Hallberg Rassy 45
“Winds increased to the high 20s and topped out at 36 knots true with big waves to 25′.”
“Heeding your advice to play around with the sail area to achieve as good a balance as could be had, the vane performed flawlessly and kept us at an apparent wind angle of 160 – 170 degrees.”
“…it was the best upgrade to the boat which has paid a handsome return in terms of comfort and less wear and tear on the main steering system and autopilot.”
From: Hellmuth Starnitzky
Sent: May 4, 2014
To: Will Curry
Cc: John Curry
Subject: Hawaii Passage
Hi Will,
Thanks for a great piece in April’s Latitude 38. Must have been fun!
In response to your April 16, 2014, e-mail to WDE7227:
We were sailing at an apparent wind angle of 120 degrees mostly on starboard tack in winds of 25+ knots. As the wind clocked further to the ENE, this being a cutter rig, we changed the sail plan and had the staysail set to leeward and a partially unfurled Genoa on a pole to windward. Winds increased to the high 20s and topped out at 36 knots true with big waves to 25′.
Heeding your advice to play around with the sail area to achieve as good a balance as could be had, the vane performed flawlessly and kept us at an apparent wind angle of 160 – 170 degrees. Hydrovane steered us for more than 2,500 nautical miles of the total of 3,118 nm on our way from Puerto Vallarta to Honolulu where we arrived a week ago.
“Lucy” is truly an amazing device, reliable and strongly built which afforded the crew a lot of comfort: knowing that also at night we did not have to worry about an accidental jibe, would stay on the same wind angle and had much time for other things like navigation, cooking and sleeping.
I was initially somewhat concerned about the start-up investment of purchase and installation but meanwhile think that it was the best upgrade to the boat which has paid a handsome return in terms of comfort and less wear and tear on the main steering system and autopilot. It just worked great!
When unshipping the Hydrovane rudder upon arrival, I noticed again a slight warp in the rudder’s shape. When holding the rudder such that I can look down its leading edge, there is a small but noticeable bend to the left, as mentioned before. Anything I can do to straighten the rudder? – I also noticed that along the center of the seam on the slanted top where one grabs the rudder, a number of small holes opened up as if some glue was washed out. I do not consider this a deficiency at this time but wonder if this may be a sign of beginning delamination of the two halves? As always, your comment is appreciated.
We will continue to Sitka, Alaska, at the end of June for the summer before eventually returning to the San Francisco Bay Area.
I attach a Word file being an editorial I sent to Latitude 38 about our crossing from P.V. As you can read, I mentioned Hydrovane as well.
This as an update. I appreciate your availability and promptness in rendering assistance and advice!
Best regards,
Hellmuth Starnitzky
“Ocean Echo”
Hallberg Rassy 45