True Stories

From: Mattis Voss <mattis.voss@gmail.com>
Date: Jan 25, 2018
Subject: RE: Hydrovane installation photos contessa 32
To: Sarah Curry

Hi Sarah,

I hope you are well. We have just arrived in French Guyana, steered all the way by our Hydrovane. Magic!

Yes please feel free to use the photographs.

I think we are talking about different kinds of vibration. What we had initially was a fairly high frequency hum, which would stop when you held onto the frame of the vane. When down below it sounded like a faint engine noise. It would set the whole stern of the boat off!

We also have a much slower vibration of the rudder, maybe 5 degrees about the centreline and at a frequency of say 5Hz. This did indeed get much better when I added some weight to the tiller (I fastened a big lump hammer to it with a jubilee clip for the moment).

All the best and thank you very much for your help,
Mattis

From: Richard Bessey
Sent: January 23, 2018
To: sarah@hydrovane.com
Subject: Offshore spares kit for Ambition II

Hi Sarah,

Could I please order a spares kit for delivery to …

I am happy to say the Hydrovane has served us well across the Atlantic!

Regards
Richard

From: Terry Osborne
Sent: December 22, 2017
To: Will Curry
Subject: Shuddering

Hi Will,

Our Hydrovane has started to shudder and shake when on a beam reach, with significant seas also on the beam.

I can’t find anything wrongly loose, I can see it’s all meant to be loose jointed for good reasons. But could there be wear and tear in the system somewhere? Or something else? Or simply the force of ocean seas 3 / 4 metres, hitting the rudder beam on and transmitted through the system to the upper parts?

[Editor’s note: Hydrovane has steering almost 30,000 nm. Recommended checking Rudder hole for wear, replacing Drive Sleeve and Bottom Bearing, and also adding  some weight on the Hydrovane tiller (a shaft zinc works) to prevent any harmonics and help dampen this shudder]

We crossed the Pacific this year and once again the Hydrovane was far and away the most important bit of kit we had.

After tusselling with 3 x 40 knot squalls I quickly learned to let the Hydrovane hold our wind angle, take us off as the breeze swept in and backed, then bring us back on course as it passed.  No fuss let life go on…Wonderful Stuff.

Regards

Terry Osborne

Yacht Little Dove

YOUTUBE CHANNEL

From: Sailing Nandji – Frothlyfe
Sent: November 26, 2017
To: Will Curry
Subject: Re: Hydrovane order LAVER

Hi Will,

We have just reached reception again after sailing 180nm with Robbo. Wow, are we impressed and very happy! We got to put the vane well and truly through its paces on the trip. We left in the afternoon and had a quick play with the vane in the bay. Once i realized i had the vane facing the wrong way, we were instantly in business.

The wind was consistently 20 knots or more and we found that the vane setting all the way to left was a little light and not powerful enough for Nandji, then when we changed gears into second, we were having a great time. We had that much confidence in the vane straight away that we entered into our first night with Robbo extremely relaxed even though the seas had built 2-3m and the wind reached 30 knots during the night, but we did not touch the steering wheel once! It was a great night sail! We got to test today with some into the wind sailing and had 20 knots on the nose as we approached the passage into our anchorage and Robbo loved it. We are so happy already. We struggle to believe that we have been sailing for so long without Robbo.

Cheers Will, we already have plenty of photos and are currently editing our video of the installation and will have another video soon of our test voyage with Robbo. We will send some photos through soon!

Kind regards

Jarrad

—

From: Will Curry
Date: Mon, Nov 27, 2017
Subject: RE: Hydrovane order 170207 LAVER
To: Sailing Nandji – Frothlyfe

Hey Jarrad,

That’s awesome! So good to hear that Robbo has been performing as he should and not consuming any of your ships stores (ie. Rum). Good call on getting the ratio knob into the second gear and getting it dialed in. Yes, once you’ve sailed with a good windvane you wonder why it would be done any other way.

Can we add your email to our website? Looking forward to seeing photos of the installation. You guys make great videos and we would love to post the install on our website if that’s possible? It would probably be beneficial to you as it will drive a ton of offshore sailors and aspiring ones to your Channel.

Thanks for taking the time to send the initial report and we look forward to seeing more.

Cheers
Will

From: Terry Spencer
Sent: November 22, 2017
To: Will Curry
Subject: Re: Wauquiez Pretorian 35

Will,

… We were in conditions of light wind in which the impediment to progress was rolling in the swells that had our sails popping, As long as we were moving the Hydrovane kept us on course. It was fantastic in the middle and upper ranges that we experienced. In 10-18 knots the boat really got moving the sails stayed full and the vane was outstanding. We got winds up into the 20-24 knot range off the Oregon coast and again north of Point Conception. Same thing, the vane was very reliable.

