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ON THE WATERFRONT

Discover three standout marinas in this month’s spotlights, plus we take a closer look at how today’s marinas are redeﬁning the waterfront with diverse amenities, lifestyle experiences and a sense of community that extends far beyond berthing... STARTS ON PAGE 37

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“AMAZING” SUPPORT

Ahead of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, in her role as President of the Royal Yachting Association, visited the SailGP Tech Hub in Southampton to gain an insight into the world-leading engineering, technology and highly skilled workforce behind the racing.

Hosted by Sir Ben Ainslie, Team Principal and CEO of the Emirates GBR SailGP Team, RYA Chair Sir Michael Arthur and Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, The Princess Royal heard about SailGP’s rapid global growth, the championship’s investment in British innovation and engineering and the development of its expanding technology facilities in Southampton.

Her Royal Highness met SailGP athletes from Great Britain and across

the international ﬂeet, toured the Emirates GBR F50 race boat, explored the championship’s cutting-edge wing technology, experienced the SailGP simulator and saw ﬁrst-hand how billions of data points are used to enhance performance, o ciating and live television broadcast.

When it came to the racing, the 13 SailGP teams were split into two ﬂeets, with Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Italy, Denmark and Brazil in Group A and Sweden, Switzerland, USA, Germany, France and Emirates GBR in Group B.

Each group had three races on Saturday, with two more for each ﬂeet on Sunday – before the top four teams progressed to the winner-takes-all event ﬁnal.

On the opening day Portsmouth provided glamour conditions, that were as spectacular as they were demanding. Winds of around 30km/h, gusting even higher, combined with a building Solent chop to push crews to their limits as they raced with 18m wings, high-speed foils and rudders and six sailors onboard.

On day one of racing Emirates GBR made a spectacular comeback by securing a race win after ﬁnishing fourth and sixth in the ﬁrst two races. The Brits delighted the 10,000 fans who packed the grandstand on Southsea Common, when they nailed the start of the third race and led the group for all of the seven legs on the Solent.

Emirates GBR Driver Dylan Fletcher said: “We certainly feel extra pressure for our home event, especially after the ﬁrst couple of races. We know that performance was not what we are capable of and not what everyone came to see, so it felt good when we managed to execute in that last race when the pressure was at its highest.”

Emirates GBR Strategist Hannah Mills added: “The atmosphere was unreal. Looking up at the grandstand, it was jam packed, and to see 10,000 people there cheering us on was just the most amazing feeling.”

Day two did not go as planned with Emirates GBR finishing race four in fifth place while the last group race saw the team nail a strong start before disaster struck as they fell o the foils at the first mark and finished in sixth.

Dylan Fletcher said he was “disappointed” with the performance of

SCIENCE IN ACTION

Students

his team, as the Brits ended the event in 11th place. Dylan recognised that while the team was unhappy with its performance, the support and atmosphere from the home fans was still “amazing”.

“The fans have been amazing, despite us not delivering the result they wanted. It was amazing to see such a strong crowd out this weekend, with a huge grandstand and fantastic conditions on the Solent. It was great to see that side of things and all the kids with their t-shirts on, so a huge thanks to everyone for coming, and hopefully we have inspired the next generation a little bit.”

Spain took the event win after fending o Sweden, Switzerland and Canada.

Emirates GBR is now ﬁfth on the 2026 Season leaderboard with Australia, Spain and Sweden sitting in the top positions.

Hannah Mills said the team was ready to put in the work to get back into the top three as they look towards the Grand Final at the end of the season.

Next the Rolex SailGP Championship heads to Germany for the second iteration of the ROCKWOOL Germany Sail Grand Prix | Sassnitz, 22 - 23 August.

Stuart Bithell, wing trimmer of Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team

Emirates GBR SailGP team development sailor Kai Hockley, who has been involved with the 1851 Trust as part of the Athena Pathway Programme, joined the sessions as well, taking to the water with students and getting hands-on with the STEM and careers activities.

Ben Ainslie said: “I did not ﬁnd STEM subjects easy at school. What I did not realise was that every time I stepped onto a boat, I was using maths and science in everything I did. Once I saw science in action and how it worked beyond the textbook, I understood it. That is why we set up the 1851 Trust.

“Portsmouth is where our story began, and bringing young people back onto the water here is incredibly important to us. You cannot become what you cannot imagine, and we want every young person to have the chance to step into the world behind the sport, discover that science is already theirs and realise what they are capable of.”

Alongside the live programme, the 1851 Trust engaged 400 students through school assemblies, showcasing real-world careers with team members from Emirates GBR SailGP team and the British America’s Cup team, GB1, introducing students to the people and ideas shaping the future of their sport.

More than 200 secondary school students took to the water in Portsmouth as the 1851 Trust returned to the city where its story began, delivering four days of hands-on science, sailing and careers experiences ahead of the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix.

STEM Crew Live used the excitement of SailGP to bring science to life, giving young people the chance to explore the technology, teamwork and innovation behind the sport. Students from Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight took part in sailing, practical science challenges and careers activities at the Andrew

Simpson Foundation, using Portsmouth’s waterfront as their classroom.

were joined by the 1851 Trust’s founder, Sir Ben Ainslie (pictured), whose own experience of discovering science through sailing inspired him to establish the charity more than a decade ago.

HRH The Princess Royal is shown the controls of the F50 in the team hangar by Dylan Fletcher, driver of Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team, and

Although the shoulder seasons are increasingly popular with travellers seeking to beat peak summer crowds, avoid extreme heat and secure better rates on ﬂights and accommodation, for many of us the summer – and particularly August – is our favourite time to go on holiday.

In the news pages you can read about Sunsail's new ‘Odyssey’ Le as bareboat itinerary. This is sure to become a popular choice not least after Sunsail featured in The Odyssey with Dan Snow – a documentary on Channel 5 visiting key locations across the Ionian while retracing parts of Odysseus’ journey. And, of course, you might well have already see The Odyssey, the epic fantasy action ﬁlm which has been receiving rave reviews this summer.

Travel inspiration of a very di erent kind can come from the places you have already visited and the books they remind you of, be it a connected view, adventure or memory.

On page 20 Jane McMorland Hunter shares some of her favourite books that remind her of summers spent on Jersey. Enter to win her new book, Bedside Companion to the Sea, too.

We also have tickets to the Southampton International Boat Show to give away, plus we have a special o er to buy discounted tickets. Find out about both these along with a preview of next month’s show starting on page 23.

Don’t miss the September issue when we will bring you our annual Southampton International Boat Show special guide, which will be packed with information about the event from boats on the marina to the Wooden Boat Stage and the entertainment line-up.

With many of us considering a boat purchase at the show, or in the next few months, we asked Nick Ogden, Performance Marine Group Chairman, to look at the future of boat ownership.

And, staying with ownership, this month Ancasta is looking

SAILING LIKE IT’S 1968 ....................16

Looking ahead to the start of September's

Celebrating Cowes’

If there is one immediately identiﬁable icon in the world of dinghy sailing then it has to be the Merlin Rocket, a class celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.

LITERARY BEACHES

Jane McMorland Hunter shares her favourite books inspired by summers spent on Jersey, plus enter to win a copy of her new book Bedside Companion to the Sea.

BOAT SEA FISHING ZONE ................ 22

Kayak or small ﬁshing boat - which is best for you? Plus this month's winning catch photo.

SHOW TIME IN SOUTHAMPTON 23

We look ahead to next month’s big show taking place in Southampton!

COMPETITION .............................. 26

Win a pair of tickets to the Southampton International Boat Show.

SHOOTIN’ THE BREEZE .................. 27 …with Andy and Miriam Goddard, from Andark Diving & Watersports, which is celebrating 50 years.

HOT TOPIC ................................... 28

Nick Ogden, Performance Marine Group Chairman, considers the future of boat ownership.

at VAT, which is one of the more complex - and often misunderstood - aspects of buying a boat in the UK. Turn to page 29 to read this interesting feature.

Back to events and ahead of the Southampton International Boat Show, early September sees the start of the 2026 Golden Globe Race. At the time of writing there are two British entrants, Ertan Beskardes and Henry Wootton. We are looking forward to following them and will be bringing you up-dates as the race unfolds, but ahead of the start you can ﬁnd out about this, and the previous editions, on page 16.

Lastly a mention for the Sailing Through Royal History exhibition and the Maritime Heritage Trail. If you are in Cowes this month be sure to pay a visit (see page 17 to read more about them).

Enjoy the issue and your time on the water this month!

BOAT BUYING AND VAT .................. 29

Whether purchasing a new yacht or pre-owned, understanding VAT is critical, as Ancasta’s Stuart Brotherton explains.

Win one of three men-ü “It’s in the bag!” ultra concentrate toiletry ranges worth £138 each.

ONBOARD WITH BOATSHED ........... 30

Sometimes the destination is not over the horizon, sometimes you are already there.

CRUISING ASSOCIATION ................ 31

The Cruising Association's new guide to the Standing Mast Routes in the Netherlands.

PUZZLE PAGE ................................32

Try your hand at this month’s puzzles.

PETS AFLOAT ............................... 34

By Jane Hyde

Cowes Week is one of the oldest and largest sailing regattas in the world, and this year marks the 200year anniversary of racing on the Solent.

To celebrate, we’re giving away a piece of Adelphi UV clothing with every Atlas 190 Life Jacket purchase at our dedicated Cowes retailers.

Grab yours up and stay protected on the water this summer. Terms and conditions apply.

#livebeyondland

200 YEARS OF COWES WEEK

Richardsons Chandlery

Address: Thetis Wharf, Medina Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7BX Phone: 01983 821095

Pascal Atkey & Son

Address: 30 High Street, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7RX Phone: 01983 292381

SAILING THE ODYSSEY

Sunsail, which featured in The Odyssey with Dan Snow – a recent documentary on Channel 5, has launched a Le as bareboat itinerary inspired by the journey.

The seven-day ‘Odyssey’ Le as Itinerary, shaped around the Ionian waters linked to Homer’s Odyssey, sails from Le as to Meganisi, Ithaca, Agios Nikolaos and Sivota, combining easy passages, clear water, quiet anchorages, sea caves and harbour villages along the way.

The new itinerary follows Sunsail’s collaboration with historian and broadcaster Dan Snow (pictured) and the History Hit team, who travelled to Le as to ﬁlm the documentary. Dan and the team sailed aboard the Sunsail 424 and Sunsail 44.4, visiting key locations across the Ionian while retracing parts of Odysseus’ journey from Troy into open water.

Dan Snow, Founder and Creative Director of History Hit, said: “One of the joys of ﬁlming the documentary was experiencing the Ionian as it was always meant to be explored – by sea.

"Sailing allows you to appreciate the islands, coastlines and hidden anchorages

in a completely di erent way. Sunsail’s new itinerary gives people the opportunity to experience that for themselves, combining the freedom of sailing with the chance to connect with one of the greatest stories ever told.”

A two-part documentary featuring more detail on Dan’s voyage with Sunsail is also available on History Hit’s subscription service. This comes as Homer’s Odyssey returns to the spotlight, with a major new ﬁlm adaptation from Christopher Nolan also bringing the story to a wider audience.

Eleni Skarveli, Director UK & Ireland for the Greek National Tourism Organisation, said: “Few journeys have captured the imagination of travellers as profoundly as Odysseus’ voyage home to Ithaca.

"The Ionian Islands o er visitors the rare opportunity to sail through landscapes where myth, history and nature intertwine, transforming one of the world’s greatest epics by Homer into an authentic travel experience. Ithaca is not simply a destination, it is a reminder that the true value of every journey lies in the discoveries we make along the way.”

RETURN TO RACING GLORY

(GBR 192),

by The

Britannia’s charitable trust, along with her helm Graham Bailey, has surged to the top of the Dragon Class 2026 International Ranking List, marking a stunning new chapter in Bluebottle’s 79-year history. Supporting Graham is Bluebottle’s race crew: Julia Bailey, Will Bedford and Killian Boag.

The breakthrough moment came with Team Bluebottle’s victory at the Finnish National Championship in Helsinki. Heritage vessel Bluebottle has now re-established herself as a dominant force, competing –and winning – against modern ﬁbreglass yachts on the global stage.

This achievement follows investment by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust who meticulously restored and maintain Bluebottle within their ﬂeet of former Royal racing yachts. The comprehensive reﬁt

was carried out by David Heritage Racing Yachts in Cowes, which returned the classic wooden Dragon to full racing condition.

Built in 1948 by Camper and Nicholsons, Bluebottle was presented as a wedding gift to Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip by the Island Sailing Club, Isle of Wight. In 1956, the yacht was loaned to the British sailing team for the Melbourne Olympic Games where, under Lt Cdr Graham Mann, it secured a bronze medal – the only Olympic medal ever won by a British Dragon.

Graham Bailey said: “We love racing Bluebottle. It is always an absolute privilege and joy to put her up against the best teams on the international circuit but sometimes you must pinch yourself; achieving current world number one ranking is one of those moments.”

Franck Bruyère, Chief Executive O cer of The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, said:

“A longstanding ambition of the Trust has been to reunite the former Royal sailing yachts Bluebottle, Coweslip and Bloodhound – Britannia’s historic sailing ﬂeet. In recent years, all three have come under our care and are beneﬁting from investment and specialist expertise.”

“Reaching the top of the Dragon class rankings is an incredibly proud moment and a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved. The Trust remains committed to supporting our Royal sailing ﬂeet and investing in its future.”

Team Bluebottle went on to ﬁnish fourth in the 2026 Dragon European Championship, where many of the world’s leading Dragon class teams came together, and still tops the international Dragon rankings.

Turn to page 17 to read more.

A TRIBUTE TO THE WATERS OF THE SOUTH COAST

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars’ Phantom Regatta is a one-of-one Phantom Extended commission which pays tribute to the racing yachts of the South Coast and to the regattas they contest on the Solent – among them the historic Cowes Week.

These stretches of water, together with neighbouring Chichester Harbour, are visible from the Goodwood Estate, where the car was unveiled during the Goodwood Festival of Speed. They are also bound to the marque’s co-founder, Sir Henry Royce, whose beloved home, Elmstead, is in the coastal village of West Wittering, just eight miles away from the marque’s present-day headquarters.

The exterior of the Phantom Regatta is ﬁnished in Regatta Blue, a deep marine tone, over a lower body of English White, applied as a hand-laid two-tone treatment that recalls the line where a yacht’s hull meets the water.

The interior colourway evokes a yacht under full sail: deep blue water below, with white canvas above. The front is appointed

in Navy Blue leather; the rear suite is ﬁnished in Grace White, suggesting sailcloth and wake.

The centrepiece of the interior is a hand-painted Gallery artwork, which extends across the full width of Phantom Regatta. The piece, named Watercolour, was created by the marque’s in-house artist using specially developed paints on an open-pore wooden substrate. To capture the movement of waves and open water, the artist created a new blending technique, reﬁned over two weeks across numerous test panels as colours and application methods were trialled and adjusted to match their vision for a faithful interpretation of the sea.

Phil Fabre de la Grange, Head of Bespoke, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, said: “Phantom Regatta is the work of our designers, engineers and craftspeople at the home of Rolls-Royce at Goodwood, inspired by the waters on their doorstep. It brings the spirit of yachting – its colours, materials and sense of speed – into the calm of a Phantom Extended.”

Image: Helen Pugh Photography

Bluebottle

the historic Royal racing yacht cared for

Royal Yacht

Image: Ryan Sosna Bowd

Image: Rolls-Royce Motor Cars

SAIL TRAINING REVIEW

The UK’s sail training sector delivered more than 47,000 days at sea in 2025, according to a review published by the Association of Sail Training Organisations, highlighting both the scale of the sector and the rising need for structured, skillsbased experiences at sea.

Representing more than 30 organisations with charitable aims, operating more than 60 vessels, ASTO’s members provide residential sail training experiences that combine practical seamanship, teamwork and shared responsibility at sea.

Kerry McMillan, Chief Executive of ASTO, said: “The need for sail training is increasing, particularly among young people who lack opportunities to build conﬁdence and valuable life skills.

This review demonstrates the scale of what the sector already delivers, and the importance of sustaining capacity across the UK ﬂeet.”

The review comes at a time of increasing need, with over one million young people in the UK estimated to be not in education, employment or training (NEET). Sail training organisations are responding by providing accessible routes into structured, skills-based development through partnerships with schools, charities and open-access programmes.

For some participants, these experiences open the door to a potential career in the maritime sector, with ASTO providing training bursaries to help them take the next step.

The review also highlights ASTO’s role in representing the sector nationally, engaging with regulators, policymakers and partners to support safe operations and long-term sustainability of the sector.

With need continuing to rise, the review identiﬁes ongoing challenges around capacity, resourcing and access. ASTO is calling for greater collaboration across the maritime, youth and policy sectors to ensure more people can beneﬁt from sail training opportunities in the future.

Vice Admiral Sir Jerry Kyd KBE, President of ASTO, said: “For so many young, disadvantaged and disabled people, sail training has given them an opportunity to experience something very di erent, and we know from direct evidence and experience that it improves their lives for the better and, importantly, for the long-term. For young people facing mental health challenges, for those who struggle in traditional education settings and for disabled people.”

70 YEARS APPEAL

Tall Ships Youth Trust, the UK’s oldest and largest youth development sail training charity, has o cially launched its 70th anniversary appeal.

This comes at a time when today’s young people are facing unprecedented challenges, from mental health pressures and deep social isolation to ﬁnancial hardship.

Since it ﬁrst set sail in 1956, the charity has welcomed more than 125,000 young people onboard, covering more than two million nautical miles. Yet, as the Trust celebrates seven decades of youth development on the ocean, it warns that the barriers facing the next generation are increasingly rising. Public support is urgently required to ensure these life-changing voyages remain accessible to all young people, no matter their background or ﬁnancial circumstances.

The ‘70 Years Appeal’ showcases the profound, long-term impact of a single week at sea through a remarkable 14year journey of transformation. Growing

SNAPS

THIS TIME IN 2010…

We are going all the way back to 2010 when All at Sea had a very di erent look (but the same great boating news and features)!

up in a community marked by poverty, Elouise had never been on holiday and could never imagine herself doing something like sailing. Feeling trapped by her circumstances, she was o ered a life-changing TSYT bursary at 19-yearsold. It gave her the opportunity to step outside her comfort zone and onto the water. Away from everyday pressures, she found a crew, a purpose and a strength she did not know she had.

Today, Elouise is a serving Royal Navy Sailor, and she credits the charity with completely altering the course of her future: “Sailing changed my life. It opened the world up for me. It made me realise that actually these things are possible for a kid growing up with not a lot of money.”

The public is being asked to back the campaign through inviting supporters to give a special anniversary gift of £70, or whatever they can donate. Every 70 gifts of £70 would help fund three lifechanging youth development voyages. tallships.org/appeal/70-years-appeal

This lovely cover picture was taken at the British Classic Yacht Club Panerai Cowes Regatta, which took place just days before the start of Cowes Week, which we were also previewing in the same issue with a pullout special. The Cowes Week fireworks return this year after an absence of seven years and, interestingly, in 2010 the £50,000 fireworks were paid for by an anonymous donor who loved both the regatta and fireworks! You can find many past issues of All at Sea at www. allatsea.co.uk/all-at-sea-the-paper

SMART LAYERING

Competitive sailors and weekend warriors alike face the same dilemma: how to stay warm and protected without feeling like an oversized marshmallow. The traditional answer was single-bulk clothing. However, these heavy wetsuits or sti spray tops restrict the agility needed. Built on the philosophy of ‘smart layering’, Rooster Sailing’s latest high-performance range is anchored by the ultra-low proﬁle Diamond Overhead Buoyancy Aid (£85) and the ergonomically mapped Technical Shorts 2.0 (£89) – designed to eliminate movement restriction.

