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

[@steveburke7675]

Best windvane explanation I've seen. Thank you.

[@FarReachVoyages]

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

[@gnsmk357]

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]

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

[@jackchamberlain5993]

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

[@FarReachVoyages]

Thanks Jack. Glad it was helpful to you.

[@mladenstojanovic973]

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]

Agreed. Thanks for the comment and for engaging.

[@UUBrahman]

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

[@FarReachVoyages]

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!

[@floridasailor3732]

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

[@FarReachVoyages]

Thanks. Appreciate your comment.

[@rsmith4080]

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]

Cool. Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting.

[@redwood1957]

Very good explaining wind vane. Thank you

[@FarReachVoyages]

Glad you found it useful. Thanks for commenting.

[@SailingwithMaury]

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]

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.

[@tylerhenderson6432]

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]

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

[@tomgreaves5549]

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

[@FarReachVoyages]

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

[@benlindner5285]

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]

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]

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

[@johnstott1431]

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]

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

[@joetml]

Very nice installation and an excellent explanation. Thank you.

[@FarReachVoyages]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@edwardfinn4141]

Great video , I sure did enjoy it. One positive thing re the Hydrovane versus the servo pendulum designs is the Hydrovane steers with a rudder that is located at the very stern of the boat. The position of this secondary rudder has a big mechanical advantage steering wise, over the original rudder. I have an Alberg 35 with a Monitor , a servo pendulum type wind vane . In certain conditions Imthi k the Hydrovane vane would be better… In the two recent additions of the Golden Globe race the faster , winning boats had actual stern hung rudders which are much further aft then keel,hung rudders. And they had Hydrovanes as well… Just my opinion But the video, the Cape Horn demonstration and your upgrade of the boat were excellent.

[@FarReachVoyages]

The hydrovane is a fine vane by all accounts...and the Cape George 36 is a superb boat with a long waterline. It is a gorgeous boat though no more beautiful to my eye than your A35. But having that hydrovane rudder sticking out the back doesn't IMO steer the boat better than the rudder designed by the naval architect. The Cape George rudder is attached to the back of its keel same as an A35 and CD36. The CG 36 rudder is more vertical which is an advantage. But it has a different stern--which also gives it a longer static waterline. The mechanical leverage comes from the length of the tiller or the size of the quadrant on the rudder post and the diameter of the chain sprocket in the case of wheel steering. Balanced or unbalanced rudders contribute greatly to ease of steering. Hydrovanes might be a better choice on some specific boats but they will never generate the steering power of a well designed servo pendulum vane. It's just physics. An A35 with a Monitor is a fabulous set up.

[@edwardfinn4141]

@@FarReachVoyages thanks Man. So happy to engage with you in such a technical discussion. By the way ,perhaps you followed the 2022 GGR race. I was happy to meet the winner Kirsten Neuschafer 2 times and got a tour of her boat a Cape George 36.

[@edwardfinn4141]

@@FarReachVoyages thanks

[@johnstott1431]

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

[@FarReachVoyages]

Thanks. Glad you found it useful.

[@sebastienlaurin2168]

Awesome video

[@FarReachVoyages]

Thanks. Glad you liked it. Thanks for commenting.

[@ArturZagaj-Izraelita]

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]

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]

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

[@FarReachVoyages]

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.