Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting July 2021

YOUR 2021 REGATTA GUIDE INSIDE

with JULY 2021 £4.95

BLUEWATER SPECIAL Kit you really need

JOHN GOODE 1950-2021 Tribute to a sailing maverick

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BOAT TESTS

DISCOVERY 58 Ocean thoroughbred JEANNEAU 60 Cutting edge liveaboard ROUND THE ISLAND RACE Tips for competitors

BRIXHAM GUIDE Pilotage + what to do

SECRET SOUTH OF FRANCE The Côte only the locals know SAIL FASTER Read the weather to win

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REGULARS

8 News 16 Paul Heiney 18 Andy Rice 20 Andi Robertson 28 Tom Cunliffe 98 Jess Lloyd-Mostyn

UNDER SAIL

22 Solent

A post lockdown south coast cruise

32 Summer regatta guide A look at what’s in store for sailors as the country starts to re-open

38 Panama Canal

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A trip from the Caribbean to the Pacific

60 Gull’s Eye Brixham Harbour

72 Hidden Provence Cruising the calanques east of Marseille

80 Round the Island Race Rupert Holmes coaches you around the race course

BOATS

14 Boat news The latest launches

46 Jeanneau 60 The French manufacturer’s mini superyacht on test

66 Discovery 58 Revisiting a blue water thoroughbred

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90 Three of the Best

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Three of the finest brokerage boats

GEAR

54 Buyer’s Guide A look at the latest innovations in the world of blue water kit

77 Interview The Natural Navigator discusses his latest book

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92 Shortlist 94 Launched The latest gear

MASTERCLASS

86 How to Win

Jon Emmett on taking advantage of the weather conditions Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2020

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Welcome

EDITORIAL EDITOR

Sam Jefferson 020 3943 9261 sam.jefferson@chelseamagazines.com

YACHTS & YACHTING EDITOR

Georgie Corlett-Pitt georgie.corlett-pitt@chelseamagazines.com GROUP EDITOR Rob Peake

Skipper’s View REMEMBERING JOHN GOODE AND A DIFFERENT AND LESS COMPLICATED APPROACH TO SAILING

ART & PRODUCTION EDITOR Gareth Lloyd Jones PUBLISHING CONSULTANT Martin Nott PUBLISHER Simon Temlett simon.temlett@chelseamagazines.com ADVERTISING ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER Mark Harrington 020 7349 3734 mark.harrington@chelseamagazines.com GROUP SALES DIRECTOR Catherine Chapman HEAD OF SALES OPERATIONS Jodie Green ADVERTISEMENT PRODUCTION Allpoints Media Ltd allpointsmedia.co.uk CHAIRMAN Paul Dobson CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Vicki Gavin MANAGING DIRECTOR James Dobson CHELSEA CREATE PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR Lyndall Beeton Published by: The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd Jubilee House, 2 Jubilee Place, London, SW3 3TQ Tel: 020 7349 3700 © The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd 2020.

All Rights Reserved. ISSN 1367-5869 (print) ISSN 2059-9285 (digital)

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Post: Sailing Today, Subscriptions Department, Chelsea Magazines, Tower House, Sovereign Park, Lathkill Street Market Harborough LE16 9EF

BEFORE GOING ANY FURTHER I think it's very important to say a fond farewell to ex editor of Sailing Today, John Goode. John was not the founding editor of the magazine but he was the man who put the magazine on the map thanks to his larger than life character, superb seamanship and willingness to challenge the status quo - most notably through his anchoring campaign. Turn to p6 for a more fulsome tribute to the man. My own memories come from the period after he had quit Sailing Today but the magazine was still based in Swanwick, just down the hill from where John lived at the time. Every now and again he would turn up unannounced in the office and pace around, pipe in mouth, muttering incomprehensible stories and occasionally and, so it appeared at least, unknowingly, barking out ribald epithets at then editor, Jake Frith, before resuming his rambling tale. In turn, Jake would snidely ask him how his caravan was (by that point, John had given up sailing to some extent and had bought a mobile home).

Safe to say John was a sailor of the old school and he founded his reputation at the Southern Sailing School, an establishment that became legendary both for the quality of instruction and the rather rough and ready nature of the school boats which were, if memory serves, a selection of rather battered Rival 34's. They make an interesting contrast to the somewhat more salubrious yachts tested in this issue; the Discovery 58 and the Jeanneau 60. Two very different yachts to be fair, both excellent in their own way, but both sharing a truly bewldering level of luxury and comfort. I don't think I have ever been on boats with more remote buttons for everything from opening the pasarelle to dimming the lighting. Time moves on and we can't turn back the clock nor should we wish to generally. Both these boats are clearly superior in almost every way to a Rival 34 and it's instructive that both these yachts are far easier to handle and park than any of Southern Sailing's old fleet. Still, it's easy to feel nostalgia for the more simple era of yachting and wonder if we haven't lost something along the way. Fair winds John.

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CONTRIBUTORS

No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission in writing. Every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information in Sailing Today, but no responsibility can be accepted for the consequences of actions based on the advice portrayed herein.

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JESS LLOYD MOSTYN is a writer and blue water cruiser who is currently moored in Singapore

TOM CUNLIFFE is an author, journalist and TV presenter, and one of Britain's best-known cruising sailors

ANDI ROBERTSON is a sailing journalist with decades of experience covering the offshore racing scene Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Obituary and tribute to our former editor, John Goode, 1950-2021

John Goode

1950 - 2021

T

ributes have poured in from across the marine industry after the former editor of Sailing Today, John Goode, died on 15 May, aged 71, following a short illness.

John was editor for much of Sailing Today’s first decade, from 2001 to 2007, the magazine having been founded in 1997, and from the outset he imbued the title with his energy and knowledge.

He had gone to sea aged 14 with the merchant navy and was possessed of a level of seamanship matched by few in the sailing world.

More than that, he was first-class educator and he took genuine enjoyment in helping people become better sailors.

His step-by-step articles in the Sailing Todays of his era became widely known for their practical, real-world advice.

Thousands of people still use the “John Goode’s Cockpit Plotter” which he designed, as well as his instructional videos, most featuring John sharing his know-how with pipe clamped in mouth.

During the early years of his editorship, the small team was up against then-media giant IPC, situated in a towerblock in London, but John thrived off the competition and stuck ruthlessly to his guns that the reader must be served first for the venture to be successful.

Staff got to know him as a relentless perfectionist with a minute attention to detail. He cared about every word in the magazine and insisted that every sentence could be understood by any level of sailor.

The production process was often drawn out – he would spend hours crafting a single paragraph – but the end result was superlative advice in a clear format. It wasn’t long before Sailing Today became a force to be reckoned with.

John was an astute judge of character and he gathered round him similarly knowledgeable writers.

He had done the same when, after

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY JUNE2021 2021

a profitable period of his career building motorway fencing, he bought a sailing school in Hamble.

John Simpson, who was chief instructor at Southern Sailing, said the idea was it would be a place “where anyone could learn practical seamanship skills and not just waft about yachting”.

John’s staunchly real-world approach to tuition saw Southern Sailing become one of the bestregarded and busiest sailing schools in the country, at one point putting out 50 instructors week.

One of the many whom John assessed was Dame Ellen MacArthur, who visisted Southern Sailing for her RYA Yachtmaster Instructor ticket before she set off on her round Britain voyage in 1995.

John took delight in retelling the story of how he and fellow assessor James Stevens agreed to give Ellen the ticket, once she had completed the voyage.

In her book, Taking on the World, Dame Ellen writes: “John Goode was a great character, with his spiky, greying hair and old reefer jacket, smoking his favourite pipe. He was incredibly sharp and had an acute

ABOVE John in his element, in a photo taken

by Roy Clare

sense of humour and I warmed to him immediately. He was a doer, not a pretender. You will never meet anyone who calls a spade a spade to a greater extent than John.”

John had close friends at all levels of society and it was to the delight of all that in nobody’s presence did he lessen his famously salty language and manner, a manner that belied a wily intelligence and clearsightedness.

He was a campaigning editor and remained rightly proud of his long series of articles with the QC Sir Patrick Sinclair, who subsequently became a lifelong friend. John asked Sir Patrick to examine Crown Estate claims on the seabed, which were causing mooring holders in estuaries around the coast untenable fee hikes.

Sir Patrick’s articles on the nature of the Crown’s interest in the seabed in Sailing Today were a high-point in marine journalism and typical of John’s interest in protecting the underdog.

In the latter half of his career, John became a sought-after instructor for merchant mariners, he was voted a fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation and did much work

behind the scenes for different aspects of the marine industry.

Many visitors to the London Boat Show will have been unaware that John was behind some of the most popular practical displays, always gleeful to be including ‘real sailors’ and ‘real boats’ among the new craft on show.

Meanwhile he carried on instructing and most recently he taught sailing in the Ukraine.

Tributes to John have come in from across the sailing marine world: Sir Robin Knox-Johnston said: “With the sad news of the death of John Goode we have lost one of the characters in UK yachting. Merchant seaman, magazine editor, excellent trainer, John always thought outside the box. He was a bit of a maverick and had a profound dislike of stupid, unenthusiastic or incompetent bureaucracy, so tended to get things done in his own way. He got things done.

“John was a good friend, great company, an instinctive seaman and someone I trusted with a boat. In fact he was one of the very few people I have ever trusted to take Suhaili without me aboard.”

Tom Cunliffe said: “There really was nobody like John. In the days when we served together as Yachtmaster Instructor Examiners back in the late 80s, he and Rosie had a parrot in their kitchen that seemed to have a better idea than we did about who was going to pass and fail.

John was simply the best when it came to ditchcrawling in the pitch dark before GPS was thought of. He once said to me that if you didn’t crunch a few crabs under the keel you weren’t trying hard enough! He’ll be sorely missed.”

Dame Ellen MacArthur said: “I think it’s fair to say that those lucky enough to have sailed with John will not have forgotten that experience.

He was a character to say the least, and with it a great teacher of seamanship. He knew how to push people, when to insert humour into a challenging situation and how to

really test your skills. The seafaring community has lost a great friend.”

Cynthia Robinson FRIN, Royal Institute of Navigation, said: “John’s enthusiasm for sharing his sailing and navigation expertise was second to none. Southern Sailing quickly developed a reputation as the ‘go to’ school when it burst on to the Solent scene with a ‘real’ merchant seaman at the helm. John always seemed to be thinking of ways he could make positive changes to the teaching of sailing and navigation.

“Down to earth yet amiable and approachable, John presented an unusual mixture of charisma and clarity of thought. He could always be found at boat shows, often still wearing his motorbike jacket following a long ride to the venue.

“He never failed to stop to chat and invariably we fell into deep conversation about the many ways we saw to encourage sailors to gain the skills and expertise required to face challenges at sea.

“The Royal Institute of Navigation was delighted to award John its prestigious Fellowship for his exceptional and inspirational work.

John will be sorely missed by his many friends and the large number sailors and navigators he inspired throughout his career.”

Roy Clare CBE, Director of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich 2000-2007, said: “John was dedicated to sharing sea-skills and know-how; he was always happy on a tiller, but happiest when he saw others responding and sharing his passion. Under his hand Sailing

ABOVE Sailing Today’s examination of Crown Estate claims on the sea bed, during John’s tenure as editor, was ground-breaking

Today was lively, wise, perceptive, interesting and interested – just like John himself. It was a privilege to meet him back then, to sail with him (and snap the famous pic of him, left) on board my Beneteau 285, Harmony, to yarn with him; and to have known him ever since.”

Duncan Kent, editor of Sailing Today after John, 2007-09, said: “Though some may have found John a little candid on first meeting him, they were soon won over by his legendary interpersonal skills. You could rest assured he would always have your back and there would never be a dull moment with him on board! He will be sorely missed by many, both in the field of yachting journalism and by those who got to know him more personally.”

Max Liberson, author of The Boat They Laughed At, said: “He had so much enthusiasm and that rubbed off on people. He was one of those rare individuals who had no problem with sharing his wisdom.”

Ben Sutcliffe-Davies, marine surveyor, said: “He has left his footprint all over the industry. We’ve inherited so much knowledge from him. So many people have emulated his articles. He was an absolute gent and a legend.”

John Simpson, close friend and chief instructor at Southern Sailing, said: “His drive and fun pushed on many to emulate his example and he will be well missed by very many fine young sailors here in UK. Certainly, by me as his chief instructor for a few years at Southern. His shining sense of fun will be missed by so many.”

Dick Holness, co-author of the East Coast Pilot, said: “He worked tirelessly to encourage and enable ordinary club sailors to support National Boat Shows.”

Rob Peake, group editor of Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting, said: “We will be forever in John’s debt, for the huge energy he poured into Sailing Today. So many of us have benefitted from his instruction afloat and his brilliant articles on all aspects of sailing. We are much the poorer for the loss, but so much the richer for the knowledge that he passed on and for the great laughs that he gave us.”

John leaves Rosie, his wife of 49 years, and children Sam and Patrick.

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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News

Ebb and flow EVENTS | NEWS | TALES FROM THE SAILING COMMUNITY

Pip Hare and Medallia going for next Vendée - with new boat

PHOTOS OF BOAT AND HARE: RICHARDLANGDON

The news that British Vendée Globe followers were hoping for was confirmed in May, with the announcement that Pip Hare and sponsor Medallia will continue their partnership for the next Vendée Globe in 2023/24.

Hare and Medallia have bought the VPLPdesigned IMOCA that was known as Bureau Vallée II, sailed by Louis Burton to third place overall in the last race.

Before that the boat was the winner of the 2016/17 edition when it was sailed by Armel Le Cléac’h as Banque Populaire VIII. It is fantastic news for Poole sailor Hare, who in this last Vendée Globe (2020/21) was widely praised for her performance in one of the race’s oldest boats, finishing 19th overall.

Now she will take on a foiling IMOCA that boasts impeccable pedigree and she has time to work it up to pace for the next Vendée Globe.

Hare said: “Medallia and I have had a fantastic partnership over the last year – they made a huge difference to my 2020/21 Vendée Globe race when they joined my campaign just five months before the start of the race.

“So having them with me now, at the very start of my 2024 campaign is brilliant – their support has given me the chance to secure the boat that will take me round the world in about three years’ time.

“I’m now determined to spend those years training, upgrading and finessing and I can’t wait to see what Medallia and I will achieve together.”

Leslie Stretch, Medallia’s President and Chief Executive Officer (inset), said: “Everyone at Medallia is immensely impressed with Pip’s strength, relentless spirit, and compelling story – but her journey is far from over.

“We are proud to continue to stand with her as she faces new challenges, and help her connect with her dedicated supporters in novel ways through our technology.”

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

Hare’s Vendée Globe was far from straightforward. She replaced a broken rudder in the Southern Ocean and suffered a debilitating allergic reaction to a jellyfish sting as she returned up the Atlantic. She was only the eighth woman to ever complete the race.

Hare said: “This Vendée Globe was everything I hoped it would be and more – it pushed me to my limits and beyond.

“But to me, this has always been a two-race campaign and my sights were always set on the 2024 race.

“This last edition was where I learned how to race solo round the world and honed my skills. Now I know what it takes, and I’ve got

over three years to build my team, adapt the new boat to suit my sailing style and most importantly train my own skills. I was proud of my performance this time round – but in 2024 I want to see if I can race with the big boys and girls at the front of the pack.”

Speaking about the acquisition of Louis Burton’s boat, she said: “It is a strong boat, with a great track record. Stepping up to foils is going to be a big learning curve for me, but I am sure this is the right boat to take me there.”

Louis Burton said: “Bureau Vallée and I are proud and happy that Pip Hare and Medallia are purchasing Bureau Vallée 2. Pip has had an incredible Vendée Globe. With this acquisition, she will be able to pursue her dream and prepare for 2024. I wish her all the best for a boat that brings luck!”

Burton’s and Hare’s teams will be working together to hand over the boat and also possibly as training partners, since Burton is based in Saint-Malo, not far in a foiling IMOCA. The boat will now get a new Medallia livery before being brought back to Hare’s base in Poole, Dorset, later in the summer.

Technical director Joff Brown, of Lighthouse Yacht Services, and Paul Larsen both remain as part of Hare’s close-knit team.

Hare still seeks ‘like-minded partners’ to join her campaign.

News

NEWS BRIEFS Raise £90 in 90th RTIR Round the Island Race entrants are being encouraged to raise at least £90 for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust, the official charity of the event, which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year. The ‘90 in 90’ campaign has been launched by the Trust and the Island Sailling Club, which organises the Round the Island Race. Search for ‘Roundthe Island2021’ on justgiving.com

Eddystone Charity Sailing Pursuit The organisers of the Eddystone Charity Sailing Pursuit are calling skippers to enter the annual event to help raise funds for charities.

The Pursuit is one of the sailing community’s biggest charity events and in the past has attracted up to eighty yachts to sail the 26-mile course from Plymouth Sound around the Eddystone Lighthouse.

This year, after a cancellation last year, the Pursuit takes place on Saturday 24 July.

In its 19-year history, the Pursuit has raised almost £820,000 for charities and, by making a concerted effort to attract entries this year, the organisers are hoping to pass the £1 million mark in 2021.

Yacht skippers pick their own charity to support and more than 130 local and national causes have benefited from previous Pursuits.

The only requirement is that nominated charities must ‘benefit the human condition’.

Individual yachts raise sponsorship and their efforts are topped-up by winning additional money from the prize fund. The prize pot this year has been increased to £30,000 in recognition of the hardship suffered by charities due to Covid-19. Every yacht that starts the Pursuit will receive a portion of the £30,000, with those raising the most sponsorship benefitting along with placing on the day. However, the organisers stress that the Pursuit is not a race.

The event attracts professional and amateur crews, with all types of yachts eligible, provided they are equipped to safely sail a 26-mile offshore course, have an engine and can reef. eddystonepursuit.com

Inequalities funding The RYA has been awarded a further £150,000 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund, which aims to help reduce the negative impact of COVID-19 and the widening of the inequalities in sport and physical activity.

Non-profit organisations and RYA OnBoard and Sailability venues in England are invited to apply for grants of up to £10,000 that will be used for projects which engage

with: lower socio-economic groups; black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities; disabled people; people with long term health conditions.

“In the last round we awarded 19 venues and we’re hugely grateful to Sport England for making this funding available to sailing projects once again.

It’s been another very tough six months for grassroots sport but we’re now beginning to see the impact that this funding can have,” said Rob Clark, RYA Director of Sport Development.

Post-Brexit breakthrough The French government has announced a process to allow entry to cruising yachts at any French port, in a significant step forward for sailors post-Brexit.

The rules after the UK left the EU had been that sailing yachts would have to check in at specific ports of arrival, vastly hampering cruising freedom and coming with a possible safety risk as well.

But now the Cruising Association has announced: “Now, as a direct result of the Cruising Association’s efforts, the French government has announced a process to allow entry at any French port.

“A form is now available from web sites which can be downloaded, completed and submitted by email

to the local administrative Port of Entry prior to arrival.

“Providing all is acceptable, boats may then enter another port. This is already underway for Le Havre and other ports will follow on rapidly.”

New era for Spirit Spirit MD Nigel Stuart steps back as non-executive director, while Operations Director Karen Underwood becomes joint MD alongside Mike Taylor, former Head of Group Commercial at Oyster Yachts. Spirit launches 65DH and 72DH deckhouse yachts, a Spirit 30 daysailer and a P40 superyacht tender.

The drinks are in hand Free bubbly, and Gin & Pink Prosecco, will be served at the new Cowes Week opening night party for competitors, on Saturday 31 July, thanks to new drinks sponsor Cuvée 450, part of the Slimwines company.

Cuvée 450 will also be offering a Magnum to each class winner.

Enter at cowesweek.co.uk Mew MD for Rooster Luke Morrison becomes MD of Rooster as founder Steve Cockerill becomes chairman.

Morrison joined Rooster in 2013.

As seen on statues The RNLI and Helly Hansen joined forces to dress statues around the UK in lifejackets in a bid to encourage more people to wear them while afloat. It follows a survey suggesting only around half of us wear one. The RNLI say: “Wearing a lifejacket can increase your chances of survival by up to four times if you’re immersed in cold water.”

6-Metre material sought The 6-Metre Archive is on the lookout for memorabilia and material related to the class. Get in touch at 6metrearchive.org OSTAR entry Entry is open for the Royal Western Yacht Club’s MailaSail OSTAR & TWOSTAR race, after it was postponed. The 60th anniversary race will start on 15 May 2022.

Magenta Project chair Jonquil Hackenberg is new chair of The Magenta Project, which seeks to develop pathways for women in performance sailing. Jonquil is Partner and Global Head of Sustainability at PA Consulting and has more than 20 years’ consulting experience.

Our newsletter Sign up to our monthly newsletter and get the latest news stories, practical advice and sailing inspiration sent direct to your inbox every month. For cruising news, visit sailingtoday.co.uk/newsletter, or for racing news see yachtsandyachting.co.uk/ newsletter Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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News

Ainslie’s team wins SailGP Bermuda Ben Ainslie’s Great Britain SailGP Team won the opening event of SailGP season two, in Bermuda.

In a dramatic day that saw overtakes, crashes and a capsize, the day was decided in a winner-takes-all final that saw Ainslie beat Tom Slingsby’s Australia team.

Reigning champions Australia had been the dominant team for the event, winning four of the five races.

But with crew Luke Parkinson, Iain Jensen, Matt Gotrel, Neil Hunter and Richard Mason, Ainslie sailed past the Aussies to win by four seconds.

Ainslie said: “It was a cracking race. It’s what we want to do it for; go against the top sailors in the world in conditions like this – it was

perfect. It was a huge credit to the team, we really struggled yesterday, but we analysed what went wrong and today was a much better day and I am delighted with the result, it’s a great way to start the season.”

Slingsby said: “We feel a little hard done by, as

SailGP Plymouth tickets

Hannah Mills trials for GB squad Two-time Olympic medallist Hannah Mills joined the British team as the first of several trialists for the dedicated female spot in the otherwise male squad.

SailGP’s female development programme “aims to fast-track the inclusion of female athletes into SailGP”. However, Mills was not part of the sailing team and did not compete on the water.

The other triallists will be

we sailed so well all week. But those are the rules – you’ve got to win that last race, and we were close but not quite there.”

SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts said: “Quite simply that was the best racing I think I have ever seen on television for a sailing event.”

TeamGB Nacra sailor Anna Burnet, Hannah Diamond, Ellie Aldridge, Nikki Boniface and Emily Nagel.

Sir Ben Ainslie said: “We share SailGP’s commitment to accelerate change in our sport and look forward to integrating the six triallists over the next three events.”

Tickets for the UK round of SailGP are on sale and details of the various ticket options include a ‘watch-from-your-boat’ package.

The third event of SailGP’s second season takes place in Plymouth, 17-18 July.

The basic options are listed here. Note that each includes additional benefits which you can find listed on the website.

Waterfront Premium – £30 In a dedicated area on Plymouth Hoe. Waterfront Access – free of charge In a free access area on Plymouth Hoe. On-Water Access - £45 On an official spectator boat on the racecourse perimetre.

On-Water Premium - £120 On an official spectator boat, with ‘exclusive on-water access and privileged viewing position’.

Bring Your Own Boat Premium – £150 + fees Buy a premium SailGP flag for best views of the action, positioned at one of the turning gates.

Bring Your Own Boat Access – free of charge Register for free to bring your own boat.

Visit SailGP.com/GreatBritain

Big names line up for The Ocean Race Europe Some of the biggest names in offshore racing were set to start The Ocean Race Europe on 29 May. The new three-week event runs from Lorient in France, in stages, to Genova, Italy.

Teams will compete in two classes: a one-designVO65 fleet; and a no-limits IMOCA class. Female sailors must feature on every crew in the race.

Seven national teams were expected in the VO65 class and all are seeing this as the first stop on the road to the 2022-23 edition of The Ocean Race, which will be the 50th anniversary of the round-the-world event.

There will be at least five entries in the IMOCA fleet, representing France, Germany and the USA, with two possible teams still to confirm

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

as we went to press. “We’re really looking forward to getting to grips with racing our IMOCA in a fully crewed mode,” said LinkedOut skipper Thomas Ruyant.

“It changes everything, from the way the boat handles with the extra weight of the crew, to our ability to do manoeuvres more efficiently, which also has an impact on your tactics. So it’s a lot to take in.”

The other IMOCA teams are the 11th Hour

Racing Team (USA); Bureau Vallée (FRA); CORUM Ĺ Épargne (FRA); and Offshore Team Germany (GER).

Among the race veterans is eight-time competitor Bouwe Bekking, skipper of Sailing Team Poland in the VO65 class.

The Ocean Race Europe May 29 – Leg Start – Lorient, France June 5 – Coastal Race – Cascais, Portugal June 6 – Leg Start – Cascais, Portugal June 13 – Leg Start – Alicante, Spain June 19 – Coastal Race – Genova, Italy Each offshore leg will last approximately three to four days depending on distance and weather conditions. The coastal races will have a target time of three to five hours.

Clarisse hopes to inspire others Vendée Globe sailor Clarisse Crémer has said she hopes to inspire other female sailors to follow in her wake.

Crémer, one of Musto’s ‘ambassadors’ in the race, also said she had forgotten about Ellen MacArthur’s round the world record until her team reminded her a few days before the finish.

