Blue Water Sailing.
As much as I love my Nonsuch, she is the last yacht I would choose for ocean sailing. They were designed for coastal and great lakes cruising. If one wants to do offshore work with unstayed masts, have a good look at the Freedom 40 ketch with a full keel that allows her to track well.
If it is imperative to sail a Nonsuch across an ocean, stow the wishbone to reduce weight, windage and loads aloft. Replace the sail with a loose footed leg of mutton sail with little or no roach and the foot 20% less than the standard wishbone sail. It should be sheeted to the rail and trimmed as a genoa. This will make her well balanced to deal with heavy weather and reduce the need for reefing. Construct a bridge at the forade end of the cockpit to reduce the volume of the large cockpit. It also adds to storage below while reducing the chance of being pooped. Secure the lockers in the cockpit so they won’t open in a knock down. Carry a sweep that can be secured to the taffrail that will stand in for a failed rudder and a means to scull the yacht into a dock when the engine fails. Note that in recent years some pods of Orcas get their kicks from ramming free standing rudders and watching the results. The Nonsuch rudder is particularly vulnerable and could be the source of a serious leak at the rudder post if it is damaged.
The Nonsuch wishbone has a habit of dipping in the waves as she reaches, runs and rolls. The seas drag it back then release it with a thud when the mainsheet takes up the slack. This is one thing on a course race on a lake and quite another when crossing an ocean in the trades. If the boat holds up, will the crew?
J. Newell
Mascouche 26C 1 Toronto