British Yachting Awards 2018 Digimag

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Celebrating the achievements of the yachting industry

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THE BRITISH

YACHTING AWARDS 2018

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Saluting winning ways

T

he new British Yachting Awards are important, whichever way you look at them. Representing the very finest of the racing and cruising worlds, they’re important for our magazines and websites, as every single category tells a great story of innovation, endeavour or grit – and they’re just the sort of stories we love to share.

They’re important to you our readers, and we know that because you’ve voted for your category favourites in unprecedented numbers.

And of course the British Yachting Awards are most important to our winners, who expressed

Georgie Corlett-Pitt, Yachts & Yachting Editor Sam Jefferson, Sailing Today Editor

HIGHLIGHTS

© The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2018.

All rights reserved. ISSN 0044-000 No part of this digital magazine may be reproduced without permission in writing. Every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information in Yachts & Yachting, but no responsibility can be accepted for the consequences of actions based on the advice portrayed herein. The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd makes every effort to ensure that the advertising contained in this magazine is derived from responsible sources. We cannot, however, accept responsibility for transactions between readers and advertisers. Yachts & Yachting welcomes letters.

obvious delight as their efforts were recognised during a glitzy evening presentation at the Royal Thames Yacht Club on 11 December.

It’s with the greatest pleasure that we introduce those winners to you here, and also extend our sincere thanks to all those readers and supporters who have helped get the British Yachting Awards off to such an auspicious start.

We salute you all!

04 Nominees

THE BRITISH

18 Tracy Edwards

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EVENT OF THE YEAR

YACHTING AWARDS 2018

The runners and riders – and how they earned their nominations

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PHOTOS: PAUL WYETH; JESUS RENEDO/SAILING ENERGY; JEREMIE LECAUDEY/VOLVO OCEAN RACE; ALEX IRWIN/SPORTOGRAPHY.TV

ADVERTISING Jodie Green +44 (0)207 349 3722 jodie.green@chelseamagazines.com Mark Harrington +44 (0)207 349 3787 mark.harrington@chelseamagazines.com Hannah Stanton Warren +44 (0)207 349 3734 hannah.stanton@chelseamagazines.com

PHOTO: ALEX IRWIN/SPORTOGRAPHY.TV

EDITORIAL Editors Georgie Corlett-Pitt, Sam Jefferson Deputy Editors Toby Heppell, Chris Rosamund Art Editors Peter Smith, Gareth Lloyd Jones

BRITISH YACHTING

e are delighted to present the nominees in the inaugural British Yachting Awards. Drawing on the very best boats, kit, sailors, achievements, destinations and events from the past year, these new Awards put the spotlight onto the finest of both the racing and cruising worlds.

For the first time, Y&Y has joined forces with our sister title, Sailing Today, to present these combined Awards.

And it’s up to you, our readers, to cast your vote and decide the winners!

The winners will then be revealed in the January issue of Y&Y, and each will be presented with their British Sailing Award trophy at a

24 Nikki Henderson

THE BRITISH

prestigious Awards ceremony, hosted at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in early December.

You’ll find some extremely deserving nominees listed over the next few pages, drawn together by our panel of editorial experts, and all outstanding in their own field.

It’s certainly an inspiring, diverse, and comprehensive line-up...

The Hempel Sailing World Championships in Aarhus, was one of the largest sporting events ever hosted in Denmark, with sailors from 90 nations racing in all 10 Olympic classes. The

COMPANY

LTD

4 . RS GAMES This three-week long event at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy brought 1300 dinghy sailors together to celebrate 25 years of the RS Sailing family. Top

class racing on the water in some of this summer’s most challenging conditions saw world, European and national titles decided, whilst on shore the celebratory vibe was in full swing.

5. VOLVO OCEAN RACE The epic 45,000nm offshore known as the ‘Everest of sailing’ concluded its 10 month long circumnavigation with a nail biting finish in The Hague in June, the last time the race will be run as the Volvo Ocean Race.

Topping all expectation of on the water action, the event also pioneered new standards in gender equality and youth opportunity.

VOTE AND WIN Head online and vote today at BritishYachtingAwards.com Voters will be entered into our prize draw to win a Garmin quatix 5 Sapphire, worth £730!

Specifically designed for the water, Garmin’s quatix® 5 multisport GPS smartwatch provides comprehensive connectivity with compatible Garmin chartplotters and other devices, and includes advanced fitness features and wrist-based heart rate monitoring.

One lucky voter will

win this fabulous prize!

This year, voting is open to readers of Yachts & Yachting and Sailing Today, so every vote counts.

Make sure you show your support by voting today!

Voting closes at midnight on 23 November 2018.

Full T&Cs available at BritishYachtingAwards.com

Yachts & Yachting

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January 2019 Yachts & Yachting

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Prioritising became about how to put people in a situation where they could improvise for themselves...

They need to be empowered to make decisions

In association with

What does it take to become the youngest ever skipper to bag a podium result in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race?

GEORGIE CORLETT-PITT finds out

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SUE PELLING

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yachtsandyachting.co.uk

Over one hundred sets of distinctive red sails cut a memorable sight on the race course at Lendy Cowes Week, as the Squib fleet gathered for a special 50th National Championship, incorporated alongside the main regatta series.

ven before she left the dock in August 2017 at the start of the 12-month long Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, Nikki Henderson knew she was achieving something special.

The then-23-year old was about to become the youngest skipper in the race’s 11-edition history, beating Alex Thomson, who won the 1998-99 edition at the age of 25. That she went on to skipper her team on board Visit Seattle to second overall (and runner up to the race’s first ever female winning skipper, Australian Wendy Tuck) exceeded all expectation.

The first time I meet Nikki is on the water, racing as part of an all-female crew with Sunsail at Lendy Cowes Week. Just 10 days previously she’d stepped ashore for the final time from the challenging circumnavigation, so she readily admits she’s still adjusting to life on terra firma and working out what’s next.

As she chats, it’s with an intelligence and a confidence that belie her age: add up her experience and it’s hard to imagine quite how she has crammed all of this in, in just two-and-a-bit decades!

The adventure first began when Nikki passed up a place at university to pursue her love of sailing and travel; her big break was to skipper an all-female crew across the Atlantic. After that she says she “took every opportunity” to collect more sailing miles than most 20-somethings are able to dream of, skippering several ARCs, a Caribbean season, and racing the Maxi 78, Phosphorous. Five years on, having just finished a season in Denver, Colorado - setting up a sailing school - and now with 38,000nm and a huge variety of experience under her belt, she applied for the Clipper Race skipper selections.

Yachts & Yachting January 2019

LEARNING FROM THE OFF Despite having an obvious natural flair for leadership, the Clipper Race was something of a proving ground for Nikki. One of the greatest challenges she faced came early on, 30 days into the 35-day-long 6363nm leg one, from Liverpool to Uruguay, which was already taking longer than anticipated. She recalls: “I was sleep deprived, everyone was exhausted; it was really really hot, wet, and damp, and we were right at the edge of our food stores; everything was breaking. Somehow, we were in first place and one way or another we decided to explode all three spinnakers.”

The situation was compounded when a tactical misjudgment on Nikki’s part led to her team dropping from first place to last within 24 hours. “Everything had fallen apart, and it was that moment of feeling all of the responsibility

doesn’t understand how to do it. With a normal professional crew, they may not know how to fix something or how to act, but if you say, ‘run up and get this kite down’ they can; whereas to an amateur crew, in that same amount of time, you need to say, ‘right you need to go to the bow, you need to do this’ to every single person, especially if they are new. They won’t understand the bigger picture, so you’re then having to improvise for each individual person.

“So, prioritising, for me, became about how to put people in a scenario where they could best improvise for themselves. To do that, they need to understand the bigger picture and be empowered to make their own decisions, because you can’t make all their decisions for them – it’s inefficient. Theoretically then you make more mistakes because you are giving people more freedom, but ultimately, they will learn.”

It was the hardest thing I have ever done... to go upstairs with a smile and say ‘it’s ok’ on me,” she recounts. “I thought ‘I have just fulfilled every stereotype of a 24-year old sailing around the world and trashing the boat’. You have nowhere to go. All I wanted to do was to go home and cry and hide under my bed!

It was just the hardest thing I have ever done, to go down below for five minutes and say to myself ‘ok, I have to go upstairs now with a smile on my face and say it’s all going to be ok’.”

That early incident was instrumental in helping her learn how to remain calm and lead her team confidently through a crisis. “I knew what to do, but the difficulty with this job is how to explain what to do to someone else who

ON SKILLS AND SCEPTICISM Throughout the 40,000nm long race, Nikki repeatedly applied this philosophy with the result that her team gradually improved not only their confidence but also their efficiency and performance. Her careful coaching on specific tasks – everything from winch servicing to fixing the toilet, to regular maintenance of the whole boat during each of the 12 stopovers – enabled individual crew to respond and fix problems as they arose.

The race is well known for attracting largely novice crew from a huge variety of backgrounds and amongst her crew, Nikki encountered all

yachtsandyachting.co.uk

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MAGAZINE

28 Winners Who went home with the silverware – all categories

3. SQUIBS 50TH ANNIVERSARY NATIONALS

November 2018

UNDER 30S OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

NIKKI HENDERSON

C/O THE MAIDEN FACTOR

THE

WINNER

World Sailing event set a new standard for media and communications.

Supported by: Culture Sailing, Musto, Ocean Sailing Scotland, Pantaenius Insurance, Poole Harbour Commissioners, Porto Montenegro yachtsandyachting.co.uk

BRITISH YACHTING AWARDS

YACHTING AWARDS 2018

The winner of our Under 30s Outstanding Achievement Award CHELSEA

Yachts & Yachting November 2018

U30 OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT

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2. SAILING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

VOTE NOW AT BRITISHYACHTINGAWARDS.COM 4

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The third edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s European Championship brought top race teams from across Europe to compete on the Solent. An innovative new format for a revived Commodore’s Cup encouraged a bumper entry.

Introducing a very special list of outstanding nominees as we celebrate the crème de la crème of the sailing world

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1. RORC EUROPEANS & COMMODORE’S CUP

AWARDS 2018

An interview with our Outstanding Achievement Award winner

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The British Yachting Awards 2018

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THE BRITISH

YACHTING AWARDS 2018

1

Presented by

THE NOMINATIONS Introducing a very special list of outstanding nominees as we celebrate the crème de la crème of the sailing world

W

e are delighted to present the nominees in the inaugural British Yachting Awards. Drawing on the very best boats, kit, sailors, achievements, destinations and events from the past year, these new Awards put the spotlight onto the finest of both the racing and cruising worlds.

For the first time, Y&Y has joined forces with our sister title, Sailing Today, to present these combined Awards.

And it’s up to you, our readers, to cast your vote and decide the winners!