The Frenchwoman, 31, broke MacArthur’s 20-year-old record for the fastest time by a woman sailing solo and non-stop around the world in a monohull, when she finished the Vendée Globe in 87 days on 3 February.

MacArthur’s time was 94 days, on Kingfisher in the 2000/2001 edition of the race.

Crémer was one of six women to do the 2020/21 edition and finished 12th overall on her boat Banque Populaire X. Reflecting on the race, with the benefit of three months ashore, she said: “Ellen MacArthur achieved so much in such a short career. She was truly incredible. But when I did the Vendée Globe I was not thinking about her record, because I was pretty sure other sailors were going to arrive before me.

“It was quite a surprise a few days before my arrival to have my team tell me I was going to break her record.

“It’s not really about my performance. It shows how few women have been able to participate in the Vendée Globe. It shows up this aspect of offshore racing.”

After Crémer finished, MacArthur sent her a message of congratulations, saying: “Hi Clarisse, just a little message to say a big bravo for your race around the world. It’s great to see you at the finish line. It’s truly an exceptional lap. Well done for everything you have done!”

Crémer has enjoyed a rapid rise up the offshore sailing ladder, doing her first Mini Transat seven years ago and benefitting from the guidance of former Vendée Globe winner Armel Le Cléac’h in the run-up to the race.

“When I decided to take part, it was easier to identify myself with women sailors rather than male, so I’m sure the more examples you have of women doing these kind of races, the more younger female sailors will want to do these races.

“Whoever you are, it’s good to be able to see inspiring people like you in all the important roles in society. The more examples we have, the easier it is to be inspired.”

Who inspired Crémer?

“What I love about offshore racing is that there are so many different sailors and so many different ways of being a sailor. You can achieve the same goal doing things very, very differently.

“If I had to choose one person, I would pick [British sailor] Sam Davies. For the way she sails and all the things she has achieved in her career,

and the fact that she remains a very easy to talk to sailor. She’s a very inspiring woman, so nice and so humble.”

How did Crémer get through the tough moments in the race?

“Most of the time I was trying to remind myself how lucky I was to be there. When it was too tough, I was going back to basics – okay I can breathe, I’m not hurt, my boat is floating, I’m roughly moving in the right direction! It didn’t work all the time but things were not tough all the time. I had many, many moments of pure joy, which was quite a surprise for me. I was expecting it to be tough.”

She reserved praise for her Musto kit, saying: “It was not easy to know how to prepare for such a race, because it was the first time for me.

The clothes are almost the only thing I would not change if I were to do it again. The layers I had, the trousers with GORE-TEX outside and fleece inside, my wet weather gear – it was all very efficient, I didn’t have skin or rash issues which you can have with humidity sometimes.

When it was wet, I was dry, which was good!”

MDL’s South Coast Boat Show The South Coast Boat Show guided by Raymarine was deemed a ‘great success’ by both organisers and exhibitors, with nearly 700 appointments booked by 500 serious buyers over the three-day show.

More than 50 sail and power brands were on display in the water at MDL’s Ocean Village Marina at the May event, with a land-based exhibition area too.

The appointment-only show was one of the first boat shows to take place in a physical format since the start of the pandemic.

Ancasta International Boat Sales’ marketing director Will Blair said: “It was great to be able to get customers physically back onto boats again after so many months with no boat shows.

“The process to ensure visitors and staff were kept safe worked well and overall it was a successful weekend.”

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

11

News

Double-Handed Offshore Series blasts off The new UK Double-Handed Offshore Series started on 1 May, organised by Henry Bomby with other double-handed sailing enthusiasts.

At least 29 competitive race teams will act as a fleet within a fleet in five of RORC’s offshore events, running through to the Rolex Fastnet Race on 8 August, and including the Island Sailing Club’s Round the Island Race on 3 July.

Bomby, who sails with Shirley Robertson (both pictured) in the series, said: “We were looking at the doublehanded season ahead and it looked like everyone we were sailing against was planning to do different races. It was just about bringing together some of the great races that we have here in the UK for for shorthanded racing, creating one season-long series.”

He is joined by Kate Cope, Ellie Driver and Stuart Childerley in organising the series, within

the organisation already set in place by RORC and the Island Sailing Club.

Bomby encouraged young up-and-coming sailors to take part, saying: “It certainly can be done on a budget and we’re working really hard to create ways to help get young sailors into the

sport, to enable them to charter, for instance, a SunFast 3200 or J105, with an old set of sails, get out there racing and make a name for themselves.

“The model of having a young sailor sailing with an owner is one that can really work as well. They put the boat in the water on a Thursday, go training on Friday and then they do the races over the weekend.

“There’s lots of different ways that people can get involved. Keelboat sailing is always going to be expensive but I think there are some great entry-level opportunities.”

Among those training to enter the series is youngest round-Britain circumnavigator Timothy Long, who has benefited from a programme being run by veteran Gavin Howe for young sailors. Competition in the series is fierce, with Bomby and Robertson gunning for a Fastnet win against some top sailors including Bomby’s former VOR skipper Dee Caffari.

Position: The dude...

Windsurfing wouldn’t be the same without him

©SAILING ENERGY / ENGADINWIND 2020

O

lympic classes may be changing, but the traditionalists can take comfort that some things never move on. At the iQ Foil Europeans in Switzerland last summer – the first international event for the new Olympic windsurfing class debuting at Paris 2024 – it was a relief to see that the time-honoured ‘hang-loose’ gesture was very much still in evidence. The new foiling class breaks fresh ground in many ways, but the boarding Dude ain’t going nowhere – the extended thumb and little finger sign remains. Interestingly, we searched in vain for similar gestures made by competitors at the recent Finn Gold Cup. Is this what the IOC means by Olympic classes needing to be ‘media friendly’?

DIFFICULTY RATING: 1

The new class breaks fresh ground, but the boarding Dude ain’t going nowhere Quote and buy online at www.noblemarine.co.uk or call us on 01636 707606 Authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

SAIL WITHOUT LIMITS

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PHOTO: X-YACHTS

New boats DESIGNS | LAUNCHES | PROJECTS Lagoon 55

Carkeek F70 The new F 70 is an ultra-fast and lightweight, foil-assisted carbon composite day sailer that has taken a lot of the technology developed by the recent crop of America’s Cup racers and translated it to a more accessible platform. The 70 is designed to deliver unprecedented performance with style and comfort. THe lines were penned by Carkeek and the goal was to deliver an innovative concept for owner drivers: a stylish, simple, strong, safe and highly competitive foiling yacht, offering a seamless transition between day sailing and racing sailing modes. The F 70 is easily driven and fast in all conditions and angles, whether day sailing or racing. The yacht features advanced performance control systems allowing the owner and crew to sail safely and reliably at high speed.

Lagoon’s new 55 sits below their enormous 65 which arguably belongs in another bracket of luxury altogether compared to the rest of the Lagoon range. The 55 fits much more into the standard Lagoon template with the focus on cruising comfort for a couple with blue water cruising plans. As you’d expect though, volume is simply immense and with that comes an enhanced level of comfort. Thus, the 55 boasts six cabins plus a flybridge above the cokpit which is in itself a very comfortable living space. Further innovation comes in the form of a forward cockpit. l cata-lagoon.com

l persicomarine.com

ICE 62 Targa Italian yacht manufacturer ICE has specialised in lightweight stylish performance cruisers for some years now and has gained a reputation for interesting and occasionally rather wild designs. The latest addition to the range promises to live up to that reputation. The new boat is the usual blend of style and speed and boasts an interesting looking ‘targa’ bimini in carbon. Perhaps the most eyebrow raising statistic related to the boat is that the addition of a 190hp motor means that you can enjoy cruising speeds under power of over 12kn. Aside from that, this Felci design features aggressive lines and a dreadnought bow plus a lifting keel that gives the boat greater versatility. l Iceyachts.it

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

IC 36 The IC 36 is a sporty little catamaran that comes from a design team in the Czech Republic whose aim was to provide a high performance catamaran that could also be enjoyed by no nonsense cruisers who don’t mind roughing it a bit. The IC 36 can be trailered in its dismantled state and features a carbon rig and narrow, easily driven hulls straight out of the Extreme 40 playbook.

The boat has been optimised for electric propulsion and comes with twin Oceanvolt 6kw saildrives as standard. The boat is available in two configurations: Raw for pure thrill seekers and Pacer for those wishing to cruise a bit. Don’t expect masses of luxury on the Pacer model; the emphasis is on speed. l Independentcatamaran.com

Shogun 43 Shogun Yachts is a Swedish boatbuilder that is definitely seeking to move away from the usual stereotype of yachts from this area as being rather sedate abeit beautifully crafte blue water cruisers. The 43 is definitely a boat with high performance as the priority above all else. As

such, the boat features all carbon hull construction and relatively narrow beam, making the boat easily driven in light airs. Despite the emphasis on performance, internal volume is decent and the manufacturers offers a high potential for customisation meaning this could be either a pure racer or a turbocharged cruiser. l shogunyachts.com Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Paul Heiney The joy of needlecraft has been somewhat lost on Paul after an attempt to stitch together a rudimentary canvas cover ends in much bloodshed

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xcuse the brown smears down the page but those mudcoloured streaks were once my own rich red life’s blood. I have been having a go at sewing, hence ruddy drips from punctured finger ends.

Apparently, sewing is the new baking when it comes to top rating television. What they get up to with a bit of cloth and a needle leaves me in awe. I mean, they can actually sew in a straight line! You should see mine; like a dog piddling in the snow was how someone described them.

I don’t ask a lot of my sewing. All I want is a canvas flap, with a window in it, to hang over the hatchway on what seem to be those very rare occasions when I’m sailing with a following wind.

A stiff breeze up the chuff of a boat is a fine thing, a skipper’s dream come true, except for those below who complain of living in a wind tunnel. Worse, when it rains as well as blows, and chilly droplets drive below with the force of bullets, and for some inexplicable reason they don’t seem to like that either. So, anything to keep the peace. Out must come the sewing machine.

My machine’s a beauty, built to stitch sails and, judging by the strength of it, designed by the makers of the Sherman tank. I bought it from a chap who swore he’d sewn himself a new genoa, but that seems beyond the realms of possibility since it doesn’t look big enough to hem a tablecloth. However, there are ways of getting fat chunks of canvas through a modest sized machine, as I was to find out, and I set off with enthusiasm to learn the tricks of the trade.

The truth is that there aren’t many secrets to canvas working that can’t be learned by doing the job day in and day out for twenty years or so. I’ve watched canvas workers as they mark out, cut, sew, add zips and in no time at all create as result as tailored as anything that came from Saville Row. Which is why it was deeply foolish of me to believe for a single minute that I could pick it up in no time at all and save myself a pocket full of quids which I seemed

to be charged for what appeared to be the simplest of jobs.

I now know better. Make no mistake, canvas workers are artists. But more than that, they are a kind of engineer too. I once had a cockpit cover made by some Royal Navy lads who were professional canvas workers, made redundant, and trying to make a few bob out of yotties. I told them how much I admired their work, the perfect nature of the fit and the elegance of curves.

One said, ‘Yep, we used to make all the canvas covers for nuclear reactors on submarines.’ I bet they were the best clothed bits of nuclear kit in the world.

I’ve had some successes in my amateur attempts at needlework; I replaced all my lee cloths which were getting grubby, but if you think about it a lee cloth is all straight lines and anyone falling exhausted into their bunk is not going to moan about a bit of a wiggle in the stitching, so I don’t claim a lot of skill for having achieved that. But this hatchway cover I’m trying to make is going to be stared at for hours on end by whoever is on watch, and given that most people I seem to sail with greatly enjoy pointing out this skipper’s deficiencies, I will surely have my leg pulled till it is about to part at the knee.

I suppose that sewing canvas to a high standard is just one more of those jobs that is rightly best left to professionals, but which we deluded boat owners think we can do just as well, and cheaper.

We think we can be master electricians, engineers, plumbers, ready to attack any job as if we know what we’re doing, and only picking up the phone to call the bloke who really knows how to do the job when we’ve already caused more damage in the process.

Self sufficiency on a boat is a good thing. There ought to be few breakages or failures that you can’t cope with when you are at sea with no immediate help at hand. But when you’re alongside and just at the head of the pontoon is a workshop with some real skills ready for the asking, it is sometimes better to admit that there are tasks on a boat which are jobs too far. Like sewing.

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

HAVE YOUR SAY

Have you encountered exceptional service at a marina? facebook.com/ sailingtoday @sailingtodaymag sailingtoday.co.uk

ILLUSTRATION: CLAIRE WOOD

‘What they get up to with cloth and a needle leaves me in awe. They can actually sew in a straight line!’

Andy Rice Sailing is a capricious sport and the chance to go from hero to zero within the space of minutes is extremely high, as Andy found to his cost

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ne of the questions we should all be asking ourselves is which of the things we’ve had to change during the pandemic are things we’ll want to keep once we get back to a ‘new normal’? A year ago, our resident pro-sailor in the Musto Skiff fleet, Pete Greenhalgh, instigated the Corona Cup events. Like an open meeting, except the Notice of Race and Sailing Instructions are little more than a hundred words on a shared WhatsApp group, £20 paid online to Pete, with two ribs manned by willing volunteers, one crew operating as committee boat and the other as rescue boat.

We had our first Corona Cup of 2021 on the Solent in mid May, with the permanent racing buoy, Fastnet Insurance, as our windward mark on a simple windward-leeward course with the leeward gate the same as the start and finish line. Super simple setup. Back-to-back races run on a 3-2-1-start sequence.

This would be my first outing in my new secondhand boat, recently purchased from the multiple Musto Skiff World Champion and fellow Stokes Bay SC member Bruce Keen. Bruce has always been quick around the course with his particular strength being able to hold a high mode upwind without stalling the boat. Trying to start to windward of him is a big challenge so part of the reason for buying Bruce’s boat is to get a proven package that is known to go fast. The advantage of doing this is that it removes that question we all have when we find ourselves going slow: “Is it me or the boat?” The disadvantage of doing is that it removes that question we all have when we find ourselves going slow: “Is it me or the boat???” There is nowhere to hide!

Heading out in almost zero breeze on a forecast that was predicted to be too windy, the five-mile sail from Stokes Bay along the coast towards the Fastnet Insurance buoy in the mid-Solent was an uncertain affair. Eventually we all arrived at the start line, 10 boats ready for action, and a light airs race ensued, won by former 14 World Champion Sam Pascoe who was visiting from Weymouth for the day. Next race and the breeze had picked up to full trapezing, this heat being won by reigning Musto Skiff National Champion Pete Greenhalgh. By race three the breeze had really kicked in as predicted, blowing over 20 knots against an adverse current - big Solent chop!

Pete rounded the top mark in first place, hoisted the kite, nosedived and capsized. Next round was Pete’s regular training partner Andy Tarboton, who hoisted, executed the gybe, but then succumbed to the Solent chop. I was next round the

windward mark but no way was I going for the hoist. The over-fifties should be considered legally exempt from having to get the gennaker up, so I didn’t. Behind me 14 expert but relative newcomer to the Musto Skiff fleet Neale Jones hoisted but also got flattened.

Tempted by the possibility of being able to seize the lead, I committed the cardinal sin of ‘wearing round’! In other words, to tack the boat through a 270 degree turn rather than commit to the almost certain death of a one-sail windy gybe. It’s still not an easy manoeuvre, but it worked and I hung on for grim death until the leeward gate which fortunately had been turned into a finish line after just one lap. Rather than leaping down the stairs three at a time I had done the Musto Skiff equivalent of sitting on the Stannah Stairlift and taking the slower way down the treacherous race course.

A victory for the tortoise over the hare.

The arrival of the big breeze signalled an early finish to the Corona Cup, but that wasn’t the end of the day’s adventure.

There was the small matter of delivering body and boat safely back to Stokes Bay five miles downwind. Despite having sailed the Musto Skiff for a decade I still don’t know the answer to getting the boat downwind in big waves without the occasional nosedive. Hooked on and sitting on the windward footloop, ie as far aft as possible, when the bow goes under it is sometimes possible to round out of the nosedive while dumping the mainsheet and just about surviving. But not every time. Three capsizes later and I had got within 200 metres of making landfall at Stokes Bay when the final nosedive caught me out again. This time when the boat capsized the mast stuck in the mud, with the hull sitting precariously proud of the waves.

As I have learned to my cost, experience told me NOT to try to right the boat until the hull had rotated to leeward of the mast tip. Climbing on to the upturned hull would almost certainly result in the mast breaking. But the boat was refusing to rotate. Swimming the boat round was impossible in the big waves and it was many minutes later before a lull in the breeze enabled me to swim the transom downwind and convince the stubborn boat to pirouette around the mast.

When I finally managed to get the boat on its side, it was to great relief that I discovered the Selden carbon mast had survived intact. For a while I thought my maiden voyage aboard the world championship winning boat was going to be the ultimate hero-to-zero story of a race victory followed by a broken mast. Suffice it to say that the good ship GBR534, winner of the 2015 and 2019 world titles, is most likely headed for a harder life in the years to come!

PHOTO RYA TEAMGB

‘PETE ROUNDED THE TOP MARK IN FIRST PLACE, HOISTED THE KITE, NOSEDIVED AND CAPSIZED’

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

ANDY RICE As a sailing journalist and TV commentator Andy has unparalleled knowledge of the dinghy sailing scene, from grassroots to Olympic level

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Andi Robertson The cautious restart of the TP52 circuit is indicative of the ‘steady as she goes’ approach to re-opening the racing circuit. Yet there is a groundswell of enthusiasm

I

t seems like a relatively slow take off for the 52 Super Series, quite like other fully international circuits that have private owners involved.

The good news is that there is a solid groundswell of enthusiasm among the owners to get back on the race courses again, but it really does look like it will be 2022 before the circuit returns to full strength, whatever that turns out to be.

What is good news is seeing owners returning to the class like Austin and Gwen Fragomen, the couple from the New York YC who are now on to their fifth TP52 since they started racing more seriously in 2007. Austin had something of a health scare which put their programme on ice despite having just built a new boat for 2018 which became Gladiator. And just as Tony Langley seized the opportunity to buy up the Interlodge as it came to market, so the Fragomens have taken on the well sorted Azzurra when the Roemmers family TP52 programme finally stopped last season.

The Fragomens are not in their first flush of youth but can’t wait to be back on the water and love sailing in Europe and the Mediterranean in particular.

And, according to Rob Weiland there are still new owners out there – not many, granted – who are ready to take the step up to the TP52 and the 52 Super Series.

I do tend to think that owners who can afford it, post pandemic, will want to challenge themselves more and emerge more ambitious, or at least determined to get more from their grand prix sailing.

Look out for the 20th Anniversary Invitational Regatta from Puerto Portals August 23-28th. There promises to be 17-20 TP52s, more than half which will have been invited from outside the 52 Super Series and boats of all vintages and generations. Coming a few weeks after Copa del Rey it promises to be a great event which many hope will spark even more interest in the class and perhaps inspire owners to do a few more regattas.

Long term, with interest growing more and more in the USA, perhaps a welcome return to the US in in 2023 will be on the cards. For sure 2022 will honour the

obligation to return to the three venues that were cancelled this year Saint Tropez, Galicia and Cascais. No complaints there.

Meantime I am delighted to see both Will Harris and Ireland’s Tom Dolan near the front of the Figaro fleet in the Transat en Double ConcarneauSaint Barthelemy. As I right they are second and third.

Considering that Harris did just the one season in the Figaro 3 – and shone – and is sailing with Catalan co-skipper Pep Costa who has just started in the Figaro, their performance is pretty amazing, but not a surprise. Costa’s father is a Barcelona shipping agent and mad keen Mini sailor.

He is business partner to Didac Costa (no relation at all) and co-owned Didac’s IMOCA One Planet One Ocean (formerly Ellen’s Kingfisher). The pair are a great match, both super smart and able to sail fast for long periods.

Will has played a key role with Boris Herrmann’s Team Malizia programme and when Boris announced his programme to build a new boat he was full of praise for Will and said he is sure Harris will continue on to The Ocean Race and be a significant asset.

Charles Darbyshire who ran The Artemis Academy which gave Harris his first training in offshore racing says of Harris, “Will is a sailor who will never make the same mistake twice. There are plenty of good guys out there who will make the same mistake multiple times. He’s someone who quite quickly soaks up the information, he listens, considers and banks knowledge. And now he has grown into someone who really understands the business and he really helped Boris and was able to take on a share of their commitment to sponsors. And he knows intrinsically how to make a boat go quickly. And the other thing is that he sails multiple different boats. When you look at the French ‘greats’ like Michel Desjoyeaux, Jean Le Cam and the like they are super strong in a whole variety of classes, they sailed Formula 40 multihulls, the Figaro, Tour Voile, and the thing is now that crews are getting smaller and smaller and so sailors who are adaptable and really skilled in all areas are the ones who will do well.”

PHOTO: TEAM GB/RICHARD LANGDON

‘I DO TEND TO THINK THAT OWNERS WHO CAN AFFORD IT, POST PANDEMIC, WILL WANT TO CHALLENGE THEMSELVES MORE’

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

ANDI ROBERTSON An offshore sailing expert, few people can match Andi’s insight into the big boat world, both in the UK and globally

Cruising - South Coast

A south coast summer With horizons rather limited last summer, Polly Thornton rounded up the family plus dog and rediscovered the delights of Solent sailing

W

hen it became clear that the first lockdown in 2020 was going to end on or about the 4 July I hit the phones. With the uncertainty around Covid, restrictions and a possible 2nd lockdown we had decided that we would stay in The Solent and take two separate weeks as holiday, one going East, the other West.

On the 11th July we set sail from our home port of Lymington for

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY JUNE2021 2021

Haslar Marina, Portsmouth on the incoming tide and a light westerly.

Five hours later Samphire, our Beneteau 31 arrived and Alfie our Border collie jumped off ready for a walk in the large park behind the marina.

We had booked a table at The Lightship restaurant by leaving messages and I wasn’t quite sure if they had been received. They were expecting us however and we had a lovely table with windows looking out

ABOVE Poole Harbour BELOW LEFT Samphire, our Beneteau 31 BELOW CENTRE The iconic sight of the Spinnaker tower Portsmouth

Sailing up the solent on to the Spinnaker Tower and Portsmouth harbour. We complimented the staff on how well they were managing during Covid. They were so appreciative as they said they had many customers moaning and 4 people had just tried to get a free meal by complaining and threatening a bad review.

In the morning we walked Alfie around the park and decided to go and visit the Submarine Museum before we left. My father had worked

on Submarines after the War - but it was shut ! We left the marina and motored around the harbour looking at the aircraft carrier and then left Portsmouth for The Hamble.

Scramble at Hamble

When we go to The Hamble we choose to stay at Mercury Marina where the staff are lovely and very dog friendly and always have dog treats and water bowls ready. A member of staff commented that they were booking up fast for the summer. I practically ran back to Samphire, relayed the message to husband and we got on the phones to book holiday No 2 going west to Poole. I also booked to come back to Mercury for August Bank Holiday We stayed in the Hamble for two nights eating at the Gaff Rigger where we found a warm welcome and good food . Another restaurant

doing their best under trying times.

One of the reasons we love staying at Mercury is it’s easy to walk the dog.

We can go up to the old airfield and also do the complete Hamble walk crossing over on the Warsash ferry. I bought food for a BBQ from the Co-Op in The Hamble as we would be self catering at Beaulieu for two nights where our friends Petra and Mike were joining us .

A lovely little sail took us to Beaulieu. We negotiated the bar perfectly working as a great team with Richard steering and No 2 son and myself calling out bearings (Thanks Tom Cunliffe) All calm, all good. The weather was warm and muggy and we put up our wonderful DIY Bimini. Its two lime green pieces of sail cloth secured with bungees bought from the bungee stall at Lymington market. It works, cost under £100 and is easy to spot

BELOW View of the Hamble

when friends come to visit.

Petra and Mike came early. They always do and they always come with supplies. Chapel Down champagne and home made cake to be precise.

We went to check out the BBQ area and decided it was a non starter. Too far from our mooring and not particularly pleasant.

I pulled out the griddle pan, made a huge Greek salad, chopped up baguettes and proceeded to cook lamb and pork chops. Copiously supplied with Champagne passed down from under our lime green Bimini where everyone else was sitting , I cooked up a storm.

The next day I realised that we had eaten all our supplies other than some bacon and chorizo so it would have to be pasta sauce that evening.

Cooking pasta on a boat for more than two people is a pain because of needing big pans for boiling water

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Cruising - South Coast

and colanders. I then received a phone call from some friends who were cat sitting, asking if they could come over for a drink. I invited them for supper which they accepted and I sought out bigger pans and more boiling water. They spotted the lime green tent easily and a good evening was had by all - but pasta is still a pain to cook ! Next time - risotto !

We had spent a lovely two days at Beaulieu. It was calm and quiet and the walks were easy.

Our exit over Beaulieu Bar was perfect team work again, and we had a brisk sail to Yarmouth arriving in time for a late lunch. We walked Alfie down the Yar, another of my favourite walks and then went for a spot of retail therapy in Yarmouth.

Husband loves a chandlers and there was some lovely little shops I wanted to check out.

On entering Yarmouth we had a reserved berth behind the lifeboat which went out three times that

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

night ! We ate that night at On The Rocks - husband and son had steak I had mixed fish. Lots of lovely chips and salad . I love the fact that when the chips get cold they bring you more hot ones - and more salad ! We walked back to the boat picked Alfie up and walked him once more, before sitting on a bench in the warm evening light, with a stiff wind coming off the sea.

