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THE BRITISH

YACHTING AWARDS 2020

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29/09/2020 16:12

THE WINNERS PRESENTED BY

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BRITISH YACHTING AWARDS THE WINNERS THE BRITISH

Your votes have been counted in the 2020 British Yachting Awards. Here are the winners

YACHTING AWARDS 2020

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2020 has been a year like no other but, if anything, it has underlined the importance of celebrating the positives. And over the next six pages there is no lack of positives. Despite the pandemic, the marine industry and sailing community gave us boats, kit and sailing achievements of the highest quality. Our annual British Yachting Awards seeks to recognise the greatest achievements of the year and uniquely the winners are decided

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by public vote. It is this that makes the Awards a vital celebration of the best the cruising and racing world has to offer – covering every aspect of sailing from the finest young racing sailor on the scene to the latest bluewater cruising yacht. We published our shortlist in October and since then you have voted in greater numbers than ever before on our dedicated awards website. We’d like to thank every one of the record 31,000 people who voted. It’s surely a

THE WINNERS

MULTIHULL OF THE YEAR OUTREMER 55 RUNNER UP: DRAGONFLY 40 This was a really hard fought category with the Outremer 55 slugging it out with the Dragonfly 40 for the prize. Ultimately this stunning catamaran prevailed, picking up 37% of the vote. The 55 is a worthy winner too; Outremer has seize the market for top quality, fast blue water cruising catamarans and pretty much made it their own and it’s easy to see why when you look at the boat. Cruising multihulls aren’t always easy on the eye, but this VPLP design most certainly is. Outremer has also turned up the dial when it comes to performance and comfort too. Displacement is an impressive 13,500 kilos and Outremer the 55 can match windspeed up to 12kn of breeze, an impressive statistic. Meanwhile, the option of tiller steering to augment the twin wheels gives handling this boat a visceral pleasure so often lacking on cruising cats. As you’d expect, the interior is well appointed and comfortable. Outremer’s Xavier Desmarest said: “Thank you very much. This is just the beginning for this brand new boat and we look forward to showing the you boat in action very soon.”

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testament not only to the huge level of interest in the industry but also the sheer quality of boats and kit, plus the truly admirable achievements. All the categories have been voted for by you, the honourable exception being the Lifetime Achievement Award, which is selected by our expert panel. We’re sure you’ll agree that this year’s pick is a truly worthy winner. Congratulations to all.

THE BRITISH

YACHTING AWARDS 2020

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THE WINNERS 29/09/2020 16:12

CRUISING YACHT OF THE YEAR

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MOODY DS41 RUNNER UP: BENETEAU OCEANIS 40.1 Moody is a much-loved marque that is etched in the memory of most British cruising sailors and consequently any new Moody model needs to live up to a strong reputation. This roomy, comfortable deck saloon cruiser does that with aplomb, while breaking a few boundaries in the process. The new 41 is built in Germany and designed by Judel/ Vrolijk, upholding the principles of quality and comfort that made the marque’s name. In recent years the company has been very successful at carving out a niche in the deck saloon market. As our test pilot Sam Fortescue notes: “This unique design holds great appeal for older sailors, those with reluctant sailing partners or used to catamaran volumes. Don’t expect a thrilling, gutsy ride, but it will be supremely safe and comfortable, while the boat is very simple to handle. Meanwhile, the phenomenal interior space can be turned to many uses.” Phil Dollin from UK and Ireland Moody distributors Inspiration Marine said: “This has to be one of the toughest categories; loads of innovation, loads of genuinely great competition which makes winning even more humbling. Thank you to everyone who voted for us, it’s much appreciated and we feel very honoured.”

BLUEWATER CRUISER OF THE YEAR CONTEST 55CS RUNNER UP: HALLBERG-RASSY 40C A much coveted category with some really beautiful boats on show but ultimately it was the stunning new Contest 55CS which stole the show, picking up 27% of the vote in this category. What makes this boat so special? Well, quite a lot really. This Judel/Vrolijk design blends quality and cruising comfort with great performance and a really high quality interior that is both practical, tasteful and contemporary. The Dutch yard prides itself on quality and this is the only boatbuilder in this size bracket with full Lloyds certification – a real stamp of quality construction. Editor Sam Jefferson tested the boat this October and noted: “No question, this is a magnificent boat; beautifully put together, fun to sail, luxurious and reassuring. A boat you could take around the world with confidence essentially. “In common with other recent Contests, there is definitely a nod towards med cruising (plenty of lounging space, a powerful rig for light airs) but this detracts only slightly from the air of a serious blue water cruiser. Essentially, the 55 is a beguiling blend that is definitely aimed at the discerning sailor with an eye for something a little special.” Arjen Conijn, CEO of Contest said: “Thank you! We are so pleased to receive this prestigious award. There is something special in this also being a public vote. We truly value that and thank everyone who participated.”

