News from Our Voyagers (updated on March 12, 2009)
March 12, 2009 Lester, After three years in Turkey I left in 2007 and went through the Corinth Canal to the Ionic Isles,
enjoyed the Croatian coast and wintered in Venice, which was spectacular. Last year I left the Adriatic Sea and sailed via the
Strait of Messina to Sardinia, where Escapade in on the hard at Sant'Antioco. My thanks to you for creating and maintaining
the very informative Corbin website! Peter Voges, SY ESCAPADE
Dec 22, 2008 Good day Lester, I am two and a half months into my first cruise on Tangaroa. I Left lake Champlain on the
9th of October, down the Hudson, and then through the intracoastal and a few Atlantic passages I have reached Cocoa FL. I
am spending Xmas in Cocoa Florida. I should reach my destination, the Bahamas, in mid January. Guy Viger.
Nov 6, 2008 Lester, Sorry we have never used a cradle, we had Bright Eyes on jack stands while doing the bottom. She is
almost done and ready to go around the world with a few things left to do. We get new our new sails tomorrow $13,000+ but
it's only money, so far the complete refit has cost us $60,000 and almost a year of full time work, but we see the light...... just
hope the light isn't a train running us down. LOL. John and Anita, Bright Eyes (116)
April 15, 2008 Hi Lester, We are getting the major refit done, but sometimes it feels like it goes on forever. LOL. We have
replaced the fuel tanks (added another fuel tank for a total of three, 140 gal), all new fresh water system, salt water system,
new engine and drive train, 4 bilge pumps, new septic system, 275 ft anchor chain, rebuilt anchor windless, all new lights
below decks, and have ground the hull down to fiberglass and added 5 barrier coats with 2 coats of antifouling. We have yet
to remove the teak deck and work on the standing and running rigging. John and Anita, S/V Bright Eyes, Corbin 39 PH; S/V
Baums Rush, Hunter 260
March 10, 2008 Lester, America's Great Loop was a 5200 NM trip around the Eastern half of the US. We had to step and
unstep the mast 3 times. We started in FL and sailed up the east coast to NY City, up the Hudson to the Erie Canal across
the Erie Canal to the Great Lakes, than sailed to Chicago down the rivers/canals systems to Mobile AL than to the west coast
of FL, around to the FL Keys than up FL, back to where we started in Jacksonville FL. We stayed on our Hunter for a full
year and only slept on land once while we were in NY City, while doing the "Loop". I figure that if the wife and I are still
talking to each other after a year on a 26 ft boat the Corbin should be a breeze, LOL This was a great trip and what a blast.
John and Anita Baumgartner, S/V Bright Eyes
December 23, 2007 Hi Lester, She started life as Cap Oceane. We bought her in Quebec as Cap au Sud. We have pretty
much rebuilt everything ; this being the 4th winter out of the water. We figure this entitles us to select a new name which we
are still working on ! We expect to be in St. Andrews harbor this spring which is on Passamaquody Bay which is the
Maine/USA salt water border. We hope to spend the summer there in the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine and by the fall of
09 head very South. In the rebuild process, you sure get an appreciation of the sturdiness of the original construction.
Galene is really amazing. And we thought we did a rebuild !! Thanks, Ray Sullivan, s/v Cap uu Sud.
April 8, 2007 Lester, The check for Balmacara came yesterday afternoon. The sale is complete. It is hard to say good by to
a good friend but I think that she is going to some good new owners. They are going to take her across the Atlantic. A Corbin
should be out there crossing oceans. Your web site has provided us with lots of good information. The new owners became
aware of Balmacara on the Corbin website. Good job Lester. Richard Bacon, former owner of s/v Balmacara.
March 5, 2007 Hi Lester, It was not that I cut you and the club off. What happened was that my sailmail started receiving
200 spam messages a day and i could not even delete them before sailmail cut me off for abusing the 10 minutes of air time
allowed per day. After I got a new sailmail address the spam went away. Sailmail stated that I got on a mailing list from
someone that had my email address on their computer probably when they were on line. Therefore I only gave my new
address to family members. Now that I am back in the States (the first time in 5 years) I set up this Gmail account which I can
access while I am on shore. This is quite recent (about 2 weeks), so now I can keep in touch with friends when in port, and
maintain the sailmail for family and weather, and navigation etc.Thank you for looking me up. It is nice to know that someone
cares. Yours Truly Henry McAlarney (s/v 2 Extreme)....[Lester Note: Henry's Corbin is in Egypt.]
