Monthly Archives: November 2022

Hylas 56/54 Common Question: Where Do You Run The Staysail Sheets?

Hylas Sailboats

By Rich

Every now and again I get a question a few times from friends or blog readers, and when I get them often enough I like to turn my responses into blog articles to let others weigh in. Here’s one I get a lot and one I’ve seen on the Hylas Facebook page:

Question: how should we run the staysail sheets? We can’t seem to get it to trim correctly.

Continue reading Hylas 56/54 Common Question: Where Do You Run The Staysail Sheets? →

Sabre 38 Sea Trial In Maine … In November…In 38 Degrees!

Sabre 38

By Rich

Tuesday I took a one-day dive bomb trip to Maine (traveling Monday and Wednesday to and from) to sea trial the Sabre 38 we have a contract on. We are waiting on the surveyor’s list of recommendations but generally the trial went well. I don’t want to jinx anything by revealing exactly which boat she is so I will just tease with some photos showing some of my favorite design elements of the boat until everything is finalized. Based on the way she handled during the test sail in only 4 knots of wind, I will say this: a deep draft Sabre 38 MKII will be my next boat either way – let’s see if it all works out and this one is my next true love!

I May Have Just Completed My Last Project On The Hylas 54

Hylas 54

By Rich

I just finished winterizing Rover after she was re-hauled after a successful sea trial. Both we and the prospective buyers are awaiting the written survey results but we got no reports of any major blockers over the two days of survey, which means that barring any left-field events that cause the buyers to change their mind, Rover is very likely to move on to her new owners. That in turn means that apart from cleaning up the mess I made today winterizing and putting all of her hatch and handrail covers back on this coming Saturday, I may have completed my last Rover projects.

How will she do without me as Chief Engineer?

How will I learn to accept that she doesn’t need me anymore?

Rover Sea Trial Tomorrow!

Hylas 54, Yacht Design

By Rich

Rover is back in the water this weekend for a sea trail tomorrow for a buyer candidate! Each evening this week I have been aboard while she has been on land on the jack stands, winterizing various system in advance of very cold weather expected later this coming week (some of these systems have been un-winterized for the sea trial. Ugh!). It’s been a great bonding experience to be aboard showing her love and care – just us two, bonding one-on-one. It really has been a privilege to serve as Chief Engineer on this special boat, and as much as I might have complained at times when we had more problems than were convenient, if I am honest deep down I really enjoyed the responsibility of taking care of Rover and her array of sophisticated systems. Just look at the images I snapped over the last two days – look at the sheer beauty and the artistry of this design. She represents a totally lost art in yacht design outside of just one or two models left in production that come anywhere near her standard of style and workmanship.

Saturday evening after testing and re-commissioning every system for the sea trial. Look at those lines. Ready for battle in any one of the Globe’s oceans.
Sunday morning. I could lie and say I had more work do to today to prep for Monday’s sea trial but….nah. I spent the entire day aboard just to bond with Rover and reflect on our history to date together. I read my grandfather’s diary from WWII for a literary project I am working on and napped while enjoyed the sound of today’s gale blowing through the rig. Look at the light hitting her teak varnished interior. I love my Sabres to the moon and back but the artwork of these Hylas yachts is peerless. It’s like living in a 3D painting.