Br00tus with his 350 is going for the atlantic!
Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 350
Forum Description: 350 Hints and Tips
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=2664
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:51
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Topic: Br00tus with his 350 is going for the atlantic!
Posted By: bjoris
Subject: Br00tus with his 350 is going for the atlantic!
Date Posted: 27 December 2008 at 13:29
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I find it very interesting and impressive to follow Simon (Br00tus) on his blogg: http://yachtdoris.blogspot.com - http://yachtdoris.blogspot.com . There is lots of updates and he writes very good too...! He left from England in August and now just left Cap Verdes, alone, heading for the Caribeean, St Lucia, Rodney Bay, the same place as the other ARC boats had its landfall. Well, it looks the weather forcast could have been better but I am sure the 350 will bring him safely across.
------------- H350#118 www.bjoris.blogspot.com |
Replies:
Posted By: Peter-Blake
Date Posted: 27 December 2008 at 15:33
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i am follwing his path since some time too. ------------- Blake 370 
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Posted By: bjoris
Date Posted: 15 January 2009 at 18:56
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Congratulations with the crossing Br00tus, I must admit I was a bit worried about your rig out there, it is not supposed to make sounds and move as much as yours, if I understands your very interesting reading! Offcours a rig like the on the 350 has to be able to flex a bit so it might also be okey, I must admit it is a bit frightning when you can se the mast moving.... You should maybe get a rigger too ensure the tenion, it is not easy to do yourself, without any instruments...
Just a thought, the intermediate is supposed to have less tenion compared the two others, but maybe it is safer to also tenion this quite hard, on a journey like yours when there will be times you naturly would not be able to have the right sails and handeling of the rigg... Less tenion on the intermediate are recomended for the possibility to trim the rigg better, but I would have gone for safety first on the rigg ... ------------- H350#118 www.bjoris.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Br00tus
Date Posted: 19 January 2009 at 14:59
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Hi all ... I am just now catching up with forums and emails etc. So sorry for the late reply. DORIS got me safely across and I am still alive and well in St. Lucia. The rig was fine, there is some 'flex' but thats normal for a fractional with swept spreaders etc such as on the 350. Its just scary when you look up from the heads window and see the 'pumping' movement. I tensioned the rig myself in Cape Verdes before crossing and I am very glad I did! In order of tension I made the Caps tight (1 complete turn), The lowers tight, but looser than the caps (1/2 turn) and the intermediates I left alone. I had previously put 1/2 a turn on the lowers a few months back. All the above are the only changes made to the rig tension from new. When sailing in a good wind with some heel you can just see the intermediates start to slacken slightly. I could probably go a little tighter for safety on everything, but I think I have done a reasonable job considering I didnt have any rigging tools at the time.
The noise I heard enroute was 'play' in the vang bracket which needs some washers to take up play, so nothing to worry about.
Also, its very confusing when you talk to rigging 'specialists', I spoke to a few who were around for the ARC and they gave completely different advice. I finally made adjustments based on reading the Selden Rig Tuning guide online.
It is quite scary to see the lowers go loose when you 'hove to' in a storm. I used the main on its own (3rd reef) pinned in with the wheel to weather in a F8 squall and she sits lovely about 30-40 degrees off the wind. You can do the same on a scrap of jib at about 40-50 degrees off the wind, a very useful ability in a boat I think. In fact I have more confidence in 'hoving to' on Doris using a single sail than traditionaly using both sails as she sometimes tacks herself!
The only critisism I have is the fact that she is so 'Corky' and gets thrown around quite a lot off steep waves but thats to be expected for such a light boat not being manually helmed (Hydrovane only as I have no electric autopilot).
Also, swept spreaders are not the ideal configuration for down wind sailing and I am very glad I had wear patches fitted to the mainsail.
Lastly, anyone considering a similar trip should think closely about the internal fixings and the lack of fiddles on tables and cupboards can make life a nightmare on a longer trip. I have made some additions to the cupboards as I couldn't stand another day at sea wrestling with cups and plates.
In conclusion, the 350 is not a 'traditional' choice of boat for such a long trip, but more than capable and I have no worries in the ability of the boat to get me anywhere in the world. Although, obviously more comfort might be found on a heavier displacement vessel.
