Making It Happen
It is blowing a steady 20, gusting higher. There is a sea state commensurate with the breeze, and the boats within the Newport anchorage are tugging at their moorings. The yachts offshore, following the J class racers, are plunging through the waves trying to keep up on the wind. And on the race committee boat…
A spectacle for sure, watching these Js being handled like dinghies is a real treat.
Extensive N2K data systems, like we use in the FPBs, are costly, and take a substantial programming effort on our part. Yes, they provide a lot of information (and you need to guard against info overload), but is the cost and complexity worth it?
Stan & Valerie Creighton have a lovely article in the latest edition of Berthon Magazine… 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 »
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 »
It is a little over a week since Cochise splashed and we are on our first sea trial. As the engines are new and in their break-in period, we are running a little harder than normal. Read the rest »
Deon Ogden and Dave Minors at the Matrix con of FPB 78-1. Read the rest »
Dock trials are always a testing period for the build boat crew and designers. There will be a list of things that take time to sort out, a few items that don’t work as advertised… Read the rest »
FPB 78-1 Cochise is roaming free–at last. Read the rest »
Wednesday, June 8, 2016: the wind is blowing 25 to 30 knots gusting into the 40s, with intermittent rain squalls. Those who know the history of the Chirakowa Apache chief after whom FPB 78-1 is named would say, “Perfect.” Read the rest »
There is a hint in this photo that the day of reckoning draws near. Read the rest »
Having just completed a 6,200 nautical mile voyage from Thailand to New Zealand in 27 days underway on their FPB 64 Buffalo Nickel (much of that uphill), you might think that Val and Stan Creighton would like a short break from thinking about boats. Read the rest »
With an anchored wingspan of 60’/18m boom end to boom end… Read the rest »
When you have lifelines, glass… Read the rest »
In the process of wrestling with monitor tradeoffs, we have come across a great new monitor.
When you design a structural system, there are many considerations, among which is storage. Read the rest »
As FPB 78-1 nears completion, it is becoming easier to see the art form of which the Circa team are capable. Read the rest »
Today was fun. Surrounded with coils of rope, boxes of rigging hardware, just like when we used to set up our sailing designs. Read the rest »
Your correspondent checking the helm chair position.
One of the reasons we decided to go with Simrad for our electronics was their ability to be used with a variety of monitors. This afternoon, we got a first taste of some of the options available. Read the rest »
There comes a time when it hits you, when the pieces fall together, when it feels right, and you know it has all been worth it. Read the rest »
Off to New Zealand today for a quick trip. Read the rest »
When it comes to naval vessels, and in particular submarines, enormous importance–and secrecy–is placed on their prop designs. It is not an exaggeration to say that in some parts of the world, a photo like this, if based in reality, could lead to the severest of penalties.
You can expand your visual interior space and add interest by adding art to vertical surfaces. We’re selecting art now for FPB 78-1, looking through some of our photos from the olden days for ideas, and thought this might be of interest. Read the rest »
It is a law in the yacht building universe that the sparkies (electricians) are always the last ones off the boat. And with the DC system now almost complete, we can see the light at the end of the long building cycle tunnel. We thought this might be a good time to go through the DC battery bank and related circuits. Read the rest »
The design process for us has always been an evolutionary spiral. As we get further into the project, as the pieces begin to come together, we almost always discover hidden gems that, when teased into reality, help to make a better product. Read the rest »
Creating, fine tuning, and testing yachts intended for serious cruising is demanding, intense work–as you can see above. Read the rest »
With the annual holiday shutdown at Circa comes a massive cleanup of the work in progress… Read the rest »
You are looking at one of the two ZF propellers for FPB 78-1. Very high aspect ratio blades with relative low blade area. But maybe this isn’t the optimum. Read the rest »
We’ve been gently reminded that new content has been lacking – our feeble excuse is that we have been swamped. As it is Thanksgiving weekend and we have much for which to be thankful, a pause for a brief update on the FPB 78-1, starting with a couple on interior photos. Read the rest »
You are looking at as lovely a piece of yachting jewelry as has ever been afloat. The creation of Circa’s Read the rest »
We’ve been blessed over the years with the good fortune to work with many great owners and marine professionals, and with the FPB 78 design and build cycle this has continued in a unique manner. Read the rest »
A quick report from New Zealand, starting with what is at the top of our list for successful cruising. Read the rest »
We have been accused in the past of being obsessive about our ground tackle systems, to which we contentedly plead guilty.
