VERDI – LA TRAVIATA – OVNI 365 – ET LA GRAND MER
Magnifique évocation de notre attitude aujourd’hui en cette veillée de Noël. Cela fait 21 jours que nous sommes en pleine mer et il en faudra encore de nombreux avant de retrouver la terre. Combien? Chut, une douzaine… je vous le dis à voix basse pour ne pas déranger le cavalier des steppes. Continue reading
LONGDISTANCE CRUISING ON BREEHORN 37 – NOW BOREAL 44
Dear Peter, It has been a few years since we were in contact. We used our Windpilot on our Breehorn 37 ‘Pjotter’ (www.pjotterpassages.com) a great deal. We have now bought a Boreal 44 (‘Dutch’) on which I would like to install our trusty Windpilot. Is there anything in particular I should be taking into account or can I just follow the manual? I noticed that one of the pictures in the manual was taken on a Boreal! Maybe you have more detail pictures?
Best regards,
Sebastiaan Ambtman SV DUTCH
BOREAL 44 – TRANSATLANTIC WITH FAMILY
YT CHANNEL
VANCOUVER 34 ON HER WAY TO SCOTLAND
Hi Peter, I hope all is well with you.
The Windpilot that you sold me last winter has been amazing. I sailed from the south coast of England to Scotland and back over the summer, and it made life so easy. My wife was suspicious of it at first, and now loves it.
Best wishes,
James
ALLEGRO 33 SAILING TO SURINAM
Hello Peter! Thank you for a great produkt. I have now used it for approx 12 000 miles. But now I have a problem to make it funktion properly. It seems like the inner pushrod in the tube has bent. What could have cosed that?
Regards from Mikael, currently in Domburg, Surinam Continue reading
FAMOUS EXPRESS CRUSADER USED SAILOMAT, ARIES AND WINDPILOT
Hi Peter, Hope this email finds you well! I wanted to give you a short update on the performance of the very old Windpilot that I bought and installed on Ponta Delgada, the Azores.
Since this is my very first experience with a windvane I must say that I am totally blown away by its performance on this boat. As you know this is the old boat that Lesly Williams sailed the Ostar with in 1968 three months after she was launched, he came in second by the way. She is even better know as the boat that was lent to Naomi James by Chay Blyth to become the woman to ever sail around the world single handed in 1978. The boat was equipped with a Sailomat of the first generation, despite the very many issues she had with the Sailomat she stated in her book that the adventure success had been very much dependant on the self steering. Continue reading
GARCIA PASSOA 46 – ARRIVED IN HORTA
Hi Peter, between the problems with the COVID and the manufacturing of the custom-made support part for the Windpilot and the Watt&Sea, it took me a long time before I install the Windpilot… But it is now done, since this summer : In July, I installed it. In August, I used it from France to the Azores Islands.
It works so well. I was amazed myself. It is a perfect helmsman ! I love it.
When I arrived in the Azores, guess who came to give me a friendly greeting… Harry, from Good@Wood.
Thanks for this great Windpilot!
David – Bateau Asevao
ATLANTIC CIRCLE ON JEANNEAU SUN ODYSSEY 43 DS
Dear Peter, After 2 years of cruising and crossing the Atlantic both ways, we are now back in our home country, Norway. Just wanted to let you know that we have been very happy with our Windpilot Pacific MF3. It has been our preferred choice for self-steering and gets our recommendation. Continue reading
83 YEAR OLD MAN CROSSING THE PACIFIC SOLO
SMALL POCKET CRUISER ON THE OCEANS – AROUND THE US
Good day Peter, Really like the gear after 1500 miles of sailing since I got it. I have had the boat in Alaska, New England, the Pacific Northwest, a solo to Hawaii (2014 Singlehanded Transpacific Race), and up and down the California coast. The boat is a Capri 25 that has been extensively rebuilt and strengthened over the two decades I have owned her.
The name Jack comes from the name of my father’s lead dog, Jack the Giant Killer, while he was with the Second Byrd Expedition to the Antarctic. I had an Hasler fitted in earlier times, quite a big unit for my small seatoy. The Pacific Light has been fitted by use of a small turning device to accomodate the use of the AB engine easily.
Thank you again,
Doug Paine SV Jack – Capri 25
WINDPILOT PACIFIC ON DUTY SINCE 15 YEARS
Hello Peter, greetings from Finnland. I have owned pacific windpilot 15 years and it has been working absolutly well. There is nothing like pacific.
Matti from Helsinki
OVNI 32 AND PACIFIC – A PERFECT COUPLE
Hi Peter, just a quick note, it’s working perfect now! I didn’t change the set-up yet with a crossbar (which we have onboard). It doesn’t seems necessary yet. Off course the wheel coupling is the other way round, I might have done that wrong just for the photos I send you but also on one of the test runs. Oops.
The big difference is the cleaning. It operates so smooth now. It’s responding so much faster and better now. Especially in lighter winds.
Very happy with this! Thank you for your advice and clear instructions.
Best, Guus
BENETEAU FIRST 40.7 – A REAL CHALLENGE
You are very well known in the sailing world and the Windpilot is really the best speed regulator in the world. Thank you for creating this product to make our navigation easier. It’s been a long time since I dreamed of having a Windpilot, today I gave it to myself and I want it to be perfect:-)
Cordialement Olivier
CONTESSA 32 – SAILING IN SINGAPORE AND ENGLAND OVER 15 YEARS
Good morning Peter, I am again reminded that good service lives on at Windpilot. From the first conversation at Earls Court boat show so many years ago the service has been consistent – even from the red sofa. Thank you. Continue reading
24 YEARS OF USE ON NAJAD 320 AND BREEHORN 37
Dear mr. Förthmann, After more than twenty years of extensive use I would like to overhaul my Windpilot Pacific (version prior to 1998) and replace a number of “plastic” parts that show wear and tear. I would appreciate to receive a quotation for the parts on the photograph below as well as for the top cover (part 60 in the exploded view). For convenience I have added references (where clear) to the exploded view on the website.
Thanks for your help!
Sytze Brandenburg, SY Gannet
ANOTHER VEGA CALLED VEGA – FIRST EXPERIENCES
Hello Peter, just have to say i`am verry impressd by the bulit quality of the windpilot, and the simpel installasjon. I have only been on one trip and testing the windpilot, and it worked Perfect. I`am sending you some Picture of the pilot and a movie when i was out sailing.
Best Regards
Georg
HAVSFIDRA 20 – UNDERWAY WITH PACIFIC LIGHT SINCE 10 YEARS
Good Day Peter! Windpilot Pacifica Light working great!
I just wanted to say i have tried the windvane quite a bit now and it works great! Holds its course in all winddirections and almost in all winds, steers straighter than an human being, perfect!
Best regards John Eriksson
ALONE OR, PREFERABLY, NOT
Life works best in a pair.
For anything else
To give real satisfaction
Is really decidedly rare.
SHANE FREEMAN PRACTISING THE JSD DROGE IN THE SOUTH PACIFIC
A multi-facted, and complex discussion, where theory and praxis can vary a lot.
JONATHAN JUST ARRIVED IN PUERTO WILLIAMS – CHILE
Hi Peter, A few days ago we arrived in Puerto Williams from the Pacific. We had an uneventful crossing from Rapa Iti in the Austral Islands. Sure we had some weather but nothing extreme. The Windpilot steered all the way and as usual without any problems. Even a bit better then before for I had made a new pendulum rudder since the old wooden one had gotten very rough on the surface. So the new slick one performed even better. Continue reading
