We have one brand new Tiki 21 tent for sale. The last one handmade to the exact Tiki 21 tent design by the authorised tent maker, who is now retiring. Colour blue, including hinging aluminium frames, fastenings and inner tent.
Cost £550 (plus shipping), contact James Wharram Designs, wharram@wharram.com
Also available three more sets of aluminium frames, for those that want to make their own tent. Cost £80 (plus shipping), including drawings to make your own tent.
On arrival in Satawal we were received by the three chiefs of the island, in the main "men / canoe house". After having shown our respects by bringing them presents: piece of cloth, cigarettes, rice... the spokesman tells us that we are welcome and can stay as long as we want. After a few exchanges, the chiefs ask us if we could sail with some people of the island on board our boats (we travel at the moment with Ingo and his boat Mahuini) to West Fayu, 75km north-west, for them to catch fish for the 500 people living on Satawal island (big job guys!). Satawal doesn’t have a lagoon; the ocean is right behind a small reef, which surrounds the island. West Fayu is, as one might say, their food (and tobacco) supplies reserve....
The next day as the weather is good, we take the opportunity to make the journey. The two boats take 3 persons each. In the afternoon we arrive in West Fayu’s beautiful lagoon. During the night, a canoe also made the trip, loaded with 11 people on board, plus 2 pigs ... in 15-20 knots of wind. They will remain a few weeks on the island.
For two months now we are in the Caroline islands. What a sight! The beauty of the heavenly islands with white sand, blue sea, coconut trees, lobsters, crabs (well, the usual list...), and the History…. The settlement of the islands of the Pacific, sailing canoes traveling hundreds of miles finding their way with the stars, waves, birds ...
I am in the process of answering a letter (yes, a letter written by hand and sent by post!) from Pierre La Plante of Canada. Pierre is a long ago customer. He sticks in my memory as a young man, who many years ago sailed his Hitia 17 down the St Lawrence River, Canada. After having restored and sailed a small deep-keel monohull for a few years, he now wants to go back to a shallow draft catamaran and wants to build a Tiki around 24ft long.
Pierre La Plante's Hitia 17
Canadians who regularly sail in the St. Laurence River area need to be tough, alert sailors. Pierre ended his letter of enquiry with this P.S. "Do not forget the priorities, a hot soup, a dry bunk and a good book".
Or know of someone who does? For an upcoming book I'd like to hear from people with interesting lives (past or present) who live on interesting boats. Not your grand design vessels which cost more than most houses, beautiful though they may be, but boats which work for a living, take their owners on weekend adventures or all the way around the world. They can be large or small, gorgeous or ugly, even barely able to float - and this goes for the owners too! Whether sail, motor, canal or rowing boat, and no matter where in the world, I would love to hear from you. Please drop me a line at upintheair100@gmail.com Thank you very much.
The professionally built Tama Moana „blaublixx2“ was launched from the beach of Panglao Island on 12th October 2011. After launching she was towed to Bohol Yacht Club in Tagbilaran where she was waiting for the arrival of her German owner Carsten Leschik and the skipper Klaus Hympendahl. The first sails where planned from Tagbilaran around Panglao Island back to the launching beach. Also a visit was planned to the beautiful island of Balicasag to the southwest of Panglao.
This week on the high (spring) tides we have made our first sails on Amatasi, I should say rows, as there has been very little wind. Here in Devoran the spring tides are unfortunately always in the late afternoon, so leaving us only a short sailing slot before sunset.
Anyway, she is easy to row, making about 2 – 2.5 knots under oar power.
The day was chosen weeks ago for the full moon with a spring tide, a propitious day. Nineteen years ago ‘Spirit of Gaia’ was launched at the full moon, her launching was a great memorable event and she has been a happy ship ever since. We hope the same will be the future of Amatasi.
The weather on launch day was beautiful, after days of grey clouds and drizzle, the sun shone, a light breeze blowing.
About a year ago I had a new artificial knee joint fitted to my starboard leg, for recovery I've been pushing with local walks and along Cornwall's rugged coastal path to get back into ‘leaping on board’ condition!
Last week I proudly pushed uphill along Lemon Street, the granite paved main street of our local city, Truro. Then an hour later, a simple stand-up from our low Japanese style seating, and a screaming pain struck my starboard knee.
For a week I had my knee lashed up and have been hobbling around as best I can! Now the lady readers of this column may snort and say "typical man!" However Emma, who now runs the Wharram dispatch office says knee damage pain is worse than childbirth (twins in her case)!! She should know, she once busted a knee playing rugby! Emma, a former 'would be' Ocean sailor and now a Cornish gig rower is a tough woman!
This confession of my physical/mental weakness is to introduce the subject of ‘Disabled Sailing’ and the remarkable story of Bruno and his Tehini 'Spartan'.
Spartan, adapted for wheelchair sailing, is launched in Durban. Note the deck cover with roll up sides and canvas toilet/shower, which Bruno can use with his wheelchair.
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