S6E4// The Cape Horn Windvane: How the Magic Actually Works//Part 3//

Рет қаралды 4,033

6 ай бұрын

This is the third video about the Cape Horn Windvane.
For Part 1 visit: • S4EP4//Cape Horn Windv...
For Part 2 visit: • S5EP5//Cape Horn Self-...
In Episode 4 of Season 6 I explain how the Cape Horn Windvane steers the Far Reach. the explanation of how a horizontal axis servo pendulum windvane work are germane to all horizontal axis servo pendulum self steering windvanes including the Monitor and Ares wind vanes. All these windvanes work well and have safely steered boats all over the world for many decades. However, in addition to its small, light-weight, and elegant design the Cape Horn as three distinct advantages over other wind vanes. (1) There are no gears to break or bearings to corrode; (2) it is made of one metal--SS 316 so there is no chance for galvanic corrosion, and (3) the control lines can be lead below deck to the steering quadrant eliminating the lines from interfering with activities in the cockpit.
The photo of the Hydrovane windvane was from the Hydrovane website and used within the educational provisions of "Fair Use."
The photo of Yves Gelinas, the maps of his voyage, and the photo of the Albert 30 Jean du Sud were provided by and used with the permission of Yves Gelnias.
All other photos and video were taken by me.
The Far Reach is highly modified Cape Dory 36 I built from a gutted hull and deck over a six year period in a shed in our backyard in North Carolina. This was a complete rebuild retaining only the hull, deck, portlights, hatches, and a few cleats. Click here for a video summarizing the rebuild:
• S4 E1//From Gutted Hul...
In Season 5 I singlehanded the Far reach from North Carolina to the Virgin Islands in December 2021. It was my third voyage in the Far Reach to the Virgin Islands. In May of 2022 I single-handed the Far Reach back home to NC via the offshore route, a non stop voyage of about 1,440 Nautical miles.
In the previous Season 4 episodes I shared what it took to rebuild our 36' sailboat from a complete gutted hull and deck into my ideal voyaging boat, installed a small inboard Diesel engine with a folding propeller, and made some additional improvements to the Far Reach. Click here for a video on a from scratch installation of an inboard diesel engine including shaft long and folding two blades propeller: • S4EP2//Installing an I...
Previous episodes recap:
Season 1, Episode 1, contains a short synopsis of a six year total rebuild of the Far Reach from a gutted bare hull. I also double hand the Far Reach offshore with my sister from NC to the BVI.
In Season 2, I single-hand the Far Reach from Sint Maarten back to NC.
In Season 3, I share my Single-handed voyage from NC to the BVI as well as from the VI back to NC.
In Season 4, I detailed the original rebuild of the Far Reach then the planning and installation of a small diesel engine with a folding propeller. I concluding by sharing some additional modifications and upgrades as well as trouble shooting the Cape Horn windvane.
To learn more about the rebuilding of the Far Reach: www.farreachvoyages.com
To read about this voyage, and many others, including additional modifications and updates to the Far Reach since her launch in 2015: www.farreachvoyages.net
For more information on the Stimson Bow Roof Shed visit bow-roof-shed.com
If you have questions or stories to share about your own voyages feel free to post them in the comment section. Happy sailing.

Пікірлер: 37

@floridasailor3732 6 ай бұрын

That's a sweet setup esp, with the lines run below decks. Excellent explanation.

@FarReachVoyages 6 ай бұрын

Thanks. Appreciate your comment.

@steveburke7675 6 ай бұрын

Best windvane explanation I've seen. Thank you.

@FarReachVoyages 6 ай бұрын

Very kind comment. Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting.

@gnsmk357 6 ай бұрын

If you do not have a Phd in sailing I would be surprised. Each of your videos are a master class on the subject at hand and very intertaining. Great video.

@FarReachVoyages 6 ай бұрын

That's very nice. Much appreciated. Thanks for the comment and for engaging.

@redwood1957 Ай бұрын

Very good explaining wind vane. Thank you

@FarReachVoyages Ай бұрын

Glad you found it useful. Thanks for commenting.

@rsmith4080 5 ай бұрын

Great video, thanks for taken the time to explain the Cape Horn wind vane. Just found your site, looking forward to viewing your other videos.

@FarReachVoyages 5 ай бұрын

Cool. Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting.

@joetml 6 ай бұрын

Very nice installation and an excellent explanation. Thank you.

@FarReachVoyages 6 ай бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@tylerhenderson6432 6 ай бұрын

I love my Cape Horn! It steers my Hans Christian 33 better than I can. I've yet to use it during heavy weather, but its amazing how well it works in light air, even down wind. I didn't know they had a new type of steering quadrant. I plan on eventually connecting a small tiller pilot to mine. Thanks for putting this together, very neat installation!

@FarReachVoyages 6 ай бұрын

Glad to hear your CH is working well for you. Thanks for the comment and engaging. Happy sailing!

@jackchamberlain5993 6 ай бұрын

never would have figured out how that wind vane works without your video

@FarReachVoyages 6 ай бұрын

Thanks Jack. Glad it was helpful to you.

@mladenstojanovic973 6 ай бұрын

Detailed, thought out and very informative explanation. I knew how one worked but I do admire the elegant design here. Really not much can go wrong with this wind vane when properly installed and maintained. If more things in the world were as well designed it would be a very different world. Thank you sir!

