Preparing for an Ocean Passage
May 6, 2026 · 48 min · 639 views
What this video covers
Tom Tersey and David Gifford of the Maryland School of Sailing outline a framework for first-time offshore passage preparation, drawing on their combined decades of ocean experience aboard Navigator, the school's Island Packet 40. The central point: first-time offshore sailors need at least a year of advance preparation, not weeks.▶ 1:40 Route planning should account for expected weather, crew size, and emergency scenarios; Tom recommends Jimmy Cornell's *World Cruising Routes* as a foundational reference.▶ 5:02 Communications options are compared directly — single sideband radio costs roughly $10,000 installed but carries no usage fees, while Iridium Go runs under $1,000 in hardware but can cost $1,000–$2,000 in usage fees for a Bermuda trip.▶ 4:20 Heavy weather readiness is non-negotiable: Tom states forecasts routinely run 10–15 knots low, and crews must be capable of sailing in up to 50 knots.▶ 6:13 Heaving to is covered specifically for Navigator, which uses a triple-reefed main or storm trysail without a headsail.▶ 34:48 Seasickness affects an estimated half to two-thirds of ocean crews; helming is suggested as a practical remedy.▶ 27:34 Autopilots and wind vanes are called necessities for short-handed passages but require spare parts and manual backup skills.▶ 29:48 The school's *Ocean Cruises Training Plan*, a 200-page checklist-based book, and 30 years of cruise reports are cited as preparation resources.▶ 7:12 Example routes used in the book run Bermuda (600–700 nm), Norfolk to St. Thomas (1,500 nm), and a New England passage.▶ 7:36
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