POWERBOAT RACER RELIVES RACING DAYS

Kim, a retired powerboat racer, was reunited with his beloved boat and former racers to fulﬁl a special wish.

Kim, who lives in Castle Dene care home in Bournemouth, operated by not-forproﬁt charity Care South, spoke to the care home about his former life on the waves which saw him take part in many o shore powerboat racing championships before retiring from competition in 1989. In response, Castle Dene arranged for Kim to attend Round 2 of the UK O shore Powerboat Racing’s ‘Poole Bay 100’ event, where he sat in on the driver’s brieﬁng and met the operations team.

Danielle Strawford, Events Operations Manager at UKOPRA, said: “It was lovely to welcome Kim, his family and the Castle Dene team to meet our current racing teams and get to look around many boats including the Unipart boat that he raced in for many events. Although Kim retired years ago, we will always welcome back one of our own. It was lovely to see him reconnecting with the sport while sharing his memories with the next generation of racing teams.”

Kim also looked around a range of boats including the 31ft wooden Unipart catamaran that he raced for many years which was berthed at Poole Quay Boat

Haven, as teams prepared to head out to the Muster area. Afterwards Kim, his family and the Castle Dene team went to Bournemouth Pier to watch the race.

Kim said: “It was the best day ever. I made so many happy new memories with my family.”

The visit was arranged as part of Care South’s ‘Make a Wish’ initiative, which encourages residents to share hobbies and passions they once enjoyed but are now unable to pursue without the home’s support. The care home team then works to bring the special wishes to life.

WATERSPORTS FESTIVAL

Andark marked its 50th anniversary with a Watersports Festival, welcoming hundreds of visitors for three days of activities, demonstrations and family fun.

Bathed in glorious sunshine, the festival brought together the local community, watersports enthusiasts, families and industry partners to celebrate ﬁve decades of Andark’s passion for adventure, education and the water.

Visitors enjoyed talks from industry experts, yoga sessions and sound baths,

while leading brands showcased equipment and innovations.

Families embraced the festival atmosphere with activities including a diving treasure hunt, try dives in the pool and try snorkelling in the lake, parent and child swimming sessions, stand-up paddleboard challenges and inﬂatable fun on the water.

Miriam Goddard, MD of Andark, said: “Celebrating 50 years of Andark was about so much more than marking a milestone – it was about bringing people together and celebrating the incredible community that has grown around us over the past ﬁve decades.

“Our community has always been at the heart of everything we do, and events like this help strengthen those connections, welcome new people into the watersports family and ensure that spirit continues for the next 50 years.”

Read Shootin’ the Breeze with Andark’s Andy and Miriam Goddard on page 27.

ANCASTA’S SUMMER BLAST

Ancasta’s Summer Blast customer boating event raised more than £6,000 for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, adding to their long-standing partnership, while bringing together owners, friends and families for a memorable weekend on and o the water.

Held at Lymington Town Sailing Club, the two-day event welcomed more than 100 members of Ancasta’s growing owner community onboard a ﬂeet of sailing yachts, catamarans and motor boats.

The weekend also marked the o cial launch of Ancasta’s new partnership with Goslings Rum, with guests enjoying the Bermudian producer’s signature Dark ‘n Stormy® cocktails.

The event included informal racing on the Solent for sailing yacht owners, welcome drinks, a barbecue, live music and a charity auction for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust.

Representatives from the Trust attended onboard its new Beneteau Oceanis 47, Peter Pan. The yacht has been made possible thanks to long-term supporter, Peter A. Norrie (PAN). Peter has always been inspired by the creator of Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie, who gifted all his royalties to the Great Ormond Street Hospital for children.

Peter similarly has supported the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust over many years.

Talking about the event, Stuart Brotherton, Sales Director at Ancasta, said: “We were

delighted to see so many of our owners join us and enjoy a fantastic weekend on the water.

Buying a boat with Ancasta may seem like the end of the journey, but it is the beginning of a new adventure and membership of a thriving boating community. Creating opportunities for owners to connect, share experiences and build lasting friendships is an important part of what we do.”

Ancasta’s next customer rally takes place in Mallorca from 9 - 12 August. This Ancasta Motorboat Club cruise culminates with front row seats to the ﬁrst total solar eclipse in over a century.

Read Stuart Brotherton's boat buying and VAT advice on page 29.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIG AT BUCKLER’S HARD

From 20 July – 7 August the Buckler’s Hard Shipyard Trust is partnering with the Maritime Archaeology Trust and local volunteers to continue the work of surveying the historic village slipways and shipyard.

Last year the dig featured on the BBC’s Digging for Britain series 13, episode 3, which is still available on BBC iPlayer. Following on from last year’s dig the team hope to ﬁnd more in the lower intertidal area of slipway 2 as well as the locations

of a building and shipyard Capstan positions.

A team of volunteers will be digging both in the land as well as divers working in the Beaulieu River at the lowest part of the slipway. A team of Army divers from 17 Port and Maritime Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (RLC) from Marchwood, Southampton will be joining the archaeologists to assist and train in river diving operations.

It is hoped that the remaining structures will shine new light

on our understanding of the historic shipyard where 55 ships were built for the Royal Navy between 1744 and 1815.

Lauren Tisbury, from the Maritime Archaeology Trust, said: “No other private yard built as many ships for the Royal Navy during this period, and this makes it uniquely suited for learning about traditional shipbuilding due to its remarkable survival. At Buckler’s Hard, you can actually see the whole of the infrastructure

needed to build ships of that size, all set in the perfectly preserved 18th century village.”

There will be a free exhibition in the Dig Tent telling the story of the shipyard which will include last year’s artefacts and any newly discovered items. After the dig, the area will be backfilled to protect the structure, and work will be done to record and conserve the artefacts.

Turn to page 40 to read our Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour Marina Focus.

Image: Ryan Sosna Bowd

Kim pictured with the Unipart catamaran that he used to race

▲ Kim pictured in his racing days with the Unipart team

Image: Bucklers Hard Shipyard Trust

GRADUATES LAUNCH THEIR BOATS

The latest graduates from the Boat Building Academy (BBA) launched their new boats into the sea at Lyme Regis.

The 16-strong cohort enrolled at the college in September 2025 and together have built an 18ft traditional clinker double ender commissioned by the family of student George Snellgrove; a 16ft glued clinker, cutter-rigged sailing dinghy, based on Francois Vivier’s Ebihen design commissioned by student John Piper and a 17ft strip-planked Gartside runabout powered by a 30hp outboard motor, commissioned by student Gordon Gray.

Also on display was a 16ft composite foam-core and glued clinker lightweight dinghy, a hybrid design, by BBA tutor Justin Adkins, which was worked on by all the students.

Drawing interest as well was the 18ft Hillyard 2.5-ton ga

sloop Decibel, which was built in 1935 and bequeathed to the BBA last year by the estate of its late owner, Richard Coleman, whose last wish was that his beloved boat should be restored by students.

Students on the course have completely replanked and reframed Decibel ready for the next cohort to take her onwards. Her restoration will span three courses in total, before she features in the next BBA launch –on 3 December.

One of those on the course was retired racing car driver John Piper, who swapped horsepower for sail power. John was a designer for motor racing giants Williams and Benetton in the 1970s and played a key role in the creation of legendary competition cars such as the Metro 6R4 and Jaguar XJR. He also helped to set diesel-powered speed records at Bonneville, which still stand today.

John said: “It has been a learning curve working with wood instead of metal, but it is a challenge I have enjoyed very much. It was great to ﬁnally put Jupiter in the water with some of my fellow students. I had a great team helping me and when I think about the start of the course, and what we have all gone on to achieve it is pretty amazing.”

Director and Trustee, Will Reed said: “Another incredible launch on a blisteringly hot day. Three beautiful new boats combined with the ﬂat sea and gentle breeze made for fantastic sailing after 40-weeks of hard work from our latest cohort.

“This team of graduating students takes our total to 293 boats and more importantly 676 boat builders launched over the past 29 years. Many of the students already have jobs or trials set up with top boat yards around the country.”

WINNING READERS

Congratulations to June’s competition winners. Amelia Norris, from Bedfordshire, won a copy of Amphibious Warfare Post WWI and A Life Under Sail: The Aquatic Adventures of a Royal Marine. Emma Norris, Berkshire, won a Men’s Taku Waterproof Jacket courtesy of Mustang Survival. This month’s competitions can be found on pages 20, 26 and 30.

FESTIVAL SPONSOR

Haven Knox-Johnston is the sponsor of the Midweek Series at the 2026 Largs Regatta Festival. Running from 21 - 30 August, the festival encourages dinghy sailors, keelboat crews and catamaran racers to get out on the water for one of the Clyde’s best-loved sailing events. The Haven Knox-Johnston Midweek Series takes place from 25 - 27 August and is open to both dinghies and keelboats. largsregattafestival.com

YOUTH RACING

Applications are open for the RYA Eric Twiname Youth & Junior Team Racing Championships 2026, organised by the RYA in partnership with the Eric Twiname Trust. Taking place at Oxford Sailing Club, over 10 - 11 October, the annual championship brings together youth teams from sailing clubs, schools and organisations for a weekend of fast-paced racing, teamwork and plenty of fun ashore.

HERITAGE PADDLE

After four days, 44nm and more than 22 hours of paddling, kayaker, diver and maritime heritage advocate Alex Denny completed his South Coast Shipwreck Heritage Paddle. The expedition took Alex from his home in Brighton along one of Britain’s most historically signiﬁcant stretches of coastline to Fort Cumberland, near Portsmouth to raise awareness of the Nautical Archaeology Society. Funds raised will help the NAS continue its work protecting maritime heritage through archaeological research, education programmes, volunteer training, community outreach and conservation initiatives.

SKILLS BOOTCAMP

A practical training programme helping people move into highdemand marine careers is launching its ﬁfth cohort. Starting on 5 September, the Marine Electrician Skills Bootcamp gives eligible adults aged 19+ a fast, focused route into specialist marine electrical skills, while helping employers recruit new talent and upskill existing sta . Registrations are open to eligible people living or working in the Solent region, particularly those with electrical, mechanical, engineering or similar practical backgrounds.

HMS COLOSSUS DIVE TRAIL REVITALISED

▲ Divers examining a cannon standing proud on the seabed

Licensed divers and armchair explorers alike can visit the Protected Wreck Site of HMS Colossus, following improvements to the underwater dive trail.

HMS Colossus was a 74-gun Royal Navy warship built at Gravesend, Kent, in 1787. During its 11-year service, HMS Colossus saw action at Toulon, Groix, Cape St. Vincent and Cadiz. In December 1798, while sheltering from a storm o the Isles of Scilly, the ship’s anchor cable gave way and it was driven onto shallow ground o Samson, the largest uninhabited island o the south-western tip of the Cornish peninsula. All but one of the 595 people onboard were rescued. HMS Colossus later broke apart, scattering its remains across the seabed.

Historic England commissioned volunteer divers from Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Maritime Archaeology Society to refurbish the trail, helping make the site more accessible to both visiting divers and virtual audiences. The team cleared marine growth from archaeological features, including cannons, rudder ﬁttings and hull

timbers and installed new dive stations. They also assessed the condition of the wreck site and produced new photography and video footage to showcase the wreck and its rich marine environment.

Heﬁn Meara, Maritime Archaeologist at Historic England, said: “The diver trail at HMS Colossus o ers a great opportunity to explore the remains of an 18th-century warship, with timbers, cannons and other features still visible on the seabed.”

The refurbished trail features two circular routes taking in the major features of the wreck with numbered seabed stations and an improved waterproof guide. Clear waters, abundant marine life and well-preserved remains make the site one of England’s most rewarding heritage dives. Cannon can be seen standing almost upright on the seabed, having crashed through the gun port when the ship turned on its side.

Kevin Camidge, Archaeologist at Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Maritime Archaeology Society, said: “If you only dive on one historic wreck site, make it this one. To swim along the line of cannons standing upright on the seabed with their muzzles buried in the sand, still within their gunports, is a unique experience.”

For those unable to visit in person, an interactive virtual tour mirrors the underwater trail, combining detailed 3D models, dive footage and photography to bring HMS Colossus to life.

HMS Colossus is one of England’s 57 Protected Wreck Sites. It has been granted the highest level of protection under the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973, This means that only licenced divers can visit it. Historic England welcomes applications for licences.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Registration for the 2026 Youth Sailing World Championships has already exceeded 400 sailors - from 65 nationsacross all classes.

The elite of youth sailing will be returning to Marina de Vilamoura, in Loulé, Portugal, host of the 2025 edition, from 15 - 19 December, with 11 events in male, female and mixed categories – following a similar format to Olympic sailing where all sailors compete on a level playing ﬁeld across all events.

David Graham, World Sailing CEO, said: “The popularity of the Youth Sailing World Championship is incredibly positive for

RS BRANDING ADDED

The 2000 Class Association has announced that the class will o cially adopt the ‘RS’ branding of manufacturer RS Sailing into its logo and class identity.

As part of this, the class will move forward with new boats being branded as RS2000, replacing the previous ‘2000’ class designation.

The move reﬂects a long-standing and successful relationship between the Class Association and RS Sailing, which acquired the build ownership and manufacturing rights for the 2000 in 2013. Over that time, the 2000 has continued to establish itself as one of the UK’s most versatile and popular double-handed dinghies. While highly

regarded on the race circuit, the boat has also become a favourite among families looking for a stable and enjoyable cruising boat for weekend adventures, as well as an established training platform for sailing centres and institutions.

The Class Association has emphasised that the 2000 Class Association will remain an independent organisation, separate from RS Sailing, in the same way as the other independent class associations supported by the manufacturer. The Class Association will also remain as the members’ organisation for previous versions of the class under the Laser 2000 and LDC 2000 titles.

LIMITED EDITION DINGHY

Performance Sailcraft has unveiled the Kirby Laser 30© – a limited-edition ILCA dinghy celebrating 30 years of Laser sailing in the Olympics.

The Kirby Laser 30© was created in recognition of the late Bruce Kirby, whose original Laser design transformed global dinghy sailing by establishing one of the most successful one-design classes ever built.

Over the past 30 years, the Laser, more recently renamed the ILCA, has become synonymous with Olympic sailing success, serving as the pathway for generations of athletes competing at the very highest level of the sport. Timed to mark the anniversary of the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games, the launch celebrates three

decades of Olympic competition in one of the most widely sailed classes in the history of the sport, with the Laser having featured in eight consecutive Olympic Games. Each boat features a graphic of Bruce Kirby’s signature alongside insignia representing the Olympic colours and the names of all the medallists. The Kirby Laser 30© is a fully race-ready ILCA dinghy available across ILCA 4, ILCA 6 and ILCA 7 conﬁgurations, supporting sailors from youth development through to elite competition.

A donation from the sale of each dinghy will be made to the Lupus Foundation, a charity chosen by Margo Kirby, wife of the late Bruce Kirby, in memory of their daughter, Kelly.

the sport. As the premier youth event in our sport, this is a key part of the journey for young sailors, and just over two years out from the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, many competitors will be hoping to impress and earn the opportunity to represent their nation.”

For more than 50 years, the Youth Sailing World Championships have been the pinnacle of youth sailing performance, providing the global stage for future sailing stars to shine and becoming a major stepping stone for many world and Olympic champions.

Image: Ryan Sosna Bowd

▲ 2025 Youth Sailing World Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal

Cornell’s World Voyage Planner 4th edition

Planning a Voyage from Anywhere in the World to Anywhere in the World

By Jimmy and Ivan Cornell

£50

| Flexiback | Adlard Coles

Designed to be used in conjunction with World Cruising Routes and World Cruising Destinations, World Voyage Planner provides practical guidance on all topics related to developing the right cruising strategy and is an essential resource for anyone contemplating an extended voyage, as well as for those planning to undertake one at some point in the future.

Floating Through France

Cruising the Inland Waterways to the Med

By Kerry Buchanan and Fraser Buchanan

£22

| Bloomsbury Publishing

This is a guide to taking your boat through the French canals to the fabulous cruising grounds of the Mediterranean. It is also the story of two ordinary people and their entertaining tale of mishaps: knots that untie themselves and Camargue mosquitoes that bite through jeans – all in pursuit of a dream. The prize was the azure waters of the Med, but ﬁrst they had to navigate cold, tidal northern waters, followed by weeks of locks and lifting bridges, where a ‘good day’ meant only one lock broke, and the éclusier was not far away.

“EXCEPTIONAL RACE”

This year’s ‘exceptional’ Round the Island Race has been hailed as one of the best in years.

Over 800 boats gathered at the Royal Yacht Squadron line for the 95th edition of the iconic race. With thousands of spectators lining the shores and the iconic Needles providing a breathtaking backdrop, the race once again showcased why it remains one of the world’s most celebrated yacht races.

Dave Atkinson, Race Director, said:

“It was an amazing day and an exceptional race. I never get tired of the sight of so many boats assembled on the start line, but this year’s felt particularly special. It was just a glorious day, and everyone came o the water feeling a real buzz of being part of such a great race.

“There were some tricky seas, particularly at The Needles, and some serious tacking required o St Catherine’s, but Round the Island is about giving our sailors a great test, and this year’s race did that too. A huge thank

you to everyone who took part and we really hope to see you back next year.”

In glorious sunshine and near-perfect conditions, Pace crossed the ﬁnish line ﬁrst. The Fast 40, owned by Jonny Vincent, crossed the line in an elapsed time of 06:32:39.

Jonny said: “Great day, beautiful sunshine and what a way to ﬁnish the race. It was hard work going down the mainland shore at the start, and there was a really funky bit around The Needles, which was a bit tricky. We stayed pretty close to the island shore, but had a fantastic day, and we loved it.”

Around 100 trophies were handed out to competitors across multiple classes. Tattarat, skippered and owned by Simon Moss, was ﬁrst overall in the IRC Class, winning the coveted Gold Roman Bowl. 17-year-old Will Reeve, who only bought his boat, Innuendo, in July, won the Round the Island Race Young Sailor Trophy, sponsored by B&G, with his crew. Set the date for next year – 10 July!

MAST REMOVAL

Work to remove the masts from the SS Richard Montgomery will begin in early September, marking a signiﬁcant milestone in the long-term management of the historic wreck, which contains around 1,400 tonnes of wartime explosives.

The operation will involve constructing an underwater platform to allow specialist maritime engineers to cut the three masts over the course of several weeks. Once removed, the masts will be sent to The Historic Dockyard Chatham where they can be properly preserved.

They will then go on to be displayed somewhere locally meaning an important piece of Anglo-American maritime history will be preserved for future generations – telling the infamous story of the American Liberty ship that ran aground in the Thames Estuary in 1944 while carrying munitions to support the Allied War e ort.

zone, has been subject to continuous monitoring and extensive technical assessment since it sank in 1944. The exclusion zone around the wreck will remain in place after the masts have been removed. Subject to weather conditions, the work is expected to ﬁnish by the end of September.

Deputy CEO of Chatham Historical Dockyard Trust, Paul Barnard, said: “The masts of the SS Richard Montgomery have become a familiar landmark for generations of people living around Medway and Swale. Yet their signiﬁcance extends far beyond the Thames Estuary. They are an internationally important reminder of the Allied war e ort during the Second World War.

The shipwreck, which lies in the Thames Estuary 1.5 miles o Sheerness and is surrounded by an exclusion

“The masts will become part of a live conservation project at the Historic Dockyard Chatham, giving visitors a rare opportunity to watch specialist conservation in action while learning more about the extraordinary story of the SS Richard Montgomery.”

within the beautiful surroundings of Chichester Harbour, Birdham Pool Waterside & Marina is the perfect spot – with still waters, loads of wildlife, a friendly crew and stunning harbour views.

