Alan wants advice about UFOs

I am looking for a boat to sail longish distances when I retire in a few years. I am attracted to a UFO 34 and would like advice on:In general how suitable is it for single handed sailing (with self steering gear) for someone 60+ (by then)?In particular; the boat I looked at has a rivetted section a third of the way up the mast where two sections join. Is this normal or is it likely to be a repair to a damaged mast?Thanks in anticipation - it's great to have some where to ask these Questions?Alan

DIY re-rigging your UFO

I am currently re-rigging Tarraleah a UFO of 29 years. She was launched in Fremantle Western Australia with her mast in a tabernacle. We are her second owners and have sailed to Lord Howe I. twice, a voyage of about 3-4 days, as well as to the Whitsunday Is. This is her second re-rig, the first occuring after we dismasted 50 nM off the east coast of New South Wales as the result of the starboard cap shroud U-bolt failing. We salvaged the mast (somewhat bent) by winching it aboard and motored back to a marina. It is now 16 years since the new mast and rigging and I plan to keep the re-rigging cost down by sourcing the terminals and wire and doing the re-rigging myself.What I would like some knowlegeable UFO owner to tell me is why the internal supporting rigging that is part of the frame that supports the U bolts is of such a small size in comparison to the external rigging. On Tarraleah the lower shrouds are 8 mm, the caps are 7 mm and these inner "cables" are 5.5 mm! The diagrams from Holman and Pye specify 1/4". I would have thought that the load on the U bolts would be transmitted to these cables or is that the frame takes the load? If so, why have the inner rig?My second problem is withdrawing the forestay up the foil of the furler. The SS pin that holds the rigging toggle is frozen in the mast bracket. I have belted it with a hammer but no movement so far. I was about to take a butane torch to it today but the weather turned nasty and I will wait for better conditions. I can't see anyway of getting it out unless I make a press or something to push the pin out. Not the easiest place to work, standing on a rope ladder 10 m plus up in the sky.
Barry G

Black Stump Creek

Dawn in Black Stump Creek, River Medway. Steam rises from the giant chimney of the Grain Power Station, which is concealed behind a bank of fog. The silence is broken only by the call of curlews and at any moment you expect to hear the gunshot signalling the escape of Magwitch from his prison hulk.

Hard Seed in Ramsgate

It's good to browse through the entries in yacht club visitors' books. You come across entries from sailors from around the corner, or across the ocean and every entry suggests a story; well every voyage is tale waiting to be told, or that's what I think anyway.

Last week Renegade was in Ramsgate and, as the crew was taking modest refreshment in the Royal Temple Yacht Club, I chanced to see that Hard Seed had visited in August. Now Hard Seed appears on the UFO List and is registered in Chatham, but I didn't recognise the name of the skipper. Has there been a change of ownership? UFO News must be told!

Radar reflectors and the sinking of the OUZO

See the post and link on Renegade News if you are interested in the effectiveness of your radar reflector.