From: Dan Alonso
Sent: May 26, 2014
To: John Curry
Subject: Brochures

Hi John

We bought HydroVane last year. I went off and did 4 Ocean races including an offshore rescue. STORY HERE.

As you may recall, I had difficulty with the install on the way to Bermuda.

Like all the other testimony, I just can’t say enough about it, it’s fantastic. I just did a solo, nonstop Charleston to Portland without my pilot. Winds 0 to 40 and the HydroVane was just perfect. Even under power in 8 foot trailing seas, heavy fog pulling into Portland it perform wonderfully. I had waves breaking on the transom with no canvas and it was fine . I can’t tell you how many times I look back at the vane and think it’s just Magic.

As I first started to use the HydroVane, I struggled. I doubted that it could steer the boat, too much boat. I was over correcting, not properly trimming the main sail, not using the rudder for gusts. On the other side of this learning curve, it just magic. Thank you so much. It’s the best money we’ve spent on the boat. The funny thing is that, $6k held me back. It took two years before we bought. The peace of mind, savings in energy consumption and the quiet, I’ll say quiet again! It’s by far the best 6K we ever spent.

I got my friend Bill on his HR 43 to get it. It’s being installed and I’ll be helping him dial it in.

Stanley Paris, is preparing to race around the world and has asked me about it. He’s sailing a Farr 63 but with similar displacement as Halcyon. His adventure is a green. I can’t say enough for the safety side of it. If possible a kick up rudder adapter would be good for his application. He may help in the production of such an adapter. His adventure is enormously publicized.

Approaching Maine, the lobster pots became more dense. I was concerned about damage to the vane if I got hung up. What are your thoughts on that? I also wondered about a kick up adapter with a shear pin for that issue. I’d buy it.

Because of the rescue, I’ve been asked to speak at a Seven Seas Cruising Association rally next month in Essex, CT. Although, HydroVane was not the star of the rescue story, it could have been. I didn’t have the time to practice and learn to use it. I now believe, it can make you a better sailor, keeping the boat in proper balance and matching the environment. I will be pitching it as a “must have” piece of equipment. I feel so strongly about your product. Honestly, It’s foolish not to have it. There will be about 40-50 offshore cruisers. Do you have brochures you can forward. They need to know HydroVane and what it can do. I’d like to put something in their hands. Halcyon’s getting a little bit of a name. I think we’ve got a website in our future and will be looking to help promote HydroVane as well.

Thank you

Dan Alonso

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