For those that have not physically joined us on this voyage,
here are the nuts and bolts of our boat.
Designed by Peter Joubert and built by Baker yachts in 1971,
she is one of about 25 Brolgas built. 10.16m (33’4”) long, 3.1m beam and 2.1m
draught. The latter has been a little deep on occasion for cruising but with
half the 11,000 lb displacement in the keel, it’s reassuring in heavy weather. Being built in the early days of GRP, she is
solid, with 7 full or partial bulk heads and forward of amidships has ribs
every foot.
A windex and VHF aerial top the mast. We have a slightly shorter single spreader
rig compared to the double spreader rig on most Brolgas. Being an old race
boat, the suite of sails is more than
necessary for cruising and we could have easily gone without the #1, 3 jib and
a spinnaker. However we have used them all so the list is: Mainsail, trysail on
its own track, #1 and #2 jib that fit the furler, #3, #4 and storm jib that
hank on a removable solent stay that we tie back for enclosed water sailing or
we can’t tack the jib without furling.
Otherwise we leave the #4 hanked on and the storm jib can be attached
above it if required. Finally, 2 spinnakers and a blooper. With just the two of
us sailing we have found the blooper the handiest light wind sail when used
like and asymmetrical spinnaker, as it is easy to set and douse with-out a
pole. For stronger down wind sailing we
do have 2 poles, with fore and aft preventers and topping lifts on these poles
and the sheets, it becomes quite the cats cradle in the cockpit. Both storm
sails have their own sheets that remain on the sails. Self tailing winches
never made it to the top of the wish list, but the 8 cockpit winches with
cleats and jammers have worked perfectly
The main anchor is a 35lb Delta on 80m of 5/16” chain and that runs over a manual windlass. This is great for simplicity, exercise and saves having to start the engine to sail on and off the anchor. The anchor well drains overboard, a nice alteration we made and we have to flake the chain if more than 30m is out. A sealable dorade over the forward end of the vee berth and small hatch over its aft end provide good ventilation. The large fore hatch is kept locked down at sea except in calm conditions and two dorades over the main cabin can be left open for ventilation in all but gale conditions. At anchor in hot weather the wind scoop forcing air down the aft facing fore hatch is our best friend.
The dodger and side curtains on the life rails around the cockpit keep the majority of spray out except in heavy weather and also give a little privacy for using the solar shower in the cockpit.
The life-raft sits on deck under the boom which rather blocks some of the view, we opted for this rather than a valise packed raft taking up more room below. We have a tiller for steering which can also be connected to an Autohelm 2000 tiller pilot when motoring or the manual Flemming self steering gear (our most important crew member). This has been very reliable and easy to use. It also swings up out of the water very easily when not in use and his name is Earnest because that’s how he works.
Above Earnest, a radar/solar panel framework holds a 62W and
105W panels. These go through separate
regulators to the single start and house battery respectively. In NZ we
upgraded from a 42/62W combination which has given us a lot more power freedom as
we hate and rarely do run the engine to charge, preferring to be frugal with
power consumption. For charging cameras and computers we have a small 150W
inverter that plugs in so we have no fixed AC systems to worry about.
Diving below decks the anchor locker can be accessed through a watertight hatch. Aft of that the vee berth with clothe storage racks above is just long and wide enough for the two us. The pile of paraphernalia under that bunk has never been reduced. Next section aft is a sail locker (always crammed) and head. You can’t stand up in the head, but on a boat that’s a good thing as peeing into a small bowl from a distance is a bad idea. Curtains divide all these areas, so our friends and family who join us have to be pretty down to earth people. The “saloon” area makes use of every nook and cranny for storage with the galley running down the starboard side and a settee that drops to a double bunk on the port. The double seats of the settee face each other with our GPS radar and SSB receiver between and current charts stored under the table top which is also our chart table when underway.
At the forward end of the settee the mast sits on a large
girder that wraps up to the chainplates.
There is a hanging locker to port and to starboard is a diesel heater
and oil lamp that keeps the chill off cool evenings.
Our stove is a Swedish Origo non-pressurized alcohol stove
that is simple, safe and effective to use. Obtaining fuel has sometimes led us
on interesting searches, but only once have we had to resort to our camping
stove when in Mexico
Lockers fill the port side of the settee area and under the
galley bench that runs the length of the saloon area. High in the bilge under
the table is fresh food storage as we rarely use the fridge at sea (not making
the power to run it continuously).
Tankage for diesel is likewise split with the majority in a
stainless tank and the remainder in a flexible tank. This gives about 150L
useable fuel. Add 30L in jerry cans and we have a range of about 500nm.
Around the bilge are 2 more anchors and chain. That added to
our main anchor and stern anchor with chain and rode in the cockpit, gives us
more ground tackle than I hope we’ll ever use.
That said, we’ve had up to 3 set out on one occasion. We do carry a 15’
parachute sea anchor as well and have had the dubious pleasure of using it once
a 1000nm east of NZ.
The port quarter berth is a long wide berth and is our sea
berth that we hot bunk in. The starboard quarterberth is a bit more of a
squeeze and is our “spare room” for storing stuff. Between the galley and the
stb quarterberth are 3 big drawers that are bolted locked at sea. Great storage
and above is a switch panel, VHF and AM/FM radios.
Our dinghy is a 9ft inflatable Avon Redcrest with a soft
bottom and no outboard. It rows very well and carries 4 adults easily. We have accepted a lift a few times over the
years to reach a distant objective, but have no intention on changing. It rolls
up and stows easily, we have no fuel worries and enjoy the exercise.
So that is our great little ship Narama in a nutshell.
