John Torelli of Riverside, CA asks:

What are the 3 most similiar and 3 most different aspects you have discovered between this cruise and coastal cruising demands on the boat?

Dave Harlow responds:

Dear John,

I think that the similarities and demands on Nordhavn are the same whether coastal cruising or crossing oceans. The biggest difference is that continuous circumavigating compresses these demands into a shorter period of time. Some of a boat's components are consumed with time requiring regular checks, adjustments, repairs and replacements. Having said this, our circumnavigation has had few failures or equipment that needed replacing. Fueling and oil changes are two good examples of the differences. If you were coastal cruising from Maine to the Bahamas and back for a season you would start out in Maine with full tanks and new oil. Your first oil change and fuel stop would probably happen in Florida. The next time you would need fuel or an oil change would probably be at the end of the season back in Maine. While circumnavigating with little time to stop, Nordhavn is changing oil every 10 to 14 days and during the first leg fueling five times in three months. When coastal cruising in a Nordhavn you leisurely decide to fuel where it is convenient and economical to do so. If you don't fuel this week, there is always next week. When circumnavigating on a time schedule you fuel when and where you can get it.

The biggest difference between coastal cruising and this cruise is not the demands placed on the boat but the demands placed on the crew. The point of coastal cruising, or cruising in general is to explore, visit, enjoy exciting and different places, many of which are only accessible by boat. The long voyages, while enjoyable adventures, are for the most part a means to an end. I look forward to the day that I can return to some of the exotic places we have been, but stay for weeks rather than a day or two. That however will be my next circumnavigation. The goal of this circumnavigation is to demonstrate that our smallest displacement Nordhavn is inherently safe, seaworthy and "ocean crossing capable", while building our knowledge base of what works well, and learn where we can make improvements.

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