She looks like a nice boat, Patrick.  I can see why you fell in love with her looks.  Seems like good value too, though I have not viewed her.  I need a new boat and she'd be on my short-list if I was not so far away.  Maybe it will happen, who knows.  I'd have to sail her back to Australia though.  But that is a voyage I would like to make.  How much headroom does she have under the flush deck fwd of the coachroof?  I would need a windvane and maybe new sails for such an extended voyage. perhaps?

Hi Patrick, congratulations on the sale.  I hope it progresses as expected.  It would be a long way for me to come to inspect the boat but I do like the look of her.  I would have preferred stouter masts.  It looks like a Sunbird rig, but of course, in strong winds one reefs down and all is well.  A good seaman understands the requirements of the ship and sails the boat accordingly.  As the old sailors used to say, "It is not the ships but the men in them that counts".  I would have sailed via Panama Canal and the South Pacific, a voyage I always wanted to do; it is mostly a broad reach, perfect for a junk!  

So what is your new boat?  I am always interested in the choices people make.

Dear junkists friends, this message is to announce that China Blue is now officially sold.
I'll try to persuade her new owner to join the JRA, though I fear there is a language barrier for him.
I have felt so pleased and proud to have China Blue on the front page of the JRA magazine!
Although it doesn't help the emotional "divorce" now that time comes to leave her.
I hope the new owner (with little sailing experience and totally new to junk rigs) will fall in love with her.
I'll do my best to help him.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Hi Patrick, congratulations on the sale.  I hope it progresses as expected.  It would be a long way for me to come to inspect the boat but I do like the look of her.  I would have preferred stouter masts.  It looks like a Sunbird rig, but of course, in strong winds one reefs down and all is well.  A good seaman understands the requirements of the ship and sails the boat accordingly.  As the old sailors used to say, "It is not the ships but the men in them that counts".  I would have sailed via Panama Canal and the South Pacific, a voyage I always wanted to do; it is mostly a broad reach, perfect for a junk!  

So what is your new boat?  I am always interested in the choices people make.

"It's not the ship but the men in them that counts", how true! I've been using this same kind of saying myself, about skis and bicycles, seeing how so many people believe that by buying the more expensive and latest advertized stuff they will be better performers and get more satisfaction. While I don't deny all kind of improvement!
Yes, the masts appear somewhat skinny, and in strong winds with too much sail (my newbie mistakes), they bent quite impressively... But they have done their job ever since the boat was built, so I never worried. When I bought China Blue, for unknown reason it had no batten parrels, and since I installed them on both sails this bending has been much reduced on starboard tack.
Our new boat is the beautiful Paradox of Plym we bought from Brian and Maddy Kerslake. A Freedom 39 Pilot House. It was Boat of the month in July 2022. As I mentioned before, I'm not against all kind of improvement!

Anonymous wrote:

Congratulations Patrick! I am so glad the sale went through. China Blue is a wonderful vessel. Looking forward to crossing paths with you in Europe in a few months my friend!!

Jonny