Thom D’Arcy: Singlehanded around the world in a 28-foot boat

Back in 2014, I was preparing my Vancouver 28 for some singlehanded offshore sailing and after a lot of research into different self-steering systems, and on the recommendation of many experienced sailors. I decided to try and find an Aries Vane Gear. As luck would have it I came across a second hand Danish built Aries for sale only a few miles down the road from where I lived in London.

Shortly afterwards it was easily installed on my boat after purchasing some new mounting arms that matched the angle of the stern from the then Aries manufacturer Peter Matthiesen. All it took to complete the installation were four blocks added to the pushpit for the control lines and the chain clamp fixed to the tiller and my new crew member was fully operational.

After setting sail from the UK in 2016, I crossed the Atlantic to the Caribbean, passed through the Panama Canal and across the Pacific Ocean in 2017, crossed the Indian Ocean and rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 2018, returned to the Caribbean via the South Atlantic in 2019 and then sailed the North Atlantic back to the UK in 2020.

During the single-handed circumnavigation, I faced a huge range of conditions and discovered that as long as I made an effort to balance the boat the Aries would handle it all, from gliding along under cruising chute in 7 knots of wind to 50-knot squalls, the Aries was in control. All I did was apply a few drops of light machine oil every day or two to the moving parts. The only problem I encountered was with the fibreglass paddle which had been damaged by the previous Owner and had become structurally compromised despite my best repair attempts.

“I would never cross an ocean without a self-steering gear and the Aries remains my first choice”

Thom D’Arcy

I contacted Lean Nelis in The Netherlands in 2018 who had by this time taken over the business from Peter. Lean was quick to respond and efficiently organised a replacement paddle to be shipped out to me in Australia at short notice.

I could not have completed my voyage without the Aries. It proved to be completely dependable though 37,000 nautical miles of sailing and allowed me to spend weeks at sea on passage well-rested and in complete control at all times. I would never cross an ocean without a self-steering gear and the Aries remains my first choice.

Text and pictures: Thom D’Arcy