The Atlantic
Trip Start
May 07, 2007
1
14
28
Trip End
Jun 15, 2007
The Alantic,
Florida,
United States
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
For the others, the problem seemed to pass quickly as we all got our sea legs. For those of you who are not boaters, being on a big boat such as this with a 20' beam is a lessen in how to assume the tri-pod position for any and all activities. Because the boat has a lot of space, you really have to be careful as handholds may not be convenient. This takes some getting used to. Moreover, Nordhavn 62s have a steep stair going up to the wheelhouse which is really the third level of the boat. The wheelhouse is where all the business of driving and navigating the boat takes place. The wheelhouse in New Frontier is very comfortable with a U shaped settee at which all of us can fit. Normally, at least two crew are sleeping so you don't see everyone up here all the time. The steep steps up the wheelhouse are likey the most dangerous place on the boat. Capt Jerry is wise in that he has a chain gate over it so no one can fall down as the vessel pitches. So consider sitting in your living room while someone lifts and rocks your house up, down and sideways with un-predictable moves. Now, how about bringing up a snack plate and cocktail? You have to be careful.
Nordhavns and many boats of this class use active stabilizers to keep the vessel on good footing. This means that the boat has two fins extending from its underside which turn to counteract roll. The stabilizers run off engine hydraulics and a control computer which senses the need based on a number of factors. If the boat rolls to port, the computer senses this and turns the appropriate fin to counter the port roll. Pitch, on the other hand is up and down rocking of the vessel as it rides wave peaks and troughs. This motion does not have the same effect on 'soft tummies' as does role, but it does take its toll in terms of fatigue. It is not uncommon to see the bow of New Frontier, pitch 10 feet or more sending a curtain of spray nearly the length of the vessel. Now, when you are in your bunk this can be a big deal and the most forward berths are most stongly effected. That is why the owners cabins of many vessels are Midship or aft while the crew sleeps in the "V Berth" or forepeak. Sue and I have a moderately forward cabin. We can easily feel a 2' pitch. It takes some adjustment. I would hate to be the sad dog sleeping way forward. On New Frontier, the extreme forepeak is used for wardrobe storage as the owners live aboard.
No one ate much during our first day and a half. It was simply too rough and even if you found a way to get to food, you didn't want to eat it. We all knew we were getting our sea legs when appetites returned the next afternoon. Now we are all eating at normal rates.
Making way involves staying our relative position with the lead vessel "Bluewater". We do this continually by visual and by radar. We use the radar to keep one mile back and 15 degrees to port of that vessel. Overall the fleet has done a pretty good job of staying orderly. I would say all the boats are within the planned 5 mile formation. We can see each boat via radar and also via a graphical representation of many of them on the laptop charting software. This uses a transducer based facility referred to as AIS. It also lets us see and identify ships which may come into range.
Bluewater communicate with us via radio as needed during the day and night. Plus there are two scheduled "roll calls" in the morning and evening. At that time, each vessel reports fuel and water status. We also discuss any repair or crew issues which may have surfaced.
There are two VHF channels monitored: 16 and 19. Nineteen is for routine chatter during the crossing. Normally small boaters would not use 19, but in the open sea its not a consideration so we chat freely. It really shows the personality of each vessel. Some are chatty, some are serious but all seem to be having a good time. One of the boats seems to catch every fish that comes by. Another raises Medbound trivia questions for drinks once we get to Bermuda. Its clear all the vessels are doing well and having a great time.
Sue and I wonder about the runt: Beso (N40 like ours). Boat speed is a function of boat length and with only 40 feet all the others run at low speed so Beso can keep up. I have been heartened to hear that Beso experiences occasional overheating when at higher RPMs. I've had that issue on my own vessel and I thought I may have had a problem but now I know it runs in the family. Good news for me.
In terms of the fleet, Beso has to run pretty hard to keep up. She is running about 2000 RPM and that is borderline for overheating. Its another good reason to do these kinds of trips as a group. More on this later.
