There are pluses and minus to having more than two crew. If you are not comfortable with a two person crew, then this may limit your options. For example we often take well known friends on long passages. On our crossing from Bermuda to the Azores we had a couple lined up to acompany us. At the last minute she found a lump in the breast and the diagnosis was cancer. So we were faced with the options of taking on a crew in Bermuda or just the two of us. We had made many over 1000 mile passages before with only two and so this was no problem. We did interview several people who were looking for rides. Only one was acceptiable. We debated if we wanted to take the responsibilty of a bit of an unknown. We went with just the two of us. There was a bad storm. I don't know how this person--or even a person we knew would have reacted in this type of situation. We don't know if they get sea sick, or have stress syndrome. I have seen instances where people who appeared to be stable sailors with experience became psychotic under stress of bad weather or adversity. Also when you take others on a passage, if a medical problem arises, you become responsible. One friend took a person who had diabetes, apparently unknow to the boat owner. The crew (one of four) went into a coma and died before help arrived. You do get more sleep with three or four people. However when you get into the rythm of a passage the fatigue no longer becomes a factor. We found that we were just as refreshed at the end of a 15 day passage (assuming no storm--where no one sleeps) as when we left. The worse is a one or two day passage. You don't get in the rythm. There is a close bond which developes with the husband and wife team on a crossing. Your lives, your welfare, your very being is dependant on the action of the other. I suspect it is like the bond which the pioneers developed. This bond does not seem to develope with "friends" along. Yes, if you have others they can become closer, but it is not the same. After 4 years of cruising the hardest thing for both Marie and I was to be without each other. The vast majority of passagemakers are just couples As far as safety--The potential hazards may outway the advantages of extra crew. A boat is a very small place--and gets much smaller on a long passage. Privacy is a major concern. Sleeping quarters are a problem with mixed crews. Many boats with bow staterooms are not comfortable at sea. Another issue. There seems to be an assumption that an expensive boat is necessary. This is not the case. There are boats which are seaworthy and have the range which don't cost a million dollars. One can have just as much fun and see the same places as the million dollar boat--perhaps more. We found that at times locals seemed to shy away from the fancy boats. But we went to meet locals and learn about cultures--not hang out with other yachties. Bob Austin