Preparations for the Southern Ocean

~ Max Fletcher

In December 1984 my pal Rob Andrews and I decided to sail my Westsail 32 from New Zealand back to Maine by way of Cape Horn. The non-stop journey to the Falkland Islands would cover about 5,600 miles through the “Roaring 40s” and “Furious 50s”  and take us right over so-called “Point Nemo” at about 49 South, 123 West, the point on earth furthest from any land. We had to turn the boat into a submarine, capable of withstanding anything that came our way, for there would be absolutely no hope of rescue should the boat develop serious problems.

Following is a written summary, followed by photos, of the major preparations for the trip.

Major Work Done
Forward and center hatches covered with 3/4’” plywood and aluminum straps through bolted to deck
Plywood ”doghouse” built of 3/4” plywood over main hatch as a place to steer in rough weather
3/4” plexiglass cover for main companionway (in place of wooden washboards)
Engine strapped down with 3/8” wire and turnbuckles in case of capsize
Batteries lashed down
Greenheart wood and aluminum plate installed under deck-stepped mast to spread the load
New eyebolt installed for intermediate forestay
Upper rigging replaced with 9/32” wire and Norseman fittings
2nd manual bilge pump
Base of spreaders bolted more securely than before
New running backstays of 9/32’ wire on a 3:1 purchase through hull hawse pipe to a winch
Spare self-steering oar fabricated
3/4” plywood inserts made for portholes in case of broken ports
Dorade ventilators removed and holes covered with aluminum plate
A 250’ warp of 1.5” Manila. 4 tires with chain weights. A short chain leads through a hawsepipe2 with a piece of pipe through a shackle to support the load across the side of the hull.
Clothes: Rob and I each had 2 Dorlon or wool long johns and shirts; Dorlon pants; 2 wool pants; 6 Dorlon socks; several Dorlon and wool shirts, sweaters, and pull-over vests; 2 sets of Dorlon waterproof gloves; various Dorlon and wool head helmets and caps; 2 sets each of good quality foul weather gear

Holger(R), a German sailing friend who helped us prepare the boat for the Southern Ocean
Cowels removed and aluminum plates covered the holes
3/4″ plywood covers were bolted over the hatches in case of a severe knockdown, and a spare steering oar made for the Sayes self-steering vane.


Tires would be dragged to slow the boat down, utilizing a hawser donated by the City of Auckland. The chain leaders fed through the aft chocks to minimize chafe on the line, and oversized shackles and steel pins were used to secure the chain inside the hull.

We made a plywood dodger, and plywood inserts in case of broken portholes. Chains would weigh down the tires in case we had to drag them to slow the boat down.

We replaced the forestay eyebolt, and made new running backstays of 9/32 wire, and a 3-part tackle led to a winch.

Cables were run over the engine in case the engine mounts broke with the boat upside down, and Greenheart timber and an aluminum bracket helped spread the compression load from the deck-stepped mast

We purchased 2 additional storm jibs, including this 36 sqare foot jib (half the size of a wind surfer sail). During one gale it overpowered the boat and we had to go to bare poles. 

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