Tim C

Do not use Nylon as a bearing material. It will expand underwater and seize the bearing and steering...

I used Don't Slip again on Pulse, but this time added the non slip spheres you'd use in two pot paint. The curved main beam surface is now really grippy, and I'm pleased with that. On the flat cockpit floor I've had problems with it bubbling off because it tends to stay wet. This time I used an acrylic under coat before the Don't Slip, and that too has worked well. I'll try and dig out the name of the undercoat I used...

Thanks for the nice words about Sandspit YC racing. Yes we have got a bunch of interesting multihulls racing up here, alongside a good little fleet of monohulls. Pretty relaxed social racing without yelling or stress! The Seascape 24 is a nice little monohull you can see here: http://www.yachtingworld.com/boat-test/seascape-24-a-pocket-family-sports-cruiser-in-an-exciting-and-popular-sailing-niche-106190 Also of note is Saturday Night Special, a 9m keel boat launched by her designer/builder Allan Roper, which is going well. Pulse still has good moments in the light, but there's m

I note the question was't answered. One of the any reasons that NZ has this system is we have a huge expanse of water that is difficult to weather predict conditions on leaving, and consequently many boats get in trouble. Cat 1 is a few hundred dollars, tiny compared to the value you get of an experienced set of eyes looking over your boat, and tiny compared to the value of safety gear you'll probably be buying anyway. Yes it's the ship registration that costs the real money, but that doesn't seem much cheaper elsewhere for the hassle involved. If you're a New Zealand citizen

Have you actually talked to a YNZ Cat 1 inspector? And then identified what is on the Cat 1 list you'd happily not have aboard and leave for the deep blue ocean? I don't think the process is as ridiculous or as expensive as you'd think, relatives to the safety advantages for you and your crew...

Much the same as any other multihull. The hull core material will end up at about 3% of the cost of the boat. Paint, hardware, rig, sails etc will all cost what they cost. There's no discount for starting with a plywood shell...

How come NZ yacht owners have been happy to accept the 10 x increase in their house prices in the last thirty years, but still think a 9m keel boat should be $100K? The cost of designing, setting up moulds, ironing out the problems and marketing a yacht is huge. The real cost of new yachts has plummeted, so much so that there are no NZ new production yachts to buy, as they can't compete. Yet still there are price complaints...

Why have we got so first World that we've forgotten that Wharves are for a city and a country to TRADE over!! We have a huge number of lovely beaches and foreshore in Auckland, yet somehow the business area of trading good is seen as somewhere to have lattes and watch games! It seems ridiculous to even think of reducing any of its capacity to me...

On Navionics at the right zoom, for boats coming South towards the Gulf, they are warned: It says 'Area to be Avoided'. So the riff raft coming in should stay away...

there's only been one Americas Cup Trimaran, in 2010. What a great boat! But not so good for cruising...

Great weekend and Raft up with lots of people and different boats around Waiheke as VB has said above. Fun Sailing and Socialising!

If you have to use hanks, use the Wichard hook type hanks, rather than piston ones, I'd suggest. They open and close far more reliably when not used for months and months, which is typical for storm jibs. Note an offshore storm jib needs to be bright orange...

Did no-one else get photos during the race?

A great Race, but lumpy waves! We had a good race on Pulse, slightly nursing the boat till Cape Rodney, then full main to the finish. Lots Some shots of Gale Force and Equilibrium on the way home

It's our SYC Ladies race that weekend. So Pulse will be at Kawau, but can't do the race I'm afraid.

It looks a bit on the wind and wet at times. But Pulse will be there!

Marine Prosecutions seem to have stopped following a certain collision with yachts, one motoring, one sailing, at the Anniversary regatta in 2012... There must be a special on wet bus tickets...

A great Shot of Pulse in the Coastal this year, Thanks to Phil Hart!

Awesome video! Well done to the 8.5 fleet for doing so well! And Charleston too; What a Race!

What's the plan for sending in Race reports this year? I guess with smart phones we can just post direct?

If any of the Multihulls want a YNZ Cat 3 inspection from me I'm looking at doing them next Saturday or Sunday 7th or 8th October. Ideally Sunday. Let me know if there's racing on please. Otherwise feel free to e-mail me on tcdesign@xtra.co.nz, rather than message or text, so I can organise everything from one system. The YNZ card cost has gone up considerably, so my cost will be $200.00 now per inspection, for a day group booking. It will be more if I have to come down for one inspection at a time! You have lots of choices for inspectors. Remember I'm the one representing Multihull interest

There are many inspectors beside me trying to get flares replaced my LED or Laser flares. Most experienced people I challenge to show me 'which end is the hot end' fail. When I say most I mean nearly all. I'm convinced they are potentially more dangerous than helpful in a panicked persons hands when they have lost their glasses at night. I understand waiting for Solas approval is still the hold up. Roll on some sensible change here!

Pulse in the Route 66. Lining up for the start with the other three multihulls, just off Narrow Neck beach. Richard and Michael aboard as crew. We were completely committed to a gennaker when the wind shifted just Westerly enough to make laying the start difficult. We drifted out towards Rakino, where it looked like the new Northerly breeze was going to fill in from. But a shore breeze helped the inshore fleet at much the same time. We were having a nice battle with the mighty green Timberwolf, but as the breeze set in off they went. Our position at Tiri channel was underwhelming, well bac

Pulse is entered fully crewed. Well three aboard anyway! Always a great race. I've never done it faster than my Coastal time, and that's twice the distance! So let's hope for some favourable conditions this year.

I wonder how many people here 'nearly bought that boat' just like so many great NZ multihulls we have lost overseas in the past...