Posted by devoid154 (nweideman@…>)
As you guys in the north start putting your boats in the water, I
thought I would send a note and post soem photos from our season just
finishing here in Australia.
I purchased Jolly Roger (could it have had a worse name) in February.
This version of the Freedom 21 seems to be somewhat unique. It has
twin retractable keels not unlike the UK model, but they are much
closer to the center of the boat and enter the cabin on the inside of
the bulkheads where the sink and stove go. The sails were not made by
Haarstick but by a sailmaker in Sydney. The mast is carbon fibre,
imported from the US and has the usual cracks in the epoxy coating
that make the skipper nervous. (Even if they are just superficial.)
The rudder looks like it was borrowed from a high performance skiff
and the blade is almost six foot long. I normally sail with the rudder
retracted by a foot and a half as it vibrates when fully down.
For the March and April, I kept the boat at www.yaringa.com.au in Dry
storage with the mast up. The friendly marina folk launch and retrieve
the boat for about A$200 a month.
Yaringa is on Westernport bay here in Victoria. The bay is rather
large deep and mostly protected. It is perfect for cruising and
teaching my young kids to sail. They love to stop off on islands and
run around in between sailing.
The F21 has been a delight. I have had other trailer sailers and
dinghys here in Aus, but this boat just makes me melt. Every time the
main goes up effortlessly with a couple of pulls on the halyard or the
spinnaker glides out of the launcher and the boat accelerates the
feeling is just pure joy. I have hung a new 5HP Honda four stroke on
the transom. While it was the only suitable motor I could find at
short notice, further research tells me it is a perfect match for the
21 and it does perform perfectly.
My plans this winter are to get my hands on a used class jib. If you
have a spare you are willing to sell and put on a ship to Aust please
let me know.
I am also going to paint the deck and hull at some point and install
some instruments and electrics. All of the recent posts have been
extremely helpful.
I have put some photos of the boat up in a “jolly roger” (that name)
folder for your viewing pleasure.
Thanks for the forum and the website, had I not found the advice and
details when I first spotted “Jolly Roger” for sale, I guess she would
still be sadly sitting in a shed gathering dust, which like the boat’s
name seems so wrong for such a lovely boat.
All the best to you in the northern hemisphere for your new season.
The posts of your adventures will us warm here in the south until October.
cheers,
Nick
Tyabb
Victoria, Australia
F21 #273