Yachts
pp. 69-73 · Read in the full issue
PA TTY KALI HER reports
from Vavau, Tonga:
* DIANA 111. This 13 m Swan sailed into Vavau for a very short /isit recently. Bente Winslow and Stig Erikson purchased the well iquipped fibreglass ketch at the actory in Helsinki,Finland, in June 979. For the first couple of days ailing they had to push blocks of ce away with a boat hook. Then hey got into warmer waters.
Stig and Bente visited Sweden, )enmark, Germany, Holland, Eng ind, Spain, Gibraltar, Portugal and he Canary Islands before crossing d the Caribbean where they en »yed island-hopping for six weeks.
In November 1980 they left the an Bias Islands and passed trough the Panama Canal to visit te Galapagos, the Marquesas and te Tuamotus.
It was on the island of Raroia in ic Tuamotus that they discovered obert Danielsson, son of Kon Tiki Iventurer and PIM columnist engt Danielsson. Robert is a hool teacher on this beautiful land and Stig and Bente found it ich a pleasant surprise to find meone who speaks Swedish’.
On to Tahiti, Moorea, Borabora, aiatea, Huahine, Rarotonga, Niue id Vavau. From here the Diana 1 heads for Fiji, Vanuatu, Papua ew Guinea and Darwin, Austra , before continuing the circum vigation to finish up once again in 2 ice of Finland.
ISHMAEL. Barb and Bill alker of Prince Rupert, Canada, •ived in Vavau aboard Ishmael, 11 m Sea Runner trimaran signed by Jim Brown. ishmael left Queen Charlotte and, Canada, in July 1980 and led to Hawaii via California, aving Hawaii in November, the
naran thoroughly explored the
ciety Islands before continuing to Samoa and Vavau. Barb and 1 were in Western Samoa at the let of the Public Service Associ -3n strike and due to the disrup is of the telephone, telegraph 1 postal services, one urgent ssage from home took two weeks reach them. They were finally tacted through the New Zea d High Commission in Apia.
'he Walkers have found the /au group the best for cruising so ‘The climate is perfect and the pie so friendly. It has been
peaceful and pleasant hopping from island to island.’ From Vavau Ishmael will sail to Fiji and then Australia. Along the way the Walkers and their partners back in Canada hope to sell the trimaran. • RAMPETAMPER 11. Frans and Ineke Weehuizen and their two sons, Maryn, 9, and Arjan, 7, have been cruising aboard their 11 m Telstar trimaran Rampetamper II for four years.
They left Holland in 1977 and headed for England, Spain, Portugal, Canary Islands and Surinam, a former Dutch colony, where they spent three months exploring and sailing 160 km up a jungle river. Six months in the West Indies were followed by a visit to Venezuela and seven months in the Dutch Antilles where they were able to find work. Then it was on to the San Bias Islands, Panama, Galapagos, Marquesas, Tuamotus, Tahiti, Rarotonga, Nukualofa, Minerva Reef and New Zealand where they spent the hurricane season ’BO-’Bl.
While in New Zealand they decided to return to Tonga and left in April for Raoul in the Kermadec group, and Niue, where the boys had a marvellous time exploring hundreds of caves with a Dutch-, speaking resident. Niue was Arjan’s favourite landfall so far. After a thorough exploration of the Vavau group the Weehuizen family will
continue on to Fiji and back to New Zealand. They had originally plan ned to circumnavigate but are so enjoying the South Pacific that crowded, polluted Europe is no longer so attractive. • YANKEE TAR. This 12 m Gulf ’4O fibreglass sloop last appeared in PIM June (pB9), sitting at anchor in Moorea. From Moorea, owner Hal Holbrook and Bob Rossiter sailed to Huahine, Raiatea, Tahaa, Borabora, Suwarrow and Pago Pago where a friend joined them for the sail to Vavau. From Vavau, Hal returned to California and his work but he is due back in Vavau in September to continue the voyage to Fiji and/or New Zealand where Yankee Tar will spend the hurri cane season. • TETHYS. This 11 m canoe stern, wooden sloop is a William Garden design built in Salem, Oregon in 1956. She was trucked cross-country to Biloxi, Mississippi, and left neglected for seven years until Shar and Tim Willis bought her in 1977. The hatches had not been opened or the bilges pumped in two years. But after what seemed to be endless repairs, Tethys finally left Mississippi in February 1980 for Key West, Yucaton, Grand
Cayman, Panama, Marquesas,
Tuamotus, Tahiti, Suwarrow, Pago Pago and Vavau. Said the Willises: ‘After spending a month in Pago Pago, it’s so nice to be in clean waters again.’