The winners will then be revealed in the January issue of Y&Y, and each will be presented with their British Sailing Award trophy at a

Presented by: Musto, Yachts & Yachting, Sailing Today

4

The British Yachting Awards 2018

prestigious Awards ceremony, hosted at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in early December.

You’ll find some extremely deserving nominees listed over the next few pages, drawn together by our panel of editorial experts, and all outstanding in their own field.

It’s certainly an inspiring, diverse, and comprehensive line-up...

In association with

PHOTOS: PAUL WYETH; JESUS RENEDO/SAILING ENERGY; JEREMIE LECAUDEY/VOLVO OCEAN RACE; ALEX IRWIN/SPORTOGRAPHY.TV

EVENT OF THE YEAR 2

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1. RORC EUROPEANS & COMMODORE’S CUP

World Sailing event set a new standard for media and communications.

The third edition of the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s European Championship brought top race teams from across Europe to compete on the Solent. An innovative new format for a revived Commodore’s Cup encouraged a bumper entry.

3. SQUIBS 50TH ANNIVERSARY NATIONALS Over one hundred sets of distinctive red sails cut a memorable sight on the race course at Lendy Cowes Week, as the Squib fleet gathered for a special 50th National Championship, incorporated alongside the main regatta series.

2. SAILING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS The Hempel Sailing World Championships in Aarhus, was one of the largest sporting events ever hosted in Denmark, with sailors from 90 nations racing in all 10 Olympic classes. The

4 . RS GAMES This three-week long event at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy brought 1300 dinghy sailors together to celebrate 25 years of the RS Sailing family. Top

class racing on the water in some of this summer’s most challenging conditions saw world, European and national titles decided, whilst on shore the celebratory vibe was in full swing.

5. VOLVO OCEAN RACE The epic 45,000nm offshore known as the ‘Everest of sailing’ concluded its 10 month long circumnavigation with a nail biting finish in The Hague in June, the last time the race will be run as the Volvo Ocean Race.

Topping all expectation of on the water action, the event also pioneered new standards in gender equality and youth opportunity.

In association with: Bruntons Propellers, Culture Sailing, GAC Pindar, Ocean Sailing Scotland, Pantaenius Sail & Motor Insurance, Poole Quay Boat Haven, Porto Montenegro, Seafarer, Seago, UKSA yachtsandyachting.co.uk

The British Yachting Awards 2018

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The next page in your adventure

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HOME OF THE

POOLE HARBOUR

BOAT SHOW

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A warm welcome always awaits! of the views and gorgeous sunsets, yet it’s still close to Poole’s historic quay, old town • 125 visitor berths all year for vessels and vibrant shopping centre. up to 70m in length and up to 4.5m draft • 75 permanent berths • Swinging moorings • Superyacht berths • Floating docks for jet skis and SWINGING MOORINGS RIBs up to 6.1m Relax with a glass of wine, on a • 24 hour security sunny afternoon, on your own • Deep water: 2.5 - 6m swinging mooring in Poole • Water taxi service, parking Harbour overlooking Brownsea Island. Away from the madding VISITOR MARINA crowd, these offer you ultimate Use your boat as a holiday home; entertain privacy, peace & tranquillity. family, friends, colleagues or customers onboard; sail the stunning Jurassic Coast.

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poolequayboathaven.co.uk VHF Channel 80 call sign “Poole Quay Boat Haven”

BRITISH YACHTING AWARDS 2018

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RACING PERFORMANCE 1. DONGFENG - VOLVO OCEAN RACE WIN

3. PAUL GOODISON - MOTH WORLDS HAT TRICK

The 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race was the closest edition of the world’s premiere round the world race that has ever been seen. Going into the final leg after something of a rollercoaster final half-lap of the planet there was a three-way tie for the lead, between Dongfeng, Mapfre and Brunel. The neutral could easily find reason to cheer on all three teams. A thrilling final leg saw Charles Caudrelier’s Franco-Chinese team clinch the victory. The team had been set up ahead of the start of the previous edition of the event with a view to introducing Chinese sailors into offshore racing and had been roundly dismissed. They were strong in that race and managed to continue development into this edition, winning and coming home with the shortest elapsed time.

British Laser gold medallist, Paul Goodison has truly achieved something special in winning three straight International Moth World Championships in three quite different venues: Japan, Italy and now Bermuda, the latter clinched in some extremes of conditions.

He is the first sailor to achieve back to back wins since this elite development class took to foiling.

4. FRANÇOIS GABART - SOLO ROUND THE WORLD RECORD 42 days, 16 hours, 40 minutes and 35 seconds. That is the new record set for sailing around the world solo after Frenchman François Gabbart completed his flying lap of the planet in his Ultime Trimaran, Macif. There are almost

endless numbers to put just how impressive this achievement is into context, but a few of the key facts for us are: Average speed around the world, 27.2 knots; 851 miles in 24 hours (an average of 35.4 knots); just two days behind the all-time, fully-crewed record.

5. NIKLAS ZENNSTRÖM RÁN’S FAST40+ DEBUT The Fast40+ fleet is fast becoming one of the most competitive grand prix keelboat fleets in the world, attracting top names and no small amount of investment for those looking to take part. This season saw the much heralded entry to the fleet of Niklas Zennström after his Rán team moved over to the series from TP52 racing.

Their Carkeek-designed yacht came out of the shed looking

radical and the team proceeded to dominate, winning the Fast40+ National Championships, Cowes Week, and the One Ton Cup.

6. AKZONOBEL - 24HR DISTANCE RECORD Siomeon Tienpont’s crew onboard AkzoNobel set an incredible new record for the greatest distance sailed in 24 hours in the history of the Volvo Ocean Race. Leg 9 saw them smash out 602.51nm en route from Newport, USA, to Cardiff, surpassing the previous record of 596.6nm set by Torben Grael and the Ericsson 4 VO70 crew during the 2008-9 Volvo Ocean Race.

With their VO65 hitting top speeds of 32 knots, AkzoNobel sustained some phenomenal sailing over a 48 hour period during the critical double points leg.

The J/70 is renowned for its tough competition; the fleet regularly attracts some of the world’s best.

One design racing at this level is an incredibly tight affair, so for Mark Lees and his young team of Annable Vose, Hannah Peters and Toby Mumford to have taken their boat out of the wrapping just one day before the J/70 UK Nationals got underway, and to walk away from the regatta with the overall win after three days of tough racing, is extremely impressive.

PHOTOS: JEAN MARIE LIOT/MACIF; SEAN ROSTER

2. MARK LEES - J/70 NATIONALS WIN

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Presented by: Musto, Yachts & Yachting, Sailing Today

yachtsandyachting.co.uk

The British Yachting Awards 2018

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A N I D EA L HO MEPO RT 450 berths, 12 – 250m capacity full service marina

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kOTOR the old cobbled town of Kotor is camouflaged against a backdrop of striking mountain scenery. behind the city walls, an intersection of colourful streets and cobbled alleys are home to countless cafés, churches, venetian plazas and families of cats, Kotor’s trademark feature.

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PERAsT/OuR LADy Of THE ROcks once home to a venetian fleet of 1,000 ships, the historic but humble merchant town of perast boasts 16 churches and 17 palazzos. a short distance is the islet of our lady of the rocks, upon which a small church is perched, its rooves as blue as the bay beyond.

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BuDvA/sv sTEfAN the exclusive budva riviera, known for its party scene, balances bars and clubs with history and culture. the old town bazaar culture brings chic jewellery, trinkets and picture-perfect moments. nearby, the fortified island of sveti stefan houses 15thcentury stone villas, surrounded by sandy beaches and blue waters.

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BRITISH YACHTING AWARDS 2018

In association with

CHARTER DESTINATION 1. IONIAN Some have argued the Greek hero Odysseus set the template for cruising with his Odyssey. That voyage had the ingredients of a classic charter holiday; a barbecue of cow, which had unfortunate consequences for the remainder of the trip, alcohol leading to delays and an unfortunate encounter with a monster cyclops.

Odysseus was trying to get to the Ionian and it’s telling that when he got there things got easier. This is cruising heaven; balmy breezes; thoughtfully placed islands; lashings of tavernas, and Greek hospitality.

2. DALMATIAN ISLANDS This is truly a charter destination so stunning it pretty much slaps you

around the face and demands to be gawped at. It has it all; lambent skies and water so limpid it sometimes feels like you’re floating on air. Throw into the mix some incredible examples of Venetian architecture, the vibrant city of Split at its heart and achingly beautiful islands and you have all the ingredients for cruising Nirvana.

3. GRENADINES You can’t make a list of the finest cruising grounds in the world without including the Grenadines; one of the greatest jewels of the Caribbean and one that offers up a breathtaking selection of pristine powder beaches and water that begs you to take the plunge. Add into the mix a collection of superb anchorages and those balmy trade

winds and you have a cruising ground impossible to overlook.

4. AEGEAN The Greek God Poseidon chose the Aegean as his own personal realm for one very good reason; it’s utterly stunning. Hugely varied and deeply dramatic in parts, this is a cruising ground that offers you a glimpse of Greece untamed, often unvarnished and unbelievably beautiful.

5. BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS The British Virgin Islands made a popular choice of nomination with our panel for two reasons; the first was that it is truly one of the finest cruising grounds the world has to offer with its mix of friendly consistent trade winds,

iconic anchorages and islands seemingly placed precisely to make a one or two week charter holiday an absolute breeze to passage plan. The second reason was that this chain of islands got absolutely walloped last year by Hurricane Irma yet it has recovered admirably and is once again open for business.

6. STOCKHOLM ARCHIPELAGO The Stockholm Archipelago is one of Scandinavia’s worst kept secrets; a beautiful cruising ground offering a myriad pattern of islands that will leave you dizzy with delight.

The Stockholm Archipelago truly offers a smorgasbord of wonders and the fact that it is so accessible from the UK only adds to its allure.

UK MARINA DESTINATION 1. SWANWICK MARINA Swanwick Marina was selected for nomination following fierce debate among our expert panel as to which was the finest marina in the Solent at present. Ultimately, the high class facilities at this recently renovated marina won through. Located at the top of the River Hamble, the marina was awarded top marks for its general feeling of bonhomie.

PHOTOS: PETER PIPP/TRAVELSHOTS.COM; PEXELS; C/O NAYLAND YACHT HAVEN

2. NEYLAND YACHT HAVEN Head to Wales and it’s difficult to look beyond this rather spiffing marina nestling in the heart of beautiful Pembrokeshire, offering shelter and also access to some of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in the UK. The marina isn’t half bad either and the nomination was prompted following a visit by one of our expert panel who

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proclaimed he had enjoyed ‘the best shower in years’ here.