We discovered long ago that a key part to agreeable yacht ownership is systems efficiency and access. The FPB 78 takes us closer to perfection in this regard than ever before. Read the rest »
Following are a series of helicopter and then dinghy level renders of FPB 78-1. Read the rest »
We’ve got sole in the engine room, and it is ever so cool and functional. Read the rest »
The aft end of the FPB 78 has gone through a design evolution, a benefit of the 3D design process and working with two very experienced owners. Read the rest »
In the fall of 2008, having visited Greenland and Ireland, we were looking for a place to store FPB 83 Wind Horse for the winter. Several of our cruising friends recommended that we talk to Berthon in Lymington, UK, and we ended up leaving her in their very capable care. Read the rest »
Iceberg has just tried out her new propellers, this time without “interceptor” strips, and she has pushed her smooth water maximum speed to 15.0672 knots, Read the rest »
You are looking at a sea-change in the way we do raw water for the engines. Read the rest »
With a project as massive and complex as the FPB 78, there are times when we ask ourselves why we are still doing this. After all, we could have been cruising on Wind Horse these past three years. Read the rest »
Modern yachts are amazingly complex, with numerous interrelated and conflicting requirements. Read the rest »
Is this crew quarters, lazarette, engine room, or workshop? For us it might be considered all or some of the preceding. Right now it is going to be the workshop we always dreamed of having, Read the rest »
There comes a time during the building of the first of a series when it becomes critical to have a look and detailed consultation with the various trades involved in the construction process. That time is now, and although we have a long list of discussions over the next three days, we will try to file a brief report daily. Read the rest »
Last week the engines were dropped onto their beds for the final time, and it now becomes possible to get a sense for how well this layout is going to work. Read the rest »
Reliable air conditioning, fridge operation, and water maker output depend on a clean flow of salt water. Trapping air in the plumbing, which leads to loss of flow, is a common problem due to suboptimal layout. This is the way it should be done. Read the rest »
Some of the hardest details to get right are alternator brackets. It is a question of drive belt, alignment, and structure. And these 7kW DC alternators – which can consume as much as 20 HP – are the most difficult of all. Read the rest »
Air conditioning, heating and ventilation are at the heart of all systems decisions. With the FPB 78 we are designing for the most efficient and comfortable environment yet. Read the rest »
We have been limited in sharing details of the FPB 97-1. In this post we will give you a quick overview of a few of the more interesting design and construction aspects. Read the rest »
A fresh breeze, smooth 12.5 to 13 knots, perfect light, and world class photographer Ivor Wilkins. Not much more you could ask for.
We learned a long time ago that the key to happy cruising is a smooth ride uphill. Careful weather routing and a good turn of speed reduces your exposure, but those inevitable rough upwind passages are what people remember Read the rest »
We have just returned from New Zealand and there is lots to share about the FPB world. We’ll start with an iPhone app for photography during additional trials aboard FPB 97-1. Read the rest »
With the publishing of the first batch of performance data from FPB 97-1 it is time to declare a winner in the prediction contest. Read the rest »
We have just finished a first look at the FPB 97-1 sea trials and two passages worth of data. What can be done on board this 110-foot 100 ton yacht, with just 600 HP Read the rest »
What would you assume is the ocean-crossing yacht of choice for the editor of a preeminent megayacht magazine who’s seen it all? Read Stewart Campbell’s editor’s letter in the April 2015 edition of Boat International to find out. Read the rest »
Having previously entertained you with photos of the great room sole, we thought its support and isolation would be of interest, along with a few other tidbits. Read the rest »
It’s Friday, March Madness is upon us, and it is obvious that the FPB 78-1 has sole, and lots of it. This first photo is from the aft end of the galley looking forward. Read the rest »
Speed is a critical component of long distance cruising, as is a structure that carries a high factor of safety. We also want lots of heeled stability and the ability to recover from a capsize. But there is a conflict between these elements, and it revolves around weight and center of gravity. Read the rest »
Insulation of the hull and deck is critical to comfortable and efficient cruising. It impacts noise levels from exterior and machinery, condensation in cold climates, and electric requirements for heating and air conditioning. With the FPB Series we take the insulation game to a new level. Read the rest »
It is moving day for FPB 78-1. She is on passage to the fit out hall as welding has been completed, and this space is required for the third FPB 78 to begin its journey. Read the rest »
