Hi Bob, good to see your name popping up on the site. Happy memories of your kindness to strangers when we met at Oyster Bay in 2009.
Recently spent some time with Cameron Murray in Opua.
As to wind vane. Totally unessesary I believe. We have a Raymarine auto pilot with a steer to wind option. We just did a run from NZ to Fiji in 10 to 20 knot winds on a broad reach.(max was 27) Most of the way we carried 4 sails (Headsail, main, mizzen staysail, mizzen) Only reduced if conditions became or threatened to be squally. All the way we had the pilot on wind steer. Wonderfull. The wind direction oscilated off the mean by up to 20 degrees either side. The boat just followed the wind, no trimming needed and then the oscilation brought her back to the average course we needed. The beaty of off shore sailing is the distances are so great you can wait for the wind to shift, and it will to a surprising degree, and you do not have to pendantically hold to a course. Any way we are sold on the wind steer option. One night a squall came through with a 90 degree shift and the boat just followed it, no back winding or gybes. Marvelous. Had all the time
in the world to sort it out.
The trip took us 7 days, the wind was just a bit far aft of the beam for best speed, particularly when it was only 10 knots.
On other voyages we have found the steer to wind just as effective on all points of sailing, including to windward. (to windward you need to lay off slightly to give it time to respond before the wind get too close to the eye.)
Danny
SM 299 Ocean Pearl
Currently arrived Vuda Point Marina Fiji
________________________________
From: minaxi53 <bob@...>
To: amelyachtowners@...
Sent: Saturday, 15 June 2013 5:23 AM
Subject: [Amel] Wind vane
Has any SM owner fitted a windvane for ocean passages? If so what make?
I am considering making this addition before my next passage but have heard some reports that certain boats do not respond well to either Hydrvane or Monitor systems. Thoughts?
Bob
s/v Minaxi sm6
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
