Lessons learnt
So what did I learn from this 18,500 mile trip?
● Do not be overoptimistic about your average speed. We had to tack the whole way down the East coast of South America with the Humbolt current pushing against us at 1.5 knots. With a boat that tacked through 110 degrees this made nonsense of my forecast 5 knot average.
● Make sure you know your crew well and that they like and respect you. I suggest you do not take an untested crew out for long trips on the ocean. It is not for everyone although many people have a romantic view of the sea. It is not romantic, it is brutal and unforgiving and if it can find a weakness in the boat and the crew it will.
● Ensure that your practical skills are up to speed and that you know every inch of your boat and have the spares to fix things if they break. This was a weakness of mine which was only made up for by the practical skills in my crew. This applies particularly to the engine. We motored far more than we expected to – often motor-sailing to try and hold our course and speed. The engine did a lot of hours and it was only in Peru that we purchased additional fuel containers.
● Allow enough time to recharge your personal batteries. I was continually under time pressures to meet the next crew and got progressively more tired as the trip went on. A couple of days is not enough, particularly when one is restocking for the next leg, cleaning and doing maintenance. This undermined my ability to manage the crew eectively and positively. It also meant that I did not see as much of the countries we stopped in as I would have liked.
● Finally, do not underestimate the eects of sleep deprivation on you and your crew. People will make mistakes and you need to cut them some slack.