Zozza

I subscribe to NYT, and came across this interesting article this morning, and thought it may be of interest. PDF attached because of course the article in the online paper proper is hidden behind a paywall. Off Spain’s Coast, Orcas Ram a Sailboat - The New York Times.pdf

Just a little

New companionway treads coming together...

Homicide investigation now. I dunno, sometimes we just have to accept there are - for want of a better term - 'Acts of God' that happen. A hot summer night in Italy, probably lots of hatches open....they are going to try pin the blame on the Captain? Like most of these things there will be lots of little things that contributed to this ultimate tragedy, from the design right through to the localised weather bomb. One thing that does strike me - a lot of smaller boats went practically unscathed. Take from that what you will, but reinforces to me that a larger yacht is not necessarily a sa

Each to their own, but personally being so connected to the online world via Starlink when sailing is just one step too far to me. When I go sailing I want to escape all that, not have MS team meetings. That's just me, I respect people that use their time onboard differently and I will probably find that in a few years I am in the minority.

Both those are on my navionics charts, and I have not updated them for a good 12+ months. Bit of a worry the lights are not working off Ponui...might be part of you know who's cut backs. (Don't mention the war, I mentioned it once and I think I got away with it).

Nav apps seem to be set up to work best on mobile phones and tablets.

I heard some twat on the Radio yesterday morning (RNZ) being interviewed, saying that licensing boat owners for competency on the water is an absolute must. He completely missed the point that this idiot in Pahia was looking down scrolling his phone going at twenty f**king knots, trying to figure out how to fix something. Just like driving, if you are looking at your phone then you are not fully paying attention, and going at twenty knots with your head down engrossed in your bloody phone is a recipe for disaster. But hey, if the idiot was licensed then that would have solved everything.

1971 One Ton Cup in Hauraki Gulf Syd Fischer, Alan Warwick...Stormy Petrel, Young Nick etc

My friend was nattering to me one day onboard- he just blurted out "Most people with yachts don't like sailing. That's why you see so many yachts in the marina on a sunny weekend, and why you see those that do sail will only do it between 10-15 knots, otherwise the engine is on as there is either too much wind or too little for the way they "sail".

Thanks for your wee story there LBD. Do you think though, with the collapse of the NZ boatbuilding industry as far as GRP stock designs go in about the mid 70's, that for those of us with little interest in modern lightweight flyers, and no capital means to purchase or have built a new boat - that we have little option but to by 40 or 50 year old GRP classics that mostly do require to varying degrees of 'do up' ?

I just posted this on someone's YouTube sailing channel which is really a rebuild channel. I must have made some good coffee this morning as I think I articulated where I am at reasonably well. I'll post it below, but I thought it might be a good discussion topic for CrewDotOrgers on their perspectives, even giving some of your own stories if you are comfortable doing that. Anyway, here is my take on it: __ / __ "Over the past 10 years I have refitted a 23 footer, a 26 footer (Contessa 26 - quite a famous design) and now a Twister 28 (semi-famous English design by Kim Holman, the fore

I knew about the Nth v Sth when it comes to compasses but totally forgot about it. Mostly, I have had positive experiences when buying marine gear offshore. I get the "support local" ideology, but I think in 2024 that's gone out the window years ago-- I feel no such inclination to support Burnsco, Smart Marine, or Marine Deals which are all huge players in the NZ that monopolise the marine market. I am not saying you are not right though K4, because they are still NZ companies - I may indeed be part of the problem with my attitude.

Whoops

I think I need to interview and get a tour of Mr Panther's boat. It's bound to get a 100K views and get my channel roaring! But seriously, the cost of living crisis hits us mariners especially hard. The COLC is a great excuse for NZ Maine retailers to increase their charges. I purchased a Plastimo compass via 'Waveinn' recently, and even with overseas freight it was $100 bucks cheaper than what any NZ chandler was selling the same item ...

I see this becoming even more of a bureaucratic balls up than it already is - I will be going for UK reg, as a Commonwealth citizen it is doable for Part A UK, and probably helps that my old girl was registered there originally.

I'm awaiting Patreon to approve my page, but in the meantime a lighthearted look at why I am starting a Patreon. Tell me how pathetic my pitch is, go on, you know you want too 😁 http://www.youtube.com/@junk_rig_sailor1698 "Hi there, In the tradition of the ubiquitous sailing channels popping up here, there and everywhere, I too thought I would join the fun - so have started a Patreon account linked to my YouTube channel. The reasoning behind this is many fold, but top of mind is that I too want suckers to fund my futre sailing trip plans as I rebuild my b

Why was he doing 20 knots? Twenty-bloody-knots? The bloody idiot.

Well joining the Fred Drift in my own Fred..... I have pre-ordered one of these. Was under $400 . Won't be shipped to me till end of August, and then won't be put to serious use until its used in anger post my yacht rebuild / refit -- but I will try to remember to make comments on the robustness of it once it has been delivered. https://www.joolca.co.nz/products/gottago

What's the deal with Marine Lithium LiFpO4 when you don't liveaboard? I know that you need a really good BMS. But what about when you are off the boat for extended periods....do you just switch off your solar so that the batteries don't overcharge - because that, from my very basic knowledge is one of the main "weakness" (that may not be the best word) of Marine Lithium on a boat, is that you do not ever want to overcharge.

What convinced me it wasn't him, not even a remote chance, not even in this universe - is that even your most novice "sailor" could have explained to the jury that it is impossible for Watson on his boat 'Blade' to have done the boatspeed required to get out the anchorage and sail / motor to the vicinity of where they say he dumped the bodies overboard, and get back to the anchorage in time. His boat would have had to have been capable of 20 knots. It's a sick joke. There is a heap more evidence against the conviction - I mean the mystery hair that all of a sudden showed up on the th

Thanks BP, IT, and Carpe for your real life examples. This is where us less experienced guys sit around the virtual campfire and listen to our elders. Anyone of you ever used a Jordan Series Drogue? Developed if I am correct, by an aeronautical engineer, the theory seems sound and I have read of successful use in survival conditions, with the exception of the girl in the 2018 GG where her line parted - and since her episode I understand you can now order them in Dyneema.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350283327/boatyard-bust-north-shore-yachties-threaten-legal-action The nub of the issue of the so called "City of Sails" is in the last paragraph: Other haul outs have been closed down at Okahu Bay, Pier 21 and Bayswater, leaving “average boaties” having to pay for luxury yacht marina facilities to comply with environmental rules, proponents say".

Hopper Developments plans 300-berth marina at Hobbs Bay, Gulf Harbour - NZ Herald.pdf

Well, Global Warming will fix that. Pommy land be the new Miami? 😆