With moorings available now, there's still time to make the most of the season. Oﬀer only available until 31 August. Call 01243 512310 or visit aquavista.com for more information.

Birdham Pool

Image: Shutterstock/Rob Atherton

The definitive guide to standing rigging

When you set sail, your standing rigging does far more than simply hold the mast upright. It provides the controlled support that allows sails to drive the yacht safely and efficiently. Strong, reliable rigging maintains the geometry of the rig under load, preserving performance, comfort, and safety while under way.

Weight aloft is equally critical. Every additional kilogram increases the heeling moment as the yacht powers up. Reducing rigging weight improves balance, handling, and overall comfort at sea. Standing rigging is therefore not just structural; it is fundamental to performance, safety, and enjoyment while cruising.

This definitive guide explores the main standing rigging materials used on modern yachts, alongside the practicalities of installation, inspection, and maintenance.

Standing rigging materials:

an overview

There are three primary rigging choices available to yacht owners: wire, rod, and composite. Each offers distinct advantages and trade-offs. The correct option depends on your yacht’s design, sailing objectives, maintenance expectations, and budget.

Wire rigging

Wire rigging has been the standard for decades and remains the most common choice for cruising yachts. Its versatility suits everything from small cruisers to large yachts, it adapts easily to most rig designs, and it remains comparatively cost-effective.

Best for: Cruising yachts seeking a practical, proven, and serviceable rigging solution.

Rod rigging

Rod rigging offers higher strength, lower stretch, and reduced weight compared to wire. Its polished monostrand profile minimises windage and provides excellent longevity, making it popular with performance-focused cruisers.

Best for: Performance-oriented cruisers prioritising strength, durability, and reduced windage.

Composite rigging

For yachts where weight reduction is critical, composite rigging represents the premium option. Materials. including Dyneema, Aramid, PBO and Carbon, deliver

weight savings of 60–80% compared to steel, while offering 10–50% higher breaking strengths.

Best for: Large cruising yachts or performance sailors committed to maximum weight savings and advanced technology.

Installation

Wire rigging is relatively straightforward to install and can often be managed by owners with appropriate tools and guidance. Advanced Rigging & Hydraulics regularly manufactures wire rigging for self-installation or local riggers, with delivery available throughout the UK and worldwide.

Rod and composite rigging require specialist installation. Accurate construction, termination, and tuning demand professional expertise. Advanced Rigging & Hydraulics is an approved agent for BSI, OYS, Navtec by Hayn, and Future Fibres, ensuring correct installation and tuning.

Maintenance and inspections

All standing rigging requires regular inspection, and insurers frequently request evidence of ongoing checks. Wire rigging benefits from accessible and cost-effective maintenance. Regular visual inspections, supported by annual professional checks, help identify corrosion or fatigue early.

Rod rigging requires a more structured service schedule. An initial inspection and retune are recommended within 4–6 months of installation, followed by annual inspections. After five years, a full service with the mast unstepped is advised, including cleaning, non-destructive

testing (NDT), and re-heading of diagonals and fore-andaft rigging as required.

Composite rigging must be visually inspected and proof-tested at defined service intervals. Kevlar cables should be replaced at five years or sooner if damage is suspected. Other fibre systems require consultation with a professional rigger to ensure compliance with manufacturer guidelines.

Why it matters

Your standing rigging is your primary safeguard against dismasting. Choosing the right material, ensuring correct installation, and committing to regular inspections protects your mast, sails, and most importantly, your crew.

Expert support for sailors

With extensive in-house manufacturing capabilities and experience across thousands of rigging projects, Advanced Rigging & Hydraulics is well placed to support sailors across the UK and internationally.

Book an appointment at the Southampton Boat Show next month to discuss your standing rigging requirements with the expert team.

SAILING LIKE IT’S 1968

The 2026 Golden Globe Race is simple: depart from Les Sables-d’Olonne and sail solo, non-stop around the world, via the ﬁve Great Capes and return to Les Sables-d’Olonne.

In March 1968, the Sunday Times Golden Globe Race was announced – the ﬁrst-ever attempt to sail solo non-stop around the world, with no outside assistance. There were no entry fees, no set start date (the entrants could start any time between 1 June and 31 October) and no modern electronics - just seamanship, celestial navigation and grit.

Nine men set o from England, chasing both a fastest-time prize and the honour of being first to finish. Only one sailor completed the course. Robin KnoxJohnston, aboard his 32ft ketch Suhaili, became the first person to sail solo, nonstop around the globe, finishing after 312 days. His steady, conservative approach contrasted with the drama unfolding elsewhere in the race.

French sailor Bernard Moitessier famously chose not to ﬁnish. Near Cape Horn, he turned east again, continuing into the Paciﬁc “to save his soul” and sailed on to Tahiti aboard Joshua.

The race’s hardships, rescues and psychological strain turned it into one of sailing’s most storied epics. Decades

later, the event was revived in 2018 with the same spirit and rules: pre-1988 boats, sextants, paper charts and no GPS. Modern editions celebrate traditional seamanship while honouring the original’s raw test of endurance, judgment and solitude on the world’s oceans.

TRIO OF RACES

There have now been three editions of the Golden Globe Race: the original 1968–69 Sunday Times Golden Globe Race, the 2018 Golden Globe Race revival and the 2022 Golden Globe Race. A fourth edition starts in September.

2018 celebrated the 50th anniversary of the original race. Frenchman Jean-Luc Van Den Heede won, and the event marked a successful reboot of the retro challenge after a 50-year gap, bringing solo classic ocean racing back into the spotlight.

Then, in the 2022 Golden Globe Race, after 235 days at sea, South African skipper Kirsten Neuschäfer crossed the ﬁnish line on 27 April 2023 aboard her Cape George 36 Minnehaha, making history as the ﬁrst woman ever to win this challenging

race and the ﬁrst South African to win a round-the-world event.

Of the 17 starters only three sailors (Kirsten Neuschäfer, Abhilash Tomy and Michael Guggenberger) completed the gruelling course, highlighting how tough and unforgiving the competition is, for even the most experienced solo sailors.

Additionally, Simon Curwen completed the circumnavigation and finished first in the Chichester class (a category for sailors who are forced to make a stopover, receive outside assistance or break a navigational seal), followed by Jeremy Bagshaw who crossed the finish line six weeks after Simon Curwen, also in the Chichester Class.

One of the big stories from the 2022 race was Finnish skipper Tapio Lehtinen’s boat Asteria sinking in just ﬁve minutes in the Southern Indian Ocean. Kirsten Neuschäfer diverted from her race position to assist him, coordinating with rescue services before he was safely transferred to a commercial vessel after more than 24 hours adrift in a liferaft — a powerful moment of seamanship and solidarity.

“I think this Golden Globe Race is a wonderful idea. Why dream of it and never do it. This is a challenge that has been created to achieve the dream” Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Race Patron

THE 2026 RACE

So now, the 2026 Golden Globe Race is the fourth edition of one of the most demanding and traditional ocean-racing challenges in the world. It maintains the spirit of the original 1968 race — solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the globe, with sailors starting and ﬁnishing in Les Sables-d’Olonne, France. The course winds eastwards via the ﬁve Great Capes and spans more than 28,000 nautical miles of open ocean.

Unlike modern ocean races that use advanced technology, entrants in the 2026 GGR must race under vintage-style rules. Competitors sail production yachts 32–36ft long designed before 1988 that have a full-length keel with rudder attached to their trailing edge and navigate without GPS, computers, autopilots, electronic instruments or satellite-based routing — relying instead on sextants, paper charts and traditional seamanship. Skippers are allowed limited long-range radio contact for safety and are permitted to receive weather reports, but no external navigational assistance.

Entrants must show prior ocean sailing experience of at least 8,000 miles and another 2,000 miles solo in any boat, as well as an additional 2,000 miles solo in their GGR boat. All boats are required to undergo refits and surveys to ensure they are up to the task of crossing oceans. Strict safety regulations include qualifications and training of skippers and specific safety equipment to be carried onboard.

The total number of entrants is limited to 30. It is a battle to meet the strict qualifying and training requirements in the ‘Race to the Start’. At present there are 18 entrants, including both experienced GGR returnees and new challengers — from seasoned o shore sailors to younger adventurers like 21-year-old Louis Kerdelhué from France. This time around there is again one female sailor, 35-year-old Helga Marie (MARA) Løvenskiold Kveseth from Norway.

Six entrants, at the time of writing, are sailing the Atlantic, trying to complete their mandatory 4,000-mile qualifying voyages and reach Les Sables-d’Olonne before the 10 August cuto . For each day late, half a day penalty is added to their sailing time.

“For these six sailors, the qualiﬁer has become a race within the race,” said Don McIntyre, Founder and Race Director of the GGR. “Every mile and every day now matters. Simply reaching Les Sables-d’Olonne and being ready for the start will be an extraordinary achievement.”

Competitors typically take up to 250 days to complete the GGR, and are expected to arrive back in spring 2027. This rigorous test of resilience, judgment and self-reliance has made the race a legendary event for adventurers seeking the most elemental form of solo ocean sailing.

“It is very exciting to see the calibre and diverse nature of this group of enthusiastic sailors out to prove something to themselves,” said Don McIntyre. “They are all coming at it with the knowledge and experience gleaned from three previous editions. Only 21 per cent of those sailors made it to the ﬁnish. The GGR is a gruelling mind game of attrition without comparison, and it has started already!”

The SITraN Prologue Race starts in Les Sables d’Olonne on 16 August and the ﬁrst boats will return to the GGR Marina three days later. This race is a preliminary shakedown and charity race that serves as the o cial prologue to the GGR.

BRITISH SAILORS

The British entrants:

ERTAN BESKARDES - Ertan is a Turkishborn British sailor who began sailing on the Bosphorus at the age of 12 and is the ﬁrst sailor to enter the Golden Globe Race three times. In March 2026, Ertan completed a full solo circumnavigation in the 13-month Mini Globe Race.

Ertan said: “After the Mini Globe Race, it is the perfect time to ﬁnally get the Golden Globe Race out of my system. I am happy to be in a Rustler again and looking forward to Cape Horn!”

Ertan purchased Matmut, the Rustler 36 in which Jean-Luc van den Heede won the 2018 Golden Globe Race. She has been renamed Miss Beagle.

HENRY WOOTTON - Henry began sailing in dinghies as a child and windsurﬁng as a teenager. He had not set foot on a yacht until 2018, when he bought a small boat for coastal sailing in Dorset. Subsequently, he became bitten by the bug and ultimately took 18 months o work, bought an old wreck, carried out a reﬁt and sailed it to New Zealand. During his trip, about half of which was solo, Henry became utterly bewitched by the romance and beauty of spending time at sea, especially when set in the context of the solitude, physical challenge and danger that come with single-handing.

Henry said: “Sailing solo non-stop around the world, especially in a retro race without modern assistance, is one of the last real challenges standing; as such it attracts me like a moth to a ﬂame.”

Henry will be sailing Privateer, a Cape George 36 Cutter.

AT THE START

Like the ﬁrst race, there will be no start gun for the 2026 McIntyre Golden Globe. Entrants will depart in line from the Vendée marina at three-minute intervals on 6 September. They will motor down the famous Les Sables d’Olonne river at three knots to the cheers of spectators.

Visitors can see the boats and meet the skippers at the GGR Vendée Globe Marina pontoon, which is open to all yachts from 22 August. Head to the GGR Pavilion for race information and the GGR’s history. There will be daily poster signings, meet the skippers and more, along with o cial welcome and farewell events. Plus, visit the legendary yachts Suhaili, Joshua and Sir Francis Chichester’s Gipsy Moth IV from 29 August at the Vendée Globe Marina. Fans around the world will be able to follow the Les Sables d’Olonne ﬁnal buildup with multiple daily reports and interviews on the Golden Globe Race Facebook and YouTube channels.

The 2022 Golden Globe Race Village

Kirsten Neuschäfer after her Golden Globe Race win three years ago!

Henry Wootton

Ertan Beskardes

Preparing for the start at Les Sables d’Olonne in 2022

Royal Heritage

Celebrating Cowes’ royal maritime heritage with the Sailing Through Royal History exhibition and the Maritime Heritage Trail, alongside JJ Sowerby’s personal story of pride and service aboard The Royal Yacht Britannia.

MARITIME HERITAGE TRAIL

For more than 200 years Cowes and yachting have beneﬁtted from the excitement created by the Royal Family’s involvement in the town’s regattas and yacht clubs.

In the year of the Cowes Week Bicentenary, The Classic Boat Museum and The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust are collaborating to showcase Cowes’ yachting heritage in a trail which takes the visitor from the Royal Yacht Squadron on The Parade to the Classic Boat Museum.

The trail includes a nine-panel outdoor exhibition along The Parade exploring the history of some of the Royal Family’s most enthusiastic sailors – King Edward VII, King George IV and Prince Philip – and the remarkable racing yachts they sailed, including

Bluebottle, Coweslip, Bloodhound and the Yeoman class yachts (XVI–XXVIII).

The participating venues include the yacht clubs Royal Yacht Squadron, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Royal London Yacht Club, Royal Thames Yacht Club, Island Sailing Club and Cowes Corinthian Yacht Club; Commodores House; museums (Sir Max Aitken, Cowes Maritime and the Classic Boat Museum) together with Cowes Week Ltd and the Cowes Heritage and Community Group in the Beckford Centre.

SAILING THROUGH ROYAL HISTORY

Open at Commodores House from 31 July29 August, Sailing Through Royal History is a fascinating new pop-up exhibition

SPOTLIGHT

Isle of Wight resident Jay Sowerby – known as JJ –served on The Royal Yacht Britannia.

After leaving school, I began an apprenticeship in marine engineering at a local boatyard in Cowes and studied at Southampton Technical College to gain my City & Guilds qualiﬁcation.

One evening, while walking past the naval careers o ce on my way to the hydrofoil, I went in to ask about joining the Royal Navy. I joined HMS Raleigh on 2 May 1988 and spent the next nine-and-a-half years serving at sea. After an extended draft aboard HMS Ark Royal, including active service during the 1991 Gulf War, I was assigned to HMS Dryad for my mandatory shore posting. It was not a move I wanted, as I had hoped to remain at sea, but that is how Navy life works.

from The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, the charity responsible for preserving and caring for the former Royal Yacht Britannia in Edinburgh. Earlier this year, the visitor attraction was named Tripadvisor’s No.1 Attraction in the World – the ﬁrst UK attraction ever to receive the accolade.

A familiar sight at Cowes Week between 1955 and 1996, Britannia regularly accompanied Prince Philip and other members of the Royal Family to the regatta, cementing her place in the town’s rich sailing heritage.

At the heart of the exhibition is the remarkable story of U a Fox, one of the most inﬂuential ﬁgures in modern sailing. Fittingly, it is housed at Commodores House, U a’s former home and workshop.

Visitors can discover how his revolutionary dinghy designs transformed the sport, learn about the airborne lifeboats he developed during the Second World War, and explore his close friendship with Prince Philip, with whom he regularly raced.

Visitors will also discover the Royal Family’s enduring connection with Cowes, alongside stories of Britannia and unique immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences.

A particular highlight is the return of Coweslip, the Flying Fifteen presented to then Princess Elizabeth and The Duke of Edinburgh by the people of Cowes as a belated wedding gift in 1949. Displayed on the very quay where she once berthed between regattas, Coweslip o ers a rare and poignant glimpse into a golden age of royal sailing.

Looking for a new challenge, I made a decision that would change my life forever. While at HMS Dryad, I ran into a killick RP (Leading Seaman Radar) who had recently left Britannia to attend his promotion course. Bob asked whether I had a VG Supr (very good, superior rating) on my naval record, which I did, and said he believed I would be well suited to Royal Yacht service. I submitted the required request form, attended the Captain’s table in support of my application and after a series of interviews I was drafted to HMY Britannia in August 1992.

When I was four-years-old, I had sat on my father’s shoulders on Cowes Parade and asked, “Daddy, what is that boat out there?”

“That is the Queen’s boat, The Royal Yacht Britannia,” he told me.

I did not think about the Royal Yacht again until I was serving in the Royal Navy, but through chance, determination and perhaps fate, I was able to serve aboard that magniﬁcent vessel. A year later, I was accepted into the Permanent Royal Yacht Service, where

or visit the

www.royalyachtbritannia.co.uk/cowes www.classicboatmuseum.com/maritime-heritage-trail

I remained until I left the Royal Navy when Britannia was sadly decommissioned in December 1997.

I have many happy memories of serving on the Royal Yacht, along with plenty of memorable runs ashore during deployments around the world.

My most treasured memories are of the Royal Yacht taking centre stage during Cowes Week. As a Cowes man, coming ashore on leave was a wonderful experience. I was well known in the town, and walking through Cowes High Street in Royal Yacht uniform as a local lad was an incredible feeling. At times, it felt as though I was being carried along by the pride of my family and friends.

I had earned the role of bowman on the Royal Barge, a position of which I was immensely proud. Approaching the Royal Yacht Squadron landing steps, known as the ‘suicide steps’, to collect or drop o a member of the Royal Family was always a remarkable sight for those on the shore and for the many people watching from the boats in the harbour.

I would stand on the bow of the barge, legs braced against the chrome rail, ceremonial boat hook in hand, with the Royal Standard ﬂapping in my face, focused on every precise movement in true Royal Yacht fashion.

Along the seafront, among the hundreds - perhaps thousands - of onlookers, I would often spot my father with his telephoto lens, capturing the moment forever. He, along with other friends and family, knew I had seen them, but I could never wave or acknowledge them. We were on Royal duty, and standards had to be maintained at all times. My cousin was a skipper on the local Jenny boats, ferrying passengers between Victoria Parade and the Royal Yacht for a closer look at Britannia, the Royal Family or the yachtsmen. I would sometimes see the Jenny Lee approaching with him at the helm and give him a cautious salute. He would then announce to his passengers: “On the main deck you will see Able Seaman Sowerby, known as JJ – he is my cousin.” We were both proud to play our part in the traditions of Cowes Week.

There was a saying on the Royal Yacht: if something was not right, it was “not yacht”. That standard has stayed with me throughout my life. I now run a successful Isle of Wight handyman service and still work to the standards expected of a Royal Yachtsman. Our business was named the Prestige Awards’ Top Handyman Service 2025/26 for South England, and in 2025 we received the MOD Bronze Award in recognition of our pledge to the Armed Forces Covenant and our support for the armed forces community.

We are immensely proud of what we have achieved, and I truly believe I am the person I am today because of my time serving onboard The

The Exhibition is open from 31 July - 29 August, Monday to Saturday, 10.00 - 16.00. Tickets can be bought onlineuse the QR code

website.

Britannia,

Royal Yacht Britannia.

▲ Sailing Through Royal History exhibition at Commodores House (inset)

Britannia and Yeoman XXXVIII

Image: Beken of Cowes

The Royal Yacht Britannia

Image: Marc Millar

Image: Beken of Cowes

Britannia and Coweslip in 1960

Solent based dinghy sailor David Henshall is a well known writer and speaker on topics covering the rich heritage of all aspects of leisure boating

Spinnaker Spectacular

Be it on a river, an inland lake or at the popular sailing venues around our coasts, if there is one immediately easily identiﬁable icon in the world of dinghy sailing then it has to be the Merlin Rocket, a class that is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year.

You would not even have to be that au fait with the dinghy scene to recognise the Merlins, with their overly beamy, soap dish shaped hulls (7ft 2” on a 14ft length overall) and peculiar quadrilateral mainsail shape. In the past the fleet were also known for the stunning varnish finish on the beautifully built wooden hulls, though today the boats are all FRP construction. However, once the fleet turn downwind, a riot of colour blossoms as their spinnakers are hoisted.