February 26, 2007 Hi Lester, Many thanks for relaying this message.....”would you be so kind as to give Mr Frank Perry my
email address.....”...I am presently without crew....long story......in Morgan's Bluff harbour , Nicholl's Town, Andros,
Bahamas. I have a safe dock in the small commercial harbour.....and I am hoping to find more crew on the internet...kindly
provided by a sportfisher.....who leaves his modem on !! I had crew when we left Beaufort NC on Dec 13th 2006...we
intended to go directly to the BVI's but weather beat us in at Charleston SC...did the ICW thing ...and hopped across to here
from Biscayne Bay....via Great harbour in the Berry Islands. My crew ran out of time so i will remain here ......till I find
someone else to sail with. Hope all is well with you.....[PS even here I cannot escape other Corbin 39's....last week I was
visited by Voyager X1V with John and Judy Flint on board ] .cheers, Jeremy Parrett (s/v Two Pelicans)
January 30, 2007 Hi Lester, We are leaving for the Azores in May. Boat will probably be in Europe several years. We will
keep you posted. Thanks, Brian Hall (s/v Necessity)
December 19, 2006 Hi Lester, Merry Christmas and all the best to you and yours for 2007. We are in the Netherlands,
visiting family, while Octopus I is being catered to on the hard in Marmaris. This year we went from Tunisia, where we spent
the previous winter, via Malta and Italy to Greece and Turkey. We intend to participate in the Eastern Med Yacht Rally next
spring. Thanks for your web-efforts, all the best. Gerry and Brigitte Stuurop (s/v Octopus I) www.stuurop.ch
December 19, 2006 Merry Christmas Lester from Two Pelicans .We are in Charleston SC resting up after coming offshore
ffrom Beaufort NC...Leaving tomorrow for Jacksonville Fl.......a 2 day offshore hop...So far there has been precious little
wind...flat calm seas, wondefully sunny days and amazing starry nights.....All the best from Jeremy and crew Peter.(s/v Two
Pelicans)
December 17, 2006 Thanks again for the help Lester. Our adventures with the Dockwise shipping company went well. They
are very professional. Our trip up the Intercoastal waterway has not gone as well. Our transmission failed so we will be
spending X-mas in a Motel 6. The transmission had been rebuilt in Thailand three ago. I am not going to take chances this
time so I am working with Borg Warner to get a transmission from them. The next owner of Balmacara is going to get a boat
with all new running gear. Our destination is Indiantown FL, We are about 30 miles from there. Thanks Richard Bacon (s/v
Balmacara)
December 8, 2006 Lester, We are back in the U.S. and will unload Balmacara from Dockwise on the 9th of December and
take her to IndianTown, Florida where she will be placed with a broker. Could you please post the attached spec sheet with
the new info. Thanks for your help Richard Bacon
August 28, 2006 Lester, I hope everyone appreciates all you have done in setting up and running the website I know I have
found it a very enjoyable and useful addition to our boating activities. We have just returned from a 5 day trip down to NY
State, finishing up at Henderson Harbor, not far from Watertown. We went in company with friends on a Nicholson 39 ketch
and returned to our own harbour with a Rhodes 38 joining us. The owner keeps her in Henderson and he is a friend of our
son. He does a lot of singlehanded sailing, often up to our area. On the return trip we had broad reaching winds up to 20
knots and all the boats kept fairly well together. We had one reef in the main and one in the yankee most of the time, with the
staysail stay parked on the rail. The Corbin was the faster boat! http://www.corbin39.com/qanda/broadreachin20knots.jpg .
David Salter (s/v Opportunity)
August 22, 2006 Lester, Took a cruise to Lake Erie & Ontario this summer, July 12 to August 16. Visited with Jack
Veheyden, Kathrian (127) at Collins Bay Marina. He is in the latter stages of rebuilding the interior. Dave and Eileen Salter
dropped by for a visit. The following day we went to Bath and spent the night at their dock. Dave Shaw (s/v Saw-Whet) (Hull
145)
August 2, 2006 Lester, We met Saw-Whet, with Dave Shaw & Ed, his crew, at Collins Bay Marina, just west of Kingston
on July 30. They had more or less kept to their rigorous schedule across Lake Erie & Lake Ontario. Jack Verheyden, off
Kathrian, was also there and he now keeps his boat at the same marina, just along the same dock. Saw-Whet came to our
dock in Bath on Aug 1 and we had a very good boat visit, chat and dinner together.
sawwhetatbathwithopportunityinbackground A Saw-Whet is a type of owl! They left this morning. A couple of photos are
attached. Dave Shaw is the one on the left. daveshawandedatbath Although the boat is registered in Detroit, Dave keeps her
at Leamington, Ontario. Dave & Ed live near Toledo, Ohio. Dave said he will get some digital photos of the boat to you some
time! The boat is very well finished inside and the deck has been beautifully refinished. Regards, David Salter (s/v Opportunity)
March 13, 2006 Dear Lester, I’m still working my way back from Katrina. My mast was destroyed. The new one should be
here soon. Thanks for your help with my hull number. A. David Marshall. (s/v Estrellita) (Hull 62) Dog River, Mobile Alabama
December 27, 2005 Hi Lester. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The boat made it on wheels to Beaufort NC and
is safely stored at Bock Marine on the ICW. I will be returning there next month to build in 4 new golfcart batteries under the
floor in the P/H; install the Ham radio ; fit another Autoprop (ours was too large for the Yanmar 3 GM 30 F); fit the
Hydrovane steering system we picked up on eBay and a million other things . Ruth will join me in February. We have been
contacted by Paul and Christine Melanson on s/v Quintana.......they are wintering in Annapolis .As they intend crossing to the
Med. in May in the company of some other yachts we have decided to tag along instead of joining the ARC 2006...thus
saving some cash for much needed gear. I am still looking for a life raft or flotation bags, a Parachute anchor, solar panels, and
a spinnaker pole. That staysail boom and its pedestal are sitting in my garage in Mississauga ,Ontario ! We will keep you
posted .......also on www.twopelicans.ca . Cheers, Ruth and Jeremy (s/v Pelican)
[Editor’s Reply: Jeremy, Say hello to Paul Melanson for me and tell him, "Lester said you should send him the 2005 Club
dues because you would not have found Jeremy without the Club website.” Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Lester
Helmus for the Corbin 39 Owners Group ] http://www.corbin39.com
December 5, 2005 Dear Lester: We noticed that we are on your mailing list, but I'm not sure how much you know about us,
or if we are actually members. I bought my Corbin 39 in 1995 (actually, the first one ever made, according to Marius), in Ft.
Lauderdale, and sailed it throughout the Caribbean and Central America before meeting my partner, Mike, in 2002. Then, we
sailed our boat (Dolphin Spirit) from Pt. Vallarta, Mexico, to New Zealand. We ran into several other Corbins on the way,
too! Although we are currently in the Virgin Islands working on a yacht , our boat is in Fiji, awaiting our return. Thanks for the
updates, and we look forward to meeting more Corbin owners along the way! Marianne Gardner (s/v Dolphin Spirit)
November 6, 2005 Things have moved fast here.....I am now married to a charming "young" thing named Ruth, who wants to
cross oceans with me! We have a website.... http://www.twopelicans.ca the boat is in process of being renamed Two
Pelicans !! Hey,one pelican gets lonely eh? In three weeks or so two pelicans will be unloaded in Beaufort NC, where Ruth
and I will get her ready, rig her and launch her before heading back here to Mississauga for the holidays. I will be back in
Beaufort early January to get ready to depart for the Bahamas with Ruth. Our plan is to join the ARC 2006 and spend a few
years cruising the Mediterranean. All the best, jeremy and Ruth. (s/v Pelican 1)
October 11, 2005 Lester, After initially exchanging emails with Collin Harty in 2002 we finally managed to arrange a visit. On
our return from the Annapolis Boat Show last week we made a 100 mile detour into N. Connecticut and met up with Collin
and Galene! The countryside is beautiful there but the very heavy rain made driving tedious. Collin has an amazing setup and
his naval architectural drawings are very professional. The complexity of his work is mind boggling but the interior of the boat
is taking shape and his glass work is impeccable. We chatted for about 2 hours and passed on some ideas from our project. I
think he still has a few years to go! Regards, David (s/v Opportunity)
August 7, 2005 met with Doug Koger and Jane Alexander (from Wappinger Falls, NY) aboard their “Hanna” in Marmaris,
Turkey. Best regards, Peter Voges (s/v Escapade)
June 26, 2005 Hi, Greetings from"Hanna", also in Turkey. We just came back to her after 10 months of working in NC.
