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Yachts for this purpose have to be designed specially for this, and facts as stability, strong ness, stiffness and the power to carry sail, have to be of the highest standards. When all these factors are full filled, the comfort on board is still left. For the crew members a crucial factor. Sailing in rough conditions without comfort when sleeping and cooking, will very fast turn it into a surviving adventure. Crew getting down on their stamina start to make failures which can easily bring the crew and the yacht in great danger... Having good berths, one on each side (P. and SB) makes a good sleep possible. Comfortable and safe. Especially on a yacht with a short handed crew (Just a couple for example.) is a good rest after watch very important. In harbors or on safe anchor places a crew can sleep in a double berth but at sea this is impossible !! The other factor is the ease of handling of the yacht, and special attention has to be given to sails and deck equipment. A cutter with her smaller fore sails is a better "Long distance sailor" as a yacht with one bigger one. And a yankee is easier to handle as a 150 % genoa ! Roller furling's are easy under good conditions, but sails on hanks give the security that they really come down when the crew wants that. And remember, a roller main which is stuck in a stormy night, brings the yacht in a

severe situation ! Another fact, not counted by lots of "aspirant" sea sailors, is that the days without wind are about 35 % of the real traveling time. Light breezes about 40 %, and good (brisk) sailing winds (4 -5 Beaufort) about 15 %. Strong winds 6-8 Beaufort 8 %, and the rest (2%) storm. I can go on with numbers : About 90 % of all the time "living on board" is spend on anchorages or in harbours. So the "livability" of a yacht has to be as at home. That means a comfortable sofa, a well-planned kitchen and sufficient storage space. Book shelves made in such a way that books are NOT distributed over the floor in heavy waves. (As well at anchor...) And every thing

has to be stored in dry and easy to reach place! An other subject is the ventilation. As well at sea as in harbours. At sea it avoids seasickness , and your gear is not getting clammy. Sea-salt is sublimating every where, so we HAVE to ventilate.... Even in bad weather. Safe vents are a must ! And last but not least; the possebillity to go in your bed without a long training in acrobatics ... Simple things to write, sitting behind your computer, warm and cosy in your library. But we do have to think about them...