Hello
First time poster, I hope I'm in the right spot.
Does anyone have direct experience sailing on an Alan Payne Koonya? I'm looking at buying one but circumstances are that I'm not going to be able to sail her much prior to purchase. I know the boat's history and pedigree but what is like to know is how well they sail to windward and how wet/dry the cockpit is.
brian

I owned one for a few years. Sail well, although if tiller steered they can be a lot to manage in a big swell as the rudder is fairly big (if you fall off a wave the tiller comes across hard). I switched to wheel steering to make easier to handle. Very wet boats to windward, but they go fairly well if you balance the sailplan. Long full keel a plus if you like to be able to nip below and put the kettle on without worrying about varying too far off course. The design handles well with a windvane.

Which one are you looking at?

Thank you for replying and for the information - in particular about the tiller. She has hydraulic wheel steering that I thought I might remove and return to the tiller and a windvane - but not so fast! I expected she would be wet to windward, but I guess sitting in under the dodger will be okay. Do you recall your boat's speed under any conditions? Say hard on the wind with 15kts and a fairly flat sea? Happy to disclose the boat I'm looking at in a PM as I'm still on the 'thinking serious' stage.
brian

the alan payne trophy is the designers trophy for hobart that says it all and though the koonya is the cruising version of the seabird and are slightly larger but slower the boat will surprise you with her windward ability and ability to carry sail in heavy conditions both up and downwind
i assume she is steel and would check her internals very thoroughly for corrosion in a vessel of that age
our seabird happily goes to weather at 6 knoys in 15 and 7.2 in 30 but they suffer badly in chop the koonya will suffer more but perform similar and yes we refer to pagan as the sailing submarine


pagan goingto weather in this years gladstone

Thank you Boty for replying. I will certainly check for rust - that can be very difficult behind carpentry without stripping her. The bilges are dry and not discoloured - would it be safe to assume there would be discolouration below any rust higher up the hull?

regarding "slop" do you mean she'll be slow or even wetter or both? I'm planning to sail the St Vincent Gulf and we have nothing but slop - 1.5/2m in 20/25kts.

thank you too for the photos - I understand the Gladstone race was a bit tough this year with a few retirees. I had a friend caught out beyond Frazer Island while the race was on.
brian

general areas to check are under the head floor around the galley and refrigeration and around the engine bay all places where salt water could be and are hard to get at . A mobile phone camera shoved in a hole can reveal a lot
i would think the seabirds will be wetter than the koonya as they are narrower, though the short waterlines and long high volume overhangs will contribute to pitching .i am comparing this to other race boats and compared to the ss 34 with carbon sails seen astern of us in 1 of the shots we took a mile out of in the windward leg of 6 mile across the bay in the gladstone
yes though the wind was fresh up to 45 at times most was around 25 to 30 and sea state was reasonable with the sea and swell in the same direction . 35 starters 12 retirees the fleet size was down as sydney had gone to lockdown dropping the fleet by 15 .We broke our boom and lost our heavy kite early on, the other seabird retired with engine trouble and a split main at elliot as did blackjack who spat the mast over the side . Several modern boats had rudder issues . we finished with a second in all of our divisions and fourth overall on irc

Hello Brian..and boty
Late into the chat, had a couple of Koonya and sailed one out of Adelaide to Melbourne couple years ago then trucked back to nth nsw as ran out of time. Backstairs Passage..twice! Still sailing her..based Iluka.. wheel steer, wire/quadrant..previous Koonya I sold in Bne..co incidentally now also moored Iluka was tiller.
Formerly based in Bne I have seen and admired Pagan many times..first at Shorncliffe gaffers in the 90's....definitely one of the most beautiful boats around.
Agree all boty comments re boat handling/speeds...loves a tight reach , can sit in the "groove" on chine and not touch wheel for a couple of minutes at a time, IF sails balanced, wet upwind (as it seems, anecdotally all Alan Payne designs are..viz Solo.)
Good motion at sea, can handle swell, feels v safe, long boom,low centre of effort , can keep sail on.
Notes re wheel/v tiller.
Tiller ,as to be expected, gives better"feel" upwind and more immediate response astern in Marina. Does get tiring in a blow. Big rudder..once off track astern can bite hard - I had v embarrassing moment with wheel steer in Pt Adelaide...had to buy a lotto ticket!
Only other thing re wheel...cramps the cockpit..I suppose where you put pedestal.. mine is 2/3rd back..if yr behind wheel its tricky to handle head sail sheets single handing.
Good headroom..but still its really a late '50's design..berths shrink at the ends if yr tall...toilets are never big enough.
Rust...never sleeps.
Bulkhead joins in bilge..on top of all stringers on chines...ESPECIALLY low point in the waist.
If a HF rigging aeria been/is in evidence check around tang lugs on deck.. where gas pipes/compliance plates are...anywhere dissimilar metals..below battery plates..seams lower bilge if shaft gland leaks.
Also..especially... make sure anchor chain has/does not sit direct on steel hull.