There is another Corbin, "Escapade" here in Marmaris, but the owners are not on board. I don't know if they are on your list
or not. The pirate incident related has been reported first hand in at least 3 places, if anyone wants more detail from the two
yachts involved. We first saw it on Jimmy Cornell's website, www.noonsite.com. Also in a recent SSCA bulletin, probably
April and in a recent issue of Cruising World or Sail magazine. Again, April or May issue. Wishing Fair Winds to all. Jan &
Doug (s/v Hanna)
June 24, 2005 Balmacara is in Turkey. It took us five long months to get across the Indian Ocean and up the Red Sea. What
a trip! You can find details on our son's web sight. www.hamsfork.net/~rdcbacon We are currently located in the US, visiting
family. We’ll be here for some time. Balmacara will sit in Turkey, drying out her bottom Richard & Kathy Bacon (s/v
Balmacara)
February 19, 2005 Hi, We are currently sailing in the shallow (less than thirty feet) milky green waters of Phang Nga Bay.
While the Bay is not terribly big, it has many shear-sided mountains that rise vertically out of the water. These limestone
mountains are small in their diameter as compared to their height. Most of the islands in the bay are uninhabited, offering
secluded anchorages under soaring cliffs fringed with jungle. Many of the islands have caves in which we take Therapy into, in
order to explore. Most of the caves open up to a small lake with shear sided walls, which are opened to the blue sky.
Sometimes the cave is long, giving one an aerie feeling as he paddles his way, using a flashlight whose beacon is eaten up
quickly by the cool blackness. Watch your head as the stalactites reach down from the ceiling and touch you. Do not worry
about the moaning of the water as your wake laps the limestone walls and the quiet talking you hear is from the bats that you
disturb along your way. 2 Extreme is going to spend the year sailing between Thailand and north Malaysia. During the year,
we will haul the boat, when I would like to change her propeller. Currently, we are using a three-bladed fixed propeller that is
powered by a Perkins 4-108 and a Hurth gearbox. I would like to know what the proper pitch, diameter, and number of
blades should be for the most economical operation. I would appreciate the information. Can someone in the club help me
out? Thank You Henry and Mattie (S/V 2 Extreme)
January 10, 2005 Hi Lester, Happy new year and all the best to you in the upcoming year. We just returned from a ( cheap )
holiday to Luperon D.R., we chose Luperon mainly to check out the bay and the local " rather large" cruising community, as
we hope to stop by there on our way south and one of our friends from our marina winters there ( without a boat ). The bay is
very large, VERY well protected as they say and during the last hurricaine that went directly by, only 2 or 3 boats got loose.
I'm told that they were unattended and not prepared. They had substantial wind but no real wave action. The living is VERY
CHEAP, little or nothing to do with the government. Stay as long as you want, some have been there 6 yrs. others more,
others less. Hanging out at the local watering holes we met: Wheelers / Dealers, defrocked priests, deposed dictators,
scammers & scammed etc. with a good measure of local ladies of ill repute trolling for business. There were approx. 100
boats there ( no Corbins ) with 3 Canadian boats that came in Thurs. AM from the Turks. I had my handheld VHF and we
watched the guided entry into the bay from our " resort " ??? balcony, it was neat. We got a sense of Political / Social
higharchy structure there with what appears to be Bruce Van Sant ( Gentleman's Guide to Passages South ) ( we bought his
autographed book ) ( GOOD read ) at the top with Mike Donovan ( a de facto Harbour Master ) next, then down the food
chain. Everyone seems to watch who talks and hangs out with whom....I guess once you got a community like this it eventually
evolves this way, anywhere.... No real facilities to speak of, virtually no parts locally, and shipping is VERY expensive and
only to Santo Domingo so a lot of the boats have fallen into disrepair some looked like total derelicts. The water does NOT
move much, if any, it's brown, and with all the discharge going on swimming off your boat is out of the question. I just thought
I share " my " view and our experiences with you. Best regards, Frank Bryant, s/v Visitant (186)
December 20, 2004 Hi Lester. We are about to depart Thailand for the Med. We will be making stops in Sri Lanka,
Maldives, and Oman. We will join up with other boats in Oman to travel through the Pirate waters in rout to the Red sea. We
will go up the west shore of the Red Sea while making stops in Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt. We hope to pass through the Suez
Canal in late April and head for Turkey. We will make a decision on what's next when we complete our 5400 mile journey to
Turkey. I have been working hard to get Balmacara in top shape for this leg of our travels. She has a rebuilt transmition and a
new mail sail. I will keep you posted. Richard Bacon "Balmacara"
December 18, 2004 Hi friends, After having left Corail in Trinidad and spent the summer in Quebec, we have been visiting
Venezuela, since October. We are presently in Los Roques offshore of Caracas. This is a huge marine park, 28 x 50 km.
Indeed this is a humongous lagoon of coral reefs, small islands and deserted beeches. It is a paradise for diving snorkeling and
swimming in shallow and warm (30C) waters. We are not sure about our future plans anymore. If we keep liking it here, we
may stay a whole year in Venez. and the ABC islands which are also offshore of this country. There are also many other
options... Hoping that you are all well and wishing to see you soon; take care, best wishes, Merry Christmas and Happy New
Year. Carmen & Claude (Corail IV) in South America
November 27, 2004 Hi Lester, I just sailed across the Atlantic this year on my boat. Jack Iron is in Lisbon and I am getting
ready to head into the Med and then back to the Caribbean. Currently the boat is on the hard and I plan to fly back in June.
