A German couple, Wolfgang and Heidi Hass, recently completed their second circumnavigation aboard Kanaloa, a 46-foot Nordhavn trawler built in 1995. Completion of the second voyage (which began in California in 2003) establishes a new record for the first twin circumnavigation aboard a production powerboat. Named for a great Hawaiian deity, their Nordhavn 46 logged almost 5,000 engine hours and about 33,500 miles during the last five years.
Kanaloa’s Lugger engine, well designed systems and rugged hull all stood up well to the rigorous ocean voyaging. The only breakdown that the couple encountered came when the boat’s starboard paravane boom broke, off the coast of Mozambique. After some jury repairs the boom held up, seeing the couple all the way to South Africa. Now, safely back in Dana Point, Calif., (coincidentally where P.A.E. Nordhavn is headquartered) the couple plans to spend several months laying over while Kanaloa receives maintenance and is readied for their next adventure. After revisiting the South Pacific the Hass’s hope to continue on to Shanghai, China and visit single-handed sailor Zhai Mo, whom they befriended during their voyaging.
A successful circumnavigation is a respectable accomplishment for any sailor, and two in a row is awe-inspiring, but the Hass’s most recent voyage actually represents their third global orbit — the first was completed aboard a 38-foot Van Dam sailboat that they owned prior to the Nordhavn.
