Who of our clients are famous? None. Rather, the stories we bring to light represent important markers of what it is to be a human being living at a particular time and place.

A committed live-aboarder for the past 22 years, Chas Strange isn't just any seaman and the ships he most loves aren't just any ships. He is fanatical about ferro-cement. In addition to having built nine boats for himself he's a ferro hull surveyor and former Yachting Federation inspector. He's also a life member of both the Hartley Ferro Cruising Club and the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians.

Here Chas delivers a mix of narrative, philosophy, observation and opinion. Not short on experience, he made his first flotilla from totara fence posts when a boy in the King Country. Subsequent events in this old seadog's life move back and forth in time as his various boats and colourful voyages take the limelight ...

"The wind direction remained constant, building in ferocity to a recorded strength of 90 knots at Cape Reinga. God only knows what we experienced, accelerated by the slopes of Mt Camel. Suffice to say, you couldn't face into it and it removed a considerable amount of paint from my wheel house. The ship snubbed, jerked and shuddered, the halliards slapped a loud tattoo on the mast and the banshee wind screamed and whined through the rigging. There was no sea to speak of but we had done all we could. Sleep would definitely need a helping hand. Time to approach the liquor locker and get the back teeth awash ..."
– Chas Strange

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