My new address for your records is 124 Greenlawn Drive, Lebanon, Tennessee 37087 Thanks, KENT DUDLEY (s/v Jack
Iron) (hull #86)
October 11, 2004 Hi Lester, Just saying hello from Peniche, Portugal. As proof that Corbins are not slow, I'm sending a
picture of Jakatar in its first regatta. I crossed the starting line last but soon overtook everyone except a Beneteau First. A new
bottom job didn't hurt either. Cheers, Horatio (s/v Jakatar) See http://www.corbin39.com/regatta.jpghttp://www.corbin39.
com/newsfromthevoyagers.htmhttp://www.corbin39 http://www.corbin39.com/qanda/regatta.jpg
October 10, 2004 JEREMY, SEE BELOW. Lester Helmus for the Corbin 39 Owners Group [Original Message] > From:
The Limey's "<TheLimeys@gmail.com> > To: Lester Helmus "<corbin39@earthlink.net> > Date: 10/10/2004 9:38:47 AM
Subject: Update Hi Lester. How are you? I'M AS FINE AS A 75 YEAR-OLD CAN BE. Good summer? I have been
busy refinishing the exterior > woodwork. I have had to replace an old manual charger.We now have a Heart 1000
Inverter/charger...the old house batteries will be replaced this winter with 4 6volt golf cart batteries in a new storage box
under the pilothouse floor. The mast will be refitted this winter and rewired with tinned wire. I dont have time to rewire the
entire boat before our planned departure next summer.I intend to seal all terminals in junction boxes.....if anyone has any
advise it would be appreciated. NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN. I LIKE THE NEW 6 OR 12 JUNCTION "BOXES"
FROM THAT MAJOR COMPANY, IN GLASS FUSES OR AUTO FUSES. ARE CLOSED, BUT NOT
WATERTIGHT, WITH LABELS FOR EACH CIRCUIT.
I have to install a water tank under the saloon floor...quite a task...the previous owner used flexible tanks under the settee
berths! I have to haul in the spring to install a V strut (existing single leg strut isnt strong enough for the autoprop) I will replace
some hull valves at this time too.. A debate is raging over whether to move the Radar from its pole aft to a mounting on the
mast above the spreaders. Any suggestions? PROS: HIGHER UP WITH FARTHER VISIBILITY. NEATER
ARRANGEMENT THAN ON A POLE. CONS: JIB WILL CHAFE ON RADAR. NO INCLINATION FEATURE. (I
HAVE A GARHAUER POLE WHICH HAS A DECK-MOUNTED INCLINATION FEATURE. EXCELLENT
COMPANY.) ALSO, MAST BLOCKS RADAR FROM GETTING 360 VIEW.
I am concerned about the rudder after reading about the incident last year. Any info on a fix would be welcome...if it is
necessary. I WOULD RUN A WIRE INSIDE BOAT FROM RUDDER SHAFT TO BOLT ON WIND VANE,
THENCE TO A ZINC IN THE WATER . I have concidered removing all the glass; building a web frame, as in a wing
section and plating it with stainless steel.
Lastly, I have to install Windvane self steering. Which units seem to be the best for our stern configuration? If you have
any suggestions I would appreciate them. A. LOOK AT WWW.BUILDINGGALENE.COM (ALSO A LINK ON OUR
WEBSITE'S HOMEPAGE) FOR ONE IDEA. B. I HAVE A MONITOR. C. IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN
EMERGENCY TILLER SETUP, THEN GO WITH AN AUXILLIARY RUDDER. D. STAY AWAY FROM
"HYDROVANE", WHICH REQUIRES A PERFECTLY BALANCED BOAT AT ALL TIMES!
Next summer we plan to cross the Atlantic by way of Bermuda and the Azores,which frankly has my a little nervous as
my ocean experience is linmited to my days in the British Submarine Service !! BERMUDA CROSSING IS TOO FAR
SOUTH!!!! CONTACT CLAUDE GAGNON FOR ADVICE. ALSO READ MY "NEWS FROM THE VOYAGERS"
PAGE. SEVERAL OF OUR CLUB MEMBERS HAVE MADE THE TRIP. jeremy (s/v Pelican)
September 13, 2004 (Also see http://www.corbin39.com/voyagingwith2extreme.htm ) Hi. We left Lovina Beach, Bali (Lat
08 09 Lon 115 01) and its thousand and one Hindu Temples at nine thirty yesterday morning and are on our way to
Kalimantan (Borneo)(Lat 02 44 Lon 111 43) to play with the Crocodiles, Gibbons, Black faced monkeys, and Orangutan's.
We pulled into a calm anchorage at four AM this morning for a rest, and we will set sail at ten PM tonight heading 170 miles
to the next anchorage. Henry and Mattie (S/V 2Extreme)
September 11, 2004 Hi Lester, Just a short note to let you know we're underway. We sailed from Puerto de Santa Maria
via Gibraltar along the spanish coast to the Balearics and are presently in Menorca (Mahon) where we plan to spend the
winter after exploring the Islands some more. Best regards. Gerry and Brigitte, Octopus 1, Hull Nr. 87
March 16, 2004 Hi Lester, Romana's back home.We had a great trip from Nova Scotia, along the eastern US to spend the
winter in the Bahamas. We've been back at work since last June. I still love your site! You can post my email address if you
like. ( lundins@ns.sympatico.ca ) Romana suffered some damage when hurricane Juan hit our area. We will be painting her
this spring. I am wondering if you could post a question for me. I am thinking of painting the topsides white with a dark blue
stripe. Have people had problems with dark stripes causing cracks due to some kind of temperature effects? In looking at the
photos, I see that quite a few boats have dark stripes. Take care, Dave Lundin, (s/v Romana), Hull #74
(Editor's Note: Cracking within the "cove stripe" occurs when the boat is in a slip and one side always faces South. The
direct rays of the sun heats the dark band of color to the cracking point.)
