Hey thanks for Your informative videos, they are realy good :) I have a question, have You been out in realy heavy weather, gale og storm force vinds? I wander how the hydrovane coopes in real rough conditions? I have heard some people say that in real heavy weather that only the servopendular vindvanes can keep the course? what is Your experience?
Thanks for the note and your supportive comments. I really appreciate that. Well, that is somewhat of a loaded question for me... The Hydrovane, I believe, saved my life in 2010 while I endured a night of up to Force 10 or 55 knots off the the Northern tip of Vancouver Island, Cape Scott. I missed my landfall at Otter Bay, and the wind and waves kept climbing. Soon it was dark and I was committed to the night out. I was in my Contessa 26, and the wave faces climbed to what I estimated to be about the length of the boat. The wind and waves were from the Southwest. The waves were breaking and I tried to heave-to but in both cases I was drifting toward a lee shore... Vancouver Island on one side, and the Cape Scott Islands on the other. In the moment, I set the Hydrovane as close hauled as I could, I was triple reefed to storm sail size. With the engine running at 2000 RPM in addition to the sails driving the boat.... I could go sideways and keep off the lee shores. The Hydrovane held the boat on that line all night. (Thank God) This is the most afraid I have ever been -- on an ocean or on a mountain -- before or since. Before then, and after then, I have never wondered if I was going to survive the night... I wondered if I was going to survive that night. I kissed the Hydrovane when I made it in one piece to Winter Harbor the next day.... and remain grateful for that amazing piece of engineering and hardware.... The e-story I wrote about it is available here www.amazon.ca/Coming-Around-Fear-Singlehanded-Vancouver-ebook/dp/B07Y7NTVQB/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=coming+around+to+fear&qid=1591473484&sr=8-1 Later, on my singlehanded trip from Victoria to Cabo, I had 30 knots and fifteen-foot waves on the stern, running jib only, on a slight broad reach, the Hydrovane easily handled it. I "added" some rudder with the adjustment because I needed more for the boat to handle the waves. The Hydrovane likes strong wind. In 2010, they had not invented the adjustable vane size yet, so if anything, it had a harder time in light wind -- but nothing untoward in my estimation.
@@respecttherisk2022 what a story, amasing that the Hydrovane keept going that night in the dark out passes Vancouver Island, i guess You didnt get much sleep that night... I will see Your story later. Thank You for Your reply, and have a good day 😊
Really like the solid look and feel of this sailboat. Is this Contessa 38 the S&S version or the Alan-Williams version? I would want to get yours regardless but I am not sure which designer it is.
Still loving this sailboat -- WEIRD QUESTION -- I believe that you are sailing in BC, however, the fabrics on your windvane and the dodger look like they were sun damaged or faded. Was this sailboat living in Florida or southern California prior to sailing BC waters? I always had this impressionism the PNW as being a low UV area where fabrics never fade.
Thanks. I love the boat as well. Good eye. The windvane which I bought in 2010, was on my other boat and made its way south to Cabo San Lucas did start to get faded. I replaced the cover on it last year. The dodger, which was on the boat when I bought it, did deteriorate even up in the PNW. The manufacturer told me the lighter color was not as hardy as the darker colors in the sun. The fabric weakened to the point that the boom and even an errant elbow or two went right through it at the end. This year, I replaced it with a new green dodger.
This sailboat looks really strong and well designed but I can't figure out what make and model it is?? What year, make and model is this? Was it made in Taiwan?
It is a 1984 Contessa 38 manufactured in Great Britain. It is essentially a stretched version of the Contessa 32 with all the same ratios. You can watch a brief introduction to it here: ruclips.net/video/pLDEcN04_Vc/видео.html It is manufactured to Lloyds of London specification. These boats are well know for their strength and seaworthiness.
@@respecttherisk2022 ....very cool. I have certainly heard of Contessa and it has an excellent rep. I looked up the 38 and there are two versions. One built by Allen-Williams and one by S&S... Any idea which one yours is?
@@respecttherisk2022 ...even your Dodger looks to be high quality (although the fabric needs fixing or replacing).. If I didn't know better I would bet that it was made by Iverson in Seattle area??
Hi, nice sailing conditions. I sail dinghies but look forward to moving up to larger vessels, never sailed with a hydro-vane.. I wondered why you don’t release the jib sheet before tacking?
