Buddy Boating?
Catmojo
Matt
Thu 3 Sep 2026 22:17
Summer holidays have officially ENDED because it’s September. Just 2 months until Transat season in November. Ooer!
Mojo is almost ready for another Transat, even including crew selection, although obviously Life can still happen over the next couple of months. I take volunteer crew so they can’t really be “contracted” to turn up - they might change their mind, win the lottery or get a job as an astronaut. Works both ways though- the boat might yet get droned or nuked, who knows?
This post was prompted by one of the prospective crew (Laura) on our WhatsApp group chat. She’s currently working on another catamaran, cruising in Greece for the summer season.
Laura reports that things aren’t going at well on their “buddy boat” which is having crew issues again: apparently another crew has been “overwhelmed” with the job and is leaving. So far, the buddy boat owners have had FOUR different Captains and THREE different crew just this season! Which is quite a LOT of changes for what is likely just a two-person crew over three months.
So… is Mojo planning to have a “buddy boat” (or several) on our Transat?
No, we aren’t. Why not?
Buddy boating. The idea is that you cruise around, stopping here and there, and it’s often done with another friend/crew in THEIR boat - a “buddy boat”. They can help with things, maybe even with spares if they have a similar boat. It’s more sociable and can be a big help ashore.
Mojo isn’t planning to hook up with any other “buddy” to do a Transat “together” for several reasons. Of course, we’ll very likely meet other crews before and after the trip, but “buddy” boating kinda implies that you stay with sight of the other boat most if not all the time.
A few reasons why no buddy boat:
Responsibility: as Skipper, my responsibility under maritime law is clear: I’m responsible for THIS crew on THIS boat. All other boats/ships the same - THAT skipper is responsible for THAT boat, and so on. Obviously, we’re obliged to help on a Mayday etc, but not otherwise. “Seeing if we can help” might easily put us in unnecessary danger.
So for example, a bunch of people *might* have fallen out of a jet plane and hence those flashing lights in the distance … or they might be fishing boats and we could get our propellers tangled. Unless it’s life/death, we stay clear. That was in Biscay some years back when a crew suggested we go “see if they need a hand”. No.
Of course, it’s fine to cruise and marina-hop inshore, but on an ocean it’s best to keep other boats distant, preferably over the horizon. Otherwise, see, we’re kinda “looking out for each other” at least a bit… and as above, that’s not the deal. Our/my focus should be Mojo and crew, not elsewhere.
An example: suppose the other boat is visible a few miles behind…. and then suddenly NOT visible? Do we call on VHF? Suppose there’s no answer? Should we go see (back upwind) if anything is wrong? This sounds nice and helpful- but again, that’s not the deal. Pretty soon we might be putting boat and crew at risk when the other boat had simply blown a fuse or their batteries needed recharging.
So, there’s no buddy boating planned BUT yes we might help, it depends. Even as part of a rally like the ARC (which we aren’t) we’re not strictly “buddy” boats with anyone else.
I went transatlantic with the ARC several times. One time they messaged to ask if I had an Onan generator and spare impeller? Yes, and yes. The organisers messaged back; another boat has the same generator which has failed, needs a new impeller to fix it. Could I head their way? I made excuses but my real answer was No: it’s MY spare in case I need it - not a spare in case an under-prepared numpty 200nm away needs it. And suppose something bad happens on the way to help them restore their generator? Their poor prep isn’t my emergency.
Flexibility: I’ve got four crew due to arrive in November and we’ll chat and decide when to set off. Or, okay, I’ll decide with their input, depending on Oh, Everything! Mainly the weather, the provisioning, the boat, the crew etc. That’s enough variables.
One variable WON’T be that another boat isn’t quite ready, or their crew didn’t turn up on time. We won’t “hold on” for other boats and maybe miss a good weather window, or need to re-provision or take any other sideways/backward steps due to others.
Duff Buddy Syndrome: Laura might be experiencing this right now! DBS means that the badly-prepared boat wins , and the better-prepared boat kinda loses.
Laura’s owners have a Buddy which has just lost their 3rd crew. Now there’s nobody to cook for them. Well, except there’s Laura, and perhaps her owner will invite them for meals tomorrow. That means Laura doing extra work. I hope this hasn’t happened but DBS says there’s a good chance that it does. The Duff Buddy ALWAYS needs help - they’re in a less-well-sorted boat, or don’t have all the gear, or they chose not-so-good crew.
In Mojo’s case, I’ve done 19 Transat trips effectively all PREPARING for this upcoming twentieth. The boat has sparkling white enginerooms, rust-free everything, liferaft, spare liferaft and even a defibrillator. We’re not really likely to find a “buddy boat” at this level or better, are we? I don’t think so.
Fake safety: I think “Buddy boats” are kinda like “flotilla” sailing holidays or organised rallies such as the ARC. They kinda sell the idea of “safety in numbers”; handy enough inshore, not so much offshore. Unless you’re deliberately shepherding a stricken boat towards safety, you’re not really “with” another boat on an ocean - it’s just you. And even with a big rally, the very next morning after setting off at the same time as 200+ other ARC boats - they’ve all disappeared over the horizon. Yes, really! They don’t tell you this before the start, though.
So! I hope everyone reading can understand that my responsibilities and efforts will be 100% dedicated to Mojo + crew. As it should be. No “buddy boats” for us. The primary aim is end up somewhere (hopefully Martinique) with EXACTLY the same number of crew as when we set off. Otherwise … probably a lot of hassle and paperwork. Nightmare.