7 Day Offshore Training Session aboard Westsail 32
March 2, 2024 · 9 min · 5K views · Grand Bahama
What this video covers
Jerome Rand leads a seven-day offshore training passage aboard a Westsail 32, covering approximately 500 miles total between Florida and the Bahamas. The crew prepares by verifying safety gear, including flares and communication equipment, and filing a formal passage plan with shore contacts.1:13 They carry a satellite phone and a SPOT tracker for weather updates and emergency coordination.2:17 The initial 54-hour leg involves heavy upwind bashing against headwinds and head seas, forcing the crew to maintain a reefed sail plan.3:32 After clearing the Abacos, the vessel transitions to a broad reach toward the Fort Pierce inlet as winds shift to the southeast.9:12 The crew utilizes paper charts for navigation and course-to-steer calculations.8:51 They anchor briefly at Crossing Bay near West End, Grand Bahama, to wait for favorable weather before completing the final crossing of the Gulf Stream.8:36 The training emphasizes redundant provisioning, tool stowage, and rigorous engine checks to ensure vessel readiness for offshore conditions.
Boats in this video
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