@FarReachVoyages 6 ай бұрын

Agreed. Thanks for the comment and for engaging.

@UUBrahman 6 ай бұрын

Excellent video. First time I have seen a stuffing box drain to keep water out of the bilge - I like it.

@FarReachVoyages 6 ай бұрын

Yeah that has worked out really well. I used Gore stuffing so it doesn't leak much if at all once I get it set right and in the mean time nothing goes into the bilge. Glad you liked it!

@johnstott1431 6 ай бұрын

Like the stuffing box tray, very neat. Also thought I could add a compass autopilot servo to the wind vane clamp, so it would steer to a compass course with minimal power use. Useful in minimal apparent wind speed conditions.

@FarReachVoyages 6 ай бұрын

The Cape Horn has a bracket for attaching a smaller tiller pilot. See my reply to Ben Linder's comment.

@SailingwithMaury 6 ай бұрын

I appreciate some of the subtle perspectives shown in your video, thanks. I find my sp blade pops up to easily. Exploring sail balance to resolve this. When tacking a lot it is a pia since in my boat access to blade is not easy.

@FarReachVoyages 6 ай бұрын

What kind of vane do you have? I had some difficulty with blade disengagement too but finally got it sorted out. If the waves/swells are modest I can usually tack the boat by simply pulling on the windvane course setting line to change the air blade 90° and the boat will tack on its own and assume the new course. All I have to do is handle the sheets. Once the Far Reach has gathered speed on the new tack I fine tune the helm balance. But usually I straddle the tiller, disengage the vane, pull on the course setting line to align the air blade with the new course. Then I tack by hand handling the sheets and get her up to speed on the new tack and engage the vane. Sounds more difficult than it is.

@sebastienlaurin2168 5 ай бұрын

Awesome video

@FarReachVoyages 5 ай бұрын

Thanks. Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting.

@tomgreaves5549 6 ай бұрын

Excellent explanation of the CapeHorn self-steering gear! Thanks,

@FarReachVoyages 6 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it and thanks for the comment and for engaging.

@johnstott1431 6 ай бұрын

Excellent explanation. I have similar, but my installation is not so elegant. You have got me thinking.

@FarReachVoyages 6 ай бұрын

Thanks. Glad you found it useful.

@benlindner5285 6 ай бұрын

Excellent explanation of a complex topic. When I try to explain how my wind vane works (a Monitor servo pendulum) to people I am only successful when I am on my boat with them and can demonstrate the actions and reactions. I'll have to have you over to make a video on my boat! Unfortunately I don't have the option of running my control lines under the cockpit as you have and I admit that my setup is inconvenient with the lines bisecting my cockpit. I have a Pelagic autopilot that I can hook up to the windvane when I need to steer a compass course, a nice option if infrequently used. All in all I love my Monitor and I wouldn't even think about a voyage without it. I just returned from a 10,000 NM circuit of the Pacific and of course I never hand steered! Thanks Ben S/V DAWN

@FarReachVoyages 6 ай бұрын

Very cool. That must have been a great voyage. The Cape Horn has a bracket on the front of the quadrant for an easy hook up to the smallest tiller style auto pilot. Because the quadrant is below deck the tiller pilot would be too which is a nice feature since it would be out of the elements. I might install one at some point now that I have an engine. Very convenient if I find it necessary to motor in a flat calm.

@benlindner5285 6 ай бұрын

Yup I use mine when motoring as well. I recommend the Pelagic, it has been very reliable and the support from Scanmar is excellent.@@FarReachVoyages

@ArturZagaj-Izraelita 5 ай бұрын

Teoretycznie rozumiem jak działa #samoster. ale nie mogę zrozumieć jak samoster wie że chcę płynąć na przykład na południe? Rozumiem że po ustawieniu kierunku płynę w swoim celu aż do zmiany kierunku wiatru; wówczas jacht zaczyna błądzić?

@FarReachVoyages 5 ай бұрын

Let's say the wind is from the west. You want to sail south. Start sailing south. Get your sails trimmed to sail south. Then set the air blade so its knifes into the wind. Engage the vane with the control lines. You're sailing to the south on a beam reach. The boat will keep that same heading as long as the wind comes from the west. You're sailing 90° to the wind. If the wind shifts to the SW the vain will tilt and cause the boat to sail SE, still 90° to the new wind. Pull on the course correction line which turns the air blade closer to the wind, probably 45° to the wind. Retrim your sails for a beat to maintain a course to the south. Off-shore the wind does not change direction much, or very quickly, unless there is a frontal wx system passing through. Wind often changes direction slowly. You watch the compass. As the wind shifts you'll know because the boats heading will change. Reset the vane so you can maintain the heading you want your boat to sail.

@davidmerrittjacovino 6 ай бұрын

The device seems so unintuitive that only someone who sailed around the world could think of such a thing . genius

@FarReachVoyages 6 ай бұрын

Agree. I think Blondi Hassler, WW II era British Royal Marine, is largely credited with inventing the servo pendulum windvane. His vane was a vertical axis vane, but by all accounts very capable. He was a legendary singlehand sailor.