Greensun: A Sailor's Perspective
by Rod Sellers
I see Greensun is for sale. I have some great memories of sailing on Greensun and of getting to watch the building process first hand.
After work on Saturday for several years I would grab a few brews and head out the few miles to see how Sundy, Dorinda and Brian were doing on their giant undertaking of building an ocean worthy sailboat.
It started as a set of plans on a kitchen table, progressed to a pile of flat steel on the ground and eventually a skeleton dangling from scaffolds. Then the vessel really started to take shape.
Every visit I discovered remarkable progress and the attention to detail these three provided was impressive. A welder by trade, Sundy was the lead hand to start with. Then as the details got to the finishing and tricky woodwork Brian's carpentry skills led the way. Dorinda, a resourceful and strong farm girl, was shoulder to shoulder during every phase and never tired.
The question in my mind during these many visits through the five year building process was how would this craft sail. Having bare boat sailed a fair bit in the Caribbean every winter and on fresh water a lot in the summer, I was anxious to see how Greensun would perform.
My questions were answered in Vancouver on Howe Sound during Greensun's sea trials when Sundy, Dorinda and Brian welcomed me onboard for several days.
Wow, she was an impressive vessel! Solid is an understatement, and she also sailed flawlessly. She pointed well and the helm is perfectly balanced. All points of sail were as good as it gets on any sloop or cutter. The speed of the steel hull was surprising... possibly a little slower getting to speed but barely noticeable compared to the many fiberglass hulls I've sailed. Motoring was no problem and handling in tight quarters was no issue. As with any boat, slow was the rule in close.
The real test for me was when I was invited to transit the Panama canal and sail down the Caribbean coast to Portobello on Greensun. The adventure began in Panama City. The first night on the streets during Carnival, drinking beer at three for a dollar and having confetti thrown in your face every few steps while bands and locals partied hard. Then into the canal early the following morning. The pilots boarded Greensun for what was a full days adventure transiting the many locks and channels.
That was a full story of its own but the next day we weighed anchor and headed into the Caribbean Sea. The seas leaving Colon bay were very steep and rough weather greeted Greensun's first taste of the Caribbean Sea.
Sundy decided it was best to motor straight into the swells for several miles until we were well clear of the shallow roughed shoreline before turning south onto a beam reach. The waves were deep and steep often breaking over the fore deck but usually little more than spray when they reached us, diverted by the cabin house and dodger. The boat never missed a beat... in its element with the trusty Yanmar diesel humming away as we charged down each wave and back up the other side.
After we were well clear of the coast we turned south set the sails and fell onto a beautiful smooth beam reach. The wind was strong, probably 20 knots plus, and our speed was good. Greensun heeled over at a comfortable angle and we relaxed into a great day of sailing, the boat performing as Mr. Roberts had designed her to.
Soon the spray was gone and the southern sun was heating us up. Off went the extra clothes and we all relaxed and marveled at this boat's balance and strength. The boat felt safe.... a tough, steady boat for seagoing sailors.
Late that afternoon we entered the bay at Portobello, the final resting place of Sir Francis Drake and home to an endless history of pirates, plunder, silver and sailing. The anchor was set and a school of dolphins gave us a fly-by.
Greensun was right at home.
Rod Sellers has been a sailor for over forty years starting with windsurfers and beach cats. He has coastal skipper and navigation certification.
He has bare boated in many countries and seas around the world and is the owner of an F27 performance trimaran.
After work on Saturday for several years I would grab a few brews and head out the few miles to see how Sundy, Dorinda and Brian were doing on their giant undertaking of building an ocean worthy sailboat.
It started as a set of plans on a kitchen table, progressed to a pile of flat steel on the ground and eventually a skeleton dangling from scaffolds. Then the vessel really started to take shape.
Every visit I discovered remarkable progress and the attention to detail these three provided was impressive. A welder by trade, Sundy was the lead hand to start with. Then as the details got to the finishing and tricky woodwork Brian's carpentry skills led the way. Dorinda, a resourceful and strong farm girl, was shoulder to shoulder during every phase and never tired.
The question in my mind during these many visits through the five year building process was how would this craft sail. Having bare boat sailed a fair bit in the Caribbean every winter and on fresh water a lot in the summer, I was anxious to see how Greensun would perform.
My questions were answered in Vancouver on Howe Sound during Greensun's sea trials when Sundy, Dorinda and Brian welcomed me onboard for several days.
Wow, she was an impressive vessel! Solid is an understatement, and she also sailed flawlessly. She pointed well and the helm is perfectly balanced. All points of sail were as good as it gets on any sloop or cutter. The speed of the steel hull was surprising... possibly a little slower getting to speed but barely noticeable compared to the many fiberglass hulls I've sailed. Motoring was no problem and handling in tight quarters was no issue. As with any boat, slow was the rule in close.
The real test for me was when I was invited to transit the Panama canal and sail down the Caribbean coast to Portobello on Greensun. The adventure began in Panama City. The first night on the streets during Carnival, drinking beer at three for a dollar and having confetti thrown in your face every few steps while bands and locals partied hard. Then into the canal early the following morning. The pilots boarded Greensun for what was a full days adventure transiting the many locks and channels.
That was a full story of its own but the next day we weighed anchor and headed into the Caribbean Sea. The seas leaving Colon bay were very steep and rough weather greeted Greensun's first taste of the Caribbean Sea.
Sundy decided it was best to motor straight into the swells for several miles until we were well clear of the shallow roughed shoreline before turning south onto a beam reach. The waves were deep and steep often breaking over the fore deck but usually little more than spray when they reached us, diverted by the cabin house and dodger. The boat never missed a beat... in its element with the trusty Yanmar diesel humming away as we charged down each wave and back up the other side.
After we were well clear of the coast we turned south set the sails and fell onto a beautiful smooth beam reach. The wind was strong, probably 20 knots plus, and our speed was good. Greensun heeled over at a comfortable angle and we relaxed into a great day of sailing, the boat performing as Mr. Roberts had designed her to.
Soon the spray was gone and the southern sun was heating us up. Off went the extra clothes and we all relaxed and marveled at this boat's balance and strength. The boat felt safe.... a tough, steady boat for seagoing sailors.
Late that afternoon we entered the bay at Portobello, the final resting place of Sir Francis Drake and home to an endless history of pirates, plunder, silver and sailing. The anchor was set and a school of dolphins gave us a fly-by.
Greensun was right at home.
Rod Sellers has been a sailor for over forty years starting with windsurfers and beach cats. He has coastal skipper and navigation certification.
He has bare boated in many countries and seas around the world and is the owner of an F27 performance trimaran.