Minerva
Well-known member
Thats it - I'm going to launch a new Ostar. Advertise it as strictly run under the "same conditions" as the original Blondie Haslar race, but the boats must be carbon fibre foiling 25ft catamarans. 
Golden Globe Race - Entering the Orca Zone!
- Thread starter Halcyon Yachts
- Start date
GHA
Well-known member
And charge £10k to enter. You're on a winner ?Thats it - I'm going to launch a new Ostar. Advertise it as strictly run under the "same conditions" as the original Blondie Haslar race, but the boats must be carbon fibre foiling 25ft catamarans.
dunedin
Well-known member
There were a lot more than 4 starters in the original race. And of the GRP ones, two I believe were bilge keelers - though neither made it to the Southern Ocean. One still sits ashore in Loch Laxford, still owned by its original skipper.
Perhaps none of the original entrants would qualify for these bizarre rules
RogerJolly
Active member
Are they all drunk though, or maybe dodging the orcas?
Wansworth
Well-known member
Enbayed?
Colum
New member
Those are the rules, not use complaining about it. I can understand the rules somewhat. However if any boat from before the 1988 was permitted I would like the SHE 36
Colum
New member
There doesn't appear to be a wide availability of used Vancouver 34. You have experience of this boat? How would you expect it to perform against the Rustler and Biscay?
PhillM
Well-known member
They are all wrong … they need a bilge keel Corribiee MK2. Would increase the market value of mine
SaltyC
Well-known member
WOT?? Not an Anderson 22?They are all wrong … they need a bilge keel Corribiee MK2. Would increase the market value of mine
Seriously, Vancouver 34 vs Rustler 36. I would go with the former, designed as cutter, built like a proverbial shed in the garden.
BUT Rustler is the choice of those who 'know'.
Perhaps a 34 Pilothouse and go in comfort?
E39mad
Well-known member
The Vancouver 32 or 34 is similar in displacement and internal volume to a Rustler 36. Not sailed either the Rustler or the Biscay to make a direct comparison but I think they are not far apart. I have sailed a 32 and 34 in varying conditions including 30 knots wind over tide going out through the Needles. It is an extremely reassuring boat and beautifully balanced which means less work for any self steering gear.
Yachting Monthly did a test on about 6 or 8 similar boats in 1994 and the Vancouver and Rustler came out top. What is different is that the Vancouver is designed as a cutter from the outset and it is probably the best rigged out of any of them with two separate backstays, separate intermediates fore and aft and separate lowers as standard.
Colum
New member
The Vancouver 34 appears to have a shallow draft, less than 5 feet. Is that deep enough for crossing stormy oceans?
Fr J Hackett
Well-known member
As an ex owner of a V34C who crossed Biscay in it 4 times including a 36 hr spell of 40 kits plus fortunately up the chuff I can tell you they cope very well especially fitted with a Hydrovane self steering gear.
Colum
New member
How would you rate it's chances in a round the world race against the 36 footers, Rustler, Biscay, Gaia etc?
Fr J Hackett
Well-known member
I used to regularly sail against a Rustler, there was nothing to choose between them.
E39mad
Well-known member
There were 62 V32's built and about 45 Vancouver 34's including the Pilots - many of which have crossed oceans numerous times.
The 27 and 28 have even less draft (4'3") and are renowned as the sub 30 foot pocket cruiser to sail around the world in. Recently Sea Bear is in Yachting Monthly and Fathom is on Youtube. These boats have doing it successfully since the early 1980's.
Colum
New member
Were you happy with wheel steering. Did converting to a tiller cross your mind?
Fr J Hackett
Well-known member
More than happy, I had a tiller steered V27 for several years and sail several V32s with a tiller but I would never have thought about converting the 34 to tiller I believe a few were made for the joint services though and remember seeing one for sale but I see no particular advantage in fact it would be a disadvantage in not being able to install the below deck Whitlock / Lewmar motor for auto pilot under the pedestal, you would have to use a ram connected to the quadrant which imo is inferior or the even worse option of connecting one to the tiller itself.
capnsensible
Well-known member
The Joint Services Adventurous Sail Traing Centre .....mouthful...?.operated a number of Victoria 34's. I sailed a few of them when the y were first introduced. Tough as old boots. The yachts. And the crews!!
E39mad
Well-known member
The Vancouver 34 is so well balanced you could invariably walk to the foredeck and back and the boat would not veer off track without any steering aid on (autopilot or windvane). The wheel steering was finger light even with the gunnels awash with two fingers on the wheel spoke was all that's needed. I don't think many boats including the Rustler are as well balanced. I only remember one being built with a tiller.