True Stories

From: Mike Downing
Sent: June-23-15 2
To: Valerie Williams
Subject: RE: 12 june to 21 june

Hi Valerie,

Naturally as a fan of the Hydrovane I’ve no objection to your request. Culhwch is unable to sign a release form but we hope that my authority as his guardian is acceptable?

Don’t worry you are not corresponding with a notorious ice cream thief!

Kind regards. Mike.

—

From: Valerie Williams
Sent: June 22, 2015
To: Mike Downing
Cc: Sarah Curry
Subject: RE: 12 june to 21 june

Hello Mike, Lynn & Culhwch,

Thank you for the most enjoyable update. Everyone at Hydrovane loved it and we would like your permission to print an excerpt, along with a photo of your Hydrovane and Culhwch.

I am a bit worried because you didn’t mention meeting up with the postmistress to pay for those ice cream cones!!!

Happy Sailing,

Valerie

—

From: Mike Downing
Sent: June-21-15
Subject: 12 june to 21 june

…

13th

Bagh Diraclett to Canna

A 04:30 start so it’s full daylight and with only 4 knots of breeze. On the way in avoiding the rocks seemed to follow a logical path. Now however, not only couldn’t I remember the way out but it all seemed completely wrong. Especially as during low water while anchored inside them, I had seen so many various different clusters of rocks. As usual though Lynns careful work with the chart plotters save us from serious trouble as we slowly crept our way out.

Once we got out past protection of the land its blowing 21 Knots. We will be running with the wind on our quarter but still a boisterous day to be crossing the Minch.

The Hydrovane does its amazing job. Lynn goes back to bed. Leaving me to enjoy the view, worry about the fishing boats that appear to have as much of a random course as sailing yachts must do to them and time to think…. how lucky I am to be doing this!

…

We have had a special request from the nice people at Hydrovane for some photos. Culhwch was happy to oblige. Please remember he is in every photo.

Mike and Lynn xx

From: Mats-Olof Jansson
Sent: June 12, 2015
To: Will Curry

Hi Will

I bought the windvane in November last year, installed it in Las Palmas and now we are in Portimao/Portugal. It’s working perfectly. It’s mounted 600 mm off center……no problem.

But…. The plastic wheel on the vane clamp has become loose and there’s a crack in it. It’s easy to glue, drill a hole and put a pin in, but if it is a guarantee – thing, that’s even better.

Best Regards.

Mats-Olof Jansson.

From: Florin Draghici
Sent: May 31, 2015
To: Valerie Williams; John Curry
Subject: Hydrovane views

Hello Valerie, hello John,

We sailed a little bit since the last time I wrote to you, and this time my e-mail doesn’t concern any vane issue (it was in La Coruña, in 2013…)

Our Hydrovane (Heidi, as the crew calls her, don’t ask why it’s a “she”, nobody knows, maybe because on Roz Avel only girls do real work while the captain uses his watercolour brushes) does a great job, I think our sail-trimming isn’t perfect, especially when downwind with important swell. We stopped for a while in Morocco, but navigations will start again next year, probably around the Atlantic Islands, Canary, Madera and Açores.

We made a video with Roz Avel guided by our Hydrovane, thought you might be interested in seeing it. We’ll try to make some better ones during our next trip, but while sailing you’re rarely behind the boat, with the camera…

Hope everything is fine with you, you’re doing a great job.

Yours,
Florin DRAGHICI

S/V ROZ AVEL
Roz Avel Sailing

From: SAILMAIL Patrick Whetter
Sent: March-23-15
To: Valerie Williams
Subject: Whetter Nautitech 47 Cat model VXA2D

Hello Valerie,

After sailing around 6000 miles now with our Hydrovane on our Nautitech 47 Catamaran, I just wanted to drop you a line to congratulate you on what a great piece of kit it really is. Rarely have I bought something in this Marine industry that simply does exactly what its meant to and performs so well. Beyond steering us flawlessly through all the conditions we have met so far, it has also been an amazing conversation starter in most ports when people say “I’ve never seen/didn’t know you could mount one of those on a Catamaran, how dos it work?” To which I reply “its absolutely brilliant and I haven’t found a condition it won’t steer the boat in yet!”

