What size sailing boat do i need to sail from the USA to Europe?

Question

from florida to spain. can it be done by one person? is it commonly done by amateur sailers?

Answer 1

Tania Aebi and Brian Caldwell are two examples of people who solo circumnavigated the planet on 26-foot sailboats (both opted for a Contessa 26)    Tania, left at a very young age and almost no experience.   Most people would opt for a larger boat, but larger isn't necessarily better.  Costs increase exponentially with larger boats.  I previously owned a 26-footer which I happily sailed for months in the Bahamas, but now own a 33-footer.  Honestly, I'd pick something smaller than my 33-footer for long-term solo cruising as it can be difficiult to manager a larger boat, especially in rough conditions.    If you read some of the books by the Pardy's who lived aboard for decades and sailed all over the world, you will see they make some great arguments for sticking to smaller boats.   They went from a 24 to 29 footer.  What a boat is built for, how well it is built and outfitted are probably more important considerations than just the size.

Although, some people have crossed oceans, with little experience, it's obviously a good idea to work your way up to such a feat.    Personally, in about 300 days of cruising, I've learned I have no desire to cross an ocean.

Find a small, easy to maintain boat and enjoy sailing lakes or coastal waters first.    After you have some experience with that, the next step and next boat will become clear.

Answer 2

Here's an article with some general information about sailing/yatchs:

http://boatingpoint.com/buying_a_cruisin...

Answer 3

As you've read...just about any size. You don't need to be an expert in GPS or Navigation...when you hit land, you'll know it. Knowing tides is helpful for certain areas.

The bottom line is this...know your boat...know basic skills for sailing...and know thyself. And just go...now or you may never. When a storm comes will you panic or stow the sails and hunker down? How will you repair damage?...carry sailcloth, thread, adhesives...both epoxy and 3M 5200...be prepared to save the boat and your life...have 2 manual bailers...a chart and compass will help you know where you are going...but just go.

Remember you can strip the sails on a smaller boat in a gale much faster than on a 40 footer or larger. More systems to fail...more replacements needed...not always good.

For a novice I recommend something forgiving(like the Contessa 26) or comparable Folkboat style that has at least a 3/4 keel for stability and you won't hook any debris along the way.

Good luck

Answer 4

This is NOT done by amateurs... the sea is a very dangerous place to be.

Here is what you need to do...

1. The bigger the boat the better.... 40ft min

2. You need to become an expert in Navigation, GPS, Compass, Maps, Currents, etc.

Answer 5

Yes it's done every year by amateur sailors, in fact there are several rallies for people to make the crossing in company. Most of these however go from Europe to the USA, though many of them come back in company also. Details of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) can be found here: http://www.worldcruising.com/arc/.

I would STRONGLY advise against attempting it alone, that really would be foolish. Since you'll need to maintain a 24-hour watch you want at least three experienced and qualified people aboard. I agree that 40ft would be the realistic minimum length, though many people do it safely in smaller boats.

You DO need to be a properly trained and qualified sailor however. The Atlantic is no place for beginners. In fact the sea anywhere is no place for beginners..............

Answer 6

Its been done in an 8 footer, but I'd want a little more room to move around.    30 feet would be good enough.   I'd get a little experience first.