Caliber 40 LRC
“We just completed another 300 miles, from Aruba to Santa Marta – part of a passage described as one of the 5 worst passages to sail in the winter.”
“We have been pleased with the Hydrovane performance this season and look forward to having it steer us back up to Mexico next year.”
From: Richard VanAppelen
Sent: April-09-12
To: Will Curry
Subject: Snowaway enjoying Hydrovane on Caliber 40
Will
Hola from Santa Marta, Colombia.
Karen and I are here on our 2008 Caliber 40 LRC with our Hydrovane. We sailed from Grenada to Los Roques, Venezuela in February 2012, about 300 miles, with our Hydrovane steering almost all of the mileage we sailed.
We just completed another 300 miles, from Aruba to Santa Marta – part of a passage described as one of the 5 worst passages to sail in the winter. We were wise enough to wait until the second week of spring but still had winds of 18-25 gusting 32 for some stretches. We were sailing downwind under 110 genoa, often furled to some extent, and the Hydrovane managed well. We had to take over near Cabo de Aguja, which is a point along a stretch of the coast with 5000 m mountains within a few km of shore…there were two sets of waves and we had to hand steer to keep the transom square to the breaking waves…
We have been pleased with the Hydrovane performance this season and look forward to having it steer us back up to Mexico next year.
Having the vane off-centered has had no apparent negative impact on its performance.
Karen made a video of the Hydrovane steering us in 25 knots but the file is too large to send via email – may send via snail mail if you would like it.
Salud
Richard VanAppelen
SV Snowaway