So yes, I like it and think it just brilliant!

My only query to you is about the Nylon sock that fits over the wind vane. Ours is just coming up to one year old and has sailed around 6000 miles and has pretty much come to the end of its life, due to Sun damage. ( Small use in the Med, an Atlantic crossing, Caribbean cruise and now on our way to Galapagos) When its not in use, its taken off and stowed out of the Sun so Id say its seen around 5-6 months UV exposure.

Having had my own sailmaking company for 15 years I’d like to think I have some knowledge on sailcloth.

As you are also probably aware there are many different qualities of sailcloth available, which might look similar from new, but soon show their differences. Seeing the quality of the rest of the equipment, I don’t believe you would cut corners over a few dollars worth of Red Nylon, but I’m wondering why its given up so quickly or if your supplier has changed something without telling you? There is also the fact that Red is about the worse color there is for absorbing UV and degrading! Had you ever thought of doing the socks in White?

Anyway, I hope my query is seen as “constructive” and I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

[Editor’s note:  We appreciate the comments. We’ve looked extensively at other materials, but the rip-stock nylon always comes out on top because it is lightweight, flexible enough to get onto the frame, but won’t stretch out. The weight is the most important factor from a performance standpoint. Red is a safety color at sea]

Kind Regards,

Patrick Whetter
Shine of Exeter

From: Rick Ballard
Sent: May 02, 2015
To: Will Curry
Subject: Contest 36s – Hydrovane

Will

I thought I would just let you know that the Hydrovane has been fitted to my boat “Dutch Lady” and it performed perfectly during sea trials. My crew were very impressed and have named it after my wife Tania because she keeps me on the straight and narrow!

It was fitted by Dicky B Marine of Plymouth who made a very good job of it at a very reasonable price so you might want to add them to your list.

Regards

Rick Ballard

From: W.H.M. Tiddens
Sent: April 12, 2015
To: Will Curry
Subject: The promised photo

Hi Will,

It was some time ago that you asked me to send you a picture of our Hydrovane installation. We installed it in such a way that the port side of the sugar scoop remains all clear and clear of the swim ladder. That means its is maybe quite a bit off centre, but it works really well on all courses and in quite a wide range of winds.

As you can see from our guest we are now in San Christobal in the Galapagos archipelago having been helmed there by the Hydrovane! It really helped us both going through the doldrums and areas with a heck of a lot more wind.

Best regards,

Pim and Hanneke Tiddens
SV Nelly Rose

From: Mike Taylor
Sent: March 31, 2015
To: John Curry

Hi john,

Please find a few pics of the hydrovane fitted to my petite prince 125, a french built steel ketch. She is heavy at 15 tons but the hydrovane handles her beautifully. I sail in the greek islands so anchor all the time the gear is a bit noisy at anchor so I take off the rudder using a small block and tackle. I find it quite easy. I also made a cover for the gear out of a bit of old sail cloth (keeps the sahara sand out). Thank you once again for a splendid piece of equipment. I sail alone and dont know what I would do without it now. I particularly would like to thank valerie for all the effort she put in to get the gear to me (in two countries). She will know what I mean. All the very best, mike taylor

—

From: mike taylor
Sent: March 30, 2015
To: John Curry
Subject: Dia of shaft

Hi john, I bought a hydrovane from you this time last year. Have fitted and used it all summer, and am over the moon with its performance. Everything I ever read about was true. Could you let me know the diameter of the X shaft as I am making a hard wood bracket to fit around it. I cant measure it myself as the yacht is in Greece and Im in England. Thanks mike taylor

From: Samuli Siivonen
Sent: March 27, 2015
To: John; Will Curry; Valerie Williams
Subject: Hydrovane experiences

Hi all,

The delivery came as FedEx promised, so it was Monday 23.3 that Jon got it and brought the new crew member aboard s/y C’est la Vie.

On Tuesday Jon (and I) installed it in about 8 hours, so everything was ready on Tuesday evening. That was fast! Usually I’m too optimistic but this time I was prepared for longer time.

