Hughes 40

“On long and short passages it does 99% of the work needed to keep the boat going in the direction we choose.”

Posted By: velellavoyages

Date:18 September 2021

Johnny Coco is its name. Otherwise known as a @hydrovane.
This little red sail and the contraption it sits on is what steers Sunpiper when we are at sea. On long and short passages it does 99% of the work needed to keep the boat going in the direction we choose.

On our last 29 days sail it came a time we’re we wanted to swim, but didn’t want to slow down the boat. So Johnny Coco steered the ship, a line and fender was tossed to trail behind and we held on as to not be lost in the deep blue!

The moto at @hydrovane is “Surviving your dream”. I think it matches Sunpipers crews wishes quite well!

Turns out @ondinepontier can keep up with a boat going 3.5 knots.

For all you panicking sailors out there. We always have an able crew member chatting with Johnny Coco when we swim at sea!

#velellavoyages #saillife #sunpiper #swimmingatsea #swimmingdeepblue