3. RHU MARINA Rhu is the sort of place you could visit on a day sail and end up staying for the rest of your life.

Offering superb access to the much vaunted cruising grounds of the west coast of Scotland, this is a place that cannot fail to seduce the true sailor. The facilities are to die for too. It scooped four gold anchors recently in what is now seen as the marina equivalent of the Oscars, awarded by The yacht Harbour Association.

4. POOLE QUAY BOAT HAVEN Poole Quay was a popular choice with our panel and a marina that heads up a bit of a Dorset double in this year’s nominations.

Located right in the heart of

Poole, the marina offers a great starting point for exploring one of the most varied and interesting cruising grounds in the UK.

5. WEYMOUTH MARINA & PORTLAND MARINA A double whammy here from Dean & Reddyhoff; this pair of

state of the art marinas demanded their place on the shortlist with their excellent blend of traditional seaside town atmosphere for the cruisers in Weymouth combined with the state of the art facilities at neighbouring Portland. Both lie at the heart of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast; all in all, a recipe for success.

In association with: Bruntons Propellers, Culture Sailing, GAC Pindar, Ocean Sailing Scotland, Pantaenius Sail & Motor Insurance, Poole Quay Boat Haven, Porto Montenegro, Seafarer, Seago, UKSA yachtsandyachting.co.uk

The British Yachting Awards 2018

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BRITISH YACHTING AWARDS 2018

In association with

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In association with

DINGHY

SPORTSBOAT

1. EPOH

1. RS21

We were intrigued when we first saw the concept for this training skiff, penned by French designer Yannick d’Armancourt. When we finally got the chance to sail the boat earlier this year it proved great fun to sail, delivering the all-out thrill of high performance sailing yet without ever feeling unsafe or even likely to capsize.

The RS21 was born to service this growth market of league sailing and affordable payto-play racing. What’s more, it is also a great little sportsboat in its own right for between two and six crew, with designer Jo Richards placing versatility at the core, balancing power with stability, and prioritising close racing over all-out performance. Sticking firmly in the future scanning vein, it features retractable electric propulsion and is made from bio-derived resins.

2. SKEETA The Skeeta is a modern foiler designed to perform in all conditions and appeal to all abilities. A hybrid of the traditional tunnel scow and modern foiling Moth concepts, this unique Australian design features a carbon rig and unsinkable hull with retractable foils (based on the Glide Free design), blending performance with stability and versatility.

3. FLYING MANTIS The Flying Mantis - from British designer Jamie Stewart - offers foiling for mortals by creating form stability via two floats/extra hulls. This 14ft lightweight carbon trimaran can also be sailed with a regular rudder and daggerboards, depending on conditions, and can accomodate taller and heavier sailors up to 120kgs.

4. FUSION 2 Since its launch back in 2015 the Fusion has received a number of plaudits for its clever and versatile design. Now, with the boat having proved very popular in both single and double handed versions, designers Glen Truswell and Dan Holman of Fusion Sailboats have added a new gennaker option, turning this boat into a true all-rounder.

5. RS ZEST The latest offering from popular manufacturer, RS, is the Zest, the newest addition to the company’s range of training boats. The hull is a rotomoulded polyethelyne construction which should mean it is easily robust enough to deal with the knocks and dinks that are often to be expected when learning. The Zest can be rigged as a singlehander but also has a two-sail option.

2. FIRST 24 (FORMERLY SEASCAPE 24) The Seascape 24 became the First 24 when the range was recently acquired by Beneteau.

This model particularly impressed us when we tested it and we could easily see a great many being sold, destined for the race course.

Impressively for its size, it has has ample space for a small family to cruise, yet offers bags of race-ready performance at a hugely competitive price-point – seems like a win-win.

3. MELGES IC37 The growth of league sailing and continuing preference for pay-to-play options has been tackled head-on by a number of institutions, not least the famous New York Yacht Club. The club asked Melges to come up with an exciting sub-40 footer of which they would buy the first production run to use as their club/league boats.

The resulting IC37 is a high performance out-andout racer with a clean cockpit, and stripped out below. The design has instantly generated a deal of interest beyond the NYYC and the IC37 is now on sale for the general public to buy and race.

4. SEAIR FOILING MINI 6.50 It is unlikely that anyone will be able to go out and buy one of these anytime soon but the SeAir foiling Mini 6.50 is something of a marvel of modern technology, with development still ongoing. This tiny singlehanded ocean racer has been built with fully lifting foils which provide impressive downwind pace.

Autopilot development for use on board this and other foilers is also a key focus.

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PERFORMANCE YACHT 1. GRAND SOLEIL 34 The Grand Soleil 34 is intended to take this well known Italian yard back to its roots. The company’s first boat, launched some 40 years ago, was a Grand Soleil 34, which proved to be enormously successful. The new boat aims to capture the same ethos. Our recent test sail showed they’ve achieved this, with a stylish, competitive, fun-to-sail yacht, ideal for double handing or fully crewed racing.

2. X-YACHTS X4 The first of a new X-line which slots between the Xc (cruiser) and Xp (performance) ranges is the X4 – a 42ft cruiser-racer that embodies the key principles of X-Yachts: fast, comfortable, quality yachts that can be both raced and cruised. In race mode, you get a modest displacement of 8,850kg, a deep T-shaped keel as standard, rod rigging and vacuum infused epoxy construction with a hull that features a steel grid at its core for extra stiffness.

3. CHANTIER OFCET 32SC This new French 32ft rocket ship has been designed to win midshore or offshore races such as the Fastnet, Transquadra, Armen Race, or Tour de Belle-Ile. The boat was designed by the well-known Mark Lombard Design Group and in addition to racing it is also suitable for ‘fast cruising’.

4. J/121 The latest 40 footer from J Boats is a clear development of the company’s ideas, but with a twist. It’s intended to be easily handled by small teams – anything from one to five people – and, as would be expected of the J Boats’ stable has impressive, well-thought through performance.

5. ARCONA 435 Sweden’s Arcona is a byword for comfort, quality and blistering speed. The new 435 has done nothing apart from burnish their already glowing reputation. She’s a development of the Arcona 430 and should be a polished performer.

This is not a simple MkII but a full redesign.

PHOTOS: BENOIT STICHELBAUT; RUPERT HOLMES; C/O CHANTIER OFCET

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Global migration with

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Š Ainhoa Sanchez / Volvo Ocean Race

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CRUISING YACHT

BLUEWATER CRUISER

MULTIHULL

1. HANSE 458

1. KRAKEN 50

1. PRIVILEGE SIGNATURE 510

The Hanse 458 is the successor to the hugely successful 455, yet the design team has not rested on their laurels and has succeeded in creating a worthy successor that mixes a pleasing blend of sprightly performance and appealing looks.

Kraken produce yachts that are specifically built for blue water cruising and are not afraid to buck modern styling trends to achieve the right hull shape for the job of crossing oceans. The real key feature of Kraken’s new 50 is the Zero Keel – so named because it features zero bolts and has zero chance of coming off, as it is fully encapsulated into the hull, nullifying the risk of keel failure. The 50 is an impressive riposte to what can often be that ‘difficult’ second model.

Privilege has quietly been developing and refining a mightily effective range of multihulls and the 510 is one of the latest additions to a swelling range. The 510 is built for blue water cruising and the comfort level is impressive, earning the model rave reviews. She boasts the largest state room in her class which also affords excellent all round visibility.

2. BENETEAU OCEANIS 51.1 French giant Beneteau turned quite a few heads when they rather broke the mould with their new 51.1. She is the first of the new range of Oceanis cruising yachts and designers Berret Racoupeau turned to the racing yacht Rambler 88 for inspiration.

3. DUFOUR 460 GL The 460 GL represents a small design revolution for the popular French manufacturer and their long time design partner Umberto Felci. With the 460, they’ve produced a really voluminous cruising range that is smart, modestly sporty and very comfortable. It’s when you head down below that you really get a pleasant surprise; the sheer feeling of room takes your breath away.

4. SOUTHERLY 480 The revival of Southerly Yachts is a heart warming story. The brand always had a sterling reputation and the manner in which the marque has been revived by Discovery, the new owners, is impressive. As such, the yard has taken the best features from the old Southerly range and honed the product. The swing keel and sea kindly hull lines had already been rigorously tried and tested but the real revelation has been the exceptional quality of the new interior.

5. JEANNEAU SUN ODYSSEY 410 PHOTOS: JOE MCCARTHY; C/O AMEL YACHTS; C/O DISCOVERY YACHTS

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The Sun Odyssey range is now in its eighth iteration so they must be doing something right.

The 410 follows on from the launch of the 490 and 440 which were both very well received due to their innovative approach to design. As such, the hull is heavily stepped out above the waterline which makes for an easily driven hull in light airs, combined with masses of extra internal volume that is particularly noticeable at the bow.

2. DISCOVERY 54 The news Discovery were developing a 54 footer to supplement the range was welcome and the 54 has not disappointed. There’s no shortage of pedigree here as the lines were penned by the late great Ed Dubois and he has certainly done Discovery proud with a yacht that oozes class from the moment you view her dockside.

3. AMEL 50 In the past Amel has stuck doggedly to the ketch rig and eyebrows were raised when the new 50 came out as a sloop. Even more intriguingly, the 50 is a departure in many ways from previous models. Ultimately, the lines are conservative, yet beam has increased and there are also twin rudders, a first for Amel.

4. RUSTLER 57 Slowly but surely Rustler Yachts has been assembling a very impressive fleet of blue water cruisers. Their new 57 is set to be the flagship of the range and when we viewed the yacht near completion it was impossible not to be impressed by the quality of build and the attention to detail.

5. OYSTER 595 The industry welcomed the end of Oyster’s travails in a year that has seen the company on the brink of extinction. Oyster had just developed a spanking new range of extremely smart blue water cruising yachts from the venerable Rob Humphreys. The new generation has mouldedin bowsprits for easier flying of downwind and reaching sails; twin rudders; and flush decks.

2. OUTREMER 51 Outremer catamarans have become the go-to boat for owners after cruising comfort and performance with the intention of opening up the horizons of a cruising sailor by substantially shortening passage times. The 51 is a step up in size from the popular Outremer 4X and certainly doesn’t want for comfort, featuring a well appointed saloon and generous accommodation plus a nicely enclosed cockpit area. This is a purposeful looking yacht and performance has not been neglected. She features twin daggerboards and displacement has been kept to a respectable 11,000kg.

3. LAGOON 50 Lagoon didn’t invent the cruising cat but they have been in the game so long that they have to be seen as the masters of the genre. The first 50 took to the water towards the end of last year and underlined the manufacturer’s ability to make cat cruising effortless. The 50 is not revolutionary, but she’s supremely competent in everything she does. Designer VPLP has opted for a high aspect rig with a short main boom and self tacker for ease of handling and this seems to have upped performance.