From Vavau, Tethys will sail to Fiji and Australia where Tim will leave the boat to find work in the oil industry in Indonesia. After replen ishing the bank account, Shar and Tim and Tethys will complete .heir
circumnavigation.
• SHAMMY. An impressive 15 m ketch built of fibreglass logs filled with flotation is owned by Dr and Mrs Shamhart. Shammy was built in San Diego, California, in 1965 and purchased there by the Shamharts in 1973. She sat in Sausalito, California, in San Francisco Bay until Bill and Carol were ready to begin their cruising adventure. In October 1979, Bill, Carol and their son David (now 12), left Lower Mexico for the
Marquesas and French Polynesia,
where they spent a year. They also spent four months in Moorea where David had an ideal job for a boy his age — in an ice cream shop.
At the end of the hurricane season, Shammy left Bora bora for Rarotonga. The next stop was to have been Niue but a storm and a shorted-out generator (due to water in the engine room) made Bill decide to go on to Pago Pago.
While the boat was being re paired in Pago Pago, Bill and Carol were able to enjoy Aggie Grey’s hospitality in Apia which they
thoroughly enjoyed.
From Pago Pago, David flew back to California to visit friends and was to rejoin the boat in Fiji in August. Shammy will continue from Fiji to New Zealand and Australia where future plans will be decided.
JOAN D. PEASE reports
from Papeete , Tahiti:
• LINDA E. A fibreglass cutter owned by Dan and Dorothy Wilson of New Orleans, Lousiana, called at the Borabora Yacht Club in June after spending a year in French Polynesia. The Wilsons have been
cruising since they took delivery of
the vessel, a Valiant 40, in August
1977 in Bellingham, Washington.
They explored the San Juan Islands between Washington State and Canada, Glacier Bay and Skagway, Alaska, British Columbia and the west coast of California. For several months during the northern winter, Dan and Dorothy leave their boat at a marina and Dan returns to work.
The Valiant 40 sailed from the US last year and called at anchor ages in Baja California and Mexico going as far south as Puerto Vallarta before making the crossing to Nukuhiva in the Marquesas. The vessel visited Uapou, Uahuka,
Winslow and Erikson’s 13 m Swan Diana III, now in the Pacific during a round-the
world cruise. - Stig Erikson
picture.
Hivaoa and Fatuhiva and stopped at Manihi and Ahe in the Tuamotus.
Linda E also anchored in Papeete and Moorea before going to Maeva Beach, Tahiti, where she stayed for several months during the northern winter when the Wilsons returned to the United States.
In their four years of cruising, they’ve found their four months in Alaska to be the most impressive. ‘Alaska has the most spectacular scenery in the world. It’s hard to beat,’ says Dan. • ALBATROSS. Another Valiant 40, anchored at the Borabora Yacht Club in June with owners Charles and Hertha Stotts aboard. The 12.2 m cutter began its cruise from Seattle, Washington, in June 1979 calling first at anchorages in Canada before sailing down the *est coast of the US and south to Mexico. Rather than entering C rench Polynesia at the Marquesas, he Valiant 40 stopped at Costa the Cocos, the Galapagos, faster Island, Pitcairn and tfangareva before going to Tahiti md later sailing to Tubuai.
The Stottses first called at French ‘olynesian anchorages in 1972-73 ft their previous boat, a 10 m Colin Archer cutter which Charles pur hased in Norway in 1968. On that ruise they sailed to Denmark, ingland, the French canals, the Canaries, the West Indies and hrough the Panama Canal. With Mbatross they will complete the
ircumnavigation which they
tarted 13 years ago. They stopped t Suwarrow atoll in June before tiling to Pago Pago and will go to
te Tongan islands, Fiji, Vanuatu,
lew Caledonia, Australia,
tdonesia. Cocos (Keeling) Islands,
lauritius and South Africa. They ill cross their old track in rinidad.
Charles’ only regret is spending 0 much time in Mexico which flayed their arrival at Easter and tcairn Islands until mid-winter. iey only had two days at Pitcairn and three days at Easter before they and to move on because of the pressions. Those two islands were e highlight of our trip, and it was real heart-breaker to leave so Dn.’