Next morning after a quick walk we went back to our home marina, Lymington, to get ready to celebrate No 2 son’s birthday.

Less than a month later we were off for the second of our summer trips.

Walking Alfie in the days before I noted that he had a dicky tummy but didn’t seem bothered by it or unwell.

We were due to leave on the tide at about 11 in the morning so I walked him and he seemed to be fine. What wasn’t fine was the sound of the fog horn coming from The Needles and

ABOVE LEFT Beaulieu BELOW LEFT Happy Days in Yarmouth BELOW R IGHT Alfie feeling poorly !

the thick fog that lay everywhere. We thought we might delay our departure but decided we had planned the trip well, we all knew what we were doing and in any case it would prove to us that we could navigate using compasses and instruments.

Deep in doggy doo

There was no wind so we kept the motor on and made pretty good headway. As we were getting closer to Poole Alfie looked at me with the doleful eyes of a border collie and promptly shat all over the deck. No 1 son moved so quickly to a crouching position reminiscent of the film

Karate Kid and the ‘stork’. Husband grabbed the deck shower and started hosing down. We had never used the deck shower so at least we now knew it worked !

When we arrived at Poole with sparkling clean decks there was a huge sign saying FULL on the entrance to the Town Quay Marina but we were the smug family that had booked two months ago so motored in to our berth.

We took Alfie for a walk to a local park and googled doggie diarrhea and discovered that some dogs are allergic to sea water. Great !

We went out that night to the Custom House on Poole Quay and

ABOVE Weymouth Harbour is always a lively stop off BELOW Poole is a mini cruising ground in its own right

had another good meal. Walking back No 1 son and I held back in case Husband was greeted by poo in the cabin but luckily the fasting seemed to be working.

The next day we set sail for Weymouth hoping for better weather. No such luck. A bit better vis but hardly any wind. It’s a lovely sail from Poole to Weymouth sitting on board watching the cliffs go by and calling out the landmarks.

We arrived at Weymouth at 2.30 and were told we had to go away until the bridge was opened at 4 which was a pain. We motored around the 10 cruise ships that were anchored there.

Entrance to Weymouth is charming with colourful houses and warehouses. It was a lovely sunny day and everyone was out enjoying themselves. We found a nature reserve close to the marina which was good for the dog. Dinner for the next two nights was at The George on The Quay, a nice restaurant with a belting soundtrack. We walked Alfie at night on a designated spot on the beach and then sat in an open air bar and people watched.

The next day was lovely and sunny and I booked Kayaks on Weymouth beach. We spent a very happy hour paddling back and forth and when we got too hot diving overboard .

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Cruising - South Coast

Another lovely meal in The George, more people watching in the bar and the next morning we were ready to leave for 10.am. The forecast was a little worrying with gales heading our way.

Threatening weather

We were heading for Poole and kept checking the Predict Wind App. Rounding St Albans head the wind picked up and there were 8 foot waves in the overfalls. Buttocks clenched we spent a hairy 15 minutes (I timed it) motoring through. We had to make a decision. Sail to Poole and expect to have to stay for at least another two nights or head for Lymington. After much prevarication we decided to head home. The weather was horrid. Large waves and wallowing troughs. Wind on the beam and strong tide against us.

After nine hours we finally got back.

Tired and happy to be home. We threw son No 1 in the taxi, ourselves in the shower and walked quickly to the Fishermans Rest in Lymington. A Glass or two of fizz later, grilled plaice and lovely rose wine and all was good with the world. A windy night was followed by a windy morning. We waited the storm out and left for Yarmouth at about midday. We got there and the berthing master said that would have to raft. I tried to copy border collie eyes and pleaded that we had a dog on board and he put us - you guessed it - behind the Lifeboat!

A wonderful few days in Yarmouth with long walks and great food and wine. We ate in La Cucina and then went to try out La Terasse a new restaurant, where we enjoyed a glass of pinot noir ( husband ) and the best glass of sauvignon blanc I’d had all summer. We decided to book a table to eat there the following evening. A good choice ! Lots of locally sourced food, good wine and lovely service.

We were checking the weather constantly only to find that another storm was on its way so decided to bail and cross the water back to the safety of Lymington.

Our final jaunt took place over August Bank Holiday. We were joined by the cat sitters and left for Mercury Marina on the Hamble late afternoon on the Friday. I took the helm and we had a lovely sail up with

ABOVE The anchorage in Yarmouth roads on a beautiful summer evening BELOW Storm coming in

the tide. Turning to look back I saw huge storm clouds coming and felt the weather change.

Everyone put on full waterproofs on and whilst we avoided the rain the barometer dropped. We arrived at Mercury, sorted the boat out and cracked a bottle or two with a ‘picnic’ of parma ham, pastrami, smoked salmon, salad, cheeses. I have learnt the hard way about getting in to a marina late and having to start cooking a meal for hungry crew. This was easy. Open packet, pour wine, eat, drink. Over night the predicted storm winds came up and it was 35 knots in the Solent so we decided to do two long walks around The Hamble. On the Monday we were up early eating breakfast as we motored down the river and with no wind continued on home.

Lessons learnt

We were lucky last summer. We had already decided to holiday in England and booked early. This year we have already booked everything up and have fingers crossed waiting for lockdown to end.

We learnt a lot. We learnt that planning and planning and planning again and making sure all crew know about the plan is crucial in case of fog, sand bars or weather systems. We learnt that our dog is allergic to seawater. We learnt that we don’t enjoy 10 hour sails but what we love is sailing for up to five hours, walking the dog and eating well preferably with a good glass of wine or two. Some might say we have a caravan on water but it suits us and that’s all that matters.

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Tom Cunliffe

Tom Cunliffe

’m always tickled by the amount of muddled thinking that goes on about ‘safety’. Safety to me is more about staying out of trouble and less about what to do when my efforts have come to nothing. Take the car, for instance. If I had to choose, I’d rather it has wellmaintained brakes and that I look ahead for trouble than pay extra for an air bag then proceed to drive like Jehu the son of Nimshi who, as any Old Testament scholar will tell you,

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

‘driveth furiously’.

The sea is no different. The primary requirement is to steer clear of lee shores. We don’t need special gear for that other than an engine that works, a suit of sails that reefs properly and some serious ground tackle. The next prerequisite, after giving a resounding miss to such obvious dangers as Rockall or the Race of Portland, is to stay afloat with sound skin fittings, honest arrangements for transferring

PODCAST Catch up with Tom’s columns now and in the future at sailingtoday.co.uk

engine power to the whirling propeller and, if the boat is wooden, carefully caulked garboard seams and reliable fastenings. Things can still go wrong, and most boats take on a trickle of water from various legitimate opportunities, so a selection of powerful pumps is always a comfort, but now we are straying into the world of secondary safety. The same can be said of fire extinguishers. Like pumps, these tread a sort of Noman’s Land

ILLUSTRATION: CLAIRE WOOD, PHOTOS TOM CUNLIFFE

I

Safety afloat takes many forms - but the golden rule is to do all you can to stay out of trouble in the first place

“He lost half his beard, but his prompt action saved the fire extinguishers for another day’’ between brakes and air bags. You’d be mad to venture to sea without them, but if you get everything else right, they will quietly fade out of date and be replaced without ever leaving their brackets except for an occasional shake to stir up the powder. Solid, inexpensive and reliable, they contrast vividly with the audible smoke alarms which give you a heart attack every time some poor soul decides to make a round of toast. Nothing safe about that, and not to be confused with those sensible carbon monoxide alarms

which seem to behave themselves.

The only answer to the noise menace is to remove the batteries, which turns out to be the popular solution.

Alternatively, a common-sense sailor can keep an eye on the cooker and, if it bursts into flames, quietly advise the crew while deploying the infinitely more useful fire blanket.

Speaking of the dangers of boat cookers, I have witnessed one yacht exploding from LPG leaked into the bilge. It was a long time ago and I’ll never forget it. However, two of the galley fires I’ve been involved with

ABOVE Saari with a pal in the jungle - time for a gas refill BELOW LEFT New standing rigging - primary safety at its best BELOW RIGHT Fire blanket - more useful than a smoke alarm

have been caused directly by ‘safe’ liquid-fuelled cookers. One was a US Coastguard-approved alcohol unit in an American-built training yacht back in the 1970s. We’d left the kettle on while having fun picking up a man-overboard dummy, but when we went below for a brew we found the galley quietly going up in flames. I can’t recall what went wrong on this occasion, but I certainly can on the next. This was aboard a small sailing ship on which I served, also in the 1970s, when primus-style cookers were at the height of their popularity.

While the cook’s back was turned the hands had been heating up some pitch for the deck seams on the hob.

There had been a certain amount of dribble going on and when the burner was re-ignited after giving it a rest, the pressure didn’t make the grade but the fuel kept right on squirting out. The meths valiantly heating up the burner found its way into the paraffin. This in turn ignited the pitch, and away we went.

Things could have ended badly, but the mate was a man of action.

He turned off the paraffin valve then literally ripped the cooker from its mountings, ran up on deck with it still burning merrily in his arms, and tossed it into the sea. It didn’t half sizzle as it went down and he lost half his beard, but his prompt action saved the fire extinguishers for another day.

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

29

Tom Cunliffe

You’ll see that, set against so dramatic a background, the prudent use of gas has always been my private choice. Fail-safe shut-offs and sniffers go without saying. Like most people who have lived on their boats year-round, I gave up on butane years ago. It burns well enough, but it has a big problem. It slows down as temperatures drop and abandons its duties altogether at around -1 degree C. You can, of course, cheer up the cylinder with a kettle of boiling water, but unless you have friendly neighbours with an electric plug or propane cooking… you’ll take the point. Another option is to pop the cylinder into your sleeping bag at bed time, but if you share a bunk with a particular friend, you may find the intrusion unpopular.

Propane is the answer. If you are stuck with butane and have bottles of a useful size there’s no problem with the cylinders. You can simply trade them in for the propane equivalent.

You’ll need a new regulator because propane uses a more robust system involving a left-hand thread, but most cookers will operate on either gas. Mass-produced boats often come with disgraceful tiny blue cans designed for campers which should be clearly marked, ‘M. Mouse Equipment - for show only.’ If you intend cruising for more than the odd weekend, these have to go.

For international travel, propane is a must. I once set off with three 10-pound butane cylinders on a

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

ABOVE Two 13kg propane bottles on Tom’s boat Constance last for a full four months easily

TOM CUNLIFFE Tom has been mate on a merchant ship, run yachts for gentlemen, operated charter boats, delivered, raced and taught. He writes the pilot for the English Channel, a complete set of cruising text books and runs his own internet club for sailors worldwide at tomcunliffe.com

two-year trip. We were bound for the tropics, so temperature was not an issue, but when the last one ran out in the wilds of southern Brazil, I found I had a problem. I rowed ashore to the local village where the word on the street was to take the bottles on the bus to some outfit called ‘Instagaz’. I duly loaded up and told the driver where I wanted to go. He seemed to understand, but he gave the gas bottles a nasty look, extended an arm and waggled his first finger. Throughout South America, this represents a firm ‘Nolle Prosequi’, so I did what I’d been trained to do earlier in the cruise and slipped him a few US dollars. All safety concerns evaporated and he ushered me to a bench close to him where he could keep an eye on me.

We rattled off into the jungle and half an hour later at what seemed to be the end of the world, he stopped and pointed out a track into the trees.

I grabbed my bottles and tottered away into the undergrowth suffering the chatter of a team of monkeys having a good laugh at my expense.

By now it was noon and the temperature was off the scale.

Somewhere ahead I fancied I could hear a football match in progress. It was just that and, as I passed through a scruffy yard full of giant rusty gas

tanks, I remembered that lunch break in industrial Brazil usually involves a free meal in lieu of better wages, followed by a general kick-around.

The mercury was way into treble figures but it didn’t slow these guys one bit. All stripped to the waist, they looked seriously fit and I concluded that a diet of beans and rice plus hard work all day and a quick football game thrown in keeps a man full of bounce. The ref spotted me and made ‘wait a while’ gestures. Half an hour later a klaxon went off and the players melted away back to their labours. I was ushered to a propane tank and asked for the colour of my money. I stumped up and only then did all present realise that they didn’t do butane and my tanks wouldn’t take their propane fittings.

But this was Brazil in the 1970s. No messing around with Health and Safety. Instead, the mighty centrehalf grabbed the nozzle on the pipe and rammed it as hard as he knew how onto my bottle. Amid massive gas escape and spectacular freezing liquid propane, my bottles were filled. Nobody weighed them, but he must have had a grip like a padlock because they lasted a very long time.

We sailed home via Canada.

It got cold and I was glad I’d inadvertently switched to propane.

ALL PHOTOS TOM CUNLIFFE

“Amid massive gas escape and spectacular freezing liquid propane, my bottles were filled’’

WORLD-CLASS

UK .

CO .

EK E SW E W O C

R E G AT TA R A C I N G

1 9 5 TH Y E A R

SCARAMOUCHE SAILING TRUST

with

Regatta Guide

Photos: ISportography. TV, Bassenthwaite SC, IHolly Hancock, Alan Hanna, Chrissie Westgate]

SUMMER RACE WEEKS GUIDE 2021 Following the challenges and canned events of the Covid-19 pandemic, many regattas are looking forward to welcoming visitors again this summer and gearing up for a bumper staycation season.

With ever-changing guidance, remember to keep an eye on regatta websites for any latest updates, including if one of your favourite regattas is not listed here as usual, since organisers may still be working through the needs of their club/s, volunteers and any local restrictions.

Overall, however, there is lots of optimism that 2021 will see a successful return to the sociable race weeks we all know and love. With stunning locations and regattas ranging from family-friendly fun to world class competition, whatever your boat or budget, there will be an event for you!

NORTH BASS WEEK 31 July-8 August, Bassenthwaite SC, Bassenthwaite Lake, Cumbria OVERVIEW: Nine days of racing and partying in the beautiful Lake District, at the foot of Skiddaw and close to the town of Keswick. Camping available on site. Social programme for all the family.

A mix of fleet and handicap racing suits all abilities. Some races are run as a series whilst other races are one-offs.

The best value summer race week!

INSIDER TIP: Tactically make friends with a GP14 sailor, with a plan to borrow their boat for one of the two highly-

Bass Week

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

contested pursuit races. GP14s have won more than any other class!

SPONSORS: The Lakes Distillery and Craftinsure.com WEBSITE: bassweek.org.uk

INSIDER TIP: Use the tides to work out your best route on the day!

SPONSOR: Yachtmaster Insurance WEBSITE: www.3rr.uk and horningsailing.club

EAST

ALDEBURGH REGATTA 15-20 August, Aldeburgh YC, Aldeburgh, Suffolk OVERVIEW: Over 200 sailors enjoy class racing for Wayfarer, Laser, Dragon, Flying Fifteen, Loch Long, Cruisers and Lapwing as well as handicap fleets. The largest fleet is the highly competitive beautiful wooden 21ft Loch Long One Design keelboat, with in excess of 30 boats fighting it out on the fixed river

60TH ANNIVERSARY THREE RIVERS RACE 5-6 June, Horning SC, Norfolk Broads OVERVIEW: The Three Rivers Race sees upwards of 100 boats leaving Horning Sailing Club to participate in this tough 50-mile endurance race, which sees competitors sail through the night, across the Broads, and lowering their masts under three bridges.

Three Rivers Race

start line in front of the clubhouse.

Something for everybody and a great social programme to match.

There is also Aldeburgh Junior & Youth Race Week, 8-12 August, with everything from beginner coached Optimist sailing to competitive racing for Laser sailors. Fabulous sailing on Suffolk’s beautiful tidal River Alde adjacent to the North Sea for a consistent breeze and an active social programme make this an unmissable week for all the family.

INSIDER TIP: Don’t forget to visit the world famous concert hall at Snape Maltings and the renowned fish and chip shop in the high street.

WEBSITE: aldeburghyc.org.uk

C

BLACKWATER SAILING CLUB REGATTA & RACE WEEK Regatta, Saturday 21 August; Race Week, 22-27 August, Blackwater SC, Heybridge, Essex OVERVIEW: Regatta day for all the family with racing on the river, inshore fun and games, including the Greasy Pole, Crabbing Competition and excellent teas. Followed by Blackwater SC Club Race Week, with racing on the river for dinghies and cruisers, food available from the galley and drinks from the bar. Social events in the evenings.

INSIDER TIP: A fun week of sailing and socialising.

WEBSITE: blackwatersailingclub.org.uk

Cruising - Cote d’Azur

BRANCASTER SAILING WEEK 9-13 August, Brancaster Staithe SC, Brancaster Staithe, Norfolk OVERVIEW: The highlight of the sailing calendar at BSSC, Brancaster Sailing Week is a multi-class open regatta with socials! Going ahead subject to the continuing lifting of Covid-19 restrictions.

INSIDER TIP: Registration online only and now open on the website.

WEBSITE: bssc.net/pages/sailingweek DEBEN YACHT CLUB REGATTA 8-12 August, Deben YC, Woodbridge, Suffolk OVERVIEW: The regatta is held on the

BURNHAM WEEK 28 August-4 September, Burnham on Crouch, Essex OVERVIEW: Eight days of fantastic racing with prizes for weekends and the week, welcoming a wide range of classes and boats. Cruisers with spinnaker and non-spinnaker divisions, popular day boat classes, Mocra and dinghies, including Ospreys and mixed handicap classes. The prestigious Town Cup is being run alongside the Houghton Cup (the oldest offshore race on the East Coast) in conjunction with EAORA for IRC on the final Saturday. The week is also expanding with other exciting events for stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and river swimmers. All this alongside great shore side hospitality and entertainment, it’s a great way to round off the summer season.

INSIDER TIP: Enter early to avoid late entry fees: there is racing to suit everyone, check out all classes in the Notice of Race.

SPONSORS: Craftinsure, Fambridge Yacht Haven, Church & Hawes, Lonton & Gray, Rice & Cole, LAS Partnership, Holt, Allen, The Financial Practice, The Old Salt Loft, Dewhirst.

WEBSITE: burnhamweek.com

beautiful River Deben over five days.

Dinghies are split into slow and fast fleet with a mix of boats: Toppers, Fevas, Argos, Hadrons and many more.

There are also yacht races. Visiting boats are welcome. The club is family friendly and there are evening social events particularly aimed at young sailors.

INSIDER TIP: Beware of the mudbanks!

WEBSITE: debenyachtclub.co.uk EAST ANGLIAN OFFSHORE REGATTA 7-11 July, Thames Estuary OVERVIEW: IRC racing from Harwich, Mersea, Medway and Burnham.

INSIDER TIP: Coastal/offshore racing with supporting yacht clubs and their friendly facilities. Pontoon party on the River Medway.

SPONSOR: dxbpumppower.com WEBSITE: eaora.org.uk HORNING OPEN REGATTA WEEK 2-6 August, Horning SC, Norfolk Broads OVERVIEW: This annual regatta sees the River Bure at Horning become a hive of activity with racing from 9am6pm every day outside the clubhouse. Races for dinghies, keelboats and river cruisers.

INSIDER TIP: Practise your boat handling in close quarters - the river can get busy!

WEBSITE: horning-sailing.club

MERSEA WEEK 8-13 August, West Mersea YC & Dabchicks SC, Mersea Island, Essex OVERVIEW: Mersea Week attracts people and an array of boats from all over the UK. Combine your summer holiday with a week of sailing and what is more, a free mooring! In addition, there is entertainment all week, what is there not to like?

INSIDER TIP: Organisers say: “We have adjusted our sails and are getting ready to set sail – come join us!”

SPONSORS: Weekly sponsors: Marinestore Mersea and Adnams Brewery. Daily sponsors: Catering Elite, West Property Management, Fenn Wright, West Mersea Marine and Mersea Homes.

WEBSITE: merseaweek.com NORTH WEST NORFOLK WEEK 24-31 July, various locations along the north and west coasts of Norfolk OVERVIEW: A unique week’s sailing at five venues around the Norfolk coast for N12s, Supernovas, Streakers, Lasers and Allcomers. Venues include restricted inland, tidal harbour and open sea. Prizes are awarded daily to all fleets, with 12 races (less two discards) counting towards the overall weekly trophies. The friendly, warm and welcoming atmosphere ashore brings participants back year after year.

Mersea Week Burnham Week

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Regatta Guide FEATURE REGATTA GUIDE IN ASSOCIATION WITH

British Classic Week

Photos: Ramsgate Week, Peter Hickson, Chris Brown Photographs, Tony Ketley, Chris Hatton, David Harding, Paul Wyeth

INSIDER TIP: Free camping at most venues. If there’s an early morning start make sure you rig the night before. If in doubt, ask anyone for help!

WEBSITE: norfolkweek.co.uk OULTON WEEK 22-27 August, Waveney & Oulton Broad YC, Oulton Broad, Suffolk OVERVIEW: Six days of racing for dinghies, keelboats and river cruisers.

The dinghies are in fast and slow handicap fleets although Lasers and Optimists will also have some class races. Squibs and local one designs (Waveneys, Broads and Yare & Bures) have class races, plus there are mixed keelboat races. There›s a busy social programme and some racing in the evenings.

INSIDER TIP: Find accommodation afloat if possible, such as aboard hire cruisers - and bring your children they›ll love it!

WEBSITE: wobyc.com RAMSGATE WEEK 18-23 July, Royal Temple YC, Ramsgate, Kent OVERVIEW: A friendly regatta with berths only a short walk to the yacht club where all activities will take place under one roof. With racing for everyone from family friendly roundthe-cans to IRC classes racing offshore, as well as the challenging Round the Goodwins Race, organised by an experienced team.

INSIDER TIP: Give special attention to the tides, there is a strong tidal gate across the harbour mouth.

SPONSORS: Headline sponsor Euromarine Insurance supported by ICOM, Shepherd Neame, Page & Sons, Miles & Barr, Kent Decking Supplies.

WEBSITE: ramsgateweek.com Ramsgate Week

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

WHITSTABLE WEEK 26-30 July, Whitstable YC, Sea Wall, Whitstable, Kent OVERVIEW: Competitive 10-race week for dinghies and catamarans on the sea off Whitstable. Great racing for Lasers, Solos, Tasars, Merlin Rockets, B14s, Wanderers, Toppers, Dart 18s, F18s, Hurricanes, Tornadoes, and other dinghies. Live music and entertainment all week, and sample the local delights of the award-winning shops, pubs and restaurants on the club’s doorstep.

INSIDER TIP: Less than 90 minutes from central London, or an hour from the M25. Lots of accommodation available in the town, or book a bunk room in the club!

WEBSITE: wyc.org.uk

SOUTH J CUP June 24-26, Royal Southern Yacht Club, Hamble, Hants OVERVIEW: Three days of intense racing in one of the most competitive fleets in the world.

INSIDER TIP: Situated at the pulsing jugular of the UK yachting scene the J Cup kicks off the Solent season in style.

WEBSITE: keyyachting.com BOURNE END WEEK 28-31 August, Upper Thames SC, Bourne End, Bucks OVERVIEW: UTSC river racing at its best, on the widest stretch of the nontidal Thames. Featuring the Merlin Rocket River Championships, International OK HD Inland Series River Championship and Wayfarers Splashaway Trophy. Solo and National 12 classes included in the Fast Handicap. With Covid restrictions hopefully behind us by August,

Bourne End Week

organisers expect a ‘school’s out atmosphere’ and promise a warm welcome. Bourne End Week is traditionally the venue for the historic Thames A Rater Nationals, with the Queen’s Cup a much-valued prize sailed for on the Tuesday. Camping is just behind the clubhouse, there is quality catering every evening and a Saturday supper is included in the sailing entry.

INSIDER TIP: Don’t miss the famous Sunday night sunset cocktail party, entry fee covers all you can drink; there will be a dinner and music to follow.

WEBSITE: utsc.org.uk BRITISH CLASSIC WEEK 17-24 July, British Classic Yacht Club/ RYS, Cowes Yacht Haven, Isle of Wight

OVERVIEW: Premier classic yacht regatta in the UK. Organised by the British Classic Yacht Club, the event attracts entries from all over the world and, with shoreline starts from the Royal Yacht Squadron, the racing provides a breath-taking spectacle for onlookers.

INSIDER TIP: Stunning classic yachts all available to view in Cowes Yacht Haven.

SPONSORS: Classic Boat, One Sails, Spirit Yachts, Adnams, Suffolk Yacht Harbour, BRIG, The Dartmouth Distillery Company, Hattiers Rum, Classic Marine, Stiletto 60. Official Charity: Tall Ships Youth Trust WEBSITE: britishclassicweek.co.uk COWES SPRING CLASSICS 20-22 August, MSJ Events/Cowes

CHICHESTER HARBOUR RACE WEEK

9-13 August, organised by Chichester Harbour Federation from Hayling Island SC, Hampshire OVERVIEW: One of the biggest dinghy sailing events in the country with a bumper turnout expected in 2021 and entries limited to 425 boats. Class racing for Fireballs, Flying Fifteens, D-Zeros, Aeros, Finns, RS200s, Foiling Moths, Solos, Lasers, RS Fevas, RS Teras and RS Elites as well as fast, medium and slow handicaps and asymmetric handicap. Cruiser racing in the bay under national handicaps. Vibrant socials: steel band and beach barbecue, beer and skittles at Emsworth Slipper SC, pub quiz at Mengeham Rythe SC, and the perennial Hayling Island SC disco.

