A brief weather window yesterday allowed the GUNBOAT factory test team to do its preliminary load testing of GUNBOAT 5501 'VANQUISH'. A gentle sub-freezing breeze allowed the gradual loading of the platform while under careful observation by the technical team. We are happy to report that the engineered structures are performing within their expected tolerances. During the brief upwind sail, VANQUISH accelerated to 9.4 knots of boatspeed in 12 knots of true wind. She is hinting at what is to come. The uneventful first load testing session ended in the freezing winter darkness. GUNBOAT Captain Joe Logan tended her dock lines for the coming gale until well after dinner time.

Captain Joe Logan joined GUNBOAT soon after the New Year. Joe was a top collegiate sailor at Old Dominion University, and for over twelve years was an award winning ASA Offshore Yacht Instructor and Captain. Among his 50,000 plus miles offshore, was a recent 9000 mile catamaran delivery to Australia! Joe is GUNBOAT's new commissioning and training Captain for the GUNBOAT 55 series being produced in North Carolina. 

Our Chief Boat Builder from GUNBOAT's former Cape Town facility has returned to the family. After several years of building high tech windmill blades, Jan Rossa joins Hudson Yachts GUNBOAT 60 management team. Renowned as one of the best boat builders in the world, we are thrilled to have Jan back! The GUNBOAT 60 series has an all-star team!

Former US Olympic Sailing Team Tornado Coach, Richard Feeny, is heading up the refit of extreme snowboarder Travis Rice's GUNBOAT 48 'FALCOR' at the North Carolina GUNBOAT yard. Travis plans to cruise FALCOR on a loop of the Pacific while filming his upcoming film about the hydrological cycle. See Travis' prior film 'Art of Flight', an epic snowboarding journey.