alant
Active member
How do they compare to the 35', or any similar 39'?
Are they also 'slow'?
PS whats happened to Bimba?
Tradewind Yachts - think I'm going to sell up and buy one!
- Thread starter Zagato
- Start date
How do they compare to the 35', or any similar 39'?
Are they also 'slow'?
PS whats happened to Bimba?
Boo2
Well-known member
Audaciter
New member
I didn't sail a 35 so I can't compare. Audaciter wasn't slow, but
- she wasn't desperately close winded due to the wide sheeting angle,
- (To state the obvious) she needed an appropriate sail area to get her moving
- she had a fairly short waterline length for her LOA so that limited her hull speed.
I had an inner forestay with inner sheet tracks, which fixed the first point in stronger winds.
I had new sails commissioned, including a Kemp 'Powermain' (3/4 length variable flex battens) and a stack pack to address the second point. That transformed her performance. I also finally got to grips with the cruising chute that had been languishing in a locker, with similar results.
So once I had her set up I never thought of her as slow. As you'd expect, once the sea state climbed much above a flat calm she had an advantage over the flatties, and ended up being relatively quick.
I spoke to Bimba's old owners yesterday. I don't know them, but had exchanged ideas when we were both thinking of selling at the same time. They sold Bimba a couple of years ago to a couple who had retired and wanted to go off sailing. The new owners had been off for a couple of years, I believe. Anyway, I happened to be in Falmouth at October half term, looking around for a possible future purchase, and came across Bimba - out of the water in a yard. There was a ladder up, so I guess she's still in active use.
Audaciter
New member
Nikia, was that Tradewind of Swanwick?
I ask because I just heard about her through a Swedish gent who emailed me about my old boat (www.audaciter.co.uk) - apparently TW of Swanwick has been renamed Bumps, and is for sale in Sweden.
Attachments
Scotty_Tradewind
Well-known member
Apologies for repetition here, but I love my Tradewind which has just taken me across Biscay in summer 2015 in terrific comfort, and we've 'party sailed' the rias in Galicia for 4 months. Who says they are not for port hopping?
What a great boat the 39 is.
I missed the opportunity of buying this.........
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fff6vnPvaMI just before I bought my 33
It had been laid-up for over a decade, everything seized and typically teak decks were shot, but as it went cheaply, ( I believe, for only 22k. ) the new owner had a fantastic deal.
The buyer, believed to be a naval commander, based in Scotland (submariner?) had it taken up north for a total refit. I wonder how things went? Anyone know? I'm still upset at my loss and deeply envious.
I hope he enjoys it as much as this guy seemed to enjoy his Tradewind 39 crossing the Atlantic!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYegcoIXldM
The piano/string/accordion quintet is believed to have been on the foredeck!
It's certainly big enough!S.
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Nikia
New member
Yes, that is a pic of "Tradewind of Swanwick". You may recall we met in Salcombe a few years ago when you saw me coming ashore in my dinghy and we had a very pleasant evening in the pub!
I sold her to a couple of Swedish guys who took her across the Atlantic - that's her in Scottys YouTube link!
Things didn't work out for them, and they brought her back and she went up for sale at Baltic Wharf, Totnes, were she was sold to another Swede. So I guess that's the chap you're referring to.
I'm sad to hear she's for sale again, I'd like her to find someone to love her and look after her.
Scotty_Tradewind
Well-known member
Wow..... a bargain if it goes for this price!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tradewind...769554?hash=item35fb066f12:g:4LMAAOSw3xJVZV9O
S.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Tradewind...769554?hash=item35fb066f12:g:4LMAAOSw3xJVZV9O
S.
Scotty_Tradewind
Well-known member
Wow! Wow! Wow!
I've just taken a further look at piccies and inventory....
S.
I've just taken a further look at piccies and inventory....
S.
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Tranona
Well-known member
Looks good - apart from the "teak deck showing signs of age in places". Should bring back memories for you!
GHA
Well-known member
On apollo duck as well.
http://yachts.apolloduck.co.uk/boats.phtml?id=927
Would probably cost half that just to install wind gen/ssb/windvane/etc etc..
