Cruise planning: Just Cruising by Keith Fleming

JUST CRUISING BY KEITH FLEMING.

Any cruise requires a good deal of thought irrespective of the size of the boat and the duration.

Requirements differ, of course, according to your boat and destination. Preparation is the key to any successful cruise and, generally, how much you already use the boat will dictate the amount of preparation needed. A yacht that is left idle tends to have more problems on a cruise than one that is used all the time. Just ask any delivery skipper who regularly takes boats that have been sitting on a mooring for many months or years. They can be a nightmare and often break down around your ears during the delivery. Another rule of thumb is, the longer the distance the more the preparations. For instance if you are going for a cruise in a keel boat that has been operating in closed waters you need to be aware that taking it out in the big seaway could cause the fuel to slosh around, stirring up the sediment in the bottom of the tank. This is a classic scenario to block your filters and cause the engine to stop. So apart from cleaning the tank, always take a few spare filters.

The destination will dictate much of your planning. Then you need to consider the time of the year and weather conditions. Where will the prevailing winds be coming from at the time you wish to cruise? Will the proposed anchorages be safe at that time? Will there be enough time to complete the cruise during suitable conditions? Contingencies are a must. What would happen if bad weather sets in for a week and you are unable leave? Is there a safe place to leave the boat and what about transport for crew? This is often a challenge for short-term cruisers making their way along a coast while returning to work during the week.

Duration
The duration of the cruise will have to be considered so that you can plan for catering, fuel, gas and water. Your proximity to supplies both along the trip and when you arrive will determine how much you have to carry. How much you can carry of course will be determined by the amount of space available. Remember spare water, fuel and gas can be carried on deck; well-secured. For overseas, paperwork is critical, and not just passports and visas, but access to money and general admin access to your life back home.

Communications
Communications are most important, with a VHF and GPS the bare essentials. Nowadays, many sailors use satellite phones. If you are cruising out of sight of land then you might consider an HF radio and a larger chart plotter. Coastal cruisers may find their mobile phone useful as long as you have some means of charging the battery. For infrequent use, hiring a satellite phone is a consideration if you were going island-hopping in Bass Strait or offshore for a couple of months, which could avoid the expense of installing HF radio. It's prudent to call in with authorities every couple of days, by some means.

Safety gear is a major consideration, with thoughts beyond the basic lifejackets, towards life rafts for offshore trips. These can be hired, but items like life rings, Dan buoys and safety harnesses should be updated periodically. Lights, including emergency spotlights, apart from the obvious checking of your navigation lights, are another consideration.

A reliable charging system is needed to keep your electrical items working. Frequently, the standard battery setup is not enough for serious cruising, so check your needs early.

Solo sailing is not recommended so make sure you have a crew member and ideally sail in company with another vessel, if you are new to cruising. Getting ashore is an enjoyable aspect of cruising so you'll need a dinghy that fits the crew and matches the size of your boat.

Finally, research your route with current charts checking for suitable anchorages, including emergency stops. Use large scale charts rather than one big chart - this may reveal details such as onshore services and so on. So before heading off give some thought to these points and if you are inexperienced don't be afraid to talk to fellow sailors, especially those who may have been on the same route.