Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting November 2022 by The Chelsea Magazine Company

BURNHAM MARINA A perfect East Coast haven 9 7 7 1 3 6 7 5 8 6 1 4 8 1 1 SAIL SELECTION How to maximise boatspeed TOP 10 Mallorca’sANCHORAGESﬁnestrevealedwith 2022 £4.95 A voyage of self-discoveryCROSSINGATLANTICROUNDBRITAINANDIRELAND Thrills and spills from TWO epic races GRENADINES The guideinsider’stoparadise BOAT TESTS SOLENT WEEKEND Expert tips to plan your perfect getaway ALL THE NOMINATIONS 20 THE 2022AWARDSYACHTINGBRITISH WINDELO 54 AND VIKO S35 Sponsored by

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REGULARS 8 News 24 Tom Cunli e 28 Paul Heiney 30 Andy Rice 98 Jess Lloyd-Mostyn UNDER SAIL 16 British Yachting Awards The nominations are in for 2022 32 Solent day out Clive Loughlin lines up a Solent-based trip for 29 October, 2022 36 How we won the Sevenstar RB&I Race Rupert Holmes talks us through his overall victory in this challenging race 42 Transatlantic crossing Mat Desforges talks us through a voyage of discovery 50 Grenadines Insider’s tips on these stunning islands 64 A Vertue - Round Britain performance Matteo Ricciardi talks about victory in a classic Vertue in the other RB&I race 68 Charter Plan your winter Caribbean escape 70 Gull’s Eye Burnham Yacht Harbour Marina in Essex 78 Top 10 Anchorages Finest spots to drop the hook in Mallorca BOATS 14 New boat news 56 Tested: Windelo 54 A stunning fast cruising catamaran 74 Tested: Viko S35 The best value 35 footer on the market? 94 Three of the Best Three of the ﬁnest brokerage boats EXPERT’S FORUM 85 Expert’s Forum From race tactics to cruising conundrums GEAR 80 Buyer’s Guide Select the right new sails for your needs 93 Launched Our picks and reviews 503678 80

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Skipper’s View TO THE READERS AS VOTING OPENS FOR THE 2022 BRITISH YACHTING AWARDS

THE BRITISH YACHTING AWARDS occur but once a year and this is the month in which we reveal our nominations. Awards ceremonies come in all sorts of di erent ﬂavours but what makes this one a vital part of the sailing world is that it is voted for by you, the readers. It sounds mundane to say but it really is vitally important and makes the outcome inﬁnitely more interesting than if they were selected by a tiny percentage of the sailing world who quite possibly had no true connection with what happens out there on the water. So, while we may not be able to decide, say, who our next leader is, at least you have the power to make sure the most deserving candidates win recognition in the sailing world, whether it be for an outstanding achievement or designing a superb new yacht. So have your say by checking out the nominations on p16 and then going to our awards page at britishyachtingawards.com to cast your vote.

JESS

CUNLIFFE is an author, journalist and TV presenter, and one of Britain's best-known cruising sailors ANDY RICE is a journalist and veteran dinghy racer who has won championships at both ends of a ski SailingTodayMagtwitter.com/ sailingtoday.co.ukeditor@ EDITORIALEDITOR Sam Jefferson 020 3943 9261 sam.je erson@chelseamagazines.comGROUPEDITOR Rob Peake ART & PRODUCTION EDITOR Gareth Lloyd Jones WRITER AND SUB EDITOR Sue Pelling PUBLISHING CONSULTANT Martin Nott PUBLISHER Simon Temlett simon.temlett@chelseamagazines.comADVERTISINGADVERTISEMENTMANAGER Mark Harrington 020 7349 mark.harrington@chelseamagazines.com3734SENIORSALESEXECUTIVE Charlene Homewood 020 7349 charlene.homewood@chelseamagazines.com3779GROUPSALESDIRECTOR Catherine Chapman HEAD OF SALES OPERATIONS Jodie Green ADVERTISEMENT PRODUCTION Allpoints Media Ltd allpointsmedia.co.ukCHAIRMAN Paul Dobson CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Vicki Gavin MANAGING DIRECTOR James PublishedDobsonby: 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) 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. The Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd makes every e ort to ensure that the advertising contained in this magazine is delivered from responsible sources. We cannot, however, accept any responsibility for transactions between readers and advertisers. For the Chelsea Magazine Company Ltd full set of terms and conditions please go to chelseamagazines.com/terms-and-conditions Also part of the Chelsea Marine Magazines family: Subscriptions and back issues Tel: +44 (0) 1858 438769 Annual subscription rates: UK £70 ROW £90 Email: sailingtoday@subscription.co.uk Online: Did you know you can manage your subscription online? Oversee your print and digital subscriptions online today simply by signing up at yourupsubscription.co.uk/chelsea/Solo/.https://www.Staytodatewiththelatestissues,updatepersonaldetails,andevenrenewyoursubscriptionwithjustaclickofabutton. Post: Sailing Today, Subscriptions Department, Chelsea Magazines, Tower House, Sovereign Park, Lathkill Street Market Harborough LE16 9EF chelseamagazines.com 5Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