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THE BRITISH

YACHTING AWARDS 2020

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THE WINNERS 29/09/2020 16:12

PERFORMANCE YACHT OF THE YEAR GRAND SOLEIL 44 PERFORMANCE RUNNER UP: CLUBSWAN 36 In a year of incredibly tight voting, the Grand Soleil 44 Performance bucked the trend somewhat, romping home with 48% of the vote in this category. It’s easy to see why; this is a fast, versatile yacht that immediately caught the eye when it made its debut at the Genoa Boat Show this October. Designer Matteo Polli made his name with Italia Yachts where designs such as the 9.98 picked up both plaudits and trophies. The 44 is his first design for Grand Soleil and he has drawn up a yacht designed to be competitive in IRC and ORC classes. Polli has made a name for producing yachts that perform strongly in light airs and the 44 looks set to follow that tradition; with the mast stepped well aft by modern standards, this is a yacht that can generate a lot of power in light airs and when accelerating away from marks. Beyond that, the 44 is an adaptable boat with a pleasant interior that can easily be adapted to cruising if needs be. Key Yachting’s Hannah Le Provost said: “I am absolutely delighted to receive this award. The Grand Soleil is a stunning boat and we are very very proud to be Grand Soleil dealers as we hae been for many years. “These awards are very important as they are voted for by the public and that really means a lot.”

EVENT OF THE YEAR FALMOUTH SAILING WEEK RUNNER UP: RORC’S RACE THE WIGHT This iconic summer regatta week endeavoured to go ahead and despite a reduced format, nonetheless delivered fantastic sailing for 120 boats. On the water organisation and communication was carefully managed by the six local clubs of the Port of Falmouth Sailing Association. Nigel Sharp, chairman of the Port of Falmouth Sailing Association, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. The people who plan and run the sailing week come from the six sailing and yacht clubs in the Falmouth area and from the time that Covid 19 made it clear there were going to be huge difficulties in running this event, all of them worked tirelessly and with a tremendously positive attitude to make it happen. The award is for all of them.”

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DINGHY OF THE YEAR THE FOILING DINGHY RUNNER UP: MELGES 15 Foiling has revolutionised sailing and is here to stay. The welcome trend of making foiling easier and more accessible to all continued with the launch of The Foiling Dinghy, designed and built in Potsdam, Germany. The stabilty and broad useability of the boat clearly appealed to you and you voted it the Dinghy of the Year in a tough head-to-head with an attractive boat from Melges. The Foiling Dinghy is purpose-built with a dual foil system. It’s affordable, lightweight and easy to transport, launch and handle on land. Designer Thilo Keller explains: “The new dinghy is designed to be stable and forgiving in flight, yet exciting to sail, and aimed at the club sailor. Complexity is reduced to a minimum, with dual foils that are self-adjusting and self-tacking, giving it the ease of sailing as a laser, the lightness of an aero, and enables safe and fun foiling performance” Managing Director Catarina Jentzsch said: “This means the world to us, thank you very much! Ever since we started to produce The Foiling Dinghy, this has been the kind of award we have been hoping for so thank you to everyone who voted for us!”

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RUNNER UP: SIR BEN AINSLIE Sam Davies is a worthy winner, having enjoyed a phenomenal 2020. Scoring a fourth place in the Vendée-Arctique Race, snapping at the heels of the latest IMOCAs on board Initiatives-Coeur, a 10-year-old design retrofitted with foils. Her top form continued in the Defi Azimut and only bad luck put her out of contention for what many believed was a possible podium position in the Vendée Globe. Speaking from her boat in the middle of the South Atlantic as she raced towards eventual retirement from the Vendée Globe, Sam said: “It’s an honour to receive this award and a massive thank you to everyone who voted for me. I hope to inspire lots more sailors for generations to come.”

MARINA OF THE YEAR

FALMOUTH MARINA RUNNER UP: BUCKLER’S HARD MARINA No marina nomination category would be complete without a West Country destination and Premier’s Falmouth marina ticks all the boxes; stunning location, luxurious facilities and a warm Cornish welcome to visitors and berth holders alike. Mark Evans, marina manager said: “We’re both proud and excited to receive this award; it has been an unusual and challenging year operating through Covid but once the season got underway we were busier than ever. We’re really grateful to all those who voted for Falmouth.”

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YOUR CHOICE OF ANTIFOUL MATTERS The health of our seas is at risk, now more so than ever. Your choice of antifoul not only effects your boats performance and efficiency, but also the wider environment in which you sail. While traditional antifoul paints risk failing ever tightening legislation, Coppercoat is fully EU and IMO compliant. Being water-based and 100% VOC-free, it is considerably less harmful to the environment and proven to be effective for up to 20 times longer than many conventional alternatives*.

