I would think twice about the original Freedom 40, for crossing. We lost a local business owner, back in the early 1990's, who was attempting to cross from the Bahamas back to Florida in a Freedom 40. The conditions were gale force, and 15ft seas, the boat was lost with all hands. I testified at the insurance trial, (as the last person to work on the boat). The boat was well found, and very well equipped, but it appears was overwhelmed by the seas. There was also conjecture as to the carbon fiber masts being hit by lightning, and exploding...never determined. The owner was a good sailor, and knew his boat. Just thought I'd put in my 2 cents worth from my experience.
I take issue with this characterization, and suggest you take it with a grain of salt. One cannot say that by virtue of it being a Freedom 40 that it did not survive. There are so many factors that relate to the seaworthiness of a craft that, short of specific evidence, you cannot say one way or another what the design of the boat may have contributed to its loss. What about the capacity (physical and mental) of the crew at the time and in those conditions? People can do unusual and uncharacteristic things in times of stress. What about the gear and equipment? What about the through-hull fittings and the hose clamps? Many a well-found boat has been lost due to a lose hose clamp or two. You don't know, and until you know, all is mere speculation. How many other boats of different designs have foundered and been lost with all hands? Quite a few, I dare say, so in this regard and in this instance, the Freedom 40 is perhaps no different than other boats that have been lost.
Also, when carbon fiber masts get hit by lightning, they don't explode! Being intimately involved in the design and construction of carbon fiber masts for nearly 30 years, I keep a tally of stories of carbon fiber masts that have been hit by lightning, and these almost always come from first-hand accounts. I have advised surveyors and insurance companies on lightning-struck carbon fiber masts. A lightning strike will damage a carbon fiber mast permanently, certainly, and it may fall down as a result of the ensuing burn-out damage, but carbon fiber masts certainly do not explode when struck by lightning. I have never heard of that happening.
And counter to that, how many other boats have been dismasted out at sea due to lightning, wind, wave, negligence, crew error, corrosion, poor maintenance, etc. There is a whole spectrum of mast designs, styles, constructions, and materials that have fallen victim to the elements. Let's not damn carbon fiber masts based on heresay and conjecture.
Eric
