No from liverpool it wont but then the task is to cross the channel not the atlantic. The butter route from say Southampton or Brighton would I think be a great adventure.
Many years ago (40) about 10 yachts "cruised" to france, about 36 hours later some of them arrived on a sandy shore that could have been france, about seven or eight boats emerged from a fog over a period of a hour or so, remarkably all "lost" on same bearing. Confronted with poor vis and not sure where they were they rafted up to compare notes, because few boats had VHF. they disscussed important things like which sand dune did they recognise and which way did they think calais was. It was around then that they realised that no one had a chart!
Before that I was "taught" to sail, well more a demonstration really, by a outfit called the Royal Navy, they took us out into the solent in a gaff rigged whaler, no charts, no compass, (or if they had one it was hidden) just mark one eyeballs. Spent 2 weeks doing that, often we couldn't see land but then the guy on helm seemed to be able to find it again with no trouble. I was impressed but I was only 9!
Later in life I was luckyt enought to be "taught" navigation by a super tanker navigation officer, who explained how he kept the ship safe, he would get the crew to plot fixes on the chart and then spread one of his huge hands on it in the general vicinity of the cocked hat and say, gentlemen lets assume we are somewhere near here, what is our most risky position - assuming that assumption is correct?
Yes of course I use GPS and before that DECCA but I have never forgotten that lesson - when there is doubt always assume you are in the worst possible place, out of all the posssible places and work up a plan from there.
SO how basic for a channel crossing? Compass, Chart ,Tidetables, and breton plotters I suppose, with electronics in reserve, if you have them.
If its an organised event I fear that there will have to be a balance between what would be interesting as opposed to what may be considered (by some) as reckless.
In the end the weather on the day will decide.
Cheers
David
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