The strangeness of the name, Merlin Rocket, comes from a shotgun marriage of convenience between two very similar classes: the Merlin, with a southern powerbase and the Rockets, far more popular in the North. The RYA told these two classes that if they came together then their combined e orts would be rewarded with the coveted National Class status. Once joined, the new Merlin-Rocket class would go on to lay much of the groundwork in terms of class structure and organisation that became the blueprint for all the new classes that would follow.

MAJOR GATHERING

However, there is one aspect of the Merlin Rocket scene that is almost unique, in that in addition to the standard National Championship week, they have a second major gathering which can easily be double or more the size of the more formal Championship.

Mid July, the massed fleet descends on that most picturesque of Devon venues, Salcombe, for a weeklong extravaganza of top-class sailing. Back in the beginning, the Merlins used to share their week with other classes, but such was their dominance that eventually they commandeered the week for themselves. Even with a strictly enforced entry cap of 124 boats (there is traditionally a hopeful list of waiting helms and crews keeping their fingers crossed that some of the already entered boats will be forced to drop out). Anyone who knows Salcombe will confirm that there will never be enough space to get a fleet of that size racing all together, so the Merlins rely on a

With two divisions sailing in each start, even 62 beamy boats is a squeeze for the narrow confines of the harbour, though they are helped when the superb Harbour Master Team close o the fairway for the five minutes before the start until five minutes after the gun has gone.

It has been said already that Salcombe Week has a uniqueness, a big part of that comes from the fact that with only half the boats competing in any race, there are great opportunities for those not racing to still join in the fray but as noisy spectators. In this respect the geography of Salcombe aids this fun activity in the best way possible.

The host for Salcombe Merlin Week is the welcoming Salcombe Yacht Club, whose premises are blessed with an expansive terrace right in front of the main bar. It is therefore possible to enjoy the hospitality of SYC whilst looking down on to the assembled ﬂeet as they gather for the start, with every tack, potential

Trying to dodge the worst of the tide compresses the boats close in to Portlemouth Beach

Image: David Henshall

clever seeding process to split the boats into four equal divisions. Here now is just how Salcombe becomes even more special, as sailing takes place once in the morning and again once in the afternoon. With this set up, everyone sails against everyone else twice but there is a twist – crews only sail once per day. What is more, the sailors have to make the most of whatever Salcombe serves them up in the way of weather.

AT THE START

The start line is ﬁxed with the course often becoming a tour of the harbour and upper reaches of the estuary, weaving their way around a succession of harbour marks. In any sailboat race the start assumes a great importance but this e ect tends to be magniﬁed at Salcombe, as the ripping tidal streams inevitably mean that there is only one place to be and one way to go.

rule infringement or clever move (in breeze this can even include going for an impromptu swim) all going on in front of the well informed onlookers (who are all very happy to pass on their views!).

THE RACING

Even once the start has happened, Salcombe has not finished with making things di cult for the sailors. By definition Salcombe is a Ria, a flooded valley system (watch out for an upcoming article on this page featuring some of our other major Rias) with steeply steepled wooded sides. The numerous valleys twist and bend the wind, then there is an era known as ‘The Bag’, an area of cruel wind patterns that can catch out the unwary and champion alike: more than a few winning situations and reputations have come to a sticky end in The Bag as boats fail to transit the area. As the fleet follow their course up and down the harbour either beating into a tricky wind or else trying to keep the

spinnakers ﬁlling, there is still the tide to manage. A run into a foul tide just adds to the delights for the spectators, as the ﬂeet tends to split, either hugging the sandy beaches of the Portlemouth shore, or else sailing almost within touching distance of the stone walls that line the ‘Town’ side. Lots of boats all trying to contest the same bit of water adds to the excitement for sailors and spectators alike.

At a time when the sailing authorities are concerned about declining numbers at the big events, Salcombe Week, with its rich South Hams charm and almost ‘part time’ sailing that leaves plenty of time that can be spent with family and friends, continues to buck the trends as it goes from strength to strength. In numerous studies in the sailing media seeking to identify the events that all sailors ought to do at least once, Salcombe Merlin Rocket Week is a perennial front runner, and with so much to o er it is not hard to see why! ■

Crews jostle for the best position at the start line

of colour

LITERARY BEACHES

Jane McMorland Hunter, author of Bedside Companion to the Sea – a daily dip of sea-themed writing for every day of the year, shares some of her favourite books which remind her of summers spent on Jersey.

As a child, I spent several summers on Jersey. Arriving on the overnight ferry for the ﬁrst time, I fell in love with the island. Even as an adult, my love remains undimmed. One of the reasons I like it is the variety of beaches.

There are bays with rock pools and beaches from which one could embark an adventure. There are long stretches of gently sloping sand, perfect for castles and paddling and equally long stretches of sand with wild waves, more suited for surfers. Many of the bays are accessible only down long ﬂights of steps or steep coast paths which mean that, while rarely completely deserted, they are never crowded.

BEACH MEMORIES

St Brelade’s is a perfect family beach with the obligatory ice cream and entertainments.

A. A. Milne’s poem Sand-Between-the Toes (from When We Were Very Young) conjures it up perfectly. Think back and Jane Austen’s Sanditon or R. C. Sherri ’s The Fortnight in September could be set here.

Ouaisné (pronounced Wayney) is my Robinson Crusoe beach. Separated from St Brelade’s by rocks it is easy to imagine seeing the mysterious print of a man’s foot in the sand, the most atmospheric moment in Daniel Defoe’s novel.

La Corbière is one of my favourite places on the island. Crossing the rocky causeway, cut o at high tide, seems fraught with danger –the sea a threatening presence just as it is in Iris Murdoch’s The Sea, the Sea. Before I set out to La Corbière I would, of course, read Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse. ■

FEATURED BOOKS

■ Jane Austen, Sanditon

■ Enid Blyton, Five in a Treasure Island and following series

■ Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe

Bedside Companion to the Sea

By Jane McMorland Hunter

Published by Batsford Hardback | £25 | 6 August

Whether you have got a summer holiday planned or not, this gorgeous collection of fact and ﬁction, prose and poetry, drifts you into daydreams of glorious seaside scenes. Keep this gorgeous anthology by your bedside for a nightly dip or a morning refresher into the mysterious world of the sea, with one entry for every day of the year.

This evocative collection will please anyone and everyone, from the most avid surfers to those who choose to observe from the beachy shore. Whether you dreamed of becoming a swashbuckling pirate as a child or whether you feel calm beside huge bodies of water, there will be entries sure to intrigue and delight.

2 COPIES TO WONBE

Lastly, although not strictly speaking a beach, Jersey boasts a splendid lighthouse, accessible only at low tide.

As a child, I had not visited Mediterranean or tropical beaches and it seemed to me that this island had every type of beach I could want. Having visited more exotic locations since, I am still not sure Jersey can be beaten.

Now, when I want to remember those beaches, I turn to books. They are not speciﬁcally about Jersey but they conjure up the spirit of the beaches. I have included children’s books; my beach memories were mostly formed when I was young and I am a ﬁrm believer that one is never too old to read good children’s literature.

St Aubin’s, Portelet and Beauport all have islands within their bays. St Aubin’s boasts Elizabeth Castle and Portelet has a guardhouse tower, while Beauport has a steep rocky islet. All are accessible at low tide but this does not dim their allure. These are bays for explorers such as one ﬁnds in the Swallows and Amazons or the Famous Five series.

St Ouen’s (pronounced Wans) is a surfers’ beach. Here I would read Paul Theroux’s Under the Wave at Waimea or William Finnegan’s Barbarian Days

■ William Finnegan, Barbarian Days

■ Captain Charles Johnson, A General History of the Pyrates

Immerse yourself in salty scenes from classic literature taken from greats such as Herman Melville, Anthony Trollope and Virginia Woolf as well as contemporary visionaries such as Tove Jansson, John Agard and Stevie Smith.

For a chance to win this book enter at www.allatsea.co.uk or by email to editor@allatsea.co.uk with the subject header ‘Bedside Companion’ Competition.

■ A. A. Milne, When We Were Very Young

■ Iris Murdoch, The Sea, the Sea

■ Arthur Ransome, Swallows and Amazons and following series

■ R. C. Sherri , The Fortnight in September

The North Coast is indented with small rocky bays. I was convinced pirates regularly landed here. I read the mysterious Captain Charles Johnson’s A General History of the Pyrates for swashbuckling and Edward Step’s dated but delightful guides for the rock pools (Nature Rambles, The Deep Sea and others).

■ Edward Step, Nature Rambles, The Deep Sea and others

■ Paul Theroux, Under the Wave at Waimea

■ Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse

Mark seaside-themed recipes for the next time you have to impress a sailor for dinner; linger in ghostly shipwrecks and wash up on desert islands; learn about coastlines and smugglers, and follow along with those who have sailed around the world.

Q: Does Bedside Companion to the Sea include seasidethemed recipes?

Closing date: 1/9/26. See competition T&Cs on page 4.

Sunset reﬂecting in the water leading to the sea at La Rocco Tower, St Ouen’s Bay

Ouaisné

BOAT SEA FISHING ZONE

VIBE KAYAK VS. SMALL FISHING BOAT: WHICH IS BETTER FOR ANGLERS?

Choosing between a VIBE fishing kayak and a small fishing boat ultimately depends on how and where you like to fish. Both have distinct advantages, and understanding their strengths can help you make the right investment.

A VIBE kayak excels in accessibility, a ordability and stealth. Its lightweight design makes launching quick and easy, often allowing anglers to access waters that larger boats simply cannot reach. Shallow creeks, narrow rivers, secluded coves and backwaters become viable ﬁshing spots, giving kayak anglers access to lesspressured ﬁsh.

With no fuel costs, lower maintenance requirements and minimal storage needs, a fishing kayak is also significantly more economical to own. Modern VIBE kayaks are designed specifically for anglers, o ering comfortable seating, gear tracks, rod holders, pedal or paddle propulsion and compatibility with fish finders and accessories. However, kayaks do have limitations.

They o er less carrying capacity, reduced protection from the elements, and are generally slower over long distances. Strong winds, rough water and changing weather conditions can also make kayak ﬁshing more physically demanding. While they are extremely stable, they cannot match the comfort and space of a boat during long days on the water.

A small fishing boat provides greater speed, range and comfort. Powered by an outboard engine, it allows anglers to cover large areas quickly and reach o shore fishing grounds with ease. Boats also o er more storage, higher weight capacity and room for multiple anglers, making them ideal for family trips or fishing with friends.

Standing to cast, bringing larger coolers, livewells and additional tackle is considerably easier.

The trade-o is cost. Boats require ongoing expenses including fuel, insurance, servicing, trailer maintenance, registration and suitable storage. Launching often requires a boat ramp, reducing flexibility compared to a kayak. For anglers who value simplicity, a ordability and exploring untouched waters, a kayak is a great option. Those regularly fishing large lakes, coastal waters or needing to travel significant distances may find a small fishing boat better suited to their needs. Ultimately, the best option is the one that matches your fishing style, budget and preferred adventure.

PEELER PRAWN: A LATE SUMMER FAVOURITE FOR UK SEA ANGLERS

As August brings warm seas and long evenings, many of the UK’s favourite inshore species are feeding hard before autumn arrives. One bait that really comes into its own at this time of year is the peeler prawn.

Highly regarded by experienced anglers, peeler prawns o er plenty of natural scent and a soft, lifelike presentation that fish find di cult to resist. Whether fished whole or peeled, they are particularly e ective when targeting fish feeding over rough ground and around harbour structures.

Throughout August, peeler prawn is an excellent choice for bass, wrasse, bream, flounder and plaice, especially during the first and last few hours of daylight when fish venture into shallow water to feed.

Fish them on a simple running ledger or light pulley rig, securing the bait with a few turns of bait elastic if casting at distance.

Fresh prawns will always produce the best results, although quality frozen prawns can also be highly e ective.

Whether you are ﬁshing from the rocks, a harbour wall or an estuary, peeler prawn is a versatile, natural bait that deserves its place as August’s Bait of the Month. It may not receive the same attention as squid or mackerel, but on the right day it can easily outﬁsh both.

JELLYFISH BOOM: WHAT IT MEANS FOR SEA ANGLERS

Many anglers around the UK have noticed an unusually high number of jellyﬁsh in coastal waters this summer. While jellyﬁsh blooms are a natural occurrence, the warm sea temperatures experienced during 2026 have created ideal conditions for their growth, with marine scientists linking the increase to prolonged marine heatwaves and an abundance of plankton.

For anglers, the presence of jellyfish can be both a blessing and a nuisance. Large blooms often indicate productive water, attracting baitfish that feed on the same plankton-rich conditions. Where baitfish gather, predators such as bass, mackerel and even tuna are never far behind, making jellyfish concentrations worth investigating.

However, dense blooms can also create challenges. Jellyfish can foul fishing lines, become tangled around rigs and lures and make landing fish more di cult. Their mucus can also coat tackle, while drifting through thick blooms may interfere with boat cooling systems. Anglers should also remember that even dead jellyfish washed ashore can still deliver painful stings.

Rather than avoiding areas with jellyfish altogether, experienced anglers often use them as a clue that the food chain is active. As always, observe the conditions, fish safely and treat jellyfish with respect - they are another reminder of the everchanging nature of our coastal waters. Share your photos and tell us about your experiences - editor@allatsea.co.uk

ANGLING ADVICE

SHOW TIME IN SOUTHAMPTON

Discover the latest boats, marine technology, watersports and family attractions at the 57th Southampton International Boat Show, Britain’s premier boating event.

Next month the Southampton International Boat Show is set to transform Southampton’s waterfront into the UK’s ultimate boating playground once again, bringing together the very latest yachts, powerboats, sailing craft, watersports equipment and marine technology. Whether you are an experienced sailor, dreaming of buying your ﬁrst boat or simply looking for a fantastic family day out, the show o ers something to inspire every visitor.

One of the biggest attractions is the incredible range of boats on display. From sleek luxury motor yachts and elegant sailing yachts to practical ﬁshing boats, RIBs and innovative electric vessels, visitors can step aboard hundreds of craft from leading international manufacturers. Many use the event to unveil new models, giving visitors the opportunity to

experience the latest designs before they reach the wider market.

The marina remains the heart of the show, allowing guests to see a huge range of vessels aﬂoat. Walking the pontoons o ers a unique chance to compare di erent styles and sizes while speaking directly with builders and dealers. For anyone considering a purchase, there are few better opportunities to gather expert advice and compare options in one location.

Beyond the boats, the show features a huge selection of marine equipment and accessories. Everything from navigation electronics and safety gear to engines, clothing and watersports equipment can be explored. Many exhibitors o er exclusive show promotions, making it an ideal time to invest in new kit.

Another highlight will be the expanded Wooden Boat Stage, celebrating the

skills, stories and people keeping wooden boatbuilding alive today. New for 2026, the Wooden Boat Stage Aﬂoat extends the experience onto the marina itself, showcasing a collection of exceptional wooden boats.

GET INVOLVED

The Southampton International Boat Show is also renowned for its interactive experiences. Visitors can enjoy on-thewater demonstrations, paddleboarding, kayaking and dinghy sailing, with expert instructors introducing newcomers to life on the water. These hands-on activities make the event particularly appealing to families and anyone curious about taking up a new hobby.

Sustainability continues to play an increasingly important role throughout the marine industry, and the 2026 show is expected to highlight advances in

WOMEN IN MARINE

The Women in Marine panel and networking event returns to the show once again, bringing together an inspiring panel of young female professionals to share honest insights into careers across the marine industry.

Following record attendance in 2025, this year’s event returns with the theme: ‘Real Women. Real Jobs. Real Opportunities’ providing a platform for open discussion, career inspiration and networking, while highlighting the breadth of opportunities available across the sector.

Lyndsay McClay, President Elect, British Marine, said: “By bringing together women from di erent sectors and stages of their careers, we aim to create a space for learning, professional development and meaningful connections. While the discussion will provide valuable insights

for those already working in the marine industry, it will also showcase the breadth of rewarding career opportunities available to anyone considering a future in the sector.”

To register for the event email: womeninmarine@britishmarine.co.uk

▲ Women in Marine forms part of British Marine’s wider commitment to supporting diversity, inclusion and skills development across the leisure marine sector

greener boating. Hybrid propulsion systems, electric engines, sustainable construction materials and environmentally friendly marina technologies will feature prominently, reﬂecting the industry’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact without compromising performance or enjoyment.

Food, drink and entertainment add to the festival atmosphere. There will be many opportunities to relax between exploring the exhibits, while live music, expert talks and practical demonstrations create an engaging programme throughout the day. Children are well catered for too, with activities designed to introduce younger visitors to boating in a safe and enjoyable way.

CELEBRATION OF BOATING

For prospective buyers, the event is more than simply a showcase. Marine finance specialists, insurance providers, charter companies and sailing schools are all on hand to answer questions, making it easy to turn boating ambitions into reality.

Even those with no intention of purchasing will ﬁnd plenty to enjoy, from admiring cutting-edge designs to discovering the latest innovations shaping the future of recreational boating.

Combining world-class exhibits, expert knowledge and a vibrant waterfront setting, the 2026 Southampton International Boat Show promises another memorable celebration of life on the water. Whether you are searching for your next boat, upgrading your equipment or simply soaking up the maritime atmosphere, it remains one of the UK’s must-visit events for boating enthusiasts and curious newcomers alike. ■

Don’t miss next month’s special preview guide to the show!

TICKET

Book your ticket for £23 using the code ALLSIBS2026

(children under 15 can attend for free but must still have a valid ticket. All visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult) www.southamptonboatshow.com

2026 Southampton International Boat Show 18 – 27 September Mayﬂower Park Southampton, Hampshire Show postcode: SO14 2AS

The show opens daily at 10am and closes at 6pm, except Fridays and Saturdays when the Shipyard remains open until 9pm, and the last Sunday when the show closes at 4.30pm. On Fridays and Saturdays there will be food, drinks and live music available at the Shipyard until the show closes at 9pm.

All dogs are permitted into the show. However, access onto the show Marina, New Wave Hall and catering areas will be signiﬁcantly restricted at busy times and there are limited facilities available for dogs at the show.

WIN A PAIR OF TICKETS TO THE SOUTHAMPTON INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW

All at Sea has a pair of day tickets to the Southampton International Boat Show to give away worth £66.

The Southampton International Boat Show returns from 18 – 27 September for 10 days of boating, watersports and entertainment on the waterfront.

Expect a packed programme from start to nish, with on-the-water activities, live demonstrations and expert talks covering everything from professional sailing and powerboat racing to traditional wooden boat building and maritime heritage.

The action is not con ned to the marina. Visitors can take to the purposebuilt watersports lake for paddleboarding and kayaking sessions with Rockley, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary.

The popular Andark Dive Tank also returns, o ering supervised diving experiences using state-of-the-art equipment and onsite changing facilities, while the muchloved Try-a-Boat gives visitors the chance to get out on the water with FlexiSail, Clipper, WetWheels and Team Endeavour Racing – all included within the ticket price.

The show’s speaker line-up brings together inspiring stories, practical advice and expert insight from across the sailing world.

Sir Robin Knox-Johnston will share tales from a lifetime of adventure and racing around the world, while Clipper Race experts will reveal how complete beginners can become ocean racers and what it takes to build a professional career in o shore sailing.

For those looking to take their rst steps into boat ownership, the Westerly Owners Association will o er practical advice on sailing on a budget, proving that getting afloat can be more accessible than many people think.

The expanded Wooden Boat Stage also returns following a hugely successful debut in 2025, celebrating the skills, stories and people keeping traditional boatbuilding alive. Delivered in partnership with the Boat Building Academy, the Wooden Boatbuilders’ Trade Association and Women in Boat Building, the programme combines practical demonstrations, expert talks and inspiring stories from across the marine community.

