Yachts
pp. 66-70 · Read in the full issue
• Stratosphere: A 19 M
catamaran racer, Stratosphere arrived in Rarotonga in late January, reports Paul Rysavy.
The Auckland-registered yacht was designed by New Zealander David Barker. With bubble portholes and a stream-lined finish, she was known as ‘the spaceship’ in Rarotonga.
On board are owner skipper, Gordon Miller, his wife Phyllis, daughter Fiona (who describes herself as ‘entertain ment officer’), and a crew of three. Miller took three and a half years to build the fibreglass cat and launched her mi Auckland two years ago.
The second race Stratosphere participated in was the White Island Race, a 480 km course from Auckland to Tauranga.
Stratosphere not only won, but
also succeeded in breaking the previous record set by the American Maxi Racer Kialoa by eight and a half hours. Since then Stratosphere has been entered in numerous other races in the Auckland area.
This is the cat’s and the Millers’ first ocean cruise. From Rarotonga the Millers and their crew plan to sail to Tahiti where they will decide whether to continue on to Hawaii, or to make for the Caribbean. The skipper anticipates returning to Auckland in about six months. • SAMBA: A 12 m steel ketch was built by owner Renato Botelho in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, reports Joan D. Pease from Papeete. He and his crew Susy Collingwood began their cruise from Rio in November 1979 and visited anchorages in the Caribbean before going through the Panama Canal.
The ketch called at the Marquesas and Tuamotu Islands, Tahiti and Moorea.
After seeing the Leeward Islands, including Maupiti, they will continue west to Rarotonga, the Tongan islands, Fiji and Australia. ‘Our favorite islands are Makemo
and Tahanea in the Tuamotus,’ said Susy.
• Kamaaina: A Cal 2-46
ketch from Honolulu is in the Society Islands. Owners Bob and Marianne Miller arrived in Tahiti in January after a 24-day passage from Hawaii. The 14 m ketch called at Moorea before going to Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa and Borabora.
Although Bob has been racing boats and cruising since the 19305, this was his first experi ence with a wind vane. He installed an RVG vane and says, ‘lt really did a job. It’s better than three hands and lets you know when the boat isn’t properly balanced.’ The Milters will return to Hawaii in July and will cruise the Kona Coast. • TANGARORA: Built by owner Fred Landman, Tangarora spent the month of March in Moorea, Society Islands, waiting for clear weather to sail to the Leeward Islands. Fred began his cruise in the 9.75 m Tahiti ketch from Santa Cruz, California, and called at ports as far down the west coast as Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. He visited the
Marquesas, Tuamotu and So ciety Islands, and will continue west single handed with plan ned stops at Rarotonga, Cook Islands and Fiji.
• Gabbiano Ii: A 15.5 M
steel ketch owned by the Gabbiano family Gianfranco, Lidia and son Michele is on a circumnavi gation which began in Italy two years ago. They are now in French Polynesia and have called at the Marquesas, Tuamotus, Tahiti and Moorea.
Their stops at the atolls in cluded Makemo, Tahanea, Faaite, Fakarava and Toau.
After the Leeward Islands and Rarotonga, they hope to see Niue. Their planned voyage includes stops in Sydney, Australia, Christmas Island and Cocos Islands before crossing the Indian Ocean and entering the Red Sea. • BLACK WHALE: Skippered singlehanded by Tom Laginess, this 6.85 m sloop is now in Moorea, Society Islands. In spite of its size, the small yacht is equipped with a stove and oven, portable tele vision set and VHF radio.
Although Black Whale has no
engine, she has a portable generator and two Seagull out board motors. The water tank holds 160 litres. Tom began his cruise from San Francisco, California, in February, 1980 and harbour-hopped down the west coast of California and Baja California then to Socorro Island from where he crossed to the Marquesas in 32 days.
Here he spent three months calling at Hiva Oa, Tahu Ata, Fatu Hiva, Ua Pou and Nuku Hiva. Then it was southwest to the Tuamotus:- Manihi, Ahe and Rangiroa. The small sloop attracted the attention of the Rangiroa fishermen who in vited Tom to anchor with their fleet. He said during his one month stay at the atoll more than 100 local people came aboard to see Black Whale.
