The Boat

Katla is a 26ft Wooden Gaff Cutter built by Martin Lund in 2006 of the Wynfall design by Mark Smaalders.

She is Carvel built of Mahogany planks over sawn Pine frames. The planks are fastened with Stainless Steel (316) screws and the frames are glued and fastened using wooden pegs and Galvanised bolts. Before painting, all wood was treated with a mixture of Turpentine, Pine Oil and Cuprinol.

The deck is Marine Plywood epoxy laminated and covered with chopped strand mat in epoxy resin. The Spar is of Siberian Larch. The rudder is transom hung on Stainless Steel (316) pintles.

The ballast keel is a Stainless Steel (316) box of 6mm sides and bottom, which has lead ingots in it. The lead is then laid in poliester resin inside. Five Stainless Steel (316) tubes are welded inside vertically through the keel box, where the keel bolts go through, meaning the box is completely sealed from seawater. There are 5 Stainless Steel (316) keelbolts to carry 1.5 tonnes. It is a massively strong construction.

There are no through hull fittings and a water tight bulkhead under the cockpit.

The broker described her as: 'A sturdy and salty little lady. Which will appeal to traditionalists on a budget'.

There is no inboard engine, no toilet, no electronics, and traditional (Block & Tackle) rigging (no winches).

LOA: 26' - 5"
LWL: 23' - 10"
BEAM: 8' - 10"
DRAFT: 3' - 10"
DISP: 9500 lbs
BALLAST: 3300 lbs
D/L: 343
SAIL AREA: 466 sq. ft.

The Trip

View Katla

Tuesday, 26 April 2011

Homeward Bound...

Follow my progress home ...

Sat Phone: 8816 316 67012
Send SMS to my Sat Phone for free here: http://messaging.iridium.com/

View Katla
Posted by at

36 comments:

  1. Heidi (The Original Doris)17 May 2011 at 14:01

    Well first stab at the map by Rookie Ground Crew appears to have worked. I await certification from CGC....Mr C?

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  2. GoogleAndroidTastic17 May 2011 at 20:31

    Looking good to me, you can add a line between the two points to make it prettier but that's optional.

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  3. Rookie Ground Crew17 May 2011 at 20:56

    Just trying to calculate distance at the moment - current best guess is about 270nm....

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  4. Anonymous20 May 2011 at 12:37

    Hey Boo, all of The Coven are thinking of you - we held a Pirate Party in your honour last night, so smooth passage and may the winds carry you home safely and quickly x

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  5. Rookie Ground Crew20 May 2011 at 22:42

    OK map is now tidied up a bit and distances calculated according to lat/long plotting, measuring and converting....and in the right order. Next update coming soon!

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  6. Rookie Ground Crew23 May 2011 at 16:51

    Update received late....longest 3 hours of my life! Boo says "THANKS GUYS FOR ALL MSGS"

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  7. Rookie Ground Crew27 May 2011 at 00:37

    Finally received an update today - no location but ocean is flat and there is a gentle breeze. Looking at weather maps progress is probably slow due to lack of wind but your favourite sea pikey is still out there somewhere!

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  8. Rookie Ground Crew28 May 2011 at 00:09

    Proper update with location this time.

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  9. Rookie Ground Crew28 May 2011 at 15:54

    Special Update - Katla has just pulled alongside Rosa for a chat after setting off together nearly 2 weeks ago. All OK with them. Map updated again!

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  10. Rookie Ground Crew30 May 2011 at 17:34

    Latest update: Found some wind at last but not in a good way by the sound of it....

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  11. Anonymous1 June 2011 at 08:17

    A message for Rookie Ground Crew... think you can leave the 'Rookie' off now... x

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  12. Liza Kirwan1 June 2011 at 10:07

    It's great to get word of Rosa, as well as Katla~ sending warm (& dry) wishes to Boo ~ xx

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  13. Rookie Ground Crew1 June 2011 at 23:24

    No map update today but at 16:48UTC (5.48pm UK) Boo was heading in the right direction at 5kn on a flat sea under blue sky with a nice breeze, eating chips and listening to music!
    Liza - thanks, I have passed your message on to Boo.
    TS - nowhere near clocked up enough nautical mileage to warrant that. Chief Ground Crew will agree, I'm sure!

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  14. Rookie Ground Crew2 June 2011 at 13:58

    Map now updated with latest position and message from Boo, who is about to face a chips shortage as he is running low on spuds!

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  15. Anonymous2 June 2011 at 15:52

    ...---.-.---...-..---.--.-...-.-.-.....-.-.-...----.-.--..-.--.-.--.----..-.-... that is morse code for "Boo, I am arranging for plane to drop one of my potato plants over Katla in a little parachute which is far less dangerous than bombing you will full size spuds"

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  16. Rookie Ground Crew2 June 2011 at 23:28

    Thanks "Anonymous" - your message has been passed on - apart from the morse code which wouldn't fit in the 160 character limit!

