Sailing Yacht

Cruising notes from the owner

The extended first voyage of Caliber 38, included every condition from sunny skies and light winds in the waters off Florida, to howling gales in the North Atlantic, before arriving home, some 6,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean.

Atlantic Crossing

The boat was launched in December 1991 in Palmetto, Florida, and sailed down to Key West and around to the Bahamas.  After a short stay on Green Turtle Cay, we headed for Bermuda in May 1992.  Uncommon weather patterns made the 800 nm trip exciting and fast, taking six days at an average speed of 5.7 knots.

From Bermuda, we planned to head for the Mediterranean with a stopover in the Azores but the irregular winds allowed no easterly course.  We headed north for six days mostly in 20-25 knot easterly winds.  Because I had to get back to my office in Munich, we finally had to abandon our course and sail to Newport, RI.  From there my partner and a friend, a professional skipper, set out in July.

During the 2,000 nm trip to the Azores, the boat had to cope with hard conditions in the North Atlantic, including winds of up to 45 knots and severe and frightening thunderstorms.  The trip took 13 days and 16 hours, at an average speed of more than six knots – a very fast passage for a 38 foot cruising boat.  I re-joined the boat in Horta for the third and final part of the voyage, another 1,200 nm to Portugal, Gibraltar and Spain.  This included an exciting mixture of all kinds of weather conditions; strong head winds of up to 45 knots, but some rare, nice downwind courses too.

After 6,000 nm across the Atlantic Ocean, we are completely happy with our Caliber 38.  She performed very well, even in the worst weather conditions in the open ocean, where you are on your own.  Our Caliber gave us at all times the comfortable feeling of absolute confidence in her reliability and strength.  She showed surprising performance, especially on courses to windward.  With Caliber, we made the right choice for a cruising boat that’s safe and comfortable, but fast as well.

These days we are planning cruises around the Mediterranean, with stops in Spain, Italy and Tunisia.

Notes by the owner

 The vessel has been carefully maintained and her equipment kept up to date. She had only one owner. She is in very good condition, fully and well equipped for extended voyages, ready for the ocean.

 She is well suited for long range cruising. Her construction is rock solid. Hull and keel are moulded in one piece. The laminate is extra strong and lasts forever, gelcoat shiny like new. The underwater body: modified long keel with skeg hung rudder. Keel stepped mast. Steering system ist by WHITLOCK, Cobra 5R de Luxe, heavy duty rack and pinion, recommanded and approved for ocean passages, teak rim steering wheel.  

 The strong YANMAR 50 hp-engine drives the 17'' three bladed prop by an extra strong 1 ¼'' flexmount propeller shaft.  Antifouling renewed every year, GEL SHIELD epoxy coat new 2009.

 CALIBER YACHTS enjoys a high reputation for fine quality boat building in America. There are only minor differences between the actual model, still in construction, called  40 LRC (see: http://www.caliberyacht.com) and the 38' model of 1991, they both come out of the same mould, since 1992 a bathing plattform has been attached to the stern, since then called 40'. Equipped with the same engine, same rigg, same cabin layout, same appearence. Everything very well balanced and approved.

 Remarkable ist the easy access companionway, only three convenient steps from the main cabin and the nav. station to the cockpit and the helm. Direct and easy communication between the helmsman and crew below deck. Very well aired spacious cabins. 14 portholes and 7 hatches allow the lightest breeze to ventilate well. This keeps the cabins cool, very comfortable in the hot season.

 Useful anchor platform with step through pulpit. Strong windlass, large assortment of ground tackle. Dinghy can be stored below deck.

 The vessel behaves well in rough seas and has smooth movements especially under sail. Good performer. Ocean approved. Wind vane steering available as an extra.

"She is ready for Ocean"