Calling all top hat owners and enthusiasts. For a round Australia non-stop solo unassisted trip ( now being referred to as "The Trip"). Do you think a top hat would be suitable.
1) with 2-3m of sea and 25-30knots is the boat going to stop
2) I have read the mark 1s are fantastic but i have looked and all are over 50. Will a fifty yo boat take the beating "the trip" will hand out ( I mean in general I know this will vary from boat to boat).
3) should I wait and save up for a mighty S&S 34 which, lets be fair is more up to it.
4) what's they toughest stuff you have been in with a top hat? What was it like? What speed where
you doing? Was the boat submarining ( getting swamped)
Any information wanted
PS has anyone here
been knocked down in one? If so could you describe the sea state at the time?
Probably rambling on a bit but Thanks again,
Mick
Select to expand quoteShanty1 said..
Calling all top hat owners and enthusiasts. For a round Australia non-stop solo unassisted trip ( now being referred to as "The Trip"). Do you think a top hat would be suitable.
1) with 2-3m of sea and 25-30knots is the boat going to stop
2) I have read the mark 1s are fantastic but i have looked and all are over 50. Will a fifty yo boat take the beating "the trip" will hand out ( I mean in general I know this will vary from boat to boat).
3) should I wait and save up for a mighty S&S 34 which, lets be fair is more up to it.
4) what's they toughest stuff you have been in with a top hat? What was it like? What speed where
you doing? Was the boat submarining ( getting swamped)
Any information wanted
PS has anyone here
been knocked down in one? If so could you describe the sea state at the time?
Probably rambling on a bit but Thanks again,
Mick
#1 No its not going to stop its going to fly. As ive done numerous times in those conditions.
#2 Tophats cost 30k to make in the 70s'. to copy one today its over 100k. The construction is rugged and tough and this is why im baffled about some insurance companies not insuring us at all. The ballast ratio is almost 50/50. I make mine 50/50 by keeping added weight in the keel section. As i said in my email im about to travel to New Cal then NZ. i have total faith in the boat and am more concerned about my mental ability to undertake such a trip.
#3 you should buy something like a bluebird. get one for 1/2 k. Handle quite alot for a little boat. Id love a s&3s34 and the only reason i dont go for another bigger boat is that, i know my boat. Every time you get a new one you have to kind of start again with set up and getting to know them. Plus theyre not so easy to sell.
#4 toughest stuff ive been in was massive seas on the south coast, white caps everywhere , no one in sight. Head sail up #1, only and too much sail. quite hard to control. Ive since realised my boat loves just the main up in such conditions. Easier to steer. 3/4 metre seas consistent 30knots and gusting higher. This was the second time in such conditions. no submarining. not possible i think. never. Its amazing how you will see a huge wave behind you and your keel rises above it and you stay dry. Water only came in over the side of the cockpit once for me and that was in a weird section near Jervis bay named " The washing machine"
Ive sailed this boat in 40knots, ive had to reef in the middle of the night solo in a southerly change in 30 knots. All in its stride. Hence why im super confident in these boats. Id say the boat would out perform us. me and my boat are like one:)
Never been knocked down in one.
The only thing i didnt like was yet again 30 knots on the nose coming out of turkey, near gladstone. Dont know what i was doing in there but had to get out to motor against wind and tide, so short steep waves. Very uncomfortable. Then We sailed to gladstone absolutely flying averaging about 8 knots but in a swirling channel there. It was horrid. current i guess. We were covered in salt. boat stayed up, went fast, looked after us. as per usual.
Really good boats.
My advice for you is you really need to start sailing. Join a club and get on a boat that races. isnt the season now, but youll find something. alternatively if you want to crew with me you can, but we'd need to meet. Im about to do non stop to QLD, then to noumea. on a tophat.
Actually you could just about get on a boat any day of the week doing such trips.. Helping keep watch .
Select to expand quoteSectorsteve said..Shanty1 said..
Calling all top hat owners and enthusiasts. For a round Australia non-stop solo unassisted trip ( now being referred to as "The Trip"). Do you think a top hat would be suitable.
1) with 2-3m of sea and 25-30knots is the boat going to stop
2) I have read the mark 1s are fantastic but i have looked and all are over 50. Will a fifty yo boat take the beating "the trip" will hand out ( I mean in general I know this will vary from boat to boat).
3) should I wait and save up for a mighty S&S 34 which, lets be fair is more up to it.
