does anyone know what happened to that boat — or where to find the construction plans…⁇

Hi all

Due to important changes in my life, WaterBear could be for sale. I might not be able to keep her.

She is currently on the ground in the south of France. Send me an email if you want more infos.

Antoine

Gavin Dalglish wrote:his much later summary, after the loss of Tahiti Belle, of how to go about making an ocean crossing as safely as possible seems to me to be one of the clearest, most concise and well-balanced summaries available, and is still quite up to date, also available on the Jester site here:http://www.jesterinfo.org/thelossoftahitibelle.html

Tahiti Belle was a Val trimaran, unballasted.  If she was built in glass, not wood, had no foam anywhere, and her breaking up threatened the integrity of all watertight compartments, then I can see how she might sink.  Is that what was Nick Barham's concern?  Or that her breaking up opened her up to the sea to the point where she would offer no protection, even if she remained afloat indefinitely?

I remember meeting Nick the best part of 30 years ago.  He was a larger-than-life character of great energy and enthusiasm.  He certainly lived his life and had a good innings.  I suspect he was something of a maverick: sadly, they seem to be a dying breed.  It sounds like he leaves both family and friends behind who will miss him; and those whose lives he briefly touched will surely remember him with a smile and feel the world has become a little poorer for  his passing.

Thanks all for your answers. This is interesting how everybody has his/her own habits.

I currently have the lazy jacks back to the cockpit and find it quite handy. I am reluctant to go to the mast.

I think I will let the mast lift (boom lift ? I really have to learn better all the words involved) at the mast step, as it is a line supposed to be set once but will lead the rest back and will take a shot at the FUP

so

-halyard

-YHP

-LHP

-2 lazy jacks

-FUP

Antoine (WaterBear)