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madsammy · 06-06-2019, 03:16

Hello I’m a 21 year old living in MELBOURNE australia and I’m currently planning my circumnavigation at the end of 2023. I have narrowed my boat selection down to a couple of boats but one I’m really interested in is the defiance 30 built in australia. It’s on the smaller side but I wanted to know if anyone else has done a ocean crossing in one. I’m also planning on completing a full refit before my trip from keel up

I’ve worked as a boat builder and are comfortable with any work that would need to be done. I just want to know that after a 3 year rebuild that the boat will be what I need to cross a ocean.

psk125 · 08-06-2019, 20:08

This thread may be of interest if you haven't already seen it: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ers-56435.html

The next question is - is this the boat?: https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/ss-30-aquafibre

There seem to be a number of different names for 30' S&S boats, built in different places by different outfits. Posting some pictures might help people give you answers.

Uncle Bob · 08-06-2019, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by psk125

This thread may be of interest if you haven't already seen it: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ers-56435.html

The next question is - is this the boat?: https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/ss-30-aquafibre

There seem to be a number of different names for 30' S&S boats, built in different places by different outfits. Posting some pictures might help people give you answers.

Hi try visiting Seabreeze.com.au forums sailing and search for defiance the original. Should be of interest to you.

**Jim Cate** · 08-06-2019, 21:59

G'day Sammy,

I can't speak to the Defiance but I had a Yankee 30, an &S design from the late 60's. I did a lot of miles in her, caring and cruising, and found her to be a sweet sailing craft. I did a lot of single handed ocean racing out of San Francisco in the early 80s, a number of coastal cruises to So Cal, and Ann and I did a round trip to Hawaii in 1983 which is a proper long ocean passage each way.

The boat was fine with all of this, but we discovered that her habit of sailing at circa 20+ degrees of heel, while ok for short trips and day hops, was kinda fatiguing for long passages, and we sold her when we set out long term cruising in 1986.

I know that they are similar, don't know what the relationship of the two 30s might be, nor about the build quality of the Defiance, so I dunno if our experiences are relevant to you... but I was very fond of that boat and viewed it as adequately seaworthy for mid latitude passages. Stowage was meager, but that's a quality of most 30 foot yachts! i added a auxiliary fuel tank (Atomic 4 gas engine) but kept the original water tank... plus some emergency water in jugs.

Anyhow, i'd be happy to answer any questions that my long ago experience might bear on.

Good luck in your planning.

Jim