FLEMING

Hi Kevin & Denise

Picked up the wind vane from Brisbane and have fitted it with the minimum of fuss to Clark Gable and named it Scarlet O’Hara.

We had been very busy with work and hadn’t had a chance to do any testing prior to our Christmas Cruise. So our first trail with the vane was in 20-30 knots on the stern quarter. The wind vane handled it well considering the inexperience of the crew (with wind vanes). We have now travelled over 300 miles with Scarlet in charge and are still learning the finer points of balancing the boat and vane. We are both very impressed and have decide it is one of the most valuable pieces of gear we have purchased for the boat. I have attached a photo of the windvane working hard in 30 knots.

Thanks for a great self steering system. Also thanks for dinner in Auckland in it was nice to met you and put a name to a face. We will stay in touch and maybe send some more photos.

Regards
Terry & Amanda Morris

Around the world circumnavigation using Fleming vane

Sitrep: 0900hrs 07 Dec 2005 UTC 44’10”S 132’12”E Ref 627
DB: dmg 126 (prudent night) gps 136, dtg 639, margin 637+6=643 day 109, 20 to start, 11 to TI - maybe 5 to SEC.
Once again in hoon mode, this time with attitude. We’ve got a gusty 30 knots directly up the chuff, big swell left over from the big low still trucking through from the west with serious wind waves over the top -so confused, lumpy, steep seas and taxing Kevvo’s trusty arms to the limit - Berri tends to career down the front of a big wave generally off to one side or the other and Kevvo’s paddle goes almost horizontal with the correction but it doesn’t seem too stressful because the twin poled rig just pulls the boat straight as it gets down into the trough and helps him out. Magnificent sight as the rooster tail streams past in a flashing sparkling cascade of foamy blue green water with the sunlight turning it into iridescent glass. Dull to describe the colour as blue green but I can’t think of a simile - amethyst going on jade going on swimming pool all at once and luminous. Lovely - and lethally indifferent to our presence. At times like this, we really dip the lid to Kevin Fleming for his superb and elegant creation bringing us home with accuracy and dependability. We’ve been thinking about the things we could least do without - Kevvo is at the top of the list by an ocean mile. Kevin F. is now only about 500 miles away to the north - Onya Kevin!

Denise and Kevin:

**** WINNER SINGLE-HANDED TRANSPAC RACE 2002 ****

Haulback

Kevin Fleming
Subject:  Glowing Testimonial
I purchased a Fleming Global Major 501 windvane unit from your company in the fall of 2001 and in preparation for extended offshore cruising, installed the unit on my boat, a Spencer 35, in February of 2002.
On my initial shakedown trip it steered the boat to first place in the Single-handed Transpac race, from San Francisco to Hawaii in the summer of that year, after which I returned to my home in Vancouver, BC, Canada.
I left British Columbia again June 1 of 2004, did the S/H Transpac once again (2nd place this time) and continued on from Hawaii, with the intention completing a  solo circumnavigation.  I have just arrived in Sydney, Australia a few days ago via the Southern Cooks, Tonga, Fiji and New Zealand.
Off shore miles logged since installation - over 17,000 - for the vast majority of those miles the Fleming has done a flawless job of handling all of the steering.
On any offshore boat, reliable self-steering is a must.  For myself, as a single hander, it is a vital necessity, without question the most important factor in a successful voyage (apart, of course, from the keeping the ocean out of the boat).
The Fleming 501 has proven to be well designed, non-temperamental and robust piece of equipment.

Thank you  Jim Kellam  - S/V Haulback   08January, 2005

Dear Kevin
Here are (finally) the promised photos of the 301A fitted to our 35′ Ganley.  As I said on the phone a couple of weeks ago, it’s behaving very well.  As long as we have a minimum of 2.5 to 3 knots of boat speed and a relative wind of 8 to 10 knots and keep the rig balanced it steers a good course.  We have not had seas over 1.5 metres yet, or winds above 23 knots, but I’m confident it’ll be fine.