March 16, 2004 Hi Les, I just sent you an email by mistake. My email address is corbin39sailor@Hotmail.com and I wanted
to see if my account is working again. We've taken Moonshadow to the Abacos and are having a great winter. Currently the
boat is in Marsh Harbour, but my wife and I came back to New Jersey on family business. We've been living full time on
Moonshadow since September and she is performing great. We hope to be back in the Bahamas next week. Hope you are
doing well, Bill Schwartz (s/v Moonshadow) Hull #90
January 21, 2004 Hi Lester, We are travelling now. All the family is aboard our Vééliserdi. And we appreciate this
wonderful boat. We expect to travel for about three or more years. Now, we are heading Venezuela. But, with this travel, we
can not verify our Hotmail mailbox very often. It is getting full very fast and we are scare to loose mail. I would like to ask you
to pause for a while of sending us E-mail. Sometime we don't verify our Hotmail for a month. So the box is full. I always
appreciate your web site and I will send you information if I can. It is always interesting to know the move and the news of the
Corbin's community.Sorry for that request, I hope you understand. I will promptly advise you for receiving your news as soon
as we will be back home. Thank you, Serge Charbonneau and Diane Messier happy owner of the hull 150 (s/v Véliserdi)
January 6, 2004 Merida left Vancouver in Sept 1999 and is presently in Bundaberg Australia. Ian and Liz Stokie
December 26, 2003 Hi Lester, Yes, we are perfectly OK and have arrived in Barbados after a 16 days crossing from Cape
Verde. It was a wonderful and easy crossing, the kind you dream of and read about in the story books. I must limit my
message size to 15K because of the slow speed of HF transmission but normally I am advised of a returned message....
Having a wonderful time here relearning to live lavishly again! Have a great Holiday period and best regards, Claude,(s/v
Corail IV )
December 13, 2003 Hi friends, Tomorrow, Sunday, we will be in Bridgetown, Barbados, having completed our 2100
nautical miles crossing from Cape Verde. For us , this will be a very different Holiday period with no shopping, no family
parties, no Santa Claus, no snow and no decorations. We will be with Marie-Claude, our daughter, to enjoy the sun, to
snorkel, dive & swim in 30C water and to visit the Island. We wish we could have you with us to enjoy it all! We also wish
you a very Merry Christmas, a great Holiday period and an Excellent and Happy 2004 with the good health and all & all.
Carmen & Claude Gagnon En route Cape Verde to Barbados Aboard Corail IV
December 4, 2003 Hi, Our crossing, only the two of us, has been underway since 28 Nov. and, tomorrow already, we will
be half way there. If we maintain current speed, which is not likely, we will have completed it in 14 1/2 days. Will settle for
16, as hoped. we should be in Bridgetown, Barbados, in plenty of time (17 dec.) to host our daughter who offered us the nice
gift of joining us for Christmas. But, nature will decide as quite a few things can happen during 10 days offshore as we have
well seen in the spring. Things are going very well except that the skipper no longer allows me to fish. Have been generally
lucky of late, but 3 days ago we got a 20-25 lbs tuna! Needless to say what we been having 2-3 time/day... and she said "
enough is enough!" Tough life! Take care & best regards, Carmen & Claude (Aboard Corail IV) half way between Africa
and the Americas
November 24, 2003 I am the second Owner. Sue and I bought Whaleback in June 2000 and have sailed her extensively in
the Northeast and lived aboard her on and off since the purchase. Whaleback's home is in Marina Bay, Quincy (Boston).
Tentative plans now is to head out next Fall toward the Bahamas, and points South.Tim O'Neil (s/v Whaleback)
November 23, 2003 I have tried to contact you both on 4417 Khz, USB, at 1145 universal time. But I guess we have been
all very busy. We are presently in Praia de Santiago to complete the paperwork to leave the country. Will be sailing tomorrow
night to Brava Island where we will do the final preparations to undertake our crossing to Barbados, probably Friday, 28
Nov.. Will go to Trinidad/Tobago a bit later as we hope our daughters will be able to join us in Barbados for the Christmas
period. Once offshore, will try to contact you at the same time, but on 13 970 USB. Take care and fair winds, Carmen &
Claude (s/v Corail IV )
November 2, 2003 Hi. We have arrived in Australia after a ten day passage from Vanuatu. The trip was very pleasant, light
winds for the first few days, gale force winds for a night, finally settling down to a good beam reach. Henry and Mattie (S/V
2Extreme)
October 18, 2003 The ship is presently at Rock Hall, MD. We will leave Montrééal begining of November and travel from
MD to Florida on ICW. Our intention is to stay in Florida until March 2004 and afterwards cross the Atlantic to Acores and
Portugal in may/june 2004. Philippe is from Canada and Bruno from Switzerland. We will live on the boat for the next two
years. We shall not fail to give you further information as we travel. (s/v Coochi)
October 16, 2003 Hi Lester. We sailed across from Nova Scotia to southern Spain this past summer. Best regards, Gerry
Stuurop (s/v Octopus I)
October 13, 2003 My son is living aboard Rhum Punch and working in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia at the moment
while I take care of my business in Toronto, Canada. We spent a couple of weeks sailing together out on the Great Barrier
Reef last March and the plan is to sail/explore around the north coast of Australia in 2004. I would be happy to help anyone
looking for advice regarding Panama and South Pacific cruising. A couple who crewed for me from Panama to Tahiti kept a
log and have it online at members.aol.com/JerodiSys/paklog05.htm Also my son posted a MSN Communities page on the
voyage which can be found at http://groups.msn.com/pacificvoyages/travelnotes.msnw I will get some photos together to send
to you for posting. I see there are not many Center Cockpits represented at the moment so we can help fix that. I will be back
with answers to some of the posted questions. Thank you once again - this is a great service to Corbin owners and I for one
certainly appreciate it. Regards, Alan Hand. (s/v Rhum Punch)
October 7, 2003 Hi, Lester. This is what we are up to. Balmacara is in Singapore. We departed Brisbane, Australia in early
May. Our destination is Phuket Thailand where we will hang out for about a year. We stayed inside the Great Barrier Reef as
we traveled up the east coast of OZ. Many long day trips. If I had to do it again I would go outside the Reef and make a stop
in the Louisiade Islands of Papua, New Guinea and then go to the Torres Straits. Our trip across the Gulf of Carpentaria to
Darwin was a wild one. They should call Carpentaria the gulf of maytag. After some land travel in Northern Australia we
headed out on a motor boat ride for Indonesia. We made landfall in Kupang on the Island of Timor. Stops where made on
about 12 islands as we traveled through Indonesia to Singapore. We were very apprehensive about traveling through
Indonesia from a personal safety standpoint but we can now report that all of our contacts with local Indonesians were very
positive.
