Some points that I noted in the description:
- Flat sails. I've been saying to anyone who will listen that if they want to rig a boat specifically for a tradewind circumnavigation, flat sails will do just fine. Only using 5 gallons of diesel from Spain to NZ confirms this.
- A self-stowing (reel?) winch plus 1/4" Dyneema for the halyards proved easier and more efficient than a multi-part purchase. I go halfway towards that, with a self tailing winch and only 2:1 or 3:1 purchase.
- I've found my Hebridean-principle vane gear to need a very well balanced boat, as the arc of movement of the blade is less than for a horizontal axis servo. JB "will sail herself on all points of sail", so that is the case.
I hope Chris won't mind me quoting from an email he sent me in 2016:
"Canaries, Cape Verde, Atlantic and hope to back in NZ by end of next year. Then like you I have had enough! 44 years on the oceans, four yachts home built. Best thing I did was to downsize and change rig to a junk. That has made all the difference to my now continued sailing. I was thinking reefing etc too much and was going to stop. Now I am in single handed heaven!"