It has been a looooooong time since the last time I published something new in the website , but we have a fresh array of contents ready to be published, so let’s start !
The Barbamasu have launched their Hirundo 750!!!
On a warm and sunny September day, “Macallè,” the name of their boat, completed the few hundred meters separating the shipyard where she was built from the sea.
It was a long, tiring, and joyful day, and I sincerely thank Salvatore and Bruno for inviting me to share it with them and their friends.
They began building their Hirundo 750 about twelve years ago. It was a long, slow but steady process, and personally, I never had any doubts that they would launch their creation. A good portion of this time was spent meticulously researching the market, both local and international, to purchase a host of parts at bargain prices that would later be installed on the boat, thus helping to keep the budget low: engine (a 20 hp inboard diesel), winches, pulpits, stanchions and various steels fittings, the winches, the mast, and the sails too (which are virtually brand new).
Their construction is truly excellent, rich in detail, and has pushed the project toward the direction of a small Mediterranean cruiser, capable of carrying a crew of four on medium-range cruises, while maintaining the ease of handling of a trailerable boat, and they built a really fun boat to sail. The plan version was the first one, so they have the low keel case in the cabin; the actual version is slightly different , see the web page here.
The launch day began very early, well before dawn, with the boat loaded onto the trailer the previous days, and a tractor assigned to transport it to the port, all early enough to avoid blocking the traffic of a Cala Gonone (east coast of Sardinia) still crowded with tourists. Then came the brief wait for the crane to launch, the inevitable traditional bottle breaking, and the splash in the water. Everything went smoothly, perfectly organized, from the launch to the mast trimming. The day then passed with endless toasts with friends who came to the port to welcome the launch, and checks on the boat in the water.
In the afternoon, we even managed to treat ourselves to an hour of sailing, unfortunately marked by an alnoast nonexistent wind, but still useful to check the engine, the transmission, and how the boat maneuvers easily in a very crowded harbour.
The following days the wind finally made its appearance in the typical Cala Gonone “zero or thirty knots” fashion, and Macallè was able to stretch his legs with a nice sporty sailing day. Verdict: the boat still needs some adjustments to the rig and sailing equipment, as is normal, but it is stable, safe, fast, and fun to sail even in these challenging conditions.
Thanks again to Salvatore and Bruno and Buon Vento!
