OVERSEAS VISITS:

Between the 4th and 19th of November I travelled to Europe and the Carribean to visit various builders and clients. In Holland we are now in the final stages of negotiating with Holland Composite and Engelaer Scheepsbouw to start the construction on a revamped version of our design no: 074 "WARRIOR" to be built in all prepreg laminates using a hybrid Kevlar/E-glass Epoxy laminate which is going to be post cured at 60+ degrees. Holland composite currently has an oven suitable for this size boat as they are completing the hull and deck for a new Whitbread 60' for the "SUNERGY" syndicate.

This was the first opportunity for me to visit both Bluewater Composites and Caribe Yachts. Both yards were impressive and show good initiative, skill and management. Although they only started construction on our new 65' "SUNSET 65" a fortnight before my planned visit there were already various components to look at showing excellent quality of workmanship. With everything going according to plan the first "SUNSET 65" should be hitting the water in August 1997.

This overseas visit was set at a high pace going back and forwards between South Africa, Europe and the States. But there was some time left to visit the METS on the 18th of November. This Trade show is becoming more and more popular and is always a great opportunity the catch up with the latest developments in the Marine Industry.

PARTNERSHIP:

After a period of two and a half years, we are welcoming back MAARTEN VOOGD who will be joining ASNA cc as a partner from the 1st of January 1997. Maarten has more recently been working with Farocean and also been doing some successful freelance projects. As our workload has significantly increased over the last year we are very happy to have him back on board where he will be in charge of the design projects in progress. Maarten has exceptional creative and naval architectural skills which have already in the past proved invaluable to our designs.

MYKONOS OFFSHORE RACE:

Starting from Table Bay on the morning of the 22nd of November this series consisted out of a 70 N.M. race to Saldana Bay, to be followed by a round the buoys race and 18 N.M pursuit race on the Saturday. With perfect reaching conditions "WARRIOR" took line honours with IMS and PHRF going to two smaller boats in the fleet which managed to take good advantage of the freshening breeze in the afternoon.

Getting into Club Mykonos proved near impossible for anybody with a draft over 2.00 metres as the harbour has been silting up badly over the last couple of years. Racing started as a result of this later than planned on the Saturday, giving the race committee the chance to get only one inshore in before lunch was served at the tug harbour in Saldana. The inshore was won on PHRF by WARRIOR and on IMS by TAZ.

After lunch the wind had strengthened to a nice 15 to 18 knots true proving to provide beautiful sailing. Being a pursuit race the smaller/slower boats had to leave long before WIZARD and WARRIOR who with the same PHRF rating started an America's cup style starting duel to get away first. WARRIOR won the start but WIZARD took the overall victory in the last race where WARRIOR blew its spinnaker on the last run when it collided with ORCALE a Mount Gay 30, forcing her to do a compulsory 360 degree turn losing valuable distance, specially when speeds of around 17 knots were reached on the last leg.

Overall results put SIMONIS DESIGNS first in both PHRF and IMS with "AWESOME", a production FAST 42 taking overall PHRF honours through skillful and consistent sailing, while TAZ, a Mount Gay 30 won IMS overall, despite being helmed by "Yours Truly".

NEW INTERNET SITE:

On the 8th of November our new domain became operational with a new look and many of our designs now directly available through HOT LINKS to the various design pages permanently kept on the server. You can find our new site on: www.simonis.co.za. Our E-mail address has changed as well, you can reach us now at asna@simonis.co.za. The Old E-mail address will still be active till first of January 1997 but if you would like to stay in touch with us please update your records with our new contact details.

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