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

Away from awards, our focus shifts to the upcoming Caribbean season with a look both at the joys of a transatlantic crossing and the pleasures of exploring the Grenadines, with helpful insiders tips from our tame charter skipper, Tom Fletcher. My own personal observation when it comes to crossing oceans is choose your crew with care. I completed a transatlantic in 2012 and, although it was ﬁlled with magical moments, it was rather ruined by the fact the skipper was somewhat inexperienced and dictatorial and, my then girlfriend, who was also aboard, chose to tackle him mercilessly on both these weaknesses. The result was a strangely claustrophobic trip that I later wrote up with frankness in this very magazine. What astonished me at the time was the amount of letters I received criticising me for my ungratefulness in not making the most of the trip. I was surprised, as I always thought people rather enjoyed reading about other people's misfortunes, but clearly that is not always the case. Anyway, if an Atlantic trip can be crossed o my bucket list, a transatlantic with a more well adjusted crew remains there. Despite this, I can warmly attest to the fact that the reward of cruising the Caribbean at the end of the crossing was worth it anyway.

POWER

Conwy

Photo: Gareth Lloyd Jones

The North Wales town of Conwy is a paradise for sailors, with two marinas, a beautiful estuary and a quaint old town. There are also some stunning cruising areas to be explored in the rugged coastline nearby, and around the Isle of Anglesey

HMY Britannia was also a vessel for family holidays, on what became known as the Western Isles tour, cruising around Scotland in the summer. In 1997 Britannia was placed in the port of Leith in Scotland, where it serves as a floating museum and events venue. Clocks on board remain stopped at 3:01, the time that Her Majesty disembarked for the last time.

Ainslie said: “Looking back at all the response to everything that has happened over the last 24 hours, there were some attributes made of the Queen and what she stood for - devotion, service, humility, respect, humor, enjoyment, and perseverance.

Ebb and flow

News

James Holman, Commodore of the Royal Yacht Squadron, said: “Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was the Patron of The Royal Yacht Squadron throughout her reign. She gave unstinting support to our late Admiral, His Royal Highness Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in his love of sailing. She owned and sailed in HMY Bloodhound, and she still personally owned the Dragon, Bluebottle, and took a close interest in her recent successes. All Members of The Royal Yacht Squadron will deeply mourn her death, and we send our utmost sympathy to His Majesty The King and to all members of The Royal Family.”

EVENTS | NEWS | TALES FROM THE SAILING COMMUNITY

Statements were released by a number of organisations, which recognised the Queen’s and Prince Philip’s support of sailing over decades.

The Royal Yacht Squadron fired 21-gun salutes on Friday 9 September and on Saturday 10 September, to mark the Queen’s death and the proclamation of the new king.

“Having Her Majesty as Royal Patron, alongside the support of her husband HRH The Duke of Edinburgh as former RYA President, and her daughter The Princess Royal as our current President, has undoubtedly helped us to raise awareness of our aims to increase participation in boating, to promote safety afloat and to raise sailing standards. Her Majesty will be sorely missed and we offer our deepest condolences to our President, The Princess Royal, and her family.”

“So our respects to The Royal Family at this moment - our thoughts and with them, and we wish them and everyone around the world the very best moving forward from this sad news.”

Leading sailing organisations paid tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, following her death on Thursday, 8 September.

