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Chewing Gum

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Posts posted by Chewing Gum

  1. He ain't a novice anymore, he has handled a variety of conditions that many may never experience, sailed in a way that was normal not so many years ago. The major problem is "peoples"expectation of being able to contact anyone at anytime. It is part of the current culture. No contact, a person on shore thinks the worst, call for "help", "Help" feels obliged to do something, hence the present situation. In the scheme of things the young guy coped admirably, the only dangers he was exposed to were caused by the authorities.

    A similar scenario happened a year or two back when 2 guys were sailing an H28 up the coast, similarly considered inexperienced, land based caller panicked, coast guard boat goes out of Tutukaka to find them and promptly crashes at speed into rocks injuring several of the crew and writing off the boat. Meanwhile totally oblivious to the drama being caused around them the H28 was at anchor awaiting a change in the weather. Once again communication and peoples expectation of it was the problem. there are lots of spots that do not have cell phone coverage, VHF is limited to line of sight, strength of signal etc etc. Perhaps the old mantra of NO news is good news should be revived.

    We now have a safety industry promoting "safety" to sell stuff. We have a coast guard staffed, mainly by volunteers, who are involved in assisting members and when called upon to carry out rescue situations, some of whom are going to be gung ho heroes. (in their own minds) Then we have the MNZ, that if Professional sailor is to believed have lost the plot and are bent on control, legislation and punishment. (Exception being if you drive a large yacht and run over the odd classic yacht.)

    Do we stand a chance as individuals to do what we have always seen as our right, to sail when and where we choose, to look after our own safety, to accept the risks that are inherent in what we do? As things stand at the moment, probably not.

    Spot on Steve - well said - I was not going to post again but your comments sum it up perfectly. Interesting to see the number of posts in such a short time. This topic has struck a raw nerve. How do we get the likes of MNZ, Govt and councils to take notice, see sense and maybe read some of what is written here - a forlorn hope I feel. The lifejacket legislation/ local body rules is another bugbear of mine along with the fanworm thing, all costly and irrational imposts on the average boatie. As mentioned earlier we haven't yet sunk to the level of over the top as in Australia but give it time I guess. You would have to wonder if that young guy has any idea of his rights. Apparently they are insisting he buys a whole lot of safety gear - EPIRBs, radios, flares etc. I wasn't aware there was any such regulation for coastal sailing apart from provision of lifejackets ?? PS myself I do in fact have all that stuff as it is probably not a bad idea but in the end the best way is self reliance and commonsense and not  calling for help at the slightest excuse. 

    • Upvote 1
  2. Herald is desperate to sell papers that's why most front pages have stuff fuelling the housing debacle.

    As for this story - they should leave the guy alone. He has done amazingly to make that trip around the feared East Cape and must have struck some reasonably big seas. It sounds like he possibly was under prepared but he has not requested help from anyone and will have learnt heaps from the experience. Back to basics sailing - I like it, reminds me of being warned not to leave Tutukaka in a strong NE many moons ago in a Stilletto also with little experience and no communications - we had a ball sliding down the waves all the way to Auckland.

    These days we do have more"safety" gear but still believe in self reliance and generally never bother with trip reports.

  3. Is this on a Leisurefurl system ?

    If so we have found the best way  is to get rid of the furling line altogether.

    Way quicker to hoist the sail and to furl.

    To furl - just go to the front of the mast and use a winch handle in the socket provided.

  4. Nice looking boat at a very good price. Shame it hasn't got walk through transom, for some reason euro boats don't seem to have the setup like the 1220 - I guess because they don't lie at anchor that often. Even when they do have walk throughs it is often high off the water a la the Hanses.

    Fixed prop but that could be easily changed.

  5. Few things I don't like about that boat:

    Old Beneteau

    Centre Cockpit (high cockpit not good at sea and not as nice at anchor and closer to bow - more motion and closer to any spray  and split accommodation means cramped below)

    Short keel = poor windward performance

    In mast furling - poor furled performance, prone to failure, no proper battens.

    Also a lot of risks purchasing offshore, as to set up any boat properly takes time and effort and access to tools and good tradespeople even if you do a lot yourself.

  6. Pros of steel - only one that I can see - it is strong. ( I owned a steel fishing boat for a long time)

     

    Cons - never ending maintenance, cold noisy and slow (too heavy). Also not easy to modify.

     

    You don't need a heavy boat to be comfortable at sea and they are always slow so you spend longer at sea for a longer uncomfortable time as passages are usually just means to an end. I sailed an Orams 53 to Tonga and that was over twice the weight of a 1220 or a Regardless and no more comfortable at sea.

     

    It is important that a good cruising boat is a good sailer firstly for the pleasure that comes from a nice sailing boat and secondly to make passages in reasonable time and within good weather windows.

     

    Around 40 ft is a good size.

    • Upvote 1
  7. We like our Regardless design, still have it 12 years on and the ladies like it because of its airy feeling below decks and good cockpit especially when when the transom is opened up. Reasonably quick and comfortable at sea.

    1220s are good boats also (did a Noumea race on one) but not that keen on the slopey side decks and twitchy helm. Also not as easy to see out of from down below as the Lidgard. Speed is very similar.

  8. Great stuff from the sailing team. Could this be our best ever showing? I can remember being a bit disappointed in results in earlier times apart from the board sailers, the last Olympics and a few others (Sellars and Timms, Coutts)

  9. I agree, we have both but in the event of a small fire I would use the CO2 as the dry powder makes one hell of mess and is best used as a last resort. Only thing with CO2 in a boat is be careful not to asphyxiate yourself !

  10. Coppins make Para anchors - probably the best there is. Not sure they make drogues though? Could be wrong...

    Oh, and still at

    255 High street

    Motueka

    New Zealand

     

    According to their website.

     

    What I like with the series drogue is that the load comes on slowly, plus you have the ability to adjust in or out for more or less load.

    I agree, the loads on the boat and the crew are way less with a series drogue. From what I have read on the subject you are far more likely to survive a major storm with the drogue. For a start most boats will hang downwind much more easily than head to wind. Just think about the difference in motion going to windward or upwind - it is huge. It is very difficult to stay head to wind with a sea anchor and most boats will end up side on to the sea. The only time a drogue is a little disadvantaged is on a lee shore as the downwind drift rate is likely to be a bit higher.

  11. On our Yanmar we used a waterbased primer which has phosphoric acid in it and called Blackguard. It is awesome. Then just get a can of spray paint colour matched at a car paint place and your engine will look like new. We did ours about 10 years ago and it still looks great.

    • Upvote 1
  12. Yes in Port Pegasus Stewart Island we tried to get ashore in a bay with a walking track but there was no way. This seal was so aggressive  that it leapt into the water and swam out under water about 50m to lunge at our RIB, we were very concerned about it puncturing the tubes and beat a hasty retreat. Seal 1 Boat crew 0 !

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