Blogging aboard Black Diamond! Sailing logs of Black Diamond, a Jeanneau Sailboat.

Black Diamond is a Jeanneau 2008, Performance 39i foot racer/cruiser, fractional rig, sloop type sail boat. Which basically means, it’s fast at getting from point to point, but also has all the comforts you might enjoy at home.

LOA = 39 feet  LWL = 35 feet  Beam 12′ 9″  Draft = 6′ 6″ Bulb Keel, Mast 60′ 2″ with instruments 62′

Dry Weight 15,650 lbs, very light boat for its size.

Racing Roller Furling about 400 square feet, offshore racing rated

Main Sail fully battened about 500 square feet, offshore racing rated

Spinnaker Solid Black 3/4 oz, 5 to 15 knot winds, about 1,200 square feet

Spinnaker Solid White 1/2 oz, 0 to 10 knot winds, about 1,500 square feet

Spinnaker Solid White (Espana Logo) 1 oz, 10 to 20 knot winds, about 1,400 square feet

Storm Jib 100 square feet

Adjustable Back Stay

Folding Prop, with razor sharp knife for cutting away weeds or ropes.

Large full depth rudder

Infinity adjustable genoa cars

Dyneema non stretch lines and sheets.

All sheets, halyards, lines and reefing from cock pit.

The boat is a 2 cabin layout, as opposed to a 3 cabin layout, Black Diamond’s cabins are larger, and the head (bathroom) is very spacious. We have almost a queen size bed in the forward V-berth, a king size bed in the aft, each of the cabins have their own closets and wardrobe area, shoe storage, and lots of room for cosmetics and other odds and ends. The bathroom is large and comfortable, with a separate shower area with a glass door. There is a bench in the shower, if showering under way you can have a seat while getting clean. There is another storage area in the bathroom for towels, linens and toiletries. Standup room throughout the boat, including the shower and forward cabin is a full 6 foot 5 inches.

The center of the boat which is also called the salon, boasts a large dinette table, that converts to a double berth, and an additional single berth to the port side. In total the boat can sleep 7 adults, not including an additional 2 berths in the cock pit if needed for the captain. The best arrangement is 2 adults in the forward cabin, 2 adults in the aft cabin, and room for 3-4 children in the salon. Additional crew can sleep in the cock pit if needed.

The large dinette table in the salon can comfortably seat 7 for a sit down dinner or cocktails. There is an additional table in the cock pit that can seat 4-6 adults for a meal. The salon’s seating is very comfortable for just relaxing and enjoying a DVD movie on the 20″ flat screen TV with surround sound, also equipped with a Globex Antenna that can tune in up to 150 HD TV channels. To round off the entertainment system, the standard FM stereo, has iPOD hook up and XM Satellite Radio, over 200 channels including, CNN, Comedy Network, Jazz, Classics, latest HITs as well as from all the decades.

The boats sound system is also audible in the cock pit, and can be switched either to the cock pit, salon, or both. Probably the coolest feature, is the ability to also watch movies in the cock pit on the chart plotter. Especially handy for those long overnight passages, or just relaxing under the stars.

The galley (kitchen) boast lots of counter space, double sinks, hot/cold pressured water throughout the boat, large fridge and freezer, stove top & oven, micro wave and a BBQ in cock pit. Plenty of food storage space, enough for a 8 week extended cruise or non-stop passage if needed. (crossing the Atlantic.)

There is plenty of electrical power & charging available on board to enjoy 10 days or more at anchor, with 5 large capacity batteries, a 2000 watt inverter which powers the microwave, There are 2-110 volt sockets in each cabin, galley and salon which can be used to power various other items. If the batteries run low, we just power up the 40HP diesel motor, that is equipped with a 120 amp alternator that will charge up the batteries within about an hour and provide immediate power when needed.

The cock pit can seat 10 adults comfortably, a table large enough for 4-6 adults to enjoy a meal, with an integrated ice box for cooling drinks. The dual helm arrangement opens up the cock pit for easy walk through. The cock pit has a full enclosure to protect from the elements, the windows can be completely rolled up, or bug nets can be left in if needed.

Just about everything on the boat is powered, and automated, including an electric windlass for hauling in the anchor remotely. Don’t worry about raising the 60 foot main manually, we are also equipped with an electric winch, and roller furling.

The boat has onboard snuba diving equipment, enough for 2 to go for a dive at a time. Powered by a 4 HP Honda generator, which pumps air down a 40 foot hose, you can either just snorkel on the surface or dive as deep as 40 feet. The whole unit can be towed behind the 9 foot dingy, or it can float on the surface and follow you along as you snorkel or dive. The dingy is powered by an electric motor that is charged on the mother ship. No worries about running out of or spilling fuel. Plus the fuel tank is normally a big waste of space.

The rear transom’s boasts a swim platform, ladder and hot and cold running water, so you can rinse the salt and sand off before boarding the boat from the beach.

Electronic, Navigation and other Equipment

Raymarine E80 Chart Plotter, fully net workable. Sonar, 48 mile 4k Radar, AIS, 3D imagery, aerial photos of harbours, tidal & current flow, and Sirius Satellite Weather.  Plus an additional hand held GPS for back up.

Chart Plotter Data repeats on the 20″ Plasma in the Salon, directly in front of the navigation table. Chart plotter remote keyboard installed at Nav table for control in salon and cockpit.

Raymarine Auto Pilot, with Wireless remote control. Allows for steering at the Nav table, while monitoring the chartplotter in the salon. Chart Plotter can also be controlled at the Nav table with the remote keyboard. The wireless remote works from anywhere on the boat. It is also a neat safetly feature, if you were to fall of the boat, the wireless pilot will bring the boat into irons immediately.

Wind Instruments, Speed, Depth and other data is repeated at both Helm stations.

DSC Digital VHF Radio, with repeating mic at helm. Additional 2 handheld VHF radios, great for going ashore and wondering around town in groups. Still being able to communicate with your other shore party, plus the mother ship. Also acts as a redundant VHF back up.

Blue LED Deck Spreader lights, attractive evening mood lighting, plus a safety feature for working on the deck at night, without losing your night vision.

Blue LED under water stern lights. Must have bling bling for the Bahamas.

110 Amp Belmar alternator, will generate all power need for 24 hours on the hook with full use, by running engine for 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening.

4 House AGM batteries totalling 420 amp hours + 1 engine start battery. 2000 watt inverter to run microwave, HDTV/Antenna and other gadgets.

Heating, Air Conditioning and Dehumidification when on shore power.