Highlights include appearances from round-the-world sailor Conrad Humphreys, Hannah Stowe and renowned boatbuilder Will Stirling. Mary Montagu-Scott, Director of Buckler’s Hard Maritime Museum, will

explore the legacy of HMS Agamemnon and the shipbuilding traditions that shaped the Beaulieu River.

New for 2026, the Wooden Boat Stage Afloat extends the experience onto the marina itself, showcasing remarkable vessels including Hannah Stowe’s 1907 ga cutter Larry, the historic Guide of Dunkirk, the beautifully restored Camper & Nicholsons tender Gelyce and the iconic o shore racer Apache 555.

The purpose-built marina, Europe’s largest, will be lined with more than 250 boats of every shape and size, from sleek yachts and high-powered motorboats to classic and modern sailing boats. Leading marine brands will also showcase the latest technology, equipment and apparel, giving visitors the opportunity to explore every corner of the marine world in one place.

Beyond the boats, the show o ers a true festival atmosphere. Live music throughout the 10 days, including late-night entertainment on both Fridays and Saturdays, great food and drink, family entertainment and interactive experiences create an event that appeals to seasoned sailors, watersports enthusiasts and rst-time visitors alike.

Whether you are looking to try a new activity, hear incredible stories from life at sea, discover the latest innovations in boating or simply enjoy a fantastic day by the water, the Southampton International Boat Show promises 10 unforgettable days celebrating everything that makes life on and around the water so special.

www.southamptonboatshow.com

Want in on the action? You could be there this September. Enter our competition today for your chance to win a pair of tickets to the Southampton International Boat Show.

HOW TO ENTER

To be in with the chance of winning this great prize enter below, at www.allatsea.co.uk or by email to editor@allatsea.co.uk with the subject header SIBS Competition. You can also enter via the All at Sea newsletter (sign up at www.allatsea.co.uk/aasnewsletter).

Q: The Guide of where is one of the historic cra being showcased at the show marina? A: NAME:

ADDRESS:

EMAIL:

Shootin’ the Breeze...

…with Andy and Miriam Goddard, from Andark Diving & Watersports, which

is celebrating 50 years in 2026.

AAS: Andark is celebrating its 50th year, so can you take us back to how it all began?

Andy: It all started back in 1976 when I was working as a commercial diver in the North Sea. In those days, satellite navigation was not advanced enough to get us to precise underwater locations, so we had to operate out of the back of small submersibles.

Because space and weight were incredibly limited inside the submersibles, we could not use the heavy heated suit equipment you would normally ﬁnd on a rig. The divers were getting dangerously cold, so I came up with a solution: a compact, backpack-mounted diver heating system. That single innovation to keep us warm in the deep sea is exactly how Andark began.

AAS: The diver heating system developed by Andark featured on BBC’s Tomorrow’s World. What have been the biggest technological changes in the sector over the last half a century?

Andy: The North Sea oil rush of the 1970s fuelled the industry’s biggest technological leaps, transforming both commercial and sport diving:

Commercial: The game-changer was 1980s gas reclaim systems. Deep divers use expensive heliumoxygen mixes; these systems captured exhaled gas, cleaned it on the surface and pumped it back down, saving a fortune. Underwater heating and deep submersibles also advanced massively.

Sport: It is a complete revolution. Modern divers take for granted gear that did not exist when I started - like buoyancy jackets (BCDs), modern regulators and wristworn dive computers that replaced manual calculations. It is a completely di erent world from 50 years ago.

AAS: Which moments are Andark most proud of/stand out from the past 50 years?

Andy: It is hard to choose from so many memories, but a few key moments really stand out. First is our evolution into diver training; watching hesitant students successfully begin their underwater journeys brings immense satisfaction.

The other highlights are our physical milestones: building our bespoke swimming pool, opening the new retail shop and, more recently, developing our openwater lake. Though built for diving, the lake has evolved into a massive hub for open-water swimmers and the wider community.

AAS: Can you tell us about more Andark Lake, which remains at the heart of Andark?

Andy: The lake was born out of necessity. In 2007, the military reclaimed the facility at Port Solent that we used for training, leaving us without a local inland dive site and forcing three-hour travel times for instructors and students.

Since we owned the land around our indoor training pool and shop, we decided to build our own lake. It created a safe, convenient and controlled environment for students to transition seamlessly from indoor pool training to open-water courses.

At nearly the size of two Olympic pools, the lake features training platforms at 1.5 and 4m, a maximum depth of 7m and various underwater features to keep divers engaged.

Miriam: Built in 2012/2013 as a purpose-built diving facility, Andark Lake has since evolved into a vibrant community hub - a shift accelerated during Covid when open-water swimming took o . Today, the lake supports our own dive courses, as well as external dive schools, paddleboarders and swimmers alike. With classrooms hosting yoga, art and antenatal classes and corporate events, alongside our new ice baths and wood-ﬁred sauna, the lake is genuinely the heart of everything we do.

AAS: A variety of watersports are o ered at Andark Lake; which is the most popular and how has that changed over time?

Andy: I would be lying if I said I foresaw the rise of open-water swimming. We built the lake for dive training, but swimmers are now our biggest, fastestgrowing customer base. They choose us for three main reasons:

Health Beneﬁts: More people than ever are embracing the physical and mental boosts of cold-water swimming.

Safety & Cleanliness: Unlike nearby rivers and seas, our lake is fed by a deep borehole, constantly monitored for cleanliness and free from currents, swell or boat tra c.

Top-Tier Amenities: We have built a true hub here, complete with great changing rooms, an on-site café, a wood-ﬁred sauna and cold-plunge baths. It is a fantastic destination for everyone.

Miriam: Without a doubt, open-water and cold-water swimming have become the most popular activities at the lake. The sport has evolved incredibly over the last few years and is still gaining momentum. People really connect with the health beneﬁts, as well as the chance to immerse themselves in nature. As I mentioned, the pandemic was a huge catalyst for this - everyone wanted to get outdoors and ﬁnd a sense of freedom. Our community has expanded so much recently, and the swimming crowd has been a massive part of that success.

AAS: Andark began as a family business –is it still family run?

Andy: Andark is still very much a family business. My youngest daughter, Miriam, has taken over as managing director, and I am right there supporting her. It is incredibly rewarding to keep that legacy going. We are even welcoming the next generation - my 14-year-old grandson has just started working a few hours with us. Family remains at the absolute heart of everything we do.

Miriam: Yes, we are still proudly a family-run business. My parents founded the company - my dad brought the commercial diving expertise and my mum brought the passion for sailing. I have since stepped into the leadership role. While my mum has retired from the business, my dad is still very much involved, though he has stepped back from much of the day-to-day. Moving the business forward is my responsibility now, and I am incredibly excited about where we can take it in the future.

AAS: Where do you see Andark in another 50 years’ time?

Andy: Hopefully still here! But where we go next is really down to Miriam. It will undoubtedly look di erent, and I hope it does - a business must evolve to survive. When I started Andark, I never imagined drifting from dive training into selling yachting gear, building a pool and digging a lake. Because we have always grown by adapting, I can’t predict the next 50 years. But as long as we keep innovating under Miriam’s leadership, Andark has a very bright future

Miriam: Looking ahead, reaching a 100-year milestone would be incredible. My immediate goal is to build on our community feel, creating an ultimate watersports hub where people can swim, paddleboard or learn to dive.

Retail-wise, we are expanding online - since your website is your shop window now - while maintaining our physical store. For specialised gear like wetsuits, you simply can’t beat seeing the kit in person and getting the right ﬁt. Technology and AI are moving fast, and while you cannot catch every wave, we are

committed to constantly evolving to improve our customer service every year - and every week.

AAS: Will you be at this year’s Southampton International Boat Show?

Andy/Miriam: Yes, absolutely – we are really looking forward to it! We will be bringing a full range of our top watersports and yachting equipment and clothing brands for visitors to browse, try and bag a deal, alongside our popular ‘try dive’ pool, giving show-goers as young as eight the chance to get in the water and be inspired by the world below the surface.

Outside the stand, we will also be taking to the Boating Academy stage for a live Q&A session hosted by Shelley Jory-Leigh - the British and World Recordbreaking champion powerboat racer and sports broadcaster. We would love for you to come along, hear a bit more of our story and ask any questions you have!

QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS

What technology do you wish you had invented?

■ Andy: Solar panels. Because everywhere you go, you would be constantly reminded of your brilliant invention.

■ Miriam: AI or the iPhone

Favourite country to visit on holiday?

■ Andy: Spain

■ Miriam: Thailand

What is your favourite sport to play/watch?

■ Andy: Football

■ Miriam: Show Jumping / Olympics

Moment in history you would love to have been at?

■ Andy: June 1943 on the French Riviera, witnessing Jacques Cousteau test the AquaLung for the very ﬁrst time. In that exact second, he did not just invent SCUBA divinghe unlocked two-thirds of our planet.

■ Miriam: I would go back to the ﬁrst London Olympics in 1908. I went to some of the 2012 Games, so it would be amazing to see the starting point - just to contrast how people trained back then and see how much the sporting world has evolved.

What is your favourite ﬁlm?

■ Andy: Al Pacino’s The Scent of a Woman.

■ Miriam: Notting Hill

If you could have dinner with one person, who would it be?

■ Andy: Jacques Cousteau

■ Miriam: Queen Elizabeth II, Andy Murray or John Whittaker

Andark Lake has evolved into a vibrant community hub

Andy Goddard during the early stages of Andark Lake

Andy and daughter Miriam enjoying Andark Lake

Creating the lake

HOT TOPIC

IS IT TIME TO RETHINK DINGHY OWNERSHIP?

FNick Ogden, Performance Marine Group Chairman, considers the future of boat ownership.

or generations, buying a dinghy has followed a familiar path.

You save up, make a signiﬁcant upfront investment, maintain the boat for years and, when the time comes, sell it privately before starting the process again.

That model has served sailing well for decades. But as consumer expectations evolve, it is worth asking whether it remains the best way to grow participation in our sport.

One of the biggest challenges facing sailing today is not enthusiasm. Everywhere I travel, I meet people who want to get on the water, learn to sail or return to the sport after time away. The challenge is often access.

For many sailors, particularly young adults and families, the upfront cost of ownership can be di cult to justify.

Sailing clubs face similar pressures when looking to replace ageing ﬂeets or expand training programmes. The result is that perfectly capable sailors can ﬁnd themselves delayed from taking the next step in their sailing journey.

FOCUS ON BUYING

The marine industry has traditionally focused on improving boats - making them faster, lighter, stronger and more

“The objective is not to change sailing, but to make it easier for more people to enjoy it”

durable. Those advances are important, but what is missing is the need to also look at the access and structure that sits around boat buying itself.

In almost every aspect of modern life, consumers now expect ﬂexibility. Whether it is cars, technology or ﬁnancial services, people increasingly value choice, transparency and predictable costs. Ownership is no longer always viewed as an all-or-nothing decision.

Sailing has been slower to adapt to that shift. That does not mean traditional ownership disappears… Far from it! Many sailors will always want to buy and own their boats outright, however creating additional pathways into ownership can only be positive for participation in the sport. We are also seeing a growing focus on value throughout the entire lifecycle of a boat. Buyers want conﬁdence not only in the quality of the product but in its long-

We discuss important topics with marine industry experts who share their opinions and top tips to help you get the most from your boating.

term value, maintenance requirements and future resale potential. Clubs are thinking in similar terms as they seek sustainable ways to manage ﬂeets over time.

TECH ADVANCES

Technology is beginning to help. Digital asset tracking, lifecycle management tools and more sophisticated insurance and ﬁnance models are creating opportunities to make ownership more transparent and predictable.

In many ways, the marine sector is starting to beneﬁt from innovations that have transformed other industries over the past two decades.

The insurance market is evolving too, in line with data and asset intelligence improving, providing a potential to develop smarter solutions that better support both individual sailors and club ﬂeets while reducing complexity and uncertainty.

Ultimately, if we want more people sailing and more clubs thriving, we need to continue looking beyond the boats themselves. The future growth of our sport will depend on how e ectively we remove barriers to participation and make access to equipment easier, more ﬂexible and more sustainable.

The Bruce Kirby Laser design became one of the world’s most successful dinghies because it made competitive sailing accessible to generations of sailors. As an industry, we should continue building on that principle.

The objective is not to change sailing, but to make it easier for more people to enjoy it. ■

www.performancemarine.group

BOAT BUYING AND VAT

Navigating VAT is one of the more complex - and often misunderstood - aspects of buying a boat...

Whether purchasing a new yacht or a preowned vessel, understanding how VAT applies is critical not only for compliance, but for protecting the longterm value of your investment.

We spoke to Stuart Brotherton, Head of Sales at Ancasta, to ﬁnd out why informed guidance* can make a substantial di erence when buying, or selling, a boat.

“VAT is not just a box-ticking exercise,” says Stuart. “It directly impacts where you can keep your boat, how you use it and ultimately its resale value. Getting it right from the outset avoids a lot of complications down the line.”

VAT BASICS: WHAT BUYERS NEED TO KNOW

In the UK, VAT is typically charged at 20 per cent on the purchase of new boats. If you are buying a brand-new yacht from a dealer or shipyard, VAT will almost always be payable if you are using your boat in the UK.

There are some exemptions that may apply when purchasing a new vessel, particularly for buyers who do not intend to keep their boat in the UK, provided strict conditions are met.

“At Ancasta, we work closely with clients and their advisors to ensure the structure aligns with how they plan to use the boat,” Stuart explains. “There is no one-size-ﬁts-all solution - it depends on cruising plans, residency and longterm intentions.”

For pre-owned boats, the situation can be a bit more involved. Many secondhand vessels on the market are described as ‘VAT paid’, meaning VAT has already been accounted for at some point in the vessel’s history. However, proving this status is essential.

“Buyers should never assume VAT status without documentation,” Stuart advises.

VAT should never be an afterthought

“Evidence such as original VAT invoices, import paperwork or customs clearance documents is crucial. Without it, you may face challenges when you come to sell.”

POST-BREXIT CONSIDERATIONS

Brexit added another layer of complexity. Boats now e ectively have separate VAT status in the UK and the EU.

This distinction matters for owners who intend to cruise across borders. Spending extended periods in EU waters, for example, will trigger Temporary Admission rules, which limit how long a UK owned vessel can remain there, whether VAT paid or not.

“Since Brexit, we have seen a signiﬁcant increase in buyers needing clarity on where their boat can be based and used,” continues Stuart.

“Planning ahead is essential. If you intend to cruise extensively in Europe, structuring the purchase correctly from day one is important.”

THE IMPORTANCE OF DUE DILIGENCE

When purchasing a pre-owned yacht, VAT status should form a key part of the due diligence process alongside surveys and title checks. Missing or incomplete VAT documentation can have real consequences.

“We always recommend a thorough paper trail review,” says Stuart. “If documentation is unclear, it is better to resolve those questions before purchase rather than after.”

LOOKING AHEAD TO RESALE

VAT status does not just a ect the initial purchase, it plays a signiﬁcant role in resale and we have found that boats with clearly documented VAT-paid status are generally more attractive to buyers.

“Thinking about resale from the outset is always wise,” Stuart notes. “Maintaining a clear VAT history, keeping original documentation

organised and understanding how your usage a ects tax status will all support a smoother sale when the time comes.”

EXPERT GUIDANCE MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

Given the evolving regulatory landscape, professional guidance is more important than ever. VAT rules are subject to change, and individual circumstances can vary widely.

“At Ancasta, our role is to simplify what can be a complex process,” Stuart concludes. “We combine market knowledge with practical experience to assist buyers and their advisors through the purchase process.”

For prospective buyers, the key takeaway is clear: VAT should never be an afterthought. With the right advice and careful planning, it can be managed e ectively - safeguarding your investment so you can just enjoy your time on the water.

Looking to purchase or upgrade? Contact the Ancasta team today and discover how their experienced brokers can support you in ﬁnding the right yacht. ■

*Information included in this article was correct at the time of printing.

Ancasta International Yacht Sales is one of Europe’s leading yacht brokerage and service companies. With over 40 years of experience and o ces across the UK and Europe, Ancasta supports owners through new and used yacht sales, commissioning and aftersales, helping them get the very best from life on the water. ancasta.com

For pre-owned boats, the VAT situation can be more involved

Ancasta always recommends a thorough paper trail review

Getting VAT right from the outset avoids complications down the line

Image: Christopher Ison

Onboard with BOATSHED

Every month Neil Chapman, founder of Boatshed.com, discusses important topics in the marine industry and o ers advice for buying and owning boats.

A giant inﬂatable unicorn trailing Neil’s boat is an unlikely reminder that the real joy of recreational boating often lies not in travelling, but in simply enjoying life on the water — an idea now shaping the My Floating Island concept.

If you had told me 10 years ago that I would one day be sitting aboard my boat, staring at a giant inﬂatable unicorn ﬂoating 20m astern, I would probably have suggested you get some fresh air. Yet here we are. When we are settled on a mooring or at anchor, the unicorn takes up station behind Superta and quietly becomes part of the scenery.

It bobs through squalls, survives tropical downpours and appears in photographs with alarming regularity. More than one passing dinghy has slowed down for a second look, and to be fair, it does rather stand out. I have spent enough time looking at it now to stop asking whether it is ridiculous. The answer is obviously yes, but the more interesting question is: is it useful? Surprisingly, it is. It serves as a floating seat, a swimming platform and flotation aid. And, because it is attached to some 20m of floating line, it has become a rather e ective safety device when currents start pushing people astern. Not bad for something that looks as though it should be attending a six-year-old’s birthday party.

Evolution

The strange thing about boats is that objects often evolve beyond their intended purpose, and lately I have begun to suspect the same may be true of boats themselves. One of the biggest assumptions in boating is that the boat exists to move; from marina to marina, anchorage to anchorage and island to island.

Yet when you spend enough time aboard, you realise that much of boating has very little to do with movement at all. The moments that stay with you are rarely the miles covered, it is the quiet bits:

■ morning co ee on deck

■ a swim before breakfast

■ watching ﬁsh under the boat

■ reading in the shade

■ listening to an anchorage settle down as the sun disappears behind the hills.

The boat stops being transport and becomes a place - a ﬂoating front garden, balcony and escape from whatever is happening ashore.

Floating island

For the past couple of years, we have been developing an idea that grows directly out of that observation. What if the destination is not the island or simply being on the water?

The project is called My Floating Island, and a few weeks ago we ran a trial in the British Virgin Islands. The concept is deliberately simple; take a secure mooring in a beautiful location, add a comfortable ﬂoating platform and provide solar power, basic facilities and a couple of kayaks.

Then leave the complicated bits out. No captain, navigation or boat handling course, and no pressure to go anywhere. What we discovered was interesting.

The kayaks became the transport system. Need ice, fancy lunch at the beach bar or want to explore the bay? Paddle ashore.

“Sometimes the destination is not over the horizon, sometimes you are already there”

The ﬂoating island itself hardly moved at all and nobody seemed particularly concerned about that. In fact, the less movement involved, the happier people seemed to be. This raises an interesting question. How many people actually want a boat? And how many simply want access to the water? The marine industry often assumes these are the same thing. I am not entirely convinced they are.

Water attraction

Many people love being near water without having any desire whatsoever to become sailors, skippers, navigators or boat owners. They do not want another hobby, qualiﬁcation or maintenance schedule. They simply want to wake up surrounded by water, jump in for a swim, paddle ashore for lunch and watch the sunset from a deck.

The water is the attraction - the boat is simply the interface. Perhaps that is why the unicorn keeps catching my attention. It does not go anywhere, it has no destination, mission or practical purpose, beyond ﬂoating around looking faintly absurd.