David Julian Yacht Tygress (Queensland)

July, 2004

Dear Kevin:
Just a short note to tell you how happy we are with you wind vane.  Unlike some cruisers our vane is used 90% of the time and its looked after our steering chores in every condition there is from 50 knots know to drifting conditions.  Our main auto-pilot has failed so many times over the last few years that the only steering I can rely on has been the Fleming Vane.  It has required a couple of small repairs over the years (what doesn’t in these conditions) but they have been easy to accomplish and because you have sent us the parts even the repairs were inexpensive for us.  Its just proven that the day we decided to buy the Fleming Vane was one of the better ones when it came to making wise decisions.  Thanks for a great product and the service to back it up

Robert Cardinal  Yacht S/V Cardinal Sin (currently in the Marshall Islands Saturday 24 July, 2004)

Dear Kevin:
“How I wish I had had your (Fleming) vane on ‘Quailo’s‘ transom at the beginning of the BOC. My electronic pilot failed at the start and as of the moment, it has still not been repaired. So to steer I relied on the good ability of ‘Quailo’ to steer herself to windward; my ‘X-model’ vane when off the wind with twelve knots or more apparent; and myself in light airs and off the wind with less than twelve knots. It was a real tiring chore and adding to the problem, my ‘X-model’ vane required constant repairs.”
“The (Fleming) vane was a joy from day one. The only times we had to steer was in very light airs.”
Kind Regards,

Mac Smith
BOC competitive vessel “Quailo“

Dear Kevin:
“Just a note to let you know how the “Minor” is doing — it’s doing just fine. A lot of the Whitsunday’s in the Barrier Reef was light air downwind and I didn’t steer - I had coffee and took pictures. There was one stretch from Round Hill Creek to whatever the hell island was next that we averaged 2-1/2 knots!!! dead downwind - and it still steered.”
“Now - as soon as I teach it to - - - - make coffee.”
Cheers,
Jim Brown, Yacht “Chapulin”

Dear Kevin,
“As you know, prior to installing a Global Forty on the back of my She 36, I investigated purchasing a Sailomat, Hydrovane and/or a Monitor wind vane. Having done the installation and now sailed with the (Fleming) vane, I am delighted with my choice. What is most striking about the Fleming is how well it steers even down wind and even in the extremely light airs that are seen during the summer in New England”
“From what I see so far, I am most delighted with your product.”
Best wishes,
Lee I. Corwin, M.D.

Dear Kevin,
“We sailed ‘Hobson’ from Cabo San Lucas to Puget Sound using our (Fleming) wind vane 99% of the time, our wind vane was superb!”
John H. Phillips
S.V. “Hobson’s Choice II”

Dear Kevin,
“I just wanted to let you know that the (Fleming) vane worked perfectly all the way to Hawaii and back on out Columbia 50: no difficulties whatsoever. We encountered a full range of wind velocities to a little over thirty, and the vane steered continuously in all but the lightest winds.”
“Thanks again for a great product!”
Kevin D. Reilly LT, USN

Gentlemen:
“The Fleming Minor I purchased has proven to be a marvellous machine. It is a perfect match for my Dana 24.”
Many Thanks,

William Martin

Hi Kevin,
I am so sorry, the vane just does not break, works as it’s supposed to, so there is nothing to talk about it.
Well, when I got time, I will add to this.
Shaun

Hi Kevin
We used it (Fleming Auxiliary Rudder) over the Xmas period.  We went north in a 20 knot southerly and came south in a 25 knot north easterly so couldn’t have had better sailing conditions. We were the only boat in the fleet that sat down to a full breakfast of bacon and eggs, toast and coffee downstairs in the saloon while thumping along at 8 knots with the vane steering.

Greg Cockle Yacht Torestin (Sydney NSW)
02 February, 2004

Dear Kevin,
We made it! Looking forward to a sensible and boring winter in St. Johns Nfld which we reached 12 hrs. Before Hurricane Michael hit town. It blew another plywood vane into the woods somewhere but by then we were snugged up to the dock.
Eight thousand miles since Florida, about half of those north of 60 degs., all the conditions you’re ever likely to encounter. The wind vane worked brilliantly the whole time, even in tricky steering situations where I had expected to “baby-sit” it. It sure was nice to sit in our “bomb shelter” inside, saving power whilst watching those freezing winds blow!
One of the best things though was being able to detach it so easily from the transom during the times that we were beset by drift ice and it would have been vulnerable even with the paddle retracted. Remove one bolt and it could be out of the way in an instant. Many times it proved its strength too: from being “attacked” by drift nets in the Atlantic to being “nudged” by ice floes in Baffin Bay. This is one of the really good pieces of gear & we thank you for your part in getting us there & back.

Keri & Greg

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