O C Diver
Guru
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2010
- Messages
- 13,287
- Location
- Fort Myers, Florida
- Vessel Name
- End Of The Line
- Vessel Make
- Trinka 10 Dinghy
I've been up/down this very stretch of coast dozens of times. It's pretty much all I did for about 200 days/year for 5-years. I have been vocal that the weather is manageable, and been vocal that it doesnt require a bluewater boat such as a Nordhavn to make the trip safely and comfortably. Two thumbs-up to Doug and Kevin for getting out and going - I hope this is encouragement for many others. It really is approachable.
But.....where I was (and remain) a naysayer is in long distance single-handing. Recall, Kevin's original itinerary had him with overnight runs of over 36-hours which he ended up not doing (at least until now). He harbor-hopped down the coast which is feasible in a fast-ish boat. His options for day-runs will narrow when he heads south from Ensenada in November due to short days, long distances between stops, and limited fuel will mean he must reduce speed to increase range. He can take steps to reduce risk such as set alarms, but there is no question that a single-handed boat cannot adequately abide by the COLREGS requirement to stand a proper watch over a long period of time (certainly 24-hours, but probably less). Not opinion, a fact - there is not a single person who would shrug-off an airline pilot who was doing a triple-shift which is why it's a well-enforced requirement. If there was an accident, it would not go well for the single-handed operator no matter how many Internet high-5's are out there.
Peter
Kevin,
364 days left.
Ted