SIGHTINGS example, is strewn with fishing lines and lobster traps, and the charts on most navigation and GPS units are not accurate for Mexico. Indeed, in many places the charts are more than a mile off. So avoid the shore, and triple-check your navigation by also using radar and a fathometer. When in doubt, stay out. If it’s foggy, stay way out. — rs
rosebud — cont’d ritory of the 2007 TransPac. As for when the Bay Area will get a look at the new Rosebud, Park says they’d like to be at next year’s Big Boat Series, though some scheduling conflicts are still to be resolved. Regardless of where she races, this boat will be one to watch. With a resumé like Sturgeon’s and a name like Rosebud, the sweet smell of success can’t be far away. — ss
morrelli & melvin open offices in south africa Best known to American sailors for having designed Steve Fossett’s record-setting around-the-world maxi cat PlayStation/Cheyenne, Newport Beach multihull designers and product developers Gino Morrelli and Pete Melvin are on such a roll that they are opening up an office in Capetown, South Africa. The office will be staffed by Morrelli and one or two of the engineers from their 10-person Newport Beach staff. While not all of Morrelli & Melvin’s upcoming work in South Africa can be revealed at this Gino Morrelli, left, will head up the new South African branch time, it’s wellof the company he started with Pete Melvin, right. known that they have designed the last several Robertson & Caine catamarans used in The Moorings charter fleets, and are also the designers of Peter Johnstone’s Gunboat 48, 62 and 66 catamarans. All of these boats are built in South Africa, and each is more high-tech than its predecessor. The Moorings cats have been very well received, while the pricey Gunboat 48s have been sold through hull #8. Four Gunboat 62s were built but the next four that have been sold will be stretched to 66 feet. When fitted out, the 66 footers will sell for more than $2 million each. These production cats are far from the only projects on the M&M CADs. “We’re a little surprised that it’s taken so long,” says Pete, “but the interest in very large sailing catamarans has really taken off recently. We’ve got an order for an 80-ft Gunboat, an 86-ft design of ours has gone out to bid, and we’re developing a 110-footer for another private client.” Despite designing some of the biggest cruising and racing cats in the world, Morrelli & Melvin know and love small cats, too. Melvin has been one of the top Class A cat racers for many years and, in addition to their design work, Morrelli & Melvin manufacture an 18-ft Class A boat using the infusion resin process at their facility in Southern California. You’ll also remember that in last month’s Sightings we featured Pete and Susan Wolcott’s M&M 52 cat being built by Schooner Creek Boatworks in Portland. “She’ll be launched in a week or two,” says Melvin, “and we were delighted to learn that Steve Rander and his crew have brought her in well under her design weight.” — rs December, 2006 •
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COURTESY MORRELLI & MELVIN
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