From Chile to Fiji via New Zealand
It’s been nearly six months since our last update. Some of you got in touch asking what we were up to.
We went our separate ways (!!) at NY Kennedy Airport.
China Moon
Pete Hill, Bi-plane catamaran 37ft
After nearly 20 years on Badger I wanted a change. Reading about Dragonwings, a 34ft bi-plane junk rig catamaran that Gary Lepak designed, it looked possible to have a multihull and junk rig. We decided to build in South Africa with its good climate, readily available materials and cheap cost of living. It seemed ideal. I designed China Moon and she was built of plywood and epoxy, taking 3 years before the launch. While the project started as a big experiment she had since proved herself. I consider her the best boat I owned.
Posts about China Moon
Terrors and Magic of the Tasman Sea
Appetizer As always we were checking the weather for days before setting off. Eventually the forecasted variable (light) winds looked OK and I was pleased when Neptune commented: “It is not going to be a fast passage”. He estimated 1200 miles in 12 days, April 1st for our arrival! With light to moderate winds, flattish […]
Kissing the Land in Nelson, NZ
Dear Friends, I usually write every 6 months, but this cannot wait. Before setting off from Hobart I sent you this: We are both very much looking forward to our Tasman Sea crossing to Nelson, New Zealand. The sea with its infinite cleansing powers should wash away all that earth life brings. The simple, pure, […]
Tasmanian Enterprise
I have been meaning to thank, individually, each one of you who wrote back to me. Thank you so much for all the encouragement. Alas, tiredness got the better of me and I am only now managing to, briefly, send something. We’ve been in Tasmania for just over five months. They were the toughest ones […]
Incorrigibly Foolish (ad)Venturers
Dear Friends First and foremost. I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas and that the New Year brings you joy! Happy 2025! What fools would buy a boat without receiving at least one picture of it? Then abandon the most beautiful boat they spent so much time working on, and pack up everything to […]
China Moon
China Moon was designed and built as a seaworthy ocean cruising home for short handed sailing. The unusual double junk rig provides for safe and easy handling. Sails can be hoisted and reefed from inside the cuddy without getting wet. Hinged carbon fibre battens give the sail a good shape. As well as her superb […]
Klingons on the Starboard Bow
The Founder’s Cup by RCC was awarded for this cruise. After the previous year’s disaster at Staten Island, China Moon retreated to Brazil where I built stronger rudders and a cuddy at the forward end of the cockpit to give much needed shelter. In November I sailed singlehanded back down to Argentina and spent Christmas […]
Make Do and Mend
This is the cruise for which the Juno’s Cup was awarded by RCC. We beat into Bahia Aguirre against 40 to 50 knot winds and when we left it was almost calm. We had to motor for nearly an hour before the breeze filled in from the southwest. These conditions are about par for the […]
China Moon – Maiden Voyage
I can’t honestly say that China Moon was in all respects ready for sea but, after three years building her in South Africa, it was time to leave, a view the lenient immigration authorities wholeheartedly agreed with. The idea for China Moon first germinated after reading about Dragon Wings, a 34ft catamaran with a junk […]
China Moon – Sea Trials
She is very easily driven and slipped along nicely with the articulating battens giving the sail a nice shape. The log was not calibrated but the estimated speed was about 3 knots to windward in a Force 3 and tacking through 100°. There was noticeable leeway, but not excessive. As soon as the wind picked […]
Building China Moon
China Moon was designed to be a comfortable cruising Catamaran to be used for long voyages to remote cruising grounds. Fitting a junk rig on the boat was a major consideration. Having read about the successful junk rigged catamaran ‘Dragon Wings’, designed and built by Gary Lepak, I felt it feasible to design my own […]