Commander in March Issue of Sailing

[Theis]

There is an interesting article in the March 2003 issue of Sailing about Zoltan Istvan, his Pearson Commander, "The Way", and his adventures in Vanuatu Island in the western South Pacific . Zoltan sailed from Los Angeles to the Vanuatus and then on to the Solomon Islands in the Commander. There is no number on the sail. Two pictures from the article are attached.

[Theis]

Here is another one.

[commanderpete]

Zoltan's boat was 1966 Commander # 266. He sold it about two years ago to a nice couple from New York City, Tim and Tamara.

Before they left for Greece, Tim came out for a sail on my boat. I showed Tim my special tips for sailing a Commander.

They haven't been heard from since, but I don't think there's any connection.

[Bill]

Zoltan,

Would you be willing to describe to our members how you upgraded the Commander's standing and running rigging for the trip?
=====

Hi Ronald,

I'm on a story for National Geographic Channel right now in Argentina and have little if any time. Basically, I upgraded one size on all my stays, and redid all the chainplates, especially the aft one which is the weakest link of the rigging on a commander. I put dual forestays on. lastly, I had additional metal plates welded to the mast head top for strength. Probably I made it as far as I did because I rarely carried full sail--meaning I was often reefed--and possibly because of much luck.

Cheers, zoltan

[commanderpete]

The June 2003 issue of Sailing magazine contains an article on modern day piracy. It includes a half page story by Zoltan about being accosted by pirates off Yemen.

[commanderpete]

The Travel Channel filmed Zoltan in a re-enactment of the incident for an upcoming documentary on travel survival.

[Mike Goodwin]

Most of the pirates I've seen lately were at the gas docks in the marinas handing you the hose, so to speak.

[Bill]

From that photo of Zoltan, it appears there is an insulator in the backstay. It also looks like the traveler system is original Pearson! :eek:

[Richard]

I am still several hundred miles away from my manual and my boat so I'll ask what was the original diameter of the stays & shrouds and to what size would Zolton have upgraded them?

By the way...I am leaving Buffalo soon, very soon and will be spending a lot more quality time with my Ariel!!!

[Bill]

Original equipment cable diameter is 3/16 inch.

[commanderpete]

There is some mention of Zoltan's rig modifications in his ebay ad.

[commanderpete]

Page 2

[commanderpete]

Page 3

Who knew you could fit this much stuff in a Commander?

[commanderpete]

Looks like Zoltan's old boat was nicely refurbished by the new owners and is again for sale in Greece. Here is the text of the ad:



Description
The Way is a full-keel 1966 Pearson Commander (Hull #266) sloop waiting for you at the beautiful Greek Island of Trizonia, located in the Gulf of Corinth. She is a safe, strong vessel built of fiberglass composite and is equipped for cruising for your comfort and safety.
The Way is a well-known vessel; her former owner sailed her across the Pacific and Indian Oceans before ending his travels in Greece.

As current owners, we gave The Way a complete renovation in 2001: fresh bottom, topside, deck, and interior paint, a new nonskid surface, refinished woodwork, new cockpit and quarter berth cushions, mainsail cover, stainless steel yacht cleats, lifelines, replacement of all worn rigging, electrical rewiring, and much, much more. We just returned from a second trip to Greece and did even more work on her. She now looks as good as she sails.

Greece is an enchanting country that can easily be explored by sea. Sailing aboard The Way was the experience of a lifetime for us. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to explore Greece and the whole Mediterranean in an economical and adventurous fashion.

The commander's nine-foot cockpit, with two storage lockers and aft lazarette, leaves plenty of room to enjoy your sail. The Way is equipped with 3 (three) brass winches and anodized aluminum mast and boom. The sail inventory consists of three (3) mainsails, two (2) working jibs, two (2) storm jibs, and a Genoa. She also comes with a spinaker pole. The sails are in usable condition; some are better than others. A MARINER 9.9-hp long-shaft outboard fits into a well in the aft lazarette and powers the boat well.

