– and beyond
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Peter Foerthmann Blog
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SV Silver Queen, Myles Mass US
Hi Peter,
Just a quick note from the Azores.
Our recently purchased Pacific Windpilot for our LAVRANOS 43 has been fantastic and steered most of the way from the Chesapeake to Bermuda and on to the Azores. Just wanted to say thanks for all your help and an amazing product. The rest of the pleasure boat marine industry could learn a lot from you on customer service, product knowledge and a product that does what it says it will.
Best,
Myles, SV Silver Queen
Posted in Portraits
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The second-hand yacht
Just how much does it take, in terms of liquid assets, to turn dreams into reality, to convert flickering mental images of swaying fronds into real living and growing palms on a South Seas beach? And how much of the rewards of life’s labours can safely be devoted to sailing without leaving the kids in rags and risking a terminal loss of enthusiasm for the water (or worse, for a life together full stop – with potentially painful and expensive consequences) on the other side of the marital bed? Note to catamaran sailors: yes, you can have a hull each if you fall out, but the two hulls need each other if you want to go sailing.
Fateful questions are these no matter how expansive your dreams and, indeed, your resources. People considering a self-build project need to be especially meticulous in their cost-assessment: underestimate the cost – in material, time and/or relationship terms – and the consequences could hardly be more grave. Let me make it clear that I speak from extensive experience on this subject, in fact I spend a significant portion of my time taking confession from sailors, listening attentively to what they have to say and then, should I happen to be asked, doing my best, quite forcefully where necessary (even when it hurts), to help them avoid repeating the mistakes others have made before them. >continue reading
Posted in Columns
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Jester Azores Challenge 2012 #2
ARRIVALS 19th june 2012
12. Basil Panakis in Jaba
11. Andy Lane in Bula
10. John Apps in Glayva
9. James Stock in Fly
8. Howard Chivers in Sandpiper
7. Nick Bridges in Dolphin
6. Thomas Jucker in Marta
5. Denis Gorman in Lizzie-G
4. Paul Mead in Independence 2
3. Tony Head in Triple Venture
2. Roger Fitzgerald in Ella Trout III
1. John Margarson in Muffin
AT SEA
Latest known positions and messages/news:
Edward Zajac in Holly: “Dear Eric, Holly’s position from 18.06.2012 1548: 41º33’.5’N; 12º 4’.5’W Best greetings, Marek”
Trevor Leek in Jester:
Nigel Stillman in Greta L:
Tim McCoy in China Blue:
RETIREMENTS
Chris Garbett in Jasabe
David Knowler in Headway III
Bill Churchouse in Belgean
Peter Pochon in Merganiser Too
Howard Brown in Mary Ellen
Jonathan Hopper in Francesca
Peter Evans in Federwolke
Ken Docherty in Solo
Tony Stattersfield in Contessina
Paul Turner in Lasten
Philippe Hautfenne in Libid’eau
Jean-Jacques Lassale in Grigou
Chris Cowlard in Roulette
reported from Ewen Southby-Tailyour UK
Posted in Columns
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The good, the bad and the just plain odd
MISADVENTURES IN THE WINDVANE SELF-STEERING MARKET
Are you sitting comfortably? Here comes another unlikely – but entirely true – tale from the world of windvane self-steering. If you were still steering by hand in the 1970s (or if, indeed, you were yet to be born), you will have to take it on trust that the events I am about to recount really happened.
In 1976, ownership of Windpilot passed to me, Peter Förthmann, in exchange for a steel yawl. I lost my boat, but gained a job I loved and saw my horizons expanded beyond all measure – albeit at the price of one or two rather unpleasant experiences. Life (mine at least) has always been a magical mystery tour of shocks and surprises though, so my encounters with my fellow purveyors of vanegear fit well into the established pattern. continue reading here please
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Jester Challenge 2012 – Plymouth – Azores
VERABREDUNG ZUM SEGELN
Das ist das Motto der JESTER AZORES CHALLENGE, bei der 31 Einhand Segler, zumeist aus England, in Plymouth zusammen gekommen sind um gemeinsam, ein jeder auf seinem eigenen Schiff, Richtung PRAIA DE VITORIA, TERCEIRA / AZORES zu starten.
