From: Amanda Springate
Sent: December-13-11
To: Will Curry
Subject: RE: Hydrovane Parts

Hi Will

The Hydrovane is fitted to a Hallberg Rassy 40 I will look for some photos. As far as performance is concerned i was amazed. I fitted it to the new boat because the circumnavigation would take us to parts of the world where it would be possible to get some rudder damage, I did not really think about it as self steering gear, just an emergency rudder. I needed something and it was the easiest to fit four bolts and about three hours.

We sailed from uk to gibraltar with the electronic auto pilot. Sailing from Gib to the Canaries we got not very nice weather 30+and big seas maybe 4 meters off the quarter. The auto pilot would not deal with these at all well. I set up the hydrovane for the first time which basically meant setting the vane into the wind and pulling out the pin. After about 15 minutes the boat was sailing beautifully and used no power – what a bonus. We have never looked back.

It has steered my wife and I on Riff Raff most of our 32000 mile voyage. With just one of us on watch at night going down wind when the squalls hit it would just would just go the wrong way for half an hour or so without having to wake up the other. I can’t speak highly enough about it.

Once overhauled it will be bolted back on ready for a trip back across the Atlantic next year.

Kind regards

Rob Springate

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