We have put it through a test

Hi all,

 

We picked up our 350 #61 on the   nineth of april at Medemblik and sailed it to IJmuiden. On the 12 th of april we were going to sail it to Stellendam. A 55 mile Northsea trip. The weather soon started to deteriate and the wind 33 knots 4 mtr waves against the current. No chance to make it to Stellendam. Slamming like mad I thought the boat was going to bits. We kept this going for about 2 hours and progressed 3 miles. (work that out)

 

Then we decide to lower the main and sail back on the jib. Main did not come down since the halyard came of its block in the top of the mast. I go forward, fix myself with a safetyline and struggled to get it down. After it was down the line was totally blocked.

While sailing on the jib only the mast starts to flex like mad bending somewere in the middle forward and backwards. Tightening the backstay improved it a little. I was glad to be back in IJmuiden.

 

Then you realise a few things. The nice shiny bits of coachroof become life threatning. The steps to go inside when wet the same. One of the crew hurt her back falling down. It should all be covered with non-slip. One of our crew (me) was hit by a huge wave and had to  change. Inside most of the cupboards have opened, so have the draws. Glasses and cups broken on the floor. The seats all over the place. Because the chart table is flat navigation stuff with maps all over the floor. All the stuff, like books which were standing behind the sofabackrests on the floor. No handrail  anywhere  inside the cabin very dangerous !!

 

All the bedgear in front cabin wet, water though escape hatch. Starboard window leaking (the fixed one).

 

Lazarette had a bucket full of seawater come in. All the gear in there also wet.

Water on the shelf on starboard above the small cupboard. No idea where that came from.

 

The conclusion must be that the company who designed the inside knows nothing about sailing in these conditions and I must admitt I did not pay all to much attention to it at first.

 

Hanse themselfs seem to be cutting corners as far as safety is  concirned and at the same time claim this boat to be class A. It looks like this boat is for sailing on inside lakes on a nice day. At this stage I would not take this boat to sea again without some serious modifications.

 

My previous boat was a Beneteau 281 and although I never liked the sailingcapabilities never ever was there a drop of water inside, handrails everywere. Nothing could fall out of anything. We never took it to sea but the area we sail in can be just about as rough as the sea.

 

Since we cannot raise the mainsail anymore we will sail(motor) her home through rivers and canals, which is a long way around. No more sea for us for now. (#@@@#@#@$%%^^)This starts with a F.

 

Will call the dealer tomorrow. (grrrrrrrrrr)

 

Regards, Willem

 

 

Also I think that the boat and crew was not prepared for the conditions you met.

I think that the simple fact that the boat returned you home without any damage means something.Broken cups, wet books and dirty pillows are not welcomed but actualy not important. I suggest you plan a bad weather checklist, do some small improvements in the boat furnirure, and go out in the sea again.

 

This sounds like a nightmare for you, and I hope you will provide us with the the answer you get from your dealer.

 

We`r going to Greifswald in 8 days, sailing our new 350, 550 nmil to the west of Norway so it is of great interest to hear if the are something wrong with the design.

It is not obvious to me in all aspects by your information. I hope it is okey for you that I post my comments on this topics, I know it is very easy, sitting at my computer to see what you might have done wrong or should have done otherwise but a boat in Class A does not mean it will handel all kind of us in conditions like this... This is also pointed out in the handover book.

 

1. "Slamming like mad I thought the boat was going to bits..."

I am sure you know that this boat and many new designs like this has very flat bottom, making it fast but the designer ofcourse know this is not the best solution in the kind of conditions you experienced. We therefore need to take in account this when sailing in rough conditions against the wind and sea as you did. I am sure you did have both reef in the main, how much did you reef the selftaker? I have read that there should have been a 3. reef. Mayby this is some of the improvements we all need to do. What speed did you have in this conditions? My experience is that if the wind and waves comes from the same directions you need to make lower progression and/or reduce speed (more reefing) to reduce this serious slamming which is not good for the boat over time. It might be difficult but you need to avoid that speed are to high and/or directions you hit the waves with, is to direct.

 

2. "...Main did not come down since the halyard came of its block in the top of the mast..."

 

This I think several Hanse owner has experienced, I know from reading this forum and I wonder why Hanse still have not found a solution that makes this impossible, is it that difficult? I guess it will happen if the main are slamming, but from time to time this will happen so it should not get jammed beacuse of this, bad solution and dangerous...

 

3. "While sailing on the jib only the mast starts to flex like mad bending somewere in the middle forward and backwards..."

 

As Panos wrote it is not a good idea to sail in this conditions with just the jib up. If you have to do this no need to reef the jib quite a lot, making it at the size of a storm jib. Did you do that? If so it is disturbing news that the mast are pumping so badly. I hope you will check the tention on the rigg and tell us about it. The rigg need to be very thight and you need a tentionmeter to find out, it is not possible to find out without... Do not trust that your dealer does this good enhough. Get an rigging expert to cheeck your rigg.

 

4. "The nice shiny bits of coachroof become life threatning. The steps to go inside when wet the same..."

 

I have noticed this and I fully agree, it is not safe, but design have been more and more importante to sell sailingboats, so in some respect it is our fault, sometimes it is not easy to make both secure, low price and good looking sailboats. This is anyway a bad compromise from Hanse. Needs to be fixed.

 

5. Things flying around in the boat from cupboards and draws opening

 

This seems to be a very bad design. You need to put the knob in but I am sure you did... To bad solutions, I have placed it on my cheecklist...

 

6. Water comming in several places.

 

This was not nice reading, but I think sadly it is more the rule than not that there are leakages in new boats. I am planing to test this before leaving Greifswald, but it might ofcourse not appare before you have high seas and heavy conditions like you had...

 

Well, this was my thoughts by the information you have given us, I hope you will follow up with news. I will ofcourse post a report from our deliverytripp to Norway when we hopefully have reached our homeport safely...

 

 

 

 

To make it clear to you. We were very well prepared, had all the gear on board and were wearing sea going gear .

Of course had two reefs in the main and a crew with years and years of  experience in simular conditions.

I too understand that wet seats etc are not important but if they make you almost break your neck tripping over them if you need to go inside they become a hazard !!!

 

The main sail never flapped as you suggest. It just did not come down in the first place with the  halyard jammed.

Not lowering the main once you decide to run away will give you a boat which is totally  out of control.

 

It is the only way to do this !!!!! of course with the reefed jib out. 8 knots running away with a stable ship. If you know a better way let me know. You might want to think again before you make statements like that. The sailing experience of the crew is no less then 40 years each excuse me.

 

Willem