INSIDER TIP: Early bird discount up to 30 June. Ten or more boats entered in a class by 31 July will be eligible for class prizes.

WEBSITE: chichesterharbourraceweek.sailevent.net

WEBSITE: cowesweek.co.uk MUDEFORD WEEK 7-13 August, Mudeford SC, Christchurch, Dorset OVERVIEW: A week of family racing and fun sailing at a sheltered safe location. The Harbour is rarely more than chest deep for adults and the sailing club is right on the edge of the race area, giving close-up views of the action. The event is not suitable for high-performance craft because of the depth limitations. Two fleets will be run with separate starts. A junior fleet will be raced.

INSIDER TIP: Have a sail around before racing starts to find out where the shallows are.

WEBSITE: mudefordsc.org

Corinthian YC, Shepards Marina, Cowes, Isle of Wight OVERVIEW: This regatta, which is based at Shepards Marina, attracts a wide range of classics plus modern Spirit of Tradition yachts. Racing is organised by Cowes Corinthian YC. INSIDER TIP: Visitors welcome to view the yachts at Shepards Marina.

SPONSORS: British Classic Yacht Club, Henri Lloyd, Classic Marine, West System, Mermaid Gin, Solent Wealth, Ratsey & Lapthorn, Rigit, Classic Boat, Shoreside Lettings.

WEBSITE: cowesspringclassics.com COWES WEEK July-6 August, Cowes Week Ltd, Cowes, Isle of Wight OVERVIEW: Cowes Week is one of the UK’s longest running and most successful sporting events and is a key highlight of the British sporting summer. The regatta sees over 700 boats in up to 40 different classes take part in seven days of world-class racing.

INSIDER TIP: Be part of the action, enter online at cowesweek.co.uk/go/ enter or book a spot on a spectator boat via the website.

SPONSORS: Chatham, MUSTO, Sunsail, aql, Cuvée 450, The Ginery, Yachts & Yachting Official Charity: Scaramouche Sailing Trust

POOLE WEEK 22-27 August, Parkstone YC, Poole, Dorset OVERVIEW: Friendly yet competitive racing around a wide range of courses in Poole Harbour, set against the background of Brownsea Island, Sandbanks and the Purbecks. Class starts for Lasers and Laser Radials, RS200s and 400s, Merlin Rockets, Dart 18s, Wayfarers, Flying Fifteens, XODs, Dolphins and Cornish Shrimpers as well as fast and slow handicap fleets. Great socials too!

INSIDER TIP: It’s worth studying the courses in advance so you know where to find all the marks!

SPONSORS: Headline sponsor Bournemouth Digital, plus Axent Embroidery, Badger Beers.

WEBSITE: pooleweek.org

SOUTHWEST DARTMOUTH ROYAL REGATTA SAILING WEEK 21-29 August, Royal Dart YC, Kingswear, Dartmouth, Devon OVERVIEW: Dartmouth Royal Regatta is a family orientated regatta that offers competitive racing in Start Bay and the River Dart, with a wide range of activities for all the family, including a funfair and firework display on the Saturday evening. Please note that because of tide times the Senior Dinghy Regatta runs earlier than the main regatta from 15-18 August. The

Cowes Week

Junior Dinghy Regatta starts the week’s racing from 21-24 August and the yacht regatta follows from Wednesday 25 August to Bank Holiday Sunday 29 August. There will be classes for IRC and SWYTCF rated yachts, one design fleets, dayboats and gaffers depending on the number of entries.

INSIDER TIP: Dartmouth Royal Regatta is very popular with visiting yachts so make sure you book your accommodation early. Details available on the website.

SPONSORS: Salcombe Gin, Pilot Financial, Paradigm Norton, Chatham Marine, Savills, Dream Charter Holidays, Rockfish.

WEBSITE: dartmouthsailingweek.com FALMOUTH SAILING WEEK 7-14 August, The Port of Falmouth Sailing Association on behalf of Flushing SC, The Royal Cornwall SC, Helford River SC, St Mawes SC, Mylor YC and Restronguet SC. OVERVIEW: Winners of the British Yachting Awards 2020 ‘Event of the Year’, Falmouth Sailing Week is back for a full seven days of racing. Two fleets will race, out in Falmouth Bay and in the Carrick Roads, for some 18 classes.

Three-day series entry for some classes; daily entries to include the standalone Ancasta Champagne Race and The Mainbrace Rum Race.

INSIDER TIP: No payment will be taken on registration. Full details on the Race Management pages of the website.

SPONSORS: Ancasta Yacht Sales, Mainbrace Rum, Mylor Yacht Harbour,

Poole Week

Hine Downing Solicitors, Windsport International, Helpful Holidays, Bex Chamberlain Photography, Pasco’s Boatyard, Coast Medic, 3Deep Media.

WEBSITE: falmouthweek.co.uk/sailingweek/ PENZANCE AROUND SCILLY AND BACK (PASAB) 30 July-2 August, Penzance SC, Albert Pier, Penzance, Cornwall OVERVIEW: Annual three leg race over four days from Penzance to the Isles of Scilly and back with prizes for National Handicap for Cruisers (NHC), IRC, multihulls (MOCRA), COGS and Petit Bateau (two-handed). PASAB is part of the COGS Offshore Series.

INSIDER TIP: Entry forms on the website or e-mail cruisers@pzsc.org.uk WEBSITE: pzsc.org.uk/pasab PLYMOUTH DINGHY REGATTA 12-13 June, Port of Plymouth Sailing Association, Plymouth Sound, Devon OVERVIEW: Plymouth Regatta is going from strength to strength, incorporating several national championships within it in the last few years. Based in the UK’s first National Marine Park, there will be racing for National 12s, mixed handicap classes and one design starts for classes that field over five boats, with boat storage, changing facilities and social at Mount Batten.

INSIDER TIP: Watch out for shipping movements: Plymouth is a naval port, so big traffic has right of way!

SPONSORS: Cattewater Harbour Commission, Plymouth Waterfront Falmouth Week

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Regatta Guide

Royal Fowey Regatta

Photo:s: POFROC, Sportography.TV, Jayne Morris, Simon Roperti

Partnership, Mount Batten Centre, Freshwave, Highwater Sails, Dinghy Shack, Plymouth Youth Sailing, Mount Batten Boathouse.

Plymouth Dinghy Regatta WEBSITE: dinghy-regatta.ppsa.org.uk PLYMOUTH YACHT REGATTA 9-11 July, Port of Plymouth Sailing Association, Plymouth Sound OVERVIEW: Plymouth Yacht Regatta is one of the great success stories in south-west yachting over the last couple of years. Supported by Plymouth Yacht Haven and its tenants, the regatta includes the Impala National Championship, One Design racing for J24s, 2.4mRs and the new RC1000 class, as well as mixed handicap and IRC racing. Berthing, craning and social at Plymouth Yacht Haven.

INSIDER TIP: Plymouth’s complex tidal systems are widely available for study before you arrive. Check out some of the back eddies!

SPONSORS: Cattewater Harbour Commission, Plymouth Waterfront Partnership, Plymouth Yacht Haven and tenants, Freshwave, Dart Sails and Covers, Dinghy Shack.

WEBSITE: yacht-regatta.ppsa.org.uk ROYAL FOWEY REGATTA 15-21 August, Royal Fowey YC and Fowey Gallants SC, Fowey, Cornwall OVERVIEW: A family friendly event, part of Fowey Royal Regatta, with racing for IRC and SWYTC cruisers, PY dinghies, Falmouth Working Boats, Troys and Fowey Rivers: 15-16 August races to/from Flushing IRC/Cruisers; 17-20 August racing for all classes in Fowey/St Austell Bay; 21 August children’s race. Join in some of the fun town events, fireworks and live music.

INSIDER TIP: Enjoy great food and drink at Fowey Gallants SC and Royal Fowey YC after racing - both great waterside venues and welcoming all regatta sailors and their families.

WEBSITE: pofroc.org.uk/page/regatta SALCOMBE REGATTA 1-6 August, Salcombe Yacht Club, South Devon OVERVIEW: A very special regatta for members and visitors with a stunning sailing area, fantastic racing and SYC friendly welcome. Golden beaches and quiet creeks to explore, the superbly located yacht club terrace high above the racecourse has exceptional viewing of the racing, and there is a fun ‘après sail’ social life. It’s a sailing celebration!

INSIDER TIP: Book early to enter.

Accommodation from camping to great holiday lets. Dinghy berthing on Mill Bay and help with trolley transfer either end of week.

SPONSOR: Headline sponsor Salcombe Gin. WEBSITE: salcombeyc.org.uk TORBAY ROYAL REGATTA 20-22 August, Royal Torbay YC, Torquay, Devon OVERVIEW: A highlight of the summer season in Torquay for over 200 years and the first yachting regatta in the country to be granted royal patronage.

Racing for IRC, cruiser classes and sportsboats on the fine sailing waters of Torbay on the English Riviera. This year will see the IRC South West Championship returning once again.

Free berthing included in entry fees and from the sheltered harbour in Torquay there is quick and easy access to the race areas. Friendly atmosphere, cordial Salcombe Regatta

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Torbay

hospitality and great shoreside entertainment.

INSIDER TIP: Look out for Torbay Dinghy Regatta as well over the weekend of 2-3 October. Information for both regattas is available online or for further details email events@rtyc. org WEBSITE: rtyc.org WEYMOUTH YACHT REGATTA 11-12 September, Weymouth SC, Weymouth, Dorset OVERVIEW: Weymouth Yacht Regatta, organised by the combined Yacht Clubs of Weymouth, is open to yachts with an IRC rating or participating in a One Design Class. This year’s event incorporates the IRC Spinlock Southern Championships and has National Squib, VX One and J24 one design classes.

INSIDER TIP: If you’re looking to berth in Weymouth Harbour, book early!

WEBSITE: weymouthregatta.uk

SCOTLAND WEST HIGHLAND YACHTING WEEK 31 July-6 August, Royal Highland YC & Oban SC with regatta moving from Craobh Haven, Oban and Tobermory OVERVIEW: Stunning surroundings with a winning combination of round-thebuoys and passage racing, supported by an excellent social programme. In addition to spinnaker classes, restricted sail classes are offered which attract skippers with limited experience, crew or equipment. Whilst these classes also suit the yachts with small children aboard, some of the most competitive crew members are the children themselves! Many competitors are infrequent racers, often first timers Jersey Regatta

the committee is always delighted to encourage those dipping a toe into racing waters for the first time.

INSIDER TIP: Competitors can enter individual races if they do not want to take part in the whole week. Some choose to enter only for the passage races, or just one race - or even a feeder race - before going off on a cruise.

SPONSORS: Tunnocks, Scottish Seafarms, Owen Sails, Dunstaffanage Marina, Tobermory Harbour WEBSITE: whyw.co.uk

CHANNEL ISLANDS JERSEY REGATTA 10-12 September, Royal Channel Islands YC, St Helier YC and St Catherine’s SC, Jersey OVERVIEW: The Carey Olsen Jersey Regatta provides three days of fun and competitive sailing coupled with a lively social programme. Now in its 23rd year, the regatta is the largest multi-class event in the Channel Islands area and incorporates the 8th GBR IRC Channel Islands Regional Championship. Eligible classes include IRC sportsboat, cruiser/ racer and Quarter Ton; NHC cruiser/ racer; dayboat and small traditional boat; dinghy; sport-catamaran; Kona windsurfer.

INSIDER TIP: Early bird discounts for entries no later than 20 August, book ferries and accommodation (VisitJersey) early as the Island really buzzes in September.

SPONSOR: Headline sponsor offshore law firm Carey Olsen; supported by Ports of Jersey, Jersey Marinas, complementary berthing.

WEBSITE: jerseyregatta.com

Cruising - Panama Canal

Hat’s Off To Panama The Panama Canal killed off the last of the windjammers. A century later it became the cruising sailor’s friend. Jenevora Swann takes us on a trip across the isthmus

A

man, a plan, a canal, Panama” is one of the most famous palindromes. A random fact, but one that struck a chord as the new Atlantic Bridge, that stretches across the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal, came into view. We were about to transit the Panama Canal and start a new adventure in the Pacific Ocean.

Instead of using an agent to organise our crossing, after considerable research, we decided to save money and do it ourselves.

While it involved plenty of paperwork and phone calls, it was a surprisingly easy process. We completed the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) online forms and arranged a date for their admeasurer to inspect our boat and clear us for transit.

To meet the admeasurer, we headed into Shelter Bay Marina, just a few miles from the gateway to the Panama Canal. Situated in a cove, away from the noise of tankers and cruise ships, facilities include 200 slips, a restaurant, laundry,

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swimming pool, gym, chandlers, sail loft and a free bus, which goes into Colon twice a day, ideal for shopping and provisioning needs. With Immigration and a Port Captain on site, it was also an easy place to check-in to Panama.

After a short meeting on the boat with the admeasurer, filling in more paperwork, he declared us shipshape to transit. Once we’d paid the ACP

ABOVE Motoring through the canal with Hoodoo and Tourterelle behind us BELOW Two Drifters and Tourterelle relax in the Chagres Rive

our dues, we were given a choice of dates and had just over a week to get ourselves ready.

Instead of staying in the marina for the whole time, we took the opportunity to explore the area, and sailed eight miles to the Chagres River, where there are several beautiful and peaceful anchorages; a must-do for anyone with a few days to spare before their transit.

At the top of this tropical river is the Gatun Dam, which supplies the water for the Panama Canal locks.

The wildlife and birdlife are abundant and, at dawn or dusk, the howler monkeys are out in force and crocodiles can easily be spotted.

Panama Canal – Day One

On the morning of our transit, we rang the ACP office to get instructions of where and when to meet our official adviser/pilot and to confirm which boats we would be rafted with. We had already requested to travel in tandem with our friends, Ian and Ann Clarke on Tourterelle, an Allures 45. Our other companion was Hoodoo, a Lagoon 380 catamaran, who was also in the marina, so we popped over to introduce ourselves to their crew.

Our transit was across two days, with an evening departure to make it through the first set of locks, followed by an overnight in Gatun Lake.

As a vessel under 38 metres (125 feet), Two Drifters, was classed for a

handline transit; meaning that, while in a lock, the lines between the nearest boats and the shore would be moved by people, not train engines.

In addition to the captain, the ACP insists on four competent line handlers on each boat, plus an official adviser to direct and navigate the boat safely through the Panama Canal.

While in the marina, we recruited

ABOVE TOP RIGHT Fergus completing Panama Canal paperwork with the admeasurer ABOVE RIGHT Shelter Bay Marina with Two Drifters on the front row, far left BELOW Rafting Tourterelle to Two Drifters

very capable line handlers in the form of friends from the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC), Alison and Andy Nelson, whose own boat Venture Lady, would be transiting the canal just 10 days after us. We were also grateful to have JuanJo Boschetti, the marina’s general manager, who we had come to know well during our visits to Panama.

With a feeling of excitement and a little trepidation, we headed to the meeting place just outside the marina. At 6pm, the ACP pilot boat came alongside to drop an adviser off on each boat and, and after a quick briefing, we were underway. After three years of sailing in the Caribbean, it was time to say goodbye to the Atlantic Ocean.

Motoring towards Gatun Lock, Kirsty, our adviser, filled us in on some of the history, telling us the Panama Canal was 50 miles long and, when it opened in 1914, it was one of the largest and most difficult engineering projects ever undertaken.

At 8pm, just outside the lock, the three boats safely rafted together.

Two Drifters in the centre, with Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Cruising - Panama Canal

Tourterelle to our port and Hoodoo to starboard. To be cost effective, most cruising boats share the locks with a commercial vessel so we followed the 73-metre (240 ft) National Geographic passenger ship, Quest, into the mile-long lock.

As Two Drifters was the centre yacht, we had the lead advisor on board to direct the raft. On our helm, it was a huge responsibility for Fergus, who, as captain, had to steer the boats into each of the threelinked chambers; judging the distance on either side to keep the boats off the walls, while dealing with a strong current running through the lock.

In the lock, thin lines, with a monkey fist (large weighted knot) at the end, were thrown down from linesmen on the shore to Tourterelle and Hoodoo. Their line handlers had to be fast to attach the throw lines to the long yacht lines, using a bowline.

These were then hauled up by the linesmen and made fast, so the entire raft was secured within the lock by four lines; two each side, fore and aft.

When the huge lock doors closed behind us, water flooded in. As the levels changed, the line handlers on Tourterelle and Hoodoo were responsible for gradually tightening their lines as we ascended. A momentary lapse of attention could have caused our rafted boats to shift, putting us into serious difficulties.

We were very grateful for our adviser, who totally understood the lock conditions and was in constant VHF contact with the lockmaster and advisers on the other boats.

Inside the lock, she was quick to call instructions on speed or engine changes to prevent any issues taking place.

In just over an hour, we were ‘locked up’; raised a total of 25.91 metres (85 feet) through the three chambers.

Leaving the lock needed just as much concentration and skill on the helm as entering as we had prop wash from the ship to contend with, causing turbulence and our raft to corkscrew. It was difficult for Fergus to control the boats, but he did it

ABOVE LEFT Gatun Lock gates close behind us ABOVE RIGHT Two Drifters’ Panama Canal Crossing Team Back) Andy Nelson, JuanJo Boschetti, (Middle) Alison Nelson, Jenevora Swann (Front) Fergus Dunipace BELOW LEFT At the top of the chamber in Miraflores Lock BELOW R IGHT Panama Canal pilot boat carrying the advisers

Two Drifters Lagoon 440 Catamaran Owners Version 2008 LOA: 13.61m (44.65ft) Beam: 7.70m (25.26ft) Draught: 1.30m (4.27ft)

with deftness.

Once clear, we motored to the ship’s buoy set aside for the three boats to raft up against in Gatun Lake. It was 9.30pm when our advisers were collected by a pilot boat; leaving us to enjoy a few drinks on the boat, at an unusual 85 feet above sea level!

Day Two

The pilot boat turned up at 9am, dropping off a different adviser, a charming man called Andrew, who joined us for the day as part of his commercial ships’ pilot training. It was a relaxed and interesting four-hour motor to Pedro Miguel, our first of two locks, amid sunshine, rain, thunder and lightning; passing

Costs In January 2020, for the first time in seven years, the ACP increased their fees and changed their banding; raising the small vessel limit to 19.81 metres (65 feet).

For boats under 15.24 metres (50 feet) the price doubled from $800 to $1,600.

Add to that inspection and security charges and the price for a small vessel to transit Panama Canal is now an eye-watering $1,784.

Budget too for marina fees, supplementary lines and fenders and line handlers, in addition to food and beverages for the crew and the adviser while transiting, and an agent if using one.

Despite the expense, transiting the Panama Canal is an essential nautical shortcut between two oceans; saving vessels a long and hazardous trip around Cape Horn. For Two Drifters, it was a priceless memory.

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Cruising - Panama Canal

stunning scenery, cruise ships, cargo vessels and even crocodiles.

As we reached Pedro Miguel, we rafted up with Tourterelle and Hoodoo. This time going in to the lock first, with an extremely wide cargo vessel following us in, which could only just fit into the canal lane.

Fine tuning the process from the previous night’s experience, Fergus worked well with the skippers from the other boats to control the raft; playing the boat’s twin throttles like an instrument while the adviser called the direction and speed.

Now, we were in the process of ‘locking-down’. Lines were thrown

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ABOVE a large cargo vessel behind our raft in Pedro Miguel Lock ABOVE RIGHT Two Drifters and Hoodoo passing traffic in the Panama Canal BELOW LEFT Fergus at the helm manouvering the raft into Miraflores Lock BELOW RIGHT Gold Hill FAR RIGHT Line Handling - Tight lines at the bottom of Miraflores Lock

from the shore across to the other boats to secure the raft and the line handlers slackened the lines as we went down; getting closer to sea level as the water filtered out of the lock.

One more lock to go and, as we approached Miraflores, we could see the Pacific Ocean over the lock gates.

Facing 15-20 knots of wind, it took several attempts to raft up.

The wind, combined with 3 – 4 knots of current from behind, made it more challenging and stressful for Fergus to guide the rafted boats safely into the two-chamber lock.

The wind blowing us to port and the current running with us, meant

constant use of reverse on the throttles to stop the raft getting out of control or hitting the lock wall.

At Miraflores Lock, we had an audience; not just from the visitor centre, but also people watching on the webcam. Getting a message from my family to say they could see us, I waved excitedly at the webcam, and immediately got loads of people waving back from the viewing area!

In the lock, nearing the bottom of the second chamber, we felt very small against the sheer canyon walls, the looming lock gates and the hulk of the 106-foot wide cargo vessel behind.

Tips For Doing It Yourself As phone calls need to be made to the ACP, we purchased a local SIM card on arrival at Shelter Bay Marina, which cost $10 for unlimited calls and data for a week.

Arranging The Admeasurer Download Procedures For Securing A Handline Transit Of The Panama Canal (Form 4352) and Handline Inspection (Form 4405) from pancanal.com. The latter is an easy-to-complete document to be emailed to: ntot-ara@pancanal.com.

DIY Or Use An Agent?

We talked to many cruisers, who used an agent for the transit, and were grateful for the assistance with the form-filling and liaison with the Panama Canal Authority (ACP). If on a time limit, the ability to fast-track, especially during peak season (February to April) was flagged up as being very beneficial.

An agent also guarantees the payment to the ACP; covering the boat’s bond, which dispenses with the need to pay a refundable deposit of $891. They can also source long lines, fenders and organise line handlers.

We obtained three quotes from recommended agents and their fees differed from $275 to $700 to co-ordinate our transit. After reading many online blogs, we decided to save money and do it ourselves. With limited Spanish, language was our only barrier, but everyone we dealt with at the ACP spoke excellent English and was enormously helpful.

After emailing Form 4405, phone the Pancanal Cristobal office (507) 443 2293 to arrange a visit from the admeasurer. Re-confirm 24-hours beforehand.

While the admeasurer will visit a boat at anchor, for ease we opted to be in Shelter Bay Marina. Our appointment involved measuring the boat’s length from bow spit to stern, including all overhangs; and checking that our engine, VHF and horn were in working order.

After completing the paperwork, the admeasurer presented us with our Ship Identification Number (SIN), a certificate confirming permission to transit within the next 60 days.

Bank Procedures Transit fees and the bond need to be paid prior to getting a transit date.

The bond is a refundable deposit of $891 to cover any additional charges, late arrival or fees incurred during the transit.

The admeasurer left Form 4614 for us to complete, instructing the ACP’s bank to reimburse us the bond, which is normally a couple of weeks after transit, minus a $25 wire transfer fee.

All forms completed with the admeasurer must be presented at the CitiBank in Colon or Panama City, along with your passport.

While you can pay via bank wire transfer, it’s quicker and easier to pay cash, which we were advised would speed up the bond repayment. We set aside our dollars in advance as there’s no ATM at CitiBank in Colon.

around Colon with huge amounts of money, our situation was made easier by taking Shelter Bay Marina’s shopping bus to Colon. The driver kindly dropped us off directly at CitiBank at Cristobal Pier to make the payment.

Line Handlers, Lines & Fenders Once payment has cleared, call the Pancanal Cristobal office (507) 443 2293 for a transit date.

The ACP requires each small vessel to have four capable line handlers, in addition to the Captain. Professional line handlers can be hired independently, via panlinehandler. com or through an agent for $100 per person. They require overnight accommodation, food, beverages and return transportation.

Here’s where being in a marina beforehand pays off. With many boats waiting to transit and in need of line handlers, there’s a regular conveyor belt of sailors helping each other out for free. It’s also a great way to get experience before taking your own boat through. The marina’s noticeboard and daily VHF net is a good source of information.

The ACP states ‘each vessel must have four 38-metre lines of adequate strength for the size of vessel to maintain it stable in the lock chamber under strong turbulence’.

Expect to be rafted with one or two other yachts, so if you plan to use your own lines, ensure they are strong enough for the weight of three vessels. We used six fenders each side.

To rent lines and fenders, we were quoted between $75 and $375. An additional fee may be added for returning them by dinghy or boat taxi on the Pacific side of Panama Canal.

While it’s not recommended to walk

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JUNE 2021

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Cruising - Panama Canal

As the final lock gates opened, there was a momentous cheer from our rafted boats. But it was not over yet over for Fergus. Our advisor warned that as the fresh water in the lock mixed with the salt water of the Pacific, it would create very strong currents, so precise helming without oversteer was needed to guide us safely out. Timing was important, especially as the cargo vessel behind us was impatient to be on its way.

When the yachts separated for the last time, we headed under the Bridge of the Americas, which links North America to South America, and to the anchorage at La Playita.

Transiting the Panama Canal had been a fascinating experience. Now, with a few weeks to catch our breath before the challenge of crossing the Pacific, we could chill out and explore the beautiful and many Panamanian islands of Las Perlas.

ABOVE LEFT Fergus is very excited to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time ABOVE RIGHT Rafting Hoodoo to Two Drifters.

BELOW L EFT The final gates at Miraflores Lock open and Two Drifters heads out into the Pacific Ocean

Fact Box The Panama Cruisers Facebook page provides contacts for agents and other useful information on Panama This article was written from the perspective of travelling south from the Atlantic to the Pacific. For north-bound vessels contact details will differ, so refer to pancanal.com When transiting the Panama Canal, the captain and crew must wear face masks and maintain social distancing at all times

BELOW RIGHT Las Perlas - Isla Contradora

Jenevora Swann and her husband Fergus Dunipace have been liveaboards on their catamaran Two Drifters since 2014.