So briefly everything went perfectly and I want to give my recommendations about Jon. He gave us very good and nice service.

Today we sailed first 57 nautical miles from Las Palmas Gran Canaria to Morro Jable Fuerteventura in about 20-25 knots wind with apparent wind angle about 60 and quite much waves. Hydrovane worked perfectly and surprised us totally with the easiness of setting it to the course at first time. Hydrovane kept the course perfectly though the wind and waves changed on the way because of the acceleration zones here between the Canary Islands.

Just to let you know that we are very happy and looking forward to sail more with our new crew member.

Thanks for great and fast service! Feel free to use the photos below, and if you want more photos or something else just let us know.

From: James Bolo
Sent: March 22, 2015
To: Will Curry

Hello, It is better I write in french, it is so easy to translate now with web!

Tout d’abord j’ai été très sensible a votre accueil chaleureux, merci. J’accepte avec plaisir que vous communiquiez mon adresse a votre revendeur en France ou , faute de representation, votre regulateur etait quasiment invisible ds les marinas et aux mouillages !!! Je pense que cela va changer.

J’ai navigue environ 10 ans avec mon precedent regulateur et quitte la France en 2008. Je devais toujours naviguer sous toile car il ne compensait pas les surventes assez rapidement et je devais souvent ramener le bateau au cap manuellement, ce qui me faisait rager. J’ai achete l’hydrovane en 2013, j’etais en Polynesie. J’ai constate immédiatement un profond changement de comportement du voilier et, etant donne que je porte enfin la bonne surface de voile ma vitesse moyenne a augmentee de près d’un nœud. En 2014 j’ai effectue la traversee Tahiti/Hawai/Kodiak et je suis pleinement satisfait du regulateur, je vous en ai fait part lors de ma visite.

Je joins les deux seules photos que j’ai ici, sur mon ordinateur, si vous en souhaitiez d’autres je pourrais vous en envoyer debut mai lorsque mon epouse me rejoindra.

A bientôt.

Très cordialement,

James Bolo

TRANSLATION:

First of all I was touched by your warm welcome at the office recently, thank you. I accept with pleasure that you send my contact details to your new Dealer in France where, for lack of representation, your windvane was almost invisible in marinas and anchorages!!! I think that will change.

I sailed about 10 years with my previous windvane and left France in 2008. I had always sailed under canvased because it did not adjust quickly enough and was often forced to helm to bring the boat on its course manually, which enraged me. I purchased the Hydrovane in 2013 while in Polynesia. And I have noted a much better behavior of my boat especially as I navigate under more sail area, improving my speed by a Knot. In 2014 I made Tahiti/Hawai/Kodiak and I was completely satisfied with my windvane.

I’ve attached two pictures I have here on my computer, if you want more I can send you early May when my wife rejoins me.

See you soon

Sincerely

James

[Editor’s note: We anchored next to James in Ganges Harbour, Saltspring, BC]

From: Brandt Faatz
Sent: March 08, 2015
To: Will Curry
Subject: Sea Trials

Hi Will,

We took Priya out yesterday for her first sail with the Hydrovane. The breeze in Puget Sound ranged from 8 to 17 knots. We tested all points of sail. Close reaching in 10 knots was simple, with the vane set at minimum rudder deflection. Priya sails herself in those conditions anyway, so it wasn’t much of a test. Then we tried quartering in 17 knots. The max deflection setting was under powered, but medium deflection performed very well. It was only a one-foot chop, so not a difficult test of surf-induced yaw correction. We later tried beam reaching in 14 knots. Perfect.

We were able to tack under vane control. At low deflection it was very slow, but switching to max deflection made the tacks almost respectable. She’s a nimble boat, but I was surprised how well this worked.

The net result: the Hydrovane performed flawlessly in favorable conditions. It is a solid start, and it was easier than I expected. I enjoy the feedback the vane gives on sail trim. Vane tending to the lee? Ease the main. What could be simpler?

We mostly set the ship’s rudder 2 degrees to the lee, occasionally increasing it to 4 degrees while we fussed with sail trim. We lost a quarter-knot when we centered it.

