Ian & Vanessa Macdonald sail their 40 from their home on the Island of Malta. During 2007 and 2008 they are gradually refitting JOURNEYMAN in preparation for an wide ranging cruise in the not to distant future. I'm embarrassed to say I've misplaced the e-mail they wrote in 2006 with the name of her homeport and the name of the town where they live.
Ian wrote February 26, 2008 :
Hello Arthur,
Just thought I would send you a photo of JOURNEYMAN with her new sails, on a slow drift off Malta with a 33ft / 10m 50 year old Alan Buchanan gaffer owned by a friend.
The photo clearly shows how big a 40 is. More coming when we get her re-fit finished.
Best regards,
Ian Macdonald
JOURNEYMAN 40 - /2
Malta
Monday, November 05, 2007 9:49 AM
Hello Jorge, Arthur, and fellow 40 owners
Apologies for the delay in sending this but just came back from a wonderful holiday in Morocco - thoroughly recommended - and saw the messages. With regard to the reefing Jorge . . . on the 40 I can't really advise too much as we hardly ever reef. Similar as to all other Nonsuches, this is one of the great qualities of the boat, when other yachts have reefed down we are still flying along without even thinking of doing the same.
A case in point and have photo's to prove, we were sailing past Mount Etna in Sicily where the winds are very erratic and come whistling down the side of the volcano, under full sail running wing and wing going nicely in 19-20 knots of wind, when without any warning up it goes to 35 knots. Not a lot we could do but pray that nothing breaks, the boat behaved beautifully and reached speeds of close to 11 knots and my guests on board were still enjoying their lunch in the cockpit with wine on the table!
Having said that, we have tried many differant combinations of reefed sails and yes there are a lot of possibilities as you have two large sails, so balancing the boat is not a problem and it really is finding out which is best for a particular wind angle and strength. At the end of the day if you do get caught unawares the boat will look after you, the masts are designed to flex - which takes a little getting used to having always sailed stayed rigs prior to JOURNEYMAN - and this spills wind from the top of the sail. I have never managed to get the rail in the water which says a lot for the stability of the boat.
We have been in some pretty bad weather with her, having suffered bent stanchions, companionway flying across the saloon after hitting a wave trough that was like a brick wall, but never torn sails or mast damage.
You have to look a long way to compare another boat with the (Nonsuch) Nereus 40 especially as she is only 40 ft but gives you the feeling and usable space of a 50+ footer. Hope this is helpfull