------------- “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans” Website: Http://yachtdoris.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Gregor
Date Posted: 19 January 2009 at 18:13
Congratulation Br00tus, I'm impressed of what you did. I say we put our hands together for you here at the forum 
Gregor ------------- Uisge Beatha Currently sailing Dehler 36 JV (2002) Previous boat: Hanse 311 #80 http://www.uisge-beatha.eu" rel="nofollow - http://www.uisge-beatha.eu |
Posted By: Peter-Blake
Date Posted: 19 January 2009 at 18:42
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Brootus, you did it, great job ------------- Blake 370
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Posted By: Br00tus
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 00:24
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Many thanks for the kind words guys ...
I am currently working my way through the resultant repairs and alterations and will post the details shortly.
------------- “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans” Website: Http://yachtdoris.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Gran Onada
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 14:14
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Major congratulations Br00tus.
Getting across the Atlantic is one of my dreams, I am also happy to see the 350 is capable.
Will keep looking at your blog for further impressions. ------------- Gran Onada IV - Hanse 350 #130 |
Posted By: Rubato
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 18:57
| Excellent Br00tus. That is a great accomplishment. Now I'm very jealous - St. Lucia is a gorgeous island, could use some of that hot sunny weather right now! |
Posted By: panos
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 22:20
   ....------------- Panos Hanse 630e - selling her - |
Posted By: bjoris
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 23:26
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Great news about your rig then. By spesialist I was thinking about a professional rigger with the right rigging guide for the 350 and ofcourse with tention instruments. I have had mine tuned by professionals and the upper and lower scrudes are very tight, the intermediate are a lot less tight, going hard upwind you can see them getting looser, but not loose. I have never seen the lower getting loose, but then again I have not done serious sailing like yours, never been to any storm with it yet...! As I am sure you know, looser intermediates, gives the possibility to bend the mast, flattening the mainsail by pulling the backstay. It will also make the mast flex more espasialy in big waves going against them, so it is important that the intermediate also are tight enhough, although they dont need to be as tight as the two others. I guess the mast will flex less if the intermediates was sett as hard as the two others, but the trimming possibility will also be less. Well, I am not an expert (it might sound like it reading my bad english
 ), but since you worte about the rig and this is for me a point I need to have controll over and it is very interesseting to read about your experience. Ofcourse in all other respects too, both with the boat and the exploration. You are doing what we all just dream about...I also have the noice you have from your boomvang (or what it is called). Quite load noice that I hope is easy to gett ridd of...
What are your plans now, do you know what the next move will be? ------------- H350#118 www.bjoris.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Captain_i
Date Posted: 22 January 2009 at 20:11
| Congratulation Br00tus! It has been great to read your story in the middle of dark winter and waiting for next season. |
Posted By: Peter-Blake
Date Posted: 25 January 2009 at 17:43
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Now you find a link on the hanse page to Doris page ;-)
http://www.hanseyachts.com/DE/Kundenservice/Aktuelles/Aktuelles-Detail.aspx?id=168 - http://www.hanseyachts.com/DE/Kundenservice/Aktuelles/Aktuelles-Detail.aspx?id=168 ------------- Blake 370
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Posted By: Br00tus
Date Posted: 28 January 2009 at 03:05
Fame & Fortune at last!... 
I wonder if they will give me any promotional work at the next Boat show?
------------- “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans” Website: Http://yachtdoris.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Br00tus
Date Posted: 24 March 2009 at 14:27
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Hi Guys ...
Just a quick post to announce that Doris is for Sale. If I don't sell her here in the Caribbean I will be sailing her back to the UK via the Azores around June time.
Full details and pics etc can be found on my blog if anyone is interested.
------------- “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans” Website: Http://yachtdoris.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Rubato
Date Posted: 24 March 2009 at 20:01
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Simon,
Hope things are going well in the Caribbean. I was curious as to why you'd be selling Doris and went to your blog in search of answers. As I read the story on the "person you've become" I was surprised that you'd care what people thought - your appearance versus the Hanse. (although I suspect you're being overly self critical
) However, the real truth was revealed further on in your story - falling in love with "classics"... and now looking for an old Gaff Steel Cutter. I can't help but wonder though, ignoring the looks for a moment (the boat, nor yours), have you sailed one and if you would be happy with her "performance"? I would think it a radical change from the Hanse, but perhaps that too might be the point for you, no? You seem like a man of adventure for sure. |
Posted By: Br00tus
Date Posted: 24 March 2009 at 23:03
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Hi Rubato - thanks for the reply.
I really dont care what people think of me, but I do care how they treat me. People do judge you by your boat and it does affect how they treat you and therefore you're overall experience of a place. This has been proven time after time during my stay in the Caribbean, where a large proportion of their income is from 'Yachties', usually rich ones! But you are correct - this is NOT the reason I have decided to sell Doris.