Scotty_Tradewind
Well-known member
It does, but the deck on this boat looks immensely better than the one I took up.
S.
p.s. I have absolutely no connection with the owner, but if this has a decent survey with it, then it's an absolute steal!
Tranona
Well-known member
Agree it really looks the business, but asking price is an indicator of how out of fashion such boats are. They need to be continuously used and kept up (as you well know). One of our club members has one which he started refitting over 5 years ago, including redoing the deck as you did but the end still seems a long way off.
Sybarite
Well-known member
I remember the original boat test where they complained of heavy weather helm..??
Robin
Well-known member
Not to detract from some pretty pics, but this thread dates way back to Jan 2013.
Scotty_Tradewind
Well-known member
This is absolutely true.
One major cause for this has been the fitting of a big genoa with large overlap when sailing upwind.
In really demanding conditions, F6-8 mine certainly handles well with a jib which has its foot coming no further than the mast .
Add the cutter rig with my inner forestay and I can almost let go of the tiller.
Put a reef in the main and she will steer herself down the middle even when really hard pressed.
It's all a matter of experimenting if the boat has a standard rig.
Mine has a bowsprit. With the forestay and genoa furler farther for'ard , the genoa can be rolled in a few turns, or attach the cutter rig, or spill wind from the main, or put a reef in the main. Again, experimenting can bring its rewards.
Down wind I can let fly with wing and wing genoas on two poles, as we did across Biscay this last summer for 3 days.
I've never rigged the little orange sail up front in earnest, yet!
As mentioned before, she is a superb low budget allrounder, as we have found port hopping and anchoring around Galicia for 4 months this last summer.
All our boats are a compromise in some way or other ......
S.
ChrisLangmaid
New member
The TW 39 is (Was) Hellene Louise, it was the last one out of the mould, hull No. 12, the last of the 39's. Fitted out by my father during the 80's. He sold it in 2003. Devastated to see it in such a state in 2011, but glad to see it brought back to its former glory. Last seen on the market in 2017 in Dunbarton, not sure where it went from there. Would love to know how she's going...Apologies for repetition here, but I love my Tradewind which has just taken me across Biscay in summer 2015 in terrific comfort, and we've 'party sailed' the rias in Galicia for 4 months. Who says they are not for port hopping?
What a great boat the 39 is.
I missed the opportunity of buying this.........
just before I bought my 33
It had been laid-up for over a decade, everything seized and typically teak decks were shot, but as it went cheaply, ( I believe, for only 22k. ) the new owner had a fantastic deal.
The buyer, believed to be a naval commander, based in Scotland (submariner?) had it taken up north for a total refit. I wonder how things went? Anyone know? I'm still upset at my loss and deeply envious.
I hope he enjoys it as much as this guy seemed to enjoy his Tradewind 39 crossing the Atlantic!
The piano/string/accordion quintet is believed to have been on the foredeck!
S.
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Wansworth
Well-known member
Majestic?
Slowboat35
Well-known member
With a WL length of only 26ft a TW35 is never going to be fast but as others have said the ability to sail safely and in comfort in weather that leaves other boats waiting for a 'window' more than compensates for that. Also when modern boats are slamming into the seas and stopping every few metres the TW just puts her shoulder down and pushes on, then the speed difference becomes very noticeable indeed, as does the comfort of the crew as they are very dry boats. The long keel produces a pleasant nodding motion slicing through big seas rather then the pickle, smash and rinse of many AWBs.
I find the helm easy to balance (mine has a high-cut Yankee and stays'l). The cockpit is commented on by all for being deep and very secure-feeling, the huge open deck area makes getting around easy too. She isn't a light weather boat by nature but in light airs isn't as bad as some would make out and certainly likes a F4-5 to get going. (Cruising chute, as someone else remarked, is a boon in light airs) They don't respond to being over-pressed and a conservative reefing policy keeps her moving in comfort - 'the first time you think about it' pays off as speed remains and heel and comfort improves.
