Crossing The Atlantic

November 12, 2018

It is almost time to bring Home Free across the Atlantic!!

While I am still in the planning stages, I thought I would put this notice out to my friends who may be interested in crewing for 2-6 weeks (there will be three legs to the journey) and enjoy some time in Europe and/or put ‘crossed the ocean’ on their DONE list.

There are a couple of scenarios and nothing is firm yet, but here they are in broad form.

Scenario 1 –

• The boat is moved from Athens after Christmas west to Spain/Gibraltar/Portugal or perhaps Morocco.  This will be almost certainly be via Albania where I will take on fuel.  If done as quickly as possible, the trip from Albania to Gibraltar would be about 9 days on the water.   With a couple of tourist stops, it could be from 12-20 days, depending on weather, crew needs and so forth.

• The next phase will be moving from Gibraltar/Portugal or perhaps Morocco, south to the Canary Islands.   This portion will take about 5 days.  A possible stop in Morocco (Casablanca) could add a couple of days if crew wants to be tourists.  This leg is expected to begin around January 15th in this scenario

• Finally the leg from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean will be about 19 days.  This leg is expected to begin around January 25th in this scenario, arriving in the Caribbean in mid February.

Scenario 2 –

• Move boat from Athens to Gibraltar/Faro Portugal (~1,300 nm) or similar after Christmas
• Move boat from Gibraltar to the Canary Islands (701nm).  This phase would start around the end of February
• Move the boat from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean (~2,700 nm).  This phase will start in early March.

What am I looking for?  Simple really.  The boat is a well built, private yacht with all of the things required to stay at sea for a long time.   The main engine is built to run continuously forever.  The wing engine (a back-up) is designed to run continuously forever.   There is a gourmet kitchen on board (5 burner stove, dishwasher, oven, microwave, two freezers, etc.), and laundry facilities.   There are two cabins including a master cabin (sleeps two) a guest cabin (sleeps two on the bunk and a third in a pull-out berth if required), and a pilothouse bunk which is not private but still offers a comfy sleeping spot.

What the trip needs are is at least two additional crew and ideally three (for three or four total) that can stand watch on regular, rotating shifts.  Someone who knows how to cook something other than pasta (I am good at pancakes and pasta) would be good.  Someone who knows more than me about diesel engines would be even better.  Crew of one or two will be on rotating shifts, (typically four hours at a time) and there will be lots of time to listen to music, fish, read, play games, watch videos, or write your PHD thesis or a novel.

The boat has enough safety equipment to suit a commercial ship, including radios, a life-raft, EPIRB, radars, AIS, and weather systems.  Robust navigation equipment, charts and medical kit are also aboard and ready to go.   The life raft will be new prior to leaving the Med, and a satellite communication system will be added to stay in contact with people at home.

Home Free carries enough fuel to travel for about 28 days at the planned speed, (the longest leg will be 19 days) but two reserve tanks are also going to come aboard (to increase navigational options) and Home Free will have a clean bottom (for better speed).

If you are interested in joining me on a part of this adventure reach out and let me know.  I would like to begin arranging crew ASAP and look forward to having a bunch of great people with me for this adventure.