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  17. Liza Kirwan6 June 2011 at 15:21

    Hang in there, Boo! 753 NM to go when I read your blog ... how's it looking now? sending love and encouragement xx

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  18. Rookie Ground Crew6 June 2011 at 16:05

    Hi Liza - thanks for message. I have passed on to Boo. Latest update on map was at 12.00UTC today (06/06/2011). He lost Jib Halyard fixing on Saturday and looks like he has decided not to risk going up the mast to fix it in the current swell (hence "no jib" in his update today)

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  19. Rookie Ground Crew8 June 2011 at 20:19

    546 nm left to Horta Marina, Azores. No jib and now no forestay...but still sailing in the right direction!

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  20. Aussie Auntie9 June 2011 at 09:57

    Hi Boo, This is Heidi's auntie from Australia and I have been watching your progress with interest. Do hope nothing else falls off Katla and that you have good winds and calm seas to take you home safely.

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  21. Rookie Ground Crew9 June 2011 at 11:16

    Thanks Aussie Auntie - I have sent Boo your message! xx

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  22. Rookie Ground Crew9 June 2011 at 22:29

    Ben in s/v Scuba reached Flores, Azores today after setting out with Katla and Rosa.

    Boo says;
    Aussie Auntie: Nice 2 meet U thanks 4 tuning in
    Ben: Get 2 Horta 4 beers
    Daz or anyone: Fancy Azores to UK?

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  23. Rookie Ground Crew10 June 2011 at 17:40

    Latest update now on map and only 349 nm to go....30 days is 19:30 UTC Monday 13 June.....watch this space!

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  24. Liza Kirwan11 June 2011 at 13:26

    Checking in to send greetings and good wishes for some sunshine to warm you on your way~ Katla's track o the blog map looks very impressive! Thanks to RGCrew for great job ~ onward and spudward! xxx

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  25. Rookie Ground Crew11 June 2011 at 15:57

    Thanks Liza - I have passed your message on to Boo.

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  26. Anna13 June 2011 at 04:00

    Hi Boo,
    Internet a bit patchy here so we're sending a second message in case you didn't feel the love.
    We are also nearly at the Azores!
    Should be in on Friday. I have been watching the somewhat superfluous wind instruments on the big ship feeling sorry for sailors. I hope you have a swift yet smooth rest of journey.
    Will you hang about for a few days? It would be lovely to see you for a beer or two.
    Lots of love Anna, Jo and the Dione Sky people x x

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  27. Rookie Ground Crew13 June 2011 at 12:38

    Hi Anna, I have passed your message on via txt. Hello to you, Jo and everyone - hope you have a smooth passage - give him a tow if you go past? x
    Hi Mrs Smiff, still trying?

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  28. Liza Kirwan13 June 2011 at 15:16

    word in from Rosa that land is in sight ~ not sure which land, but hey, it must be an Azore! Wishing you good times ashore ~ and many chips xx

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  29. Rookie Ground Crew13 June 2011 at 15:59

    Great to hear about Rosa Liza, have passed message on to Boo, who was 99nm away from Horta at 12:00 UTC today and being accompanied by dolphins!

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  30. Rookie Ground Crew13 June 2011 at 16:54

    Messages from Boo:
    Jo + Anna: CU CHIX SOON!
    Ben: FIND US A BLENDER!
    Rosa: GET THE CHIPS ON + CLIPPERS OUT!

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  31. Sally13 June 2011 at 18:50

    Hi Boo,
    Watching your journey and wishing you a safe onward journey with lots of sunshine and small waves. Looking after the rookie ground crew who is fairing up well, considering! Safe journey.
    Love from Sally and family. x

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  32. Rookie Ground Crew13 June 2011 at 23:12

    Well done Sally! I have passed your message on to Boo who now has only 50 nm to go to get to Horta!

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  33. Rookie Ground Crew14 June 2011 at 22:01

    Final update for this leg.
    Rookie Ground Crew standing down.
    Over and out.

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  34. RGC1 July 2011 at 14:52

    The fun continues as Boo and Katla start the second leg of their journey home. For further comments follow this thread; http://yachtkatla.blogspot.com/2011/06/here-we-go-again.html

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  35. Liza2 July 2011 at 16:32

    good luck finding the wind, Boo ~ and if you do end up in Spain, two words you need to know are "Patatas Fritas" xxx

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  36. Yacht Crew27 December 2011 at 11:34

    I would like to say that this blog really convinced me, you give me best information! Thanks, very good post.

    ReplyDelete

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