From: Manfred Rausch
Sent: March-12-11
To: Will Curry; Valerie Williams
Subject: Little story

Hi Valerie and Will,

Everything is now installed and working. The promised little story (lost or stolen rudder) is attached (follows):

We crossed the Atlantic Ocean and all 29 days our Hydrovane was doing a perfect job under any conditions.

The rudder was taken off and secured at the stern of the boat, after we made the passage from St. Martin to the BVIs. During short trips between the islands we steered by hand. Now we intended to leave Puerto Rico for the Turks and Caicos Islands. The day before, we checked out and prepared our boat for the passage. The rudder of our Hydrovane windvane could not be found, we lost it, or it had been stolen.

The Sunday, I wrote an email to Valerie at Hydrovane.

Monday, I got in contact with Will by phone and email to clear all necessary details. In the years between we bought the unit originally and today the rudder had been improved and the construction was changed, two options were proposed.

Tuesday, we decided to convert to the new technology, that means changing the shaft and use the improved version of the new rudder.

Wednesday, rudder and shaft were shipped from UK to Puerto Rico, via UPS express service – estimated arrival Friday.

Friday 4 pm we were happy to receive the parts in Puerto Rico.

Saturday, two and a half hours work and the new shaft was on its place, the disassembling of the drive unit took the most of the time, not unexpected because aluminum and stainless steel tend to build oxides which do not “slide off” easily. The instructions and advises we were given were very helpful and finally we managed the changeover.

Thank You, Valerie and Will for the quick service, good advice and the personnel support. Again you (Hydrovane team) have shown that you really know about the needs of circumnavigators.

Barbara and Manfred, SY Balimara
Puerto Rico, March 2011

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