Below deck, headroom is 5' with one port side quarter berth and a v-berth that has been made into a double bed that comfortably sleeps two. The galley is starboard and includes a sink and a two-burner stove with broiler. There are four cabin windows and a forward hatch. The cabin sole and interior trim are teak. The vessel has numerous storage shelves located throughout.

By purchasing The Way, you are getting more than just a sailboat located in Greece. The boat is totally equipped for cruising. The only things you will need to bring are your clothing and a set of linens (sheets and towels). All electronics and equipment include the paperwork and manuals. The Way is US Coast Guard Certified and is also registered in New York. These ownership documents, the keys, the Owners Manual and Maintenance Guide for the boat, and detailed location instructions will be mailed to the purchaser on receipt of payment.

Purchase of The Way includes all the following items and more:

MARINE EQUIPMENT
o MARINER 9.9HP 2-stroke outboard long-shaft
o Three (3) mainsails, two (2) working jibs, two (2) storm jibs, and one (1) genoa sail
o Two (2) 6.5 gal polyethylene fuel tanks
o Two (2) solar panels (Siemens 10 watt and BP 20 watt)
o One (1) Brand-new 95 amp marine deep-cycle battery
o 25-lb CQR anchor on bow roller w/125-ft 5/16-in chain and 500-ft 7/16-in rode
o 18-lb DANFORTH anchor
o PLASTIMO Contest 130 bulkhead compass
o MAGELLAN 315 handheld GPS
o APELCO fisherfinder 260
o HORIZON VHF radio and Metzo mast antenna
o RAYTHEON Autohelm AH800 Plus tiller pilot
o Two (2) submersible bilge pumps with float switch
o GUSHER cockpit mounted bilge pump
o Voltmeter
o Masthead running lights
o Spreader light
o Radar reflector
o Wind indicator
o Fenders and dock lines
o Boat hook
o 42 gallons fresh water capacity (two built-in tanks)
o Two (2) life jackets, safety harnesses, and jacklines
o One (1) fire extinguisher
o AVON Redcrest dinghy and oars with foot pump
o 1.75 hp Tanka outboard engine (needs work)
o Cockpit table


OTHER MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS INCLUDE:
o Mark 25 Davis Sextant
o Barometer
o Binoculars
o GRUNDIG yachtboy 400 world band radio
o Portable 140-watt power inverter
o 12V cooler
o 2-burner Camping Gaz stove with broiler
o Camping Gaz lantern
o One (1) large and two (2) small MAGLITE flashlights
o Solar AA battery charger
o CAFRAMO 12V cabin fan
o SUNBRELLA covered cockpit cushions and cockpit shade awning
o SUNBRELLA mainsail cover
o Bug screens for hatch and companionway
o Wind scoop
o H2O solar shower
o Dishes, pots, pans, utensils
o Down comforter and three (3) pillows
o A multitude of navigation charts and books
o Outboard engine flusher
o MAKITA cordless drill, saw and sander, as well as a toolbox full of other tools
o Lots of spare parts and extra bolts, nuts, etc.
o Medicine chest
o Scuba tank, regulator, vest, mask, snorkel and fins
o Dive light
o Hawaiin sling
o Yamaha guitar and case
o European cell phone
o 35mm camera
o Plus a whole lot more....


Vehicle Condition
Boat in good sailing condition.

[commanderpete]

Here is the link to the ad. Click under the photo to view more pictures

http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/marine_classifieds/adv-search.cgi?id=31667-ad

[commanderpete]

Article by Zoltan in Ocean Navigator:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lightening ship gets personal after grounding

by Zoltan Istvan

From Ocean Navigator #132
September/October 2003


Running aground is a sailor’s nightmare. The grinding of the keel on a rock, the piercing of the hull against a coral head, the face of a steep breaker flooding the cockpit. However it happens, it’s a misfortune. Yet most sailors will face a disastrous grounding at least once in their lives. On a solo passage to an obscure island called Gaua, part of the Vanuatu archipelago, I faced mine.


My voyage began years ago when I set sail solo from Los Angeles, bound for the South Pacific on my 25-foot Pearson Commander sloop, The Way. My dream was to sail around the world, taking my time to carefully explore the cultures I came across. After cruising through Kiribati, Western Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Vanuatu, I began heading toward the Solomon Islands.

