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rob denney

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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

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