John, A couple of questions: Why did the previous owner choose to build a Diesel Duck, in preference over the boat which you have? I have felt that the Skookum was an excellent and seaworthy trawler. Of the three major route choices: 1) Making your Easting to Bermuda (64.45 longitude) U S Virgin Islands ( 64.30 longitude) and go Straight South certainly is an excellant way to make the passage if you want to go offshore.--The Sargasso Sea is bounded on the West by the Gulf stream, so by definition you will be cutting thru it by going directly South. There may or may not be any adverse current on this passage--but not a lot. The passage distances would be about 700 miles from Norfolk to Bermuda and Bermuda to St. Thomas about 900 miles. 2). another option would be to leave continental US in Florida and go out into the Bahamas, going down the "Thorny Path" as outlined by Van Sant. About 1000 miles FT Pierce to Virgin Islands and 700 miles from Norfolk to Ft. Pierce. 3). From Norfolk to Beaufort NC, then take the traditional "sailing route" running due East until "the butter melts" (about 60 degrees West Long and then running almost due South). A little shorter by a maybe a hundred miles. Why did you choose the first route? What would be your stategy in the event of a late season hurricane?, or would you wait until late November and take the chances with a gale on the way to Bermuda? Incidently please don't misinterpute my comments about SSCA. It is a great organization. The bulletins have useful information, but electronic publishing or more up to date publishing would server the cruising community better. I have many friends who are members, but petty politics have hurt the organization badly. Regards, Bob Austin

Hi, Bob, You are correct that the Skookum is an excellent sea-boat, thanks to Monk's rendition of a Beebe's design. As you are aware, but some may not be, she was designed as a sailing troller, and as such, she has the attributes which make her a sea-kindly passagemaker, even without masts and sails. The PO cruised "Seahorse" for ten years, in the Bahamas, Maine, the Canadian Maritimes, Greenland and Labrador, before going west through the Canal to the PNW and Alaska and cruising there. His "Round the Horn" passageback to the States, as he called it, was the culmination of his previous voyages with the boat. He and his wife, together with friends who joined them from time-to-time while cruising had some wonderful times, but they are not young, and there were physical issues with such simple things as stairs. Seahorse has four steps from the saloon/galley to the PH; five from the saloon to the aft companionway, and three or four from the saloon to the forecabin companion. This was one of the primary reasons for considering the Duck, which has fewer, and those are not as steep. Another primary reasons was steel construction. Also, Seahorse has a conventional V-berth, the entrance of which is narrow due to the steel WT door he installed. There is also a spacious forward stateroom w/double and the owner's quarters aft, which includes a queen and a single. This is fine for us, but not the best for privacy with six aboard, which the PO and wife often like to accomodate. To your second question, I chose this route because I have sailed it before, but without stopping in Bermuda. I plan to stop there simply because I have not done so previously. It is also wise, I think, to at least "target" Bermuda as a waypoint in case it becomes necessary to make a stop - once committed to this passage, there is no other place, as you know. Last time I sailed to the VI, we came within 30 miles of the Island but elected to keep going. As you note, with sailboats, this is the traditional route from anywhere north of SC. But 60 is a long way east. With a sailboat you need to keep to 65 or 66 or you may wind up in PR, but with a motorboat I don't see that kind of problem from a bit of south in the trades.You mention Beaufort, and this is a bit preferable only because it is south of Hatteras. >From Florida I would pass close to San Salvador and then to the DR and PR, but this is a bash to windward of more miles than I care to think about, following riding cold fronts at the outset, a la Van Sant. But those using Van Sant's methodology say it takes forever to get to the VI, and despite his term "thornless' it is thorny, indeed! Yes, early November is the time to "go and go like hell" to avoid the wx you mention, although eight or nine knots is not enough to outrun anything; it just minimizes the risk that I'll run into anything serious. John "Seahorse" Bob Austin writes: Why did the previous owner choose to build a Diesel Duck, in preference over the boat which you have? I have felt that the Skookum was an excellent and seaworthy trawler. Of the three major route choices: 1) Making your Easting to Bermuda (64.45 longitude) U S Virgin Islands ( 64.30 longitude) and go Straight South certainly is an excellant way to make the passage if you want to go offshore.--The Sargasso Sea is bounded on the West by the Gulf stream, so by definition you will be cutting thru it by going directly South. There may or may not be any adverse current on this passage--but not a lot. The passage distances would be about 700 miles from Norfolk to Bermuda and Bermuda to St. Thomas about 900 miles. 2). another option would be to leave continental US in Florida and go out into the Bahamas, going down the "Thorny Path" as outlined by Van Sant. About 1000 miles FT Pierce to Virgin Islands and 700 miles from Norfolk to Ft. Pierce. 3). From Norfolk to Beaufort NC, then take the traditional "sailing route" running due East until "the butter melts" (about 60 degrees West Long and then running almost due South). A little shorter by a maybe a hundred miles. Why did you choose the first route? What would be your stategy in the event of a late season hurricane?, or would you wait until late November and take the chances with a gale on the way to Bermuda? Incidently please don't misinterpute my comments about SSCA. It is a great organization. The bulletins have useful information, but electronic publishing or more up to date publishing would server the cruising community better. I have many friends who are members, but petty politics have hurt the organization badly. Regards, Bob Austin