Steve and Linda write a regular column for SetSailors from wherever they happen to be. Join in as they cruise the world and discuss topics of interest to sailors everywhere. Here you’ll find their articles dating from 1996 to the present.
We’ve just received some video of FPB 78-2 running through her paces during sea trials down in New Zealand. The owners and Circa team members aboard were lucky enough to find some light weather to enjoy: 35-45 knots of breeze and 16-18 ft (5-5.5m) waves on the bow… Read the rest »
We normally avoid tourist destinations, dislike docks, and prefer the quiet of isolated anchorages.
FPB 78-1 Cochise presents us with a conundrum to which there is no easy answer.
You are looking at the current champion in the ongoing best yachting flashlight contest.
We have finally installed sun-blocking window film on FPB 78-1 Cochise, and the results are excellent.
James and Jennifer Hamilton, who have circumnavigated in their Nordhavn 52 Dirona, recently took a ride aboard Cochise and wrote a fascinating report for their blog. Read the rest »
FPB 78-1 Cochise has been anchored to the dock in Fort Lauderdale the past five days; we have yet to connect the shore power cord, the genset has not been used, and the batteries remain full.
Returning from Biscayne Bay, Florida a few days ago we were reminded that in this age of electronic navigation, command, control, and monitoring, you still need to maintain a traditional situational awareness.
The sink full of marine weeds is a classic example of why this approach is still beneficial. Read the rest »
You are looking at a pair of 18.5” Samsung Galaxy tablets, which we think are real game changers on the electronic front.
We’ve been doing a local mini-cruise, occasioned by Spring break for our Granddaughter Emma and her friend from college Julia Stevens. It brought back just how much fun it is messing about in boats.
We’ve worked with many interior designers over the years, but Denise is the first who truly understands what the FPB concept is all about. We think her work for us aboard FPB 78-1 Cochise speaks for itself…
Read the rest »
John and Deb Rogers, who own Deerfoot 2-62 Moonshadow, recently published a video of their day aboard FPB 78-1 Cochise when they were in Fiji…
*Since we posted this article, we have had several comments from readers. Of particular interest was an email from blogger Peter Hayden (MVTanglewood.com). Scroll down to read Peter’s comments on his Simrad experience. We are curious to know your thoughts if you use Simrad, in particular their radar…Please comment and let us know.*
We’ve now had 11,000 nautical miles of concentrated experience with the Simrad Marine electronics suite aboard FPB 78-1 Cochise, and the time has come for an evaluation.
FPB 78-2 has emerged from the berthing shed at Circa.
We’ve now had 11,000 nautical miles of concentrated experience with the Simrad Marine electronics suite aboard FPB 78-1 Cochise, and the time has come for an evaluation.
There is a double feature now live in print and online at Soundings Magazine… Read the rest »
This just in from Circa Marine in Whangarei–Stan Creighton, who with wife Valerie has laid claim to FPB 70-1, is down in New Zealand for various projects and to check on build progress. Read the rest »
Soundings Magazine has an extensive feature on FPB in their March 2017 issue. They’ve also put together a nice video on the FPB designs for their website… Read the rest »
The FPB 70 brings together the very best of everything we’ve learned in the last 40 years, not the least of which is a very sophisticated bow shape – perhaps the most difficult plating job ever.
The following slideshow highlights some favorites from our first cruising season aboard FPB 78-1 Cochise… Read the rest »
John and Deb Rogers, owners of Deerfoot 2-62 Moonshadow, are currently having a little work done by Circa after a surprise encounter with a “bommie”… Read the rest »
In the pantheon of situations to avoid when cruising, northers in the Gulf Stream are up towards the top. The wind opposing current kicks up a nasty, short seaway, and the warm water mixing with the cool air from the north increases gusts. Read the rest »
Watch FPB 78-1 Cochise transit the Panama Canal, using a unique side thrusting technique to keep the fenders clean…
Attention SetSailors! Cochise is approaching landfall, ETA at the 17th Street bridge in Fort Lauderdale around 1330 local time. If anyone in the area wants to check her out, say hello, and maybe shoot us a photo, they’ll be sure to wave. Feel free to send any photos to sarah@setsail.com. Welcome to the USA, Cochise!
