KITTIWAKE

Come Aboard

Sails
Kittiwake has a centre cockpit, one big mast and two head sails (a high cut genoa and a staysail) and a mainsail. This rig makes her a cutter rigged sloop. All of these standard sails are self furling, meaning that they can be rolled up in situ for reefing or stowage when not in use. The foresails roll up on their stays and the mailsail goes in to the mast. All this can be done from the cockpit.

Cockpit	Mast	Waves	Sail	Booms

For anchoring there is a large CQR anchor at the bow (front). This can be raised and lowered using an electric winch. We also carry two extra fisherman's anchors and a lightweight Fortress anchor for additional security.

In the cockpit the wheel pedestal also mounts a set of instruments and navigation equipment for the helmsman to use day or night. These include a compass, chart plotter and radar repeater display (see later), wind speed/direction, boat speed and depth sounder.

Steering
The yacht is steered using a large wheel mounted on a pedestal in the cockpit. There is also an electric autopilot, very useful for automatic steering on long passages, and a manual tiller for emergency steering. Kittiwake also has a Hydrovane self steering system mounted on the stern that holds the yacht at a constant direction to the wind. This can serve as a further emergency steering system should all else fail.

Safety
Kittiwake carries a drogue and a Para-anchor. The former is used to slow the boat down in heavy weather to stop big waves breaking on her stern. The latter is for use in extreme conditions to hold her bow head to wind to stop her broaching (rolling over in big waves).

Other safety features on deck include a six man life raft mounted on the stern rail along with a Dan-buoy man-overboard marker with lifebelt, drogue and strobe light. There is also a man-overboard recovery throwing line and sling and a second, separate throwing line. We practice using this equipment regularly. We always position a 'Grab bag' over the companion way hatch when at sea. This contains an array of useful equipment and stores that can be taken into the life raft in an emergency.

Saloon	Galley	Navigation	Aft Cabin	Forward Cabin	Passage Berths

Aft of the chart table is the galley (kitchen) with a gas cooker (four burners, grill and oven) on gimbals, sink, fridge and freezer and lots of lockers. There is also a microwave for when AC power is available when in port or when the diesel generator is on (see later).

The aft skipper's cabin runs across the width of the boat at the back. This spacious cabin has lots of locker space and a large double berth. This cabin has en suite heads, including basin and shower. The heads also gives access to the engine room.

Engine and services
Kittiwake is powered by a Volvo MD22L 78hp turbo charged diesel engine. This will push us along at seven knots when needed. She carries 630 litres of diesel in three tanks giving her a cruising range of some 1000 nautical miles on engine.

Kittiwake carries 900 litres of fresh water supplemented by a water maker capable of generating 55 litres of fresh water an hour. The power for this comes from an HFL diesel powered AC generator in the engine room. This is also useful for charging the batteries as a back-up to the main engine alternators, of which there are two (and a spare).

The toilets can be discharged to a holding tank for use when in port or in environmentally sensitive areas.

Navigation and communications
The chart table holds an extensive set of paper charts covering the passages of the voyage. This supplemented by a wonderful piece of kit - the chart plotter. This is linked to a satellite Global Positioning System (GPS) to show the position of the boat wherever she is in the world to within a few feet, how fast she is going and in what direction.

The chart plotter shows all the information you find on a paper chart but with the added advantage that you can zoom in or out to whatever scale is needed, from showing a pontoon in a marina to a view of the whole North Atlantic for example. The chart plotter also allows you to set destinations and it then calculates the direction to go to get there and estimates how long it will take.

The charter plotter is also used to show the radar display. This can be shown on its own, next to or even overlaid onto the chart display. The radar has an excellent safety feature called MARPA. This allows you to 'lock on' to up to 10 radar targets (usually other ships or boats) and to instantly get a read-out and update on their bearing, speed and course and a warning if a collision with you is likely.

Kittiwake is equipped with a short range VHF radio, a medium and long range SSB radio and a satellite phone. The SSB is also used for receiving weather charts when linked to the on-board laptop computer. We can send and receive e-mails by both SSB radio and the satellite phone. In addition there is a medium range Navtex weather information receiver and a back-up GPS system and boat instrument repeater.

Safety,
There are fire extinguishers throughout the boat including an automatic one in the engine compartment. There are two fire blankets in the galley, two smoke detectors and a smoke hood/breathing mask.

Kittiwake carries a comprehensive medical kit (equivalent to a Category A MCA Medical kit) for cruising yachts supplemented by a full resuscitation kit with oxygen cylinders. We carry spares and repair equipment for just about everything.

Positioned by the companion way steps is an EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacon) to be grabbed when taking to the life raft. This alerts emergency services that we are in need of help and shows them where we are. In the grab bag is a hand held GPS and VHF radio along with all sorts of other useful survival needs.

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