My wife and I are in the process of selling our Nicholson 32 and are contemplating buying a second hand Ovni 385 for a trip to Antartica and Svalbard.
I have been searching without success to find accounts of shallow draft centerboard boats in extreme weather conditions, and someone told me that you took an Ovni to Antarctica. Also what about the OVNI's sea-keeping abilities, her comfort levels at sea and her ability to deal with an ugly sea. I don't imagine she will be as forgiving and comfortable as our Nic32, but how much worse I wonder? If you had the freedom to choose another boat, would you still take your OVNI down South again? What were her shortfalls at sea? and what did she do better?
Yes, I did take my OVNI 43 to Antarctica and also sailed on a friend's OVNI 39 to Spitsbergen. I have confidence in the OVNI design BUT when it comes to stability.... it is not just the stability of the boat that counts if it may come to extreme weather and the possibility of capsizing, but also the experience of the crew and skipper. So while I was quite happy to take my own OVNI into the Southern Ocean (and had an experienced crew) I would be reluctant to recommend to anyone to take a light displacement centreboarder into that area. The OVNI is OK for ANY job, but a lot depends on who is in charge!
I just completed a circumnavigation on my OVNI 43 and I can assure you that the boat is as comfortable as a heavier boat. Your concern, about how an OVNI handles in heavy weather is understandable. I have been in winds 60+ knots (briefly) and sustained 40 knot winds, without any problem, but I continued sailing - because this is what you do in a light or medium/light displacement boat. Also, I hove to in 35 knots and while she made more leeway than a keeled boat, she behaved reasonably well and was very stable.
If you only plan to go around Cape Horn, I feel a 385 would be fine...if you plan to sail all the way to New Zealand in the 40s and 50s, then I go back to the beginning of this message: it's not up to the boat, it's up to you! I know what I can do, and I would take my boat along that route.
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