AboutKeith Patton Expertise I can answer questions regarding fresh and salt water Catamarran Sailing, techniques and equipment. I can also answer questions regarding the repair of decks and the updating and installation of running and standing rigging on mono-hulls
Experience I have sailed catammarans in fresh and salt water for over 16 years.
I currently own and sail a 30 ft monohull out of Kemah on Galveston Bay, on which I carried out a complete refit.
Expert: Keith Patton Date: 11/18/2007 Subject: Typical length of time for a Transatlantic sail
Question Hi, My brother and a close friend along with 3 other people are sailing across the atlantic (canary islands to st thomas) on a french built 75' catamaran. They left 3 weeks ago and we have not had any contact with them since then. Knowing that he would contact me once he could I suspect they are still out there. So this generates a few questions.
What is the typical time it takes to cross the atlantic from canary islands to st thomas? Should we be worried? and lastly is there any central organization that would be keeping track of the boat? (with radar or something)
Answer The duration of the trip depends on the speed of the boat and distance. I don't know the distance, you could measure it on a mercator map. The speed of the boat is also an unknown, and assumes constant rate of speed which is doubtful. I don't know the weather conditions or the course, they may not be sailing on a direct course in order to take advantage of easterly winds. at certain latitudes. There are too many unknowns to make a guess. This information should have been provided to you by your brother. You could go to the natonal weather center website and see if any weather has occurred out in mid Atlantic that might have delayed them. Did he give you an Estimated Time of Arrival? He should have. They might have checked in with the Coast Guard before leaving and filed a plan. Once in mid ocean, there isn't anyone to check in with, unless they are affiliated with an organization and call in on radio or satellite phone to file positional information.
