True Stories

From: Vladislav Karlach
Sent: June 29, 2023
To: Brooklyn Foster | Hydrovane
Subject: Re: Hydrovane Unit Order – Karlach – Freight It to Gibraltar

Hi Brooklyn,

I can report that my Hdrovane unit was successfully collected from Gibraltar, mounted on Tina and tested during my sailing from Lisboa to Azores (850 nm). I gave him the name Hugo, and he was of a great help especially during bad weather 🙂 I must say good choice and good investment. Thank you for all your help and support!

Best regards,

Vladek (Vladislav Karlach, TINA Ovni 445)

From: Xavier Gonzalez-Ortega
Sent: June 19, 2023
To: Richard Minielly
Subject: Re: Xavier Gonzalez-Ortega | Island Packet 380 | Hydrovane Request

Hi Richard.

Thanks for your prompt respond.

The Hydrovanes on Windkist and Don Leon have been working excellent over these 10 years and some 50,000 miles!!   The only issue we have had is the vane cover, the sun eats them , unless we store them when not sailing, but generally is my “best crew”

Now re offshore spare kit, pls tell me how much it weighs and what is the “Axle”

Best Regards,

Xavier Gonzalez-Ortega

From: Richard Minielly
Sent: June 19, 2023
To: Xavier Gonzalez-Ortega
Subject: Re: Xavier Gonzalez-Ortega | Island Packet 380 | Hydrovane Request

Hi Xavier,

So glad to hear of the good performance on Windkist and Don Leon. 50,000nm is quite the test!

The Offshore Spares Kit weighs approximately 0.5kg (1lb). A photo is attached of the contents. The ‘axles’ are the small metal pieces you can see on the side and front of the drive unit, and up top holding the Bobbin and Top Lever. I’ve attached some photos for clarification.

Happy to advise as needed.

Best regards,

Richard Minielly
Hydrovane International Marine Inc.

From: Hartmut Ludwig
Sent: June 14, 2023
To: Richard Minielly
Subject: Aw: RE: Re: Hydrovane installation

[Editor’s Note: Sections of this email have been edited for clarity]

Hi Richard,

Thank you for your prompt response. Yes we have an electrical autopilot and can continue as planned [following a part failure]. Regarding the trade-in I will need to figure out the logistics, but it will be either Azores or Germany. As soon as I know better I will let you know. The tip with sport equipment [to avoid extra baggage charges] is good.

We are a big fan of our Hydrovane. It performs under most circumstances better than our autopilot. Just light wind is not good <8kts.

When we came up from the Bahamas to US east coast, the main steering failed, due to a broken rod. We were right in the middle of the Gulf Stream and had to bail out to Beaufort, NC. We rigged the emergency tiller, lashed it with two control lines and exclusively used the Hydrovane. Even motor sailing worked well.

The inlet to Beaufort was very choppy so we called US Tow, but just to escort us in case something happened. My wife did all the steering with emergency tiller of the Hydrovane into the inlet to the marina. Just the final turn into the slip we need the emergency tiller. So it really proved to be a backup for the main steering system to us.

Will come back to you soon.

Best

Hartmut

From: Andrew Brown
Sent: June 9, 2023
To: Will Curry
Subject: Re: Hydrovane Order Hong Kong

Hi Will,

I had several chats with you over the last two years about buying a Hydrovane for my Westerly Oceanranger, I know I must have seemed like a time waster. I’m not, it has just taken longer than I expected to get this far- work and changing the engine to an electric motor took over.

[…]

I recently sailed from Hong Kong to the Philippines on a friend’s boat with a Hydrovane fitted, which he had never used and was afraid of. The electrical system system of the boat packed up so we had no autopilot. After two days of excruciating staring at the compass I set up the Hydrovane, experimented for half an hour and bingo, we could all relax and enjoy the ride. It was awesome.

Regards

Andrew

From: Shaen Tarter
Sent: 26 May 2023
To: Richard Minielly
Subject: Re: Watt and Sea

Hi Richard, Will, and Sarah:

Just a quick note to express my appreciation for the Hydrovane and Watt and Sea unit.

We made it to Tahiti after losing our engine about 700 miles south of Honolulu. We spent four days becalmed in the ITCZ and two more south of there. And then we had to tack multiple times to get west enough to make the Papeete Harbor entrance!

Between solar, hydro generator, and not using our auto pilot or watermaker, we kept our batteries healthy and even topped off every few days, depending on how good the sailing was.  This would have been impossible without reliable wind steering and hydro power.

Next time we’ll get the 600 watt version of the Watt and Sea, though.

Do you have the larger props for the 300 watt version in stock?

