“ Salt water is the cure for everything, it’s either sweat or tears or the sea”
Dona Catharina is an 18m steel cutter rigged ketch. If the wind is right she can carry a 45.5m2 mainsail, a 26.2m2 mizzen, a 66.5m2 genoa and a 30m2 stay sail , and she is capable of doing up to 10kn in the right conditions
She is a safe and comfortable passage maker, and with her 4 cabins and large decks house she makes for a spacious home for up to 8 crew on extended voyages
we are constantly updating her equipment as any new expedition requires different items to be on board, so the list is only an indication of what you may find on board:
2X kayaks,
2x inflatable dinghies with 10/ 30 hp outboards,
crows nest in the main mast,
fish finder,
dive compressor , 6X dive tanks, 2x bc and octopus,
water maker,
surf board,
2x bathrooms with hot shower,
Fridge, freezer
5kw generator supplemented by large battery bank and 240v inverter. solar panels, 12volt charging stations,
large cockpit with sun shade,
two helm stations,
auto pilot,
library,
satellite phone
Dona Catharina is a strong and safe steel vessel, featuring:
3 watertight bulkheads,
solid rails,
a powerful engine with 3000 litre fuel tanks
an inside helm station
Her split rig, allows for an easy sail configuration to any wind strength and direction
Navigation equipment consists of:
Sextant and appropriate tables
Paper charts for all our sailing areas
Pilot books and othe nautical publications
And we use these, but of course we also have on board:
chart plotter with GPS
36 mile radar,
Depth sounder with fish finder,
Inside and outside steering compass
For our safety at sea we will have an appropriate briefing before any departure and we leave with an agreed passage plan that may get amended if weather conditions dictate so. We will be contact daily with a chosen shore person via satellite phone to report on position and progress and will, in this way, also receive daily weather updates.
But we are prepared, should things go wrong with contingency plans and of course we are equipped with:
solas approved inflatable live vests for everyone on board,
live vests of the solid type for everyone on board,
currently 4x survival suits
1X8 pers life raft
1RIB for 4–5 people with 15hp outboard 1RIB for 6-8 people with 30 hp outboard
2x EPIRB,
2X portable and 3fixed VHF radios,
long range SSB radio,
satellite phone,
plenty of flares,
extensive medical kit,
fire extinguisher and fire blanket
Ready deployable live rings with lights and dan boy
harnesses for everyone on board .