Indonesia is a fascinating part of the world. You have to be on your toes when traveling a night. There are many unlighted
fishing boats and local shipping vessels that had light configurations that we had never seen before. There were times when we
were dealing with 40 to 50 boats an hour. We had three major near misses that we will remember for a long time. That's it for
now. Richard Bacon (s/v Balmacara)
October 3, 2003 Hi, Hope you are all well. Please keep sending some news; we will always have plenty of energy to receive
your messages. After sailing the Azores, Madeira, and the Canary islands, we are now on our way to the Cape Verde
Islands. We are now in our seventh day of sailing from La Palma, Canary. We should arrive in Sal, Cape Verde, in 3-4 days.
The Azores are great; we like them the best. We certainly hope to be back there some day. But we have no choice now; we
have to go by the Caribbean first to get there; tough luck! Nature calls. Madeira islands are so so. This is a beautiful place, but
sailors are not really welcome there. We have shortened our stay as people are not friendly, at least towards us bluewater
cruisers. The Canaries are Europe with all its luxuries and European tourists. They are beautiful islands and are inhabited by
wonderful friendly people. They are islands of great contrasts, people wise and nature wise. All at the same time - desertic,
volcanic and tropical with exotic fruits and rare plants. Too bad we do not speak Spanish. The present crossing is certainly the
best so far. All is going well, we are feeling great, even Carmen is getting to like it. I must say that conditions have been so far
ideal. As an example, present sailing conditions are: T'ure: 28 C (was 26 last night); Sky: not a cloud on the horizon; Water
T'ure: 27.2 ( yes, we are offshore!); Wind: 15 knots NNE ; Sails: Running wing to wing; Bearing: 205 deg ; Speed: 5.8 knots
; Sea: Waves 1-2 meters but long at around 10 seconds . This is the best part. As you can see, this is just like in the children
story books... We are now looking forward to discovering Cape Verde. Will keep you posted, Best regards, Carmen &
Claude (s/v Corail IV )
Sept. 15, 2003 We're heading the boat south to Florida and the Bahamas mid September and will keep you posted. Thanks,
Bill Schwartz (s/v Moonshadow)
September 13, 2003 Hi, Here is Corail standing well covered and protected in Santa Cruz de La Palma. With the newly
completed African Queen, thanks to you Gary, its 3 anchors and a line to the shore (also used for the dinghy dock) , we
should be able to spent plenty of time ashore without worrying too much! La Palma is renowned for its beauty and superb
hiking trails. Unfortunately it is also known for its lack of facility for cruisers; thus the complex setup. We plan to stay for at
least 2 weeks. Carmen & Claude (Corail IV)
July 21, 2003 WE ARE ANCHORED IN 25 FEET OF WATER ON THE NORTH SIDE OF NAVITI ISLAND IN
FIJI. IT IS A GRAY, RAINY, BRISK, NEW ENGLAND TYPE OF DAY. MATTIE IS BAKING OATMEAL
COOKIES AND I JUST RETURNED FROM SNORKELING ON ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL REEFS THAT
I HAVE EVER SEEN. THE COLORS OF THE CORAL WERE MAGNIFICENT. I SWAM INTO A SCHOOL OF
SQUID. WE KNOW THEM AS BAIT FISH, BUT THEIR COLORING IS VERY DIFFERENT WHEN THEY ARE
ALIVE - VERY BRIGHT AND IRIDESCENT. THE VILLAGES ON THESE REEF ENCRUSTED OUTER ISLANDS
ARE SMALL AND QUAINT. THE HOUSES ARE MADE OF PALM LEAVES WOVEN IN A FASHION WITH
THATCHED ROOFS. BASICALLY THEY ARE ONE LARGE ROOM WITH VERY LITTLE FURNITURE. THE
NATIVES SLEEP AND EAT ON THE FLOOR. COOKING IS DONE ON OPEN FIRES OUTSIDE THE
DWELLING. THE OUTHOUSE IS IN THE BACK. THERE IS RUNNING WATER FROM A HOSE PIPE LOCATED
IN A FEW PLACES THROUGHOUT THE VILLAGE. THAT IS WHERE THE WASHING OF DISHES, CLOTHING,
ETC IS DONE. SOME OF THE VILLAGES HAVE A SMALL GENERATOR WHICH THE NATIVES CAN PLUG
INTO WITH AN EXTENSION CORD IF THEY NEED ELECTRICITY AND IF THERE IS FUEL TO PUT INTO
THE GENERATOR. NO, I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY REFRIGERATION ON THE ISLANDS. NO STORES EITHER.
THERE ARE BREADFRUIT, BANANA, MANGO, AND LEMON TREES. THE NATIVES HERE ARE BLACK AND
VERY FRIENDLY. HOWEVER, IT WAS A LITTLE UNNERVING TO BE AWOKEN AT FIVE IN THE MORNING
TO THE SOUNDS OF A BEATING DRUM FROM WITHIN THE TREE LINE ON SHORE. YES, THE NATIVES
SEND THEIR INFORMATION THROUGH THE AIR BY THE USE OF A SIX FOOT HOLLOWED-OUT LOG ON
WHICH THEY BEAT OUT THE MESSAGE. EVEN CHURCH WAS ANNOUNCED WITH THE DRUM. THE
CHURCH SERVICE WAS LONG WITH LOVELY SINGING FROM THE CHOIR AND FIRE AND BRIMSTONE
FROM THE PREACHER WHO WORE A JACKET, TIE, AND A SKIRT. YES, MANY OF THE NATIVE MEN
WEAR SKIRTS. HENRY AND MATTIE (S/V 2 EXTREME
July 5, 2003 HI, 2 EXTREME IS BACK ON THE GO AFTER THREE WEEKS ON THE HARD. WE HAD TO
REPLACE THE OLD RUDDER WHICH BROKE IT'S 1 7/8 SHAFT JUST AS IT LEFT THE TOP OF THE RUDDER
AND ENTERED THE BOAT. UPON INSPECTION THE SHAFT HAD BEEN SLEEVED BEFORE AND THE
BREAK WAS DUE TO ELECTRO LYSIS. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FATHER AND MY BROTHER-IN
LAW RICHY FOR PUTTING ME IN TOUCH WITH LESTER AND THE CORBIN FAMILY. LESTER PUT ME IN
TOUCH WITH MANY OTHER CORBIN OWNERS WHO FORWARDED ME INFORMATION ABOUT THE
RUDDER DESIGN. EILEEN AND DAVID SALTER FAXED ME THE DRAWINGS OF THE STEEL WORK OF A
CORBIN RUDDER. HARRY AND JANE OF S/V CORMORANT BROUGHT ME LINE DRAWINGS OF THE
CORBIN PROFILE. I CAN NOT SAY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE HELP WE RECEIVED IN A TIME OF NEED
THAT WE GOT FROM THE FAMILY AND NEW FRIENDS. THE NEW RUDDER IS MADE FROM 316 S.S.