As my first boat, I have truly been spoilt by the Hanse and its outstanding saiiling performance. But when I am single handing I tend to reef down hard and sail her at a fraction of what she is capable of, especially as I only have Wind Self Steering.
I will miss however, the ability to virtually sail into the wind when compared to what a Gaff rig is capable of! While I havent sailed one yet (looking for the oppurtunity) I understand their limitations.
Performance aside, of late I have become more and more interested in older boats and all things nautical such as Celestial navigation etc. I think it would be interesting to dip my toes into a retro world even if just for a short while. Just to get a glimpse of what passage making was like all those years ago for Slocum & Moitessier etc. Maybe its the romance of making a landfall in an old boat using old navigation techniques?
Just to be clear I wouldn't hesitate to recomend a Hanse to anyone considering a modern boat - I think both the boats and the company are awsome and both have exceeded my expectations. I am 100% certain that DORIS was exactly the right boat for me to learn to sail in and set off in nearly a year ago. I would however, love to see them produce a sub 30ft boat a H270 perhaps?!?! Being Single Handed a 35ft boat is really overkill for my needs. Yes the waterline is nice for longer passages but Im never usually in a rush.
Anyway, I dont imagine she will sell imediately and am therefore still looking forward to the N Atlantic via the Azores in May. I am sure we still have a good few miles to share together yet...
------------- “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans” Website: Http://yachtdoris.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Rubato
Date Posted: 25 March 2009 at 17:07
| Very cool Simon, I admire you and somewhat envious. Thanks for sharing with us. Steve |
Posted By: gshannon
Date Posted: 05 April 2009 at 06:06
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A good trip Brootus, and so early in your sailing career too! I have now sailed for 38 years and have owned (pause to count) 10 yachts, including one trimaran, one classic folkboat, a steel pilothouse boat of my own design, an ultra-light racer, also my own design, and 2 Hanse 371s. The only one I feel nostalgic about is the folkboat which was and ideal bachelors boat. Quite fast, and delightful to sail, easy on the eyes, and nobody assumed I was rich! All the boats I owned gave me great pleasure and each was the right boat for me at that time. I would take any one of them again today, rather than be without a boat. Except the steel one. Rust never sleeps... ------------- Grahame Tangleberry 371-092 aviadesign.com |
Posted By: Br00tus
Date Posted: 07 April 2009 at 18:40
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wow! - What a selection of boats and what a sailing career - 38 yrs!!!
I have some friends who own both wooden and steel boats. I dont feel I know enough about wooden boats and have a morbid fear of 'ship worms'. But they are amazing to sail on and be around. I do feel however, as long as I keep on top of a good steel hull, that is the way to go for me at the moment. I guess you cant beat good Ol GRP for trouble free maintainance. The fact that you are on your second Hanse of the same model speaks volumes.
No doubt I will search for but never find that 'perfect' boat - its a moving target. Age changes tastes...
------------- “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans” Website: Http://yachtdoris.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Br00tus
Date Posted: 04 May 2009 at 13:38
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Hi guys ..
Well DORIS is off across the Atlantic again this week via the Northern route to the Azores. Head winds and possible light airs - the Hanse 350 should be the perfect boat for this trip.
Talk about a comprehensive field test for a newish model - heh!
I'll be posting regular updates via my blog if anyone is interested...
------------- “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans” Website: Http://yachtdoris.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Rubato
Date Posted: 05 May 2009 at 19:51
| Fair winds and safe travels! |
Posted By: bjoris
Date Posted: 13 June 2009 at 18:59
Safe to Horta, Azores! Well done Simon, maybe your of the the last legg now? I am realy impressed by your singelhanded tripp, I read your blogg regulary and it is just a shame your soon by the end of the road this time... Great reading ------------- H350#118 www.bjoris.blogspot.com |
Posted By: Br00tus
Date Posted: 14 June 2009 at 19:49
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Hi Bjoris - Well like you say Im not quite home yet so more sailing and more writing to come. I should leave Horta bound for the UK in a week or so.
I still have to sell Doris and find another boat, refit it (probably) and set sail. I wonder if Hanse will do a Gaff Rigged 350G prototype for me? - heh!
I will probably also keep blogging as a reminder to myself in years to come. I can't wait to get going as I am completely in love with the cruising life. I highly reccomend it...!!!
------------- “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans” Website: Http://yachtdoris.blogspot.com |