I’ll let you know when we get into more challenging conditions. Four-foot chop is about as exciting as it gets around here, so the big stuff will have to wait for our summer passage. We should get four meters off the Oregon coast.

Cheers,

Brandt

From: Bill Hudson
Sent: March 1, 2015
To: John Curry
Subject: question?

After over 25,000 miles, most of it using our Hydrovane (James), we have a question. We noticed a small creak in the unit as he is steering us across the north section of the Indian Ocean. Upon closer inspection, we found that there is just a bit of movement in the horizontal gear used to adjust the vane. It seems loose in the fitting between it and the worm gear that adjusts it. Now it’s not much of a movement, but thought I should ask. We still have lots more miles across this ocean.

By the way, I’ve talked to just about every boat owner I see with a Hydrovane, they all love theirs (as do we). He is steering us right now with a full main, Genoa and forestay sail out with the wind at 120 degrees off the port stern. We’ve used him for the last several days with the main and spinnaker up. Flawless!

Bill & Tracy Hudson

SV Zephyr

(By the way, I made sure to wear my Hydrovane shirt when I went to talk to the other cruisers. Made them jealous!)

From: Gleb Rybkin
Sent: February 11, 2015
To: Sarah Curry
Subject: Re: Cruising Spares

Hi, Sarah,

I sailed from San Francisco to Mexico and French Polynesia/Tahiti and no real issues with the vane so far (thankfully!). The vane has worked reliably from 2 knots to 35. So reliably, that I often forgot about its existence. Can’t really ask for more!

If you’d like some critique – the vane does not hold its angle when lowered in strong wind – raises itself up in a few hours, and the vane knob tends to get loose after a few days. These things are very minor, and they don’t affect the overall experience and functionality. One issue that may be a problem in the future is that the timber pads have developed some minor cracks – if you have any suggestion on how to address it, it would be great.

Many thanks!

[Editor’s Note: If the axis knob is not holding the vane down when inclined you can remove the knob and the black plastic casing to expose two nuts.  Then simply loosen the outer one, tighten the inner one and then re-tighten the outer one. 

The timbers pads may develop superficial cracks. If bothersome, inject some epoxy into the cracks and coat the pads in cetol to protect them further.] 

February 2015

Hi Sarah,

After 18 years and sailing round the world my wonderful hydrovane, Heidi, needs new drive pins…

Regards,

Jane Green

—

Thank you, Jane, for sending us this quote: “Heidi the Hydrovane was the best investment we made for our world cruise and would recommend that nobody sets off without one. She did the work while we enjoyed ourselves.”

BBC NEW STORY: “Clive and Jane Green sail back to Wales after 16 year voyage”

Photo: Banana Bunch from the Galapagos and Heidi steering in the background… Clive enjoying himself!

From: Al and Lindy Rosen
Sent: February 16, 2015
To: Will Curry
Subject: pins

Hi Will

We love Vinnie [our Hydrovane] & have sung his praises far & wide. I met you & your Dad at the Seattle Boat show a few years ago. Your Dad might remember me as I am very good friends with Mark Tanner from Tanner MFG. He made me a stainless bracket for the vane & spoke with your dad about it. Anyways we are very HAPPY customers.

All the Best
Alan Rosen

From: Dan Alonso
Sent: January 17, 2015
To: John Curry; ‘Sarah Curry’
Subject: Surviving the dream

Hi John and Sarah

Still surviving the dream. I thought you might like this photo. I took this picture on my delivery of Halcyon to her winter berth in Charleston. It’s a sun rise after sailing though two nasty fronts off cape fear. For only 35 knots of wind, it was quite awful. As the second front hit I was also hit a beam by a 35 foot rouge wave in 65 feet of water. I turned a saw a wave as high as the spreaders. I grabbed on the companionway and prepared to roll. It was traveling so fast, Halcyon barely pitched 30 degrees. I may write out this delivery; lightning, wind, sinking boat, another autopilot failure and a rogue wave. I love solo sailing? Well, the Hydrovane again the hero. Here she is on the other side of hell.

Cheers

Dan