Thanks for the note. I began sailing in dinghies as well back in 1977. I could definitely do that though I have found that I like to keep the jib cleated and thus backed as I come through the wind. It ensures that I pass through the eye of wind quickly using the Hydrovane to steer the boat, then once through the eye of the wind I can attend to the jib sheet and then do any fine tuning I require to the Hydrovane's angle of attack. I am cruising and not racing. I would anticipate that leaving the jib backed for even that small time period slows the boat down. I like the fact that the boat does head further downwind, and I can bring the jib easily across and then head back up to a close hauled position as needed, one step at a time, so to speak.
You could maybe take in on the lazy sheet so that it is firm before the tack, and release the working sheet in the tack, with a couple of turns on the winch with the sheet in hand at the stern, as you push the hydrovane tiller across with your leg, then focus on quickly taking in more on the already fairly tight the new working sheet. With your current method I would worry about the foresail flogging and the sheets wrapping around the forestay. Just a thought.
Many circumnavigations have been done in the Contessa 32 including rounding Cape Horn in both directions. The Contessa 32 got gained world wide acclaim when it was the only boat in its class to finish the Fastnet 79 Race that sank larger boats and where people lost their lives in a storm. You can google "Fastnet 79" and read about it quite easily. I would anticipate that the 38 would be even more sea- kindly. It is a highly respected design and is noted for its seaworthiness. I am sure the boat could handle it though it is in question whether I could!
Disconnect the vane. You should be hand steering if you are trying to make a critical course. All the F’ing around you did could have been progress made good that was lost by screwing around. Glad you made it, but hand steering is a better choice for short tacking.
Thanks for the comment. 100% agree on hand steering for critical scenarios around headlands or obstacles. I do find it tricky to tack singlehanded without using the autohelm or the wind vane singlehanded. I generally will come through the wind and back the jib to help push the boat through the eye of wind. The boat then wants to settle downwind until I have to leave the wheel and release the jib sheet and bring the jib over to the leeward side. I find the wheel pilot can't really keep up. Even locking wheel still has the boat pointing on beam or even futher downwind until I release the sheet. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. All the best mate.
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Hey thanks for Your informative videos, they are realy good :) I have a question, have You been out in realy heavy weather, gale og storm force vinds? I wander how the hydrovane coopes in real rough conditions? I have heard some people say that in real heavy weather that only the servopendular vindvanes can keep the course? what is Your experience?
Thanks for the note and your supportive comments. I really appreciate that. Well, that is somewhat of a loaded question for me... The Hydrovane, I believe, saved my life in 2010 while I endured a night of up to Force 10 or 55 knots off the the Northern tip of Vancouver Island, Cape Scott. I missed my landfall at Otter Bay, and the wind and waves kept climbing. Soon it was dark and I was committed to the night out. I was in my Contessa 26, and the wave faces climbed to what I estimated to be about the length of the boat. The wind and waves were from the Southwest. The waves were breaking and I tried to heave-to but in both cases I was drifting toward a lee shore... Vancouver Island on one side, and the Cape Scott Islands on the other. In the moment, I set the Hydrovane as close hauled as I could, I was triple reefed to storm sail size. With the engine running at 2000 RPM in addition to the sails driving the boat.... I could go sideways and keep off the lee shores. The Hydrovane held the boat on that line all night. (Thank God) This is the most afraid I have ever been -- on an ocean or on a mountain -- before or since. Before then, and after then, I have never wondered if I was going to survive the night... I wondered if I was going to survive that night. I kissed the Hydrovane when I made it in one piece to Winter Harbor the next day.... and remain grateful for that amazing piece of engineering and hardware....
The e-story I wrote about it is available here www.amazon.ca/Coming-Around-Fear-Singlehanded-Vancouver-ebook/dp/B07Y7NTVQB/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=coming+around+to+fear&qid=1591473484&sr=8-1
Later, on my singlehanded trip from Victoria to Cabo, I had 30 knots and fifteen-foot waves on the stern, running jib only, on a slight broad reach, the Hydrovane easily handled it. I "added" some rudder with the adjustment because I needed more for the boat to handle the waves. The Hydrovane likes strong wind. In 2010, they had not invented the adjustable vane size yet, so if anything, it had a harder time in light wind -- but nothing untoward in my estimation.
@@respecttherisk2022 what a story, amasing that the Hydrovane keept going that night in the dark out passes Vancouver Island, i guess You didnt get much sleep that night...
I will see Your story later. Thank You for Your reply, and have a good day 😊
Really like the solid look and feel of this sailboat. Is this Contessa 38 the S&S version or the Alan-Williams version? I would want to get yours regardless but I am not sure which designer it is.
