From: Keith Meakin
Sent: Sunday, June 17, 2007 8:06 AM
To: John Curry
Subject: RE: Pictures

Hi John,

Glad you got the pictures okay, the cat is a Harm Veneema. Not a well known model at all, I think there were only 4 constructed. It was launched in 1989, we took ownership in July 2005.

We left England in July 2006 after fitting the Hydrovane when we were beached in Ilfracombe. We have played with the Hydrovane quite a few times when sailing in Brittany, letting it take over the boat during some quite hairy moments. It kept us on track in 20kn winds with no problems.

Also when going through the Raz de Seine, so it has been tried and proven. We haven’t as yet let it take over for long periods mainly because we’ve had very light winds when going down the west coast of Portugal where we still are.

We have no doubts of the Hydrovane’s ability to handle to cat and also it is a comfort to know we can use it as an emergency tiller. Sometimes we have used it to just assist when tacking, it just gives us a bit more umph!

We have some pictures of us in the water, that friends took however they are on a CD on the boat and we are in an internet bar at the moment. You may be able to see some of the pictures on our website www.meakintwoeasy.org.uk

I’ll jpeg them and send them to you within the next few days.

Also we’ll let you know a postal address and thanks for the gift.

Kind regards

Keith and Pam Meakin

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