[Sailing from Europe to NZ. Best route?]

BP is right take his advice

[Single handed Coastal Classic]

Could be tempted, but I is not a girl

[water world in tuts?]

No no a sensible safety film about the dangers of sailing multihulls.

Actually she looks identical to the boat that came ashore by Ngapipi road about 1987 -89 and was patched up on the hardstand at Okahu Bay over a couple of years, though she was glass not ply - but ended up with new floats amas?

[Kawau Island yacht club]

Its an elegant and novel way of keeping you young troublemakers out of the club!!

[Kawau Island yacht club]

A sensible and hopefully practicable result for boaties and the squadron. Good luck to them, we will see how many join up to support this facility, come on get your cheque books out.

[The Solo Challenge]

Bloody Hell Ash, Im itching just looking at all that chopped strand matt. You never considered using it as a mold and building a ply top straight on top of it, after all you have a nicely built timber hull, and wouldn't have taken any longer... warm dry and no itchies. And lighter.

[Who is going to buy our yachts and at what price?]

I.T. is dead right the internet is littered with bargains, and many are really well specd' the only issue is shipping : what used to cost me NZ$8000.00 from Long Beach now seems to have jumped to NZ$45000 plus?

the three big boat transport operators obviously lunch together often! If you are creative you can halve these 'Boat transport" operators fees from Europe but it may mean you going over to shift the yacht and organising a shipping cradle, and then picking her up from Tauranga, well worth it I would have thought. The thing is we all know now what these boats cost in Turkey etc, and that is plummeting everyday, so if it is the vessel you desire to own and keep go for it, otherwise think long and hard it is not a profit making venture. One happy result for those of us who prefer kauri under us to thin glass, this year has seen the first big price drop in our local soon to be classic market, with those selling going for 40% under those 'for sale'.

[Aratere.....oh boy.]

Word is smaller props so less speed, presumably to lessen load on the shafts.

[US navy finds wreck of missing yacht Cheeki Rafiki]

JB and FNG are both right, with many of the production Euros now using flexible bonding for the keel -hull joint we are setting ourselves up for big issues in the future, the stainless bolts do work harden, and are less tolerant of long term flex loading than earlier aluminium bronze or Monel blends. It is simply not good practice, and shows a total lack of understanding of the loads imposed on these materials to bolt them just through the skin. As Bavaria found out over the last few years. But should we be surprised, when these builders are fitting Brass skin fittings underwater instead of Bronze. It appears unlike our local boats, that these yachts are designed with a particular lifespan in mind, witness Ally rudder stocks as well. Hey maybe im just turning into a grumpy old fart, but im happy on my multi skin timber glassed yacht with substantial laminated floors, and she doesn't smell down below!

[Another Rangitoto question.... salt springs?]

You been spotted hanging round the Mckenzie Bay area a bit lately JB have you found treasure in one of the wrecks on wreckers row??

[The Solo Challenge]

Wow airconditioned, got rid of the teak on mine before it caused more issues, never regretted it - that's four Townsons I have improved that way. Your ship will end up happier lighter drier, teak decks are like anodes always slowly disintegrating... Plus in Mooloolaba will be a lot cooler under foot

[Somewhere in Northland]

I too applaud the effort And I see another fella doing up a great little Townson 8.8 at Sandspit must be something in the blood? P.S. that T8.8 was an early build of one Ian Cook now well known as YDL and owner of Ranger Innismara Waitangi etc etc

[This Weekend's Achievements]

My annual day of restful watching the action at Mt Panorama, the Aussies organise it well so that we can get a few things done in the morning then Superlarge brekky

and on couch till the end, use the add breaks to get some uv and look at all the fizzies in the channel-- fish must be coming in, nice to think of the water warming up opening day next week at the Milford boozing club !

[Somewhere in Northland]

Very well done ratty, I was convinced that I was looking at the last stiletto to be built, but no, as discussed the camera doesnt quite tell the whole tail. Great to see someone who practises what he preaches and look forward to seeing her sliding around Kawau bay. Re fairing: Did you use peel ply on the final resin / glass? Us rats must keep sailing Kiwi wooden boats just cant abide the styrene/holding tank aroma present down below on so many Benetarias. Keep up the good work.

[Birdsall Plans]

For Birdsall plans try Rachel Upton (Beau's ex ) she lives in Milford, is a very capable boaty and helpful, when not out steaming round the gulf in their last boat.