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A Guide to Preparing for an Offshore Race

<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">In this article we will provide an elaborate guide which makes note of a number of key points surrounding the preparation required when you want to go offshore racing&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">One fundamental thing to first consider is to pick a yacht builder and service provider that you can rely on&period; So work with one of the world’s best brokerage companies &&num;8211&semi; <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;www&period;moranyachts&period;com&sol;" target&equals;"&lowbar;blank" rel&equals;"noopener">Moran Yacht &amp&semi; Ship<&sol;a>&period; In addition&comma; the vast range of available anchorages and topnotch marinas will only add to your yachting experience&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2>General preparation<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<hr &sol;>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">When heading offshore on a yacht of any size it’s important to take the view that you may encounter heavy weather of a severity that the boat may get knocked down to 90 degrees or beyond&period; It’s therefore important that any heavy items that could move around and damage the vessel or crew are firmly secured&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2>Weather<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<hr &sol;>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Take time to read the forecast service providers’ websites to learn more about your weather data&comma; particularly the temporal and spatial resolution&period; Set up a schedule of when you are able to get new available weather data&comma; and at what times the data you will be using is updated&period; You can also work with an external weather expert to assist with routing options&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">You must not forget that the delivery home is the same length as the race itself and for some it’s even farther&period; Covering more than 500 nautical miles will take <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;newsforpublic&period;com&sol;regulations-boating-canada&sol;">most boats<&sol;a> around three to four days underway&period; So just like during the race&comma; in that time there’s a good chance that an intense weather system will blow through&period; Hence&comma; there is a great deal of weather information provided for the race&comma; but make sure you are just as prepared for heading home&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2>Heavy weather<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<hr &sol;>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Heavy weather and storm sails are needed in this situation in order to ensure that a boat can make ground upwind in strong and gale force winds if necessary&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2>Light weather<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<hr &sol;>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">While it’s vital to be able to ride out heavy weather&comma; you’re much more likely to encounter light winds on passage than a severe gale&period; If it is a windy race&comma; you can afford to allow the boat to be heavy&period; So&comma; in this case&comma; you will be able to bring along an extra set of spares&comma; which you might be unlikely to use&comma; but are still useful&period; They can be good ballast&comma; which can provide stacking is permitted in your class&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2>Stay dry<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<hr &sol;>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">We cannot stress this factor enough&period; The key to going offshore is not getting wet&period; Once you get wet&comma; you are never really going to dry out again&period; It is easy to think you will be warm when doing a race in the tropics like that of the mediterranean or the carribean&comma; but if you get wet you will still get surprisingly cold at night&period; So you must not let that happen&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2>On Deck<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<hr &sol;>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">It is vital for the gear that is on deck to be surveyed as well&comma; and that includes shackles&comma; winches&comma; sheaves&comma; turning blocks&comma; lifelines&comma; and so on&period; First of all&comma; consider purchasing a couple of lightweight spare winch handles&period; There will be no chandleries nearby to buy replacements&comma; and trimming sails without a handle will not go well&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<h2>Down Below<&sol;h2>&NewLine;<hr &sol;>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">Below decks will feel safer than being on deck&comma; but many sailors have found out the hard way that it&&num;8217&semi;s nearly as problematic&period; Handholds should be within easy reach from any point down below&comma; and everything should be stowed securely&period; Floorboards and batteries should be firmly secured in case the boat broaches&period; You will also want to make a chart of where on the ship all the gear&comma; food&comma; and emergency supplies are located&period; If the worst case scenario happens&comma; you will want to get at your repair or safety gear as quickly as possible&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">You must not forget to have a fully stocked first-aid kit with prescribed drugs for sea sickness&comma; pain&comma; as well as antibiotics should be aboard&period; One person should be designated as the &&num;8220&semi;doc&comma;&&num;8221&semi; and that person should have CPR and first-aid training&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;"><strong>Conclusion<&sol;strong><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p style&equals;"text-align&colon; justify&semi;">We hope that we have given you the adequate information necessary to help prepare you for the journey ahead when it comes to offshore racing&period; This is not always plain sailing so what is most important is that you and your crew will take all the precautions necessary to remain safe and sound&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;

Hardik Patel

Hardik Patel is a Digital Marketing Consultant and professional Blogger. He has 16+ years experience in SEO, SMO, SEM, Online reputation management, Affiliated Marketing and Content Marketing.

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