I named my vane Wally. He is considered the most reliable crew member aboard and the designated driver, given that his alcohol consumption is nil.

Terry

From: Liv og Hans Otto Johansen
Sent: November 6, 2017
To: Sarah Curry
Subject: hydrovane parts for Norway

Hi Sarah!

After one wonderful circumnavigation, we need a few maintenance parts for our beloved Hydrovane.

We purchased it late 1998, and it steered our Beneteau Oceanis 36 CC safely over the oceans, until SY Kepha II in 2002 was safely back in Norway. Then we sold the yacht and the new owner never used the Hydrovane.

One night when we were motoring up the west side of the Red Sea the Admiral managed to use Hydrovane instead of the autopilot. When the captain came on duty, she told him so, but the captain claimed that it was impossible to steer with a windvane while motoring…

But the beloved Hydrovane did not hear that, and to the captains disbelief, did steer the yacht perfectly through the night… The Autopilot could not have steered more accurately.

We were motoring close to the shore, and thus little sea, in spite of that it was a good breeze, from the shore.

We tried it again later, but no success. Maybe the Hydrovane wanted us out of that area quickly?

Two years ago did we retire, and found our beloved yacht for sale, with the good old Hydrovane intact.

It was a sign from above, we had to buy her back…

This summer have we enjoyed sailing, and the Hydrovane took care of the steering, as usual.

Could you please ship me the following parts?

#19# 25 and ball socket #20, (2ps) + the Hydrovane sticker at the rear end….

Best regards
Hans Otto Johansen

—

Fra: Sarah Curry
Sendt: 7. november 2017
Til: ‘Liv og Hans Otto Johansen’
Emne: RE: hydrovane parts for Norway

Hi Hans,

What a lovely story and photo! No doubt both Kepha II and the Hydrovane were taking care of you and your family in the Red Sea. What and ideal scenario to be reunited after all these years! Do you mind if we post your email on our website?

I’ve attached a quote for the parts.

The Frame Case has been redesigned and now has an oval sticker – but I have some horizontal stickers in our Canadian office that should fit – so I will post those to you from here.

Cheers,
Sarah

—

Thanks Sarah!

You are welcome to use.

Enclosed is image of the Installation. I made large aluminum backing plates for the inside.

I think we can lift the yacht with the Hydrovane as handle… It worked amazingly well, from dead calm, when we attached a tiller autopilot to it (worked for 1 hour until water entered the autopilot….), and during heavy weather in Pacific. Not to forget rest of the journey around the globe, but then with generally nice wind!

Also enclosed is a photo of the Admiral with the magic control of the Hydrovane (and me…)

Best Regards
Hans

From: Oliver Kinchin
Sent: November 6, 2017
To: Will Curry
Subject: Hydrovane Cover

Good Evening Will.

I hope you are well.  It has been as while since we have spoken, I hope you, your family and business are doing well.

Our Rival 32 Troskala completed another ocean crossing last year much to the success of our Hydrovane.

I now need to order two more vane covers.

…

I have included a photo from last year dealing with storm Colin between Bermuda and Azores.  Enjoy.

…

Best wishes,

Oliver Kinchin

From: Stephen Parry
Sent: October 26, 2017
To: sarah@hydrovane.com
Subject: Blue Pelican Hydrovane parts

Good Morning,

We have an older Hydrovane, which has been wonderful.

I am interested in ordering some parts, and also getting some advice on how to best loosen the allen keyed grub screws.

We are interested in the replacement drive sleeve part, and bottom collar.

Thanks

Stephen Parry
SV Blue Pelican

—

Hi Sarah

As you can see we have replaced the cover on the blade with ripstop. The Hydrovane is one of the best additions we have made in our 8 yrs world cruising.

Jody  and Stephen Parry
SV Blue Pelican

—

Hi Sarah

Vane has worked well over many ocean voyages and continues to be our best bit of kit. It is starting to get a few little rattles, and so we are working on that. We take both blade and rudder off at anchor for their preservation.

Regards

Jody and Stephen Parry
SV Blue Pelican

From: Kevin Borley
Sent: October 15, 2017
To: Gloria Anderson
Subject: Hydrovane order

Hi Gloria and the team there

Just to let you know that the Hydrovane is installed. Took a bit longer than I anticipated for various reasons, but it is up and working now. Have been out in 25 / 30 knots and steered like a dream.

