EP-196:Offshore Sailing Passage: Bermuda to Antigua on S/V PAX-Blue Water Sailing Club-Len Thibodeau

Welcome to a special edition of the Sailing and Cruising the East Coast of USA Podcast! In this series, host Bela Musits connects with sailors participating in the Blue Water Sailing Club’s Caribbean Challenge cruise as they make their offshore voyages south. In this episode, Bela speaks with guest Len Thibodeau aboard the sailing vessel PAX (a Bavaria Vision 42) midway through their offshore passage from Bermuda to Antigua. Calling in directly from the Atlantic Ocean, Len shares a firsthand look at life under way, passage planning logistics, and the realities of bluewater sailing. Key Topics Covered in This Episode: Weather Routing and Navigation: How long-range forecasts from Chris Parker dictate departure windows, waypoints, and the final approach angle into Antigua to avoid beating into head winds. Watch Schedules at Sea: Adapting crew rotations from a 5-person crew down to 4, featuring 3-hour daylight watches and rotating 2-hour solo night watches. Managing Wind and Power: Coping with light air, managing fuel reserves, motor-sailing in calm seas, and optimizing sail trim under a new moon. Offshore Challenges and Repairs: Dealing with unexpected mid-passage repairs, including fresh water pump maintenance, galley sink issues, and propane solenoid troubleshooting. Night Watches and Safety: Navigating squalls with radar, utilizing AIS transponders for collision avoidance, sailing through offshore wind farms, and experiencing night watches filled with bioluminescence and starlight. Whether you are preparing for your first bluewater passage, dreaming of cruising to the Caribbean, or curious about the daily routines of offshore passage-making, this conversation offers practical insights from the open sea. Have thoughts or feedback on these live-from-the-cockpit dispatches? Send an email to sailingtheeast@gmail.com and let us know what you think! SEO Search Terms: Offshore sailing, blue water sailing, sailing passage, Bermuda to Antigua, Blue Water Sailing Club, Caribbean Challenge cruise, Bavaria Vision 42, sailboat cruising, offshore passage making, ocean sailing, sail trim, marine weather routing, sailboat watch schedule, night watch sailing, East Coast sailing podcast. Music: https://www.purple-planet.com