Yet it gets used every single day. People swim to it, sit on, lean against, grab hold, photograph and talk about it. Maybe that is the real test. Not whether something moves, but whether people enjoy spending time around it.

The destination

As I write this, the unicorn is still bobbing away behind Superta as we sit quietly on a mooring in the Caribbean. And I am beginning to suspect it may understand something about recreational boating that the rest of us occasionally miss.

Sometimes the destination is not over the horizon, sometimes you are already there.

If you are curious about the My Floating Island trial and where the idea might lead, take a look at myﬂoatingisland.boatshed.ai. We are still experimenting, but that is half the fun. ■

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CRUISING MATTERS

Cruise, Explore and Connect with the Cruising Association

The CA was founded in 1908 speciﬁcally to meet the needs of cruising sailors and provides services, information, help and advice to thousands of members worldwide.

For more information visit www.theca.org.uk.

Explore the Netherlands with your mast-up: Cruising Association launches a new guide to the Standing Mast Routes.

unrivalled cruising ground in their own right for yachts with a draught of up to 2.5m and mast height of up to 33.99m (route dependent).

Up-to-date information is essential, as passage planning can be a ected by frequent bridge openings and route changes. This new Cruising the Standing Mast Routes of the Netherlands guide has been developed to address this need, providing detailed, practical information to support safe and enjoyable cruising.

The Cruising Association has launched a comprehensive new guide, Cruising the Standing Mast Routes of the Netherlands, o ering practical advice and inspiration for yachts cruising the country’s unique inland waterways without lowering their masts.

Each year, hundreds of yachts head to the Netherlands - the only country in Europe where yachts can cruise extensively inland without lowering their masts - visiting such historic cities as Leiden, Delft and Amsterdam, as well as the lakes of Friesland.

More than a transit route

The Standing Mast Routes comprise more than 1,000km of navigable waterways. While many yachts use them as a convenient inland transit route to and from the Baltic, they represent an

It complements the CA’s existing Netherlands titles, Through the Netherlands via the Standing Mast Routes, aimed at transit passages, and 50 Great Cruising Routes in the Netherlands, designed primarily for motorboats with a maximum air draft of 4.0m.

“For most sailors the mast-up route through the Netherlands is like a motorway, simply an inland route to and from the Baltic, but this publication is an eye-opener,” said Jules Dussek, Secretary of the European Inland Waterways Section (EIWS).

“There is so much to explore in inland Holland that I had never realised is open to boats with masts. I particularly like the detours section, it is like leaving a main road and discovering charming villages. For anyone visiting the Netherlands, this guide is a must.”

What the guide covers

Produced by the CA’s European Inland Waterways Section and authored by Dutch members Machiel Lambooij and Remko Sinck, the 275-page, full-colour guide covers all practical aspects of cruising the routes.

Topics include immigration and customs, sea approaches and access points, navigation and charts, bridges and locks, as well as tidal and weather considerations. The guide also highlights alternative routes, refuelling points and navigation rules, alongside recommended moorings, facilities, historic cities and towns, local attractions and transport links.

How to buy

Available in both digital and print formats, the guide includes extensive hyperlinks for further information and will be regularly updated by CA members cruising in the region. As with other CA inland waterways guides, purchasers are eligible for a 15 per cent discount on ﬁrst-year membership* (valid until 31 December 2026). Members enjoy complimentary access to the full digital library of guides.

Cruising the Standing Mast Routes of the Netherlands is available for £39.95 (plus P&P for the print edition) via the CA online shop at www.shop.theca.org.uk or scan the QR code.

*First year of membership, when paying by Direct Debit - for one or two members at the same address.

MORE EUROPEAN INLAND WATERWAYS GUIDES

The EIWS produces six further guides: An Introduction to the European Inland Waterways, Cruising the Inland Waterways of France and Belgium, Through France via the Inland Waterways, Cruising the Dutch Islands of the Waddenzee, The River Moselle/ Mosel and The German Rhine as well as 17 guides to moorings on the French rivers and canals.

Further information is available at www.theca.org.uk/p/info/ cruising-areas/eiw

Free Guidance Notes

This CA also publishes a series of free guidance notes covering:

■ Coping with Emergencies on the European Inland Waterways

■ Trip planning on the European Inland Waterways

■ Sources of information on the European inland waterways

■ Coping with Emergencies on the European inland waterways

■ Planning for long-term cruising

■ Wintering in the European Inland Waterways

■ VHF and ATIS (Automatic Transmitter Identiﬁcation System)

■ CEVNI rules

■ Sources of Information on the Netherlands Standing Mast Routes (SMR)

■ Amsterdam vignette for pleasure craft

■ Using the Waterkaarten Nederlands app

■ Tips for cruising the French inland waterways

■ Transiting the Kiel Canal

All the CA guidance notes include extensive links to a wide range of further resources on inland cruising in Europe and can be downloaded as free PDFs at: www.theca.org.uk/p/info/cruisingareas/eiw or scan the QR code.

the Cruising Association

Image: James Littlewood

1 H aemorrhage (5)

4 Study of the physical world (7)

8 Of horses (6)

10 Satisfy completely (4)

11 Pierce with a sharp stake (6)

12 Press down tightly (4)

13 Expression of pain (4)

14 Rupture in smooth muscle tissue (6)

17 Famous tower in Paris (6)

20 Eject in large quantities (4)

21 Room access (4)

23 Person in a group (6)

24 Musical composition for one instrument (4)

25 Peril (6)

26 Popular snack, often salted (7)

27 Written composition (5)

1 Flaw that spoils the appearance of something (7)

2 Imaginary line around the Earth (7)

3 Material for jeans (5)

5 Not mentally confused (5-6)

6 Let up (4,3)

7 Thin skin at the base of a ﬁngernail (7)

9 Prepared position for siting a weapon (11)

15 Detonate (7)

16 Celestial object seen as a narrow waxing crescent (3,4)

18 Looks around for food (7)

19 Christian sacrament commemorating the Last Supper (7)

22 Make speeches (5)

Each letter of the alphabet has been given a di erent number. Substitute numbers for letters to make words to complete the puzzle. The check-box and letters either side of the grid may help you keep track.

Using the letters in the wheel, you have ten minutes to ﬁnd as many words as possible of three or more letters, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns.

Each word must contain the central letter and no letters can be used more than once per word unless they appear in di erent sections of the wheel.

There is at least one nine-letter

see you

Our furry friends love spending time on the water as much as we do! Does your pet love the water too? Send us your photos! editor@allatsea.co.uk As well as featuring in the paper your pet might

Taken at St Katharine Docks, Timmy has got his new lifejacket on but he is not thrilled...

Spud on dog watch in the Firth of Clyde, on a friend’s yacht motoring toward the Ayrshire coast.

Tilly has joined the team at Cardi Bay Yacht Club; she is owned by one of the o ce sta and has become a beloved part of the team! Molly is enjoying time onboard at Loch Ness.

Working Cocker Spaniel Willow keeping an eye out while heading home to the Hamble.

Daisy is patiently waiting for her young owner Harriet.

This beautiful American Akita, Knu es, has lived aboard since she was eight-weeks-old.

This cute pair are ready for another day on the water.

can

Peggy! She loved being on deck last summer; her favourite spot is hiding behind the dinghy.

Photos of the Month

Send in your photos and you could be in All at Sea, on our social pages or in our weekly newsletter. Send entries, with a caption, to editor@allatsea.co.uk. Each month’s winning photo will be included in the Photo of the Year reader vote.

 Not so smooth sailing… also from Rod Chadwick.

 Weekend Stokes Bay Sailing Club Open with lots of front to back manoeuvres. Thanks to Rod Chadwick.

Thanks to Idris Martin for this great photo taken at Portland Marina.

 We love this from one of 2025’s winning photographers, Steve Potten.

Also from Idris Martin, a wonderful view over Portland Marina.

Thanks to George Wilson for sending in this fantastic pic for Photos of the Month.

A super picture of ‘Encore’ a Beneteau 25.7 taken during a Parkstone Yacht Club Monday evening race in Poole Harbour. The picture was taken on the ﬁnish line by Andrew Pearce and sent in by Martin Cowell, owner of Encore. THIS MONTH’S WINNING PHOTO

 Easter Monday sunrise at the basin between the two lifting bridges in Poole Harbour. There might not be many lifts at this time of the morning, but Louise Facer says it is still worth coming in to see this every day.

 MV Ambition departing from Portsmouth. Thank you to Mike Critchley for sharing this photo.

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THE CHANGING FACE OF MARINAS

How Otium is redeﬁning the modern marina experience.

Gone are the days when a marina was little more than a row of cleats, a diesel pump and a weather-beaten harbourmaster’s o ce. Today’s boaters expect much more than somewhere to keep their boat.

Marinas have become destinations in their own right, o ering everything from waterfront dining and social events to concierge services, watersports and thriving boating communities.

As customer expectations continue to evolve, marina operators are ﬁnding new ways to add value beyond the berth, creating experiences that make boating more rewarding both on and o the water.

ADAPTING TO CHANGE

The shift from purely functional home berth to a genuine lifestyle destination reﬂects a broader change in what boaters expect. Alongside secure berthing, maintenance facilities and fuel, today’s customers increasingly value convenience, ﬂexibility and a stronger sense of community. For marina operators, that means creating places

where people genuinely want to spend time, whether through waterfront hospitality, events, watersports, ﬂexible cruising opportunities or services that make boating simpler and more rewarding.

One area attracting greater focus is customer membership. As boat owners look for more value from their leisure time, marina operators are exploring new ways to extend the beneﬁts of berthing across the wider boating experience.

For MDL Marinas, that thinking led to the creation of Otium, a membership programme designed to extend the value of being part of its marina network far beyond simply providing a berth.

MORE THAN A REWARDS SCHEME

Launched in 2020, Otium was developed to recognise that today’s boat owners interact with their marina in far more ways than simply paying for berthing.

The concept behind Otium is simple: reward customers for spending time on the water and give them greater ﬂexibility in how they use the beneﬁts associated with

marina life. Fuel, visitor stays, maintenance, boatyard services, cruising and hospitality all form part of the wider boating experience, and Otium was created to reward customers across that entire journey.

Members earn points on MDL products and services, which can then be redeemed across a wide range of boating-related purchases and experiences. For some, that means reducing annual berthing costs.

Others choose to o set fuel bills during a busy cruising season, contribute towards maintenance work, pay for visitor stays across the network or enjoy experiences with Otium partner businesses.

Today, members can reinvest the rewards they earn into the experiences and services that matter most to them, allowing Otium to support a wide range of boating lifestyles.

GROWING PARTNERSHIPS

The programme takes its name from the Latin word for leisure time, reﬂecting MDL’s wider ambition to help customers make more of their boating lifestyle.

Since launching, Otium has grown into one of the largest customer membership programmes within the UK marina sector. More than 36,000 members now use the scheme across MDL’s network of 18 marinas, with millions of reward points earned and redeemed, demonstrating how regularly customers have incorporated the programme into their everyday boating.

Otium has also evolved beyond MDL’s own services. Today, members can redeem rewards with more than 50 partner businesses, spanning sailing schools, yacht brokers, marine service providers, waterside restaurants, hotels, retailers and charter companies. Wellknown partners such as Harbour Hotel

Southampton, Renegade Brewery and Desty Marine illustrate the growing diversity of the network and the range of ways members can use their rewards. The growing partner network reﬂects the changing role of marinas themselves. Increasingly, they are becoming hubs for leisure, hospitality and marine services, creating opportunities for both customers and the businesses that operate alongside them.

EXPANDING CRUISING OPPORTUNITIES

The scale of MDL’s cruising network is another example of how marinas are creating greater ﬂexibility for boat owners. Through MDL’s cruising bundles, members have access to up to 160 marinas across Europe, highlighting the growing importance that many boat owners place on the freedom to cruise further aﬁeld without being tied to a

single home marina. Otium o ers a unique membership beneﬁt within the UK marina sector, giving MDL customers more ways to enjoy their time on the water.

THE FUTURE OF THE MODERN MARINA

As marinas continue to evolve beyond their traditional role, customer expectations are likely to evolve alongside them. Boat owners are increasingly seeking experiences and a stronger sense of community alongside the practical services marinas have always provided.

Membership programmes such as Otium demonstrate how the marina industry is responding to those changing expectations. By extending value beyond the berth and rewarding customers throughout their boating journey, they help strengthen relationships between marinas, customers and local businesses while encouraging people to make the most of life on the water.

For MDL Marinas, Otium is more than a rewards programme. It represents a broader shift in how marinas create value for their customers, recognising that the modern marina experience extends far beyond the pontoon itself. ■

For more information on Otium: www.mdlmarinas.co.uk/otium

MARINA FOCUS

LYMINGTON YACHT HAVEN

One of the UK’s ﬁnest marinas with stunning cruising grounds.

As far as prime locations, quality and convenience of a marina go, few marinas in the UK match Lymington Yacht Haven. The first marina you arrive at when entering Lymington River, luxury facilities, washrooms and exceptional levels

of service await yachtsmen. With the Georgian town on one side and the nature reserve on the other, the Yacht Haven also offers a combination of seaside township as well as peace and tranquillity which is hard to come by in the popular waters of the Solent.

ABOUT THE YACHT HAVEN

First opened in 1972, Lymington Yacht Haven remains family-owned and part of the highly acclaimed Yacht Havens Group as one of nine marinas within their network. As the Group’s ﬂagship marina, Lymington o ers a vast array of services to resident and visiting boats including boat lifting and launching, on-site chandlery, boatbuilding, repairs and maintenance, 24/7 fuel and service, yacht riggers, brokerage and more.

FOOD & DRINK

Recent car park upgrades provide added convenience with all pontoon berths serviced by water, Fibre Wi-Fi to berth, electricity (16, 32 and 64amp available) and the concrete decked pontoons provide a safe and secure platform for access ashore.

A thriving community resonates around the pontoons, with a strong yacht racing culture as well as cruises in company for berth holders to visit Solent destinations. Local yacht clubs provide year-round racing series while the marina is also extremely popular for charter groups; resulting in a vibrant and lively culture

INDOOR BOAT STORAGE IN LYMINGTON

New for 2026, Lymington Yacht Haven now provides indoor storage for boats, trailers and cars at Matford Farm, just a few minutes from the marina. Ideal for motorboats on trailers or winter yacht storage, this ﬂexible storage solution provides a new option for boat owners in the western Solent. Suitable for boats up to 9m LOA and 3.3m high on trailers. Visit www.Matfordfarm.com to ﬁnd out more.

SAILING FROM LYMINGTON

Cruising distances from Lymington:

■ Yarmouth 3nm

■ Hurst Castle 3.5nm

■ Colwell Bay 4.5nm

■ Newton Creek 5nm

■ Alum Bay 6.5nm

■ Freshwater Bay 7.5nm

■ Beaulieu River 7.5nm

■ Cowes 9.5nm

■ Hamble River 15nm

Located on the ﬁrst ﬂoor of the main marina building, the ever popular Haven Bar & Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week with its terrace providing great vibes and stunning panoramic views over the Solent.

Open daily from 9am, the popular eatery serves ﬁne local produce, freshly cooked with a smile, from morning co ees to sundowners, hearty breakfasts to Sunday lunch. Visit www.havenrestaurant.co.uk to ﬁnd out more and book a table.

BUSINESSES ON-SITE

■ Ancasta – yacht brokerage for Beneteau Power & Sail and used boat brokerage

■ Nick Cox Chandlery – chandlery and provisions

FACTFILE

■ 650 Full tide pontoon berths

■ Annual, seasonal and visitor berthing

■ Berthing for boats up to 30m LOA

■ 24/7 sta and service

■ Free parking for customers

■ Ropewalk Marine – Volva Penta dealer and service centre, and all marine engineering

■ Jeremy Rogers – yacht repair and maintenance, and Contessa 32 new builds

■ Ocean Rigging – All types of marine rigging services

■ Haven Covers – Bespoke boat covers and upholstery

■ Punton Electrics – Domestic, commercial and marine electronics

■ Lymington YachtCharters

– Skippered and bareboat yacht charter

■ Nimbus Boats UK – Broker for Nimbus, Axopar and used boat brokerage

■ Lymington Boat Club –Membership boat club

■ Solent RIB Charter –Skippered and bareboat RIB hire

FURTHER INFORMATION

VHF Ch 80 calling Lymington Yacht Haven

King’s Saltern Road, Lymington Hampshire SO41 3QD

T: 01590 677071

■ Studland Bay 20nm

■ Portsmouth Harbour 22nm

■ On-the-water fuel selling petrol and diesel

■ Minimum 2.5m below Chart Datum

■ 60 ton boat hoist and boatyard storage

W: www.yachthavens.com

E: lymington@yachthavens.com www.Facebook.com/ lymingtonyachthaven www.Instagram.com/yacht_havens

BUCKLER’S HARD YACHT HARBOUR

Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour is an award-winning marina nestled on the scenic Beaulieu River in Hampshire.

Located in the heart of the New Forest, the Beaulieu River has been under the careful custodianship of the Montagu family for over four centuries which has helped preserve its unique character. Recent investment has further strengthened the river’s reputation as one of the South Coast’s premier

boating destinations. In 2025, a £2 million transformation of the 54-year-old boatshed was completed, building on the significant expansion of Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour in 2021. The modernised facility reflects the marina’s commitment to providing high-quality marine infrastructure while supporting the continued growth of businesses operating on the river.

FACILITIES & BERTHING

Holding an esteemed Five Gold Anchor rating, Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour o ers far more than a place to berth. Nestled on the Beaulieu River, the marina combines 211 fully serviced walk-ashore berths, over 300 moorings

ACCESS

The Beaulieu River is centrally located on the Solent, ideally positioned near the popular sailing hubs of Cowes, Lymington and Hamble. For those arriving by road, it is just 25 minutes from the M27 motorway, o ering convenient access from across the South Coast.

When approaching by boat from the east, keep the lit south cardinal to starboard o Stone Point and steer to the vicinity of a lit, yellow special buoy close to the bearing to run in on. The bearing to run in on is 324° guided by the transit marks, the front mark is port post No.2 and the back mark is Lepe House. The journey continues with a picturesque 3.5nm cruise upstream to reach Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour.

Visitors are welcome to enter the Beaulieu River at any time, day or night. However, marina berths are only available with an advance booking. Upon arrival, all visiting vessels should report to the Harbour

and excellent boating facilities with a genuine sense of community. As an independent marina, Buckler’s Hard has built a reputation for its welcoming atmosphere, attracting visitors from across the South Coast and beyond.

A calendar of popular pop-up events,

Master’s O ce via VHF channel 68 using the call sign “Beaulieu River Radio”.

CRUISING

Large sections of the Beaulieu River and its banks are part of the North Solent Nature Reserve which restricts public access, so hop aboard your boat to see the wide range of habitats and wildlife it supports. Highlights:

Mulberry Dock - as you head downstream you will pass the old oyster beds where a ﬂoating dock was built for use in the D-Day landings.

Gins - now home to the Royal Southampton Yacht Club, Gins was once bustling with activity as the monks of Beaulieu Abbey used to keep their ﬁshing boats and trading ships there.

OUT AND ABOUT

Nestled just a short walk from the marina, the historic village of Buckler’s Hard o ers a fascinating glimpse into the

social gatherings and riverside activities brings together berth holders, mooring holders, visitors and local businesses throughout the year, creating a vibrant hub both on and o the water.

Recent improvements, including WiFi and a black water pump-out facility, free of charge, complement a growing range of amenities. These include waterfront workspaces, marina shop and reception, alongside a variety of services provided by on-site and approved tenants.