RNLIPHOTO;

The RYA looked back at how in 1948, the then Princess Elizabeth and and Prince Philip were listed as new members of the RYA, known then as the Yacht Racing Association. It became the Royal Yachting Association in 1952 when Sir Ralph Gore, then President, spoke of “Her Majesty’s recent command that the name of the Association will in future be the Royal Yachting

“In the days and weeks to come we hope the sorrow turns to celebration of an incredible life - perhaps the most incredible life that’s ever been lived.

DuringAssociation.”CowesWeek, RYA Council meetings were often held on HMY Britannia, one of 83 royal yachts over the years.

Chris Preston, Chair of the Royal Yachting Association, said: “Like so many around the world, we are deeply saddened at the loss of Her Majesty The Queen. Her patronages and charities have covered a wide range of issues, from opportunities for young people, to the preservation of wildlife and the environment. It was an honour for the RYA to host Her Majesty The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh on a trip to Cowes in 2012, where they were introduced to a number of young OnBoard sailors who were enjoying the opportunity to try sailing and windsurfing.

Sir Ben Ainslie gave a tribute at the SailGP press conference in SaintTropez (see story overleaf), after the series’ Commonwealth teams, Australia, Canada and New Zealand together observed three minutes of silence and lowered their team flags to half mast.

World Sailing said: “World Sailing’s home has always been in the United Kingdom, and Her Majesty was an inspiration to sailors in the UK, the Commonwealth and across the world. We join with everyone deeply mourning her passing.”

Sailing pays tribute

“I think that is how many people around the world will remember her. And certainly in this world we are currently living in, that perspective is one of the things the Queen certainly stood for and I am sure the rest of us could certainly gain some from following that.

PINTORICARDOPHOTO: 8 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

RNLI Chief Executive Mark Dowie said: “On behalf of everyone involved with the RNLI, we send our heartfelt condolences to The Royal Family on the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. Her Majesty has dedicated 70 years as patron of the RNLI, engaging with and recognising the efforts of thousands of our people. We place on record our sincere thanks for Her Majesty’s unwavering commitment to saving lives at sea. Our thoughts are with The Royal Family and Her Majesty’s loyal subjects across the United Kingdom andTheCommonwealth.”Queenwaspatron of the lifesaving charity since ascending to the throne following the death of her father King George VI in 1952.

NewsNewsNewsNews

Richard said: “Just a full-on race, absolutely no let-up; snakes and ladders all the way. The pressure was always on. Mentally this race was totally exhausting, but great fun with really close competition. The final 12 hours was incredible. As soon as Bellino crossed the line, the clock started ticking and we had a goal to aim for. Our routing andhimRupertspare.tworeachpredictedprogrammewecouldthatgoalwithminutestoIwokeupandtolditwasgameonwewentforit.”

BELLINOC/OPHOTO:WINDSLIGHTTOMLINSON/JAMESPHOTO:FINISH 9Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

There are categories for the best new boats launched in the last 12 months, the best pieces of new sailing kit and clothing, the best marinas, as well as categories that recognise personal sailing achievements.

Voting is now official open for our British Yachting Awards, which we organise annually, with our parent company Chelsea Magazines, to celebrate the best of the racing and cruising worlds.

Vote at britishyachtingawards.com

The winners are also revealed in our February issue, published on 30 December in the UK.

highlight of the marine industry calendar and a moment when we can pause and take stock of the greatest achievements in the sailing world from the last year. The category shortlists are put together by our editorial team and expert panel of contributors. Now it’s up to you, our readers, to decide who wins!”

Group editor Rob Peake said: “The British Yachting Awards has become a

The victory means Richard’s much-campaigned JPK10.10 Jangada is now in line to take the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Points Trophy, which is given to the boat that accrues the best results across RORC’s international series of races. It is one of the most demanding and logistically complex trophies to win, with amateur crews like Richard and Rupert up against fully professional teams.

It’s now up to you to decide how to cast your vote after persusing the nominations, listed in this issue starting on page 16, and also online at britishyachtingawards.com.Traditionallywehavemany thousands of votes coming in, but categories are often decided by the closest margins, so every vote does really count! Your votes alone decide the winners.

Our long-time contributor Rupert Holmes writes in this issue of his gruelling experience in the Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race, which he and co-skipper Richard Palmer won after a dramatic, edge-of-yourseat finish with minutes to spare.

The winners are announced and trophies presented on 28 November, at an exclusive ceremony at the Royal Thames Yacht Club in Knightsbridge. Limited tickets for this event will be released for sale nearer the time –watch our News section and online.