FRAME WITH 3/4 MARINE PLYWOOD BOLTED ON. IT WAS THEN FILLED AND COVERED WITH WEST
EPOXIES, AND ROVING FIBERGLASS. I BOLTED A ZINC TO THE BOTTOM OF THE RUDDER SHOE;
HOWEVER, I COULD NOT FIGURE A GOOD WAY TO PUT A ZINC ON THE RUDDER SHAFT ITSELF. WITH
A NEW BOTTOM JOB WE SPLASHED BACK IN THE WATER LAST MONDAY. WE LEFT VUNDA POINT ON
FRIDAY AND MOTORED TO MUSKET COVE, WHERE WE ARE PRESENTLY. WE ARE PLANNING ON
THREADING OUR WAY NORTH UP THE YASAWA ISLANDS INTO THE OUTBACK OF FIJI IN THE NEXT
FEW WEEKS BEFORE HEADING TO VANUATU. THANKS AGAIN. HENRY AND MATTIE MCALARNEY (S/V
2 EXTREME)
July 2, 2003 Hi, We have now successfully completed our first Atlantic crossing and are "trying" to rest in the Azores. The
crossing was somewhat eventful as during the 15 days, we got hit by 7 lows including 4 of them which actually did beat us
around a little bit. So we had a "Fiesta de D?pressions". But, we came out all right with nobody sick or hurt badly; just a few
bruises to us and the boat. We have gained some interesting lessons and experience like running for a short while under "bare
poles" in 48-50 knots wind and 25-30' seas. We also saw the boomed staysail break away from the inner stay and fly up
around the radar at the first spreader level! In this case I was on watch and did make a few stupid mistakes... It was again
blowing over 42 kn. We have now been in the Azores for 2 weeks; one in Flores, a magnificent island with extraordinary
people. This is a must stop for anyone coming this way. The last week was spent in Horta where sailors from all over the
world constantly converge and leave from. It is quite special to be sitting in an overloaded 300 boats marina, knowing that
each and every one of these boats has achieved at least one major crossing and that the crew has not only something to tell
but also to teach us. We are now resting in a small secluded port in Pico and, as we are the only sailboat around, giving our
liver a break! Best regards, Carmen & Claude Gagnon (s/v Corail IV )
June 7, 2003 HI. JUST A LINE TO STATE THAT 2 EXTREME HAS ARRIVED SAFELY IN FIJI. IT IS VERY NICE
TO BE SECURELY ANCHORED IN FLAT WATER AFTER A 1,000 MILE PASSAGE. IT IS TIME TO REST
BEFORE WE HAUL THE BOAT AND START MAKING A NEW RUDDER. I HOPE THAT ALL IS WELL WITH
YOU AND YOURS. THANKS HENRY AND MATTIE MCALARNEY (S/V 2 EXTREME)
June 4, 2003 LESTER. FOR STEERING NOW WE ARE USING THE WIND VANE UNIT. THE WIND VANE
UNIT WILL ONLY WORK ON A REACH WITH THE WIND FROM 60 TO 130 DEGREES. THE VANE UNIT LET
GO LAST NIGHT AND THE BOAT MAINTAINED ITS HEADING ON A BEAM REACH OF 90 DEG WITH A 3
REEFED MAIN AND THE STAYSAIL IN 25 KNOTS OF WIND AND 7 FOOT SEAS. WE HAVE 130 MILES TO
THE OUTER REEF IN FIJI. I HOPE THAT WE CAN MOTOR THROUGH THE REEF'S USING THE WIND VANE.
I HAVE RECEIVED SOME INFORMATION FROM DAVID SALTER ON HOW TO CONSTRUCT A
REPLACEMENT RUDDER. I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR YOUR HELP.HENRY AND MATTIE (s/v 2 Extreme)
(June 4, 2003 at 8:43 PM) Henry, You should prepare some alternate methods of steering. 1. A drogue, even a line tied to a
bucket may help to steer while sailing. 2. A rudder, fashioned from a whisker pole attached to a board from under a bunk,
could steer while motoring. Tie the pole to the base of a stern stanchion. Good luck Lester
June 3, 2003 at 5:18 PM) LESTER, MY NAME IS HENRY McALARNEY AND I AM SAILING AROUND THE
WORLD IN MY CORBIN 39, HULL # 18. WE ARE CURRENTLY ON PASSAGE FROM NEW ZEALAND TO
FIJI. WE ARE TWO DAYS OUT OF THE REEF ON THE ISLAND OF VITI LEVU. OUR RUDDER FAILED THREE
DAYS AGO. THE RUDDER SHAFT, 1 3/4 DIA, TURNS. HOWEVER, THE RUDDER DOES NOT RESPOND. I AM
HIGHLY INTERESTED IN THE CONSTRUCTION DETAILS OF THE SKEG AND RUDDER. I AM IN NEED OF
A NEW RUDDER IF AVAILABLE; IF NOT, I WILL MAKE A RUDDER WHEN WE ARRIVE IN FIJI. THANK
YOU, HENRY AND MATTIE (S/V 2 EXTREME) (June 4, 2003 at 6:35 AM) Henry, I will get right on this. Hang in.
