{"id":12619,"date":"2010-08-15T08:13:01","date_gmt":"2010-08-15T13:13:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/?p=12619"},"modified":"2011-12-06T00:27:01","modified_gmt":"2011-12-06T05:27:01","slug":"switching-from-sail-to-power-five-years-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/switching-from-sail-to-power-five-years-later\/","title":{"rendered":"Switching From Sail To Power Five Years Later"},"content":{"rendered":"

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This past week we have been asked three times (by e-mail and in the marina) about the switch from sail to power, and what we thought about it now.\u00a0Before answering the question some context is in order.<\/p>\n

Prior to Wind Horse<\/em> we had only twice set foot on a stinkpot, both experiences being very short. We loathed power boats, a feeling built up from years of negative interaction.\u00a0Our sailing yachts, both racing cats in the olden days, and cruising designs more recently, were fast, nimble, and a joy to sail.\u00a0Beowulf<\/em>, the 78 foot ketch above and in subsequent photos, was the ultimate high performance cruiser, and crossing oceans aboard her was mostly a pleasure.\u00a0We enjoyed sailing her agressively as a couple and the challenge of making quick, seamanlike passages, without undo risk, with just two of us aboard, was a big attraction.<\/p>\n

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And Beowulf<\/em> was fast! In the photo above, taken at the start of a Caribbean 1500, she is doing 16 knots with just her two code zero jibs set. She is on her way to one of the two record setting clean sweep victories in this event (her 2001 elapsed time record still stands).<\/p>\n

With one exception she averaged 265 miles a day, or better, on every ocean passage she made. In the trades she would easily average 300 miles a day (12.5 knots). We made the trip from Los Angeles to the Marquesas in 10.5 days (2900 miles) returning two years later from Nuka Hiva to San Diego in twelve days.<\/p>\n

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If the weather systems were stable the two of us would carry both spinnakers representing a total sail area of 6000 square feet (580 square meters). Between her stability – she carried water ballast to windward – and rig, we had to acknowledge that the boat was in charge and we were along for the ride. Sail handling had to be done carefully, in a coordinated manner, and we had to stay ahead of the weather curve. This challenge was a big part of her allure for us.<\/p>\n

What we enjoyed most was close quarters maneuvering sans engine. Our habit was to depart from an anchorage under sail, and arrive in similar fashion. The more difficult the harbor the better. Handling 78 feet of boat with just the two of us in Falmouth Harbor, Antigua, during race week, was the ultimate buzz.<\/p>\n

At the same time owning a yacht like Beowulf<\/em> required a lot of work. When making passages, between the actual sail handling, weather analysis, routing, and navigation, there was little time or mental band width for reading or other liesure activities. And when it was time to put her into storage mode (or wake her up) it meant three days of hard work for the two of us.<\/p>\n

Our cruising was more focused on the sailing than sitting and enjoying new surroundings. It was not unusual for us to go for a short sail within a day or two of completing a long passage, because we loved sailing. But at best 60% of our time enroute was under sail with the engine pushing us for the rest. And under sail five percent or less of the time would bring the type of weather that made for the unadulterated adrenilin rush heretofore mentioned. The balance of the time we were just grinding down the miles.<\/p>\n

When we started thinking about what to do next after selling Beowulf<\/em> the concept of switching to power was not on the radar. But when we began to take stock of our maturity, and the fact that we’d be three years closer to dotage by the time a new boat was designed and built, we realized the era of sailing high powered cruising yachts across oceans was probably over. For the two of \u00a0us to continue crossing oceans alone a new design would either have to be detuned and significantly slower, or we were going to need crew. Neither option was palatable.<\/p>\n

The thought of switching to power was not easily accepted. Even after the design was completed, and we were close to launching, both of us, and in particular Steve, had second thoughts. The idea of a powerboat was still an anathema to us even as Wind Horse <\/em>was being launched.\u00a0While Linda was fine with the concept of passaging sans adrenilin, Steve was not so sure. However, he had his glider and the pursuit of soaring records to fall back on for the adrenaline fix.<\/p>\n

It did not take long during our sea trials during the New Zealand winter to appreciate some of\u00a0Wind Horse’s<\/em> benefits. Wet, cold day? No problem. We ran the boat from the warm, dry, great room, with 360 degree views.\u00a0Anchoring could be done from inside, so it was only coming and going from the dock that we were exposed to the elements. We often had cruising friends aboard for our “day sails” and chatting while running the boat – whether inside or on the flying bridge – was as enjoyable as if we were sailing.<\/p>\n

Still, it wasn’t until the first long passage to Fiji that we really started to accept our transition from sailing. That passage indelibly stamped Wind Horse’s<\/em> advantages on our physches.<\/p>\n

It is now five years and many thousands of miles later and there have been a few surprises comparing the FPB 83\u00a0Wind Horse<\/em> and 78 foot ketch Beowulf.<\/em><\/p>\n