Boatbuilder Nordhavn, popularizer ofpassagemaking in powerboats, is organizing a trans-Atlantic trawler rally — afirst of its kind, which the builder hopeswill encourage more people to realize their dream to venture across the ocean in a boat built for exactly that purpose.

“This has been done many times forsailboats, but it has not been done before for powerboats — a rally across the

Atlantic,” says Jim Leishman, vice president of Pacific Asian Enterprises, theDana Point, Calif., builder of the Nordhavn line of bluewater passagemakers.

The powerboat fleet — Nordhavnhas reserved space for 33 boats — rendezvoued at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., May 10, 2004, for a 10-day orientation in oceanvoyaging.

They set out for Gibraltar May 20, stopping en route at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in Hamilton, Bermuda, and Horta Marina in the Azores.

Their aim: to cruise a summer or more in the Mediterranean. The boats return on their own schedule.

They could come back across the Atlantic on their own bottoms, or as freight on Dockwise Express or another of the transports that carry pleasure yachts across oceans.

As Leishman suspected, the rally fueled interest in ocean passagemaking.

Leishman says the idea for the rally began to germinate during his 2001-’02 circumnavigation on Nordhavn’s new 40-footer, a full-displacement expedition boat built in the style of a commercial trawler.

Leishman voyaged 1,500 miles across the Indian Ocean, from Thailand to the Maldive Islands off India, in company with a Nordhavn 62.

He says having a boat in radio and radar range the entire way was comforting because he knew help was near if anything happened.

“I thought about escorting a bunch of trawlers across the water, and that was the beginning of the Nordhavn Atlantic Rally,” he says.

Leishman send the fleet across in two groups, so the boats can stay in tight formation during the 3,800-mile

trans-Atlantic voyage: first, small boats with a cruising speed of about 7 knots, then larger ones that cruise at 8.5 knots.

Nordhavn will send three escorts with the fleet, a company-operated Nordhavn 57 built especially for the rally and two Nordhavn 62s, whose owners volunteered to come along as escorts.

Nordhavn plans to bring alongmechanics, technicians, and a doctor, and will provide port arrangements an weather routing.

The escort boats will be fitted to tow a vessel, if necessary, and they will carry emergency fuel. 

Repair staff were on-call for diesel, electrical, steering, watermaker and other breakdowns.

Tow crews could help a broken-down boat in many situations, “But everyone has to realize there is a limit to the service we can provide,” Leishman says.

“If we get into a violent gale, each participant has to fend for himself. … When things get tough, you have to be ready to be self-sufficient.”

With that in mind, the 10-day orientation at Bahia Mar will offer seminars to prepare rally crews for a safe passage.

All boats had to have a range of at least 2,500 miles with no fuel on deck, and a minimum speed of 7 knots in calm water.

Commments:

Gavin Haslett

If you read the book "Crossing an Ocean Under Power" by Ken Williams it fills in a lot of details including where the boats went next. Many of them continued sailing in Europe and beyond. Some returned... it varied a lot. Great partner book to this video.

runway heading

I can only dream of having a beautiful boat like these!

James Roberts

The best thing I can say is WOW 

Channel CrossFit

Well this video lead to me having a super unproductive afternoon! Next level wholesome. Great production :)

Joey Bagadonuts

The bugler in the sailboat was probably a Brit and an ex soldier....or just someone with a great sense of humor.   The bugle call he sounded was the British Army  "Alarm" calling troops to arms.  Well done sir!

BernardJTarver

Thank you for this video. It looks like it was a wonderful opportunity for everyone. Have they written any kind of How To or Best Practices manual for undertaking such a trip so that others might learn from their experience?

Rick Schindler

Wonderful story. Loved every moment of it. This video made me feel like I was a participant.

Todd

I'd love the expensive French linen sheets with that very expensive play thing! Everybody needs a toy..

Lino Andrade

I'm from the Azores. Great video.  Thanks for sharing!

Joe Nimens

A most excellent production   and a great adventure.  Thank you very much for publishing this.

Phee Shankar

HERE I AM OVER THE MOON WHEN MY KIDS SURPRISED ME BOUGHT ME A CANOE!!!! WOO HOO!!!! ????????????????????????????????????????

Proper No Twelve

Absolutely brilliant, amazing bravery, skill and cameradery. Well done to all of you. But having seen how up and down things went I am reviewing what to buy.