Dear friends, try to help frederik, maybe you see any chance. I personally
wil help him wiht the requested datas, but maybesomebody can halp him
otherwise!
Regards
Dieter
—– Original Message —–
From: Vorster Frederik
To: ‚dhdaum@vaurien.org‘
Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 3:33 PM
Subject: Help
Hello Dieter. Hope this e-mail finds you healthy and in good spirits with
the approaching European summer. Here in South Africa we are preparing
for winter.
Last week myself (solo in my Vaurien) and a friend (in his Mirror)
went for a quick sail in Algoa Bay, Port Elizabeth. ( http://www.ibhayi.com/
) We were barely in the water when a sudden off-shore gale force wind started
blowing. My Vaurien really blasted off like a rocket and started planning
on a square run. Common sense prevailed and before going too far
offshore I tacked to see if I am able to beat back on my own. I made it
back close to shore but on my last tack capsized in a violent gust of wind.
Under normal circumstances I can get the boat upright quite easily on
my own, but the waves were starting to break and with the wind pushing
on the upturned hull I was rapidly being pushed deeper into the bay.
Eventually the boat inverted. With a lot of difficulty and scratches
and bruises I managed to get the boat upright and drop the sails.
Somehow the inspection cover also came undone and the hull was filling
with water. Fortunately a fishing boat came to my rescue and towed me
to shore. Close to shore the flooded boat capsized and inverted again,
this time sending my mainsail and boom to the bottom of the sea. My
centreboard was also lost somewhere in the chaos. With my last strength
(and dedication to my beloved Vaurien) I managed to get her upright
again and made it to the shore. I was in the water, fighting the waves
and the wind for an hour and dead tired and cold.
On the shore I learned that my friend in his Mirror broke his centreboard
and rudder and was towed in to the harbour by the National Sea Rescue
Institute (NSRI). Another keelboat also got into trouble and radioed
for help. I was just happy to have saved my boat!
As you know there are not many other Vauriens in this part of the
world. In order to have a new boom, sails and centreboard made up, I
will need the exact dimensions and specifications. I intend to replace
the foresail at the same time. (a really expensive exercise since it
will have to be specially made) I will be really grateful if you can
let me know what the dimensions are or where I can find such
information. Maybe you know of a second-hand boom, set of sails and
centreboard that I can arrange to be sent to South Africa. I do not
know what will be the cheapest.
I have been looking at other popular second-hand sailing boats such as
the Laser, Mirror Enterprise and even the international Fireball. The biggest
advantage would be in regatta sailing. I really would still like to
keep the Vaurien in sailing condition however, to show-off the guys and
girls at the yacht club the advantages of the Vaurien !!
Kind Regards
Freddie Vorster
Faculty of Applied Science
Port Elizabeth Technikon
Port ElizabethTel: +27 41 5043051
Fax: +27 41 5043925
e-mail: math0009@petech.ac.za