queasy at first—very queasy indeed,” he explains. And hey, the queasiness eventually went away.”, “A song called Singapore,” says Harlow, “another called Jockey Full Of Bourbon, and another called Shore Leave.”, “Who knows,” he chuckles, “I’m just sayin’. Bob Dylan. You need a big enough tank to hold the amount of fuel you expect to burn. (PS: We read ALL feedback). While you probably wouldn’t want to do an ocean crossing in this vessel, it might be able to handle one of the weather stayed calm for an extended period of time. Your yacht will be moving at all times, and someone or something will need to be navigating it. Driving around the island made a deep impression on everybody. This document is not contractual. © 2021 Cruz Bay Publishing Inc., an Active Interest Media company. It looked like a major city when we were comin’ in. Unfortunately, this isn’t true, and your route will largely be dependent on trade winds. Extraordinary ... this is usually fast sailing with a favourable current bringing the passage time down to one similar to a transatlantic crossing. They will vary a lot according to how much fuel you are willing to burn. You can cross the Pacific and Atlantic oceans in a sailing yacht or a motor yacht. Massive, gray 20-footers began towering, as Aurora struggled to make 4 or 5 knots. In a hurry.”. Gone, I’m afraid, are the days when you could sail off into ‘Ignorance is bliss’ for two or three whole weeks.”, In spite of the possibility that he hankers for simpler times, at least now and again, it’s obvious that Leishman remains deeply and romantically involved with the crossing of oceans, a way of life he’s written about and enjoyed for decades and decades now. Yachts & Gear. I know for a fact that the recreational trawlers like Nordhavns can cross oceans albeit at very slow speeds. This based on my experience sailing and motoring vessels coastal between 37 and 49 feet LOA. She was delivered to her owner in 2010. If you’re planning on making the trip on your yacht, make sure you have the right boat for the job, the right crew for the journey, and the right technology to make everything simple and easy. One of the issues a category B would have is that it might not be built to be self-sustaining for the length of time needed to cross an ocean. The best power generation system is a system that makes use of all of the technologies available. I would say the crew is much different than on a motor yacht so that is a variable to be sure, but not an argument against. They are made to withstand rough weather and storms so you won’t get lost in the middle of the Atlantic or Pacific. Super Yacht - Atlantic Crossing - Engine Room Tour - Duration: 7:24. “I’m a musician—I play drums in a band—so I have an extensive playlist on my iPhone,” explains Doug Harlow, the guy who was responsible for documenting Aurora’s voyage via an array of media formats. A little delivery trip? “You know, Derek, we’re doing a little ocean delivery trip in a few months. The drawback is that they do not work nearly as well when they’re shaded, and every day is not a sunny day while out on the water or land for that matter. Did you find wrong information or was something missing? We’ve simplified the experience of long-term sailing for those who want to create the adventure of a lifetime. This is important for a trip as long as crossing the Atlantic or Pacific sea.

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