4) what's they toughest stuff you have been in with a top hat? What was it like? What speed where
you doing? Was the boat submarining ( getting swamped)
Any information wanted
PS has anyone here
been knocked down in one? If so could you describe the sea state at the time?
Probably rambling on a bit but Thanks again,
Mick
#1 No its not going to stop its going to fly. As ive done numerous times in those conditions.
#2 Tophats cost 30k to make in the 70s'. to copy one today its over 100k. The construction is rugged and tough and this is why im baffled about some insurance companies not insuring us at all. The ballast ratio is almost 50/50. I make mine 50/50 by keeping added weight in the keel section. As i said in my email im about to travel to New Cal then NZ. i have total faith in the boat and am more concerned about my mental ability to undertake such a trip.
#3 you should buy something like a bluebird. get one for 1/2 k. Handle quite alot for a little boat. Id love a s&3s34 and the only reason i dont go for another bigger boat is that, i know my boat. Every time you get a new one you have to kind of start again with set up and getting to know them. Plus theyre not so easy to sell.
#4 toughest stuff ive been in was massive seas on the south coast, white caps everywhere , no one in sight. Head sail up #1, only and too much sail. quite hard to control. Ive since realised my boat loves just the main up in such conditions. Easier to steer. 3/4 metre seas consistent 30knots and gusting higher. This was the second time in such conditions. no submarining. not possible i think. never. Its amazing how you will see a huge wave behind you and your keel rises above it and you stay dry. Water only came in over the side of the cockpit once for me and that was in a weird section near Jervis bay named " The washing machine"
Ive sailed this boat in 40knots, ive had to reef in the middle of the night solo in a southerly change in 30 knots. All in its stride. Hence why im super confident in these boats. Id say the boat would out perform us. me and my boat are like one:)
Never been knocked down in one.
The only thing i didnt like was yet again 30 knots on the nose coming out of turkey, near gladstone. Dont know what i was doing in there but had to get out to motor against wind and tide, so short steep waves. Very uncomfortable. Then We sailed to gladstone absolutely flying averaging about 8 knots but in a swirling channel there. It was horrid. current i guess. We were covered in salt. boat stayed up, went fast, looked after us. as per usual.
Really good boats.
My advice for you is you really need to start sailing. Join a club and get on a boat that races. isnt the season now, but youll find something. alternatively if you want to crew with me you can, but we'd need to meet. Im about to do non stop to QLD, then to noumea. on a tophat.
Actually you could just about get on a boat any day of the week.
Wow, thanks Steve this is exactly the information I want. I see that your confident in the top hat, I reckon the best thing for me is to do the courses. Buy one ( i could probably afford one they are about 10-15,000 to buy one and just sail. I have tried getting on racing boats and to be honest, don't really want to teach you anything more than the basics. Thank you Steve I think I'm sold on a top hat ( obviously if I'm not confident in my abilities I won't be going anywhere). I am just going to say I hope you good luck with your trip.
Select to expand quoteShanty1 said..Sectorsteve said..Shanty1 said..
Calling all top hat owners and enthusiasts. For a round Australia non-stop solo unassisted trip ( now being referred to as "The Trip"). Do you think a top hat would be suitable.
1) with 2-3m of sea and 25-30knots is the boat going to stop
2) I have read the mark 1s are fantastic but i have looked and all are over 50. Will a fifty yo boat take the beating "the trip" will hand out ( I mean in general I know this will vary from boat to boat).
3) should I wait and save up for a mighty S&S 34 which, lets be fair is more up to it.
4) what's they toughest stuff you have been in with a top hat? What was it like? What speed where
you doing? Was the boat submarining ( getting swamped)
Any information wanted
PS has anyone here
been knocked down in one? If so could you describe the sea state at the time?
Probably rambling on a bit but Thanks again,
Mick
#1 No its not going to stop its going to fly. As ive done numerous times in those conditions.
#2 Tophats cost 30k to make in the 70s'. to copy one today its over 100k. The construction is rugged and tough and this is why im baffled about some insurance companies not insuring us at all. The ballast ratio is almost 50/50. I make mine 50/50 by keeping added weight in the keel section. As i said in my email im about to travel to New Cal then NZ. i have total faith in the boat and am more concerned about my mental ability to undertake such a trip.
#3 you should buy something like a bluebird. get one for 1/2 k. Handle quite alot for a little boat. Id love a s&3s34 and the only reason i dont go for another bigger boat is that, i know my boat. Every time you get a new one you have to kind of start again with set up and getting to know them. Plus theyre not so easy to sell.
