From: Joel Sorum
Sent: December 22, 2016
To: Sarah & Will
Subject: Compañera

​Hi Sarah & Will, This is a large file but it demonstrates how well our Hydrovane handles even in rough seas and strong winds. This is my son, Bob and I on the Pacific Puddle Jump to French Polynesia. We made the 3,000 mile hop from Cabo San Jose to Hiva Oa in 21 days on Compañera, my Tartan 3800.

Wishing you a wonderful Christmas and really hope to see you both in 2017. Maybe I’ll sail to BC on my way back from Hawaii.

Joel

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Joel’s Letter in LATITUDE 38 January 2017

YOU DON’T WANT FLUFFY TOWELS

I did a 21-day Puddle Jump with my Tartan 3800 OC Compañera last spring starting from Cabo, and loved how my boat did. She’s still in Tahiti, and I’m planning to bring her home this summer so I can do another Baja Ha-Ha in 2017. Gear I liked:

1. The cruising gennaker on the Selden CX25 furler, as it provided great performance in a variety of conditions.
2. My DeLorme InReach satellite communicator, which interfaced well with my iPad. It fact, it worked so well that I never activated my Iridium satphone.
3. My Hydrovane self-steering system worked flawlessly. I mounted a tiller-pilot to it for windless days. It worked well so I seldom used my Raymarine ST-6000 autopilot.
4. My Spectra watermaker worked great — but you have to change the filters.

Now for things that either didn’t work or weren’t adequate:

1. The Yanmar 38-hp diesel wasn’t powerful enough in demanding conditions.
2. While the engine had been well maintained, spare parts were critical.
3. My 300-watt solar panels worked great, but were insufficient.
4. My Primus Air Silent X Wind Turbine generated little power when sailing downwind. I replaced it with a Primus Air Breeze and had better results. I regret that I didn’t have a Honda 2000 portable generator.
5. My Adler-Barbour refrigerator was a power hog. Performance improved after I re-insulated the interior, reducing the volume.
6. The most frustrating was a short in the microphone for my SSB, which meant I could listen to the other boats in the Puddle Jump, but I couldn’t communicate with them!
7. Several bilge-pump float switches failed during the crossing.
8. You don’t want fluffy towels in the tropics. Replace them with easy-to-dry backpacker towels.
9. I brought way too many blankets, comforters and clothes.
10. I didn’t use my paper charts a single time.

A carefully planned-out medical kit, including several types of antibiotics, is essential. I developed a seriously infected finger that required a trip back to the States from the Marquesas. Upon arrival in the States, I had to undergo emergency surgery and was hospitalized for several days.

Remember, there are no West Marine or similar stores in French Polynesia; it’s all 220-volt, so there are no 30- or 50-amp outlets; the currency is different; and they use the metric system. The navigation system is different, too. ‘Red, right, returning’ in French Polynesia will put your boat on the reef. The French also use butane rather than propane, and the fittings are different.

Joel Sorum
Compañera, Tartan 3800 OC
Vallejo

Latitude 38 Response: Readers — We can’t recall a respondent who didn’t love their windvane, and many reported great success using a tiller-pilot to drive when motoring.

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