Good luck. Lester
June 2, 2003 Hi, We left Rhode Island this morning for our crossing to the Azores. A great first day; just like the dream...
Carmen & Claude (s/v Corail IV )
April 15, 2003 The boat will be launched in July and we will test sail her for the month, then it's off to the US, Bahamas,
Cuba this year. After that, we're off to Europe.Paul Melanson (s/v Quintana in PEI, Canada)
March 6, 2003 hi Lester, You guessed right! We are leaving end of May for our first transat. Azores, Madeira, Canary
Islands, Cape Verde etc... We will take the next 2 years to complete the tour of the North Atlantic Islands and experience the
real cruising life aboard. Thanks for inquiring about our daughter. She is not doing so well, but we are doing everything we can
and being close will not help any more... We hope for the best. As for meeting you and Insouciance in California we will talk
about it when we complete this tour. All the best and thanks for the offer, Claude Gagnon (s/v Corail IV in Rhode Island)
December 27, 2002 The Corbin website is great. A fellow stopped by our boat in Mooloolaba Australia with a request to
see our boat. He has been shopping for a Corbin but had never seen one up close. He told me about the Corbin web site.
Where have I been? As a Corbin advocate its fun to find some folks with similar interests. We have been in the Pacific for
about six years. We started with a trip to Alaska and then Mexico. We have visited many island groups in the Pacific. We
were in New Zealand for about eighteen months and are doing the same in Australia now. The next leg of our trip will start in
March when we will head for Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The next leg presents a lot of concerns but many of the
boats that will be going that way are talking to each other about potential problems. Most of us will be traveling in the
company with other boats. There is comfort in knowing we are travelling in a Corbin. Richard Bacon, (on s/v Balmacara in
Australia)
October 2, 2002 I departed from Port Dover, Lake Erie, to Buffalo and through the Erie Barge Canal. [See pics at http:
//www.pbase.com/lesterhel/jakatar_73 http://www.pbase.com/image/15641401] Then we motored down the Hudson,
stepped the mast at a do-it-youself hand-crank crane at the first marina past the last low bridge. The trip along the canal was
magnificent. We went through 42 locks and actually crossed a mountain with a valley view. It took 11 days to get to New
York. I now think of all the motorboaters sitting at the marina all summer drinking beer and wonder why nobody goes cruising
through the canals. The Welland canal goes all the way up to Montreal, Quebec city and the Atlantic. That alone would be a
hell of a trip.All they have to do is turn the ignition key and go. I probably wouldn't have thought of it either or perhaps the fuel
bill is somewhat of a daunting prospect. I completed the Atlantic crossing [eastward] on August 5. Jakatar lived up to the
Corbin reputation. We got hit with 25 foot waves, luckily going in our direction. We ran with it and the boat handled it
beautifully with just the staysail. The crew down below always thought the storm had let up - it was almost peaceful down
there - until they stuck their heads out of the companionway and saw the walls of water. Amazingly we hardly got splashed. In
the second smaller storm (more like a real hard blow) near the Portuguese shore, an unsually large wave broke into Jakatar's
port side. It hit us like a freight train and rammed the boat at almost 90ºº. It cracked one of the small windows along the hull (I
never though that could be possible), snapped the staysail boom in half and filled the cockpit with water. Luckily I was
harnessed. But the boat sprang back up without a complaint. We promptly ditched the idea of heading for the Tagus estuary
and headed out to sea where it's safe. Now I look at boats with large pilothouse windows and think...don't go offshore. On
the negative side, at 23,000 lbs +, a hefty load, Jakatar sputtered in light winds where lighter boats would probably make
good speed. I'm now based in Peniche, Portugal. Best regards, http://www.pbase.com/image/15641401Horatio Marteleira
(s/v Jakatar in Portugal)
August 13, 2002 The update should be coming soon. Cormorant is undergoing work in New Zealand and will soon be
sailing. Dale L. Clifford , email: clifford@unf.edu, Associate Professor and Chair (904) 620-2886, Department of History fax
(904) 620-1018, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, http://www.unf.edu/~clifford
July 24, 2002 "Thanks for the introduction. Here's a quick rundown on what's in our plans. We have just returned from the
Caribbean, where we spent 2 years cruising the Islands on a Hughes 35. We wanted to go farther and more comfortably so
we started looking for a heavier and bigger boat. We looked at steel boats mostly, for their strength and comfort, and also
two fiberglass boats, the Valiant 40 and the Corbin 39. And as you all know, we bought a Corbin. 'Quintana Grande', our
Corbin (named in honor of our Hughes 35 'Quintana'), is in need of much work. We plan on fixing it up and leaving for a
Caribbean shakedown cruise next year. Then after the shakedown we'll do whatever we find lacking and head out for our
circumnavigation via the 5 great capes. That's our story. Glad to see there is a wealth of information out there and a fine
support group for this vessel." Paul Melanson (s/v Quintana Grande in PEI, Canada)
June 16, 2002 "Hi. I am Claude, owner of Corail IV, sailing in the COLD Gulf of Saint Lawrence waters. I think I have sent
pictures of my boat to the website webmaster.(Ed. Note: See Claude's photo album at http://fotki.com/lesterhel ) http://public.
fotki.com/lesterhel/corail_iv/If you are interested, maybe you could get some from him as I do not have internet access on
board. Best regards and good luck." Claude Gagnon (s/v Corail IV)
May 26, 2002 "Hi Lester. Sorry about taking so long to give you the serial number. I live in Portugal and my boat is in
Canada. I had Jakatar surveyed for insurance purposes for the crossing. The boat is almost fully equipped now and we'll be
leaving for the Erie Canal, New York, Azores and Portugal some time in late May / early June. I'll send pictures then, one of
the crew has a digital camera. Best regards." Horacio Marteleira (s/v Jakatar)
Feb 2, 2002 Our plan this year is to spend the summer in the Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick coasts), the fall,
down the New England coast and to finally winter in the Cheasapeake Bay. Next year, we will probably cross the Atalntic to
spend at least a year in the Mediterranean. We will then complete our North Atlantic tour by crossing again from the African
coast towards South America and back home. Claude Gagnon (s/v Corail IV