A First For Crew.org.nz

A powerboat (kind of) on the home page. But we have been talking small boats, and my wife thought it was reeeeally cute. Thanks to Duckworks.
P.S. The plans are free, anyone want to build a tug?

Consumerism

Mothership suggested this go on the home page, and since he hosts the forums I'd better do as he says.
It takes about 20mins to watch the video but it is worth it, and so much of what she says can be related to life on a sailboat.Click here to watch.
Click here to comment.

And Now For Something Completely Different

An Art Auction, with a nautical theme, and a percentage of the proceeds will go to the restoration of the Jane Gifford.

Biggest Drug Bust in Irish History

Did you know it was possible to carry $630 million of cocaine on a MacGregor 65? There couldn't have been a lot of room left for food. Click the headline to read the story from Latitude 38.

Small Boat Sailing

A few days back I asked for stories about cruising small boats, I have a soft spot for the slightly eccentric. In response I go tthis via email:
David,
Not sure if this counts as it isn’t my story. Still, here goes….
Hungary isn’t well renowned for it’s sailors. This guy is trying to make up for it. He was crewing with me on a delivery to Fiji. (We were there in time to see everyone braving the inner reef, pissed, after the Musket Cove race…).
So, there’s this guy called Aron, and his boat Carina. He’s sailing round the world in a 19 footer. As you’d expect, he’s a little crazy and a lot of fun.
Web site here: http://meder.hu/
Trip log here: http://meder.hu/eng/newlogbook.htm
I’m not sure the photos on the site really do Carina justice – she is a phenomenal work of art with more epoxy and duct tape than fiberglass, but by some miracle she keeps on trucking. The engine is an outboard that’s permanently mounted under the cockpit floorboards, the forestay is tied together and half the stowage is on-deck. There is no Cat1 here…. This is when I saw her:
http://www.meder.hu/photogallery/
displayimage.php?album=39&pos=25
http://www.meder.hu/photogallery/
displayimage.php?album=39&pos=18
Most of the stories are in the trip log (above). But the obvious thing is that the guy’s still alive and still going for making it the whole way round, back to Hungary. He’s traveling west, and just left Bali for Singapore.
He would make the most of the rum, but what he’d really like now is a TP10 Simrad tiller pilot as his current one just died. Not sure they were designed to take 3 month bluewater trips across the pacific. He’s living with a bit of string instead at the moment….
If I were you I’d give the guy two bottles, he may be slightly unhinged for doing this trip, but he deserves them.
All the best,
-Rick.

Orcaland

Last nights Rum Race on the mighty Demonstrator we were escorted up the harbour by a pod of orcas that came up as far as the harbour bridge. I do like where we live.

Proas

In response to a question in the forums, here's my take on proas, and how I became interested in them.

Finn Photos Wanted

Robert Deaves is editing a book on the Finn class for their 60th anniversary. He is currently searching for as many photos as possible to include in the book, both old ones and newer ones, and already has former and current sailors worldwide hunting through their attics and basements.
If you can help contact Robert here: robertdeaves@yahoo.co.uk.

Freak Waves

One of the joys of Crew.org.nz is that I have a legion of passionate sailors out there looking fo rinteresting content for me. latest in the forums is this series of videos on you tube on Freak Waves. Make sure you watch all five.

Is a Sailboat a Good Investment?

This article from the New York Times says it is, and I couldn't agree more.