SND
19 crossings ? I have done them in the luxury of a jet high level and even then the expanse of ocean is huge. Often thought of the poor guys and girls flying SEP way below very slow.
with Piston failures I have had you have more guts than me
A piston engine is a mass of reciprocating and rotating parts all eager to part company with each other, with a thin film of pressurised oil preventing the whole thing seizing up. That they work at all is a marvel. I've had them fail and I know folk who've had quite a few fail. It does happen
Pace