Steve Pope

Hi Smithy, We draw 1m with both CB's up, 2m with the main board down, if only using the aft one draw 1.75m. usually unless on the wind or needing extra bite (when manouvering) we often don't use the main board, off the wind I use the aft one for trimming, or when flat off with a reasonable wind I keep it right down, Gwalarn then more or less tracks like a surf board, unfortunately being a displacement hull it doesn't get the speed of the SB. The channel into Whangape is on the STB side, we had no trouble picking where the shallow spots were. Definitely recommend a 1 to 1.5m drouge for contro

Sailed into Whangape harbour a couple of weeks ago, we were heading for the Kaipara, only to hear when we were still north of Ahipara that there were 4m swells forecast to arrive at the Kaipara entrance before we could get there. As we weren't far from Whangape we decided to have a look, the bar looked reasonable so life jackets on, crutch straps done up, (knotme) across we went, no drama, 2m minimum under the keel with 2 hours still to go to high tide. Immediately you are over the bar you turn to port into "Northlands only Fiord" Quite beautiful. Strong current though, as the width probably a

Be interested in how you find it, I was just about to upload the earlier version, known to be stable, hopefully this one is too.

looks cule!

McGregor 65, up there with the big Spencers and Birdsals!

I know of a whiting 29 that might be coming onto the market, could find out if you are interested?

Listen to the Panther he has been there done that. There are folk who will only see potential problems that generally never come to pass. Do a couple of shake down cruises to sort out any fitout defects, there will be some. We have friends who sailed the world for 25 years, in that time they experienced only 1 storm, less than 10 gales. They sailed the seasons to ensure reasonable weather.

Yup, I would be interested, will pm you re further info

Looks reasonably calm, maybe they will put another diver down?

Can you run open CPN on a mac? Or an Ipad?

definitely a highly strung boat!

A huge move forward with Westhaven responding to posts, good stuff!

I welded steps up the back of the rudder just for such an event. with relatively high topsides it was an impossibility to get back on board.

It is a pretty straight forward, basic seamanship applies, if you have a GPS, (handheld is good) you can plot your course to miss any rocks that are close to the direct route. Passing through (inside) the Cavalli's shortens the trip a little and is worth it, just to experience sailing in confined waters as you exit the southern channel, try and time it so the tide is in your favour. There is a rock that has caught several yachties out near the southern part of the Cavalli bay, GPS will show it or / and check it on a paper chart. It would be on your Starboard side. Or you can sail around the ou

it's right way up on my iMac.

Looks very similar to a Gulf 30 (birdsall) great gulf cruiser.

wouldn't the "back" sail be the main sail? I like the idea of sailing on and off the anchor, a lost art these days.

Far East Sails, Lee Sails, have been around for many many years, As long as you give them the right information you will get a sail that is equal at least to what the local sailmakers can make. If your yacht is a known design they will have it on file. I have bought my sails locally, (small loft) working on the basis that we need our own industry here, but have been frustrated not to get their best price first! Having to shop around, come back with a price that they will then meet, but not necessarily better. The big lofts (international) should have pencils sharp enough to compete with these

Thanks Allan, thats the first thing we checked, apparently the radio has an intermittent fault, possibly to do with the eprom's. Reception was brilliant. It shouldn't be my earth as it is bolted onto a hull stringer (nice and clean) or if that is the problem I can use a KISS counterpoise I have installed, thay are supposed to be very good. I don't know if you remember but I got some braid outer (lime green ) and ran a 5 sq mm sq. tinned cable up the inside which comes down to a ceramic insulator in the side deck and then to the tuner which gave us such good reception that I think it should

I had similar problems with my SEA 222 SSB, could receive but not transmit. Crystal electronics are haveing a look at it, They are an older firm, they certainly seem know what they are about. or 761 GT South road Penrose, Auckland.

Good one Babe, looked out for you up, there before we went across to Fiji, just so many beautiful islands.

Sounds like a win to me!!

scrape the paint use a dehumidifier for a day or 3 to dry out the bilge, then check for rot as Wheels suggests. Re soaking epoxy into ply or any soft wood for that matter, a local boat builder suggested using epoxy mix diluted at 75% with meths x 2 applications, this allows the epoxy to get good penetration, then 1 coat of normal strength epoxy, sand and paint if so required.

Most cruisiung Cats become displacement craft by dint of the amount of gear that gets put on board, you need to be a minamalist to keep the speed advantage.

Re max's mention of the limits of draft, Centre boarders don't have those problems.