The British Yachting Awards is proud to announce category sponsors BoatLife, sponsoring the Young Sailor of the Year, and Hyde Sails sponsoring Cruising Yacht of the Year.

After an extraordinary series of match-racing duels between boats that were within sight of each other for 100s of miles, the 1,805 nm race came to a thrilling climax on the 16th day, when 10 yachts finished in a 14-hour flurry. Among them was Jangada. Five boats were still racing but it was calculated that none of them could better Richard and Rupert’s IRC corrected time. Rob Craigie’s Sun Fast 3600, Bellino, racing Double-

Mzungu’s Sam White said: “The close racing with Bellino was so intense it just blew our minds. We managed to get out in front, but with the wind shutting down so many times, it was actually a disadvantage to be the leading double-handed boat. The teams behind could see us stall and they could then potentially avoid the wind hole. The level of competition was superb, with the pressure on all the time. After St Kilda we were pretty much in a match race with Bellino for 1,000 miles.”

Pip Hare’s IMOCA Medallia took line honours. You can read Rupert’s full acount of his race on page 36.

Voting opens for British Yachting Awards

Handed with Deb Fish, was second (pictured below left in light winds off Great Skellig). Sam White and Sam North racing JPK 1080 Mzungu! is ranked third overall, under two hours behind Jangada after IRC time correction. All three teams were racing in IRC Two-Handed category.

Rupert wins Round Britain & Ireland epic

The Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland departed in light winds off the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes, just as the UK fell under a rare heatwave in early August. The conditions didn’t change until the boats reached the western isles of Scotland. Jangada was racing in the highly competitive double-handed class, sailing against crews including Shirley Robertson and Dee Caffari.

Ainslie said after day one: “That was some of the best racing I’ve ever taken part in – at times the boat was shaking through cavitation to the point that I’d imagine it was what it feels like being in a rocket re-entering the earth’s atmosphere. All the teams were pushing the limit.”

Amelie Riou, strategist of France SailGP Team on loan to the USA team, lifts the trophy after the US win.

Technical issues for GRB with their starboard daggerboard case led to an early retirement, but after the shore team completed a quick on-water fix, they were back racing and managed to finish the day in fifth place overall.

Spithill’s win revived a troubled season for the United States team so far. He said: “It’s fantastic to get that first win, it’s been a long time coming, but it was just an incredible team effort this weekend, and it’s great to be on the board at last. We have just been working really, really hard since the beginning of this season. We backed ourselves, we knew we would get there, we just needed to keep learning the lessons and not worry too much about what was said outside the team.”

SailGP’s foiling F50 catamarans were using the high winds off Saint Tropez to close in on their outright speed record at final practice on Friday 9 September. Favourites for the win at the Range Rover France Sail Grand Prix were the New Zealand SailGP Team, with Peter Burling looking for a third win in row after victories in Plymouth and Copenhagen.Dayonesaw the big winds increase, with some of the biggest breeze ever seen on a SailGP racetrack, gusts of 29kts giving the sell-out crowd thrills and near spills.

Great Britain SailGP Team helmed by Ben Ainslie in light winds on day two.

Thumbs up from Jimmy Spithill as Red Bull Racing F1 driver Max Verstappen takes the wheel for a drag race against Tom Slingsby and the Australia SailGP Team, ahead of the event.

Brits on podium in SailGP France

10 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

Ainslie said: “It was all about finding the pressure to get the boat around the course and in the right position. The team did a really good job to get into the podium final. It wasn’t easy out there. Congratulations to Jimmy and the US Team, they’ve been knocking on the door for a while now.

A near capsize for the Canada SailGP team, helmed by Phil Robertson, with France SailGP Team helmed by Quentin Delapierre behind. © Bob Martin/SailGP

“We have a great team, that has come through quite a lot of adversity through the past couple of seasons. We keep digging and putting ourselves out there and definitely have the capabilities to win the events. I’m confident that we can get there.”

Buckle/SailGPHighwinds on

The final day proved light, with little foiling possible, and it was Jimmy Spithill and his United States SailGP Team that took the overall win, beating the New Zealand team of Peter Burling and Ben Ainslie’s Great Britain team in the grand finale.

“Olympic sailing relies on equipment and we need someone who can help ensure we have the best-prepared kit in the world.”