4. BLUEWATER 50 Discovery Yachts has always been about cruising comfort and elegance and their Bluewater 50 takes that concept and translates it to the multihull genre. The new Bluewater 50 is a development of a yacht initially designed for the company by Bill Dixon in 2011. Seven years on and the MKII has been carefully rethought and refined in order to move forward from an already excellent product.

In association with: Bruntons Propellers, Culture Sailing, GAC Pindar, Ocean Sailing Scotland, Pantaenius Sail & Motor Insurance, Poole Quay Boat Haven, Porto Montenegro, Seafarer, Seago, UKSA yachtsandyachting.co.uk

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Scotland’s Premier Ocean Sailing company are proud to support the British Yachting Awards 2018.

If you enjoy sailing, learning, great company, exploring and the excitement of sailing why not Join us in 2019. Find out more at www.oceansailingscotland.co.uk.

Whisky Cruise Arctic Circle Private Charter

Icelandic Challenge Northern Islands Challenge Day Experience Sails

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In association with

In association with

PRO SAILOR

AMATEUR SAILOR

YOUTH SAILOR

1. WENDY TUCK

1. ANDY & TOM PARTINGTON

1. EMILY MUELLER

As the first female skipper to win the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, Wendy Tuck crossed the finish of the year-long, 40,000nm race with her team of amateur, multinational sailors in August to sail into the record books.

This father-son duo became International 14 World Champions after years of dedicated campaigning in the class, beating off stiff competition in this renowned, cutting edge development class from 62 other boats representing seven different nations.

Royal Lymington’s Emily Mueller won the Volvo Gill Optimist British National Championships at Plas Heli, Pwllheli, and in doing so became only the third girl ever to do so in the 71 year history of the class. She faced stiff competition from a strong international contingent.

2. MARIA STANLEY

2. FINLEY ARMSTRONG & EWAN WILSON

RS200 sailor Maria Stanley became the first female helm to win an adult fleet at a UK RS national championship. Together with crew Rob Henderson, she took the title at the RS Games held at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy.

29er sailors Ewan Wilson and Finley Armstrong have shown absolute domination of their class: their list of titles is long and includes National Champions, RYA Youth National Champions, and Inland Champions. They won selection for July’s World Sailing Youth Championships, finishing eighth; aged just 14, helm Ewan was the youngest team member.

2. DEE CAFFARI MBE Dee Caffari MBE was skipper and mentor to the first mixed gender youth team in the Volvo Ocean Race. At the same time as racing, she was also an ambassador for the United Nations Environment initiative, Clean Seas.

3. CAROLIJN BROUWER As trimmer/helm on board Dongfeng in the Volvo Ocean Race, Carolijn Brouwer became one of the first female sailors to win the round the world race. She played a key part throughout bringing experience to the team as a veteran of three Volvos.

4. PHIL SHARP Phil Sharp smashed RORC’s Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race record, racing on board the Class 40 Imerys Clean Energy together with Julien Pulvé, Pablo Santurdé and Sam Matson to win the Class40 division and take overall race line honours.

5. CHARLIE CUMBLEY For the sixth consecutive year, Cumbley has dominated the Solo class circuit, winning the Nationals - this year from a hundred-plus fleet at Hayling Island Sailing Club - in addition to the Nations Cup in Garda with a near-perfect scoreline. He’s also made a remarkable debut in the Ok, including a silver at the Europeans.

PHOTOS: C/O RORC; NEILL ROSS; ANDY GREE/GREENSEA PHOTOGRAPHY

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6. SOPHIE WEGUELIN & SOPHIE AINSWORTH Weguelin and Ainsworth scooped bronze in the 49erFX at the World Sailing Championships in Aarhus, just a month after winning bronze at the European Championship. This double accolade is especially impressive considering the two only paired up in this class in April of this year.

3. SHARON GRENNAN, LUCY HODGES MBE & LIAM CATTERMOLE 2018 saw visually impaired sailors Lucy Hodges MBE and Liam Cattermole crowned three-time World Match Racing Champions, joined at the helm this year by Sharon Grennan, who is a completely blind sailor with a highly successful fleet race track record.

4. MIKE SENIOR & CHRIS WHITE Mike Senior and Chris White from South Staffs SC claimed the Gul GP14 World Championship at Mount’s Bay in a hugely competitive 119boat fleet. All the more impressive that they were sailing a 23 year old home-built boat.

5. DAVE HIVEY Victory in the International Moth class usually falls to professional sailors – Olympians and America’s Cup alumni – so when Dave Hivey won the Moth European Championships from a fleet of 65 in Borstahusen, Sweden, some very well-deserved congratulations flooded in.

6. GILES PECKHAM Giles Peckham won the Daring class at Lendy Cowes Week with a day to spare, counting wins in seven out of eight races. This impeccable performance also saw Dauntless declared the regatta’s overall winner, adding to previous victory at Cowes Classics Week.

3. VITA HEATHCOTE & MILLY BOYLE A string of top results on the national circuit saw this Royal Lymington duo consistently outshine other mixed and all male teams and earn qualification for the World Sailing Youth Championships in Texas, USA. Mastering a range of challenging conditions, 17-year olds Vita and Milly pushed hard, doing themselves and their nation proud by scooping silver Britain’s best result in this class in a decade.

4. WILL BEDFORD Since winning the Etchells Youth Academy Trials earlier this year, Will Bedford has become an unstoppable force in this class, culminating in a win in the Corinthian division, first Youth and sixth overall at the Etchells Europeans in Cowes against the likes of Lawrie Smith.

5. BEN HUTTON-PENMAN Ben Hutton-Penman has gone on to top last season’s achievements which saw him named Y&Y’s Youth Sailor Award, this year winning the RS Feva Worlds in USA, together with crew Abi Jayasekara, maintaining a narrow margin in the 102 strong fleet. He also took the overall win in the RS Aero Worlds in the Aero 5 class, and scooped the youth (under 19) and junior titles from a 60+ fleet of adult and junior sailors.

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PHOTO: © JEAN-BAPTISTE D’ENQUIN

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EQUIPMENT INNOVATION

CLOTHING INNOVATION

1. CREWWATCHER BEACON & APP

1. MAGIC MARINE AURELIAN HARNESS

CrewWatcher is a smart alarm system that constantly monitors if everyone is still on board using your phone or tablet, and up to five beacons. In case of a man overboard, the app will sound an alarm then provide those on board with intuitive rescue guidance. Zero input is required.

The Aurelian harness from Magic Marine was designed in collaboration with Rio 2016 49erFX gold medalists, Martine Soffiatti Grael and Kahena Kunze. It offers all round support via a stiff foam panel in the back, which supports the two main back muscles.

Our panel was particularly impressed with how much padding and adjustment is available in such a streamlined package.

2. B&G WIRELESS WIND VANE The WS320 is a new wireless wind sensor aimed at yachts with masts up to around 25 metres.

The new sensor is easy to install, lightweight and does not compromise performance. The vane has been designed to improve aerodynamics and accuracy. The smart rechargeable solar power management system ensures that data is always available to your instruments and autopilots.

3. OCEAN SIGNAL ATB1 The Ocean Signal ATB1 Class B AIS Transponder uses the SOTDMA access scheme, translating to increased visibility and safety at sea thanks to higher priority transmissions, sent more frequently and at a higher power than standard Class B AIS. Designed as an aid to collision-avoidance, it provides peace of mind that your vessel will be seen day or night, even in high levels of traffic.

2. ROOSTER WOMEN’S THERMAFLEX The Rooster ThermaFlex longjohn and top can take pretty much anything the British weather can throw at them. The soft inner lining of the longjohn paired with the velcro shoulder entry makes it easy to get on. The ThermaFlex’s 1.5mm super-stretch neoprene should make for a very comfortable garment, with plenty of warmth for cooler weather but the thinner neoprene preventing overheating.

We liked the colour scheme and were excited to see a move away from plain black wetsuits.

3. CREWSAVER ERGOFIT 50NEX HIGH IMPACT BOUYANCY AID

The OLAS Float-On is a pocket-sized floating torch which, when immersed in water, will automatically set off its MOB strobe, as well as triggering the OLAS App alarm on an on board mobile device.

The multifunctional safety aid is USB chargeable.

The Crewsaver ErgoFit 50NEX ‘High Impact’ Bouyancy Aid offers the highest spec buoyancy aid, as well as being breathable and low profile. Developed with the America’s Cup team Artemis, key safety features include Forcefield impact protection, quick access line cutter stowage, a spare air canister (detachable) and a hydration pack.

5. CORDSAFE LIFECORD

4. MUSTO D30 IMPACT SYSTEM

Unlike the typical passive kill cords commonly seen, Lifecord is a ‘smart’ kill cord incorporating detection technology that’s designed to trigger an audible and visual warning alarm should Lifecord be connected to a boat’s kill switch but not the pilot. The connector can be attached to a lifejacket or worn around your leg.

Musto has released a high tech range of impact protection padding, the D30 Impact System, which uses flexible molecules that stiffen on impact to dissipate energy. The pads can be slipped into specifically designed pockets in a number of Musto wetsuits and clothing to significantly reduce injury if the wearer hits something at speed.

4. EXPOSURE MARINE OLAS FLOAT-ON

6. YACHT SENTINEL YS6 Sentinel 6 offers added protection, security and peace of mind when away from your boat. It is an intelligent boat monitoring security system that enables you to remotely check your boat’s status through a mobile app or online via seven sensors, including tilt, postition, temperature and shock.

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT The recipient of this most prestigious Award is selected by our editorial panel in recognition of a feat, project or series of achievements that has gone above and beyond, and had a positive impact on the sport of sailing.

This year we are also pleased to introduce an Under 30 category.

Find out who the recipients will be in the next issue of Y&Y, on sale 9 November.

Supported by:

5. HELLY HANSEN LIFALOFT JACKET This mid-layer from Helly Hansen uses Lifaloft™, a clever combination of Lifa® and PrimaLoft® technology. This water repellant yarn ensures warmth and ease of movement thanks to reduced bulkiness and reduced weight, providing greater insulation for performance sailors.

In association with: Bruntons Propellers, Culture Sailing, GAC Pindar, Ocean Sailing Scotland, Pantaenius Sail & Motor Insurance, Poole Quay Boat Haven, Porto Montenegro, Seafarer, Seago, UKSA

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THE BRITISH

YACHTING AWARDS 2018

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT In association with

WINNER

TRACY EDWARDS This remarkable sailor’s endeavours to bring Maiden home have earned her the Outstanding Achievement Award in the inaugural British Yachting Awards. GEORGIE CORLETT-PITT tracks her journey

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ALL PHOTOS: C/O MAIDEN PROJECT

racy Edwards first shot to fame at the age of 27, as skipper of the first all-female team to enter the Whitbread Round the World Race on board Maiden, a 58ft Bruce Farr design that went on to become as much a part of the team as the crew.

