Nordhavn 41 already has a bigger sister

We’re old enough to remember the introduction of the Nordhavn 40. In the heart of our hearts, we’re fans of smaller passagemakers and the N40 turned our world on its ears—even before it set the record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by a production powerboat in 2001-2002.

In the two decades since then, the market for ocean-going motorboats has trended toward larger boats, leading Pacific Asian Enterprises to build ever larger Nordhavns, up to and including the majestic 120. (See next post below.)

Thus, it was heart-warming to see PAE announce a new design and launch the range with the all-new Nordhavn 41.

The new 41 features an open-concept saloon, galley and steering station on one level, twin-engine configuration and utilization of computational fluid dynamics technology to create an easily driven hull shape that resembles nothing like the Nordhavns of old.

Read more here: https://nordhavn.com/models/n41/

The new 41 is on its way to become a Nordhavn best-seller. Its immediate success has already spawned a big sister, the new Nordhavn 51 which has begun its lamination stage at Telgeren & Partners yacht yard in Turkey, PAE‘s newest partner factory where the 41 is built.

“I believe the 51 will be as well received as the 41—if not more so, because the 41 has proven concept,” says Jim Leishman, vice-president of Pacific Asian Enterprises.

With 26 hulls already reserved, the Nordhavn 51 is on track to match the popularity of her little sister, the N41.

We had the good fortune to crew aboard the original Nordhavn 40 on the California-Hawaii leg of its record-setting circumnavigation back in 2001. We look forward to an opportunity to head out to sea aboard the new Nordhavn 41 before long.

Nordhavn 120 maiden voyage begins

Aurora, the first Nordhavn 120 built, has begun her maiden voyage from Xiamen, China, to Vancouver, Canada.

She departed the Coast Marine factory in Xiamen on July 16 for a 276-nautical-mile hop south to Honk Kong to shake down systems and to pick up 17,000 gallons of diesel fuel. From there, the plan is to run 6,000 nautical miles non-stop to Vancouver, her home port, arriving in about 25 days in the latter part of August. Weather permitting.

Weather has already been a factor when Typhoon Solik tore across Taiwan to Xiamen, delaying the departure for Hong Kong. Now, Tropical Storm Cimaron is bearing down on Aurora at the Gold Coast Marina in Hong Kong.

If Mother Nature doesn't permit a non-stop run across the Pacific, here is Aurora's alternate routing:

• Run from Hong Kong up to Tokyo – 1,500 nautical miles • Tokyo to Dutch Harbor – 2,675 nautical miles • Dutch Harbor to Vancouver – 1,619 nautical miles.

You'll find a voyage overview, route, blog, photos, videos and other information at the Nordhavn 120 Delivery section of Nordhavn's website.

New design: Nordhavn 56

What a perfect passagemaker!

All Nordhavns are designed to cross oceans but this all-new design places an even greater emphasis on ocean-crossing capability while maximizing interior accommodations that are well suited for offshore conditions as well as dockside living. At 56 feet and with a displacement of 126,000 pounds, this new trawler yacht is ready to tackle the toughest and longest ocean passages.

Standard propulsion will include the venerable 4.5 liter John Deere engines in a twin configuration and a fuel capacity of 2,335 gallons. This package combined with an efficient hull design will allow for a very comfortable transoceanic range and will retain the ability to maintain near normal cruising speed and positive direction control even if one of the two engines fail.

Add paravanes and we're off!

Click here for drawings and more information.

Final passage aboard Oso Blanco

Passagemakers Eric and Ann Bloomquist with son Bear.

One of the most pleasant jobs at Circumnavigator magazine is keeping an eye on the blogs of Nordhavns out there are voyaging the world. There are many excellent blogs maintained by Nordhavn owners but one of our favorites is Cruising with Oso Blanco written by Eric and Ann Bloomquist about cruising with young son Bear.

Eric and Annie have a way with words, and a sense of humor, that has us looking forward to each new post about life aboard Oso Blanco. We first encountered the Bloomquists when Bear was a toddler. Then the first Oso Blanco was a Nordhavn 40. As Bear grew, so did the Nordhavn, with the second being a 47. Bear now is 10 and the third Nordhavn is a 64.

After a full decade of voyaging, including thousands of miles meandering around the Pacific, the Bloomquists are moving back to life on land in the U.S.A. Last night, on their last overnight passage, Annie posted this blog entry:

Final Overnight

Posted: 06 Aug 2012 04:07 AM PDT

Sitting in the darkened pilot house on our last overnight passage aboard Oso Blanco, moving south along the coast of Australia. We left the Great Barrier Reef a few days ago and have had perfect weather: winds at 5-10 knots, not a cloud in the sky, unbelievably calm seas.

Dozens of humpbacks whales have poked their heads up to say good-bye and entertain us during the day. Newborns splashing and playing around lumbering moms and spunky males throwing themselves out of the water and crashing back into the sea. It never gets old. We even had a dolphin escort for a while; as they rode the bow wave, I swear they made eye contact. Are they just as curious about us as we are about them?