The day went on and we set sail and continued our voyage. The sea was easier on us then. We all sat in the cockpit and laughed, sang to music that blasted through the speakers and ate chicken korma on deck, seasoned with spits of salt water from the North Sea.

Adam May, Chief Technical Officer for the British Sailing Team, said:

Team GB’s sailors are the most successful in history – and now the team is on the hunt for a practical, hands-on boat technician to work alongside its world-class technical team to help keep that title.

Kids go round Britain with charity

“This is a really rare opportunity to play a major role in the team’s preparation for Paris 2024.

The trust’s Round Britain Adventure started in July from Portsmouth and had reached Royal Quays Marina in North Shields as we went to press, with Ipswich the final stopover in September. Overall 80 young people aged 12-25 will have benefitted from doing a leg or more, joining the boat as it stops at their lcoal port.

I, however, was still suffering. I felt like someone had thrown me into a tumble dryer, spun me around for a good five minutes and then tossed me down a hill.

[Mate] Rob had followed me and sat nearby as I hung there groaning. I told him I wanted to go home. And then he did something only a wise ‘old-ish’ man with a flowing beard could do. He gave me a good, motivational talk and I sat up full of life again.

British Sailing Team seeks help

The trust, based in Portsmouth, has been operating as a youth sail training charity for 66 years, most recently running 72ft yachts originally built for the Global Challenge events. The trust is fundraising to buy a new boat capable of giving the same life-changing opportunities to more youngsters.

The Tall Ships Youth Trust has been visiting ports around the coast this summer as it navigates Britain in a 72ft yacht crewed by disadvantaged young people.

If this sounds like you, you’re invited to contact workshop@ britishsailingteam.com for an informal chat.

Diary report from crew member Troy, after the sail to Newcastle: “We had got a right good slap from the raging North Sea and came out the other end groggy and beaten, but nonetheless alright.

Staring out into the open expanse with rolling hills of water as far as the eye could see really opened up something inside me. It filled me with a pungent nostalgia that really had no reason to be there. The atmosphere was electric and everyone was bantering and getting along like a ‘house on fire’ and then some. It was seriously the getaway I needed and I definitely am not alone in that regard. It was a needed escape.”

With less than two years to go until the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, a rare opportunity to join the British Sailing Team has arisen.

11Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

The role will involve working with the British Sailing Team’s Chief Technical Officer and Boatbuilder at the team base in Portland, Dorset, preparing and maintaining a variety of Olympic sailing dinghies and boards, and to help with the day to day running of the workshop.

High-level practical skills, measurement experience, and attention to detail, ideally in boatbuilding or surface finishing, are required. In addition, you will need to be able problem solve, work independently and have good people skills.

I sat in the saloon, dazed and barely able to stand. Slowly, I drank some orange juice. Then the North Sea came rushing back to finish off its curse. I raced up on deck and hung over the cockpit yet again threw up.

The trust’s CEO Alastair Floyd said: “The pandemic stopped us from running this fantastic tour but not anymore! It’s been great to offer young people the opportunity to sail from one part of the country to another and experience different sailing and living environments. It’s also helped us to spread the word about our work with open events in Whitehaven, Greenock, Newcastle and Ipswich.” tallships.org

The RS Games 2022 was registered for Clean Regatta status.

RS100 National Champion – Huw Powell

RS600 National Champion – George Smith RS700 European & National Champion – Theo Galyer

Sam Waller

The RS brand was launched in 1994 and RS Games has been held every four years sinceJon2014.Partridge, CEO (Commercial) of RS Sailing, said: “It’s hard to put into words what the RS Games 2022 meant to RS Sailing. It’s always so inspiring to spend time at an event with our customers and we’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response we’ve received.

RS200 Celebration Champion – Tom Hewitson , Lucy Hewitson

Position: The Paddler

Alex Newton Southon, CEO (Design & Technologies) of RS Sailing, said: “It was incredible to see all 16 classes racing. We’re so proud that our humble classes get so many people involved in our amazing sport.”

