Whoa… The header photo is CM46 #3, not our boat. 

Our boat is now in the latter stages of build so it’s a good time for an update – on Rush and the other CM46s launched. 

It’s worth explaining that, during the time we agreed for CM to take some moulds from our boat (mentioned in a previous post) CM46 #3 overtook ours in the build process. It was then best for the fit-out team to focus on #3 before cracking on with our boat, rather than juggle both. We understood this and must admit, with apologies to Mike the owner of #3, we thought there were bound to be a few new ideas sparked by another boat launched. We will, of course, mercilessly point out every tiny improvement to him while he’s sipping pina coladas in the Caribbean… and we’re still in the shed… 

As I write, Nohea is in Cape Town with final jobs and provisioning being completed ready for the delivery trip to the British Virgin Islands. She looks stunning. I do hope Julian and the CM team are feeling proud. 

During the trip from Knysna to Cape Town Nohea sailed, with full main and Code 65, at 11 kts boat-speed in 10 kts of breeze. Those kind of speeds often make it possible to choose the loveliest sea conditions and still make excellent progress. Now that’s what we want.

CM46 #1, Levity, recently reported 22 kts boat-speed in 19 kts of breeze off Auckland, with one reef in the main and self-tacking jib. I also spotted these comments by Jason Ruger (Gypsy Yacht Deliveries) who sailed Levity half-way around the world, from Cape Town to Auckland via the Panama Canal. Hope he doesn’t mind me repeating them here: 

“I’m so in love with this boat”

“… this boat is going to take the world by storm!” 

“Thank you for building her so strong!” (They hit a whale mid-way across the Pacific – fortunately it appeared, giving it nothing worse than a major headache)

This is all good confidence-boosting affirmation for us to see and hear!

Anyway, getting back to Rush – here are a few photos taken when the exterior was sprayed. Check out that finish. Everything you can see on the hull is reflection… Terrifying! We might order more and bigger fenders.

For the interested nargs, the colour we chose is Awlgrip Chevy White (basically a very light grey) – same colour over the hull, deck and cabin-top. We want a light colour to keep the boat as cool as possible inside and, while Levity and Nohea’s metallic paint jobs look pretty awesome, we’re going for an easier to touch up finish… just in case! All the composite “components” are sprayed in satin black – spars, longeron, forward cross-beam, davits, bimini pillars, pedestals etc. 

Fit-out is likely to be completed ready for launch before Christmas and our plan is to head out to Knysna to see the final stages come together and understand everything behind the scenes as best we can. Then launch and start the next phase of the adventure.