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ALL AT SEA MAY 2015
ALL ABOARD By Jane Hyde
DO you love history? Turn to page 26 and you will find Natalie Draper’s fascinating story about her family’s Little Ship, Caronia. This boat’s extraordinary history varies from Radio Caroline to aiding a passenger liner. However, it is its role in 1940’s Operation Dynamo for which Caronia will be best remembered, helping to save hundreds of thousands of soldiers from the beaches of Dunkirk. This month marks the 75th anniversary of Operation Dynamo and Caronia will be taking part in the commemorative events. With the days getting longer and warmer, now is the time of year when many people decide to take up boating. If you are new to boating there are Push The Boat Out sessions taking place this month all around the country offering many different opportunities to get on the water. You will be able to experience sailing and windsurfing at ‘have a go’ taster events at sailing clubs and centres across the UK. Last year an amazing 24,000 people took part and it will be interesting to see what this year’s numbers are like. Let us know if you take part. I wonder how many of those at the Push The Boat Out days will be women? I say this because a recent BMF study showed that there has been a steady increase in female participation in boating since 2010 and it is now at 6.2 per cent of the population. This puts it at its joint highest since the study began in 2002. I did not need a survey to tell me us ladies love boating too, but
it is good to know that the increase in sailing activities for women, from courses to cruises, is bringing more females into the fantastic world of boats – both power and sail. If you are interested in being part of an article about women and boating – whether your link is work or pleasure - please drop me a line (editor@allatsea.co.uk). Do you have a bucket list? Apparently buying a holiday home, a trip to the Maldives and swimming with dolphins are all top of the average British person’s bucket list. I have done one of those things – I will let you guess which one though! Some of the other things that would be on my bucket list – if I had one – also featured in the top 40 things people would most like to do before they die. For example, I would love to drive Route 66, take a hot air balloon ride, write a novel and run a major race. A number of experiences listed are outdoor leisure pursuits, which is why I am sure taking part in the Round the Island Race is on many people’s bucket list. Almost 2,000 people enter each year, with many returning year after year. It is great events like this that create amazing memories, not to mention friendships. If this race, or any other race, is on your bucket list stop dawdling and sign up now. You will have a day you will never forget and it is one to tick off the list. Now, about buying that holiday home… editor@allatsea.co.uk
Ladies love boating IT is a great time for women interested in starting boating or developing their skills. A recent study by the BMF showed a steady increase in female participation in boating since 2010 and it is now at 6.2 per cent of the population. This is the joint highest figure since the study began in 2002. With more and more dedicated courses becoming available women have a fantastic choice of options open to them. For example, new from sailing and cruising holiday company Seafarer is a female only RYA yacht training programme based on Lefkas in the south Ionian in Greece. The courses covered are the RYA
Competent Crew and Day Skipper, which are usually taken over a week’s holiday. This gives visitors the opportunity to explore the Ionian islands as well as take the course. Up to five female students are on each tuition yacht along with a female instructor. Seven day RYA courses, available from April to November, with Seafarer Training in Greece start at £475 including the training, accommodation and provisions for breakfast and lunch. www.seafarerholidays.co.uk/ sailingschool Are you a female boater? Share your boating experiences with All at Sea. editor@allatsea.co.uk
RECORD BREAKING POWERBOAT FOR SALE
THOSE with a large bank balance and who love boating history have the chance to own a genuine piece of powerboat memorabilia. The 72ft Virgin Atlantic Challenger II has been put up for sale with Irish broker Performance Marine. Back in 1986 this 53-knot monohull shattered the transatlantic powerboat record when it crossed from New York to London in 80 hours 31 mins. The asking price of £725,000 is high, but is actually less than half of what Sir Richard Branson spent on the original build. The boat’s current owner, Dan Stevens,
came across Virgin Atlantic Challenger II in a Mallorca marina in 2011. Dan went on to spend three months renovating the powerboat, at a cost of more than £100,000, with the help of broker Brian Thornton and Eckie Rastig, who worked on the engine during the record-breaking transatlantic passage. Although modifications were kept to a minimum, one key upgrade has been made in the engine room. Even though she is nearing her 28th birthday, Virgin Atlantic Challenger II still has fewer than 1,000 engine hours on the clock.
Plymouth to be Transat host venue PLYMOUTH has won the bid to host the start of the next edition of The Transat on 8 May 2016. The 14th edition of this historic quadrennial solo transatlantic race began its life in 1960 (as OSTAR) and has transformed into one of the most important events on the professional racing calendar.
Image: Th.Martinez/Sea&Co
Councillor Peter Smith, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “We’ll be working to create a real regatta feel for the event and enlivening the Hoe, Barbican and Sutton Harbour with music, entertainment and much more for sailing enthusiasts, families and visitors to enjoy.”
The 2,800-mile race across the North Atlantic is renowned for wild storms and tough upwind conditions, icebergs and freezing fog in the final part, and can take between eight to nineteen days for all the boats to finish. www.thetransat.com