They sailed around Europe before crossing the Atlantic to explore the Caribbean, USA, South and Central America. They are now heading to the South Pacific. www.

Facebook.com/ TwoDriftersTravel

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Boat Test ~ Jeanneau 60

Jeanneau what I mean?

French manufacturer Jeanneau is back with an all new 60’ cruiser that offers a beguiling blend of comfort and performance as Sam Jefferson discovers

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Boat Test ~ Jeanneau 60

C

ast your mind back to 2014 if you dare.

Yes, I know it seems like a halcyon time when it wasn’t illegal to go abroad for example but there it is. It was in this year that Jeanneau launched their flagship yacht, the 64. I tested one and, although impressed by many features of the yacht, I was left wondering if the company hadn’t perhaps lost the plot just a little bit. I just wondered who on earth wanted a 64’ production yacht.

72 yachts later and the answer is quite a few people did and the 64 is lauded as one of the big successes of the company in recent times. It led to the rest of the big production boatbuilders (Hanse, Bavaria, Beneteau, Dufour) following suit and the idea of a ‘mini superyacht’ was born. Don’t call me Nostradamus.

The rationale is simple and also completely correct. In recent years the addition of bow and stern thrusters has taken away the fear factor in parking a 60’ yacht. You no longer need the reassuring presence of a full time skipper to coax such a yacht into a narrow berth, you can largely spin it on the spot. It’s an absolute game changer. Add into the mix improvements in sail handling systems, improved in-mast furling sail shape and the widespread adoption of electric winches and you suddenly have the ability to make a 60’ yacht a real and undaunting proposition for a cruising couple.

Because, ultimately, that remains the target market for the Jeanneau 60.

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So what have we got here? Well, this is a boat that rounds off the Jeanneau Yachts linenicely. This line starts with the Jeanneau 51 and concludes with the 64 (soon to be relaunched as the 65 incidentally).

As such, Jeanneau has stuck with the tried and tested team of Phillippe Briand drawing up the lines and Andrew Winch doing the interiors.

Winch is a bit of a specialist in superyachts so you can see where Jeanneau are coming from here.

The lines are relatively conservative with beam kept at what these days would be considered a fairly modest 17’ and a bit of taper carried aft.

Freeboard is decent but not obscene with a subtle chine running aft from midships. The coachroof is nicely integrated giving the boat a sleek look on the water. There is a hint of a dreadnought bow with a sprit for the Code 0 and the anchor combined.

The transom is not completely vertical but features a slight rake.

Below the waterline there is an L – Shaped cast iron keel available in two depths (2.55m or 2.1m) and twin rudders. The boat weighs in at 20,000kg so it’s no lightweight flier but it is approximately 2,000kg lighter than the slightly smaller Hanse 588. There are two rig options available, both deck stepped, with the sportier one offering 163m2 and a fully battened main. The standard rig offers 131m2 with a self tacking jib and in mast furling. The key question with yachts in this size range is whether the manufacturer goes for a dinghy garage in the transom and Jeanneau has opted

ABOVE The Jeanneau 60 is an undaunting proposition for a cruising couple

to do this. As such, the yacht accommodates a full size dinghy with outboard to be discreetly tucked away behind the bathing platform.

BELOW LEFT The coachroof is nicely integrated giving the boat a sleek look on the water

On deck

BELOW CENTRE Jeanneau's trademark sloping side decks area clever touch

At this point I should probably clarify that I actually tested TWO Jeanneau 60s on the same day. I think this was to demonstrate just how customisable they were and – if this was the aim – it was a success.

One version was optimised for cruising featuring a hard top bimini and all the cruising comforts you’d expect while the other featured the bigger rig plus feathering prop and a different layout down below. Stepping aboard on an uncharacteristically damp morning

in the south of France, I had to say that the cruising set up won hands down. This was largely because the solid bimini had ensured everything remained dry in the cockpit. On both boats this is a roomy space with twin tables to port and starboard ensuring there is a walkway clear down the middle at all times. The starboard table dropped down to provide yet more lounging space if required with an infill cushion.

That said, lounging space is already excellent in the cockpit and was further augmented on the more cruising oriented version of the boat by a bench set abaft the twin helms which held an entire outdoor galley within that slowly levitated at the push of a button. Jeanneau has gone

pretty crazy with the whole James Bond style ‘push button’ thing on this boat and there was a passarelle that extended and retracted at the push of a button plus the TV downstairs, the bathing platform and lord knows what else. Anyway, on the version without this back bench, the cockpit is arguably moderately exposed by blue water cruiser standards although the remedy is readily available. There is access to the dinghy garage via two generous hatches in the aft deck. The liferaft is stored in here tucked up close to the dinghy.

Step down onto the bathing platform and you also have the more logical access to the dinghy garage which also features a

BELOW RIGHT A nicely thought out nav station with excellent access to the main fuse board behind BELOW LEFT The push button passarelle is a flashy optional extra

remotely operated winch to get the damn thing in and out of the water, The bathing platform is also tilted downwards slightly at – yes - the push of a button to help get the dinghy out. The whole bathing area, dinghy garage and steps down have been well thought out.

Out onto the side decks and you have that distinctive downward slope running back to the cockpit which only Jeanneau seem to do at the moment but is a nice feature as it helps keep the decks dry and cuts back on steps up and down.

The inner shrouds are on inboard chainplates which ensures that your path through to the foredeck is unencumbered. Up forward, everything is kept nice and clean with masses of open space only interrupted by a track for the self tacking jib. There is the option of a removeable inner forestay which further adds to the versatility of the yacht. Up forward there is access to a skipper's cabin which boasts many varied options of layouts with the possibility of its own heads/shower compartment which is a good idea for both skipper and guests.

Down below

Step down below and you enter a supremely light space. As already mentioned, the two yachts I tested featured very different specifications and this contrast was very clear in the saloon. The sportier boat featured a light oak interior and the main owner’s stateroom aft.

The more cruising oriented boat had a slightly darker mahogany

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Boat Test ~ Jeanneau 60

interior and the main stateroom forward. There are many more differences than this and it illustrated just how far Jeanneau has been willing to go in order to provide a highly customisable yacht. This is noteworthy as a big manufacturer like Jeanneau that is churning out a high volume of boats is generally hamstrung in how much it can pander to individual client’s whims. The basic layout of the saloon remains roughly the same, however, with the main seating area to port and the galley forward of this running athwartships. Aside from that there are any number of permutations; you can have two easy chairs to starboard or a fixed bench seat and a chart table or no chart table. Up forward things diverge even more wildly; the forward cabin can be either the stateroom or there is an option for twin doubles, both with an ensuite, with a clever sliding screen that splits the two cabins when required.

This means that the stateroom is aft and, despite the space eaten up by the dinghy garage, this is a very roomy cabin with an ensuite and a bunk room on the port side thrown into the bargain. The maximum number of cabins is a pretty eyewatering six which shows the potential of this boat if you wished to charter it out. As you’d expect, every luxury Is available should you wish, including a dishwasher, washing machine, you name it…

On the water

All very well, but how did the boat perform? Memories of testing the Jeanneau 64 in a somewhat fickle breeze remained in my memory and with a rather modest 10-12kn forecast, I was interested to see how

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the 60 would perform when it came to lugging a dishwasher and any number of other bells and whistles across the Mediterranean.

First up though, leaving the dock; the bow and stern thrusters and joystick style control of both meant that this really was zero problem. The sad fact is that it is considerably easier to moor this 60 footer than my own more modestly dimensioned 28 footer.

It is also much easier to set the sails. All running rigging is led back from the mast via channels in the coachroof and coamings that allow the ropes to emerge right in front of the twin helms. Here, twin banks of jammers and clutches and two pairs of electric Harken winches take care of business.

Everything is within reach of the helmsman and well set up. The wheel pedestal features matching Raymarine MFD screens to port and starboard plus matching banks of buttons to control the winches plus the jib and mainsail furler

ABOVE LEFT

The saloon is highly customisable for a production yacht

ABOVE RIGHT

Plenty of light in one of the guest cabins.

The maximum number of cabins is six

BELOW

On the water, the boat is lively but easy to handle.

(if you go for the in mast furling system). Only slight niggle here was that my natural inclination was to reach for the push buttons through the spokes of the wheel meaning I kept impeding my requirement to steer. This could be easily remedied by repositioning the buttons slightly higher up. Other than that, setting the sails to the breeze was a breeze.

The sailing was pretty joyous too. I found the 60 altogether less ponderous than the 64 had been in my memory. The boat was lively even in these somewhat modest conditions, getting happily into a groove and scooting along quite eagerly at 8-9kn in 10-12kn of breeze. The boat felt lighter and more lively than I had expected and spun through the tacks with ease.

The helm was nicely balanced and the boat was great fun. I spent most of the time sailing on the boat with the smaller rig and fixed prop and the inclination to race the other boat was irresistible. It was notable that when the breeze was over 10kn there was negligible difference between the two and it was only when the wind eased off that the boat with the bigger rig held any significant advantage. Off the wind with the Code 0 up, the boat was also a joy and even when we pushed up into the wind with this big sail, the boat felt poised and in control.

As mentioned, sail handling was very easy – particularly if you used the self tacking jib – and my only observation would be that stowing the bigger rig featuring a fully battened main might be too much for a cruising couple of a certain age in boisterous conditions and sanity would suggest that the in mast furling was the better option if this was the scenario.

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www.burnhamweek.com Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Boat test ~ Excess 15

Boat Test ~ Jeanneau 60

ALTERNATIVE BOATS

HANSE 588

SAM’S VERDICT Jeanneau has produced a striking looking boat that, thanks to the huge amount of customisation available, can be all things to all sailors. Ok well perhaps not entirely – dyed in the wool blue water cruisers will always turn their nose up at wide aft sections and twin rudders with no skeg. Yet these yachts are all about compromise and spreading the appeal of the boat as

far as possible. In this, Jeanneau has succeeded as this is a lively performer and great Med cruiser while also being able to take an ocean crossing in its stride. Jeanneau has paid high attention to detail and the result is a highly accomplished performer.

Been around for a few years now but the Hanse 588 has proven to be a big hit in this competitive field and is a proven performer. Featuring aggressive lines from designers Judel/Vrolijk this beast of a boat is easily handled thanks to a self tacking jib.

Inspirationmarine.co.uk

PERFORMANCE: HHH HH LOOKS: HHH H H COMFORT: HHH HH

THE SPEC Length overall: 18.28 m (59’12”) Beam: 5.2 m (17’1”) Displacement: 20170 kg (44,467lbs) Standard keel draught: Standard: 2.55m (8’4”) Shallow draft: 2.1 m (6’11”)

BENETEAU OCEANIS YACHT 62 The flagship of the Beneteau range and a striking looking boat with that distinctive stripe amidships. This is a well appointed and forward looking yacht that has rightly won plaudits for its clever design. beneteau.com

Sail area: 131 m2 (1 410 sq ft) or 163 m2 (1 754 sq ft) for bigger rig option Engine: Yanmar 110hp Price: €762,000 (Base, inc VAT) Contact: jeanneau.com

BAVARIA C57 A yacht that allegedly pushed the German manufacturing giants to the brink financially, this flagship of the range boasts striking looks and many thoughtful and innovative touches commensurate with the amount of money ploughed in to the development of the boat. bavariayachts.com

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

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53

Buyer’s Guide: Blue Water Essentials

Off into the blue

Sam Fortescue casts his eye over the latest gear out there for cruising sailors planning on making the great escape into blue water

E

very year over 300 cruising boats race across the Atlantic under the auspices of the World Cruising Club’s ARC event. Most of them are cruisers undertaking their first serious bluewater passage in a ‘normal’ sailing boat, although there are some race boats too. They have all had to wrestle with the issue of preparing themselves and their craft for the 2,700-mile crossing, weighing up comfort, safety and the budget.

So who better to ask for advice on the key gear than the WCC itself?

Comms director Jeremy Wyatt gave us his list of the 10 most important gear decisions to make, and not surprisingly, safety was at the top. “A liferaft and EPIRB – these are the key items on the ARC safety equipment list and should definitely be on your bluewater boat,” he says. For personal safety, he recommends an AIS beacon worn on the lifejacket. “They enable a casualty in the water to be

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tracked via the boat’s own AIS receiver and are a real game changer for MOB equipment.” Radar is also good for spotting squalls mid ocean, and making landfall, while AIS keeps you visible.

With all the instruments and creature comforts aboard modern boats, you will need to give plenty of thought to generating and storing power. “Solar panels always get great reviews, and the new generation hydro-generators like Watt&Sea are excellent for offshore.” Wind turbines are good in tradewind cruising grounds, and diesel gensets also have a place. “But make sure it is professionally installed,” Wyatt counsels.

Some form of autopilot will be key – no-one these days wants to hand steer the whole way across an ocean.

Make sure the

ABOVE The Oyster 595; an ideal craft for blue water cruising BELOW The Radeau ISAF liferaft

autopilot is up to ocean conditions.

“You may want to upgrade the drive unit, or fit a second pilot as back-up if you are double-handing.

Windvanes are also a great addition to most cruising boats.”

WCC advises everyone to fit satellite comms to provide basic GRIB weather files and email offshore. “We are seeing more of the Inmarsat Fleet One fitted to ARC boats due to some very competitive equipment offers recently; for not much more money that a basic Iridium it gives a significant increase in speed and usability, but does come with a higher monthly charge.”

It is also worth investing in a specialist downwind sail for tradewind crossings, says Wyatt. At its most basic, this means a poled-out genoa, ranging up to North Sails' specialist Tradewind Sail and the popular Parasailor.

“For ocean sailing you typically need smaller,

more manageable headsails, especially if sailing shorthanded. Getting a number two with a high cut improves forward vision and will be a good investment. Avoid gennakers on bowsprits unless you have a fast boat and can sail gybe angles.”

Finally, the WCC says that a watermaker can be a game-changer in comfort terms. “Whilst completely possible to sail without one, they make cruising much more enjoyable and best of all, avoid the need for frequent dock visits.”

Lifejacket

James Hall, marketing manager Spinlock When choosing an offshore lifejacket one of the key points is comfort, fit and adjustment. As an offshore sailor, you are likely to be wearing your lifejacket for long periods. Getting a fit that you enjoy and that you find simple to put on will make all the difference. Both 150N and 275N sizes of buoyancy come in many shapes and sizes, but all perform to the same standard, so there is a lot to be said for the lighter less bulky models 150-170N. Take time to understand what the inflated lifejacket offers in features. All offshore lifejackets should include a light, sprayhood, crotch straps as standard, but many now include additional unique features such as knives, LED lights, harness release and tow systems. Take time to review these features which are well reviewed with videos.

Budget: £60-250 Kru Sport: oceansafety.com Crewsaver Ergofit+: survitecgroup. com Spinlock Deckvest 6D: spinlock. co.uk Seago 3 Dynamic: seagoyachting. co.uk Baltic: yachtmailchandlery.com

ABOVE LEFT The Spinlock Deckvest 6D lifejacket ABOVE RIGHT Pick up sail by Ocean Safety BELOW Jason's Crad;e

Liferaft

Alistair Hackett, Ocean Safety It goes without saying that it is essential to have a liferaft on board with sufficient capacity for all crew members. Offshore liferafts must be of high quality with the correct survival equipment pack inside for the voyage being undertaken. A typical liferaft model would be an approved ISO 9650 approved raft, available in 4 to 12 person options and equipped with a less than or greater than 24hr pack . Choose a canister or valise depending on how you are stowing it onboard.

Fitting the boat with quick-tolaunch recovery danbuoy products for retrieving a crew member from the water should be a consideration.

A Jon Buoy Recovery Module, for example, is highly visible while providing flotation and support for

the crew member who can then be recovered back on board.

It is vitally important to ensure that all your inflatable products are fully serviced and equipped by a certified service station before you leave port and that their service life will last throughout your voyage.

Budget: £1000-£2500 + £100 for >24hr pack.

Crewsaver: survitecgroup.com Ocean Safety: oceansafety.com Plastimo: Plastimo.com Seago Sea Master: seagoyachting. co.uk Lalizas: lalizas.com

MOB recovery

LifeSavers are a long floating Dyneema handle attached to your lifejacket.

Moblifesavers.com Jonbuoy. Danbuoy, float and recovery module combined. oceansafety.com Jason’s Cradle is a ladder and roll mat. jasonscradle.co.uk Australia’s SOS Marine sells a reboarding ladder that can lift out unconscious MOBs. Sosmarine.com

WHAT YOU NEED: BLUE WATER ESSENTIALS By Eddie Scougall, Oyster skipper “If you need to strengthen the structure of the boat, you bought the wrong boat,” says Eddie.

“You need a good platform to start with.”

A stout rig and the good sails – easily field repairable.

Well engineered, reliable steering - if you can’t steer, you’re just flotsam.

Easy to maintain winches and deck hardware. e.g. Most Lewmar winches can be serviced without tools.

Plenty of stowage space Good ground tackle handling gear.

A workshop space A well found, ergonomic galley - food has a massive influence on morale

High quality correctly swung compass!

Good quality instrumentation and navigation system, including radar and AIS with a world-wide dealer network Communications: VHF, SSB (yes, still very useful), satcoms.

Lithium ion batteries – expensive but pay back in quicker charge times

Hydrogeneration and solar A good RIB and outboard, preferably launchable by one person.

An efficient watermaker Washing machine! Just think about a threeweek passage, and no laundry facilities An efficient air conditioning system. This is further down the list as it’s power-hungry hardware and only really used in marinas Powerful thrusters are also far down the list, as they are only of use when berthing in a marina.

The engine. Bluewater sailing yachts these days have engines which are bigger, heavier and way more powerful than they need to be.

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Buyer’s Guide: Blue Water Essentials

Epirb/PLB

By Kris Nieuwenhuis, Ocean Signal Affordable and easy to use, EPIRBs, which are registered to the vessel, and PLBs, which are worn by individuals, greatly increase chances of survival in the event of an emergency offshore. They use the Cospas-Sarsat International Satellite System and 406 MHz technology for alerting, with a GPS position and a homing frequency to summon rescue to a near exact location. We emphasise to all beacon owners to properly register and maintain their devices.

Today, Cospas-Sarsat, including the MEOSAR system, offers much faster detection and greater location accuracy to improve alerting for distress beacon owners in emergency situations. The current generation of satellite beacons are also incredibly compact and light, with long battery lives. For example, the Ocean Signal rescueME PLB1 – the smallest in the world – weighs just 116g and is easily attached to a life jacket or clothing.

For those who want more reassurance, the ACR Electronics’ new ResQLink View PLB features digital display technology showing all the beacon’s activities.

A further development is Return Link Service (RLS) which will provide the survivor with confirmation that their signal has been received. RLS beacons have already been developed by leading manufacturers ACR Electronics and Ocean Signal and will be available soon.

Budget: £450-£750 Epirb £290-£330 PLB

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Epirbs

RescueME Epirb 1, SafeSea Epirb 1: oceansignal.com ACR GlobalFix V4: acrartex.com McMurdo Smartfind G8 AIS, Kannad SafePro AIS: seasofsolutions. com

PLBs

Ocean Signal PLB1: oceansignal. com McMurdo FastFind ReturnLink, Kannad Safelink Solo: oroliamaritime.com ACR ResQLink View: acrartex.com

AIS beacon

AIS tags are small and broadcast and MOBs position to nearby boats when triggered.

Budget: £275 Kannad Marine R10, McMurdo Smartfind S20: oroliamaritime.com ACR Artex AISLink: acrartex.com Ocean Signal MOB 1: oceansignal. com

MOB tags

Triggered when someone’s electronic tag leaves the 20m Bluetooth perimeter around the boat.

Budget: £59-89

ABOVE MOB tags BELOW LEFT The Ocean Signal 2 RescueME BELOW ACR's GlobalFix V4 Epirb BELOW BOTTOM Hand held flare demonstration

Exposure OLAS tag: alertandfind.com Crew Watcher: arthurbeale.co.uk Sea-tags: sea-tags.com

Drogues

Para-anchor: para-anchor.com Yachtsman series para anchor: oceansafety.com Sea-brake GP-30: oceanchandlery. com Ocean Brake: oceanbrake.com Jordan Series Drogue: jordanseriesdrogue.com

Medical kit

Anticipating injuries is a fraught business, but there are plenty of companies who can help. Medical Support Offshore offers support over the phone (msos.org.uk), as well as a range of pre-determined kits. Most brands offer a modular solution, allowing you to build a suitable medical resource according to crew numbers and cruising plans, but remember that medicines often have to be bought separately.

Oceanmedix Marine 3000: oceanmedix.com Soft Pack C: oceansafety.com Sailing II Ocean bag: seadoc.de Sea Medic: bluewatersupplies.com

Wind turbines

By Stuart James, Marlec A well-designed product for boats will create minimal sound when running. More blades are quietest, but they produce less power typically than the three-blade types. Some manufacturers are using advanced aerodynamic profiles that give both good power performance and just a gentle swish sound when spinning.

Low windspeed start up and power performance is a must to ensure you get power generation every day. There’s a range of turbine sizes out there, so choose a rotor diameter in proportion with your yacht and a generation capability that fits the battery capacity. For long-distance cruising, it is certainly worth choosing a reputable product from the market with back up for if you need it whilst cruising.

Budget: £740-£1800 plus up to £300 for charge controller D400: eclectic-energy.co.uk LE-300: leadingedgepower.com Rutland 1200: marlec.co.uk Superwind 350: mactramarine.co.uk AIR Breeze: ecopowershop.com

Solar panels

By Luca Bonci, CEO of Solbian Solar panels are the easiest way to generate electricity on board, the required daily maintenance is minimum and once installed, they become a reliable source of clean energy.

A 500W solar system is a good starting point, as it can generate up

to 2500Wh during a sunny summer day - about 200Ah for a 12V battery pack. It is advisable to slightly oversize the solar system to compensate for cloudy days or in wider terms, to bridge power gaps when the conditions are not optimal for collecting solar rays.

Bluewater sailboats can easily accommodate a solar panel system as

ABOVE LEFT Superwind SW350 wind turbine ABOVE RIGHT Watt&Sea hydogeneration BELOW Solara solar panels

the one aforementioned, since it requires less than 3sqm and can be placed on decks, biminis or hard-top dodgers. Marine-grade semi flexible solar panels are recommended, being easy to install and combining high efficiency and low weight.Different PV technology offers different levels of efficiency, but a good panel should do up to 25 per cent.

Budget: £500 for a 100W panel Sunware: marlec.co.uk Solbian: barden-uk.com Solara: barden-uk.com Sunpower: ecopowershop.com PV Logic: improducts.co.uk

Hydrogeneration

Matthieu Michou, CEO Watt&Sea Indispensable for ocean cruising and ocean racing, hydro-generators produce a great deal of energy by taking a fraction of the thrust from the wind, like a dynamo on a bicycle.

While the first generations consisted of a propeller towed behind the boat and associated with problems of drag and ergonomics, today’s products are mounted on the transom or even under the hull and generate much greater power: up to 10A at 5 knots, 18A at 6 knots, etc.

The hydro-generator works thanks to the speed of the water: this is why it must be mounted in an area without turbulence and well exposed to the current. The propeller must be adapted to the speed range of the boat: the faster the boat, the smaller the propeller.

In offshore racing, watt&sea models even use a variable pitch to accommodate large speed variations.

Budget: £2,500-£3,500 (cheaper for generic products) Watt&Sea, foxschandlery.com Duogen, eclectic-energy.com Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Buyer’s Guide: Blue Water Essentials

Swi-tec: Swi-tec.fr Seatronic: seatronic.fr

Windvane steering

Lean Nelis, owner Aries A boat full of wires that connect many devices to each other is like a ticking time bomb. Bring in a windvane! No stress about your batteries being charged, no leaking hydraulics, no push-button sailing, but actual sailing!

A good windvane asks for a balanced boat and a crew that understands what the boat needs in every situation. It makes every sailor more aware about the boat, the wind, the sails and the sea state. There are dozens of accounts where sailors do not touch the helm for hundreds of miles. A few adjustments to the windvane are often enough to help you get across the pond and into the Caribbean without any issues to speak of.

Watermakers

Of course, there are downsides. It adds significant weight of the back of the boat and it might add some difficulty manoeuvring in tight spaces. Yet maintenance is simple and in case of a system failure on board, the windvane will carry on without any rest, chocolate or moaning.

Budget: £3,500-£5,500 Hydrovane: hydrovane.com Aries: ariesvanegear.com Monitor: scanmarinternational.com

Riccardo Verde, MD Schenker watermakers: The main trends of the market are focused on four main features: More compact: Units are getting smaller to allow more flexible mounting.

Schenker’s new Zen line produces up to 150lt/hr but is only 10cm deep.

Low power and direct battery supply: Some brands, like Spectra and Schenker, include hydraulic energy recovery systems. This can cut power consumption by 80 per cent to about 4Wh/lt.

Simplicity: Most watermakers are fitted with automatic pressure regulation systems and are less sensitive to corrosion.

