From: Robin Anderson
Sent: Thursday, August 26, 2004 10:30 AM
To: John Curry
Subject: Tradewind 35 report

Report herewith on my experience with the new Hydrovane which I recently fitted to my Tradewind 35, “Pleiades of Birdham”.

The unit was very well packaged thanks, and fitting instructions excellent.

Fitting was easy – I fitted it with the boat in the water, assisted by a friend. It was a particular pleasure to dismantle all the blocks and lines from the previous ________ servo pendulum.

I did not get a chance to test the Hydrovane until I set out on my annual cruise. I have just returned after 540 miles cruising to the Isles of Scilly and return to Chichester. Rotten weather including several gales – a good trial.

As I left harbour I engaged the Hydrovane expecting to experiment and learn how to get it working properly. In fact no experimenting was required – I could not believe how it immediately went into action and has required no fiddling of any sort – first setting was the only setting required over 540 miles. It performed superbly in all conditions.

I have to say that the Hydrovane is the best piece of marine engineering that I have used in 35 years of owning boats. In retrospect there is no comparison with the________. The ________ is in my opinion a state of the art servo pendulum but the choice is a matter of whether one wishes to drag a plank through the water attached to your helm or have another rudder. The Hydrovane proved to be so far superior on all points of sailing that it was as if it had been made specifically for the Tradewind 35. It simply never lost the plot – the ________ would often not let me brew a cup of tea before going off course.

So, many thanks to all the Hydrovane people.

Please feel free to use my comments as a testimonial and I enclose herewith a photo which you may make use of as you wish.

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