>From Bain

The trip from Coffs harbour (Aus east coast) to Houhora (NZ north east
coast) via Lord Howe Island was interesting.  The boat performed well
apart from a couple of minor breakages and the leeward hull flexing
issue.

Got quite a lot of light to no wind - 12 hrs motoring in the 52 hrs to
Lord Howe (310 n miles). Rest of the time head winds, but always
managed to make our course. 6 hrs east of Lord Howe we broke a sheet
pad eye and had a rudder pin working out.  The wind got up to 35 knots
so put out parachute till weather calmed enough to sort out the
rudder.   Wind got up to 45 but we were reasonably comfortable. It
settled down after 36 hrs.

About 200 miles out from Lord Howe the leeward hull started flexing
badly in a beam chop. I was very concerned, turning back wasn’t a good
option - strong westerly forecast to the west and the island didn’t
seem like a place to do repairs. The wind dropped so we decided to use
the jib halyard as a shroud. Worked a treat so decided to continue and
take it easy. So did the rest of the trip under main only, with 1 and
2 reefs in the whole way. I was amazed how well she went, approaching
North Cape had 18 – 20 knots a bit behind the beam, couldn’t slow her,
had 2 reefs in still doing 12 knots on the gps. This is with heaps of
food and water and gear onboard.

It took 7 days L H to Houhora (730 n miles). Only problem we had was
she would occasionally round up into the wind when going to windward.
Still haven’t quite figured that one out. Rudders worked fine which
was one of my concerns.

On inspection, we found that the ring bulkhead at the mast cracked at
bottom on leeward side.  It pulled apart rather than compressing as
would make sense in that spot.

I have put in solid 5mm ply and glass bulkheads at beam sockets and
12mm ply and glass ring bulkheads at mast. I was considering stronger
between mast and beams, but it seems to be working fine as is.

Aroha is now for sale as I need the capital for a new enterprise and I
am too busy to really use the boat and look to being busy for some
time.

As you can imagine I am reluctant to sell Aroha as she works really
well for what I want in a boat and is fast , comfortable and roomy.  I
love the small simple rig which enables me to sail solo.   Love that
free standing mast,  never worried that some fitting in the standing
rigging is going to fail because there is none. The advantage of a
flexing mast on a multi hull especially cruising is marked.I believe
we would have done a lot more reefing and left more reefs in on the
Tasman trip especially.

Price:AU 120,000 all reasonable offers considered.


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