RS300 National Champion – Paul Watson

RS Tera World Champion – RS Tera Sport – Ruta Mažunaviciute / RS Tera Pro – Archie MunroPrice

When wind alone won’t get you there... Quote and buy online at www.noblemarine.co.uk or call us on 01636 707606 Authorised & regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority 12 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

RS Vareo National Champion – Luke Fisher

RS Aero Youth World Champion – RS Aero 5 –Jonathan Bailey / RS Aero 7 – Vejas Strelciunas

RS Aero European Champion – RS Aero – 5 Chloe George / RS Aero 6 – Chris Hatton / RS Aero 7 – Martis Pajarskas / RS Aero 9 – Peter Barton

RS500 World Champions – Tim Wilkins & Heather Wilkins

RS Sailing held the third quadrennial RS Games at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy from 21 July to 5 August.

The Olympic days of the RS:X are gone, alas, but World Sailing will continue to allow ‘paddling’ to help propel your boat or board’s progress through the water. Paddling involves using any part of your body, usually hand or feet, to increase SOG in conditions where wind alone won’t do it. In foiling classes the idea is less popular, due to the risk of slicing your hand or foot o , but in the old-stlye, hull-inwater classes, the practice remains useful, although it is surprisingly little known. With racing as competitive as ever, at elite and club level, the marginal gains to be made can be the di erence between winning and losing. However, not all umpires approve of paddling, so do be sure to check the latest Rules before you hang your legs over the transom and attempt to kick your way to the ﬁnish instead of just sailing there. If caught out, consider protesting that you were in fact celebrating, as may well have been the case in this shot from the RS:X Europeans a few years ago in Marseille...

RS800 National Champion – Tom Morris, Guy Fillmore

Do be sure to check the Rules before hanging your legs over the transom...

RS Feva World Champion – Joseph Jones, Charlie Howard

RS400 Celebration Champion – Ollie Groves,

CLASSRS:X/SHUTTERSAIL/HAJDUKROBERT©

RS21 National Champion – Hugh Watson, Helen Watson, Susanna Bickford, Emma McEwen

Big success for RS Games

The event comprised an impressive four world championships, two European championships, eight national championships, and 16 RS classes racing overall. A total of 713 RS boats and 1,037 competitors took part.

DIFFICULTY RATING: 1/5

“We are so grateful to WPNSA and all our amazing partners that made this event possible. It was a truly special couple of weeks. We have made memories that will last a lifetime.”

09/2022-922196-© JeanneauJEANNEAU.COM ENHANCE YOUR HORIZONS 55 60 N E W BRITISHTHE NOMINATEDAWYACHTINGARDS2022 N E 65W

The new ClubSwan 80 certainly looks equally dramatic with its inverted sheer, centrally positioned mast and huge sail area. As you’d expect, the boat is built almost entirely in carbon-fibre by Italian specialists Persico Marine, a company that has been heavily involved in the AC class in recent years. Below the waterline, the boat features a lifting, canting keel and twin rudders. The first 80 is already in the water and promises to make waves in the Maxi Class.

The ClubsSwan 80 is the latest addition to the exciting range of turbo-charged one design racers from the highly respected Finnish manufacturer. The new yacht is designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian who also designed her smaller sisters the ClubSwan 50 and 36 and, as you’d expect, the boat shares a lot with these two yachts.

14 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

New boats

The boat has been designed by Farr Yacht Design while styling comes from Luca Micheletti who has previously worked extensively with Baltic Yachts among others.

Viator Explorer 42 DS

Italian manufacturer ICE has been turning out stylish, lightweight cruiser/ racers for sometime now and the ICE 66RS is the latest addition to its fleet and pretty much sticks to the template.

The new ICE 66RS is built in a carbon glass sandwich (yum!) with a full carbon deck, which gives the boat a displacement of 26,000kg, and offers a fair indication of what this boat is; a fast cruiser/racer with a good deal of emphasis on luxury and style. Down below this is underlined by a stylish interior.

A look at the latest launches from around the globe

Viator is a boabuilder looking to break into the high latitude market with a range of rugged, lift keel aluminium semi custom yachts. The 42 DS has actually been afloat for the last 18 months as a prototype but the company has now started construction. The key here is a boat that is tough enough to handle the high latitudes and the tropics while also being easily sailed short-handed. To this end, the 42 comes with a strongly reinforced hull, featuring extra thick plating in vulnerable areas, a roomy deckhouse and simple sail controls. Despite the clear cruising credentials, the 42 is not designed to be slow and features a generous sail area with fat topped main plus carbonfibre spars and rod rigging as standard. Down below, the boat is comfortable and roomy and a key feature is the big navigation and watch-keeping station at the forward end of the saloon.

l Iceyachts.it

ClubSwan 80

l viatormarine.com

ICE 66RS

l nautorswan.com

The Dufour 37 replaces the popular 360 towards the smaller end of its range. This is not a Mk2 but a new boat designed by Dufour’s favoured naval architect, Umberto Felci. The boat features fairly dramatic styling with the hull dominated by a striking portlight amidships. She also features a more powerful rig than her predecessor and sticks with the single rudder set up. Perhaps the most exciting feature is that all the cockpit upholstery is inflatable, meaning that cushions can double up as beach toys once at anchor. This sounds like a lot of fun but a surefire way of losing a lot of upholstery over time.