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YACHTING AWARDS 2020

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THE WINNERS 29/09/2020 16:12

CLOTHING INNOVATION OF THE YEAR MUSTO LPX UPGRADE RUNNER UP: ROOSTER BUOYANCY AID Musto relaunched its LPX Gore-Tex foulies to cater for the modern inshore sailing scene and the demands put on the sailor as speeds increase. Along with a three-layer Gore-Tex laminate, features to be found include a Neoprene hem on the smock, adjustable PU cuffs and collar, elasticated neck and cuff tabs, tilted neck tab for an ergonomic fit, side pockets with internal pocket bags, articulated sleeves for greater freedom of movement, extended elastic shoulder panel on the sallopetes and aquaguard zippers. Chris Holliman, head of product at Musto said: “A big thank you to the British Yachting Awards, and the voters who voted for us. Musto has been making the difference on the water since 1964 and Musto LPX really is the embodiment of what fast and light clothing should be.”

EQUIPMENT INNOVATION OF THE YEAR RAYMARINE AXIOM+ RUNNER UP: B&G ZEUS3S Building on the success of the Axiom range launched a few years ago, Axiom+ features a new screen that gives wider viewing angles, better touch-screen performance in all conditions, as well as four built-in sonar channels and a next-generation, ultra-sensitive GPS/GNSS receiver giving for more accurate navigation. Andy King, VP of sales at Raymarine said: “I’m delighted we have been able to build on the success of the Axiom range and it’s very gratifying to see that all of the effort put in to improve an already amazing product has been recognised.”

CHARITY OF THE YEAR

NATIONAL SCHOOLS SAILING ASSOCIATION Each year Sailing Today and Yachts and Yachting selects a charity of the year and we are delighted to say that in 2021 we will continue our work with the National Schools Sailing Association (NSSA). We greatly look forward to following the activity of the charity over the 2021 sailing season in order to highlight its work. The NSSA was formed in 1961 as the national representative body for sailing in schools. It’s a charity run UK membership organisation promoting accessible youth sailing and providing a framework to achieve that. Over the years it has helped countless young sailors hit the water for the first time. Steven Lloyd NSSA Chairman said: “I’m honoured to accept this award. This has been an exceptional year in so many ways and has presented challenges across all areas of sailing. It’s easy to fucus on the negatives but all of the challenges have in different ways highlighted the ongoing importance of yout sailing on the ground, its potential for positive impact and It’s ongoing importance.” For more information or to make a donation, go to nssa.org.uk

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YACHTING AWARDS 2020

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THE WINNERS 29/09/2020 16:12

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR SANDERS SAILS AND OTHER BUSINESSES RUNNER UP: RYA Co-ordinated by Sanders Sails in Lymington, a group of volunteer companies and individuals (including Emma McEwen, pictured, former RS800 European champion), became the main supplier of PPE gowns to Southampton General Hospital during the first UK lockdown in April and May, producing an astonishing 5,000 gowns a week for free. Other significant voluntary donations of PPE followed, for the NHS and other organisations including the RNLI. Pete Sanders said: “I’d like to thank both the selection committee for nominating us and the readers for voting for us. It’s a big ‘us’ because in addition to those ‘other businesses’ there were also sewing groups and talented individuals including RS 800 sailor Emma McEwan.”

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT THE REVEREND BOB SHEPTON Our columnist Paul Heiney, Commodore of the Royal Cruising Club, presented the award, saying: “This award goes to one of our members and this gives me a great deal of pleasure. Some of the great names in cruising have been members of our club; Claud Worth, Miles and Beryl Smeeton, Maurice Griffiths and Bill Tilman among many others besides. The name of Bob Shepton will join that roll of honour of people who made their mark in the history of cruising. “Bob has made his reputation sailing in the high latitudes – mostly to the Arctic Circle. He has had his ups and downs in what is a very very long sailing career; He has lost a boat to fire, was dismasted off the Falklands and has been trapped in ice countless times. But he always comes back for more. There’s nothing he likes more than getting in his boat, bashing up to Greenland and finding a mountain no-one has ever climbed before and setting about it. “He does his sailing in a modest kind of way; he doesn’t have a great big aluminium tank of a boat, he just sets sail in his modest GRP boat and has the most extraordinary adventures. “It’s worth remembering that Bob has turned 80 and is still at it. A most remarkable and worthy winner of this award.” Reflecting on the award, Bob said: “It’s an award for managing to live so long I imagine! Seriously, I must thank my wife who never said over many years never said, ‘no you cannot go’ which is a sterling achievement. Also the crews who helped make it possible over the years.”

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