I recently had the privilege of crewing on "Fusion", ShaggyBaxter's Pogo 12.5, on the delivery voyage from Brisbane to Hamilton Island prior to Hammo Race Week.

Waking Up!!?? That boat woke me up to to what modern designed performance cruising yachts can deliver by way of exhilarating sailing performance with ultimate safety.

Even old Joe Adams said the safest boat is the fastest boat!!

The Pogo is fast as you will see. It is so easy to get her on the plane.

Safety?? This is a 40 foot yacht that displaces 5.5 tonne. That is half what my previous Peterson 42 IOR 2 tonner displaces and it was a hot yacht for 1982.

The owner of Pogo Yachts was a specialist in composite materials before he started building yachts so he has the science. Everything on the Pogo is "light as but strong as" except for the rubbish bin tilt door, but that is another story.

The space below the forward double bunk is foam filled as is the space below the port cabin double bunk. I think that is the case with the starboard double bunk too. This renders the boat as unsinkable. I am thinking about doing the same thing to my Lotus 9.2 which is not too far from the Pogo in design concept.

Monday morning early morning departure.




Craig with his colourful shorts.



This is the grand tour.

I would have to agree it is a beautiful boat but it looks a lot more racer than cruiser on the outside. The cockpit especially. A cruiser racer to me is something more like a Benny or jodee's hanse reasonable speed plus a fair amount of comfort. Able to race with comfort. Where a cruiser is something more like an amel.

The Pogo 12.5 is the cruising version of the "Open 40".

Re comfort:- I have said it before, any vessel on the ocean less than 1,000 foot in length is going to be uncomfortable and even then the 1,000 foot length and comfort are debatable.

For me comfort in a cruising yacht is getting to the anchorage in as short a time as possible.

The Pogo has a seakindly motion and does it quickly but at $600,000 it is in the realms of a rich man's toy. The Pogo 30 at half the price is a real tempter. If I had the funds I would own one today. Check the vids.

This is really exciting.





Definitely not classic lines of beauty. I will sacrifice that for speed.

Fusion would be an awesome boat to own if I was 20 years younger. 20 years ago I purchased a Young 11 which was a fast boat for the day and they can still hold their own today. Now I am a little softer and I like my comforts but still like to go fast so the only option was to fork out the extra bucks and by the 575. Shaggy, hope we can catch up one day down the bay.

Glad you enjoyed it Cisco.
TwoDogs, have to agree, compared to Jode's Hanse she is Spartan by comparison, but that was my fitout, when they have the cockpit table, centre grab rail, dodger and deck cushions they look completely different. I must admit I like the uncluttered look.
Jode, love to hook up one day, your boat looks regal under sail, be great to look over her one day!

Good post Cisco
Modern sailboats=modern materials, modern physics, modern seaworthiness.
Its often very hard to get that point across to the old IOR die hards.

Hi Cisco, just a minor correction. The hull mould is shared with the Pogo 40s2, which is a Class 40, as compared to the Open 40.
The class 40 is one of the more successful classes in modern times, I think with over 220 active participants globally.
The Open 40 tried to create a more radical racing class, and died a rather tragic death quite quickly.
Not trying to split hairs, but there is a bit of a difference between the two design concepts.
The newer Class 40 Pogo, called the S3, is even more fuller in the bow sections than mine, you can see the hint of the scow bow concept becoming more popular. Problem is the freeboard in the stern quarters is nuts smaller removing a lot of space that is benificial in a cruiser, so the 12.50, being the cruiser model, will stay with the 40s2 mould.
Bit of trivial info for ya.

Photos of inside ie: cruising features?

Sorry shaggy. I do remember you saying on the trip that the Pogo is the cruising version of the Class 40 not the Open 40.
Cheers.

How about this thing?

www.facebook.com/bestofsailing/videos/1120432937995076/

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dralyagmas said..
Photos of inside ie: cruising features?

It is pretty much all there in the vid I posted. If one wanted to take a Pogo longer term international cruising I think it would need some upgrading by way of bigger food storage lockers, increased water carrying capacity as well as fuel capacity.