Regards,

Shaen

From: Bossard Denis
Sent: 18 May 2023
To: Will Curry
Subject: Embellie III

Dear Will

Our Hydrovane has been installed 2 weeks ago in Inverness : Caley marina did a great job, with skill and care. I am you that they should ( if they want so!!) a very good Hydrovane certified installator….

When d’ailés to orkneys, Faroe Island and arrived this morning in Iceland.

Crossing from Torshawn ( Faroe) to Seidisfjordur ( Iceland) could be achieved by sail and wind pilot during 48h00 a 6.2knots, in excellent conditions … Thank you Hydrovane! Thank you Caley marina!

All the best

Denis

From: Blauwe Engel
Sent: May 2, 2023
To: Sarah and Will Curry
Subject: Koopmans 37 Blauwe Engel – Grenada to Panama Channel

Dear Sarah, dear Will,

from Grenada to Colon (1200 nm) we’ve used most of the time our new Hydrovane in combination with a 107 m2 Parasailor. Whow – what a team. Your Hydrovane made a great job and could cope the downwind passage with the Parasailor up to 20 knots TWS. Look the fotos – surfing down the waves. Once again: Congratulations to your product!

Yours

Beate and Hendrik

From: Andrew & Traci Roantree
Sent: April 24, 2023
To: Will Curry
Subject: Hooray for Hydrovane

Hi Will and the Happy Hydrovane team,

A quick note from Walkabout – currently mid Pacific – 1910 miles done from Santa Cruz, Galapagos and 1170 to go to Hiva Oa.

Our Hydrovane has been completely awesome so far. We have sailed probably 90% steered by it, through all sorts of sail set ups.  The only time we use the auto helm is when we are sail changing and things can get a bit unbalanced as we go through the process.

Just thought I would let you know – from happy customers in the middle of nowhere!

Regards

Andrew and Traci
“Walkabout”
World ARC Pacific 2023

Posted 29 April 2023 to http://blog.mailasail.com/walkabout:

[Editor’s Note: The following is an excerpt from a longer blog post on Day 17 of a trans-pacific crossing]

There are many bits of equipment that we rely on to safely sail Walkabout across oceans. One of the most amazing additions that we made to Walkabout before leaving the UK was our Hydrovane. This bit of kit defies logic in many ways – it looks very simple, to the extent that you think it surely won’t work. But boy, does it do a job! The Hydrovane is a wind vane self steering system. It quietly steers the boat according to the wind direction.

On any sort of long passage, hand steering is a real chore – particularly when short handed like us. So everyone relies on some means of autonomous steering. The vast majority of boats use an auto helm system, linked to the nav system, driven by an electric motor or hydraulic ram. The forces are big and the power usage is significant. We have such a system, and it is great. But it eats power and what if it failed…? (As has happened to some boats already on this venture).

So we added the Hydrovane as a secondary means of autonomous steering. But I can report that the Hydrovane has been very firmly promoted to our prime means of steering. It has done the most amazing job on the crossing, having been in charge of our heading for probably 80% of the trip. (The auto helm gets used when we are motoring, due to the lack of wind for the Hydrovane to work with). The bright orange wind vane bobs from side to side on our port quarter, adjusting it’s own small rudder to keep us heading in the right direction – using no power at all. It is a blooming miracle!

From: Tim Kibodeaux
Date: Apr 21, 2023
Subject: SMS from [Tim’s Iridium satphone]
To: Sarah Curry

Sarah and Will,

I am happy to report I am crossing the S. Indian Ocean from Indonesia to Mayotte (possibly a stop In Mauritius if conditions are right). I’m double poled out and exclusively on the Hydrovane. 50 foot catamaran; Endless Summer. Hope all is well.

-Tim Kibodeaux

From: Richard Canella
Sent: April 20, 2023
To: Hydrovane International Marine Inc
Subject: Sorelle/Hydrovane crossing the Southern Ocean

Hi guys

I bought the Hydrovane to do an ocean crossing from Brazil (Florianopolis) to South Africa (Cape Town).

The Hydrovane drove the boat more than 90% of the journey. It worked fantastically in the SOUTHERN OCEAN. 

I am sending some pictures and vídeos you can use in your website.

Best Regards

Richard Canella

From: Richard Minielly
Sent: April 20, 2023
To: Richard Canella
Subject: Sorelle/Hydrovane crossing the Southern Ocean

Hi Richard,

Thank you so much for reaching out, and congratulations on the passage! That is quite an accomplishment.

I’m so happy to hear the Hydrovane was able to steer you 90% of the way. The photos and video make the passage seem lovely, although I’m sure the truth involves a few more cloudy days and storms. We’re happy to have helped your journey in our little way.