Thanks. It really is solid, stable and slices through chop beautifully. It is the Alan-Williams version.
Still loving this sailboat -- WEIRD QUESTION -- I believe that you are sailing in BC, however, the fabrics on your windvane and the dodger look like they were sun damaged or faded. Was this sailboat living in Florida or southern California prior to sailing BC waters? I always had this impressionism the PNW as being a low UV area where fabrics never fade.
Thanks. I love the boat as well. Good eye. The windvane which I bought in 2010, was on my other boat and made its way south to Cabo San Lucas did start to get faded. I replaced the cover on it last year. The dodger, which was on the boat when I bought it, did deteriorate even up in the PNW. The manufacturer told me the lighter color was not as hardy as the darker colors in the sun. The fabric weakened to the point that the boom and even an errant elbow or two went right through it at the end. This year, I replaced it with a new green dodger.
Exercise the bolts on your hydrovane. I left mine too long and they siezed in good and proper with dissimilar metal corrosion.
Thanks for the tip. I did not know that was an issue.
This sailboat looks really strong and well designed but I can't figure out what make and model it is?? What year, make and model is this? Was it made in Taiwan?
It is a 1984 Contessa 38 manufactured in Great Britain. It is essentially a stretched version of the Contessa 32 with all the same ratios. You can watch a brief introduction to it here: ruclips.net/video/pLDEcN04_Vc/видео.html
It is manufactured to Lloyds of London specification. These boats are well know for their strength and seaworthiness.
@@respecttherisk2022 ....very cool. I have certainly heard of Contessa and it has an excellent rep. I looked up the 38 and there are two versions. One built by Allen-Williams and one by S&S... Any idea which one yours is?
@@respecttherisk2022 ...could I be so bold as to ask what you paid for it? I tried looking online and there are non for sale (go figure).
@@respecttherisk2022 ...even your Dodger looks to be high quality (although the fabric needs fixing or replacing).. If I didn't know better I would bet that it was made by Iverson in Seattle area??
Hi, nice sailing conditions. I sail dinghies but look forward to moving up to larger vessels, never sailed with a hydro-vane.. I wondered why you don’t release the jib sheet before tacking?
Thanks for the note. I began sailing in dinghies as well back in 1977. I could definitely do that though I have found that I like to keep the jib cleated and thus backed as I come through the wind. It ensures that I pass through the eye of wind quickly using the Hydrovane to steer the boat, then once through the eye of the wind I can attend to the jib sheet and then do any fine tuning I require to the Hydrovane's angle of attack. I am cruising and not racing. I would anticipate that leaving the jib backed for even that small time period slows the boat down. I like the fact that the boat does head further downwind, and I can bring the jib easily across and then head back up to a close hauled position as needed, one step at a time, so to speak.
You could maybe take in on the lazy sheet so that it is firm before the tack, and release the working sheet in the tack, with a couple of turns on the winch with the sheet in hand at the stern, as you push the hydrovane tiller across with your leg, then focus on quickly taking in more on the already fairly tight the new working sheet. With your current method I would worry about the foresail flogging and the sheets wrapping around the forestay. Just a thought.
Would you do a circumnavigation with this sailboat? Seems very ocean worth?
Many circumnavigations have been done in the Contessa 32 including rounding Cape Horn in both directions. The Contessa 32 got gained world wide acclaim when it was the only boat in its class to finish the Fastnet 79 Race that sank larger boats and where people lost their lives in a storm. You can google "Fastnet 79" and read about it quite easily. I would anticipate that the 38 would be even more sea- kindly. It is a highly respected design and is noted for its seaworthiness. I am sure the boat could handle it though it is in question whether I could!
Disconnect the vane. You should be hand steering if you are trying to make a critical course. All the F’ing around you did could have been progress made good that was lost by screwing around. Glad you made it, but hand steering is a better choice for short tacking.
Thanks for the comment. 100% agree on hand steering for critical scenarios around headlands or obstacles. I do find it tricky to tack singlehanded without using the autohelm or the wind vane singlehanded. I generally will come through the wind and back the jib to help push the boat through the eye of wind. The boat then wants to settle downwind until I have to leave the wheel and release the jib sheet and bring the jib over to the leeward side. I find the wheel pilot can't really keep up. Even locking wheel still has the boat pointing on beam or even futher downwind until I release the sheet. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear them. All the best mate.