S.S. AVIANA

The Aviana is 42 feet long. It has sleeping accomodations for 7 people. It is 12 feet 8 inches wide. The vessel contains two bathrooms, called "heads", has hot and cold running water, and weighs about 19,000 pounds. 

Aviana, in Italian, means "living grace". 

The boat was manufactured in 1989 in South Casco, Maine by the Sabre Corporation. It is made from fiberglass with teakwood trim. Inside, the boat is almost entirely lined in teak. 

Aviana is a sloop rig. That means it has two large sails. The forward sail is known as a "jib" or "genoa". It also has a mainsail, which is run up the mast of the boat. 

When cruising Aviana sails at an average of about 5 knots. A knot, is just slightly more than a mile per hour.. In strong winds the boat will go up to 12 knots. In no wind it rocks nicely at zero. So for example, the time it takes Aviana to sail 100 miles is about 20 hours, or nearly a full day. 

EQUIPMENT 

Aviana will be equiped with GPS electronic navigation. GPS stands for Global Positioning Satellite. Thus, this device takes signals from several satellites orbiting the earth. Based on where those satellites are, the GPS device calculates "Aviana's" location anywhere on earth to within just a few feet. 

The boat will also equiped with Radar and what's called an EPIRB, which is a lifesaving electronic device. EPIRB works on a similar pricipal as GPS. If Aviana begins to sink at sea the EPIRB is switched on. It then sends a coded locator signal to a satellite which in turn transmits that information to rescuers. The signal tells them that the Aviana is in distress, that Jon Duncanson and Sylvia Gomez might be in trouble. Commercial ships in that part of the ocean will be contacted to begin a search. If possible the Coast Guard from any one of a number of nations may then send a search and rescue plane. 

The Aviana also carries a liferaft. It has rubberized walls and ceiling to protect against sun and wind. It will also carry dried food and a watermaker. A watermaker turns salt water into clean, pure, drinking water. 
 

You can always reach us via e-mail at jonsylvia@duncanson.com

Click here for more photos of The Aviana.

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Design and Color by Louis Jaime. Illustrations by Louis Hinkhouse.