Thank you for allowing us to use your media, we really appreciate all photos and videos we are sent. Do you mind if we also post your emailed feedback to our Testimonials page?

Fair winds!

Cheers,

Richard Minielly

From: Jorn Haga
Sent: April 13, 2023
To: Brooklyn Foster
Subject: Re: Jorn Haga – Hydrovane Rudder

Hey Brooklyn,

[Payment comments edited out for privacy]

By the way, my Judith, is the only reason I’ve made it to Rio, my autopilot crashed half way across the Atlantic, a little south of equator.

The best investment I’ve ever made.

Thank you

Best regards

Jorn

From: Richard Minielly
Sent: April 13, 2023
To: Jorn Haga
Subject: Re: Jorn Haga – Hydrovane Rudder

Hi Jorn,

Congratulations on making it to Rio! Excuse my jumping in to ask more about the passage.

How did you find the performance of the Hydrovane on the crossing? Did you end up using the original grey Polypropylene Rudder, or the replacement black Nylon?

If it’s ok with you, we would love to post your most recent email to our Testimonials page. No worries if you’re not comfortable with that.

If you have any technical or operational questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re happy to help.

[Payment comments edited out]

Best regards,

Richard Minielly

From: Jorn Haga
Sent: April 13, 2023
To: Richard Minielly
Subject: Re: Jorn Haga – Hydrovane Rudder

[Note: Edited slightly for clarity]

Hi,

Nooooo, use whatever you want. The passage without the Hydrovane would not have been possible, especially after my autopilot “crashed” after the point of no return.

I really cannot praise the performance enough. One point to make a notice of, it’s very sensitive to adjustments, and such adjustments takes time, so 1/2/3 cm. adjustments at the time is usually enough.

Her name is Kelly.

I used the replacement [Nylon rudder].

Posted 30 March 2023 to https://southernwoodenboatsailing.com/news/returning-home-as-the-days-get-shorter

[EDITOR’S NOTE: This paragraph is taken from a longer and very interesting article on the return sail from Tasmania to Melbourne. Please read more at the link above.]

[…]Soon we put the main away with and sailed on under headsail alone with our new Hydrovane self steering behaving impeccably. I really love this piece of equipment. (again not a paid comment!). It’s beautifully engineered, intuitive to use, silent, requires no battery power and best of all works a treat. We sailed 300 NM with out a hand on the helm, deeper than 160 TWA in 20-30 knots and 2.5 metre seas and she didn’t gybe the boat once, which is more than I can say for most of us humans on board. We’ve named the steering vane Carly. I’ll let you work out why! […]

From: Steve Tunnicliffe
Sent: April 9, 2023
To: Richard Minielly
Subject: Hydrovane test

Hi Richard

I thought I would give you a progress report.

From Falmouth in Cornwall I sailed to Fowey along the coast which is about 22 miles.

Balanced my sails and pointed the vane into the wind (15 to 20 kts)

Wow – fantastic ! Even though I noticed when I arrived that the tiller handle and rudder weren’t quite central . I adjusted this for the trip home.

Wasn’t sure about the return trip as 20 kts on the beam and horrible short uncomfortable swell so it was harder to balance the sails.

Needn’t have worried – brilliant again !

So easy to use. Really happy.

Kind Regards

Steve

From: Joseph Jacobs
Sent: March 30, 2023
To: Will Curry
Subject: Re: Hydrovane Rudder | Jacobs

Hi Will,

We crossed the Atlantic (3 weeks) early January in mild conditions with the HV steering 95% of the time. No big winds (30 KTS max) but agitated sea and lots of sargassum. Now we’re island hopping from Antigua down to Trinidad and haven’t used the HV much. As I stated in earlier mail, the HV (we baptised it ‘Julian’), is the best addition to our boat. So far, the rudder doesn’t show any cracks or other defects but we have to really snub it with bungees in the marina or anchorage if we don’t want to be in a Neal Peart session. The rumble is generated by the give in the rudder itself, not the shaft.

I always free the rudder, once out of the marina (reversing with a Hallberg Rassy is difficult enough without an additional rudder).

If anything comes up with the rudder, I’ll let you know asap.

Cheers

Jos

From: Alejandro De Miguel
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2023 7:05 PM
To: Hydrovane Order Fulfilment
Subject: Hydrovane at work

Hi guys

I just want to send these pics for the installation of my Hydrovane at my Pearson 365 Cutter

Excellent

I am super happy 😃 for making the right decision 

It works perfect 👍 

Thanks to everyone at Hydrovane from Paradise Marina in Nayarit, Mexico 🇲🇽