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Inside almost finished and ready to take the decks and cabin top. What looked small at the beginning, has grown ever bigger. Well, once out at sea, she will shrink at the rate the wind increases.

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Comment by Filippo Mezzatesta on February 20, 2011 at 4:08pm

Beautiful! :)

Comment by Hans Hammig on February 21, 2011 at 1:38pm

Thank you, Filippo,

People sometimes think I am a tad mad to build a sea going catamaran at 5000 feet above sea level, 600 km from the coast, in the African bush. But Phefo is almost finished. Today, I returned the Cuddy (pardon, 'salon') back into the horizontal after finishing all the glassing, coating and painting on the underside, for which purpose I had rolled it over on the starboard side. Check some times at www.phefo.com

I was born in 1940, and the picture on this site is from this year, 2011. So please no complaints.

It is so refreshing that you also became aware that short moments, like this maybe 30 minutes of a specific romantic atmosphere, created by a lingering veld fire, are so important. Some would just complain about the smoke, and that there is no wind. Other, more widely aware beings, like you, see the beauty of the light being diverted. Thank you, Filippo Mezzatesta. It is an encouragement for me. Maybe  I will take some more pictures.

Where are you and what vessel are you sailing (living) on?

Kindly, Hans

Comment by Hans Hammig on February 21, 2011 at 2:35pm

Hello, Isabelle and Hans,

Although I have experienced this phenomenon on my second small yacht, a 21 foot day sailor, which I used to chase through all the winter storms, the credit for the initial observation must go to David Lewis (Ice Bird) in his single handed conquest for Antarctica in 1973/74/75.

I do not want to sound like boasting, but I know the screech of 70 knots and more, and my boat is built accordingly. When I say I broke 4 test masts, those were like paper, less than 800 g (30 ounces) per meter, while my real masts in proper matrix epoxy and with full length cloth are about 4,000 g/m, free standing, of course, no standing rigging (except the mast, which stands, ok.).

I have posted a challenge in the Junk Rig Group, suggesting 4 masts (that is a full ship if she has the ability to square the sails). The idea is simple. We have one mast with 2, 3 or 4 sails. Why not have 4 masts with just 0ne sail each? If it works aerodynamically, these relatively small sails can be handled without winches, being junk sails, can be hosted, reefed and lowered on any point of sail.

I have tested it. I could adjust the sail with one hand, pulling here and there a bit, until everything was in balance, and all the tell tales on each batten were streaming beautifully. Then a squall came in, the mast bent like a fishing rot, and eventually folded without a sound, always about 1/3 up (2 - 3 meters above deck).

Now you can imagine where the strongest section on my masts are. Also, I do not need a storm jib, because 4 masts with a diameter of 90 mm (less than 4 inches), about 9 m high (30 foot) are enough sail in anything above 40 knots.

Are you sailing in the trades, or do you venture into more challenging latitudes?

Best regards, Hans

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