FROM TRAIN DRIVER OR SHIP’S CAPTAIN TO AN AUNT FROM AMERICA
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Peter Foerthmann Blog
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Idols and Dreams
Pacific – Pacific Plus
ABOUT CHOICES
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Golden Globe Race – SV Asteria – Tapio Lehtinen – Update 28.nov.2022
REFLECTIONS ON THE LOSS OF ASTERIA
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SV Oldbones – Peter Matthew US
GILES 30 AND WINDPILOT STILL IN LOVE AFTER 45 YEARS OF SAILING
Good day Peter. Aye have lost my vane on my boat old bones. And we know you not made this wide vain for decades. So am am asking please I like to make a copy of it but I don’t have actual size of it. I fully overhaul this 2 years ago. Get lots of comments on it all good. New rudder shaft plastic bushes etc. Ok thanks pete. Sv oldbones
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SV Dutch – Sebastiaan Ambtman NED
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‘ 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
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SV Blue Water – Mikael Olund SWE
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
Hi Mikael, simple reason – explanations herewith:
1.- some one lifted the pendulum rudder to wrong side rather at port side
2.- servo rudder has been tilted to the aft due to some by flotsam / seagrass during sailing … which caused the puchrod to carry too much loads.
To cure the damage: just take pushrod off, bent it back … and go sailing…
take care
Peter
Posted in Blogs, Blue water, Equipment, Windpilot, Word of mouth
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SV Kareela – David Williams UK
SMART IMPROVEMENTS ON CONTESSA 32
Good morning Peter, for your informationI have attached some images of a small modification I have made to your excellent Windpilot. I was finding the windvane adjustment with the thin red cord rather fiddly and did not make tacking an easy thing. I used to hang off the end of the boat and turn the worm spindle by hand.
So now with the help of a small continuous line dinghy furling drum and a reduction in the length of the worm spindle I can now use a long contiuous loop (no knots) of 6mm cord right up to the head of the tiller. Adjustment is super quick and tacking good too. A few good pulls takes the windvane though 100 dgrees. Job done! The stainless steel handle which I made a few years ago still sits on the end of the worm handle and gets used occaisionally.
I wonder if you could incorporate something similar on your models without too much effort? I guess it would involve a change to the casting to make it look less DIY which I appreciate is a big job. Just a thought.
best from the UK
David SV Kareela
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Oilskins or swimsuit?
FROM BRITTANY TO THE CANARIES VIA SPAIN, PORTUGAL AND MADEIRA
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Golden Globe Race – Déjà vu – UPDATE 12.november 2022
SLEEPLESS ON THE ATLANTIC
Posted in Blogs, Blue water, Equipment, Golden Globe Race, Windpilot
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SV Elane – Eivind Amsrud NOR
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
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Considerations about emergency rudders
ORCAS – THE THINKING BEGINS
Posted in Blue water, Equipment, Windpilot, Yachts
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In the Service of Aeolus
AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A SAILOR
SV Asevao – David Jolivet FRA
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
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The Orcas – again
WISHFUL THINKING ABOUT GOOD BOAT BUILDING TRADITIONS?
Posted in Blue water, Columns, Yachts, YouTube
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SV Polonez – Krzysztof Baranowski PL
TWO LEGENDS ON THE ROAD – NO THREE!
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SV Otter II – Jean + Mario Lumaye BE
CIRCUMNAVIGATION – THREE TIMES – ARZAL de MORBIHAN
After an Iridium call for help from the South Atlantic, an unconventional repair, the Windpilot stern ornament eventually made it through to its third circumnavigation of the globe, albeit not as visually attractive as it was about 10 years ago. Continue reading
Posted in Blue water, Word of mouth
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SV Sini – Mika Pukari FIN
RUSTLER 42 – HELSINKI – KIEL – HELSINKI
Hi Peter, after your fixes in Kiel, the windpilot steers fine. Due the covid issues and restrictions we decided in Rendsburg, to turn home to Finland. Your book Myth Circumnavigation gives invaluable information to bluewater sailors. Thank you very much for writing it, you have made a Good job!
Kinds regards
Mika
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SV Ummagumma – Malu + Simone de Lillo ITA
OVNI 445 – MED – AZORES AND BACK
Hello Peter, hope all is well in Hamburg. Beautiful navigations to the Azores and beetween the islands with your wind pilot. Every day I learn more and more. Pity you didn’t teach the windpilot to stay stable even in gusts. 😉
Thanks and all the best
Simone + Malu SV Ummagumma
Posted in Blogs, Word of mouth
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