Planning a trip across the Atlantic Ocean is hard work, and success of the voyage will entirely depend on the preparation. There are different factors to be considered; weather, seaworthiness of the boat, crew competence, catering, sufficient water supply, first aid kit and having all the necessary navigational aids and emergency equipment on board.

Atlantis is equipped with a life raft with hydrostatic release, which means that it will automatically deploy when submerged in water.(Viking 8P), an EPIRB (which will give her position within 200m accuracy on the push of a button anywhere in the world) and a satellite phone with modem to download the weather forecast and use basic Email function. We hope never to use the life raft, but it gives us pease of mind. As standard we also have a VHF radio, but due to the restricted range we only use it to talk to ships in our proximity or when approaching a harbour for entrance and departure procedures.

For the navigation on this trip we use a Raymarine E7 chart plotter and iNavx navigation software on the iPad. We will also attempt some astronavigation with a sextant during the passage. (Just in case all our electronics would fail) Out of my experience from former navigations, I prefer using the iPad as a prime navigation tool as it is easy and functional. A second IPad will be used to display (mirror) the Raymarine chart plotter inside the cabin...so that we have all the critical information available wherever we are on the boat. The Raymarine chart plotter will mainly be used as a backup system and for harbour approach or departure procedures. The paper charts are all replaced by electronic versions which are taking less space and much easier to read.

I will update you soon about the progress in getting Atlantis ready for this long trip.

Marc