The sloop arrived in Papeete, Tahiti, on New Year’s Eve and later sailed to Moorea.
After the Leeward Islands Tom will go to the Cooks, American Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand.
What’s it like to be alone for 32 days on an ocean? ‘I was so busy keeping the boat going and navigating that I didn’t have time for fantasy dreams,’
Tom said. ‘lt’s quite enjoyable
being alone.’ He has owned Black Whale for 11 years and sailed up and down the Cali fornia coast four times before embarking on this blue water adventure.
• Diogenes Ii: This 13 M
ferro-cement ketch is in Robinson’s Cove, Opunohu Bay, Moorea, where Otto Berensteches and Sabine Wachter have spent the sum mer months. Of German registery, Diogenes II was de signed and built by her owner and was sailed in the North Sea before this cruise began in July 1979. Sailing from Lemmer, Holland, the ketch stopped in Belgium, France, England.
Spain, Portugal and Grand Canaria. They visited islands in the Caribbean, stopped in Venezuela and then went through the Panama Canal. It was in Colon, on the canal, that they were accosted by three men who stole $2OOO, their passports, boat papers and all
identification. It was two weeks before they were able to se cure identification papers in order to get more funds.
After this misfortune, they continued west spending eight days in the Marquesas Islands and arriving in Papeete, Tahiti, in time for the July festival in celebration of Bastille Day.
They have had anchorages in Tahiti and Moorea since that time. Before leaving French Polynesia, Diogenes II will call at the Leeward Islands of Huahine and Borabora. Otto and Sabine expect to see Rarotonga, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and New Zealand before sail ing to Sydney, Australia.
After sailing to so many countries covering negrly a two-year period, they selected Robinson’s Cove as their favourite anchorage. • ODYSSEY: Two Californ ians, Mike Lingsch and Patty Bodeson, have their Odyssey 30 ketch anchored in Moorea.
The 9 m fiberglass yacht was designed by Carl Alberg and was one of 12 built in San Carlos, California. Odyssey left San Francisco, California, last June for Hawaii arriving in time for the Pan Am Clipper Cup series so Mike could crew on Zamazan. a 15.8 m New Zealand-built racer. Following this competition, they left Hawaii in November for the Marquesas Islands where Odyssey stopped at Nuku Hiva, Da Pou, Hiva Oa, Tahu Ata and Fatu Hiva. In the Tuamotus they saw Ahe and Rangiroa before sailing on to Papeete, Tahiti.
Since much of Mike’s leisure time is devoted to yacht rac ing, he and Patty will return to the United States in time to prepare for the Transpac Race from California to Hawaii which begins on July 4. Odyssey will call at Huahine, Raiatea and Borabora before they head north for home, San Rafael, California. • VELA: A 12 m steel ketch flying the Danish flag has brought Danish photo journalist Rob Larsen and his South African wife Anne from Durban to New Zealand by way of Brazil, the Caribbean and Polynesia, reports Jane Deßidder from Kerikeri, New Zealand. Rob and Anne flew
back to Denmark for a visit after having finally made ar rangements for The Saint’ (they found their black and white cat on Saint Helena) to be looked after on board Vela during their absence. ‘Eight inches by twelve inches and all these problems! If we had known what we were letting ourselves in for we might not have come to New Zealand,’
Anne admitted. The problem arose when rules concerning animals arriving on foreign yachts were changed just be fore their arrival in New Zea land. Animals no longer qualify for shore privileges, even though they have cruised through rabies-free areas only.
Also the bond for each animal went up from SNZSOO to $lOOO. Anne pointed out that the agricultural authorities have been very nice to them, ‘but rules are rules and it has been difficult to find a solution.’