Since the Berkshire-born sailor and her 11-strong crew took second place in the 1989-90 circumnavigation, Tracy herself has become renowned for breaking down barriers and forging the way; the mantra she has carried forwards from her former patron, HRH King Hussein I of Jordan, holds that “with faith, honour and courage, anything is possible”. Her inspirational exploits have earned her an MBE as well as becoming the very first female to receive the YJA Yachtsman of the Year Award, amongst others. Along the way she has broken multiple sailing records, written several books, and forged a shoreside career as an influential public speaker and charity ambassador.

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AMBITIONS AND EMOTIONS Fast forward to 2014, and Maiden was discovered in a sorry state in the Seychelles.

Tracy knew at once what was to be done, and set about raising funds to buy Maiden and bring her home to Hamble, where she had first been fitted out for her groundbreaking round the world debut some 24 years previously.

The task was a mammoth one, with many unforeseen challenges. Tracy tells the tale with an infectious energy, modestly sweeping away the magnitude of the situation she faced, but admitting: “The hull was in a much worse condition than anyone could have realised, and particularly the keel.”

The British Yachting Awards 2018

“She’s an old boat having to conform to new safety rules and regulations – that’s been a massive learning process for us, because we don’t want to change the integrity of her, we want her to remain known as this historic record of what a 1989-90 Whitbread race boat looks like.”

That it took three years to raise funds and return Maiden to Hamble and a further two years to complete the re-fit, is testament to Tracy’ characteristic tenacity and determination.

So when Maiden finally splashed earlier this summer in preparation for her new role (with, as Tracy notes, “not a dry eye in the house”), it was both a celebration of many years of hard work and an acknowledgement of Maiden’s future potential, which Tracy hopes will hold even greater than what has already been achieved.

Starting late 2018, Maiden will begin a worldwide voyage to raise funds and awareness

time to lead the project, sailing from port to port, to raise funds and awareness, and to support the charities and their various activation projects at the stopovers. It’s with obvious pride that Tracy explains: “They are not just the crew; they are ambassadors for the charities when they go into port.

They can speak very eloquently about what we’re doing and what we’re achieving.”

TURNING POINT For Tracy herself, getting to this stage has brought a huge amount of joy and a realisation of the impact that Maiden has had over three decades that until recently she had modestly dismissed. Whereas before she batted plaudits away, she admits the last five years have made her now “much more likely to say thank you so much for the complement!”

It was both a celebration of hard work and an acknowledgement of Maiden’s future of the fact that some 130 million girls worldwide do not have access to education. Her crew will carry a ‘message of hope’, written by school children in the UK, to others around the globe.

The project will work closely with a number of girls’ education charities, who work with The Maiden Project Foundation, all of which clearly hold a special place in Tracy’s heart.

“I can’t tell you how humbling it is working with these people what they do, what they achieve, it is just extraordinary,” she says.

Several high profile female skippers (including Dee Caffari, Wendy Tuck, Nikki Henderson, Abby Ehler, Sharon Ferris) have offered their

The emotion has been amplified by the overwhelmingly positive reaction the project has elicited from the sailing world, which she describes as “amazing”, both in terms of the recovery of Maiden and future ambitions of the project: the global mobile satellite communications specialist Inmarsat has just become the latest in a growing list of sponsors, supporters and suppliers.

“We’ve just had the most extraordinary support, and it feels really good,” she says.

Remarkably, Tracy’s original intention behind restoring Maiden had been to do just that: to resurrect and preserve her as a piece of nautical

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That’s the difference that we’ve found with Maiden is that men are so ready to engage. Last time, Maiden was mostly met with antipathy...

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PHOTOS: C/O THE MAIDEN PROJECT; ALEX IRWIN/SPORTOGRAPHY.TV

history. But a chance conversation with her daughter about her existing charitable work sparked the idea that Maiden could have potential beyond more than just a restoration project.

While Tracy describes the roots of the project as “organic” the turning point came when she received a call from HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein of Jordan. Daughter of the late HRH King Hussein I (who backed the original Maiden project with funding, logistical and moral support after a meeting Tracy on a charter in the US) the princess had heard of the bid to resurrect Maiden. She quickly realised that Tracy’s vision aligned perfectly with her own philanthropic projects – most recently including support for the Jordanian national women’s football team, and build projects dedicated to girls’ education. At once the princess pledged to help, referencing her father’s memory, and asking “What can I do?”

With Her Royal Highness’s support, the campaign has gathered real momentum. Tracy has gone from being a one-man-band to heading up a 10-person team in 18 months; she good-naturedly describes herself as “workaholic” who’s “horribly hands-on”, while confiding that “letting go of the reigns has been a challenge”. She has barely had a day off since the project began, five years ago, but, she enthuses, that’s what makes her happy: “I get up in the morning and think ‘fantastic!

I can’t believe how lucky I am to be doing what I am doing’ – so for me it’s not a chore, it’s just such a pleasure.”

As the driving force behind the whole campaign, Tracy has retained an overview of all aspects of the project, particularly fundraising and partnership elements. Amongst her team is right hand woman Libby Muddit; shore manager Allie Smith; events manager Alex Roberts; and Tracy’s daughter Mackenna, a recent recruit bringing photography, design and media expertise. “My team is made up from people I know and trust and have worked with over the last 30 years, or people I know and really understand their capabilities. It’s a really nice position to be in,” she says, joking: “I hope I don’t feel too redundant when the boat leaves!”

Once the voyage is underway, Tracy will continue to oversee things from ‘base camp’ (as she refers to the team’s London HQ), managing operations and safety, and ultimately being the person always available at the end of the phone.

That she will be present at some of the

stopovers is something of a given – in fact, it’s hard to imagine anyone stopping her, despite protestations that her 40 years of travel have left her with a strong hankering for the comforts of home. But one thing she is adamant about is that she won’t be stepping on board for any of the legs. “I don’t want to try and recreate what I had with Maiden before,” she reasons. “It’s a different project and it’s not about me. It’s about the boat and the younger crew, and about girls’ education.

“I look at my amazing crew, my extraordinary skippers – they don’t need me on the boat! They are all about a hundred times more qualified than I was in my entire sailing career. I’m really quite happy to stand back and let everyone else fulfil those roles.”

CROSSOVER LESSONS Although Maiden’s voyage over the next three years will be an entirely standalone project, it’s hard not to draw comparisons between this and the first campaign: Tracy’s determination, unforeseen hurdles, financing from the Jordanian royal family. True, the project has now moved up a level – this time, for instance, Maiden’s paint job has been exactly colour matched to the official

Above The original Maiden crew reunited for the re-launch

grey of the Royal Jordanian Airlines; last time, she was painted using Royal Navy surplus – the closest approximation the team could find for no cost!

While Tracy is acutely aware that the message of the need for gender parity that Maiden carries is one very similar to that of 30 years ago – it’s clearly a source of frustration – she tries hard to focus on the positives, which she feels transcend both the wider world and the sailing world: “Women are not having this conversation with themselves any more. This is reflected in education, the business world, in arts and entertainment, in journalism, in all sorts of areas, where, yes, we were having the same conversation 30 years ago, but at least this time men are part of the conversation.

“That’s the difference that we’ve found with Maiden is that men are so ready to engage. Last time, Maiden was mostly met with (and I’ve had my knuckles rapped by guys that did support us at the time) – but with antipathy or aggression, whereas this time we have been met with open arms, and there is a lot of progression amongst companies we’re approaching for support. There is now a real willingness.”

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Maiden proved that anyone can turn a dream into reality... It was - is - about proving you can do that In sailing terms, Tracy is quick to praise Mark Turner for incentivising teams to include female sailors on board in the last Volvo Ocean Race, calling it a “masterstroke of genius”. But whilst this may be helping to set a new standard at elite levels, there is still more that needs to be done to ensure this mentality filters down throughout sailing, foremost of which is including more female sailors at committee and organisational levels.

Tracy’s belief is that change needs to come from the top (she cites the rule 69 case against Scallywag in the last Volvo Ocean Race as not having been taken seriously enough) in order that the issues facing women sailors are proactively addressed, and the ‘hey love, do you know how to coil a rope?’ type of attitude is stamped out, enabling women across the sport to feel they have a voice.

Looking back to the original 1989-90 campaign, she says: “Maiden was never about creating an all-female crew to race around the world, Maiden was about proving that women are just as good as men. Ok, so we didn’t have any guys on the boat, but we were racing against guys who slowly, over nine months, changed their minds about how women could be equal in sailing and on boats.”

THE PERFECT STORM When Scallywag’s skipper described the gender equality rules brought in for the last Volvo Ocean Race

as a ‘social experiment’, Tracy was quick to point out via social media that she had already pioneered such an idea two decades previously.

After her first all-female Jules Vernes attempt in 1998 on board Royal Sun Alliance was abandoned (dismasted in the Southern Ocean), Tracy went on to recruit a team of six male and six female sailors and set about breaking a number of records on board Maiden II – once again capturing the limelight as the first truly mixed gender crew.

“It worked really, really well, the best of both worlds,” she recalls. “That is how it should be in the work place and everywhere else, that you chose people on their ability, not on their gender, or their race, or anything else.”

The topic of gender equality has largely taken until now to be tackled head on – in both sailing and the wider world. Tracy refers to a ‘perfect storm’ of feminism coming back into fashion and complacency falling away, propelled by the centenary of women’s voting rights, the #MeToo campaign, and movement born from the Women’s March in the US. It’s a far cry from when she first began working on charter yachts – having been expelled from school as a teenager – when she vividly recalls her own assumption that “all skippers were men and all cooks were women, and I never questioned it. That’s just how it was. It wasn’t

Above Maiden’s message will continue to focus on gender equality, much as was the case 30 years ago Below Maiden in a sorry state in the Seychelles, awaiting shipping to Hamble (left) Tracy receiving her award (right)

really until I did Maiden that I realised there was such a thing as sexism.”

Change is happening – albeit slowly – and it is also growing in reach. “Men are realising that the happiness of everyone depends on equality and we all need to be equal, not just half the population.

“This is something that taught me a real lesson when Maiden came back. Yes, ok, Maiden is about female empowerment and proving women can do it, but she stood for so much more than that. We are getting so many emails and communications from men saying ‘you proved to me that if I worked hard and I kept following my dreams and I believed in myself then I can do what I set out to do’.

“Maiden proved that anyone can turn a dream into reality. And that’s why I think it captured the imagination with her coming back because it was so much more than I thought it was. It was – it is – about proving that you can do it.”

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD This Award was presented by our editorial panel.

Tracy was selected as someone who has gone above and beyond in the world of sailing In association with Ocean Sailing Scotland

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BRITISH YACHTING AWARDS

YACHTING AWARDS 2018 WINNER

UNDER 30S OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT In association with

NIKKI HENDERSON What does it take to become the youngest ever skipper to bag a podium result in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race?

