Explorer 45 (Huntingford)

The Explorer 45 (HUNTINGFORD) is a 13.8-meter (45-foot) long-keel staysail ketch designed by Stan Huntingford and built by C, L Marine (Taiwan) and C&L Marine Corp (TAIWAN) between 1977 and 1982. It has a 4.0-meter beam, a 2.0-meter draft, and displaces 13,607 kg. The model was also available with a cutter rig and in an MK II version. Aboard *Cruising Meraki*, a family of four sailed their Explorer 45, named *Meraki*, from Victoria, Canada, to Newport, Oregon, managing a detached autopilot chain, a bilge pump backflow, and a smoking engine due to a loose water pump belt.23:20 They later sailed *Meraki* 2,200 nautical miles from Canada down the U.S. coast and Baja California to Cabo San Lucas, then across to Isla Isabela, repairing an alternator near the U.S.-Mexico border.24:13 The family also completed a 400-nautical-mile passage from Isla San Francisco to Banderas Bay, Mexico, sailing wing-on-wing in 15 knots of wind and motoring when winds died.17:11 They undertook a 20-day passage from Mexico to the equator, maintaining a wing-on-wing configuration in trade winds and navigating squalls in the ITCZ with a triple-reefed main and staysail.11:34 During a departure from Nuku Hiva, *Meraki* experienced a low oil pressure alarm due to a double-gasketed oil filter, requiring a tow before the issue was resolved.15:04 The family also undertook an interior renovation, painting dark teak cabins white and updating the galley with contact paper and adhesive tiles.1:05