Overhauling the Windvane
Testing out the Cap Horn windvane. It steers the boat very nicely but I think Jim is ready to head to Tahiti
Andrea England Sketchbook, 2017, Auckland New Zealand
The Cap Horn windvane has 39,000 nautical miles on it and on the last two days of a heavy NW just off Bamfield, the quadrant let go. It’s not easy to steer in big waves. The weld between the thin metal and the thick metal is very difficult to do, because of the dissimilar heat sinks of thick and thin and because the inside can't really be reached by the welder.
So I asked for a brace to be added on both sides. There was some discussion as to the placement of braces, across the face tying the two legs together might have been better. I'll keep an eye on it and also keep the nuts and bolts really really tight all the time.
The Cap Horn windvane is a modern variation on the small sailboat windvane steering. Using nothing but boat motion, the windvane carefully steers Island Prism on an exact course, relative to the wind. No electrical power, no computer power, no coffee, no complaining, 24/7, the Cap Horn Windvane steers Island Prism. Of course the captain still has to look out for incoming freighters, reefs, and wind shifts.
After 39,000 nautical miles the shaft and bearings were also worn so no free swing was left. Not good, free swing is required for accurate windvane steering. The Cap Horn corporation was good enough to send out the new bearings and with a bit of file and emery paper the shaft was polished and the entire windvane reassembled and now it’s time to test once again and see if Jim is ready to go to Bristol.
To me, Andrea has captured the windvane so perfectly, the intense and exact details of the man-made device that will effortlessly steer this little home, the Old Man's Old Boat, across the blue expanse of ocean and sky. The possibilities are endless and painted in soothing blue.
Jim Shortreed, Sept 5 2024, Royal Victoria Yacht Club.
Jimmie works on Island Prism, Auckland, New Zealand.
from Andrea England Sketchbooks