GEORGIE CORLETT-PITT finds out

C/O THE MAIDEN FACTOR

E

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ven before she left the dock in August 2017 at the start of the 12-month long Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, Nikki Henderson knew she was achieving something special.

The then-23-year old was about to become the youngest skipper in the race’s 11-edition history, beating Alex Thomson, who won the 1998-99 edition at the age of 25. That she went on to skipper her team on board Visit Seattle to second overall (and runner up to the race’s first ever female winning skipper, Australian Wendy Tuck) exceeded all expectation.

The first time I meet Nikki is on the water, racing as part of an all-female crew with Sunsail at Lendy Cowes Week. Just 10 days previously she’d stepped ashore for the final time from the challenging circumnavigation, so she readily admits she’s still adjusting to life on terra firma and working out what’s next.

As she chats, it’s with an intelligence and a confidence that belie her age: add up her experience and it’s hard to imagine quite how she has crammed all of this in, in just two-and-a-bit decades!

The adventure first began when Nikki passed up a place at university to pursue her love of sailing and travel; her big break was to skipper an all-female crew across the Atlantic. After that she says she “took every opportunity” to collect more sailing miles than most 20-somethings are able to dream of, skippering several ARCs, a Caribbean season, and racing the Maxi 78, Phosphorous. Five years on, having just finished a season in Denver, Colorado – setting up a sailing school – and now with 38,000nm and a huge variety of experience under her belt, she applied for the Clipper Race skipper selections.

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LEARNING FROM THE OFF Despite having an obvious natural flair for leadership, the Clipper Race was something of a proving ground for Nikki. One of the greatest challenges she faced came early on, 30 days into the 35-day-long 6363nm leg one, from Liverpool to Uruguay, which was already taking longer than anticipated. She recalls: “I was sleep deprived, everyone was exhausted; it was really really hot, wet, and damp, and we were right at the edge of our food stores; everything was breaking. Somehow, we were in first place and one way or another we decided to explode all three spinnakers.”

The situation was compounded when a tactical misjudgment on Nikki’s part led to her team dropping from first place to last within 24 hours. “Everything had fallen apart, and it was that moment of feeling all of the responsibility

doesn’t understand how to do it. With a normal professional crew, they may not know how to fix something or how to act, but if you say, ‘run up and get this kite down’ they can; whereas to an amateur crew, in that same amount of time, you need to say, ‘right you need to go to the bow, you need to do this’ to every single person, especially if they are new. They won’t understand the bigger picture, so you’re then having to improvise for each individual person.

“So, prioritising, for me, became about how to put people in a scenario where they could best improvise for themselves. To do that, they need to understand the bigger picture and be empowered to make their own decisions, because you can’t make all their decisions for them – it’s inefficient. Theoretically then you make more mistakes because you are giving people more freedom, but ultimately, they will learn.”

It was the hardest thing I have ever done... to go upstairs with a smile and say ‘it’s ok’ on me,” she recounts. “I thought ‘I have just fulfilled every stereotype of a 24-year old sailing around the world and trashing the boat’. You have nowhere to go. All I wanted to do was to go home and cry and hide under my bed!

It was just the hardest thing I have ever done, to go down below for five minutes and say to myself ‘ok, I have to go upstairs now with a smile on my face and say it’s all going to be ok’.”

That early incident was instrumental in helping her learn how to remain calm and lead her team confidently through a crisis. “I knew what to do, but the difficulty with this job is how to explain what to do to someone else who

ON SKILLS AND SCEPTICISM Throughout the 40,000nm long race, Nikki repeatedly applied this philosophy with the result that her team gradually improved not only their confidence but also their efficiency and performance. Her careful coaching on specific tasks – everything from winch servicing to fixing the toilet, to regular maintenance of the whole boat during each of the 12 stopovers – enabled individual crew to respond and fix problems as they arose.

The race is well known for attracting largely novice crew from a huge variety of backgrounds and amongst her crew, Nikki encountered all

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Prioritising became about how to put people in a situation where they could improvise for themselves...

They need to be empowered to make decisions

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PHOTOS: ONEDITION; CLIPPER VENTURES; CLINT HUGHES

sorts of experience, from mechanical engineers to a meteorologist, and being able to draw on their niche skills was often a welcome bonus on board.

Yet, for many observers, it would appear that by far the biggest challenge stems from the low level of sailing experience typical of Clipper crews – in spite of the intensive training all undergo prior to the start. It’s an aspect of the race that has long drawn scepticism, but Nikki is quick to set these concerns aside.

“Although the sailing skills are hugely important, you have to have the right mental attitude,” she replies. “I think it takes a special type of person to be at sea for four and a half weeks – that, and the drive, the teamwork, the camaraderie.

Just because they couldn’t sail didn’t mean they weren’t intelligent, talented people. It’s about finding those skills and bringing them out – and then you can teach them how to sail.”

It’s a viewpoint she hadn’t always held, as she talks frankly about having questioned the concept herself prior to her involvement with the race. But, she maintains, for any skipper, the level of responsibility remains the same, whether skippering a day charter with a qualified mate on board, or leading a novice crew offshore: the key factor is how you adapt to any given situation. Asked whether that inhibited the degree to which Visit Seattle could be competitive, again her answer is philosophical, and she explains that it is about being competitive whilst staying within the crew’s limits.

The race itself is a far cry from the pinnacle professional events experienced racers are perhaps more familiar with, where skeleton crews and cutting edge boats are operating at the very limits.

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Things like stacking aren’t allowed, although Clipper crews do eat and sleep on the high side. “A lot depends on the team and how competitive you are,” Nikki continues. “Sailing the boat hard – that develops. At first, even driving the boat in a straight line can be quite a challenge, let alone trimming. So it’s a learning process, but they are as competitive as they can be... That said, we definitely wouldn’t win against the Volvo Ocean Race crews!” she smiles.

BALANCING ACT Despite her unrelenting patience and determination to draw the best from her

Above It was halfway into the race before Nikki admitted her ambition was to try for the win Below left Driving the boat fast was a skill that took time for her novice crew to develop

team, it wasn’t always smooth sailing, and Nikki admits there were times when her age and gender led to question marks being cast over her leadership.

It was something the race organisers had warned may be a possibility – based on past experiences – so she had gone into the race with her eyes open and prepared to tackle it head on.

“On the boat, you’re in this scenario where they don’t really have an option: they either follow you or, I mean, who else is going to run the boat?! But on the shore as a skipper you have to run your team too, and then there’s no carrot, no stick. There’s really no obligation for them to do what you say. So there were some difficulties in running meetings, for example, where someone – who perhaps was used to being a very senior level manager – might try to advise me about how to structure my team meetings and what to say.”

At times she felt she was being manipulated, but says: “Unfortunately they didn’t realise that I knew what that felt like, so I was ready for that.”

She was also mindful of the fact that every Clipper crew was a paying customer, (up to £49,500 for a ‘round the world-er’), leading to some tough decisions. “It’s a really delicate balance: how do you get your crew to do what you want while keeping them happy and keeping everyone else happy?” she says. “I had people complaining and even wanting to leave the team, and I

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had to consider whether it was a good decision to keep them in the team.

Commercially, obviously, Clipper want everybody to be happy when they leave the boat – I really do as well, but then also you want to be successful and you want to win – so yes, it’s a balancing act.”

Nikki cites her ambition to “build a really strong team and give people a really good experience” as “her strongest drive”. Despite her competitive nature, the ambition to finish on the podium, or perhaps even top it, was something that came much later.

“If I went back again now, I know I would go in with the sailing confidence that I didn’t have when I started.

Then, I didn’t feel confident to say to my team ‘we’re going to go out and try to win this’ because I didn’t think that I was capable of doing that.”

The point at which she says she “became brave enough to put herself on the line” came around halfway through the race, prompted by a challenge from her crew. “They said: ‘hey Nik, you say you don’t really care about winning and it’s all about the team, but really we can see you’re trying to win, so what’s going on?!’

“Then it was me admitting to myself and to the team, ‘actually I need to be honest with you, I do want to win this’.

And I think that was a relief, it became ‘how are we going to do this?’ and everyone was like ‘wahoo, let’s do this!’

“I realise now that if you all buy into the fact you’re all trying to win, people will do that little bit extra because you

can say ‘well, we are here to win’. But by saying so, you put yourself up for a failure and that’s the scary thing.”

She feels the predicament is one that women more commonly find themselves facing than their male counterparts, “not just in sailing but in all areas of life. We don’t say we want to be at the top, because it’s scary if you don’t get it. It’s easier to say, ‘oh I didn’t really care about that’ afterwards.”

SPECIAL MOMENTS For all its challenges, the race also held many special moments for Nikki. Among them, she recounts a four-day tacking battle en route from Freemantle to Sydney with the eventual winner, Wendy Tuck’s Sanya Serenity Coast team. “That was fun! I’ve done a lot of inshore racing in my life. This was a two week race and it all came down to 10 minutes.”

Another was facing 80-90 knot winds in the midst of the Pacific. “The sea was just the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. It was like being on top of a skyscraper looking down at a cityscape full of colours, it was pretty crazy.

“When that comes in you have to work – I didn’t sleep for 24 hours, and a lot of the crew didn’t either because there is a lot of work to be done. They were so strong and you could see the calibre of person who signs up to this race: this is serious, they are looking for adventure. Everyone loved it; that was exactly what they are looking for,” she explains, with a note of admiration.

PHOTO: IMAGECOMMS

It was me admitting to myself and to the team, ‘I do want to win this’... That was a relief

Above Celebrating second place overall after 40,000 gruelling miles Below left In Liverpool, Nikki (centre) with her Visit Seattle team, fresh faced before the start

UNDER 30s OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD This Award is presented by our editorial panel to an individual under 30 years of age who has gone above and beyond in the world of sailing In association with Poole Quay Boat Haven

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WHAT’S NEXT? For a young skipper who has proven she’s not fazed by either the physical or mental challenges of extreme offshore racing, it’s obvious the future is a bright one. Three months on from the conclusion of the Clipper and Nikki’s next challenge is already underway; she has just left the UK to skipper Maiden to Australia, via India, as part of a campaign run by Tracy Edwards to raise awareness around girls’ education rights.

The cause is close to her heart, but Maiden is equally a springboard to broadening her sailing opportunities, which she hopes might one day include running a Volvo Ocean Race campaign.

For now, she says, it’s about finding “further opportunities to sail with and learn from the best sailors in the world...

See how they do things; learn and grow myself. I’d like to side-line this with some more formal leadership training and learning to maximise my potential.”

She’s also keen to “continue to inspire other people to aim high and see that ‘labels’ – such as age, gender, sexuality, or background – aren’t barriers.”

