Steve Pope

Luckily perhaps, Gwalarn doesn't do fast, at least by todays standards. I Have seen 9 knots for a second or two while surfing. Average cruising speed for all ocean passages to date has been 4.5 knots. I change the handling by raising or lowering the aft board and raising the primary board when running downwind.

I know with my (non) ballasted swing keel(s) that they lift very easily when the bottom gets too close, They also will hold you in place for shortish periods and if the aft one is in the mud as well you don't swing. Rather like lowering a spud or 2 as they do on dredging and mooring inspection barges.

I've often wondered if lead shot was used for ballast inside a swing keel and a vertical (when down) space down the face of the keel and a similar overall sized space available at the bottom of the keel to accommodate the shot, so that when the keel was raised the shot would flow to the now horizontal space that has become the lowest point, evening out the spread and keep everything on an even keel, so to speak.

Did the Kaipara coast guard give a reason for refusing you entry? Was it for just the southern channel or the Northern one as well? Great effort, a feather in yours and your crews caps. It is an interesting piece of the west coast, Besides the Hokianga, Whangape harbour is also accessable, given a rising tide and -1m swell. "Sealegs" work for me until I do get my sea legs, no noticeable side affects.

Yes, as long as the internal structure has been built appropriately to accomodate the loads that it will be subjected to. Plus that the board doesn't retract into the hull gives more room internally and some longditudinal stability when at anchor. With 1m draught with the board up I can tuck Gwalarn well away from the madding crowds. Occasionally to the surprise of keelers who don't realise that i am a Centre boarder and want to anchor close-by.

No, as the current only flows one way. The only alteration on each crossing is the angle of the rudder which then uses the hulls keels angle to the water flow to drive the barge across.

very common in Europe.

18 knots to justify the speed of the pilot boats perhaps??

At least you got in and out of the Kaipara and around NZ before the "official" mission creep got stuck in. Good memories i'm sure.

Grid use appear to be banned around NZ except for a very light rub with a sponge, Whatever is attached to the hull must be removed and captured to a sludge tank. I wonder if any of the folk proposing and enforcing this sort of official behaviour have ever watched a mussel harvester in action, the amount of mud, marine debris, fan worms (perhaps) etc. etc. that are gushing off the harvester back into the sea are exactly the same as could be hanging off the bottom of any yacht on the grid, With perhaps a smidgen of antifoul that might be removed in the cleaning process. Given that the dumbe

Amway has been here forever, pretty low profile now, compared to 30 years ago though.

That should read ,<whangarei.marina@xtra.co.nz>

<Whangarei.marina.co.nz> Send them an email.

Plexus is another product that is the same or very similar to Vuplex, costs a bit more than Vuplex though.

I think it was either Puketotora rd or Waiare rd. That being said It caught my eye as we drove past, I thought hmmm that could be Waihape, but it may not be??

Yes,

I had heard that someone was going to try a rescue of her. if I get back up that way I will look a little closer.

I was driving out Okaihau way a week or so ago and saw Waihape (at least I think it was her) on a farm. Perhaps awaiting restoration??

As I understand it the furler rope came off the winch, allowing the genoa to unfurl, no problem with the furler just the cleat / jammer.

He is now a true sailor, engine packed up, What a capable guy, and still with a sense of humour.

In the photo of the damaged strut it showed that all the bolts on that particular plate had sheared, I would be very surprised if other bolt ups are not partially sheared as well. Not going to be a quick fix.

Chewing gum did it a few years ago, I bought a lot of info from him with anchorages marked, cruising guides, and a huge amount of useful notes, chart drawings, CD's etc etc. I would on-sell them to anyone interested. pm me if interested ??

Understood, I was unaware of Galv arc spray, I have a zinc spray gun, but it uses oxy, acetylene to melt the zinc. old tech now I guess.

Is there a possibility that the heat from the galv spray equipment needed to melt the zinc wire might damage the windings, plus shouldn't it be garnet blasted first ? potentially allowing ingress of garnet dust into the commutator ?

Equinoctal storms have been with us for ever. A high harbour bridge taking trucks that are larger, longer, with a larger area than ever before of flat sides, ( possibly lightly loaded? ) into a prime (high) position for such an occurrence to happen. What is unusual is that it hasn't happened more often.