Welcome

I am a freelance journalist, editor, scientific & technical writer, and part-time sailing instructor, based in Wellington, NZ.

This month I have articles in Boating New Zealand and Engineering Insight.

Keep an eye on the Global Ocean Race, for double-handed Class40 yachts. Twenty-eight year old Wellingtonian Conrad Colman has won the third leg, from Wellington to Punta del Este, Uruguay. The fleet is now sailing up the Atlantic Ocean on its way to Charleston, South Carolina. From there they'll cross the Atlantic to finish at Les Sables d'Olonne, France.

French naval architect Jérémie Raymond and I presented a paper at the fourth High Performance Yacht Design Conference in Auckland, March 2012. Jérémie's PhD research represents an important step in our understanding of high-performance sailboats. My kspline was a vital part of the programme.

I am developing an introduction to parametric hull design. These new web pages will give a general introduction to designing and structuring parametric models, illustrated with screenshots from the Friendship Framework®. Parametric hull models are infinitely variable: A single model can be used for many projects. You'll be able to download my new models so you can try them out in the Framework.

My latest book, From Smoke to Mirrors, lays out a practical plan for developing a fully renewable supply of petrol, diesel, and jet fuel for New Zealand. It's all based on solid, well-known technology, not airy-fairy things that might get invented sometime in the future. This is a book that everyone can read. It looks at the strengths and weaknesses of all the alternatives, and shows why simple, proven solutions are most likely to work. We don't need battery or hydrogen-powered vehicles, but just in case some people really want them, I designed the plan to accommodate these technologies.You'll find everything you need to know about ethanol; biodiesel; renewable petrol, diesel and jet fuel; battery vehicles; hydrogen fuel cell vehicles; hybrids; and a bunch of other technologies I've included because they are interesting, weird, or funny.

My Keep New Zealand Real blog expands and updates the information in From Smoke to Mirrors.

Check out my services page to find out how I can help you or your organisation.