The Plan

Offshore Passagemaking and voyaging, is an exercise in independent, self-support offshore. This program introduces sailors to day and night offshore sailing. The passage will be 3–4 days continuous offshore. Most preparations by individuals must be completed prior to departure. We give you a serious set of questions and references to plan an offshore passage. Most people plan an Atlantic crossing. The route we choose is most often very favorable. The weather varies between very light air to robust but not stormy conditions during the selected time windows. The sea state is generally below 6 feet. We work the weather windows as any offshore sailor would.

Route and weather
The course from Bayfield, WI to Bayfield, WI by necessity varies due to weather. You can expect to cross several shipping lanes. The distance is 420–475 nautical miles as measured on a Mercator chart. The time enroute is expected to be near 80 hours which is enough to set routines, shoot celestial fixes and keep a good dead reckoning plot verifying with celestial lines of position. Weather at this time of year is normally mixed with the wind at about 10–20 knots from the western quadrants with south and ENE common. We expect several close reaches but stay prepared for worse. For reference, this is similar to a Trans Superior Race except more reasonable destination points while logging our minimum 72 hours underway are selected. The yachts are a Hunter Legend 40.5, which sails at around 6 to 7 knots in such conditions. The second yacht, an Athena 38, also sails around 6 to 7 knots or can be dialed back to do so if necessary.

Navigation
We will use (DR) deduced reckoning, estimated positions, celestial navigation lines of position and running fixes. Your instructors, there are two, will maintain electronic navigation plots for safety. A log will be maintained, and the track will be plotted regularly. The chart will show the route.

Communication and safety
The yachts are equipped with VHF radio, Life Raft, Spot tracker, and the standard US required safety signals which meet the offshore racing standards. These standards are higher than the basic USCG requirements. Mobile phone connections are often available at the "text message, packet" level for backup safety. It is expected that we will cross tracks with fishing vessels, lake freighters and ocean-going container ships and tankers. We may encounter advection fog with wind. Both boats have radar units for safety and collision avoidance. Trainees are welcome to bring their own safety harness with tether. We will supply safety gear for those who do not wish to use their own or do not have the gear.

Accommodations and crew
The yacht has three cabins with double beds in each. The forward cabin is useful in port but not at sea. The double aft cabins can be divided into two berths as required. There is a berth/settee in the main cabin generally for the skippers.

Watch Routine
The watch routine is set depending upon the crew number and experience as well as weather. Normally, we want to use two-on-four-off with mild conditions and a crew of three or more. Otherwise, we use the four-on-four-off model.

The Vessel
Training will be on a Hunter Legend 40.5 or Athena 38.
We have sufficient water and fuel to make the trip without strain. The water tanks hold almost 100 gallons, or about 15 gallons per day. We will carry additional bottles of drinking water. The fuel capacity of the yacht is enough to motorsail for almost 75 hours. This fuel consumption rate was determined during several Trans-Superior races. We carry two propane tanks which should last a month or so.

The hull, rig, keel and rudder configurations are all typical of today’s cruising yachts. The cockpit is spacious and drains well.

Provisions
We will make a meal plan with the crew's input and based on weather and what we believe we can prepare. Hydration and nutrition offshore are always important. This trip is not an experiment in exotic offshore cuisine. We'll eat well and simply. Part of meal planning is the ability to prepare in adverse conditions, stowage and cooking time plus clean up all factor into the choices.
The galley area on both boats is spacious. The 12V refrigeration units are large. Both boats have ample storage for six people including skippers.

Flexibility is the key to cruising. Other than pre-underway items, everything is always subject to weather and other safe seamanship concerns.

Link to Offshore Passagemaking ASA 108 Standard