Below, dark? Someone hasn't been around TWs much if they imagine that tho it possibly might apply to one fitted out in darler wood below. No windows to look out of for sure but lots of glazing overall, plenty of space and handholds, generous head/shower and hanging locker, masses, absolutely masses of storage and truly amazing headroom which adds to the sense of space below. Interior fits were varied, some had sea-berths outboard in the saloon, some had a quarter-berth - it depended on who fitted the hull out.
The long keel makes manoeuvering in tight speces 'interesting' and warping out may sometimes be required. Mine (and I think most if not all others) simply will not go astern in any predictable direction - you may get a boat's length and a half out of the dock and a hook turn one way or another will ensue which can sometimes be induced in the direction desired but on other occasions when you think it's going to be easy to do so she just goes the other way.
They're easy to singlehand with an autopilot - (which is absolutely essential) except for docking when the rapid pay-off of the bows can carch you out in even a light crosswind but again practice and cunning (eg bobstay held against the pontoon in fwd idle) are effective foils to that.
The only thing I don't like are the Panama fairleads fwd, they are awkward and clumsy to use, drop-in fairleads are far more practical.
They don't sheer about at anchor/bouys.
Not much not to love about them tbh.
I find the helm easy to balance (mine has a high-cut Yankee and stays'l). The cockpit is commented on by all for being deep and very secure-feeling, the huge open deck area makes getting around easy too. She isn't a light weather boat by nature but in light airs isn't as bad as some would make out and certainly likes a F4-5 to get going. (Cruising chute, as someone else remarked, is a boon in light airs) They don't respond to being over-pressed and a conservative reefing policy keeps her moving in comfort - 'the first time you think about it' pays off as speed remains and heel and comfort improves.
Below, dark? Someone hasn't been around TWs much if they imagine that tho it possibly might apply to one fitted out in darler wood below. No windows to look out of for sure but lots of glazing overall, plenty of space and handholds, generous head/shower and hanging locker, masses, absolutely masses of storage and truly amazing headroom which adds to the sense of space below. Interior fits were varied, some had sea-berths outboard in the saloon, some had a quarter-berth - it depended on who fitted the hull out.
The long keel makes manoeuvering in tight speces 'interesting' and warping out may sometimes be required. Mine (and I think most if not all others) simply will not go astern in any predictable direction - you may get a boat's length and a half out of the dock and a hook turn one way or another will ensue which can sometimes be induced in the direction desired but on other occasions when you think it's going to be easy to do so she just goes the other way.
They're easy to singlehand with an autopilot - (which is absolutely essential) except for docking when the rapid pay-off of the bows can carch you out in even a light crosswind but again practice and cunning (eg bobstay held against the pontoon in fwd idle) are effective foils to that.
The only thing I don't like are the Panama fairleads fwd, they are awkward and clumsy to use, drop-in fairleads are far more practical.
They don't sheer about at anchor/bouys.
Not much not to love about them tbh.
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Spindrift.4
New member
Hey Scotty,Apologies for repetition here, but I love my Tradewind which has just taken me across Biscay in summer 2015 in terrific comfort, and we've 'party sailed' the rias in Galicia for 4 months. Who says they are not for port hopping?
What a great boat the 39 is.
I missed the opportunity of buying this.........
just before I bought my 33
It had been laid-up for over a decade, everything seized and typically teak decks were shot, but as it went cheaply, ( I believe, for only 22k. ) the new owner had a fantastic deal.
The buyer, believed to be a naval commander, based in Scotland (submariner?) had it taken up north for a total refit. I wonder how things went? Anyone know? I'm still upset at my loss and deeply envious.
I hope he enjoys it as much as this guy seemed to enjoy his Tradewind 39 crossing the Atlantic!
The piano/string/accordion quintet is believed to have been on the foredeck!
S.
Do you still have your Tradewind.
We are thinking of buying a 39 er
Cheers
Spindrift.4
New member
Hey There Chris,
I have an answer to your question about Hellene Louise….
Hoping you are still an active member on here. I am new so don’t know how to get in touch with you directly.
would absolutely love to know whether your Dad had her Gel shielded as a preventative or whether it was done to ‘seal’ an Osmosis problem at some point?
Best Wishes,
Jo