With the historic village of Buckler’s Hard, its museum, pub, hotel, restaurant and tearoom just a short stroll away, it is easy to see why Buckler’s Hard continues to attract boaters seeking not just outstanding facilities, but a unique and welcoming riverside community.

area’s shipbuilding heritage, having once supplied vessels for Nelson’s Navy. Visitors can explore this rich maritime history at the Buckler’s Hard Museum and its reconstructed 18th-century cottages.

At the end of the village high street, the Master Builder’s House provides an excellent waterside dining experience. Henry’s o ers a relaxed pub atmosphere with hearty dishes and local ales, while the new covered terrace enjoys stunning views across the Beaulieu River. Seasonal summer specials showcase the best local seafood, including fresh oysters, dressed crab and delicately prepared ﬁsh dishes.

Nearby Beaulieu is home to the National Motor Museum and a selection of independent shops, while the wider New Forest o ers countless attractions, from gardens and museums to family-friendly days out. Brockenhurst station, around eight miles away, provides direct rail links to London Waterloo and Weymouth.

BUSINESSES

AT THE MARINA

Boat owners are welcome to use suppliers of their choice, provided they comply with the marina guidelines and register with the Marina Reception. Alternatively, the marina has a list of approved suppliers known for their high standards of service.

ON-SITE TENANTS:

BOAT BUILDERS & BOAT MAINTENANCE: Cooks Maritime Craftsmen & Yacht Surveys - Fully qualiﬁed and insured. Pre-purchase, insurance surveys. A wide range of repairs and reﬁts carried out and craft maintained. www.cooksmaritimesurveys.com

Harve & Sam Fletcher - Traditional Boat Builders and ShipwrightsProject management, wood repairs and rebuilds, hand painting and vanishing, teak deck restoration. 07716 916856 / 07558 575611

MARINE ENGINEERS: Marine Tec Ltd - Inboard and outboard engine service and repair. info@marine-tec.co.uk

UPHOLSTERY: Reynolds Marine InteriorsBespoke marine interiors, covers, upholstery, curtains, headlining. jordanmorrisreynolds@icloud.com

ON-SITE BROKERAGE: Parker Adams Boat Saleswww.parker-adams.co.uk

RECOMMENDATION

“For us, Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour is far more than a marina. It is a friendly and welcoming community built around a shared love of boating. Nestled in the heart of the New Forest on the beautiful Beaulieu River, it feels less like a marina and more like a way of life. While the harbour has undergone extensive modernisation to create outstanding facilities for today’s boat owners, it has carefully retained the charm and character that make it unique. What sets Buckler’s Hard apart is the people. The staff, craftsmen and berth holders create

FURTHER INFORMATION

Harbour Master: Wendy Stowe

Deputy Harbour Master: Adam Lewis

E: harbour.o ce@beaulieu.co.uk

T: 01590 616200

W: www.beaulieuriver.co.uk

APPROVED TENANTS (OFF-SITE):

BOAT BUILDERS & MAINTENANCE

Jeremy Rogers - Boat repair, maintenance and refurbishment. www.jeremyrogers.co.uk

ROC Marine SolutionsSystem Engineering, anti-fouling services, running gear check and cleaning services, complete yacht reﬁt management. www.rocmarinesolutions.co.uk

MARINE ELECTRONICS: S.D. Electronics - Marine electronics and electrical engineer. Easteugh.pipistrelle@talktalk.net

MARINE ENGINEERS: Riverbank Marine ServicesMobile marine engineer. Inboard and outboard engine service and repair. www.riverbankmarineservices.co.uk

Ropewalk Marine - A marine engineering business o ering a one stop solution for all boat and yacht engine sales, repairs, parts and servicing. www.ropewalkmarine.com

VALETING SERVICES:

Solent Yacht Care LimitedSpecialist valeting services including polishing and waxing, teak renovation, antifouling, anode replacement. www.solentyachtcare.co.uk

YACHT RIGGING: Ocean Rigging - All-round ocean rigging service. www.oceanrigging.co.uk

something special, and the Boatyard Bar is arguably the finest watering hole in the Solent.”

MARINA FOCUS

Dewi Thomas – Môrial

CONWY MARINA

Built in 1994 and operated by boatfolk, it is now part of the Premier Marinas family following its acquisition in September 2025. The marina sits just a stone’s throw away from the medieval town of Conwy and its historic castle, with Snowdonia National Park acting as a spectacular backdrop. Well-equipped and full of character, the

MARINA FOCUS

Situated on the stunning North Wales coast, Conwy Marina o ers boaters an exceptional base for short stays, seasonal berthing and longer adventures aﬂoat.

marina has long been a favourite with berth holders and visitors using it as a springboard to explore the wonders of the Irish Sea and North Wales coast. Recent recognitions include the renewal of its 5 Gold Anchors accreditation and TYHA Clean Marina status, underlining both the quality of the facilities and the team’s ongoing commitment to service, sustainability and responsible marina management.

FACILITIES & BERTHING

Conwy Marina operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, providing more than 500 fully serviced pontoon berths, with the capacity for vessels up to 22 metres in length. The marina has a draft of around three metres at low water and is well protected from the elements.

Visitors and residents beneﬁt from a practical mix of facilities including a fully equipped boatyard, hoist and lift-out services, fuel berth, 24-hour security, shower and toilet blocks, laundry facilities and WiFi. An on-site chandlery and experienced marine specialists are available for advice, maintenance and repair support.

A recent addition is the Boatshed, o ering berth holders a premium undercover storage option for winter as

well as a sheltered space for maintenance and repairs. The marina is also home to Orca II, a replica of the famous Jaws boat, which has become a local talking point and visitor attraction.

After a day on the water, sailors can unwind at The Mulberry, a popular restaurant and bar overlooking the marina, known for hearty food, relaxed service and excellent views across the berths.

ACCESS

Conwy Marina is easily reached by land and sea. By road, it is located just o the A55, giving straightforward access from North Wales, the North West and the Midlands, including Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.

Conwy’s railway station is nearby, with links along the North Wales coast and onward connections across the UK.

Approaching by sea, the marina lies just inside the Conwy Estuary, where wellmarked navigational aids guide visiting yachts towards the entrance. The marina can be accessed approximately three hours before and after high tide, with a dedicated waiting pontoon outside the marina to allow vessels to safely wait for a su cient tide. Boaters should remain aware of local currents and conditions at the estuary entrance. Once inside, the sheltered waters and support from the experienced marina team make arrival and berthing straightforward.

CRUISING

Conwy is an excellent base for cruising the North Wales coast and along the River Conwy, o ering rewarding passages for both day trips and longer adventures.

Entering the Conwy Estuary to access the River Conwy requires careful passage planning, with shifting sandbanks, tidal streams and narrow passageways beyond the mouth of the estuary - local knowledge and up-to-date charts are essential. Once inside, boaters are rewarded with sheltered but challenging waters and a well-protected harbour.

Heading into open waters from Conwy, popular cruising routes include the dramatic coastline towards Great Orme, crossings to Anglesey and passages through the Menai Strait, renowned for its stunning scenery and challenging tidal conditions.

Favourable tides can also open up longer cruises towards the Isle of Man or the Cumbrian coast. Whether you are looking for a relaxed coastal sail or a more ambitious passage, Conwy provides an ideal starting point, with varied cruising grounds right on its doorstep.

OUT AND ABOUT

Stepping ashore, the medieval town of Conwy is packed with history, character and places to explore.

Conwy Castle and the ancient town walls are must-sees, with far-reaching views over the estuary, marina and surrounding coastline. Plas Mawr, a beautifully preserved Elizabethan townhouse, o ers another fascinating glimpse into the town’s past, while the wider Conwy Valley is bursting with scenic villages, walking routes and easy access to Eryri National Park.

Food lovers are well served too.

Signatures and The Erskine Arms are highly recommended by locals and o er regionally sourced dishes,

RECOMMENDATION

“If you are staying at Conwy Marina, a visit to the town’s medieval castle is a must. The views over the estuary are incredible. For a memorable meal, The Erskine Arms o ers a cosy atmosphere with hearty, locally sourced dishes.

“And if you are a nature lover, do not miss a boat trip around Pu n Island o the coast of Anglesey – it is a fantastic way to see seals and seabirds in their natural habitat. Whether you are here

while The Mulberry provides a more casual marina-side option and is often the host to berth holder parties and entertainment. Conwy is also famous for its mussels, making freshly caught seafood a highlight for many visitors.

Local shops and services are available in and around the town, with larger supermarkets and transport links a short distance away.

BUSINESSES AT THE MARINA

The Mulberry – Restaurant and bar with views across Conwy Marina. Yacht Shop – This is an on-site marine chandlery supplying boating essentials.

for a short visit or a longer stay, Conwy Marina has something for everyone.”

Jon Roberts, Marina Manager at Conwy Marina

FURTHER INFORMATION

Conwy Marina

Ellis Way, Conwy LL32 8GU

T: 01492 593000

E: Conwy@boatfolk.co.uk

W: www.boatfolk.co.uk/conwymarina-wales

Image: Jenna Foxton

MARINA GUIDE

LONDON

ST KATHARINE DOCKS

Manager: Paul Atkins

50 St. Katharine’s Way, London, E1W 1LA

T: 0207 264 5312

E: marina.reception@skdocks.co.uk

W: ww.skdocks.co.uk

SOUTH WEST

PREMIER MARINAS FALMOUTH

Manager: Mark Evans

North Parade, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 2TD

T: 01326 316620

E: falmouth@premiermarinas.com

W: www.premiermarinas.com

PORT PENDENNIS MARINA

Manager: Mark Webster

Challenger Quay, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3YL

T: 01326 211211

E: marina@portpendennis.com

W: www.portpendennis.com

MYLOR YACHT HARBOUR

Manager/contact: Culum Matheson

Mylor Churchtown, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5UF

T: 01326 372 121

E: marina@mylor.com

W: www.mylor.com

MAYFLOWER MARINA

Manager: Charles Bush

KING POINT MARINA

Marina Manager: Mark Brimacombe

Brunel Way, Milbay, Plymouth, PL1 3EF

T: 01752 424297

E: marina@kingpointmarina.co.uk

W: www.kingpointmarina.co.uk

PREMIER MARINAS NOSS ON DART

Manager: Mike Smith Bridge Road, Kingswear, Dartmouth Devon, TQ6 0EA T: 01803 839087

E: noss@premiermarinas.com

W: www.premiermarinas.com

DOLPHIN BOATYARD

Galmpton Creek, Brixham, Devon T: 01803 842424

E: info@dolphinhaven.co.uk

W: www.dolphin-haven.co.uk

MDL BRIXHAM MARINA

Manager: Martyn Sherratt

Berry Head Road, Devon, TQ5 9BW T: 01803 882929

E: brixham@mdlmarinas.co.uk

W: www.brixhammarina.co.uk

MDL TORQUAY MARINA

Manager: Martyn Sherratt Torquay, Devon, TQ2 5EQ T: 01803 200210

E: torquaymarina@mdlmarinas.co.uk

W: www.torquaymarina.co.uk

PARKSTONE BAY MARINA

Manager: Henry Cobley Turks Lane, Poole, Dorset, BH14 8EW

T: 01202 747 857

E: info@parkstonebay.com

W: www.parkstonebay.com

POOLE QUAY BOAT HAVEN

Manager: Kerrie Gray

Poole Town Quay, Poole,Dorset, BH15 1HJ

T/F: 01202 649488

E: info@poolequayboathaven.co.uk

W: www.poolequayboathaven.co.uk

PORT OF POOLE MARINA

Manager: Kerrie Gray

Poole Quay Boat Haven, Poole Town Quay, Poole, Dorset, BH15 1HJ

T/F: 01202 649 488

E: info@poolequayboathaven.co.uk

W: www.poolequayboathaven.co.uk

SALTERNS MARINA LTD

Manager: Robert Golden

40 Salterns Way, Lilliput, Poole, Dorset, BH14 8JR

T: 01202 709971

E: reception@salterns.co.uk

W: www.salterns.co.uk

MDL COBB’S QUAY MARINA

Manager: Kelly Trewern

Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset, BH15 4EL

T: 01202 674299

E: cobbsquay@mdlmarinas.co.uk

D-Marin has conﬁrmed that its shareholder CVC has reached an agreement with InfraVia, a private equity ﬁrm in Europe, for InfraVia to acquire the company. The transaction is expected to be completed in 2026, subject to customary approvals.

The agreement represents a new chapter for D-Marin since it was acquired by CVC in 2020, as it continues to evolve and invest in its marina network across the Mediterranean.

InfraVia brings signiﬁcant experience investing in transportation, maritime and leisure infrastructure and will support the company in accelerating its digitalisation initiatives and pursuing selective growth opportunities.

Oliver Dörschuck, CEO of D-Marin, said: “InfraVia has consistently demonstrated clear alignment with D-Marin’s customer-ﬁrst philosophy and our purpose of enriching the yachting experience, and we are well positioned together to accelerate the next phase of our growth.

MDL OCEAN VILLAGE MARINA

Manager: Lauren McCann

Marina O ce, 2 Channel Way, Southampton, Hampshire, SO14 3TG

T: 023 8022 9385

E: oceanvillage@mdlmarinas.co.u

“Our partnership with CVC has been instrumental in shaping D-Marin into the business it is today, and the strong foundation it helped build is what powers our next chapter.”

MDL MERCURY YACHT HARBOUR

Manager: Debbie Burns SatchellLane, Hamble, Southampton, Hampshire, SO31 4HQ T: 023 8045 5994

WATCHET MARINA

Plymouth, Devon, PL1 4LS

T: 01752 556633

E: info@mayﬂowermarina.co.uk

W: www.mayflowermarina.co.uk

PLYMOUTH YACHT HAVEN

Manager: Steve Cox Shaw Way, Mount Batten, Devon, PL9 9XH

T: 01752 404231

E: plymouth@yachthavens.com

W: www.yachthavens.com

YACHT HAVEN QUAY, PLYMOUTH

Manager: Richard Brown Breakwater Road, Plymouth, Devon, PL9 7FE

T: 01752 481190

E: boatyard@yachthavenquay.com

W: www.yachthavens.com

MDL QUEEN ANNE’S BATTERY

Manager: Alex Warner Plymouth, Devon, PL4 0LP

T: 01752 671142

E: qab@mdlmarinas.co.uk

W: www.queenannesbattery.co.uk

SUTTON HARBOUR MARINA

Marina Manager: Mark Brimacombe

Sutton Harbour, Plymouth PL4 0DW

T: 01752 204702

E: marina@sutton-harbour.co.uk

W: www.suttonharbourmarina.com

Manager: Matt Driscoll Harbour O ce, Watchet, TA23 0AQ T: 01984 322230

E: watchetmarina@westernmarinas.co.uk

W: www.westernmarinas.co.uk

PREMIER WEYMOUTH MARINA

Manager: Neil Bedwell Commercial Road, Weymouth Dorset, DT4 8NA T: 01305 767576

E: weymouth@premiermarinas.com

W: www.premiermarinas.com

WEYMOUTH HARBOUR

Manager/contact - Ed Carter 13 Custom House Quay, Weymouth T: 01305 838423

E: weymouthharbour@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk

W: www.weymouth-harbour.co.uk

PREMIER PORTLAND MARINA

Manager: Paul Swain Osprey Quay, Portland, Dorset, DT5 1DX

T: 01305 866190

E: portland@premiermarinas.com

W: www.premiermarinas.com

LAKE YARD MARINA

Manager/contact - Jenny Burrows

Lake Drive, Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset, BH15 4DT

T: 01202 674531

E: o ce@lakeyard.com

W: www.lakeyard.com

W: www.cobbsquaymarina.co.uk

LYMINGTON YACHT HAVEN

Manager: Rupert Wagsta

Kings Saltern Road, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 3QD

T: 01590 677071

E: lymington@yachthavens.com

W: www.yachthavens.com

BUCKLER’S HARD YACHT HARBOUR

Harbour Master: Wendy Stowe

Harbour Master’s O ce, Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour, Hampshire, SO42 7XB

T: 01590 616200

E: harbour.o ce@beaulieu.co.uk

W: www.beaulieuriver.co.uk

HAVEN QUAY, LYMINGTON

Manager: Matt Toms

Haven Quay Dry Stack, Mill Lane, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 9AZ

T: 01590 677072

E: havenquay@yachthavens.com

W: www.yachthavens.com

DEACONS MARINA BY BOATFOLK

Contact name: Julie Spensley-Corﬁeld

Bursledon Bridge, Southampton, SO31 8AZ

T: 023 80 402253

E: deacons@boatfolk.co.uk

W: www.boatfolk.co.uk

MDL HYTHE MARINA VILLAGE

Manager: Debbie Scott

The Lock Building, Shamrock Way Hythe, Southampton, Hampshire, SO45 6DY

T: 023 8020 7073

E: hythe@mdlmarinas.co.uk

W: www.hythemarinavillage.co.uk

W: www.oceanvillagemarina.co.uk

MDL SHAMROCK QUAY

Manager: Barry Radband William Street, Northam, Southampton Hampshire, SO14 5QL

T: 023 8022 9461

E: shamrockquay@mdlmarinas.co.uk

W: www.shamrockquay.co.uk

MDL SAXON WHARF

Manager: Lauren McCann

Lower York Street, Northam, Southampton, SO14 5QF

T: 023 8033 9490

E: saxonwharf@mdlmarinas.co.uk

W: www.saxonwharf.co.uk

MDL HAMBLE POINT MARINA

Manager: Dominic Brown School Lane, Hamble, Southampton Hampshire, SO31 4NB

T: 023 8045 2464

E: hamblepoint@mdlmarinas.co.uk

W: www.hamblepointmarina.co.uk

MDL PORT HAMBLE MARINA

Manager: Bertie Marsh

Satchell Lane, Hamble, Southampton Hampshire, SO31 4QD

T: 023 8045 274,1

E: porthamble@mdlmarinas.co.uk

W:www.porthamblemarina.co.uk

TOWN QUAY MARINA

Associated British Ports, Town Quay, Southampton, SO14 2AQ

T: 023 8023 4397

E: info@townquay.com

W:www.townquay.com

E: mercury@mdlmarinas.co.uk W: www.mercuryyachtharbour.co.uk

PREMIER MARINAS SWANWICK

Manager: Graham Bristowe Swanwick (on the Hamble) Southampton, Hants, SO31 1ZL T: 01489 884081 E: swanwick@premiermarinas.com W: www.premiermarinas.com

HAMBLE YACHT SERVICES

Port Hamble, Hamble,Southampton, Hampshire, SO31 4NN T: 02380 201501 E: info@hysgroup.co.uk W: www.hambleyachtservices.co.uk

PREMIER MARINAS UNIVERSAL

Manager: Martin Bowman Crableck Lane, Sarisbury Green, Southampton, Hampshire, SO31 7ZN T: 01489574272 E: universal@premiermarinas.com W: www.premiermarinas.com

PREMIER HASLAR MARINA

Manager: Ben Lippiett

Haslar Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1NU T: 023 9260 1201 F: 023 9260 2201

E: haslar@premiermarinas.com W: www.premiermarinas.com

PREMIER MARINAS GOSPORT

Manager: Jonathan Walcroft

Mumby Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1AH T: 023 9252 4811 F: 023 9258 9541

E: gosport@premiermarinas.com W: www.premiermarinas.com

DARTMOUTH MARINA

Premier Marinas has welcomed the newly titled Dartmouth Marina as its sixth integration for the 2026 boating season.

Premier acquired the marina as part of its acquisition of the Dart Marina Group in April and is one of 17 Premier destinations stretching between Eastbourne and Falmouth.

The marina is a hotspot for boaters and destination visitors alike, and boasts over 100+ berths, with the luxury Dart Marina waterside hotel, Zephyr restaurant and Column 9 pop-up bar nearby.

Andrew Lewis, Sales & Marketing Director at Premier Marinas, said: “Dart Marina is a fantastic addition to the Premier Marinas network.