It’s certainly a message she’s well placed to put across, as her sailing career so far and Clipper Race achievements in particular have shown. Asked what factors have helped her reach this point, she credits her upbringing, mixed with perhaps a little bit of naivety as a teenager, and a deep-rooted determination to make the most of any situation. “I have always thought ‘yes, I can do that’, and I’ve grown from there.

If you are brave and you put your mind to it, to be a woman in a male dominated industry does mean you stand-out from the crowd and you can accelerate fast.” “I just took every opportunity that has been put in front of me.”

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BRITISH YACHTING AWARDS

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WINNERS ANNOUNCED

YACHTING AWARDS 2018

The votes have been counted and winners selected in the very first British Yachting Awards Presented by

F

or the very first time this year Y&Y has partnered with our sister magazine, Sailing Today to bring you the British Yachting Awards, truly a celebration of every aspect of the sailing world - from high tech racing to Caribbean cruising.

This year has seen a whole host of exceptional deeds with records falling left and right, new products that have impressed, and individual and team performances that set new standards.

Clearly the talent on offer inspired you, the sailing public, with thousands of you voting for your favourites in a diverse range of categories, from Cruising Grounds to Racing In association with

Performance. The votes in many cases were extremely tight, reflecting the strength of the sport and also its increasing diversity.

Gender parity and the need to redress the historic imbalance has been a hot topic.

From the Volvo Ocean Race’s introduction of a gender rule, which actively encouraged female participation, to the continued drive to see the sport represented equally at the Olympic Games, we are seeing more women than ever before being given centre stage.

From Pro Sailor to Youth, this has been a year that women have been an absolute force in sailing. We have seen the first female winners of the Volvo Ocean Race in Carolijn

Brouwer and Marie Riou, who, along with the rest of Dongfeng Race Team won our Racing Performance of the Year Award. Dee Caffari led a 50:50 male and female team packed with fresh young talent in the same event and was a clear winner with the public in our Professional Sailor of the Year category.

Elsewhere, Maria Stanley - the first female helm to win an adult RS championship - and Emily Mueller - Optimist National Champion - are both further testament to the strength of female talent. Finally, the panel has awarded both the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award and inaugural Under 30s Award to highly deserving female sailors.

AMATEUR SAILOR OF THE YEAR MARIA STANLEY

Maria Stanley won this year’s RS200 National Championships in a highly competitive fleet. The regatta was sailed as a part of the RS Games – a celebration of 20 years of RS racing with all fleets competing over the course of August in Weymouth and Portland.

The RS200 is one of the most competitive fleets of any kind in the UK, with the nationals entry limit of 100 boats usually being reached well ahead of regatta start – and this year was no different. Olympic sailors regularly step into the class to get

some big fleet racing practise – and for the legendary socials – another factor that makes it a tough one to win.

In winning the event Maria became the first female helm to win an adult RS national championship in 20 years – enough to warrant inclusion in the award nominees list in and of itself.

That Maria has also won a raft of other events in the season, including the class Inland National Championship shows this win was far from a oneoff. Clearly the public thought she was a worthy winner as Maria swept to victory with a healthy margin.

PHOTO: ALEX IRWIN/SPORTOGRAPHY.TV

WINNERS

Presented by: Musto, Yachts & Yachting, Sailing Today

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PHOTO: JESUS RENEDO/VOLVO OCEAN RACE; ALEX IRWIN/SPORTOGRAPHY.TV

EVENT OF THE YEAR VOLVO OCEAN RACE

The 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race was a triumph, not only for its nail-bitingly close finish but for its ambition to be a good ‘global citizen’.

The iconic 45,000nm offshore event long ago earned the accolade ‘the Everest of sailing’, but the latest edition looked beyond the extreme performance with an agenda designed to promote and encourage gender

equality and youth opportunity. It was a pioneering approach that paid dividends, and VOR enthusiasts – of which there are many, both dedicated and casual – will be hoping that the best elements of the 2017-18 cocktail will emerge again when the VOR returns.

The racing action was epic as always too, with teams facing a gruelling 12,000-mile

Southern Ocean stint, but it was the finish that will cement the recent event into ocean racing legend. With three boats still battling for overall honours in the closing miles of the race and the closest ever finish, it’s no wonder the Volvo Ocean Race – the last in the event’s current format – has been voted the inaugural British Yachting Awards Event of the Year.

In association with: Bruntons Propellers, Culture Sailing, GAC Pindar, Ocean Sailing Scotland, Pantaenius Sail & Motor Insurance, Poole Quay Boat Haven, Porto Montenegro, Seafarer, Seago, UKSA

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CULTURE SAILING

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Before or after your boat winter storage, plan a rally with us. We take you and your boat hand by hand while you will enjoy a mixture a cruising in company of other boats, spiced with social and cultural get togethers ashore and rendezvous afloat.

Explore hidden bays, discover exotic anchorages and revel in fantastic landscapes or impressive volcanic panoramas. Whether sharing a sip of wine in the cockpit, enjoying the local food, or visiting a village in Sicily, the Canary Islands or an ancient town on the Iberic coast, you will get to meet locals for a cultural exchange.

For information and enrolment: email: info@culturesailing.com tel UK +44 20 3637 7898 tel Spain +34 69 930 8207 mobile/whatsapp: +39 3357 409 289

WWW.CULTURE SAILING.COM Culture Sailing is a multihull friendly organisation and supports CA, Little Ship Club and TransOcean Association members in Italy and Canary Islands.

PRO SAILOR OF THE YEAR DEE CAFFARI MBE

The sole British skipper in the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race returned to the pinnacle of round the world racing for the second time in her illustrious career, but as befits a bona fide sailing role model she put personal ambitions on the back burner.

Instead of looking for personal glory – she has garnered plenty of that stuff already – Caffari took on the role of skipper and mentor to the first mixedgender youth team to participate in the race. As if that wasn’t a noble enough endeavour, she was racing aboard Turn the Tide on Plastic as ambassador for a United Nations Environmental initiative that’s close to every sailor’s heart, Clean Seas.

While a racer of our Pro Sailor of the Year Award winner’s calibre could hardly help wonder where a more competitive VOR entry might have finished, Caffari’s commitment to passing on her own knowledge and helping to enable and empower the next generation is laudable. We’d like to think this award, voted on by thousands of sailing enthusiasts, is a vote of thanks.

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THE BRITISH

YACHTING AWARDS 2018

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT In association with

WINNER

YOUTH SAILOR OF THE YEAR EMILY MUELLER

The 15-year old winner of the Optimist British Championships in 2018 is only the third girl to clinch the British title in the 71-year history of the class. Emily Mueller’s winning form hasn’t stopped there, as Y&Y and Sailing Today readers have also made sure she’ll go down in history as the first ever Youth Sailor of the Year in the inaugural British Yachting Awards.

Emily sails with Royal Lymington Yacht Club, and faced stiff competition in her final major competitive Oppie outing. With 154 boats in the senior fleet alone, she showed grit and determination – as well as plenty of skill – to take the overall title.

PHOTO: JEREMIE LECAUDEY/VOLVO OCEAN RACE; ALEX IRWIN/SPORTOGRAPHY.TV; ANDY GREEN

TRACY EDWARDS MBE

Tracy Edwards MBE is the recipient of our prestigious Award for Outstanding Achievement in recognition of the huge contribution she has made to sailing. Her most recent endeavours have included restoring her 1989-90 Whitbread Race entry Maiden to embark on a round the world voyage to raise awareness and funds for girls’ education.

The editorial panel felt that Tracy’s own tenacity, combined with the inspirational impact of The Maiden Project, more than merited this Award.

To read more about Tracy and her unique achievements, see page 18.

Presented by: Musto, Yachts & Yachting, Sailing Today

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RACING PERFORMANCE DONGFENG RACE TEAM

We’ve never seen a closer climax to a Volvo Ocean Race than the thrilling final leg that wrapped up the 2017-18 edition of the world’s premiere round the world racing challenge.

Everything hung on a 970-mile dash from Gothenburg to The Hague, and with three teams neck and neck on points at the start of this final leg there was all to play for.

Dongfeng skipper Charles Caudrelier boldly called an inshore route and split from the rest of the fleet. It looked initially as though his gamble had failed, but with less than 100 miles to go the weather routers were predicting the top boats would finish minutes apart.

In the end it was Dongfeng that slipped ahead of the rest of fleet to take their first leg win – and the overall race victory.

“We always trusted each other. Nobody thought we were going to win this last leg, but I had a good feeling,” said an emotional Caudrelier. “I said ‘we can’t lose, we can’t lose, we can’t lose’… and we won!”

EQUIPMENT INNOVATION

CLOTHING INNOVATION

WEEMS & PLATH CREWWATCHER BEACON AND APP

MUSTO D3O IMPACT SYSTEM

Musto has released a high-tech range of impact protection padding, the D3O Impact System, which uses flexible molecules that stiffen on impact to dissipate energy. The pads can be slipped into specifically designed pockets in a number of Musto wetsuits and clothing to significantly reduce impact forces if the wearer hits something at speed.

The system provides a welcome level of additional protection from bumps, bruises and potentially more serious injuries for dinghy sailors, while it’s flexible ‘relaxed’ state means it doesn’t impinge on freedom of movement when worn in day to day environments.

Along with other innovations in design and technology, the new material has allowed Musto to create a uniquely effective dinghy collection.

Cutting-edge eco-friendly, limestone-based Flexlite Alumin neoprene has been used to create pieces that supply a superior level of warmth, stretch and a lighter weight, while every wetsuit and steamer in the collection features internal pockets on critical zones for D3O impact protection.

PHOTO: AINHOA SANCHEZ/VOLVO OCEAN RACE; ALEX IRWIN/SPORTOGRAPHY.TV

CrewWatcher is a smart alarm system that constantly monitors if everyone is still on board using your phone, tablet or iPad, and up to five beacons – which are designed for crew members but can also be usefully attached to the dinghy, or the dog.

In case of a man overboard, the app is designed to sound an alarm within 6 seconds, then provide those on board with intuitive rescue guidance. Zero input is required.

If an activated beacon detects water or loses its signal, the app will automatically sound an alarm and voice the words, ‘man overboard’ at maximum volume, even if the phone or tablet is in silent mode.

Once rescue mode is activated, CrewWatcher uses a virtual MOB compass to visually guide you back to the point of loss. The MOB icon moves relative to your boat until the MOB icon points straight ahead, and the app screen turns green when the beacon’s signal is found, and you know you are within a few boatlengths of the casualty.

In association with: Bruntons Propellers, Culture Sailing, GAC Pindar, Ocean Sailing Scotland, Pantaenius Sail & Motor Insurance, Poole Quay Boat Haven, Porto Montenegro, Seafarer, Seago, UKSA

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THE BRITISH

YACHTING AWARDS 2018 WINNER

Join us

Friendly marinas & helpful boatyards Portland & Weymouth marinas are proud to be voted ‘UK Destination Marina of the Year’ deanreddyhoff.co.uk

WINNERS

BRITISH YACHTING AWARDS

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DINGHY FLYING MANTIS

Plaudits go to British designer Jamie Stewart for seeing the opportunity to bring the excitement and technology of foiling to a broader audience via his exciting ‘two boats in one’ concept.