From memory I think the fuel tank carries only 40 litres and water capacity is 200 litres per side. The space for the fuel tank could possibly have a bigger tank, say 60 litres but the whole configuration of the boat does not allow for much in the way of tank modification. The lazarette locker is huge and could probably contain a dozen 20 litre containers,which puts the weight aft where it would be better than forward.

We carried 300 kg of grog in the stbd aft cabin which didn't seem to slow her down much.

The cockpit table and centre grab rail option would be good as long as long as it is easily removable. The huge open cockpit is a perfect place to inflate a 3 metre or more dinghy, put the outboard on it and just slide out the back. The centre post for the stern lifelines is removable and has a socket for it on the stbd side where there are two more sockets for the boarding ladder. The post is then handy to grab to assist when climbing the ladder.

The Pogo is an extremely well thought out boat. For such a performance yacht the ergonomics of getting around on it, especially the companionway is excellent. Not hard to tell that I am in love with it is it??

Further to "Waking Up on a Pogo 12.5.", when in very open waters between Percy Island and Mackay at about 9 p.m., the off watch below was woken up very abruptly by a huge crash and a couple of big bumps.

The immediate thought was that we had gone up on the rocks and the mast had come down.

Racing up on deck we find the boat is sailing along quite fine and Jack tells us he saw the whale we had hit. The keel/centre board is raised and lowered hydraulically and requires the engine to be running to operate it.

Shaggy checked the keel indicator and sure enough it had come up by about 30 degrees. We wound it back down and proceeded on our merry way to anchor at Scawfell Island a few hours later.

A camera inspection later proved no damage was sustained. Shaggy told me the keel hydraulics has a safety valve fitted specifally to reduce impact damage from hard groundings.

You gotta love these Pogos.

Looks stacks of fun, really neutral helm - heat it up, soak down, repeat... no constant trimming required.

I can sail @ 7 knots in 10 to 15 close reached with my 12 ton adams 12.8.
Washing machine , aircon, 1000ltr water 300ltr fuel, coffee machine,
smev rottesire oven with four burner, RIB on davits, full cockpit covers, solar , wind gen, dive tanks and hooker.

If I hit a whale my encapulated keel will go over the whale , through it or I will come to a screeching hault with out any fear of rudder damage!
now that's what I call cruising!
whats your rush guys!

Hi Southace,
Each to their own, I'm never professed my boat is the epitome of a cruiser, or anything of the sort.
I like the Adams 12.8, congrats to you, I just prefer a different style of boat.
Btw, anything will sail at 7.5 in 10-15 knots mate

Shaggybaxter please don't think my earlier comment were knocking your boat as i said it looks like a great boat it just looks to have much more enforces on racing rather than cruiser. Now southace's Adams and I am partial to an adams boat is a lot more cruiser and can race. Where something with that full keel is a more out straight cruiser . Horses for course's and in today's world if I had the money and was looking for something that could race competitive and do the Hobart plus some cruising would definitely be looking at a pogo.

G'day Twodogs,
No issue at all mate, I enjoy your posts.
Dralyagmas, here is a couple of pics to give you an idea mate.
[URL=.html] [/URL]
[URL=.html] [/URL]
This is the fuel tank area that Cisco was referring too.
[URL=.html] [/URL]

Twodogs, all respect but the Pogo is a cruising boat and definitely not a race boat.
I have sailed a few race boats.
As I have said previously, cruising multis just died the moment the pogo was launched and anyone else says how they have a good cruising boat , I just laugh at them.
The world has moved on, a LOT.

It is a fine looking vessel shaggybaxter.
Lydia I never said it looks like a straight race boat what I have said is it is much more a racer than cruiser.
Still plenty of cruising cats about and people who like multi hulls will always want multi hulls.

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lydia said..
Twodogs, all respect but the Pogo is a cruising boat and definitely not a race boat.
I have sailed a few race boats.
As I have said previously, cruising multis just died the moment the pogo was launched and anyone else says how they have a good cruising boat , I just laugh at them.
The world has moved on, a LOT.

Your kidding right? Multi sales are booming with a plethora of new models coming onto the market that are increasingly performance orientated, not just a block of flats Lagoon.