-Sarah
*Note: FPB 78-1 Cochise is currently just rounding Cuba, with an ETA at 17th Street bridge in Fort Lauderdale sometime Tuesday afternoon. The following post was written after transit last Tuesday.*
Cochise has just completed the Panama Canal transit and is in the Atlantic Ocean. Of all our transits this was… Read the rest »
For those of you wondering if it is worth the hassle of bonding the metal on your fiberglass yacht, we offer a series of photos from one squall in the Gulf of Panama.
Our first visit to Panama was in the same era that the North Koreans first decided they wanted to reunite with their southern neighbors. In those days, our heads were filled with visions of one English gentleman, Mr. Henry Morgan, who exhibited a love for all things Spanish and visited the area twice as a result. Read the rest »
We begin writing this post halfway through a 4,700 nautical mile passage, under power, against the trade winds and prevailing current, between French Polynesia and Panama. The accurate fuel consumption data available with tier II and tier III diesel engines has completely changed our approach to fuel management and the future passages we are thinking about undertaking…
Many SetSailors have been writing in to inquire as to Circa and FPB’s experience of yesterday’s massive earthquake. Read the rest »
It is 0545 Friday, November 11th, 2016. FPB 78-1 Cochise is 4700 nautical miles from Raiatea in French Polynesia, 6400 nautical miles from Denerau, Fiji, barely a month after leaving. Read the rest »
Buenas tardes del yate Cochise. Read the rest »
Lots of excitement aboard FPB 78-1 Cochise in the last 24 hours, and a series of milestones. Cochise has seen the 9,000th NM roll under the hull, passed 1,000 hours on the engines, cruised into the sixth parallel north of the equator, and had some lovely downwind passaging weather. Read the rest »
It is Saturday afternoon, Cochise and crew are chilling, and recovering from a dose of CED (current events depression). Read the rest »
After many attempts over lots of years we are happy to report we did it. We actually photographed crossing the equator exactly on the mark. (Note – we have not yet checked the GPS accuracy by flushing the toilets.) Read the rest »
You may have caught a slight plaintive tone recently. We just don’t like losing 36 miles a day to current, even if we knew in advance it was a possibility. But the tide has turned. Read the rest »
Cochise’s solar array is saving us substantial quantities of diesel on this passage. Read the rest »
Greetings from FPB 78-1 Cochise, where we have now crossed into the fourth parallel. The big news is that after 4000 nautical miles with the wind dead on the nose it has started to free a bit, having backed to the SE ever so slightly. Now, if the knot of west-flowing current would just go away. Read the rest »
We are into the rhythm now, the quiet pace that can make long passages so appealing. Read the rest »
When we are asked our favorite destinations from a lifetime of cruising… Read the rest »
One of the advantages of heading upwind, against the trade winds, is that you see many more squalls than if you were going in their same direction. Given the political season, we thought the topic of squalls particularly apt… Read the rest »
We are threading our way through the Tuamotus and giving the Simrad Halo radar a workout. Both Steve Parsons and your humble correspondent have been highly critical of the Halo radar and its performance with difficult targets, like breaking reefs. But it has gotten better with recently installed upgrades. Read the rest »
We like squeezing into and out of tight places, and the fuel dock in Uturoa is high on the fun-factor scale. Read the rest »
FPB 78-1 Cochise is Panama-bound, 4700 nautical miles east from our present location, and the question of the day is when? We only arrived in Raiaitea four days ago, after 1800 miles, and you are probably thinking we are crazy to consider another passage so quickly. Read the rest »
FPB 78-1 Cochise has just completed a 1832 NM passage, Fiji to French Polynesia, against the prevailing wind and current, and has now seen more than 5000 NM pass under the hull in just four months. Read the rest »
It is the morning of our sixth day since leaving Fiji, heading uphill against the trades to French Polynesia. We have been running for multi-hour periods, recording data from rpm, speed, mileage recipes as sea states, wind, and our displacement change… Read the rest »
Imagine a tropical island with lovely beaches, set in a turquoise lagoon, with windswept palms bending to the trade winds. Then think of the barrier reef, a vertical wall, with a 50-meter face. The anchorage is a shallow patch–10 to 15 meters deep–on this face, with the reef a boat length from the stern. Read the rest »
We have passed the halfway mark, always a cause for celebration. Read the rest »
We’ve just passed Cochise’s 4,000th nautical mile since launching four months ago. We’ve got 1200 NM to go for Bora Bora, the breeze is light out of the NW, and the barometer has quickly climbed to 1013 mb. Read the rest »
As of 0115 GMT yesterday, Cochise and crew were well into their latest passage… Read the rest »
Cochise’s all too short visit to Fiji has come to an end. It is time to head over the horizon. Read the rest »
Ian Tibby has passed on, released from a body that was failing him. But his presence will always be felt by those that depend on his engine rooms, as well as the family he left behind at Circa.