Die Spielregeln könnten einfacher nicht sein:
– Schiffe von 20 – 30 ft
– Muskel Kraft zum Vortrieb ist erlaubt
– one way zu den Azoren, Zwischenstopps erlaubt
– kein Zeitlimit
– Skipper sollte mindestens 18 Jahre alt sein und ggf. über ein gültiges Visum verfügen
– Keine Gebühren, keine Security Inspektion, keine Bedingungen
– Teilnahme aller Yachten, die am Start Tag 27. Mai am Start erscheinen
– Haftpflichtversicherung empfohlen
– Kein offizieller Zieldurchgang
– kein Preis
Ein Amateur Event reinster Form! Continue reading
Posted in Portraits
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SV Dolphin Dance, Antti Laine+Minna Valtari FI
Young Finnish couple cruising to Norway in 2011.
Posted in YouTube
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SV Hoogtij, Titus Bekkering NL
WELELDREIS IN MINIFORMAT
Op wereldreis gaan, maar wel om zes uur thuis zijn voor het eten. Zo voelt het voor Titus Bekkering als hij in een vakantie van Nederland naar de Azoren en terug zeilt. En als een oefening in nietigheid in een oneindige ruimte.
Here is the publication in the Dutch sailing magazin ZEILEN Continue reading
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SV Tuvalu, Hans Geilinger ES
Hi Peter
a wonderful sailing season came to ceize due to the start of the hurricane season. Our boat went on the hard in Chaguaramas / Trindad and we will proceed to Panama during next season time.
The Pacific has served us perfectly, no idea how we would be able to manage without this excellent piece of equipment.
with warm regards
Hans Geilinger
SV Tuvalu continue please >
Posted in Word of mouth
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FishfinderPro app – name your catch and know what you’re eating
FISHY, FISHY – IDENTIFIED, FISHY, FISHY – BAKED, STEAMED OR FRIED?
Sailors at sea are always looking for a bit of variety, at least as far as the menu goes. Often that variety comes in the form of a stroke of fortune – or misfortune, if you prefer to look at it from the fish’s point of view – with the fishing gear. Eating the catch is one thing though, identifying it quite another!
Hamburg-based fisherman and graphic designer OLIVER FRIEL has been working away patiently for years to help seafarers put a name to a face (or fillet). His book fishfinder names and identifies – in 25 European languages – 180 fish regularly found in Europe, grouping them by region for ease of use. Catching, preparing and, in due course, devouring fish need not be such an impersonal experience after all: from restaurant table to cockpit floor, with fishfinder you know who you are eating.
Thanks to the efforts of Oliver Friel, yachtsman and former layouter for German sailing magazine YACHT, and database and web developer Dr. Jens Teich Filemaker Engineer , the book is now also available electronically as the FishfinderPro APP. Sailors on shore leave in foreign parts need no longer feel quite so isolated: the rest of the menu may be a mystery, but with this new app in your pocket you can at least identify the fish on your plate. His number’s up anyway; the least you can do is get his name right!
Posted in Portraits
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SV Solanus, Bronisław Radliński and crew PL
Dear Peter,
we just returned from a round trip Gdansk North-South America including North West Passage and Cape Hoorn. After 16 months with a crew of three we returned safely to our homeport.
Windpilot has done a good job.
please visit our website.
with kind regards
Tomasz Szymanowicz
Posted in YouTube
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SV Blue Sky, Grisel+Tino Schumann MX + GER
KALKUTTA – BLUE SKY – WEISSWASSER – HOW DOES THIS FIT?
A puzzle hardly to recognize – at least in case you have been unable to meet two happy persons – a complete family though!
Griselle – temperament from Mexiko spent some time in KALKUTTA / MUMBAI for social mission work for Mother Theresa sometime in 2008. During one of her sundowners in her daily Pub named “BLUE SKY” – she met her Alter Ego – Tino Schumann, pharmacist from WEISSHAAR / Oberlausitz / Eastern Germany – working in mission in Kalkutta as well. A very special meeting – with perfect consequences, millions of people are dreaming about – without ever getting this dream to reality!
A lucky day – two minds running the same wide way to fulfill their dreams…
Living together since now 4 years, luck has got a name “ENYA” – running around like a tumbling ball on her three year old legs – and cross their yacht.
Their dreams become true – the family intending to head for the wide oceans for at least the next 4 years – when the school demanding yet another kind of life again. The Pharmacy has been sold, shor life being converted to boat life.
The adventure will start on May 7th 2012 in TRAVEMÜNDE Germany.
How about future plans? Very certainly the story will not end back into normal life, as this family will be capable to accomodate at nearly any other place in the world easily – as they are happy and wide open to other people all over the world. Continue>