March/April 2011 Issue 192: Kialoa V to Bermuda

56 Nav Prob Copy

Cruising families usually choose yachts that emphasize comfort rather than speed. Not so for Fred and Eileen Mills of Lake Placid, N.Y. They have always believed that speed and comfort can go together. The yachts they have owned in the past — including Ceramco New Zealand, Sir Peter Blake’s entry into the ’81-’82 Whitbread — have always been big, fast and comfortable. Since 2007, along with their two sons Freddie and Nelson, they have been cruising aboard Kialoa V, designed by German Frers, and the last of the big maxi racing yachts that John Kilroy campaigned in the late 1980s.

Kialoa (a Hawaiian word for “long, beautiful canoe”) is a powerful object even at rest. The 110-foot mast sprouts four spreaders and is held in place with standing rigging fabricated of cobalt rod. The spartan deck is fitted with four massive coffee grinders, two large steering stations, and like all the other maxi-yachts, was designed to be handled by 20 or more young giants. Carrying more than 3,900 square feet of sail area, the 79-foot aluminum yacht, with a 15-foot draft and a 20-foot beam, was built to be sailed fast and hard. Though not as famous as some of the previous yachts of the same name, Kialoa V is a yacht not to be trifled with. Acting as captain, 22-year-old Freddie takes the boat offshore with family and friends, making passages that are, to say the least, jaw-dropping. In the fall of 2009, they left Preston’s Dock in Greenport, Long Island, in a gale, arriving in Bermuda in two days and 19 hours. From there they made a passage to St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands — more than 1,000 nm — in four days. Fred said, “we like sailing fast, and older race-boats can be converted into great cruising boats.”

In contrast to the no-nonsense deck arrangements, descending the companionway, one enters the bailiwick of Eileen where a feeling of home dominates. Instead of pipe berths there are spacious cabins for sleeping, and a large, well-appointed galley with a big reefer, and comfortable settees surrounding a large table where the family can enjoy good meals and each others company when off-watch.

On their last trip to Bermuda, Freddie took noon sights in order to calculate a 24-hour run as measured between two consecutive LANs. This is the traditional manner that ocean sailing ships used to navigate. The last passage to Bermuda was a bit slow — they left Preston’s on a Sunday and arrived on Wednesday. For more information on Kialoa V go to the website at www.kialoav.com.

On Nov. 15 (use the 2010 Nautical Almanac), at a DR of 38° 20’ N by 70° 20’ W, Freddie wanted to take a noon shot. His height of eye is 10 feet and there are no sextant or watch errors. The Hs of a lower limb shot of the sun is 32° 56’.

A. Calculate the time of LAN in GMT.
B. Calculate the latitude. Plot.
On the following day at DR position of 34° 45’ N by 67° 33’ W, after having steered a course of 148° true, Freddie needs once again to calculate time of LAN.
C. At what time does LAN occur in GMT? The Hs of a lower limb shot of the sun is 36° 14’.
D. Find the latitude and plot.
E. Calculate the distance run and the speed between noon sights.

Answers:
A: Time is 16:26:20 GMT
B: Latitude is 38° 18.0’ N
C: Time is 16:15:12 GMT
D: Latitude is 34° 44.9’ N
E: Distance run is 255 nm; average speed is 10.6 knots

By Ocean Navigator