For 40 years, I’ve loved both the Bristol channel and the Falmouth cutters. I’ve always aspired to own a Bristol, but I have considered the lines and the “cuteness factor” of the Falmouth very captivating. Admittedly it was hard for a 66 year-old male i.e. me to type in cuteness, but I got over it. I’m a Gulf Coast US sailor and enjoy East Coast Waters as well. I see a Falmouth cutter in Southern California for sale. Just can’t see shipping one back across country and throwing that money away. Wonder if it would be safe albeit slow with that waterline, to sail it down the West Coast and through the Panama Canal, then crossing the gulf back home? Comments on this will be much appreciated.
I’d definitely have no qualms taking a BCC in any ocean, given proper prep. Can’t speak to the Falmouth Cutter - but I’ve known two fellas who’ve crossed Cali-Hawaii and the Atlantic respectively in similarly-sized and surely less seaworthy yachts. Staying inshore and with a keen eye on the weather I reckon it’s very doable.
(That said - if money is the concern - it would probably be overall cheaper to ship it cross country).
Thank you for the reply. Not really about the cost, it’s more like one certainly isn’t cheap, and the other would be a memorable adventure. Plus sailing it back would give me the opportunity to keep count of how many times I think” man I should have shipped it home”
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Hi Rod.
Well, the FC is certainly seaworthy enough for that trip. It really depends on how much time and patience you have. Heading south along the Pacific leg should have favorable winds, and you should budget something like 4 - 5 kts average. The catch will be going through the Canal. You will need a broker to do the transit planning, licensing, and payments, which are not cheap. You also will have to wait for “your turn,” because commercial shipping has priority. My friend did a similar transit the other direction, and it took hjm 5 or 6 weeks of waiting until he was able to enter the Canal. His destination was Seattle, but he had to ship his boat the rest of the way from Golfito, Costa Rica, due to his scheduling demands that were destroyed by his waiting to transit the Canal.
On the other hand, an FC has an 8-ft beam, which loads nicely on a flatbed (not an oversized load) for a faster-and-probably-much-cheaper delivery to your home location. The only thing that you will miss is the adventure. Your time and patience will be your determining factor. Personally, I’d ship the boat and spend the waiting-your-turn-in-the-Canal time enjoying the sailing around the Gulf and beyond.
You bring up a great point regarding the beam of the boat and likely influence on transportation costs over the road. Additionally, I watched a video today and was shocked as to how much the cost to transit the Panama Canal has increased in the last few years. Add to that what your friend went through and I think logic Points toward exactly what you were suggesting. Thank you so much for taking the time to reply
It was my pleasure. I miss my FC.
You could compromise and ship it to say Texas, then sail the Gulf Coast. Probably what I’d do!
You’re forgetting Mary White and her Falmouth Cutter Sapo.
I met Mary and Sapo in Malaysia at Pulau Pinang (Penang Island) in I think 2000. Mary had anchored Sapo just off a sandy beach on the sheltered east coast of Penang Island. From a distance, we noticed the unmistakeable lines of a Lyle C. Hess design and drove closer to learn more. Mary had left her dinghy on the beach and walked away to buy provisions. We waited.
Mary had sailed Sapo singlehanded to Malaysia from the US. We chatted with Mary. She always cooked on board and was accompanied on board by her cat(s).
Mary is mentioned in at least two Falmouth Cutter Newsletters. An extraordinary woman and an extraordinary cruiser. From memory, in one of the Newsletters Mary told her story about how she took ownership of Sapo and how she taught herself every necessary skill, starting with anchoring.
My last memory of Mary was learning that she had continued on her circumnavigation in FC Sapo and reached the Gulf of Mexico. My understanding is that in a storm in the Gulf of Mexico, a semi-submerged log collided with Sapo, leading to the loss of the hull.
I met at least one cruiser who had owned and sailed both a Bristol Channel Cutter and a Falmouth Cutter. His opinion was that he would always choose the Falmouth Cutter for an ocean voyage.
The lessons are clear:
- the Falmouth Cutter is seaworthy, a blue water cruiser; but
2. avoid collisions at all cost.
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Look in Falmouth Cutter News, no. 30, summer of 1998. Mary was then using Langkawi, Malaysia, as her base. She had written and published a book At less than walking speed.