Tonight the Milky Way is so vivid in the dark sky it looks as if the stars are trailing smoke. The rising moon startled me as it suddenly appeared over the horizon where a minute ago it was complete darkness. The orange glow looked like a threatening fireball but quickly emerged into a beautiful, yellow, almost full moon. Somehow you don’t feel quite as alone out here with it watching over you. The hum of the engine combines with the gentle sound of the ebb and flow of the water to offer a soothing atmosphere, making music all its own.

I know Bear and Eric are safe and sound, asleep together in the big bed of our stateroom. Bear pulled me outside to see the Southern Cross before bed and I hugged him as we were in awe of the night sky. “Look Mom! A shooting star! Make a wish!”

My wish is that we never forget nights like this . . .

Bluewater anchors sunflower raft-up

Milt Baker, senior contributing editor of Circumnavigator, who is cruising the Canadian Maritimes this summer with his wife, Judy, aboard their Nordhavn 47 Bluewater, sends along this photo and message:

Thought you might like to see how we've been wasting time here on the beautiful Bras d'Or Lakes of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. This was a Cruising Club of America sunflower raft three days ago with 45 yachts ranging from about 90 down to 33 feet. Bluewater was one of the four cardinal anchor boats and at one point had 10 yachts, worth about 500,000 pounds, riding on our single anchor until we linked up with the other parts of the raft. The good news is the wind was light and the seamanship excellent.

We were sunflower raft virgins—our very first time. Great fun, too. Tomorrow, we begin the trek back to Halifax, heading into a smokey sou'wester by day and stopping in a snug anchorage each night along the way. We'll probably reach Halifax Friday, spend a week downtown on Cable Wharf, and be back in Southwest Harbor, Maine, around Aug. 23.

Great cruising here . . . we love it! Good chance we'll return next year for longer.

—Milt & Judy

Cruising that's too good to be true

Ken and Roberta Williams aboard the Nordhavn 68 Sans Souci have discovered what Roberta calls "Disneyland for Boaters." Their perfect cruising grounds are to be found in southwestern Turkey:

View 2012-07-23 Sans Souci Blog in a larger map

Read more at Ken's blog: http://www.kensblog.com/aspx/m/Home/beid/437127

Final post from Grey Pearl

Grey Pearl, a Nordhavn 62, enters the Strait of Gibraltar after crossing the Atlantic. Photo by Ken Williams.

It is with such a heavy heart that I write this last and final blog of the good ship Grey Pearl.

Early in December, while we were spending the winter at our home in Virginia away from our boat, we received one of life’s dreaded phone calls. Our beloved ‘Grey Pearl’ N6208 was on fire in her slip at Yacht Haven Marina in Phuket, Thailand. The fire started in the early evening of Dec. 6th, 2011, and was detected shortly thereafter. The fire quickly became uncontrollable and threatened the marina and other boats. The marina staff and some brave yachtsmen scrambled to remove her from the slip, tow her up a nearby river and run her aground where she continued to burn for almost another day. Needless to say we are devastated by this horrible tragedy.

In order to tend to this matter and our responsibilities, Braun & I immediately flew from our home in Virginia to Thailand. Of course, the hardest and saddest moment was to see her…it is impossible to describe the heartbreak. To see the pilothouse wheel resting on the charred Lugger main engine…we were overcome. The raging fire had consumed her down to the water line. To put her to rest, we had a “viewing” on a Thursday…and her “burial” with flowers and a final good by on Friday.

Although heartbroken, we do understand how lucky we are…no one was injured! And the damage would have been more catastrophic if not for the brave souls that worked quickly to get the boat out of the slip and thereby save the surrounding yachts and dock.

We’ve had 11 ½ years of absolutely wonderful experiences on the Pearl…and happily, we’ve been able to share that on board passion with so many friends & family. Often we’d sit on our aft “Lido” deck and reminisce about where she’s taken us…Gibraltar, Jounieh, Lebanon, Jementos, Bahamas, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, Elba, Italy, Hong Kong, Barcelona, Aleutian Islands, Panama Canal, Haifa, Israel, Rome, Petropavlovsk, Russia, Bar Harbor, Me., Singapore, Athens…to name just a few.

I personally have never been more challenged, fulfilled and happier doing anything in my life than the time I’ve spent on my ‘Grey Pearl’. And…more importantly, she was a passion Braun & I enjoyed together. She will live on fondly in our hearts & memories . . . forever.

We are still “processing” this calamity so it’s way too soon to say what our future plans will be…but there will be an Act II. The fun is not going to stop.

We’re OK…and, we have the love of family & friends we can count on to get through this painful time…

A special thanks to our dear friends, Carol & Steven Argosy on our buddy boat N62 ‘Seabird’. They remain in Phuket and we deeply regret having to temporarily leave the “Bird and Pearl” cruising team.

Sadly . . . Grey Pearl, Out.

Tina & Braun Jones
Nordhavn 62 Grey Pearl