You are looking at one of the highs of the cruising lifestyle. Being anchored in crystal clear water with a lovely beach nearby. Read the rest »
With Hurricane Matthew at Category IV having just pummeled Haiti and heading quickly for the Florida coast, we wanted to revisit some good references on hurricane preparation. Read the rest »
A systemic problem in the marine industry is that the professionals–everyone from managers, to yacht designers, electricians, and carpenters–rarely get to see how their projects work out in the real world. Bruce Farrand, the managing director at Circa, is visiting Cochise, experiencing what she has to offer, working with us to fine-tune an already highly evolved species, and improve further upon the next generation. Read the rest »
We are about to demonstrate the holy grail of solar energy. But first, the backstory… Read the rest »
We are “anchored” in Denarau, visiting friends on the leeward side off the big island in Fiji. The breeze is non-existent to light, and it is hot–very hot. Perfect conditions to test air conditioning and ventilation. Read the rest »
Cochise has now traveled 3500 nautical miles and to date has not needed any stabilization at anchor. We determined to correct this oversight, so we stopped for the evening in Natadola Harbor, a spot known for good surfing on the reef break at the pass entrance. Read the rest »
Getting away on first passages are the hardest. There is always more to do than time allows. But at some point you have to say “Enough, we are out of here.” In our case a reasonable weather window was the incentive to get on with it. Read the rest »
We’ve been chasing the holy grail of the perfect cruising yacht for 40 years. The Deerfoot, Sundeer and Beowulf series are considered the premiere sailing yachts on which to circumnavigate. The FPB fleet is judged by the most experienced owners and journalists to be the best ocean-crossing motor yachts today. To find out why, read on:
This afternoon’s latitude/longitude ping from Cochise‘s Iridium shows the crew well along the route to Fiji. Read the rest »
Breem Head is in our wake, and Cochise is running free, squared away towards the north. Read the rest »
It has been a wet and windy winter for FPB 78-1 Cochise and her Kiwi boat builders at Circa. Perfect for sea trials. Read the rest »
The FPB 78 Great Room brings with it a festival of light, a wondrous ever-changing melding of inside and out. Whatever the weather and wherever your eyes lead, there is a constantly evolving mix of visual elements. Read the rest »
Cochise heaves-to FPB style during sea trials… Read the rest »
The aft deck of the FPB 78 is a study in flexibility. Read the rest »
We’ve had a chance to use our new nav tools… Read the rest »
The following short video shows us testing FPB 78-1 Cochise in different rpm configurations. Read the rest »
The already quiet FPB 78 is now almost silent in powerboat terms, with some exhaust system refinements. Read the rest »
The time has come to invite you aboard Cochise. Read the rest »
We’ve had a few days testing Cochise on our own, hanging out in the Bay of Islands. We’ve had FPB 64-11 for company part of the time,
The video you are about to watch represents a seminal moment in the design arc of the FPB world. The last two minutes take place in some of the most difficult steering conditions we have ever seen in 40+ years of cruising, and are an extreme test for the design philosophy that is the foundation for this new generation of FPBs. Read the rest »
Cochise had a chance to test surfing skills Sunday, down near Auckland… Read the rest »
FPB 78-1 Cochise stern to stern with FPB 64-7 Buffalo Nickel. Read the rest »
A quick couple of photos of Cochise at cruise, taken from FPB 64-11 (both FPBs are undergoing sea trials). Read the rest »
I’ve arrived in wintery Whangarei to take part in sea trials with Cochise. With guests on hand and a beautiful, cool day, we headed out in the bay to drop anchor and test the dinghy launch system. Read the rest »