Shaggy, have a look at this vid and pause it at 1:15. This one looks like the spreaders are not swept back and it has a set of running back stays each side.

Is this the earlier version of your boat??

Edit:- Closer examination of the mast step and chain plate positions does indeed show that she has swept back spreaders but no boom bag and it think she has a topping lift.

Damned Pogos have got me fascinated!!

Obviously you have become quite obsessed, not sure if this vessel sited in the Bundaberg distillery reach is really a Pogo 30 though!! The rig looks completely wrong.

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Wander66 said..
Obviously you have become quite obsessed, not sure if this vessel sited in the Bundaberg distillery reach is really a Pogo 30 though!! The rig looks completely wrong.

Haha nice effort wanderer , but don't give up your current job for a new photo shop career !!

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shaggybaxter said..
G'day Twodogs,
No issue at all mate, I enjoy your posts.
Dralyagmas, here is a couple of pics to give you an idea mate.
[URL= .html]


Hi Shaggy

She is certainly a flash looking girl

You spoke at one stage about doing a Sydney Hobart, any update on that

Regards Don

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cisco said...

Shaggy, have a look at this vid and pause it at 1:15. This one looks like the spreaders are not swept back and it has a set of running back stays each side.

Is this the earlier version of your boat??

Edit:- Closer examination of the mast step and chain plate positions does indeed show that she has swept back spreaders but no boom bag and it think she has a topping lift.

Hi Cisco,
Are you referring to the Pogo 30 vid you posted earlier?
If so, the sales approach to the 30 is a fair bit different to the 12.50.
The 30 starts out with a base boat that has an alloy mast, and then you get a humungous options list, like fat head roached main, cf mast etc.
The 12.50 is the opposite and the base boat is loaded up with a minimal options list. For example, you cannot get an alloy mast with the 12.50. You can go above and beyond the options list, say for example backstays, that's the benefit in a made to order boat builder vs a production builder I suppose.

Hi Donk,
Yes, but not this year, the crew and planning aren't at that level yet.
I've been talking with a bunch of gurus of late to help me with my prep plan for a Hobart .
There is a surprising amount of detail that needs to go into a Hobart prep to mitigate blowing up gear and sails, and I'm still fitting all the knowledge together, this alone will prevent me from this years

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Wander66 said..
Obviously you have become quite obsessed, not sure if this vessel sited in the Bundaberg distillery reach is really a Pogo 30 though!! The rig looks completely wrong.

Sneaky bustard!!

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shaggybaxter said..
Hi Donk,
Yes, but not this year, the crew and planning aren't at that level yet.
I've been talking with a bunch of gurus of late to help me with my prep plan for a Hobart .
There is a surprising amount of detail that needs to go into a Hobart prep to mitigate blowing up gear and sails, and I'm still fitting all the knowledge together, this alone will prevent me from this years

Also according to Lydia a $100,000 expenditure to comply with safety and other rules for the race such as stability table among other things.

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shaggybaxter said..


Hi Cisco,
Are you referring to the Pogo 30 vid you posted earlier?
If so, the sales approach to the 30 is a fair bit different to the 12.50.
The 30 starts out with a base boat that has an alloy mast, and then you get a humungous options list, like fat head roached main, cf mast etc.
The 12.50 is the opposite and the base boat is loaded up with a minimal options list. For example, you cannot get an alloy mast with the 12.50. You can go above and beyond the options list, say for example backstays, that's the benefit in a made to order boat builder vs a production builder I suppose.

I suppose it would have helped if I actually posted the vid.

Here is the vid, it being last year's Trans Atlantic Race Pogo entry.

Cruiser/Racer?…may be timely to remind people of Web Chiles' latest (5 th +/- ?) circumnavigation…currently in or just left Durban, South Africa, after visiting Australia on his latest 'wrong way' round the world voyage. Is his Moore 24 the Pogo 12.5 of the 80's or vice versa…albeit in a much more compact form. Any of the Moore 24 videos on u-tube are just so entertaining! As are those of the Pogo…and for those hard core racers, Cisco's thread is 'Waking up on a Pogo', not 'Wanking up on a Pogo'!
Greg