Hi Stu, yes, I read Steve’s reports on his trip. In fact I’ve read just about everything I can find on ocean passages in the Cat.
My biggest concern is the strength of the fore hatch. I’ll probably make a fibreglass cover for it. But, TBH, once I’ve got down as far as the Canaries, the biggest wind-related risks are probably over. Years ago my parents crossed in their (ocean-going) Vancouver 32. The crossing itself was quiet but they suffered a Force 11 on the way to Las Palmas. Planning to fit a Jordan series drogue just in case.
Hi Holger. My CE rating is A but I attach no credibility to that. The Catalina is clearly a coastal boat designed for coastal cruising, so taking it offshore is a calculated risk.
I think that 850 kg thing is a bit of a red herring. It simply doesn’t feature in US documents.
What probably matters a lot more is balancing the mass across the boat. Maybe biased towards the stern given that the crossing is all downwind.