It has an outstanding reputation, loyal customer base and a shared commitment to deliver exceptional boating experiences.

“We look forward to supporting Dartmouth Marina’s continued success while preserving the qualities that make it such a valued destination for boaters and visitors.”

Berth holders at Dartmouth Marina can now access their new Premier Advantage rewards and benefits programme, via MyPremier and the Premier app. The benefits include 42 nights of complimentary visitor stays across the Premier network, preferential fuel rates and boatyard benefits o ered just upriver at Noss on Dart.

AROUND THE MARINAS

Suntex Marina Investors, in partnership with Centerbridge Partners, has announced the acquisition of Kinship Marina. The addition expands Suntex’s presence in California and adds to its rapidly growing West Region.

Aquavista is undertaking a refurbishment at Fettlers Wharf Waterside & Marina in Lancashire, with completion due by the end of August. The project focuses on upgrades to customer facilities and marina infrastructure aimed at improving daily operations.

PORT 32 Marinas and Acme Marinas have announced the merger of their American portfolios which will see Acme’s seven marinas merge with Port 32’s 10.

MDL Marinas is investing in new dedicated jet ski facilities at Cobb’s Quay Marina, introducing 20 purpose-built docking pods alongside additional berthing as demand for personal watercraft continues to grow across the South Coast.

Moniga Porto Nautica, one of the leading full-service marinas on Lake Garda, is now part of Balmaris, a newly established collection of boutique marinas across Europe.

The £1.3 million transformation of Aquavista’s Nottingham Castle Waterside & Marina is complete.

The investment has revitalised the marina, bringing improved facilities, upgraded infrastructure and new features.

Ocean Ecology Limited has completed a full geophysical survey of Falmouth Harbour’s Bay testsite for o shore renewable energy projects (FaBTest) – providing data which will speed up and facilitate real-world testing for green energy models and technology. The data will potentially help developers of renewable energy projects plan their deployments at the site.

Mirazur Capital, a Monaco-based alternative investment management ﬁrm, has become the majority shareholder in Barcelona’s Marina Port Vell as it seeks to expand its portfolio of marinas across the Med.

Marina Ibiza retained its international Blue Star Marina certiﬁcation with the highest distinction of ﬁve stars.

Weymouth Harbour, along with Dover Marina, Poole Quay Boat Haven, Whitby Marina, Gunwharf Quays Marina, Brixham Marina, Yarmouth Harbour, Portland Marina, Haslar Marina and Queen Anne’s Battery Marina, has been recognised as one of the UK’s leading marina destinations in the Navily 2026 UK Marina Rankings, a listing based on more than 300,000 reviews from a global community of over one million boaters.

BEAULIEU RIVER SUMMER PARTY

Mooring holders went back to the ‘80s with time travel cars, walkaround RoboCop and retro games for Beaulieu River’s summer party.

Time machines from Back to the Future and Ghosbusters entertained the crowd throughout the day.

Then guests danced into the evening with tribute band Wild Boys, who got everyone on their feet with a high-energy performance of ‘80s anthems and rock classics.

It was the ﬁrst party to also include a charity duck race, which sent hundreds of rubber ducks bobbing along the Beaulieu River raising £788 for Blood Cancer UK.

Harbour Master Wendy Stowe said: “We have had so many lovely messages from our berth and

AQUAVISTA ROYAL CLARENCE WATERSIDE & MARINA

Weevil Lane, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1AX

T: 023 9252 3523

E: royalclarence@aquavista.com

W: www.aquavista.com

PREMIER MARINAS PORT SOLENT

Manager: Ben Boardman

South Lockside, Port Solent, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO6 4TJ

T: 023 9221 0765

F: 023 9232 4241

E: portsolent@premiermarinas.com

W: www.premiermarinas.com

PREMIER MARINAS SOUTHSEA

Manager: Dave Frey

Fort Cumberland Road

Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO4 9RJ

T: 023 9282 2719

F: 023 9282 2220

E: southsea@premiermarinas.com

W: www.premiermarinas.com

GUNWHARF QUAYS MARINA

Manager: Carl Jarmaine

Gunwharf Quays, Marina O ce Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3TZ

T: 02392 836732

E: gwqmarina@incentive-fm.com

W: www.gunwharf-quays.com/marina

ISLE OF WIGHT

COWES YACHT HAVEN

Manager: Katy Ednay

Vectis Yard, High Street, Cowes, PO31 7BD

T: 01983 299975

E: berthing@cowesyachthaven.com

W:www.cowesyachthaven.com

VHF: Channel 80

PREMIER EAST COWES MARINA

Manager: Mike Townshend

Britannia Way, East Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO32 6UB

T: 01983 293983

F: 01983 299276

E: eastcowes@premiermarinas.com

W: premiermarinas.com

mooring holders to say how much they enjoyed the special day. Thanks to everyone who dressed in ‘80s outﬁts to celebrate our theme.”

The summer party is a key date in the Beaulieu River events calendar, bringing together the Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour community.

COWES HARBOUR SHEPARDS MARINA

Manager: Jock Ra erty

Medina Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7HT

T: 01983 297821

E: shepards.chc@cowes.co.uk

W: cowesharbourshepardsmarina.co.uk

ISLAND HARBOUR MARINA

Manager: Danie Erasmus Mill Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2LA

T: 01983 539994

E: info@island-harbour.co.uk

W:www.island-harbour.co.uk

BEMBRIDGE HARBOUR

Jack Miskin, Harbour Master The Duver, St Helens, PO33 1YB

T: 01983 872828

E: mail@bembridgeharbour.co.uk

W: www.bembridgeharbour.co.uk

YARMOUTH HARBOUR

Harbour O ce, The Quay, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, PO41 0NT

T: 01983 760321

E: info@yarmouth-harbour.co.uk

W: www.yarmouth-harbour.co.uk

VHF: Ch 68 (harbour), Ch 15 (water taxi)

SOUTH EAST

MDL NORTHNEY MARINA

Manager: Tom Ward Northney Road, Hayling Island, PO11 0NH T: 023 9246 6321

E: northney@mdlmarinas.co.uk

W: www.northneymarina.co.uk

MDL SPARKES MARINA

Manager: James Rizzi

38 Wittering Road, Hayling Island Hampshire, PO11 9SR

T: 023 9246 3572

E: sparkes@mdlmarinas.co.uk

W: www.sparkesmarina.co.uk

PREMIER MARINAS CHICHESTER

Manager: Andrew Collumbell Birdham (Chichester Harbour) West Sussex, PO20 7EJ T: 01243 512731

E: chichester@premiermarinas.com

W: www.premiermarinas.com

In further news, there is an opportunity for a third apprentice to join the team at Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour on the Beaulieu River.

They will gain practical experience in marina, harbour and boatyard operations, while working alongside experienced colleagues to develop their knowledge, skills and highquality customer service to start their career in the marine industry.

They will support the day-today operations at Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour, while undertaking a nationally recognised Level 2 Marina & Boatyard Operative Apprenticeship in the beautiful setting of the Beaulieu River. For the full details see: beaulieuriver.co.uk/careers-2

AQUAVISTA BIRDHAM POOL

WATERSIDE & MARINA

Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 7BG T: 01243 512310

E: birdhampool@aquavista.com W: www.aquavista.com

LITTLEHAMPTON MARINA

Berthing Manager: Darren Humphries

Ferry Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5DS T: 01903 713553 F: 01903 732264

E: sales@littlehamptonmarina.co.uk W: www.littlehamptonmarina.co.uk

LITTLEHAMPTON YACHT CLUB

Rope House, Rope Walk Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 5DH T: 01903 732 926 F: 01903 725 911

E: ﬁona@littlehamptonyachtclub.co.uk W: www.littlehamptonyachtclub.co.uk

PREMIER MARINAS BRIGHTON

Manager: Max Sinclair

West Jetty, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 5UP

T: 01273 819919 F: 01273 675082

E: brighton@premiermarinas.com

W: www.premiermarinas.com

PREMIER MARINAS EASTBOURNE

Manager: Dan Heckford

Sovereign Harbour, North Lockside, Paciﬁc Drive, Eastbourne, BN23 5BJ

T: 01323 470099 F: 01323 470077

E: sovereignharbour@premiermarinas.com

W: www.premiermarinas.com

SMALL BOATS WELCOME

NEWHAVEN MARINA

Manager/Contact: Russell Levett

Newhaven Marina, The Yacht Harbour, Fort Road, Newhaven, BN9 9BY

T: 01273 513 881

E: info@newhavenmarina.co.uk

W: www.newhavenmarina.co.uk

LADY BEE MARINA, SHOREHAM PORT

Manager: Julian Goldie

Lady Bee Marina and Chandlery, 138-140

Albion Street, Southwick, BN42 4EG T: 01273 591705

E: LBChandlery@shoreham-port.co.uk

W:www.shoreham-port.co.uk/chandlery

KENT

GILLINGHAM MARINA

Manager: Chris Aldous

173 Pier Road, Gillingham, Kent ME7 1UB

T: 01634 280022

E: berthing@gillingham-marina.co.uk

W: www.gillingham-marina.co.uk

MDL CHATHAM MARITIME MARINA

Manager: Emma Powell

The Lock Building, Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime, Kent ME4 4LP

T: 01634 899200

E: chatham@mdlmarinas.co.uk

W: chathammaritimemarina.co.uk

MEDWAY YACHT CLUB

Contact: Sue Bannister

Lower Upnor, Rochester, ME2 4XB

T: 01634 718399

W:www.medwayyachtclub.com

SURREY

MDL PENTON HOOK MARINA

Manager: Benedict Moran Staines Road, Chertsey, Surrey KT16 8PY

T: 01932 568681

E: pentonhook@mdlmarinas.co.uk

SUFFOLK

MDL WOOLVERSTONE MARINA

Manager: Shane Cheshire

Woolverstone, Ipswich, Su olk IP9 1AS

T: 01473 780206

E: woolverstone@mdlmarinas.co.uk

W: www.woolverstonemarina.co.uk

LOWESTOFT BEACON MARINA

Manager: Lucy Edmonds School Road, Lowestoft, Su olk NR33 9NB

T: 01502 580300

E: lowestoftbeacon@abports.co.uk

W: www.beaconmarinas.co.uk

FOX’S MARINA & BOATYARD

Marina Manager: Lee Gilson

Fox’s Marina, Ipswich Su olk IP2 8SA T: 01473 689111

E: foxs@foxsmarina.com

W: www.foxsmarina.com

ESSEX

FAMBRIDGE YACHT HAVEN

Manager: Danyal Adams Chelmsford, CM3 6LU

T: 01621 740370

E: fambridge@yachthavens.com

W: www.yachthavens.com

WALES

ABERYSTWYTH MARINA

Manager: Adam Knowles

Specialist boat insurance

NEYLAND YACHT HAVEN

Manager: James Cotton

Brunel Quay, Pembrokeshire SA73 1PY

T: 01646 601601

E: neyland@yachthavens.com

W: www.yachthavens.com

PORT DINORWIC MARINA

Dock Manager: Kevin Roberts

Y Felinheli, Gwynedd LL56 4JN

T: 01248 671500

E: sharon@portdinorwic.co.uk W: www.port-dinorwic.co.uk

BURRY PORT MARINA

Harbour Master: Robert Hockey

The Harbour O ce, Burry Port

Carmarthenshire

T: 01554 835 691

E: Info@themarinegroup.co.uk

W: www.themarinegroup.co.uk

N. IRELAND

BANGOR MARINA

Manager: Kevin Baird

Bangor, Co. Down

T: 02891 45329

E: bangor@boatfolk.co.uk

W: www.boatfolk.co.uk

CARRICKFERGUS MARINA

Harbour Master: Ryan Hack

Marina Manager: Karen Steelen

3 Quayside, Carrickfergus BT38 8BJ

T: 028 9336 6666

E: harbour.master@midandeastantrim.gov.uk

W: www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk

BRISTOL

SCOTLAND

RHU MARINA

Contact: Suzanne Bell

Rhu, Helensburgh G84 8LH

T: 01436 820238

E: rhu@boatfolk.co.uk

W: www.boatfolk.co.uk

LARGS YACHT HAVEN

Manager: Dave Hewitt Irvine Road, Largs Ayrshire KA30 8EZ

T: 01475 675333

E: largs@yachthavens.com

W: www.yachthavens.com

TROON YACHT HAVEN

Manager: Stephen Bennie The Harbour, Troon Ayrshire KA10 6DJ T: 01292 315553

E: troon@yachthavens.com

W: www.yachthavens.com

SPAIN

MDL SANT CARLES MARINA

Manager: Nicolas Gonzalez Ctra Poble Nou s/n, Apartat de Correus 192, 43540 Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Spain

T: (0034) 9777 45153

T (UK): 023 8045 0227 enquiries@santcarlesmarina.com W: www.santcarlesmarina.com

ITALY

MARINARA

Front Desk: Federica Civilla

Via Marinara 11, Marina di Ravenna, 48122 Italy

T: (0039) 0544 531644

E: info@marinara.it W: www.marinara.it

Y Lanfa Aberystwyth, Trefechan SY23 1AS

T: 01970 611422

E: aberystwythmarina@westernmarinas.co.uk

W: www.westernmarinas.co.uk

CARDIFF MARINA

W: www.pentonhookmarina.co.uk

BERKSHIRE

MDL WINDSOR MARINA

Manager: John Harris Maidenhead Road, Windsor Berkshire SL4 5TZ

T: 01753 853911

E: windsor@mdlmarinas.co.uk

W: www.windsormarina.co.uk

MDL BRAY MARINA

Manager: John Harris Monkey Island Lane, Bray Berkshire SL6 2EB

T: 01628 623654

E: bray@mdlmarinas.co.uk

W: www.braymarina.co.uk

LANCASHIRE

AQUAVISTA GLASSON

WATERSIDE & MARINA

School Lane, Glasson Dock, Lancaster, Lancashire LA2 0AW

T: 01524 751491

E: glasson@aquavista.com

Manager: Andy Coles OBE

Watkiss Way

Cardi CF11 0SY T: 02920 396078

E: cardi marina@westernmarinas.co.uk

W: www.westernmarinas.co.uk

CONWY MARINA

Manager: Jon Roberts

Conwy Marina, Ellis Way LL32 8GU

T: 01492 593000

E: conwy@boatfolk.co.uk

W:www.boatfolk.co.uk

MILFORD MARINA

Manager or contact: Melanie Durney Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire SA73 3AF

Tel: 01646 696312

E: enquiries@milfordmarina.com

W: www.milfordmarina.com

PENARTH MARINA

PORTISHEAD MARINA

Manager: Simon Davis

Portishead, Bristol BS20 7DF

T: 01275 841941

E: portishead@boatfolk.co.uk W: www.boatfolk.co.uk

NEWCASTLE

ROYAL QUAYS MARINA

Manager: Keeran Stephenson North Shields, Tyneside NE29 6DU T: 01912 728282

E: royalquays@boatfolk.co.uk

W: www.boatfolk.co.uk

YORKSHIRE

AQUAVISTA HULL WATERSIDE & MARINA

Warehouse 13, Kingston Street, Hull Yorkshire HU1 2DQ

T: 01482 609960

HOLLAND

JACHTHAVEN BIESBOSCH

Manager: Maarten Voskuil Nieuwe Jachthaven 54924 BA, Drimmelen, NL

T: +31 (0)162 682249

E: info@jachthavenbiesbosch.nl

W: www.jachthavenbiesbosch.nl

E: hull@aquavista.com W: www.aquavista.com

LIVERPOOL

LIVERPOOL MARINA

Manager: Stuart Jones Penarth

Vale of Glamorgan F64 1TQ

T: 02920 705021

E: penarth@boatfolk.co.uk

W: www.aquavista.com

W: www.boatfolk.co.uk

Manager: Daniel O’Dea Liverpool Marina, Coburg Wharf, L34BP T: 0151 707 6777

E: reception@liverpoolmarina.com

E: manager@liverpoolmarina.com

W: www.liverpoolmarina.com

ENTERTAINING AFLOAT

Life onboard often involves compromises. Living on an old 29ft sailing yacht on the east coast in my mid-twenties, my biggest issue was storage. I compromised on clothes, books and the accoutrements of everyday life. There was certainly no wine rack, and the cool box masquerading as a fridge was inadequate for anyone with a penchant for a bottle of ﬁzz.

Modern cruising yachts – both power and sail – are rather better equipped. Designed with socialising in mind, they o er far more storage capacity than their predecessors. Provisioning for longer stays onboard is certainly easier, but it still takes some thought and creativity to ensure everyone is adequately catered for.

And it is not just space, it is safety too. Beer is easy – it can bump along quite happily – but what if your tastes veer towards something more elegant or esoteric? Wine bottles rattling around in the bilge and spirits sliding across shelves are less than ideal and a recipe for disaster at sea.

This is where less traditional drinks packaging comes into its own. Being somewhat of a purist, I have quietly looked on in horror as bag-in-box wine has been joined on supermarket shelves by plastic bottles, Tetra Paks and cans. But setting aside my prejudices, I can see the beneﬁts for onboard entertaining.

Quality as well as quantity

Bag-in-box wines are stable, unbreakable and a sensible choice for longer voyages. Previously, quality was often on the lower side, but that is changing. Even one of my favourite whites can now

be found in this decidedly practical format. As a bonus, once opened, they stay fresh for weeks –although I am not convinced many survive that long with a thirsty crew onboard.

The number of wines available in cans is increasing too. Reds, whites and sparkling wines can now all be found in this easy-to-stow format. Perfect for boats where fridge or cupboard space is at a premium.

Cocktail in a can

The theatre of cocktail making is part of the enjoyment – the measuring, mixing, shaking and stirring – but I concede that it is invariably impractical at sea. Not to mention the impossibility of storing the incredible plethora of mixers and spirits required to produce anything more ambitious than a basic Cuba Libre.

The advent of canned cocktails has therefore revolutionised the entertainment experience aﬂoat. Without being weighed down by bottles, it is now possible to o er a drinks menu that would put the American Bar at The Savoy to shame.

Non-negotiables

But space, safety and individual tastes aside, decent glasses remain an experiential non-negotiable in my view. This summer, when stocking up before casting o , there are smart choices and compromises to be made – but do not compromise too much on the experience.

We all have our non-negotiables. What sacriﬁces are you unwilling to make? ■

“Wine bottles rattling around in the bilge and spirits sliding across shelves are less than ideal and a recipe for disaster at sea”

Image: Barefoot Communications / Unsplash

▲ The easy way to have a cocktail for every taste onboard!

▲ Wine bottle or wine box - which do you prefer onboard?

& BEYOND

More care ashore. More time afloat.

When the forecast turns, your boat will be ready to go. With MDL Dry Stack, it’s stored safely ashore, launched on request and looked after by experienced marina teams who know what your boat means to you.

Enjoy spontaneous days on the water, with less time preparing and more time making the most of it.

Plus, with Otium Rewards and prime marina locations, MDL gives you more than Dry Stack. It gives you more reasons to get out there.

Discover Dry Stack at mdldrystack.co.uk or call 0845 600 1813

POOLE A

POOLE QUAY

BOAT HAVEN

POOLE QUAY BOAT HAVEN

POOLE QUAY

BOAT HAVEN

SWINGING MOORINGS

Relax with a glass of wine, on a sunny afternoon, on your own swinging mooring in Poole Harbour overlooking Brownsea Island. Away from the madding crowd, these offer you ultimate privacy, peace & tranquillity.

PORT OF POOLE

PORT OF POOLE MARINA

PORT OF POOLE

VISITOR MARINA

125 visitor berths all year for vessels up to 75m in length and up to 4.8m draft

On the Port estate we can accommodate vessels up to 210m in length with a maximum draft of 9m.