At 0558, I awoke to surf swamping my transom and The Way’s keel grinding through coral. My chart was seven miles off, and the current was much heavier than anticipated. There were only a few minutes before I would be slamming against the sharp cliffs of Gaua, destroying and flooding my yacht.

I jumped in the cockpit and tried to steer the boat through the surf. When I made it to the inside where the breakers were smaller, the water became deeper again but not enough for me to stop grinding. My keel drew 4 feet, but the depth was only 3 feet. With every new wave, my boat lurched atop the coral, sounding the worst crashing noises a sailor could imagine. I raced to the bow and pulled down the jib. Next came the mainsail. That dropped the waterline a few inches. Now I needed to get my boat pointed toward the surf. I deployed my 25-lb CQR. When it caught, it whipped the nose around. It was too shallow for me to motor out, so I waited for a few minutes, thinking, trying to gather myself, needing to figure out a sensible plan. With every wave, The Way rose then slammed back onto the reef. The colliding and cracking sound of the fiberglass was unnerving.

Finally an idea struck me — a very natural one under the circumstances. I began unloading more than 100 lbs of canned food from my bilge. Next went three portable five-gallon water tanks. Finally my dive belt, 35 feet of 5/16-inch chain, a 22-lb fisherman-style anchor, and my Suzuki dinghy engine went overboard. On a 25-foot boat, 400 lbs does make a difference, but it still wasn’t enough. There was still too much weight to make a run for it, even with the engine at full throttle. More weight had to go.

Inevitably, my own 200 lbs was next. I quickly jumped in the ocean. Since I had an outboard, I could steer the boat from the water, just by maneuvering the engine’s body with my hand. But I had to be careful a sharp swell didn’t throw me into the spinning propeller. I waited for a few minutes, scanning the horizon for a set of waves. When they came, I jammed the throttle to full speed. The Way took off, grinding, bulldozing through the shallow sections but moving fast whenever a breaker raised it above the reef. My idea was working; the set of waves was adding temporary depth underneath the keel, and the 600 lbs of lost weight was helping lower the waterline of The Way. It was just enough to get my boat past the impact zone and into the open ocean.

After I pulled myself onboard and made sure I was far from the breakers, I retrieved my mask to examine the damage. Amazingly, it wasn’t as bad as I thought — a testament to the respected Pearson Yachts name. The keel held up remarkably well, lots of huge gouges but no leaks. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said about the rudder, which took the brunt of the 6,000 lbs of continuous slamming. The Way’s rudder was cracked, bent out of shape, stuck to starboard and unusable. It required being completely rebuilt with new wood with a strong outside layer of epoxy. I had a Hydrovane self-steering system with an auxiliary fin, so I was still able to steer my boat. But at the next major port, I’d be forced to make the repairs, replace the gear I’d thrown overboard, and restock the canned food I lost.

When all was completed and my boat was ready for the high seas again, I continued my journey. But sleeping was never the same again. For many years after, I awoke in the middle of the night, panicking, running out to the cockpit, ready to steer the boat through surf. Luckily, I never went aground again. The memory of almost sinking my circumnavigation dream on an obscure island in the middle of the South Pacific still makes me cringe.

Zoltan Istvan is sailing a 25-foot sloop around the world. He writes regularly for the New York Times Syndicate and NationalGeographic.com.

http://www.oceannavigator.com/site/csrv/content.asp?id=6647

http://www.oceannavigator.com/navweb/fs/images/zoltan.jpg

[commanderpete]

"The Way" is sold, and for only $3,000 on ebay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2470319349&category=63730

Guess they don't use jackstands in Greece

http://i7.ebayimg.com/03/i/01/93/ef/db_1_s.JPG

[commanderpete]

Zoltan has an article in the December issue of Cruising World.

He returns to Greece and buys a 28 footer to complete his circumnavigation.

He wanted a bigger boat than the Commander "...something a little more civilzed than a cuddy cabin with a mast stuck in it."

Ouch. After 7 years, where's the love?

His girlfriend is pretty hot.