The Flying Mantis is a lightweight 14ft carbon fibre trimaran that can be sailed on the water with a rudder and daggerboard, but when conditions are right can go airborne on its easily removable foils. You don’t need to be built like a jockey to ‘fly’ the Mantis either, as it will take sailors up to 120kgs in weight.

Lightweight and easy to disassemble, the Flying Mantis is readily transported and stored at home. As its triumph in our Dinghy of the Year Award category suggests, the ability to sail in triconfiguration has a wide appeal to sailors, many of whom have yet to master the skills of foiling and don’t want to risk an ‘all or nothing’ approach.

In association with

CRUISING YACHT BENETEAU OCEANIS 51.1

Beneteau will be breaking out the fizz to toast its win in this closely fought category, and doubtless attributing at least some of its 2018 Cruising Yacht of the Year Award to the innovative forward chine of the Oceanis 51.1 which gives the boat a unique ‘champagne glass’ hull section.

It’s all in the pursuit of extra internal volume, and the results are fairly spectacular. The Oceanis 51.1 offers positively palatial accommodation below decks, whether configured for charter work or with a luxurious owner stateroom up forward. There’s plenty of light down below too, thanks to the very many ports in the hull and coachroof, while Beneteau’s brushed oak interior décor adds to the premium feel.

PERFORMANCE YACHT

PHOTO: RICK TOMLINSON; ALEX IRWIN/SPORTOGRAPHY.TV

J/121

J Boats reckons its J/121 is the best short-handed racer the company has built. The 40-footer is designed to be sailed by five or fewer crew, which J reckon – and we agree – makes life a whole lot easier for racing skippers fed-up with rounding up 8 or 10 bodies every time they want to compete.

She looks the part too, boasting low, sleek lines and an easy to use cockpit with everything to hand - features that clearly proved popular with voters.

There’s an 840-litre water ballast system built-in to compensate for extra crew bodies lined-up along the rail, and the low drag hull offers straight line speed with high form stability.

There’s a standard suite of five sails plus the usual J Boats retractable jib, and thanks to a comfortable fit-out down below the J/121 is an ocean-capable racer that also functions beautifully as an adventurous daysailer, weekender or fast cruiser.

Supported by: Musto, Sailing Today, Yachts and Yachting, Presented by: Musto, Yachts Yachting, Sailing Today Bruntons Propellers, Culture Sailing, GAC&Pindar, Ocean Sailing Scotland, Pantaenius Insurance, Poole Quay Boat Haven, Porto Montenegro, Seafarer, Seago, UKSA yachtsandyachting.co.uk

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WINNERS

BRITISH YACHTING AWARDS

In association with

BLUEWATER CRUISER DISCOVERY 54

In association with

SPORTSBOAT RS21

The RS21 is a refreshingly simple yet modern design optimised for sailing clubs and training organisations who want a sporty, easy to sail boat that’s cost-effective to buy and maintain, while providing plenty of excitement for sailors at all levels.

It definitely looks racy on the pontoon, and a 10 out of 10 score for sailing performance in the Y&Y boat test suggests the design essentials are bang on. “The boat is impressively well mannered, rewarding to sail and lots of fun. It’s easy to see it gaining popularity among both experienced sailors and those taking their first steps on a performance boat,” we said.

We all know there’s a requirement to attract new and younger sailors to our sport, and great design means the RS21 has a rugged strength and simplicity that makes it easy – and affordable – to own and maintain.

It also boasts an industry-leading approach to environmental issues, as it’s built using organic resins and features a neat Torqeedo electric auxiliary that outmodes petrol outboards at a stroke.

Discovery Yachts have long been one of the heavyweights of the blue water cruising genre and the 55 set something of a blueprint. The arrival of the new Discovery 54 is a direct result of their takeover of Southerly, and in fact it’s a new sister-ship to the Southerly 540. The two share a common hull but the Discovery 54 features a deep rigid keel instead of the Southerly version’s lifting set-up. Both sister vessels have been treated to the same level of build quality and material finish that Discovery is known for, and both feature the same twin furling headsails for easy handling.

The new Discovery 54 offers more headroom than the original Southerly variant too, as well as styling updates that give the model a crisper, more contemporary look.

There’s no shortage of pedigree, as the Discovery 54’s lines were penned by the late great Ed Dubois. He has done Discovery proud with a yacht that positively oozes class from the moment you set eyes on her.

In association with

MULTIHULL

PHOTOS: C/ORS SAILING; ALEX IRWIN/SPORTPOGRAPHY.TV

LAGOON 50

The Lagoon 50 is a consummate cruising catamaran with a thoroughly modern appeal for owners and charterers alike. The upright wraparound windows of the main deck saloon set the scene for an interior that’s more akin to a luxurious waterside apartment than a yacht cabin, yet the crisp contemporary lines of the boat give her an elegance at anchor or on a passage that belies the onboard accommodation.

She’s a boat made for blue water cruising, and a well thought-out rig is optimised for fast passage-making while being easy to handle. The mast is well aft, allowing a self-tacking jib, and the mainsail is set on short boom yet has a high aspect ratio to maintain performance.

The flybridge-style helm provides great visibility, and there’s a large area for socialising immediately aft so the skipper’s never far from the party.

In similar vein, the large panoramic windscreen in the main saloon is retractable, giving access to the forward lounging area between the hulls.

In association with: Bruntons Propellers, Culture Sailing, GAC Pindar, Ocean Sailing Scotland,

DOWNLOAD SOUVENIR GUIDE AT ?????????????????????????.COM Pantaenius SailYOUR & Motor Insurance, Poole Quay Boat Haven, Porto Montenegro, Seafarer, Seago, UKSA yachtsandyachting.co.uk

The British Yachting Awards 2018

35

LIFEJACKET SERVICE COSTS

LIFERAFT SERVICE COSTS Nationwide collection

Every brand & model accepted

Fast track service available

Rearming kit included in price

Low cost fixed price servicing

Fixed price no hidden extras

Scrappage scheme available

Seago will service all lifejacket brands and models at our fully equipped service centre by our highly qualified service technicians.

ISO 9650-2 Sea Cruiser / GX /G Capacity (Persons)

Certificate 3 years

Certificate 2 years

Certificate 1 year

4 6 8 10

£239.00 £249.00 £259.00 £269.00

£209.00 £229.00 £239.00 £249.00

£189.00 £209.00 £219.00 £239.00

ISO 9650-1 Sea Master Capacity (Persons)

Certificate 3 years

Certificate 2 years

Certificate 1 year

4 6 8 10 12

£289.00 £299.00 £309.00 £319.00 £329.00

£269.00 £279.00 £289.00 £299.00 £309.00

£249.00 £259.00 £269.00 £279.00 £289.00

MCA APPROVED

All lifejacket brands and models Type 100-190N 200-300N (activation) (20-38g) (60g) Manual Automatic Hammar

£21.95 £24.95 £44.95

N/A £34.95 £54.95

Check your safety equipment before the start of the new season

Contact Seago for your nearest dealer or to discuss your service requirements. Seago can arrange collection for your service items nationwide.

visit: www.seagoyachting.co.uk/servicedetail All prices shown are VAT inclusive Prices are subject to change without notice

Contact sales | 01825 873 567 | sales@seagoyachting.co.uk | www.seagoyachting.co.uk

WINNERS

BRITISH YACHTING AWARDS

THE BRITISH

YACHTING AWARDS 2018

UNDER 30S OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT In association with

WINNER

In association with

CHARTER DESTINATION BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

What do we want from our annual charters? Guaranteed sunshine, beautiful anchorages in crystal-clear waters fringed by sandy white beaches, fair winds and a rollicking rum punch… Yes, our readers have rated the British Virgin Islands as their favourite charter destination of 2018.

With sheltered waters, and short line-of-sight passages between palm tree-fringed islands, the BVIs are the perfect destination for crews seeking to unwind with a bit of stress-free sailing and the heady delights of iconic beach bars like Willy T, Foxy’s and Soggy Dollar. Throw in wonderful opportunities for snorkelling and sight-seeing ashore, as well as spending time on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, and it’s not hard to see why the BVIs clinched the category. It’s a great result for the welcoming BV islanders who’ve worked hard to recover from the devastation of Hurricane Irma in 2017, and a vote of confidence from charterers too.

NIKKI HENDERSON The inaugural Under 30s Outstanding Achievement Award goes to Nikki Henderson, who became the youngest ever skipper to complete the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Not only that, but she led her largely amateur team on board Visit Seattle to an impressive second place overall in the tough 40,000nm race. The editorial panel has awarded this accolade in respect of the skill and determination Nikki showed, including exemplary leadership and the ability to motivate her team.

See full interview on page 22.

BOATBUILDER HANSE YACHTS

With a comprehensive range of boats from 30ft to almost 70ft, there’s a consistent philosophy that runs through the entire Hanse range. The unifying elements are fast, elegant hull lines and high performance sail plans, easy short-handed sailing with self-tackers and minimal deck clutter, and a luxurious design aesthetic that gives the marque it’s characteristic feel.

The latest Hanse models really hit the sweet spot, and the Hanse 458 recently tested by Sailing Today provides the perfect blend of performance, style and quality. For consistency and quality across the range, we think Hanse has the opposition licked.

UK MARINA WEYMOUTH AND PORTLAND MARINA

PHOTO: ALAMY; ALEX IRWIN/SPORTOGRAPHY.TV

Marina operator Dean & Reddyhoff has a bit of an advantage here, with two distinctly different venues combined in a single destination. Together the twin marinas of Weymouth and Portland offer pretty much all the cruising sailor could ask for in this popular West Country stop-over.

Located in the heart of Dorset’s Jurassic Coast – itself a world heritage site – Weymouth and Portland present all the attractions of a traditional seaside town on the one hand, with the state-of-the art facilities on the other. The Weymouth branch of operations has 300 berths, while the town offers sandy beaches, restaurants, shopping and a cinema. Head round to the Portland branch and you’ll

Presented by: Musto, Yachts & Yachting, Sailing Today

yachtsandyachting.co.uk

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THE BRITISH

YACHTING AWARDS 2018

yachtsandyachting.co.uk

AWARDS NIGHT

The British Yachting Awards 2018

39

Easy to handle high performance sailing Converts from a displacement trimaran into a fully foiling boat Sailor weight up to 120kgs

THE BRITISH

YACHTING AWARDS 2018 WINNER

Dinghy of the Year

Flying Mantis channel (see 360 VR) info@flyingmantis.uk 07870 212702

www.flyingmantis.com

The British Yachting Awards 2018

41

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