Remote control and connectivity: Users like sophisticated touchscreen displays to monitor and control the main parameters, like salinity, pressure, flow etc. Ideally they are also networked with the MFD through NMEA 2000 Budget: £3,000-£5,000 (6lt-30lt/hr) Dessalator: dessalator.fr Rainman: thewetworks.co.uk Schenker: mactramarine.co.uk Spectra: gds.limited Osmosea: sailfishmarine.co.uk EcoSistems: improducts.co.uk

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ABOVE LEFT A selection of windvanes ABOVE RIGHT Immarsat satcom receiver BELOW RIGHT Icom satcom unit BELOW LEFT Rainman watermaker in Antarctica

Communications

Les Shortall, Inmarsat Maritime Satellite connectivity is all about enhancing safety and the enjoyment of the trip. Being able to download weather reports, wherever you’re sailing, is vital, as is the ability to get help in case of accident or medical emergency. On the fun side, it’s great to be able to chat with friends and family, send photos and emails or even simple online browsing.

A fixed terminal like Fleet One is ideal because it is fast, reliable, easy to fit and handles both data and voice and all of the above. With wifi capability, it doesn’t require a handset and is always on – unlike satellite phones which may be out of battery or out of credit.

Satellite is very affordable and flexible airtime plans can prevent bill shock. For the weekend sailor, a so-called leisure plan will have predictable monthly fees, unlimited data and flexibility to use or suspend service from month to month.

To meet exponential growth in demand, operators like Inmarsat have already begun to launch new satellites that will dramatically boost bandwidth and capacity.

Budget: £2,000 SSB + £2,000 installation £800-£1200 satellite handset £2,700 Fleet One Airtime: from 50p/min; data from £7/MB inmarsat.com iridium.com icomuk.co.uk

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59

GULL’S EYE

BRIXHAM MARINA 50° 24.3’N 003° 30.8’W

Brixham marina lies at the heart of the English riviera and is a wonderful stopover for sailors as Emma Bamford discovers

TORBAY

BREAKWATER

Known as the English Rivieira, Torbay includes Paignton, Brixham and Torquay

MARINA ENTRANCE

E N

S W

PUBLIC SLIPWAY

MARINA OFFICE EVENTS PONTOON WAVE SCREEN TOWN PONTOON MARINA ENTRANCE

PROTECTION Brixham offers good protection but is slightly exposed to refracted swell from the north round to northwest and easterly winds

Brixham

B

rixham in south Devon is the quintessential English fishing port.

Once home to a fleet of 300 wooden trawlers, it is still an active fishing harbour, with more than 100 fishing boats landing £25m of fish each year and trading their catch at the fish market on the quayside.

Six gaff-rigged trawlers, built in the 19th and early 20th Centuries, have been restored and, berthed at the town pontoon, give the feeling of having gone back in town.

With its cascade of multi-

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50° 24.3’N 003° 30.8’W

coloured houses, Brixham is pretty when viewed from the sea.

Up close, there is a warren of atmospheric narrow streets and alleys – perfect for conjuring up images of the pirates and smugglers who once operated in the area.

The town’s heritage is evident in its businesses today, from attractions like a replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hind to seaside booths selling whelks and pirate-themed festivals.

From the marina, the SW Coast Path takes you into the town centre past displays detailing

Brixham’s history and beyond, with walks along the seafront for miles – as far as Minehead or Poole, if you’re brave enough!

MARINA GUIDE

Brixham has 480 berths for boats of up to 60ft and sits on the south-east side of Brixham Harbour with views across Tor Bay to Paignton and Torquay.

There has been a marina on the site for 32 years, since it was first built by the American Charles Fleming and has been in the ownership of MDL since 1990 and berth holders benefit from MDL’s Otium Rewards scheme, gaining points to pick up benefits.

Access is at all states of tide and tidal range is about 4.8m. Greatest depth in the marina is about 5m, getting shallower closer to shore, so boats with deeper draughts should make their needs clear.

Being a seaside town centre marina, there is a definite peak season.

Brixham is very much a destination marina and a great stopover for boats heading to and from the Cornish cruising grounds.

This does mean that in summer it can get very busy and, although the management will do all they can to accommodate visitors, it’s wise to book.

The marina has an events pontoon, where boats can raft two-deep when the need arises, but there is no electricity or water here.

A short stroll either along the waterfront or on the road behind

OPPOSITE PAGE Brixham’s outer harbour looing in towards the town ABOVE The marina pontoons

takes you to the town centre in under 10 minutes, where there are cafes, shops, including a Tesco Metro for provisioning, and attractions.

There are no yacht services on site but contractors are allowed

FACTFILE

BRIXHAM MARINA Open 24/7/365 Tel: +44 (0) 1803 208443 Email: brixham@mdlmarinas. co.uk Website: brixhammarina.co.uk VHF: Ch 80 Harbour: Ch 14 Facilities Showers, toilets and laundrette block Boosted Wi-Fi ( there is a tariff for visitors) Diesel barge Electricity 240V 16A or 32A Water Waste oil disposal No pump out Camping gaz can be delivered Berthing fees Daily – marina includes electricity Up to 12.5m £4.25 per metre 12.6m-18m £5.45 per metre Daily – events pontoon, no

in. For work, Dartside Quay in Galmpton Creek, 3nM upriver from Dartmouth is a good option nearby and has 65t and 16t hoists and a yard and a host of other services.

electricity Up to 12.5m £3.30 per metre 12.5m+ £3.90 per metre Monthly: Up to 10m: £68.00 per metre 10.1m +: £70.05 per metre Services – off-site contractors AK Marine Services ak-marine.co.uk +44 (0)776 500 1784 Pulse Marine Electronics pulsemarine.co.uk +44 (0)7971 661159 Roger Pinder surveyor rpmarinesurveys.co.uk +44 (0)1803 832098 Stern Marine engine repair +44(0)741 537 6040 or +44 (0)774 2094 989 Torbay Outboards torbayoutboards.co.uk +44(0)1803 329 457

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Brixham

PICS: ALAMY, ISTOCK, MDL MARINAS

PASSAGE PLANNING It is a very straightforward approach to Brixham Marina across the deep Tor Bay. Look for the half-mile-long Victoria breakwater, which protects the harbour. Its end is marked at night by a red light (Oc R 15s).

Once you round the end of the breakwater the view into the harbour and the marina will open up.

There is a buoyed main fairway that runs for about four cables from just inside the breakwater to the marina entrance. There are small boat moorings to either side and the old walled fishing ahead harbour to starboard. Pass through a first pair of red and green fairway buoys (Fl R or Fl G) and through a second pair (LFl

R and L Fl G). The wave screen that protects the boats inside the marina will be ahead on your port side.

Once at the point where the fairway meets the wavescreen (marked by a red light 2Fl R 5s), the events pontoon is dead ahead and the other pontoons, A-I, are to port, with A closest to shore and F closest to the wavescreen, and G-I on the far side.

Shaw said: “We ask everyone to give is a call on VHF channel 80 as they come down the fairway.”

The only hazards on the approach are trawlers and the passenger ferries going back and forth between Brixham and Torquay.

The harbour should be free of crab pots. Close inshore are some

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controlled areas for swimmers, generally marked with yellow buoys.

Anchoring is not permitted in the harbour.

SYSTEMS SOLUTION

The • Quality engineering

ABOVE A stunning and also well protected location

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e : S A LE S@ VE T US. CO. U K

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ENGINES | STERN GEAR | FUEL | INSTRUMENTS | FRESH WATER | WASTE WATER | MANOEUVRING | ELECTRICAL | STEERING | HATCHES | VENTILATION

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CRUISING GROUNDS Brixham has plenty of delights close to hand and tempting destinations further afield Brixham is a natural stop-off for boats on their way from east to west (or vice versa), coming from Weymouth and going across the wide curve of Lyme Bay to Dartmouth.

It’s about 40nM from Portland Bill.

The River Dart offers some of the best of West Country cruising.

The entrance, about 8nM from Brixham, is deep and wide, and flanked by castles, but it can see tides of 3kts at springs.

Depending on your draught, and timing it with the tide, you could make it the 8nM upriver to Totnes.

Be aware that you must pay dues to use the river – so anchoring is not free (85p per metre per day) and comes with conditions (the skipper must be aboard during the turn of the tide).

There are plenty of marinas to choose from – Dart Haven and Noss Marinas on the east bank and Dart Marina Yacht Haven on the west .

For those wanting to explore more of Tor Bay (two words for the body of water; one for the local district council), which is tucked into the southern end of Lyme Bay, there are the towns of Brixham, Torquay and

ABOVE Stunning sailing on the River Dart BELOW Salcombe is always a magnet for cruising sailors

Paignton. Torquay Marina is also run

by MDL. Paignton has a small drying harbour run by the harbour authority.

There’s also a pretty anchorage at Elberry Cove, between Brixham and Paignton, recommended by Shaw Smith, and Babbacombe just outside the bay, on the other side of the headland to Torquay. Devon really is your oyster with ports such as Salcombejust a stone’s throw away.

USEFUL CONTACTS Brixham Harbour Authority, for Brixham town pontoon +44 (0)1803 853321, tor-bay-harbour.co.uk Coastguard +44 (0)1803 882704 Brixham Yacht Club – also has a small visitors’ pontoon +44 (0)1803 853332 Brixham Fish Market tours +44 (0)7973 297620 Poop Deck, poopdeckrestaurant. com +44 (0)1803 858681 mdlmarinas.co.uk/mdl-torquay-marina Bacco +44 (0)1803 858266 Taxi +44 (0)1803 853000 Tourism information visitsouthdevon.co.uk

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Boat Test ~ Discovery 58

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

A voyage of rediscovery The Discovery 58 has long been recognized as a superlative blue water cruiser. Toby Heppell steps aboard the latest model to examine how it has developed

I

’d been provided a berth number ahead of our test of the new Discovery 58C, but arriving at Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour up the Beaulieu river I really didn’t need anyone to point me in the right direction. All Time High’s mast towered over every other boat on the pontoons and swinging moorings, looking for all the world a beacon of calm in the blustery, crisp, autumn morning air.

It is clear from the off, the 58C is a big boat. A very big boat. At just shy of 60ft that might not come as a surprise, but up close, her high topsides, wide stern and deck saloon all point to a yacht with a great deal going on below, and she practically towers over the pontoon as a result.

She follows the successful, earlier Discovery 55, also designed by Ron Holland, and features the same standard keel, and cutting edge build techniques include a resin infused kevlar reinforced hull.

There will be those that take one look at the Discovery 58C’s lines, her electric winches and furlers, and scoff at the thought of this modern bluewater business. This is, no doubt, exacerbated by the not insignificant cost of a boat like this. To be clear, the vast majority of us will never have the money to own one. But the question is, if we did, would we want to?

Below

The work below on Discovery Yachts is noted for being incredibly impressive, and you could well argue that it is here the Discovery

58C has been designed to excel.

Before we get into the specifics, it is worth noting that the C in 58C stands for custom, and thus the test boat we were sailing on - All Time High – has been designed alongside the owners and their wishes. This is not an all-out custom build from scratch, but within the basic confines of the moulds from which the hull and deck are made, the bulkheads etc. the world is very much your oyster (or rather, Discovery…)

Stepping down into the main saloon area what first strikes is how light it is. Large windows forward spill light into the area as do equally large portlights to port and starboard. The focal centre of the room is the seating and table area.

The table is one of the first custom touches to draw the eye, with an octopus motif inlayed into its centre in what looks to be some really impressive veneer inlay skills. These themes both continue throughout – that of the octopus and truly skilful joinery. The octopus motif continues subtly through the textured drawer and cupboard handles - I ask the cost of these and the sum is eye watering, having been designed and brought in specifically for this purpose. But it is the joinery that dazzles, the grain matching throughout the cabinetry is truly second to none.

To starboard of the steps into the saloon is a navigation table and seat, complete with all the electronic gizmos you might want. With the view forward from those two large windows, it is easy to imagine keeping watch in the dry and warm Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Boat Test ~ Discovery 58

and adjusting the pilot while the rain and wind batter away outside.

Down further and forward you have a study/ guest cabin, with a heads to starboard. Typically this study area would be a bunk crew cabin with a small door leading to the double forward, but that has been eschewed here in favour of the study option. Where there would have been walls operating the bunk cabin, the corridor next to them and the double forward, there is now open space, with a curtain to separate the double from the study. This curtain is to offer some privacy from the heads, which are closest to the saloon, but now act as an effective en suite, though will be used by guests should you have more than two couples onboard.

The benefit here is the large double with study but of course the drawback is that slightly awkward heads / curtain situation. These are some of the difficulties that can crop up when you are looking at a semi-customisable yacht. You will always be limited by bulkheads and hull lines, so change without compromise is somewhat limited.

Aft of the inside nav area is a small two bunk room, which could easily

serve as crew berths, or decent cot berths while at sea, indeed the owner wanted these here instead of forward as they are more centrally located and should offer a comfier berth in a seaway. Heading aft to port and you step down into a galley kitchen, which should be practical, allowing the ability to brace throughout its length should you be cooking in any sort of a seaway. This leads you to a very large master suite aft with en suite heads and shower facilities.

Two portlights sit a little above the waterline, offering an excellent view out over the water from the bed and the heads are impressively roomy.

What is clear is the choices that have been made throughout on All Time High speak to an owner who intends to sail the boat themselves with occasional guests and the spaces have all been optimised as such. The craftsmanship is truly exceptional and little details, such as a wine store built into the table stand – filled with champagne of course - abound.

There are parts where the layout feels a little odd. In addition to the study with curtain, there is also a large flat tabletop space opposite the table in the main saloon that seems to have been put there for

ABOVE A well lit saloon area with superb views BELOW A practical galley ideal for blue water cruising

no other reason than nothing else could go there. The owner says it gives him a chance to unfold a full admiralty chart, which is a not possible on the chart table - though folded there is still ample room for nav calcs. Ultimately, I gather the space is the product of the bunks being moved from the study area to aft of the nav area, and thus leaving something of a void space which has been infilled with the flat surface.

These are small complaints, and so far as the owner is concerned these are benefits as they came at his request. What their existence does imply, however, is that the efficient design of space within a boat - and even one of 58ft - takes a lot of planning and consideration.

Overall, it is hard not to be impressed with the craftmanship, amenities and space offered below.

For the course of our test sail, we had a team on board from Discovery in addition to the owner. This boat has only recently been delivered and thus she is still in something of a commissioning process. As such we did have a few issues with the electronics throughout the day, the key being a lack of boat speed reading from the paddle wheel, though we had SOG (speed over ground) from the GPS. Additionally our apparent wind speed seemed off

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PHOTOS: OLIVER HAYES/DISCOVERY

Under sail

LEFT Upwind, the boat reeled off a steady 7kn BELOW Off the wind the boat was an absolute joy

all day and was due for recalibration.

These are relatively minor tweaks and are the sort of thing you would expect in the commissioning of a brand new semi-custom boat and setup. But it did make it difficult to be entirely accurate with the data I was able to pick up throughout the day.

What quickly became clear, however is this would not be the issue it might have been on a more performance oriented boat.

In the high teens to mid 20 knot windspeed we had on the day, the Discovery happily cantered around making 7 knots over ground more or less no matter which direction you pointed her. We set out a couple of hours before high tide and return a couple after, so even considering the tide, she was remarkably consistent speed-wise.

Upwind

Once out into the Solent we hoisted the sails and set off into the teeth of a cold, east north easterly breeze, which was regularly hitting 25 knots.

Unfurling the self tacking headsail and the mast furling main is all done electronically from the helm station at the single wheel - double wheels can be fitted should you wish. From here you can also control mainsheet, mainsail traveller and the two large primary winches, which you would

use for a full genoa or for spinnaker.

The self tacking headsail, however, leads back to the cabin top winch and has the controls there too. This does mean it is not easy to access for a single person helming, but as a self tacker, you’d be looking to set it up for your course angle and leave it well alone. As this is the winch you would use for vang,

halyards etc. its positioning does make sense even for a single hander as you would want controls to hand when hoisting or lowering sails or making halyard tension changes etc.

With the occasional bigger gust filtering down the Solent and the traditional short, sharp chop being kicked up, my initial impressions of the Discovery’s performance upwind were a touch disappointing. She was surprisingly heavy on the helm and displayed a tendency to round up in the bigger puffs. It was almost immediately obvious the balance was wrong and after furling some main in and unfurling a fair bit more headsail, she was much better behaved.

As with the electronics, these are the to be expected teething problems of a new boat as you discover her sweet spot. I’d have been inclined to take in even more main and unfurl much more headsail to improve things further but on a test in these conditions we weren’t looking to push the boat that hard.

I would not say that we ever got to the point of finger tip control upwind, but I suspect some more hours sorting balance and it will come. Certainly once we were settled in, standing at the helm, with the option to drop a bit of traveller in the gusts and wind it back in at the touch of a button, in 20 knots of breeze, was delightfully easy, and you could well see her chewing through the miles with ease upwind.

Once set up she was happy to sit at a touch under 7 knots in 20 knots true at around 35º to the wind. It might have taken a little time to find that sweet spot, but once there, she gobbled up the miles with ease.

It is particularly worthy of note that despite sailing on a blustery, choppy Solent and despite my walking the decks when not helming, at no point did a single drop of water land on me. Whether this implies blissful sailing that would allow you to churn through miles in comfort or a disconnect from the art of sailing will probably depend on who you are, but it is impressive, and speaks to the sheer volume and supreme weatherliness of the boat herself in wht were some pretty lumpy conditions.

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Boat Test ~ Discovery 58

Downwind

TOBY’S VERDICT To come full circle, if I won the lottery tomorrow would I buy a 58C? Frankly, no. But not through any failing of the boat, merely that this boat represents something I do not want from my sailing.

If I were this owner, looking for a beautifully built boat to carry me to Caribbean quickly, in comfort and with a smile on my face and then provide me a stunning base from which to spend a season island hopping then there is little to criticise here.

The only faults I could find below were those few things which I would not find ideal but were there

THE SPEC Overall length: 58’8” (17.88 m) Length waterline: 51’10” (15.8 m) Beam: 16’8” (5.08 m) Draft: 7’8”/6’5” (2.34/1.93 m) Light displacement: 60,075 lb (27,250 kg) Sail area: 1,629sq/ft (151.3sq/m) Price: Contact:discoveryshipyard.com

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

by request, as a semi-custom yacht, but she was immaculate otherwise.

I’d like to have a little more time working her up, in terms of upwind balance, but she improved with every tweak and revealed a remarkable turn of pace. Downwind she was an absolutely stunning performer, and I can think of few boats I’d rather be on in the Bay of Biscay, say. If all that is not the very definition of the perfect bluewater cruiser, then I honestly do not know what is.

PERFORMANCE: HHH HH LOOKS: HHH H H COMFORT: HHH HH

ABOVE

Despite 25kn of breeze and a short Solent chop, not a drop of water touched the deck during the test sail

BELOW

The elegant Ron Holland lines were penned for blue water cruising

If upwind had initially been a little less stellar than I had hoped, crack the sheets a touch and the 58C felt much better behaved.

There was not huge turn of pace as you’d expect from a reasonably large heavy boat, just the sort of unfussy slight acceleration that comes from footing a little.

We’d elected not to take the chute out of its bag in wind that was, by now, regularly hitting 25knots in the gusts so heading further downwind was a case of unfurling the big genoa, and poling it out to windward.

Running with full main and full poled out genoa the 58C lit up.

Until now, I had enjoyed the sail and could see the appeal of the boat as a whole, but couldn’t say I has been truly thrilled by the sailing performance. However, as soon as the sails were pulling, she was one of the most delicate boats I have sailed in some time. She offered just the right amount of feedback to the helm and was light on the steering, such that you really felt you could drive her as hard as you pleased. The waves we had were not significant for this type of boat but I suddenly was longing to be sailing her in the trades, with a decent swell astern. She would be an absolute joy to sail in these circumstances.

From her stability downwind, I’ve no doubt we would have carried the chute with little problem and would have been east of the Isle of Wight before we’d even registered it. With the wind in the high teens, we were making a tiny fraction shy of 9 knots with the wind at 160º, stick me in the Atlantic on this boat and I’ll see you in the Caribbean with a wide smile on my face. All too soon we were approaching the west Solent and so time to head home. I could have sailed her like this for much longer.

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71

Cruising - Provence’s Calanques

Dumbass in the realm of Dumas Sam Jefferson treads in the footsteps of the Count of Monte Cristo as he makes a great escape to the Calanques of Provence

O

ne of the enduring fascinations of owning a yacht is, for me, transformation. The same living space can be transported to an entirely different part of the world and, in the process, remain both familiar and also entirely alien. Never was this more true than during lockdown, which I rashly opted to spend on my boat, Black Joke, a 28’ Morecambe Bay Prawner, in Sete in the south of France. My boat was transformed into a very small floating prison.

When lockdown lifted, I promptly

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY JUNE2021 2021

rented a flat and anchored my boat within sight of the apartment. There she lay, very pretty and gently plucking at her anchor cable – inviting me to go off on another adventure.

With restrictions lifted my friend Tom, in a bout of post lockdown insanity opted to cycle down from

ABOVE Port Pin BELOW Map of the Calanques of Provence

London to visit. All things considered, I thought that we couldn’t do better than head down to Marseille and explore the calanques just to the east. These are a selection of narrow, steep walled inlets cut into the limestone making for a string of very striking and tempting anchorages in the midst of the

wilderness. I also fancied a trip to Marseille as I’d spent lockdown reading the Count of Monte Cristo – the early section of which is set around Marseille – it therefore seemed fitting to pay homage to the Count as part of our great escape.

Iles du Frioul

We spent two days getting there from Sete and our first stop was Iles du Frioul, these are two islands connected by a causeway plus the small island of If to the west facing directly on to the port of Marseille.

We anchored at Harvre de Morgiret on the western side which has plenty of space. The water was warm and crystal clear. We both swam before heading to Port du Frioul to find some cold beer. One of the big problems my boat had was a lack of a fridge and, although we kept stocking up with ice, warm beer was a constant concern. Port du Frioul is probably hell during the day thanks to endless tripping boats dumping fleshy cargoes on its shores. By evening though, it’s just the yachts left and the bars were sleepy and offering suitably desultory service that made you 100% certain you were in France. Tom needed cigarettes and managed to buy some at a vastly

inflated rate. He duly smoked one and felt like he wanted to die. I think a few nights sleeping on the cockpit bench and being flayed alive by the sun each day were taking their toll.

He looked like he was part some kind of government health campaign extolling the evils of smoking.

The next day we headed further west into the calanques, passing close by the Chateau d’If, an imposing fort built between 1529 and 1533. It is here where Dumas imprisoned his fictional hero Edmond Dantes in the Count of Monte Cristo and from whence he made his dramatic escape by posing as a corpse. We put our rudder to the islands and headed west into a new domain; an alien world of towering jagged peaks and glowing white crumbling cliffs shooting up vertically from the sea and clad with dark green scrubby maquis. This is a national park and there are very few settlements as, historically, there were issues with water supply that left the area the domain of goatherds and the odd fisherman. We stopped for the night at the calanque de Marseilleveyre, a shallow, open calanque with good views across to the spectacular towering islands of Jaire and Jaron to the south. After a

ABOVE LEFT the Iles du Frioul with the Chateau d’If to the right ABOVE RIGHT A snug mooring for the boat at Port Miou BELOW LEFT Anchored off Marseilleveyre BELOW RIGHT We could have any dish we liked as long as it was spaghetti

swim we headed ashore as the shadows lengthened to enquire about cold beer. This was available at a very ramshackle bar located on the beach.

The staff eyed us unlovingly as we had a definite air of the naufrage about us. Tom had shaved off his beard but retained a fairly loathsome moustache which might have explained their suspicious demeanour. We were told by a villainous looking barman that food was being served and you could have anything you wanted as long as it was spaghetti. We opted for spaghetti.

The following day we headed off at a leisurely pace for the iconic Port Miou the narrowest and most defined calanque along the route which provides extremely good shelter and even a marina within. We had good reasons for doing this as, once more, we were short of both beer and ice.

We arrived after a very docile sail and picked up a mooring buoy then long lining the stern to a mooring ring on the shore. Safely secured went in search of beer and ice.

The following day we refuelled at the pleasant town of Cassis before heading back west towards Marseille hugging the coast in search of a suitable anchorage. There were reports of bit of weather coming in

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Cruising - Provence’s South Coast Calanques

Top anchorages in association with Navily Harvre de Morgiret 43° 16’ 57” N, 5° 18’ 11” E Probably the most comfortable night we had. The sand bottom made for good holding (pictured above).

Protection: N through E to S Anchoring – Allowed Lines Ashore – recommended Type of seabed: Sand

Calanque de Sormiou

Calanque de Marseilleveyre 43° 12’ 33” N, 5° 22’ 19” E Quite an open calanque but good in settled weather with a nice bar (pictured below).

Protection: W through N to E Anchoring – Allowed Lines Ashore – Not required Type of seabed: Rock

43° 12’ 31” N, 5° 25’ 30” E Spectacular calanque with small port at head. Very deep though. We rolled our deadeyes out here though with only a minor swell (pictured below).

Protection: W through SW through N to E Anchoring – Allowed Lines Ashore – Not required Type of seabed: Sand and weed

Calanque de Monasterio 43° 10’ 46” N, 5° 23’ 7” E Pulled in for a lunchtime stop. Holding good but overcrowded. Looked nice in the evening with a spectacular backdrop of Ile Riou (pictured below).

Protection: W through SE - SW Anchoring – Allowed Lines Ashore – Possible Type of seabed: Sand

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ABOVE The Calanque de Sormiou prior to the breeze picking up BELOW R IGHT The author enjoying some moules frites

from the south and it wasn’t clear where we would find decent shelter.