Rob, Anne and The Saint will sail to New Caledonia in May, and then perhaps on to Aust ralia. The young couple may consider selling Vela within the next year or so in order to ‘get back on the land’. • ANTIGONE: (‘She was a bit of a rebel in her day’) is a blue hulled black-masted River 46 14 m ketch rigged trimaran built in Sacramento by Harry and Maradee Abbott. They are cruising with their two daugh ters, Carleen, 13, and Simone, 10. Harry worked in his trade as electronic technician in the Panama Canal Zone for two years before heading into the South Pacific in July of ’76. ‘The atmosphere of hate and mistrust in the Zone was deteriorating. We just couldn’t take it any longer.’ The Abbott family have had many adven tures along the way. For in stance, when the Cheoy Lee ‘Offshore 40’ Calliope went on the reef in Borabora, the Abbotts sailed out to help their shipwrecked friends salvage gear. They brought everything back to Papeete on Antigone with the exception of main mast, engine and heavy anchor tackle which they shipped. They even managed to salvage teak doors and teak trims. About 2000 people at tended the sale on Papeete’s quay. Harry reports few good
Rain or shine the washing has to be done, and Blanca Anton from Yacht Strata sets about the job with a will at the Tradewinds Marina, Suva. Blanca, 22, is a model from West Germany, and Strata is on a circumnavigation
cruise. - Anne Livingston pic
ture.
passages over the years, the best being the most recent from Brisbane where they’d spent a full year, to Opua. It was a gentle close reach all the way across the Tasman with the biggest waves 15 to 20 cm high as they moved with the centre of a protective high.
Antigone leaves New Zealand for Tahiti next, and from there will head for Hawaii. • BACCHUS: The fibreglass hull and decks and teak interior joinery of the Peterson 44 13.4 m sloop were built in Taiwan. Everything else the engining, instrumentation, installation of spars and rig ging, winches and lifelines was completed in San Diego. ‘She’s perfect for us,’ say Harry and Donna Mae Disharoon. ‘The Stowaway Mast, a copy of Hood’s built by Super Spar of Huntington Beach, is 100% perfect. We wouldn’t be without it. We reef in 30 seconds without stepping out of the cockpit.’ The Oxnard couple left California in ’7B and are in New Zealand for the second time. The Disharoons
plan to head back towards Tahiti from here. Their last stop over was Queensland which they describe as being ‘the epitome of living, with its year round favourable climate, beautiful coast, friendly people and its opportunities .. .’
• Doreen Beatrice: When
Syd Durrant’s wife, Doreen Beatrice, died five years ago, he sold everything including his Surrey home, bought a Vancouver 27 an 8.2 m sloop built in Newhaven by Pheon Yachts and set off singlehanded to seek a part of the world where the air is balmy, the people friendly, and the cost of living reasonable. ‘The English climate is too severe,’ says Syd, now 69.
He’d been 16 years at sea already, including two years on Arctic trawlers. Durrant ended his merchant navy career as wireless operator on Blue Fun nel Line tramps, travelling all over the Far East taking Malaysians to Jeddah pil grims who had saved all their lives to go to Mecca. Doreen Beatrice called in at Gibraltar,
the Canaries, and at Barbados before spending a year island hopping in the Caribbean. He rode out Hurricanes David and Frederick nosed into the man groves in Roadtown, Tortola.
Syd, who always singlehandles his little sloop, could have done with an extra crew member when, near the Galapagos, a whale took out the self steering. Unable to return to the Galapagos because of strong currents, he tiller steered during the day, hove to at night to rest. It took 75 days to do the 4800 km from Las Perlas to the Marquesas. ‘I was getting short of food when I finally arrived in Nuka Hiva . . .’
Another mishap occurred near Papeete when his engine stopped as he was entering the pass and the yacht went on the reef. None the worse for wear, he was helped into the lagoon by a passing outrigger. Syd speaks of the hundreds of wonderful friends he has made since he left England, and of the comradeship between yachties. Doreen Beatrice headed out in April for New
Caledonia, then across to Bundaberg, Australia, and north along the Great Barrier Reef.
• Pursuit Of Nantucket:
Belongs to David Wright, British pro fessional yacht skipper, and his Rhodesian first mate Annie.
The young couple met some years ago in Greece when they were both crewing on the 30 m ketch Cecile, built in 1914 for Kaiser Wilhelm. David was skipper, Annie cook. Later they made their way on a three-master to the West Indies. Together they ran a 15 m meter charter boat Nightwind out of St Lucia for 18 months. Then in 1978 they bought their own ketch in Nantucket. She’s 50 years old and a typical Alden vessel rebuilt back to the original specs from the waterline up.
