{"id":39073,"date":"2016-06-08T09:25:22","date_gmt":"2016-06-08T14:25:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/?p=39073"},"modified":"2016-09-14T17:19:10","modified_gmt":"2016-09-14T22:19:10","slug":"fpb-78-1-cochise-launched-in-a-gale-and-in-its-element","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/setsail.com\/fpb-78-1-cochise-launched-in-a-gale-and-in-its-element\/","title":{"rendered":"FPB 78-1 Cochise: Launched In A Gale – And In Its Element"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/p>\n
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, \u201cPerfect.”<\/p>\n
Cochise<\/em> is floating level in both directions, as expected, and maneuvers like a well-trained war pony. A bit light on payload, in the ebbing tide, Cochise<\/em> can be quickly spun in either direction. Even though the individual at the the controls is three and a half years out of touch, Cochise<\/em> allows precise control without the need to resort to a bow (or stern) thruster. Not liking the first dock pinned by the gale, a bow spring, 43 degrees of port rudder, 1200 RPM on the port engine, and Cochise<\/em> rotates 90 degrees and is backing cleanly across the narrow channel.<\/p>\n 20 meters off the dock, in four seconds flip the helm from neutral to hard to port, starboard engine ahead, port reverse, and with a few meters of leeward drift Cochise<\/em> has rotated another 90 degrees.<\/p>\n Coming now around to the leeward side of the dock, with FPB 64-11 a little over a boat length north of the Whangarei pilot boat (also a Circa build), Cochise<\/em> comes into the dock at 90 degrees, with the gale blowing on the port bow. A bow spring is handed over from the platform above the anchor, made fast on the pier, and then Cochise<\/em> rotates upwind with deceptive ease.<\/p>\n At 1500 RPM, with engine room and other bulkheads still to be sealed, the noise level in the great room barely measures 52dB. Dock trials will take a week. Then sea trials begin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"