Can I take my boat offshore? This question requires an in-depth answer that I will attempt to cover in this article. Most well-designed, well-constructed sailing yachts manned by an experienced crew with offshore voyages to their credit who have updated the vessel’s safety features to a state-of-the-art level, have a reasonable chance of successfully completing their passages.

The 1979 Fastnet Race proved disasterous to a great many yachts and involved the highest loss of life ever recorded in an ocean race. When asked why there was such high loss of life, the British Surgeon General responded by giving hypothermia (either directly or indirectly) as the major cause. In an irrational hypothermal state, many crews abandoned their yachts and were lost. Ironically, although dismasted and severely damaged, many yachts weathered the storm to sail again. In the years after the race, investigations attempted to determine why so many yachts capsized, lost their rigs and were rendered uncontrollable. Why so many of the crews who remained on board were severely injured was also examined. A lot was learned from these studies and this knowledge found its way into design, engineering, rigs and numerous safety requirements covering everything from accommodations to windows. Yachts engineered to these standards have a better chance of survival.

The Fastnet Race brought out two additional factors that must be taken into account when contemplating offshore passages—the size of the boat and the physical condition and experience of the captain and crewmembers. Size is important; big boats generally have a better chance of making it than small boats. The energy in a breaking wave is absorbed to varying degrees depending on the size of the vessel it hits. This is a case where bigger is better. The crew is vitally impacted and those with physical handicaps become, for the most part, useless under severe conditions. Offshore experience under adverse conditions, caught in a gale or hurricane is critical. How many know how to deploy a sea anchor, or the use of the life sling to recover a crewmember in the water? The crew requirements are extensive, yet lack of in-depth experience on the part of the captain and crew is by far the major reason for disasters at sea. In many cases the boat will make it with or without the crew.

From the design point, many of the boats in the ’79 Fastnet were state-of-the-art I0R designs with beamy hulls and relatively flat bottoms. Although they exhibited very powerful stability at small angles of heel, as they heeled more and more, this stability was reduced at a rapid rate. At large angles of heel, the impact of a breaking wave on the exposed flat bottom rolled them over. In other cases, the rudder at large angles of heel became useless and made it impossible to control the vessel’s direction. Boats that handled the conditions best were generally older designs with less beam, full keels and "V" shaped hulls.

The structural failures took many forms, ranging from loss of watertight hatches to drawers without positive latches which allowed them to fly about the cabin. The turmoil that occurred below decks contributed to the severe injuries inflicted on the occupants.

The loss of rigging was another major factor in the capsize equation. It was learned later that strong, somewhat heavier masts actually reduced the potential for capsizing. Once dismasted, the hull can be rolled over quite easily. There is also the danger of a broken mast laying along side and acting like a battering ram in the heavy seas.

In many ways, the Fastnet Race can be viewed in positive terms. It awakened the sailing community, sailors, designers, and rule-makers to the potential dangers that offshore sailing can harbor. The various studies conducted over the years following the 1979 race, produced valuable guidelines that, if followed, would make offshore sailing less hazardous. The sea conditions that developed during that race can and have occurred again in various areas of the world. Rogue waves of great height and tremendous force have been observed since the early 1930s.

Clearly, the answer to the question "can I take my boat off-shore" is not a simple one. It requires an in-depth study of many factors such as those mentioned above. However, it is obvious that boats designed specifically for offshore voyages are a different breed from those designed to meet the demands of the average boat buyer who wants a big cockpit, dinettes, double berths and a host of other amenities affording creature comfort. The expense involved to up-grade the average production design to meet the requirement for offshore is considerable.

At the time, Pearson Yachts and its major competitors could not have produced a line of boats at competetive price levels or with appeal to the average buyer if offshore requirements were specifically built in. Secondly, the configuration necessary for offshore sailing would appeal only to a relatively small segment of the boating population. There are many sources available involving both boat and crew that should be consulted before planning a blue water venture. To obtain a more comprehensive feel for those requirements, contact US Sailing in Portsmouth, RI for their updated publication "Recommendation for Offshore Sailing."