We settled on the stunning Calanque de Sormiou, sailed in and dropped the hook. Things were pretty calm and we just had to hope it stayed that way. As Heikell noted ‘the bay is exposed to wind and swell from almost any direction’. But really, we reasoned, how bad could it be?

A rough night

Pretty bad. There wasn’t either much wind or swell but what there was came directly into the calanque.

The F3-4 breeze wasn’t really the problem; it was the chop which swirled around the calanque and in turn seemed to amplify and confuse things further. By 2am the whole thing was an absolute maelstrom; Tom was repeatedly thrown from his cockpit bench seat/bed and spent a most uncomfortable night beneath the stars and wind which screeched balefully in the rigging.

By dawn we desperately needed to leave and find some flat water. We squared away before the fresh breeze in fine style fortified by strong coffee.

Bright sunshine and a brisk breeze completed our reveille and soon we were having fun. The boat was

a handful as the outer jib wasn’t set and the helm was therefore a fight.

Nevertheless I opted to cut back toward Marseille between Ile Maire and Cap Croisette. Heikell counselled against this and cutting through the narrow gap was tight but worth it because once we were through the channel we turned towards Marseille and enjoyed a magnificent beam reach. The water was flat and he breeze was strong and steady. The boat started to realise her potential. The stern forced down until it was nearly level with the water at these speeds drastically lengthening the waterline and also put you entirely at one with the elements. The boat began to fly and made a magnificent sight tearing into Marseille, rigging bar taut and red sails stretched to bursting. It was a joyous, exhilarating moment.

Ruination sets in

By now Tom and I were ruined by many days anchoring, washing in salt water and drinking beer so we opted to stop in Marseille. It had just been put on some sort of red alert as a Covid hotspot, so there was one more reason to visit. I have to say that it’s one of the finest harbours to visit as a yachtsman. All too

ABOVE Entering the harbour in Marseille BELOW CENTRE Marseille vieux port BELOW RIGHT Black Joke in La Redonne toward the end of the trip

frequently, sailors are shoved in some forgotten corner of a port but in Marseille you enter through the iconic gateway with the twin fortresses and there you are in the heart of the old city. What’s more, I was charged a mere 15 Euro for it, which I thought was pretty damned exceptional. We were placed right outside the harbourmaster’s office and we were able to watch this extraordinary man in action; his job consisted of eating, drinking pastis and bellowing jocular insults at his mates in passing tripper boats.

Amazing. We decided we’d better follow suit and sallied out to sample a few cool glasses of pastis in the many watering holes dotted around the city, before collapsing into a profound sleep. Tom awoke the next day at about 7am to witness the harbourmaster sipping his first pastis of the day. We left and beat back up the coast toward Sete in a fickle breeze which suddenly turned into a fierce F4/5 almost at the flick of a switch. Tom somehow managed to sleep as we beat into the teeth of this ferocious wind and, after many hours of slowly not getting very far I pulled into the very charming port of La Redonne some way to the west of

Marseille. The following morning we woke very early and headed onwards. By mid afternoon we were drifting lazily past the mouth of the Rhone and I nearly grounded the boat through sheer carelessness.

There was something rather hypnotic and surreal about it all that lulled me into a strange dreamy state; dragonflies flew around and in the heat of the day, navigating seemed a bit superfluous. We opted for one more stop at St Maries sur Mer. We were both mildly diverted by the story that the town was founded when Mary Magdalen and the sister of the Virgin Mary turned up here in a boat which appeared to be shaped like a biscuit. Or at least they later started making biscuits that were shaped like the boat. Anyway, it was all the bait we needed and we pulled in. Well, I have to say it was hell. The town was so full of tourists it made my head swim. I realised that exhaustion was setting in and that I was getting The Fear. This was exacerbated by an event at the bullring that promised the spectacle of live bulls jumping over clowns in a swimming pool. It was all too much.

We arrived back in Sete the following day and sought out a warm shower.

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Interview - Tristan Gooley

Author Tristan Gooley has made a name for himself as the Natural Navigator. He discusses his life long passion for sailing and how it has helped to shape his career path

T

ristan Gooley is on the path to becoming a national treasure. What started as a somewhat offbeat idea to harness his passion for using nature itself to help you to navigate has snowballed into a strong following and ensured that books such as How to Read Water and The Natural Navigator were big hits. Now Tristan is back with a new book; The Secret World of Weather.

As you might imagine, it’s a book that chimes strongly for all sailors and it is therefore no surprise that Tristan is himself as keen sailor and this helped shape his course from adventurer and wanderer to successful author.

“There was a moment of enlightenment in my childhood when we went to Bembridge for a holiday and my mum enrolled me in a RYA dinghy sailing course,” Tristan reflects: “I really wasn’t all that keen to take part and I had to be talked in to it. Things like that are quite

Back to nature daunting at a young age. Anyway, of course it was fantastic. At the end of the week we were given a day which was essentially. ‘free sail’ day and my instructor came up to me and asked me where I wanted to go. That was when the penny really dropped for me as I realised that sailing had given me the chance to go wherever I wanted. Over the years I then went through all the RYA hoops from Day Skipper through to Yachtmaster Ocean and then on to the art of navigation.

ABOVE Tristan plotting a course to another adventure BELOW A challenging sailing trip into the Arctic Circle

Wanderlust

“After that I embarked on all sorts of adventures. I was at university in Newcastle studying Politics and History but I was far from a model student and, although I somehow scraped a degree I spent most of my time putting together a student magazine and I probably learnt more from that.

“Meantime every holiday I was planning adventures – for example in my first summer holiday of university I told all of my friends and classmates that I was going off to climb Kilimanjaro and spent a good deal of time trying to persuade them to come – which of course, they didn’t – so I went off and did it on my own.

“To be honest, a lot of these early adventures were fuelled by a lethal mix of testosterone and adrenaline.

“For example, I spent a memorably awful time lost at the top of a volcanic mountain in Indonesia and must have come close to dying.

“In time I came to realise that the size of the adventure was not necessarily the key.”

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Interview - Tristan Gooley

Prior to 2008 Tristan professes to a somewhat chequered career, taking in everything from working in the post office to a bit of time in the travel industry. “All the time though, I’d just be thinking of my next adventure, He reflects: “I was just too restless. Yet navigation was always my passion; be it sailing, flying or mountain climbing. It was the shaping of these journeys that fascinated me.

“When I was younger, I remember thinking that perhaps now was the time to take up, say, sailing instructing or becoming a professional pilot and, I remember, I felt bereft and it was at that moment that I realised that my love was for navigation, not one particular discipline, and if I gave up one aspect of this obsession, I lost something.”

Natural navigation

“I was always aware that if you specialised in something, the chances were that you would be able to make a living out of it. I wanted to be the best at navigation and that was my aim. In 2008, I had a little bit of money and I decided to risk it on setting up The Natural Navigator.

Given that I had spent much of my youth asking people to come on adventures and they generally said ‘no’ I did not expect a huge uptake but, in fact, there was evidently a huge gap in the market because it seemed to chime with a lot o people.

“After that, the BBC got involved and things just took off from there.”

In terms of sailing adventures,

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there have been many over the years.

“I suppose the singlehanded crossing of the Atlantic was a big one and it was at that moment, having also completed a single handed crossing of the Atlantic in a light aircraft, that I felt like I could do whatever I wished. Not to show other people, but just for myself.

“Perhaps the most interesting was a trip I took from Orkney to Greenland researching the navigational methods of the Vikings who, for example, used to navigate to Iceland to Greenland by sailing south and gauging how many birds there were about. The idea that you can navigate by counting birds fascinated me.”

“In terms of navigational heroes, I have a few. Captain Cook is probably a big one. We all know that most of our heroes are flawed but Cook was not only a superb navigator but even his interaction with the south sea islanders seems ahead of his time.

“Aside from that, Francis Chichester was a huge inspiration; his account of taking a fix with a sextant while flying solo in a light aircraft was thoroughly inspiring.

“Other than that, a chap called Harold Gatty is a big inspiration.”

Blame it on the weatherman

Speaking of his new book, Tristan reflects: “All of my work is about outdoor clues and signs. The secret life of water has a lot of focus on clouds and localised microclimates.

For example, we are dominated by

ABOVE In action aboard his Saffier 26 in Chichester

weather forecasts that look at the effects of huge pressure systems but I want to look at localised conditions and how they can completely change the weather.

“With sailing, I think it’s very important to see if you’re environment will help you before you turn to the technology. As an example, the Pacific Islanders could see that land was over the horizon many miles before it came into sight thanks to cloud formations.”

These days Tristan’s horizons have narrowed somewhat and sailing trips are generally limited to mucking about in Chichester Harbour. His eyes light up when we discuss his latest yacht: “I used to have a Contessa 26 but is switched it for a Saffier 26 which is a superb daysailer.

It’s a great boat.

“In every area of life someone comes along at some point with a clean slate and redefines what is already there. That’s what Saffier has done with the 26.”

Tristan remains realistic about the future of navigation too: “Look, the rise of GPS is unstoppable and, believe me, if I’m late for a meeting in central London, I’m not looking at the clouds to find my way, I’m using my phone’s GPS like the rest of us.

“Yet I think there is a human habit that, just at the point when we have nearly ditched something for good, we realise how precious it is.

“Modern navigation is a bit like fast food. If you are looking for the most efficient way of getting some calories inside you then it probably is a McDonalds but it’s not necessarily the best or most satisfying.”

Tristan draws the analogy between TV and theatre, pointing out that even though TV has many advantages over theatre, the latter continues to exist and flourish. “I’m the theatre buff of the navigation world I guess!”

The Secret World of Weather by Tristan Gooley is published on 8th April by Sceptre, priced at £20.00 hardback.

Uncorrected proof copy not for quotation or resale

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

79

Round the Island Race

Rupert Holmes looks at how to have the best possible day racing round the Isle of Wight

Racing Round the Island

T

he Round the Island Race has long been one of the UK’s stand-out sporting events and is likely to be one of the biggest mass participation events since the first lockdown in March 2020. This year competitors will join an estimated 500,000 sailors and 70,000 boats that have competed in the race over the past 90 years. It’s a fantastic spectacle that’s amazing to be part of. Despite Covid, this year promises to be no exception.

How can you get the most out of your time on the water? The answers to this question are much the same whether you’re a semi-professional team aiming to lift the event’s main prize, the Gold Roman Bowl, or a family crew competing for the first time in a modest cruising boat.

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY JUNE2021 2021

The race itself is not the day to try new boat handling new tricks for the first time, so it’s always worth setting up for the event a day or two in advance. This gives scope for a practice session the day before to cover key manoeuvres.

This is also a good time to familiarise yourself with the start line, which is more than a mile long and has a strong cross tide. On the Thursday or Friday evening, at a

ABOVE The Needles, arguably the trickiest part of the course BELOW Preparing for the race

similar state of tide to your start time, identify the transits and sail along the line heading offshore from Cowes. This will help give a feel for the strength of the tidal stream you will need to allow for, and the variations in the flow at different points on the line.

If you’re around early you’ll also be part of the scene in Cowes that will be ramping up ahead of the race.

On the afternoon of Thursday July 1, for instance, five ocean rowing crews will set off from the RYS start line to circumnavigate the Isle of Wight.

The following day a team of kitesurfers will attempt to break the record for rounding the Island under sail.

Getting the basics right This is a race to keep your head out of the boat and focus on doing the

essentials as well as possible.

Whether you’re an Olympian or a newcomer the complexity of yacht racing makes it hard to get all the basics right. Teams at all levels fail on this count, especially if they get so wrapped up in fine tuning and tweaking that they fail to take account of the ever changing big picture scenarios.

Getting the fundamentals right is also the route to a happy day on the water, and can give those who are new to the race a chance to bag an impressive result. Indeed, a well prepared cruising boat that sails a brisk race, making use of the key gains available around the course, while avoiding the many timeabsorbing pitfalls, can achieve very satisfying results.

The three over-arching aims for a good result are to stay in the best tide, maintain a lane of clear air that’s undisturbed by boats to windward, and stay out of trouble. The first two are obvious and sound simple, yet it’s not easy to achieve both among more than 1,000 other boats. This makes it essential to maintain situational awareness, looking behind as well as ahead.

Of course, the density of traffic also makes a sharp lookout imperative, even if you are stand-on vessel. It may seem exciting to yell ‘Starboard!’ at a bunch of port tack boats whose crews aren’t accustomed to sailing in such close-quarters situations. However, the fastest boats are those that keep a close eye open for trouble and sail quickly around it – getting embroiled in a problem can cost far more than a neatly-executed duck.

If the course change will involve bearing away around the stern of another vessel be prepared to ease sheets in good time, especially when

well powered up. There are times that boats with big over-lapping genoas may need the headsail sheet eased to answer the helm smartly.

To avoid dirty air it’s invaluable to be able to select a high mode to squeeze up above another boat, or a low mode to foot fast and low to a position few lengths to leeward and out of the worst wind shadow, is essential. Expert crews should be able to do this will little or no impact on VMG, but it’s a skill that’s always worth practicing.

Tightly packed groups of boats always move slowly, so the extra distance required to sail around them pays off more often than not.

This applies on the start line, at the

ABOVE LEFT The start of the race ABOVE RIGHT Getting the fundamentals right is also the route to a happy day on the water

corners of the island and anywhere else a group of boats may form, including the approach to the finish.

The perennially successful Folkboats tend to be exceptionally good at this. On a day with a westerly breeze it’s impressive and instructive to see them picking an efficient route between groups of much larger cruising yachts as they tack up the eastern Solent towards the finish.

Changing conditions

The wind strength and direction changes a lot as you transition between different sections of the course, so you have to think ahead and be prepared to keep changing gear. Hurst Narrows and the corner at

A day for everyone The ethos of a ‘Race for All’ is extended this year with the inaugural Windeler Cup. This is a race for smaller keelboats that will set sail after the main fleet departs from Cowes. The idea is it enables boats including the Daring, Dragon, Etchells, Flying Fifteen, Mermaid, Redwing, Sunbeam, Swallow, Sonar, Squib, RS Elite, Victory and XOD classes to join in the fun with an exciting long-distance Solent Race.

Many years ago some of these classes competed in the Round the Island Race itself, but progressively tighter safety regulation expectations, many of which are determined at an international level, mean they have gradually been excluded.

favourable tides to return along Cowes beach and finish back on the RYS line.

It’s named in honour of Major Cyril Windeler, who in 1931 decided decided there needed to be an opportunity for owners of smaller yachts to enjoy a ‘bigger than usual’ competition. He donated the Gold Roman Bowl that’s awarded to the winner of the Round the Island Race and has become one of the most coveted trophies in the world of sailing. Windeler won it himself in 1939 in his 7 Ton cutter Kaliste.

The Windeler Cup race will start from the Royal Yacht Squadron line around 0830, before following a course towards Hurst Narrows and around west Solent marks. It will then take advantage of

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Round the Island Race

Key information the Needles are arguably the trickiest sections of the course. Southwest and westerly winds are funnelled here, so will be stronger than in the western Solent, while the faster current will also increase the effective wind speed. If you’re consistently overpowered in a westerly breeze after Newtown Creek it’s therefore worth depowering the sail plan before the tide sweeps you rapidly past Yarmouth.

West of Yarmouth the best of the favourable tidal stream follows a line from Sconce north cardinal buoy to just off Hurst Castle, and then along the southern edge of the Shingles Bank on the north side of the Needles Channel. But it’s a mistake to stick to close to the bank for too long as it’s easy to misjudge the tidal layline and overstand the Needles.

Hundreds of boats lose out every year for this reason.

Don’t make a last-minute decision

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

to cut inside the Varvassi. There’s only a 60m wide passage between this and Goose Rock, with a very strong cross tide sweeping onto the wreck. The only times I’ve taken the inside route I’ve been out in a RIB at low water springs the week before to re-acquaint myself with the route, both visually and on a chartplotter.

Even then it’s essential to be set up on a safe line well in advance and have no other boats around that will limit your scope to manoeuvre. For most sailing inside the wreck is a huge risk for a relatively small gain and nine times out of ten I go outside. The three separate sections of the wreck span a distance of only 250m, yet many boats sail well outside this point, which is extremely slow if the tide is adverse when you change course towards St Catherine’s Point.

In strong breezes between southwest and north-west the section from

When: Saturday July 3, 2021 Where: Organised by the Island SC, using the RYS start line Distance: 50 nautical miles First start: 0630 Last start: 0820 (approximately) Time limit: 2200 Late entry until 1200 Wednesday June 30 More info, Covid guidance and first timers’ guide: www. roundtheisland.org.uk The start is timed to give all classes the maximum chance of getting past the tidal gate at the Needles

BELOW LEFT St Catherine’s Point BELOW RIGHT Sailing down the south side of the Isle of Wight

the approach to St Catherine’s Point to Dunnose is usually the windiest part of the course. In addition to the acceleration zone at the headland, in westerly air flows there are also steep wind against tide seas in the tidal races here.

The race often takes longer than

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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Round the Island Race

expected – although the big raceboats may be finished in four to six hours, the bulk of the fleet frequently doesn’t get in until mid to late afternoon. You therefore need to plan to contend with the coldest part of the day at dawn, the possibility of relentless afternoon sun, and the potential for big seas. This means being equipped for all eventualities, including sun protection, foul weather gear and warm clothes.

Plenty of pre-prepared food and non-alcoholic drinks are also essential.

Immediately after Dunnose there’s often a relatively calm section before another acceleration zone in the northern section of Sandown Bay. By

this stage you’re likely to be starting to feel tired, so if you’ve not already done so it’s a good time to shuffle crew positions and have a change of driver. In westerly winds it’s also an ideal time for lunch, although in easterlies an early lunch in the sheltered water before reaching St Catherines makes more sense.

Don’t be complacent about Bembridge Ledge – the outer edge of the rocks are very steep to, so the depth sounder will give precious little warning ahead of grounding here. After changing course towards the Forts be prepared for an increase of south west and westerly winds in the acceleration zone associated with the low-lying land around Bembridge

Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust This year’s race will be an important event for the event’s official charity – it marks the first opportunity the Trust has had to get young people on the water since 2019. CEO Frank Fletcher says: “We’re so grateful to be the official race charity again and it’s great to have a boat entered.” The organisation is using it as a pre-season ‘test event’ for the extra safety and risk management controls needed ahead of a sailing tour across the UK this summer for young people living through and beyond cancer.

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

ABOVE View towards Bembridge BELOW RIGHT Sailing past No Man’s Land Fort

Harbour.

Ryde Sands has the potential to be dangerous in stiff onshore winds. If you’re approaching against the tide keeping inshore is obviously beneficial, but don’t push your luck.

This is particularly important near the western most of the two red posts that marks the north-east corner of the sands. Like all of the northern edge it shelves very steeply here, so again the depth sounder gives very little warning before grounding.

The approach to the finish is often one of the most crowded parts of the course and things can happen very fast here. Double check the sailing instructions so that you’re certain which of the two finish lines is used for your class. Equally, if you don’t have them rigged already, don’t forget to display sail numbers on the guardrails of the appropriate side of the boat.

When you cross the line note your finish time and the sail number of the boats immediately ahead and behind. And don’t forget to submit the declaration before having a well-earned drink.

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

85

How to Win ~ Mastering the weather

Mastering the weather Well, you know what they say, you cannot control the weather… but you can take advantage of it, even if it is just to ensure that you are more psychologically prepared than your rivals. Jon Emmett explains all

B

asic understanding of weather is so important whether you are a weekend warrior or an Olympic campaigner.

So first we need to understand some basic terminology: Stability is about thermal mixing, whether the wind is going up and down. This is not the same as a shift y wind. The wind can be very stable (no vertical mixing) and change direction a lot or can be very unstable (lots of vertical mixing) and come from the same direction all day. More on this later.

Pressure is about an area on the water where there is more or less wind, for example behind a large building there may always be less wind because the wind rises to go over the building or goes around it (Fig 1). The is why you never want to set a racecourse / windward mark close and directly behind a very tall land mass because the wind will seem to come from every direction with huge differences in pressure across the course. The thing which is easy to forget is there is also less wind just in front of the building / land mass where the wind rises to go over it.

There may always be more pressure between two hills (Fig 2) because it takes less energy to go around the hills than over. Pressure does not move: it is an area of wind (more wind or less wind) dictated by topography. Gusts on the other hand move down the course, so you can position yourself so that they are “coming to you”.

If wind were a person, then they would be lazy. Like water, wind chooses the path of least resistance which like rivers is the reason that wind bends. So, before we look at the general rules that we are taught in many textbooks we need to consider what sort of day it is.

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Fig 1

Fig 2

On a cold day.

The wind tends to be more stable. There is little heating and often there is thick low-level cloud which blocks the sun and means the wind doesn’t travel up and down much. Think UK South coast in a north easterly breeze as a good example but of course the wind could come from any direction: Offshore breeze

There are faster and more gusts and shifts by the land.

Take the shifts and the pressure but be careful to be in the pressure before tacking / gybing because the pressure won’t move.

On a warm day:

The sun is shining and now the wind is more unstable due to heating. Like water when hot, wind behaves differently. A test you can do for yourself is close your eyes and listen to someone pouring boiling water into a glass and pouring ice cold water into a glass.

You can even hear the difference! It is the same with wind, cold wind you can consider heavy and less likely to rise. Remember a day could be cold in the morning and a warm day in the afternoon, these are the days to get your head out of the boat around midday.

Offshore breeze

Top tip; the windier it is the stronger friction and mechanical turbulence means the gusts/shifts move more, so you don’t have to sail so far into gusts before tacking or gybing.

Gusts will be fast moving so reward “snappy sailing” (be quick to react).

Land on the left

Land on the right

Cold land means more friction over the land. So, the wind near the land is generally left but also lighter and more unstable because even on a cold day the land will be warmer than the sea.

Slightly offshore there will be more pressure.

Again, more friction on the land, and wind doesn’t like friction so less wind close to the land. Wind will also be more stable as you go slightly offshore.

If you have large black clouds, they will be dropping wind and rain. The closer you are to the clouds the sooner you reach these gusts.

With the warmer wind expect bigger areas of pressure and maybe less wind if you go too far offshore.

Land on the left

Now we have vertical mixing and the classic conditions that most textbooks talk about is correct. The warm land brings the stronger winds down to the surface because of the vertical mixing so more pressure on the left near the land.

Land on the right

We are now on the edge of having a sea breeze and depending upon the temperature, this would turn the wind to the left. Expect less wind close to the land, again like the textbooks.

If the gradient wind is onshore, then it is a very open sector, but we need to remember that the wind does lift up and over high land. So, like a reverse wind shadow effect there is less wind just under tall buildings / land masses as we looked at earlier. So, all things being equal head offshore (this article only deals with wind, not current!)

Large white clouds are formed over the water where the wind is going vertically up, so there will be less wind under these large white clouds…. Keep away from them!

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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How to Win ~ Mastering the weather

On a sea breeze day: When talking about this we have some key ideas. Cloud cover forms a blanket over the land, so a cloudy night will keep the land warm, whereas a blue and cloudless sky you will feel the night-time temperature drop very quickly! Often in the morning you will have a cool, calm day before the day heats up. There may be a good gradient breeze in the upper levels but initially with no mixing, no wind at sea level. On such days you see no wind on the water initially but the clouds above are moving fast.

Remember temperature of the land is more important than friction, and at first we have cool air higher up that comes down when the warm air rises.

The more heat a land type can absorb the bigger the temperature difference between land and sea and therefore better the sea breeze (think sand is good at heating up, whereas forested areas don’t heat up because the trees absorb the sunshine energy). A good indicator of sea breeze is tall, clearly defined clouds forming over the land and clear blue sky over the sea.

In essence we end up with puff y conditions with warm land which is a factor of the wind’s vertical stability.

This means gusts rather than pressure. The stronger the wind the more any mechanical friction is noticed, wind going around land masses and buildings (in light winds the wind may not be able to pass

around). The reason we have weather in the first place is because the earth is hot around the middle and cold at the top and bottom and we get pressure systems forming where the hot and cold meet. Heating is often the most important factor in weather.

Sea breeze is often very over simplified, and it will nearly always have an effect (whether to increase or decrease the wind you are sailing in or subtly alter its direction) although this can be masked. Therefore, it is important to understand the “true sea breeze” direction for any venue.

This will be relative to the main land mass, for example a coastline with runs east and west, rather than the angle of the specific bay you are sailing in, which could face east or west. Maybe time to get out google maps...

Straight Offshore breeze

Wind gradually turns offshore. If the gradient is weak you may still have offshore wind close to land and sea breeze further out.

Left diagonal offshore breeze (north westerly on the South coast of the UK)

This is best gradient wind direction for a good afternoon sea breeze. Wind gradually turns to the left as it is established (south west on the South Coast of the UK). Then mid-afternoon you have a persistent right shift for the rest of the day (back towards the gradient wind direction). So mid-right of the racecourse usually pays.

Right diagonal offshore breeze (north easterly on the South coast of the UK)

Here the sea breeze is opposing the gradient wind. So initially the wind is calm close to land until it fills in and then slowly veers.

An exception to this is if the gradient is strong then you can get a south easterly, rather than a “true sea breeze”. The stronger the sea breeze the more likely it will dominate and will try and turn to the right, whereas the gradient is pulling the wind back to the left… think how much heating we have had and how strong is the gradient?

