"Peter" <ndaoway@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:3d710a26-f1f4-4890-85d6-633fed95eabc@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> You know, Wilbur, I haven't posted very often on this forum, but I
> have read a good many of the posts. If the number of miles you have
> sailed equalled even half the number of negative posts that you have
> posted, you might have a tad of credibility. I am sick of reading
> your foolish trash. To respond to your ridiculous question, no it
> doesn't tell me anyting about my personal odds for success. The fact
> is that of those who sail in the Caribbean during hurricane season,
> only a minority encounter any problems. As a matter of fact, I have
> sailed in the Caribbean during hurrican season and intend to do so
> again this year. The pontifications of armchair sailors like yourself
> do not contribute anything to the discussion.
And therein lies the difference between you and me and Ree*****.
1) You apparently have some offshore sailing experience in the area in
question. Ree***** has none.
2) You apparently have some awareness of the danger of tropical storms
and
the time of the year of hurricane season. Ree***** wasn't even aware of
hurricane season and the frequency of hurricanes during peak months of
that
season.
3) You are somewhat seasoned while Ree***** has never sailed offshore.
Lake
sailor at best.
4) You probably have a seaworthy vessel. Ree***** has a small Hunter or
similar cheap, coastal only boat.
5) You don't sail on a schedule since you're experienced enough to know it
doesn't work. Ree*****'s main planning point is to schedule around a land
based itinerary.
6) I've been cruising and have lived aboard since 1985. I have more time
and
miles aboard my boat than the combined total of so-called sailors in this
group. I know of which I speak. I have experienced aboard my yacht more
hurricanes than the lot of you put together. (Try a total of 28 tropical
storms and hurricanes each and every one with no or minor damage - and
none
of them offshore where I would have died).
Unlike Ree***** I have a very good grasp of the time and distances of what
might look like a hop, skip and a jump such as from Miami to BVI. I know
it
is anything but. Many lubbers like Ree***** have a lubbers idea of
distance.
They judge distances by how far they can drive in a day. "Why," they
yammer,
"1200 miles ain't nothing. That's only two days driving." Little do they
realize that against wind and current they will be lucky to cover 50 miles
toward their destination in a 24 hour period. That turns a 1200 mile
sailing
trip into a 24 day ordeal and that's if the boat doesn't break which it
likely will. Offshore voyagers rarely subject their vessels to such abuse
and their vessels are probably ten times as stout as some Hunter type.
And if they stop and wait for "weather windows" that don't occur during
the
time of the year they wish to travel their 24 day ordeal will likely turn
into a six month debacle. There are very few weather windows in the Trades
in the summer. About the only thing that turns the prevailing winds is a
hurricane. Do you "work" hurricanes? Do you suggest others try it? I doubt
it.
So try to consider that Ree***** is a rank, ignorant, novice who is
totally
clueless when it comes to offshore voyaging. You've heard the sad saga of
the captain and crew of the "Red Cloud" no doubt. The captain had years of
offshore experience or so he claimed. But, he was done in by a little ole
cold front in the Gulf of Mexico that had sustained winds of only 45-50 or
so knots. And you think lamers like Ree***** have any chance of success at
all voyaging hundreds of miles offshore at the height of hurricane season
in
a flimsy Hunter? Why do you encourage such irresponsible behavior?
Wilbur Hubbard
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