>I suppose, firstly there is growing empirical evidence that many people make ocean passages in boats that do not have long keels or skeg hung rudders.

Yes they do and most have no problems, it's simply I would prefer to reduce the odds of rudder/keel problems.

>Secondly the reference to "lightweight", which I am not sure whether the reference is to the construction...

I meant construction. If you strip the interior linings out of many lightly constructed boats you can see daylight through the hull. If people are comfortable with that in a gale it's fine by me but again it would worry me. Also I remember seeing a four month old Bavaria that had been lightly used and already one of the bulkheads had parted from the hull. To me that was scary.

>Thirdly, keels and rudders do not fail with the frequency you suggest..."spade rudders and keel bolts can fail - and do so fairly often" is an "urban myth" that is not supported by any credible evidence.

I wish there was a worldwide database of all rudder/keel etc failures I suspect it would open a few eyes. I can only speak about what I've seen and somebody mentioned the ARC. We've done the finish line twice and seen the damaged boats come in. Understandably it's not something the ARC publicises but I can assure you that both years boats were coming in with keel bolt problems and rudder problems/failure. Some boats were abandoned. Out of interest, goosenecks are another regular point of failure (people don't tie the boom down properly). Looking around the yards in Trinidad a month or so ago there were at least half a dozen sloops having their keel bolts repaired. There was also a cat that was being delivered SA to USA and the 'bulkhead' on the main beam had fractured. It's sister ship disappeared and was never found. I could go on but wouldn't claim any statistical accuracy it's just what I see.

>I am pleased you like your heavy displacement steel boat - there was a time when I hankered after just such a beast. However the world has moved on and as many other posters have said in this thread, based on their own experience modern boats are quite capable of doing more than "day sails and a few overnights".

Yes indeed, it's just not something I would want to do. Everyone to their own I think.

> Happy sailing in the boat of your choice!

And to you!