LETTERS
The Navtec Integral Backstay Adjuster has been redesigned to be 10% lighter than previous models. In addition to design improvements in shape and styling, the new
adjuster
has
eliminated
the external feed tube.
It has
softer edges on the jaw and body.
Cotter pins, which often
catch on sheets, lines and sails,
have
been
r e m o v e d . These improvements help boost reliability
without
affecting stroke. The Series 9 model has features for racers and cruisers alike.
• Ergonomically gauge location • Longer Stroke for modern masts • Faster acting pump • World wide service support Available in clear aluminum or black hard coat finish
Find Lewmar products at: Sausalito Marine Electric • Sausalito, CA • 415-332-9030 Sea Tek Yachting • Wilmington, CA • 310-549-1800 Svendsen’s Marine • Alameda, CA • 510-522-2886 Sailing Supply • San Diego, CA • 619-225-9411 Rigworks • San Diego, CA • 619-223-3788 KKMI • Richmond, CA • 510-237-4141
Page 42 •
Latitude 38
• August, 2010
Mike — We have an exclusive feature in this issue on the flipping of Catalyst. It's an incredible story with accurate details — such as the fact that warps were streamed. Also remember that if you're on a cat that has flipped, wearing a PFD can just as likely kill you as save you. That said, everything else you've written is consistent with our experience on cats. The only other thing we'd add is that, if the boat is in danger of pitchpoling, the crew should also move as much weight as far aft as possible, just as on monohulls. Indeed, some of the big ocean racing multihulls have provisions for flooding the aft compartment of each hull to both slow the boat down and keep the bows up. Size really does matter when it comes to cat safety offshore. Longer cats can sail faster with less danger and, everything else being equal, bigger cruising cats are far less prone to flipping. These are the reasons that we opted to make Profligate a very simple but very big cat. This is not to say that people haven't done amazing things with small cats. Take the Gounard family who live in Sausalito's Galilee Harbor, where Doreen is the harbormaster, for six months a year and most recently have been cruising for the other six months. They self-built their 33-ft catamaran Imani, with which they have since circumnavigated. It's not something that we would do on a cat that size, but then we're not half the sailors that they obviously are. ⇑⇓A RARE 'YELLOW ALERT' CARIBBEAN VACATION I read about the attack on Mike Harker aboard his Mariner 49 Wanderlust 3 while at anchor in Simpson Lagoon, St. Martin. We've just returned from a charter in St. Martin aboard a Moorings 4300 cat, and I found it interesting that, during the charter briefing, The Moorings woman kept repeating how important it was to lock the dinghy and outboard, no matter if we went ashore or if we stayed on the boat. She also added that we should lock the boat when away and at night. We have chartered numerous times in the British Virgin Islands and never locked our dinghy — or our boat, for that matter. But while in St. Martin, we did notice numerous 'groups' of young adults and teenagers eyeballing people as they strolled by in Phillipsburg. Having been in law enforcement for the last 32 years, I didn't find it hard to figure out what they were thinking. As a result, we remained vigilant when out shopping, and made a habit of making eye contact with and even saying hello to these people as they walked by. If anyone is going to St. Martin, they need to pay attention to what is going on around them and, if ashore, not drink so much alcohol that they lose their ability to sense danger. Our charter in St. Martin was a unique experience for us, because when on family vacations in the Caribbean, I'm not usually on 'Yellow Alert'. Maybe this is why I didn't enjoy St. Martin as much as I did the British Virgins. Keith Jensen Optimus Prime, Beneteau 49 Emerycove Marina Keith — Having spent a lot of short periods of time in St. Martin over the years, and most recently in May, and having never had a problem, we feel that you can enjoy an excellent charter out of that island. But as you say, you need to know what's going on and use common sense. Given a seven-day charter out of St. Martin, we'd spend three of them, at the very most, at St. Martin itself. Using normal precautions, we think you can have fun and be safe at: 1) Pelican Bay, where you can have fun ashore at the friendly St. Martin YC, enjoy delicious Indian food at Lal's, check out the megayachts at the Palapa and other marinas, visit the great