While in New Zealand they will haul the 18-tonne vintage vessel at Jim Ashby’s shipyard to laminate some new frames, replace a plank or two and recaulk. Eventually David and Annie plan to ‘carry on round’
via Tonga, Fiji, Australia and South Africa. • AN DEN SIOUL: The words translate as The Tranquil Man’ from the ancient Breton tongue. Janet and Bill Baker found the steel ketch at the quay in Papeete. They liked her lines. That boat will be ours,’ they decided. An Den Sioul was built in Holland in 1972 along with 12 others which were used for a navigational school in the North Sea. The originals were so designed that 12 cadets could be accommodated. A Frenchman from Britanny modified An Den Sioul and sailed her to the South Pacific.
He had a heart attack in Tahiti so decided to sell her. Janet and Bill had arrived in Tahiti in ’77 on their Piver Lodestar trimaran Shearwater (now the Papeete charter yacht Otara ). ‘We wanted a heavier cruising boat with headroom,’ Bill ex plained. After leaving Moorea, it took more than 24 hours for Janet to get used to the added pendulum motion of her soon to-be-born baby and the monohull’s angle of heel. From Borabora Janet and Bill sailed direct to New Zealand, a voy age of three gales and 27 days.
An Den Sioul arrived in Opua on October 27, Labour Day, for which Janet was teased appropriately by NZ customs officers. Twenty-seven days later in Whangarei hospital, 27-year-old Janet gave birth to a son. She came home from hospital on November 27, American Thanksgiving Day, with Noah her Kiwi son. Noah’s sheepskin-lined quarter berth is on the starboard side of the ark. • TUILIPE: This was the win ning boat in the Open Class Unlimited rowing event at the Opua Regatta on January 31.
The Tongan-built 4.2 m pulling boat was built for Bill Sellers of the Atkin 10.4 m cutter Nim bus at the island-village of Utungake near Neiafu in the Vavau group. American scrimshander, Bill Sellers, lost his previous New Zealand-built fibreglass tender when he was forced to move anchorage in the middle of the night. While Bill was towing the 4.2 m Salthouse boat behind Nimbus in rough seas from Alofi to the
other side of Niue, the dinghy’s painter chafed through. In Neiafu, where clinker rowing boats are traditionally used, Sellers arranged with a Tongan carver from Utungake to build him a 4.2 m plumb-stemmed row boat from sketches, using transom and midship section shapes which Sellers provided.
For the planking, the builder Luke selected and felled a tavahi tree because of its light wood. Nimbus towed the log to Neiafu for milling at Miline Noa’s Lister diesel-powered mill. After the planking was seasoned for two weeks, the vessel took shape amidst much doubtful head-tilting and dubious head-scratching in the village. It is considerably narrower than the Tongan lapstrake boats which are sometimes called upon to carry half a village at a time.
Sellers built Nimbus in Opua, NZ, and had with him his power planer and skill saws. Luke used the power tools to fashion meticulously the little craft on a stem of heart kauri and on a douglas fir keel and transom.
From time to time Bill crossed to Neiafu on Nimbus to get another beer bottle of petrol for the Honda generator. • PHAT DUCK: This is a Morgan 45 13.7 m ketch built in Florida. She’s cruising home to Californians Paul and Marian Mclntosh. Paul has been sailing for over 30 years, delivering and racing yachts, and latterly selling them in Dana Point, California. One of Marian and Paul’s favourite stops during this cruise was at Fanning Island. Their son Scott, daughter-in-law Gwen and grand-daughter Adriel who is ‘three going on five’, joined them in early November in Suva. Another grandchild is due in May. The Mclntoshes had a slow and difficult pass age from Fiji. Phat Duck’s transmission was out, her smaller sails out of com mission, and the weather either flat calm, full gale, or head winds ... 21 days of it. They were all totally overwhelmed with the warmth of their recep tion in New Zealand. Future plans include Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Solomons, Papua New Guinea and next hurri cane season in Australia.