Orion 50

The Orion 50 is a 15.1-meter staysail ketch designed by Gary Mull and built by Ta Shing Yacht Building in Taiwan between 1983 and 1987. It features a fin keel with a rudder on a skeg, a 4.4-meter beam, a 2.0-meter draft, and displaces 16,601 kg. Aboard *Distant Shores TV*, Paul and Sheryl Shard sail an Anksail Orion 49 (referred to as an Orion 50) on extended voyages, including a 2,200-nautical-mile transatlantic crossing from Cape Verde to Antigua.0:50 This passage, completed in 15 days, tested the boat's hybrid electric propulsion system, which used propeller regeneration to charge batteries despite engine and gearbox failures.1:09 The crew utilized a twin-pole downwind rig with two jibs for 11 consecutive days, reefing for squalls identified by Doppler radar.15:34 The boat's swing keel allows draft adjustment from 11 feet to 4.5 feet for shallow water access.10:11 During a 450-mile passage from the British Virgin Islands to South Caicos, the crew navigated the Caicos Bank, requiring full keel retraction in depths of 2–6 meters and constant bow watch for coral heads.9:36 The pilot house provides protected watch-keeping in cool conditions, as seen during an overnight passage from the Netherlands to the UK.10:05 The crew relies on resources like the Reeds 2024 Almanac for tidal calculations and uses Starlink for real-time weather forecasts and remote troubleshooting of mechanical issues.8:04