What would be Charles’ advice to person wanting to cruise? ‘l’d ►gest they take a passage with neone else to see if they can stand misery before putting all their ings into a boat. Then they can fide if the discomfort is worth it,’ said. ‘We haven’t had trouble, we’ve heard of people who sell rything to go cruising and then 1 they don’t like it,’ he said D’MARIE 111. A 10.9 m ketch n Lake Tahoe also called at the abora Yacht Club in June with ler Michael Smith and Ed
imley aboard. They began their
cruise from Sacramento, Cali fornia, last October and made stops in San Francisco, San Diego, Cabo San Lucas and Socorro Island before the 21-day crossing to Hivaca. After two months in the Marquesas, Michael and Ed went to Ahe and Rangiroa in the Tuamotus.
Ahe was the anchorage they like the best. ‘lt’s a beautiful island and we almost didn’t go because we had read of the dangers of the Tuamotus. We are really glad we did because it’s a special place,’ Ed said. D Marie HI a Magellan 36, left from Borabora in June for a crossing to Hawaii where it will stop before going to San Francisco.
This is Michael’s third boat, and he and Ed have sailed and worked together for several years. ‘We had our introduction to sailing on San Francisco Bay. We learned about tides, current and shipping dangers.
After that, the Tuamotus were not that bad,’ Ed said. • CABARET. A 10.3 m sloop is sailing back to the US completing a three-year cruise. Tom and Becky Colfield sailed from Portland, Oregon, in June 1978, and spent two years calling at anchorages in Alaska. Cabaret , a Cal 2-34, sailed as far south as Acapulco, Mexico, before crossing to Nukuhiva. The Colfields called at anchorages in the Marquesas, Tuamotus and Societes.
• SIROCCO. A 12.2 m fibreglass
sloop from Newport Beach, Cali fornia, called at Tahiti and Moorea in June and July with owners John and Mary Thorne aboard. The Thornes left from their home port last December and sailed south to Mexico where they harbour-hopped for two and a half months. From Acapulco they crossed to Hivaoa in 24 days and spent one month visiting islands in the Marquesas group. ‘A lot of boats were going to Ahe, but we wanted to see other
islands,’ said Mary Karyl. They
stopped at Manihi and then went to three atolls in the Tuamotus where cruising boats rarely call; Apataki, Toau and Fakarava. ‘We spent several days in Fakarava which is probably one of the best spots for snorkelling in the world. The water is so clear and so still,’ she said. ‘The Caribbean and Hawaii are supposed to be great for snorkelling, but we’ve been there and we think Fakarava is better,’ she added.
Sirocco, a Cal-40 which has competed in several races from California to Hawaii, will call at Rarotonga, Tonga, Fiji and the Samoas before returning to the United States.
P4Iji
rAUL RYSAVY reports
Jrom Rarotonga, Cook
Islands .*
• Brolga Of Kiama. On The
last leg of their round-the-world tour are Aussies Robin and Lyn Brooks, in their 10 m sloop, Brolga of Kiama. They have owned the craft for 10 years. They began this trip in October 1976 from Sydney, and in five years have visited the Great Barrier Reef, the Cocos Islands, Mauritius, Reunion, South Africa, the Caribbean, the east coast of the US, northern Europe (as far north as Oslo), Spain,
Portugal, Gibraltar, the Canary
Islands, Panama, French Polynesia
and Rarotonga. Brolga of Kiama will be back in Sydney by Christmas, with stops at Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand on the way. The Brookses will never regret their cruise, but are looking forward to getting home. * ELEFANT. West Germans Erich and Britta Nddhardt , over six weeks in Rarotonga on board Elefant , an 11m sloop, before departing for Pago Pago, Erich took three and a half years to design and build the sloop himself, and completed it in 1975. The couple did not begin their travels until July 1980, when they left Germany to sail to England, Spain, Portugal, the Canaries, the Caribbean, Panama, the Gal apagos, the Marquesas and Raro tonga. Elefant left Rarotonga in late June, and after visiting Pago Pago and Apia, will probably spend the hurricane season in Fiji and then cruise around the South Pacific for
Right: Dan and Dorothy Wilson from Linda E relax ashore at the Borabora Yacht Club. The Wilsons, have been cruising since mid-1977 and have spent a year in French Polynesia. Lower right: Ed Crumley and Michael Smith, from California in USA,
were also photographed during
a call to Borabora on board Smith’s 10.9 m ketch D’Marie III.
another year before making for Australia or perhaps South Africa. With plans to stay away from home for another three or four years, the couple are in no hurry and see no reason to plan their trip too far ahead. • BALI. On a ‘quick jaunt’ from Hawaii arc Norman and Jean Hall, aboard Bali , a 10-year-old 12 m yawl. The Halls left Hawaii in April and anticipate returning in September. Their only stop on the way down to Rarotonga was Penrhyn, where they were caught in i storm that was, according to Morman, almost as bad as crossing he Tasman in winter. Bali was mchored in the large, deep Penrhyn agoon when the gale struck, and for wo hours the yacht was battered by iO-knot winds and huge waves in he normally placid lagoon. One of he anchor chains snapped, and if wo Penrhyn Islanders had not wum out to help the Halls ma oeuvre the boat away from the eef, it could have been severely amaged. But the boat survived dth only slight damage, and after epairs are completed the Halls will sturn to Hawaii via Aitutaki and enrhyn.
