Just came across this (non-copyrighted) article printed in "From the Masthead", a publication from Sailboats Northwest (the then Seattle Hunter dealer), December 1990. Decided to make a posting because of the question about if someone had sailed a Hunter around the world. While "Another Child" didn't sail around the world the story about her trip down the west coast and her exploits in the Pacific Cup should provide an idea of how a 35-footer can perform. On June 15, 1990, Jim Bankson and Gary Baillargeon set sail for Hawaii from the gas dock at Shilshole Marina (in Seattle). The trip was to take them down the coast to San Francisco and from there on July 3, to Kaneohe Bay Yacht Club, on Oahu. The weather ranged from 50 knot winds and 20' seas to light 10k winds and calm seas. Gary and Jim were doublehanding in the West Marine Pacific Cup. How did the boat perform? According to Jim the boat handled beautifully in "all conditions," in particular the heavy weather leg through the straits of San Juan De Fuca and down the coast. The fractional rig with single line reefing was "very easy to work with" and handled the 30+ knots of true wind they experienced out th estraits with a triple reef and #3 genoa. Incidentally, the boat was essentially stock with a Hood L.D. roller furler and stock fittings throughout. The winches were upgraded and Navtec rod rigging used for the shrouds (at a cost of $250). Although the Navtec was originally thought not to be needed, Jim decided to go with it for the added aerodynamics and less weight aloft it presented. Several times during the trip down huge breaking seas bore down on them from astern. The 35.5 would lift her stern and take off down the wave staying high and dry while mainteaining perfect control. In the 50 knot wind conditions they experienced at no time did the duo feel threatened or out of control. Twice while in the midst of this storm they broached on a huge breaking sea. These broaches happened at night when they weren't able to see the onrushing coamers. The boat fell right off the next wave and continued on down the coast. The race to Hawaii [the Pacific Cup] was an anticlimax for them both. After the start they were plagued by light winds for three days and then the sleigh ride began. Although initially they took the spinnaker down at night, they quickly revised that scheme when the competition [a Cal 40 outfitted specifically for this race by the acknowledged #1 tactician in the entire race. The owners of the top big sleds tried to get him on their boats but he wanted to race his own boat] started catching up. The chute went up and stayed up 24 hours a day. The 35.5 maintained her lead. Jim and Gary had lead the doublehanded division the entire race and had also managed to defeat 27 fully crewed boats to correct out 17th overall and first in class. [The skipper of the Cal 40 said he flew his spinnaker during the high winds because he was uncertain about taking it down!] How fast is "Another Child"? Her fastest run was 22 miles in 1 hour 40 minutes and a 210 mile day. The boat would reach at 8.9 knots consistently and surf up to 15 knots. Of course these speeds came with a race prepared bottom. All the through hulls were faired in. Over 160 hours of labor went into sanding and smoothing the bottom for racing. A Martec folding prop was installed and navigation tgear placed aboard. A third reef was put in the Main. All the turning blocks, travellers, genoa tracks, forestay, backstay, etc. were box stock from Hunter Marine. There were NO failures on stock items. After market boom vang failed in the dead of night somewhere around Crescent City, California [first town below Oregon] and several screws loosened in the gooseneck, and the spreader boots which weren't taped securely went away. That was it!! Tons of wind, lots of ocean, a first place trophy and the experience of a lifetime. Would they do it again? Suffice to say: Plans are already being made for 1992. [as it turned out they didn't go again] "Another Child" was bought by Lloyd Mathison of Tacoma and was campaigned on Puget Sound. There was a photo with the article but my scanner is on the fritz (SCSI HP4c) courtsey of Microsoft. Apparently my M$ operating system decided to change things on it's own when it found out the scanner wasn't connected. Message to Bill Gates: Don't mess with MY software setup!!!! If you want to change my setup - ASK!!! Now I have a lot of grief to repair the damage.