As per the instructions, fitting the E bracket was the hardest part – well not the bracket exactly, but getting the teak block to fit both the horizontal and vertical curves of the transom was the most time consuming of the whole install. Everything else was just so easy.

Please advise all there that I have been extremely pleased with both the product and the support. I will certainly recommend Hydrovane to anyone who is looking for wind vane self steering.

Only outstanding issue now, is to give the vane a name!!

Cheers
Kevin Borley
SV Gypsy Soul

From: Connor Jackson
Sent: October 12, 2017
To: Gloria Anderson
Cc: Will Curry; Sarah Curry
Subject: Re: Hydrovane delivery JACKSON

Hi guys,

Got the vane installed on Saturday/Sunday. No major issues installing — I had to shape a larger teak pad than the one that was supplied to give the rudder enough clearance from the transom, and I also had to build a truss to support the panels outboard, but other than that, all good. Pictures attached, and hopefully many more coming.

I’ve taken it on two test runs in light wind, and the vane performed awesomely!

One question though — right now there’s only 2 or 3 mm of clearance between the rudder and the transom. I’m worried in heavy seas that transom might flex and cause the rudder to rub against the bottom of the transom. I’m guessing it wouldn’t be the end of the world if I ground out a small notch in the rudder to allow it to pass? I won’t do it unless it becomes an issue, which I don’t think it will, but just in case — think that would be reasonable?

[Editor’s note: it is no problem to cut a notch off the top corner.  The rudder is solid nylon so fairly easy to modify although you need to use a slow speed saw or the plastic melts. ]

Thanks again guys — I’m really, really, really stoked on this. I screenshotted a trial run from last night of messing around with it. Pretty sweet! Hopefully many more photos coming on www.sailingseacasa.com soon!

Cheers,
Connor

From: Richard Delfosse
Sent: October 12, 2017
To: Sarah Curry
Subject: HV pictures of Pan Oceanic 43 with davits

Hi Sarah,  attached are pictures I promised…

Great product, works incredibly well!

Thanks, Rick

Richard Delfosse
203-216-7800

From: Rebecca Trantham
Sent: October 8, 2017
To: Will Curry

Hi Will,

You can always refer fellow sailors to us, we have nothing to say but great things about the HV and Watt & Sea AND of course you guys & your company.

Loving Hawaii – also, received new HV sail.

Say Hey to Sarah!

Cheers,

Becky & Mark

From: Dave Skolnick
Sent: October 1, 2017
To: Sarah Curry
Cc: Jimmy Cornell; Will Curry
Subject: Re: Logistics

Hello Sarah,

…

I think your product is wonderful. Always happy to see a Hydrovane on the back of the boat when I show up for a delivery.

Best,
Dave

sail fast and eat well
Dave Skolnick S/V Auspicious
AuspiciousWorks.com
443-327-9084

Sent: September 24, 2017
To: Will Curry

I just sailed from Holland to the Caribbean in a 35 ft Westerly. Your Hydrovane was fantastic in all weathers and I was really impressed when it handled winds that were so strong that hand steering was a challenge.

On arrival I took the vane off and took it for dinner! It had its own chair and was toasted profusely.

Regards,

Trevor

From: Stephen White
Sent: Tuesday, September 12, 2017
To: Sarah Curry
Subject: Re: Summer/Fall 2017: New Website, Free Tickets, and the Golden Gate Bridge

Hi Sarah,

Many thanks for your message,  this is going to be very pleasant reading.   Thank you and Will also for your video clips, which helped me a great deal with fitting ‘Vera’  to Wight Mistress.

I noted a poem here,  and being of a mind to waxy lyrical myself from time to time,  a poem about Vera popped into my head, so I scratched here for you if you would like it.

Vera’s First Voyage

I’ve been Christened Vera, I’m Wight Mistress’s steerer
From Hydrovane I came this year.
With drilling and fitting and spirit levels flitting
I now hang upright at her rear.

My first task this season was a cross Channel bimble
From Hamble to Normandy’s coast.
Some river close handling and cross traffic gambling
The wind of which I made the most.

For 10 hours solid with winds moist and squalid
I steered for my people with ease
The wind dropped a tad, which wasn’t too bad
Under motor, my performance still pleased.

About 6 hours later the wind dropped much further
It simply had run out of puff
But George was employed and for 6 hours he toyed
Thank goodness for batteries and stuff.

So if you are thinking of wind powered steering
There simply is no better way
So Hydrovane ‘Vera’s a permanent crew member
I really am now here to stay.

[Editor’s note – Many thanks, Steve! We love this one too.  You’ll have to recite it for us at the boat show! ]