rob denney 0 Posted February 3, 2010 Author Share Posted February 3, 2010 It would be great to hear how this trip went ... I dont have any NZ contacts for Bain or I would have given him a call already. Is this the first blue water crossing for a harryproa? cheers Jon J From Bain The trip from Coffs harbour (Aus east coast) to Houhora (NZ north east coast) via Lord Howe Island was interesting. The boat performed well apart from a couple of minor breakages and the leeward hull flexing issue. Got quite a lot of light to no wind - 12 hrs motoring in the 52 hrs to Lord Howe (310 n miles). Rest of the time head winds, but always managed to make our course. 6 hrs east of Lord Howe we broke a sheet pad eye and had a rudder pin working out. The wind got up to 35 knots so put out parachute till weather calmed enough to sort out the rudder. Wind got up to 45 but we were reasonably comfortable. It settled down after 36 hrs. About 200 miles out from Lord Howe the leeward hull started flexing badly in a beam chop. I was very concerned, turning back wasn’t a good option - strong westerly forecast to the west and the island didn’t seem like a place to do repairs. The wind dropped so we decided to use the jib halyard as a shroud. Worked a treat so decided to continue and take it easy. So did the rest of the trip under main only, with 1 and 2 reefs in the whole way. I was amazed how well she went, approaching North Cape had 18 – 20 knots a bit behind the beam, couldn’t slow her, had 2 reefs in still doing 12 knots on the gps. This is with heaps of food and water and gear onboard. It took 7 days L H to Houhora (730 n miles). Only problem we had was she would occasionally round up into the wind when going to windward. Still haven’t quite figured that one out. Rudders worked fine which was one of my concerns. On inspection, we found that the ring bulkhead at the mast cracked at bottom on leeward side. It pulled apart rather than compressing as would make sense in that spot. I have put in solid 5mm ply and glass bulkheads at beam sockets and 12mm ply and glass ring bulkheads at mast. I was considering stronger between mast and beams, but it seems to be working fine as is. Aroha is now for sale as I need the capital for a new enterprise and I am too busy to really use the boat and look to being busy for some time. As you can imagine I am reluctant to sell Aroha as she works really well for what I want in a boat and is fast , comfortable and roomy. I love the small simple rig which enables me to sail solo. Love that free standing mast, never worried that some fitting in the standing rigging is going to fail because there is none. The advantage of a flexing mast on a multi hull especially cruising is marked.I believe we would have done a lot more reefing and left more reefs in on the Tasman trip especially. Price:AU 120,000 all reasonable offers considered. Specs at http://www.harryproa.com/harry.htm build and sailing pics at http://www.harryproa.com/Builders/BainR ... _index.htm Link to post Share on other sites
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