MANANA. Sailing this 11 m ;tch are Dave and Marcia Reck, hey have owned the John Alden ;signed craft for only a year, and ft their home port of Seattle in ;ptember 1980, with virtually no iling experience. According to arcia: ‘We were half way to awaii before we knew where we :re.’ After Hawaii they continued to the Marquesas, the Tuamotus, e Societies and to Rarotonga, lere they arrived in late June, ue, Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand ; the next ports of call, and then, er the hurricane season, the :cks will probably visit Australia fore deciding which route they 1 take around the world.
Michael Stuart. This 9 M
•Iden Hind sloop also arrived in rotonga in late June. The yacht is led by Americans Jim and Liz :Cane, who are on an ‘extended leymoon’. The ‘newly weds’ have “n married for two years and »an this trip in October 1979
m Chesapeake in Maryland.
•ps so far have included Miami, Bahamas, the Turks, Caicos mds, Haiti, Jamaica, Panama,
Galapagos, the Marquesas,
nch Polynesia and Rarotonga.
chael Stuart departed from
itiu harbour after spending 10 s here to sail to Aitutaki, Niue,
iga, and, ultimately, Whangarei
s >lew Zealand for the hurricane >on. Plans after that are up in the Jim and Liz agree that the most resting part of their journey was
the Marquesas where they
ked copra for five months and ned how many Polynesians
really live. It was a pleasant experi ence they will remember for a long time.
• Pacific Mariner, Julio
GRANDE, MYONE. In the early hours of May 31, these three yachts went on to the reef in Suwarrow after being battered by winds reach ing 60 knots. Myone came out of it relatively unscathed, but the other two craft are beyond salvage.
The crew aboard Pacific Mari ner, Tom and Joan Paschal, and their son Barry, 14, said that the wind picked up at 11 pm on May 30, and at 11.15 the depression hit. ‘lt was as though somebody had opened a door,’ they said. Huge swells snapped Pacific Mariner’s anchor chain and drove it towards the reef. Julio Grande, a French yacht, which also had its anchor chain snapped, came across and broke the bowsprit on Pacific Mari ner before hitting the reef. Pacific Mariner ended up behind Julio Grande, and for four hours crashed into it as well as scraping the coral bottom.
At about 4 am Pacific Mariner began to take water, and within minutes had turned on its side. Her crew and skipper Denis Delong hung on the railing for three hours while waves smashed over the yacht. Their biggest worry was that at high tide, at 7 am, the two yachts would be swept out to sea. Swim ming to shore was impossible be cause of zero visibility conditions, wild seas, and sharks. At 8 am the
storm ended, with the two yachts still on the reef.
Only days later, the skipper and
crew of Julio Grande boarded another yacht to leave their bat tered boat on the reef. The skipper of Pacific Mariner , Dennis Delong,
followed suit two weeks later, but the Paschals remained in Suwarrow for a month before being taken to Rarotonga by the MV Manuvai, a local cargo ship. • TRI AGAIN 111. This 12 m Piver Victress trimaran is owned and skippered by Canadian Heinz Kuntzemann, who arrived in Rarotonga thankful to be alive.
Heinz left Moorea for Rarotonga sailing solo, and about 5 km out of Moorea fell overboard. It was an accident that Heinz believes could happen to any sailor and having sailed for 40 years he should know.
When a sail went over the starboard bow in rough seas he tried to chase it. A swell simply ‘kicked’ him off.
Fortunately, he was able to grab one of the trailing lines. An exhausting half-hour later he was able to drag himself back on board. It was not an experience he would like repeated.
In Rarotonga Heinz was joined by Joao Paulo Mira, from Mozambique, who will accompany him as far west as he can.
The British Columbia-registered Tri-Again HI left California in late 1980 to sail to Mexico, the Marquesas, the Tuamotus, Tahiti, Moorea and Rarotonga. Tonga and Fiji are next, and in Suva Heinz will be joined by friends who, together with the skipper and Joao Paulo, will decide where to go from there.
Norman and Jean Hall’s 12 m yawl Bali, based in Hawaii but at present on a six-month cruise south of the equator.