New centreboard case, a must after so many years

During our last Rally, Niek and Wies had a serious leakage in the centreboard case of Cormorant Vrijheid (1964), sailing from Juist to Greetsiel with hard wind. It is incredible how quick water is coming in through a small rotten hole. Last week we heared that they just have renewed the centreboard case completely.
It is and always will be a vulneable part of all Gunning yachts.
This occurrence alarmed especially Maria. Marco instructed Haiko van der Werff to renew in April/May also their centreboard case. This afternoon I inspected the old case in the shed of Haiko and saw there were some small holes in the steel already. So Marco and Maria, you were just in time doing the right thing for Cormorant Vrouwezand (1965) and for your own inward peace and safety!

Other news of ships and owners

Casper Pronk’s renovation project of Alcyone II (1957) had his ups and downs. By example the big troubles with unlocking the pistons of his engine, a tolerable new one. Since last summer he was busy to save the engine with putting a lot of WD-40 on the pistons, but at the end that was not very succesful. Finally he got the advice heating up the engine-block and that helps, the pistons are free now. We hope this will motivate Casper going forward now. There still is a lot to do before Alcyone II can sail again.
Sayonara of Dirk van Slooten is ready now for the final yachtvarnisch by Mast Yachtpainters at Buitenstvallaat. Dirk renewed also the 12V electric boardsystem by himself. Within some weeks Sayonara will sail again.
Caecilia goes into the water again next Monday. For the timebeing Rienkje and Arjen are painting the mast and swords of her Friesch Jacht Waldfugel with a new laquer. So never a dull moment at Buitensvallaat.

Kindest regards,

Arjen van Boekel & Joost van ’t Hull
Board of Alcyone Circle