Mr Bezos’s website likely sells copies.
Thank you for sharing that. And I appreciate all who have responded to my initial question in this thread. Just a moment ago I discovered something that is embarrassing, but I feel I should face my penance and admit to this. As I have been looking online and considering options about how I might bring her back to the Florida panhandle I just noticed it has a dual axle trailer with it and included in the price! I can’t believe I missed that, but I just wasn’t expecting it either. So there is the answer hitting me right between the eyes. I am about to do research on the tow package on my Dodge ram 1500. However I’m betting I’m probably going to need a little bigger truck for basically a cross country haul.
Again you have been so kind to reply so if this journey continues, I will continue to post about the progress.
Happy Thanksgiving.
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I just ordered it. Thanks for sharing. I have a nice collection of solo sailing books from over the years, but have never timed one to enjoy while I’m also considering a sister vessel. It will be a treat.
I dinnae think you could possibly be disappointed with a Falmouth Cutter or with Mary White’s book, Rod.
Mary was a true Amazon, meaning a courageous and fiercely independent woman. A warrior.
Her book likely tells you more of her story than I remember: she took over Sapo when her son no longer wanted it; she taught herself to anchor, then to sail. About three years in the Sea of Cortez, then a west-about circumnavigation starting with a voyage to French Polynesia, New Zealand, a few years in Southeast Asia, and so on. Collision with that log in the Gulf of Mexico ended her perfect circumnavigation prematurely. Ouch!
Mary and Sapo still achieved more than most cruisers. A fulfilled life.
I recommend you download and read the Falmouth Cutter Newsletters edited by Ron Walton. Look especially for the comments by Lyle C. Hess. Just golden advice about how to sail a Falmouth Cutter delivered in his own characteristic style. Reef early when necessary. Sail her fast - just like a BCC, the FC becomes more stable and seaworthy with speed.
Thanks so much for taking the time to help y with this helpful information.
Having recently transmitted the Panamá Canal, I can tell you current fees for a FC or any boat less than 65 ft (iirc) are about $3,000. I’d joked with my wife about taking the boat to Brownsville and getting it trucked to Sea of Cortez instead 
.
Uship.com is a great place to get shipping quotes.
Just do it. Whatever it is. Time is ticking. I’m 70 and in the last year have shipped my BCC from Tahiti (too many needed repairs to go offshore) to California and spent 10 months working on projects. I arrived in La Paz, Mexico yesterday after a 4 week trip down Baja. We met up with a Flicka doing the same trip. It was $$$ to ship Hula but no real alternative other than sell her to somebody I hoped cared about her. It was $$$ to fix everything. It was awesome to leave the dock and get out here. Just do it. Whatever it is. My bestie who was part of the plan developed a medical issue and couldn’t join us. Time is more precious every day. Just go. On that super cute boat.
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You are so correct. The BCC is definitely my bucket list boat and has been for 40 years and time is ticking. The Falmouth checks a lot of boxes also and it coming with a trailer peaks interest in me in that I tow it back to Alabama. Do the need work on her and then I can take it essentially anywhere in North America if I choose to. I’m also having a conversation this afternoon with an owner of a BCC that isn’t on the market quite yet but will be. I’m thinking of going to the Pacific Northwest to check that one out. I would then I guess follow the route you are on? I’m so glad you are fulfilling that dream. Safe travels and Fairwinds!
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I’ve owned both the FC and BCC and would take which ever is handier. The BCC has a bit more hull speed. 125/day vs 100/day. But the FC is fun!
Thank you for sharing that. That’s good to know. There is quite a bit of price difference of course so I’m trying to make myself realize unless I am extremely drawn toward the BCC. I should think hard about that. I also like the idea of being able to trailer the FC to various parts of the country although I will have to have a different truck. The two that are available each have essentially unused trailers. As with everything, there is a trade-off here as well. One is very close to home here in Alabama. There was a posting from the owner yesterday about needing to move the boat given his age, but he has installed a 5 hp electric motor which I’m not crazy about the idea of. If I were just doing localized overnighters and day sails , that would be one thing, but I would like to cruise her more than that. I feel better about the range of a diesel inboard