Onshore gradient winds fight the formation of sea breeze so you can sometimes end up with a gradient wind in the morning and evening and no wind during the afternoon.

Unless there is enough heating to overcome the gradient and produce a sea breeze. Alternatively with a very strong gradient and little heating means the gradient wind remains and the sea breeze just However, Torbay for example faces east…. decreases the wind mid-afternoon.

The UK South Coastline is approximately running East to West and favours a true sea breeze direction of south westerly.

Race day – what do we need to do to win races?

We all have our favourite style of sailing and the best sailors in our sport can excel regardless of the conditions, they have all the tools in the toolbox!

On extremely strong winds days it is about boat speed, boat handling and keeping it simple (any shifts and gusts will become very obvious) but most of the time it is about choosing your race strategy depending on what time of day it is.

Good weather forecasting is of course vital, and the weather models are now so much better than they were 30 years ago, but nothing beats the “nowcast” so think about what to expect and then get your head out of the boat on the racecourse and think about what is really happening!

88

Light winds

Very small differences in wind speed make a big difference to hull speed. So, pressure is king. Be bold and play the favoured side. Sometimes the gusts will come both sides and the middle misses out!

Medium winds

Assuming stable wind then this is just basic sailing. Find a good lane, sail fast and in phase with the shifts. Being positioned roughly in the middle of the fleet is safest.

Unstable winds

Ignore what is going on for the fleet. Focus on the gust/pressure/shift around you. Get your head out of the boat.

JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

Considering an Electric Outboard?

“Using a well-engineered electric outboard has been a revelation.’’

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Quiet, Convenient, Reliable and Easy-to-Use In the popular 2-4hp category, the latest electric outboards – with their integral and rechargeable lithium batteries – have transformed the market, rendering petrol motors all-but obsolete. Advantages include: From £1650 Epropulsion Spirit PLUS 1276Wh battery Faster to charge Battery floats if dropped Foldable tiller means only one cable to connect › Three shaft length options › Direct drive (no gearbox) › › › ›

› Ease of Use Switch on, twist the tiller handles, go. Almost anybody can do it; no experience, strength or mechanical knowledge is needed. › Ease of Handling The batteries are removable, and the “pass up and down” weight (the shaft/motor assembly) is then 10kg or less. › Ease of Storage These electric motors divide into components, don’t leak oil or petrol, and don’t mind which way up they’re stored. › Quietness & Smoothness Electric motors are a delight to use.

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› Power Forget slow speed “trolling motors”, these 1kW electrics have huge torque (more like a 3hp petrol). › Range There are many variables, but most users achieve at least 9 to 10 nautical miles per charge, at 4 to 5 knots (2.5m inflatable dinghy).

Much more if you slow down a little. › Reliability Many outboard motors don’t get used very often, and small petrol motors hate this. Electric outboards have fewer parts in general, and in particular there’s no carburettor to “gum up”.

Of course, it’s not all perfect. The range may still not be enough for some users.

And they’re undeniably More Expensive than petrol outboards, mostly because lithium batteries are expensive. But that extra upfront cost is largely offset by their Lower Lifetime Running Costs, including (almost) No Servicing.

NESTAWAY BOATS is the UK’s number one retailer for both Torqeedo AND Epropulsion. You can find out more on our website, and we are always happy to discuss further – and offer advice – by email or phone. If you’d like to see them before making a purchase, we are based in Christchurch, Dorset (UK).

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

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J/112E GRAND PRIX | EX DAVANTI TYRES The J/112E was conceived by J/Boats as a versatile cruiser racer and it won many plaudits when first launched. This particular example, ex Davanti Tyres won her class in the 2017 Round the Island race. This is the Grand Prix version with lead IRC optimized keel without bulb, hydraulic mast jack and high modulus carbon mast and boom. The yacht benefits form a very generous North Sails wardrobe, recently fitted B&G autopilot, only 61 hours on the engine, asymmetric spinnaker set up with retractable carbon pole in watertight box plus recently installed bobstay for the Code 0.

LOA: 36’ (11m) Beam: 11’7” (3.58m) Standard Draft: 6’90” (2.1m) Displacement 11,300lbs (5,125kg) Engine 30hp Year: 2016 Cabins: 2 Lying: Hamble keyyachting.com craftinsure quote: £570

Insure your yacht with Craftinsure - boat insurance at the touch of a button.

Get a quote online or call today: craftinsure.com; 0345 2607 888 JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

91

Shortlist | Ratchet Blocks

SHORTLIST

MORE SHORTLISTS We keep this and similar lists bang up to date online at sailingtoday.co.uk

RATCHET BLOCKS Allen Pro Ratchet 50

Barton Ratchet Block

Allens new X2 pawl system incorporates two pawls to ensures that the load is evenly shared, this means that the block will withstand higher working loads, increasing both the reliability and longevity. It also features the patented swivel head lock system which can be fixed in position, allowing for more setup options. The blocks can easily be switched on or off, even under load.

The new Barton Ratchet Block is designed to be used on mainsheet systems and spinnaker sheets on dinghies and keelboats, and for small yachts up to 30 feet. Combining high performance engineering and contemporary design, the 55mm ratchet block is the first in a planned range of sizes, it also offers a stainless steel lever that locks the swivel head if desired.

 £43  allenbrothers.co.uk

 £60 (55mm)  bartonmarine.com

Harken T2 Soft-Attach Ratchamatic Carbo

Karver KBOw Switch Ratchet Block

A long name for a clever range of blocks.

Ratchamatic is Harken’s newest block to feature their T2 line of styling and soft-attachment system.

The weight of this high-strength block is only a few ounces. Use for mainsheet and spinnaker systems on beachcats, dinghies, and sportboats.

A block which can ratchet in either direction.

Never mind which way you pass the line through the block: it’s always the right way! Attached through the centre, the Karver ratchet block is the only block which boasts this feature.

 £67 (40mm) - £81 (57mm)  harken.co.uk

92

 £88 (55mm)  karver-systems.com

Lewmar Control single ratchet block

Ronstan Series 40 ratchet

Ideal for use with hand-held loads, Lewmar’s Control Blocks feature lightweight, performance load-bearing capacity and a stainless steel central race and balls provide a weight advantage. The open design allows sand and salt to be flushed out easily, keeping maintenance simple.

Ronstan is the only company that offers a 40mm ratchet block with both auto and manual engagement models.

With automatic models, the ratchet mechanism engages when load is applied, but switches off when it’s released.

The sophisticated sheave features Ronstan’s cross-hole geometry and delivers up to 14:1 holding power, which Ronstan claims is almost double that of competitors.

 £78 (60mm)  lewmar.com

 £58.95 (40mm)  Ronstan.com

RWO 45 Macro Ratchet

Selden ARB 45 automatic ratchet blocks

Series 45 stainless steel ball bearing ratchet single swivel and becket starboard handed block, maximium line size 10mm, maximium working load 225kgs. This ball bearing block is ideal for dinghies, spotsboats and small yachts. It has a mximum working load of 900kg and a maximum line diameter of 10mm.

Selden’s automatic ratchet blocks are ideal for dinghy mainsheets or spinnaker sheets.

The sheave automatically changes from free-turning to ratchet when the load increases. The sailor decides when the automatic ratchet kicks in as the switch-over point is set using an allen key to adjust a screw inside the sheave.

 £42.95  rwo-marine.com

 £63.65 (45mm)  seldenmast.com

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Dubarry for Tom Leading irish solo offshore sailor Tom Dolan has extended his partnership with Dubarry, we are told, and we need no better excuse to feature a pair of the brand’s Palma sailing trainers, probably not what Tom wears offshore, but great for inshore summer racing. Unisex, lightweight, sporty, colourful, grippy. We like.  £129  dubarry.com

Stroodles pasta straws For everyone who wants to help clear the oceans of plastic, stopping using plastic straws has been part of the deal. But paper straws can mar your drinking experience. Welcome to pasta straws, made

by British company Stroodles and fast becoming THE way to stir your cocktail, be it in a London club or yacht cockpit. Stroodles is also partnering with Clean Ocean Sailing to organise a competition to draw up a sail design for the former fishing boat Annette. Your design should “reimagine a more sustainable future and an ocean free from plastic pollutants”. Enter via the Stroodles website.

LAUNCHED THE BEST NEW KIT

 Try a starter pack of Stroodles for £2.99  stroodles.co.uk

Zhik UV t-shirts Another good’un from Zhik, who recognise that the importance of protecting your skin from harmful UV, even in cloudy conditions, is well understood in the southern hemisphere yet less so in the northern hemisphere. Their new UVActive range of shirts has fabric that is said to block out 99.5% of UVA and UVB even when the tops are wet, which far exceeds the exacting UPF 50+ rating.

Available in long sleeve and short sleeve, using a fine gauge, soft interlock weave.  From £34.95  Zhik.com

The shirt that says it We’ve all been there. Sometimes an apology is necessary.  £18  teepublic.com

Heads whale Made from 29 recycled PET bottles, Moby is very in tune with the times and is designed to keep your loo roll dry as he hangs in your heads compartment.  £30  redcandy.co.uk

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

Barton white Quickcleat Requested by customers, this white version of Barton Marine’s popular Quick Cleat is said to hold lines up to 10mm and loads up to 70kg – and will blend in nicely on a white gelcoat hull. Quick Cleats are easy to use: rotate the lever on top, insert the line and release the lever to secure the rope. Great for boats, tenders, dock lines, for new crew members who can’t do a round turn and two half hitches – the list goes on.

Wallpaper by a skipper North Norfolk skipper Zoe Dunford has designed this nautical wallpaper to feature boats that she sails herself, from Wells-next-the-Sea. It also comes in white on a blue background. Her new wallpaper and fabrics business is called Collingwood Coastal, after a family connection to Admiral Lord Collingwood, who took over command of the British fleet when Nelson was shot during the Battle of Trafalgar.

From £16.95 for a pair

Bartonmarine.com

£59.50 for a 52cm x 10m roll

collingwoodcoastal.com

Endurance Logbook by Tom Cunliffe Designed with our columnist Tom, who is also, among other things, a Fellow of the Royal Institute for Navigation, the Endurance is bound in tough royal blue English buckram, printed on heavyweight paper and lined with a hand-marbled design. It is section-sewn by hand to fold flat on your chart table. The left page is dedicated to navigation data, while the right page is feint-ruled for notes. £165

englishlogbook.co

Rare nautical books

Suncream for blokes

The Peter Harrington Rare Books 2021 Travel and Exploration catalogue, newly published, features plenty for yachting historians and lovers of sailing memorabilia, for example an unpublished set of journals kept by a Royal Navy midshipman during a tour of the Gulf in 1930-33, including an account of a visit to Dubai and an on-board reception for the Trucial Sheikhs, part of a broader British policy of ‘courting’ local rulers. Also available is a complete set of Cook’s accounts of his three voyages, nine volumnes dating from 1773-4.

British brand LifeJacket Skin Protection has produced an ‘SPF skincare range specifically engineered for men’, recognising that apparently two men die of skin cancer for every one woman. Their products are used by many professional sportsmen who favour the lightweight and slimline sachets or pouches in which they come, as well the non-greasy and enduring nature. Lifejacket tell us that only half of UK men (51%) consider using skin protection when it’s sunny.

Trucial Sheiks £125,000

Cook £60,000.

peterharrington.co.uk

From £8 per sachet

lifejacketskinprotection.com

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

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INTERNATIONAL 14 1266. Penultimate (old rules) boat. (Benedict IV) Not quite as fast as the latest boats, but just as exciting to sail! Several sets of sails. Combination trailer. Flat cover. £1000 Tel 07913 604 574 / (STAINES)

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DINGHIES MIRROR DINGHY 68275. Last used 10 years ago and stored in garage throughout. Includes trailer. TRADE. £400 Tel 07918 051098 / (WORCESTER PARK) STREAKER 1651 SELLING DUE TO ILLNESS. Gillard hull in very good condition, launching trolley and road trailer. £1695 Tel 07980 578405 / (SOUTHPORT) LASER PICO. 2005 Hardly used. In store since 2008. Good condition. Ready to sail.

Buyer to collect in person. £600 Tel 07585 114194 / (BATH)

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JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

SCORPION DINGHY PARTS. Everything for sale apart from hull - mast, boom, sails, rudder, centreboard, spinnaker poles, rigging and fittings, etc. Canvas cover only 3 years old. Launching trolley with removable jockey wheel. Everything in fair condition. Parts for sale separately, please apply. £20 Tel 01969 368371 / (LEYBURN)

MIRROR 14 (MARAUDER). 14 foot racing dinghy with spinnaker & trapeze. With launching trolley and boom-up cover. £200 Tel 07913 604 574 / (STAINES)

01636 707606 www.noblemarine.co.uk

Get a quote in 20 seconds On cover in 2 minutes Low on-line premiums

TIDEWAY SAILS. Tideway Sails by Jeckylls in White Terylene Main - 1 row of reefing points fitted. (No battens supplied) Genoa some staining, nylon twist Hank’s on luff Jib - brass piston Hank’s fitted to luff All in good useable condition. £100 Tel 07887 771451 / (FAREHAM)

EUROPE CLASS SAILS. Velas Pires de Lima (AP-3 layout, different shapes) 4 sails in very good condition, used 2-3 months Spanish Champion design 2014!!! £280 Tel +3466 0181999 / (SPAIN)

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MERLIN ROCKET - 3760. Winder Canterbury Tales built late 2013. Selden mast, boom and spinnaker poles with Winder pole launch and Ronstan cleats on the mast.

Rod rigging. Winder lifting rudder with carbon tiller 3 jibs, 2 mainsails,2 spinnakers all HD Sails. West Mersey road base. Lots of photos on request. £13000 Tel 07903 993588 / (CHICHESTER)

BOSTON WHALER OUTRAGE 19. 2007 Whaler, with 2019 150 Yamaha engine with 61 hours. Stainless steel propeller. Bimini cover, copper bottom, all in very good condition. Road trailer included. £32500 Tel 07899 973482 / 01202 762064 (POOLE) LASER. Full and radial rigs. Refitted 3 years ago - hardly sailed. Cover. Launching trolley. £600 Tel 01825 733089 / 07484 897661 (UCKFIELD) RS400 SAIL NUMBER 1376. Mist grey hull.

Built 2013. Very little use. Approx 15 events.

Very competitive boat. Immaculate condition. Stored indoors. Combination road base / Launching trolley. Under cover. Top cover. Padded rudder bag. All Harken fittings. Mylar radial sails. Black kite. Vynalester hull. Carbon pole. Cut thwart. Carbon tiller extension. Cost of this package new over £15,000. £5950 Tel 07721 767777 / (HOLYWOOD, NORTHERN IRELAND) 2020 CABRINHA SWITCHBLADE FX KITE. New Cabrinha 2019 Switchblade FX Kite Complete With Bar And Lines kitesurf 2020 Cabrinha Switchblade FX Kite Complete With Bar And Lines kitesurf Available Colors - Orange / Yellow / Blue Call Me +1 832 299 4636 Whatsapp +1 469 988 5877. £700 Tel 83229 94636 / (DALLAS)

MIRROR DINGHY. Mirror dinghy No.64859 for sail. Never sailed. Stored in garage since built. All parts still in original package, Stainless Steel rigging. £700 Tel 07798 828733 / (DARLINGTON)

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KEELBOATS J24 HIJINKS GBR4213. 1988 Rogers, good racing history, North club sails and Quantum regatta sails, carbon pole, new standing rigging, recent survey, road trailer, 3.5hp Tohatsu outboard, dry sailed . £7495 Tel 07971 879128 / 01392 841026 (PLYMOUTH) FLYING FIFTEEN CLASSIC KEELBOAT 1333.

Anaconda, 1971, Isle of Wight, Copeland/ McIntosh. Fibreglass/Wood, mahogany m sheet console. Wide side decks. Grey point deck. Green & white topsides. VG condition, well maintained. Includes: 1 VG set Goacher sails (high aspect jib). 2 reasonable sails, spinnaker, buoyancy, compass, anchor, full kit. Galvanised trailer, new wheel bearings. £900 Tel 07949 542531 / (HULL) ROGERS CONTESSA J24. Race-ready Rogers Contessa J24. GBR4113 is ready to take away today, fully rerigged in 2019 with Kingfisher Ropes, Harken and Viadana blocks. Correctors, 2016 Dart Sails set, North Sails spinnaker, road trailer. Contact for full history and inventory. £5500 Tel 07894 275014 / (PLYMOUTH) SWALLOW YACHTS BAY CRUISER 23. Bay cruiser 23. Built 2015.Very good condition.

Includes a braked trailer. £39000 Tel 07770 860730 / (CARDIGAN)

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SAILS

DINGHY COVERS

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Call Philip Bull on 023 8034 8854 KEELBOATS 1990 ROGERS DESIGN J-24. Good race results both in club racing and opens. 2nd Spring Cup 2019 in Dartmouth. 5th Summer Cup 2019 in Parkstone with race win. 3rd Autumn Cup in Poole. Race wins at the last two National Events. Last weighed in at 1272KG. Original Kenyon Mast with forestay reinforcement completed 2019. . £9000 Tel +4477 87741871 / +4477 68533119 (POOLE) JEANNEAU '16 479. Used 13.4m length polyester white coloured diesel Sailboat, with 4 cabins, 4 heads, 4 beds. Usage hours 3.289. Engine's power 55bhp.

Anemometer, Bathroom ladder, Auxiliary machine, Compass, Electric windlass, Fathometer, GPS, Gangway, Kitchen, Land socket, Oven, Plotter, Sewage tank, Tent, Tv, Vhf, Water tank, Auto pilot, Οutboard motor, Refrigerator, with 1 engine, A/C, Bimini Top, Bow Thruster, Electric Winch for Mainsail, Electronic Instruments, GPS Plotter Inside and on Cockpit, Reefing Mainsail, Outboard Motor, Radio/CD player, Solar Panel, Sprayhood, 2 Steering Wheels. £189000 Tel +30 6932606223 / (GREECE)

www.kempsails.com

MULTIHULLS

SOLING DEEP KEEL. Soling Deep Keel on new A Frame for sale, sailed down from scotland, it has been in storage for at least a decade. £2,000 ONO. £2000 Tel 07809 134852 / (HARTLEPOOL MARINA) DEHLER 41DS RIGID WINDSCREEN - NEW. Brand new acrylic windscreen for Dehler 41DS. £1690 Tel 07714 259616 / (OBAN) 1980 SOUTHERLY 105. Well-maintained lifting keel Southerly 105, all the gear, including full suit of sails, inflatable dinghy, winches, full inventory and ready to sail away immediately for all-year round sailing. Viewing by arrangement, contact for more information. £30950 Tel 07894 275014 / (PLYMOUTH) 31 FOOT CRUISING YACHT. A Sparkman and Stephens designed sailing sloop, with a black GRP hull, teak deck, beautiful lines and shape. Fully equipped for sailing, roller reefing and GRP/Radar installed 2011. New Nanni 21 hp engine and seacocks. Down below: 4 berths, leather upholstery, cooking galley,separate toilet and washing area. £15000 Tel 028302 60600 / (NEWRY)

KNIVES

LEATHER STEERING WHEELS

SHADOW X 093. Built 2014 but the beams were replaced Spring 2020. Not sailed this season. The hulls are in excellent condition as is the tramp, sails and foils. Chute on the pole. Big wheel trolley with handle; foil bags; stern blocks and trailer with box. £8750 Tel 07795 080605 / (GORLESTON) DIAM 24 - 2014 OD TRIMARAN. Professionally prepared (ex Team BP) and perfectly maintained. Little sailed. Complete pack includind Torqueedo engine, 2 set of sails, launching trolley, covered road trailer.

Revised in ADH yard 2017, ready for leisure or season 2019/2020. Visible South of France. £20000 Tel +33 607341149 / (MONTPELLIER)

LEATHER WHEEL COVERING KITS • For all wheel sizes and sprayhood grab rails • Leather Spinnaker pole covers • Handy Pull Tags to open Shackles • Suppliers of Marine Leathers to Sailmakers & Riggers

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OTHER EQUIPMENT

SIGMA 8MTR. Optimised for irc with blade jib and fully batten main, will come with a brand new laminate jib that has not been finished yet as I’m writing advert, trailer, Suzuki outboard, all ready to race, only selling as my boys are not going to be around much next year. £8000 Tel 07960 Clyde_RYA_Win_16.indd 1 874365 / (WEST MERSEA )

YACHT DELIVERIES 01/11/2016 09:55

VICTRON MULTIPLUS INVERTER-CHARGER. Used. 48V/3000VA/35A. Latest Firmware 2.6 including MK3 USB-VE-Bus interface module.

Images and further details on request. £800 Tel 01395 271256 / 07971 261798 (EXMOUTH)

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LIFERAFT 4 PERSON. Lazilas 4 person liferaft ISO 9650-1 in hard case, just 3 years old, 3 year service interval. Needs new service for certificate. Used. £300 Tel 07775 706626 / (TWICKENHAM) HYDROVANE SELF STEERING NEW AND UNUSED. Latest model with remote course setting. £2500 Tel 64211 754205 / (NEW ZEALAND)

TRAILERS/TROLLIES TROLLEY FOR DINGHY. Rapide extender trolley for sale. No longer extends but suits up to 12 foot dinghy. Solid wheels. £50 Tel 07906 869185 / (CAMBRIDGE)

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VISIT WWW.YACHTSANDYACHTING.CO.UK Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting JULY 2021

97

Jess Lloyd-Mostyn A visit to the Pacific can provoke all sorts of joyous emotions but one of the more obscure yet persistent desires of newly arrived cruising sailors is the wish to get a tattoo

T

raditionally you should have one swallow tattoo for every 5,000 sea miles under your belt, an anchor tattoo signifying that you’ve crossed the Atlantic and a compass rose to show that you will always find your way home.

Gone are the times when the only people with tattoos were sailors and convicts and it’s far more commonplace to mark the crossing of the equator by offering a tot of rum to King Neptune rather than getting a shellback turtle emblazoned onto your skin.

However, there is still one place where every year cruisers who would never normally consider getting body ink done decide to take the plunge and walk away with a permanent souvenir of an important passage. The Pacific. Each year, shortly after making landfall in the Marquesas in French Polynesia, the twitter of rumours about skilled artists starts circulating and newly tanned skinned becomes freshly etched with indelible art. From Easter island to Samoa, New Zealand to Hawaii, the Polynesian tradition of tattooing strikes a chord within every visiting sailor and they decide to grab the chance while they can.

But far from being yet another form of cultural appropriation what is happening is far more of an appreciation of something deeper in these cultures. You see we’re talking about a legacy of seafarers, older than the visiting European sailing ships. The rich history of Polynesian ocean travel and exploration is something they wrote about in these art forms. Each individual tattoo was layered with symbol and meaning specific to the wearer, telling tales of their family, their journey and experience.

So too does every sailor crossing that special threshold from the relative safety of the coastline of the Americas out into the much dreamt of exotic wilderness of the Pacific feel that they too have been on an inward journey far greater than the number of miles now under their keels.

They are fresh with the exhilaration of achievement and endurance. For most, that crossing represents the longest and greatest passage they have ever undertaken, stretching their bodies and minds in unexpected ways. The sailor that now steps foot onto the verdant green land and lush hillsides of places like Fatu Hiva is forever different from

the Mary Jones who once pottered around bookshops in Surrey or ate sandwiches on the Isle of Wight.

She has now been transformed into more of an Amazonian figure; powerful, capable and certain of her place on her boat, her place in the world and, in the ocean.

And we’re not talking about a simple “Ooooooh, that’s a nice-looking Chinese symbol, did you say it means courage?” type of pointing at a pinned-up gallery of tattoo choices. A typical Marquesan tattoo artist will simply have you lie down and talk, tell stories of how you got here, where you’re sailing onto, about your childhood, your family, your hope for the future. They will draw while you talk, incorporating ever-increasingly intricate geometric symbols, curls and loops, marine animals and graphic lines into a gently sketched scrawl across your skin. Then, they patiently and painstakingly take apart and explain each stroke, each mark of the pen, describing just why they drew this or that line or shape and why it should matter to your entire story.

And the result is a fine line black lace of design, worn with pride by countless cruisers each sailing season.

It’s often the people that you least suspect that decide to go for it as well. Like some secret mark of a superhero, Polynesian sailing tattoos are often hidden away so that their mild-mannered owners can carry on with their pretence of being really very ordinary indeed. Sure, that same Mary Jones may have swallowed the anchor and put her sailing days behind her and now works in a pottery shop. But little do they know that she still has the looping curves of a dancing manta ray traced around her hip.

Sure, it’s a far cry from the traditional pig and rooster tattoos adorning sailors’ feet during World War II in a bid to protect them from drowning as we’re talking about something far less bold, and a lot more personal to a character’s experience of a voyage but it is nevertheless a steadfast featuring milestone of modern global cruising.

And why not? Is it any different from noting a visit from dolphins in your boat’s log book or celebrating crossing the international date line? Ultimately, no matter how you look at it it’s still going to hurt. So anyone brave enough to commit to the needle or cross oceans has marked themselves for life in more ways than one.

98

JULY 2021 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

JESS LLOYDMOSTYN Jess and James left the UK in 2011 in their Crossbow 42 and have sailed halfway round the world, growing their crew en route.

Follow their journey at water-log.com

ILLUSTRATION: MICHAEL PARKIN

‘Gone are the times when the only people with tattoos were sailors and convicts’

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