#4 toughest stuff ive been in was massive seas on the south coast, white caps everywhere , no one in sight. Head sail up #1, only and too much sail. quite hard to control. Ive since realised my boat loves just the main up in such conditions. Easier to steer. 3/4 metre seas consistent 30knots and gusting higher. This was the second time in such conditions. no submarining. not possible i think. never. Its amazing how you will see a huge wave behind you and your keel rises above it and you stay dry. Water only came in over the side of the cockpit once for me and that was in a weird section near Jervis bay named " The washing machine"
Ive sailed this boat in 40knots, ive had to reef in the middle of the night solo in a southerly change in 30 knots. All in its stride. Hence why im super confident in these boats. Id say the boat would out perform us. me and my boat are like one:)
Never been knocked down in one.
The only thing i didnt like was yet again 30 knots on the nose coming out of turkey, near gladstone. Dont know what i was doing in there but had to get out to motor against wind and tide, so short steep waves. Very uncomfortable. Then We sailed to gladstone absolutely flying averaging about 8 knots but in a swirling channel there. It was horrid. current i guess. We were covered in salt. boat stayed up, went fast, looked after us. as per usual.
Really good boats.
My advice for you is you really need to start sailing. Join a club and get on a boat that races. isnt the season now, but youll find something. alternatively if you want to crew with me you can, but we'd need to meet. Im about to do non stop to QLD, then to noumea. on a tophat.
Actually you could just about get on a boat any day of the week.
Wow, thanks Steve this is exactly the information I want. I see that your confident in the top hat, I reckon the best thing for me is to do the courses. Buy one ( i could probably afford one they are about 10-15,000 to buy one and just sail. I have tried getting on racing boats and to be honest, don't really want to teach you anything more than the basics. Thank you Steve I think I'm sold on a top hat ( obviously if I'm not confident in my abilities I won't be going anywhere). I am just going to say I hope you good luck with your trip.
My boat cost me 5k. Ive spent about 10k on it and wil spend another 10k, mostly on safety gear.
you can get tophats cheap.
Im not a fan of racing. In fact i hated it. BUT. youll learn alot and fast. Even if you think you arent.
youll have bbqs/beers after and youll become part of a team. There is a shortage really of crew available, so its free and easy to do. Just gotta put the feelers out. I didnt go looking for racing, racing found me as i kept on going to my boat and sailing every moment i could. People saw this and asked me to join. I thank them as they taught me so much. I now do much more than them, but i attribute part of my current level of experience to them so im eternally grateful for the opportunity they gave me.
for eg one of the things i was taught early on was this: I asked the boat owner a question. I asked " what happens if youre out there and the wind really gets strong, what do you do?" He replied "Decrease sail area" I remember thinking "Oh, makes sense!" so after this comment i focussed on going out in my lil bluebird in the strongest winds, double reefing, storm jibs. You then realise you can handle any winds with the right sail combination. Even in a 22 footer.
Its very important to get to know your boat and what she likes and this happens over time and miles.
when sailing from Burrum Heads to Garrys Anchorage, the wind constantly increased. At 6am its was 25. Then by about 2pm it was a steady 40knots from the nor west. I had a reef in the main and the number 3 up. I have no furler but a downhaul on my jib , so i can douse the jib without going forward. Bow netting keeps the jib on the bow. So i thought it would be easier in these winds to drop the jib, so i did. Many say that boats go better with just the jib in strong winds. Well ive found that not to be the case for me on my boat. So Kia was flying along with just the main up as the winds were increasing. Using the topping lift i would curl the main up, decreasing sail area, then dropping it a bit to get more power. Powering , depowering. All in control in 40 knots.
So my main is my thing for really strong winds and extra stability. Downwind anyway.
I set my boat up like a racing boat using the same expensive sheaves and leads etc.
I try to get the most out of my sails and boat always and try to go as fast as possible always. probably because of the racing.
If im in a tonne of wind and the boats going 8 knots with current etc, i keep that up for as long as i can.
Select to expand quoteSectorsteve said..
im about to travel to New Cal then NZ. i have total faith in the boat and am more concerned about my mental ability to undertake such a trip.
Is yours Australian registered Steve??
Select to expand quoteLazzz said..Sectorsteve said..
im about to travel to New Cal then NZ. i have total faith in the boat and am more concerned about my mental ability to undertake such a trip.
Is yours Australian registered Steve??
NZ registered. Easy as for me being a kiwi. Online 1200 bucks nz
