David Tyler wrote:

paul bowering wrote: Hi. New here and are looking for a boat to sail home to NZ.

I've done lots of sailing on pointy rigged boats and also gaff....

I have found this boat for sale, any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks.

paul.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1987/GEORGIAN-Cat-Schooner-2325305/Sidney/Canada

Hi Paul,

Welcome to the JRA.

That's a very interesting boat you've found. Being designed by Bruce Kirby, she'll be fast and lively to sail. She seems to be well equipped for the trip except for needing a GPS and a selfsteering gear. The sails will be cut flat, I expect, which we've moved away from, putting camber into the panels; but for the trade wind run down to New Zealand, that won't be a disadvantage. I see the radar is at the top of the foremast, which will need to be very stiff to avoid too much whipping about at sea. The halyards are wire, to a winch, and I would want to replace these with rope tackles, as is usual. I would suggest 3-part halyards led to self tailing winches. I would throw off the microwave oven, and add a bigger anchor (I am very pleased with the 20kg Rocna I bought recently).

Otherwise, she looks pretty darned good, and almost ready to go.

I've searched back through the postings, and I see that Kurt Ulmer has actually seen Tristram E and sailed alongside her (go to the technical forum and search on Tristram E in the Google search box). He may be able to tell you more.

David Tyler wrote: There's no need for low-stretch rope, but I prefer highest quality yacht braid, for longest life, and best overall economy. There was a topic in one of the fora not long back, in  which we chewed the fat over ropes for junk rig.

Yes, three part halyards.  Some people use more, without a winch. If you use less, with a powerful winch, the sail can come down a tad too fast if you let go of the halyard, with all that weight in the spars. Three parts and a st winch of 16:1 to 30:1 is optimum for efficiency and ease of handling, I think.