Dufour 37

Balance Catamarans is a South African company that specialises in fast bluewater catamarans in the Outremer bracket of performance and comfort. The Balance 442 is the company’s latest model and is designed by du Toit and Berman. The boat has been constructed using E-glass with a PVC foam core and carbon-fibre for local support and reinforcement structures. Her forward-raked wave piercing bows and contemporary lines make for a purposeful looking yacht. One interesting feature is that the 442 can be ordered either with daggerboards or what are termed ‘high performance fixed keels’. Obviously, the daggerboard version will be the more polished performer going upwind.

Balance 442

l balancecatamarans.com

l universalyachting.co.uk

15Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

exceptional shortlist here. Now it is down to you to decide who wins each of the 12 categories. Your winners will be revealed in the February issue of Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting, and each will be presented with their British Yachting Awards trophy at our concurrent live and online awards ceremonies, held on November 29. Voting on our dedicated website could not be easier. Choosing, however, may be more di cult...

GO TO britishyachtingawards.com

SPONSORED BY

ELLIE DRIVER

SAILOR OF THE YEAR BRITISHTHE 2022AWARDSYACHTING

YOUTH SAILOR OF THE YEAR GREA BRITISH BOAT TRAILER 20 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

TO VOTE GO TO britishyachtingawards.com THE NOMINATIONS

Charlie, Tom and Harry White are 22-year old identical triplets who made waves at this year's Cowes Week racing their Squib, Kestrel. The trio are veterans of Cowes Week, having ﬁrst raced back in 2015 and have built on that experience by picking up the Musto Youth Skipper Trophy at this year's event. Skipper Charlie plotted a course to clinch this coveted trophy with a string of strong performances in the ultra competitive Squib class which resulted in a strong third overall.

THE WHITE BROTHERS

CAL CURRIER

ZIGGY

KENICHI HORIE

The essence of the pro-am nature of the Round the Island Race was perfectly summed up in the performance of Embley, a Stewart 37 skippered and crewed by pupils from Embley School in Romsey, Hampshire. A blistering performance saw them land ﬁrst in the ISC, the Island Sailing Club’s rating system for the event, a class with more than 500 entries including professional crews. The pupils are the product of a programme by the school to make sailing part of the curriculum.

Sailing

Towards Carbon Neutrality with byFountainePajot new

The Nest is a small compartment let into the side of your cockpit, in which you can store and automatically charge your smartphone, without the need for charging cables. The Nest ‘charging cave’, which Scanstrut suggests can be installed in a bulkhead or pedestal, “drains properly” and “can withstand blasts of fresh or saltwater”. It can plug into both 12V and 24V electrical systems.

<< ARC BIVY STICK

WIRELESS NEST

Turn your smartphone into a satphone, by purchasing the Bivy Stick, then choosing a Plus or Unlimited data plan for four consecutive months. You get two-way satellite comms at a relatively low price, with no activation fees. Available in the UK from Global Communications,Telesatthis device is the same size as a smartphone and allows you to keep in touch from any location on earth.

The Limehouse powerhouse put considerable resources into upgrading its CAptain’s Mate app, creating a database of more than 6,500 user reviews of achorages, marinas and cruising waters across the world, as well as other useful information made up of 20,000+ contributionsmember–photos and ﬁrst-hand reports, updated all the time, on approach considerations, availability of facilities such as water, fuel and supermarkets, repair services and more.

Distributed by Seaview Progress in the UK, these inflatable fenders are a game-changer in terms of space-saving on board. They come in every shape and size – suitable for superyachts and small yachts – are easily inflated and deflated and can withstand an immense amount of pressure. They’re said to hold their shape over long periods automaticallyandadapt to temperature swings.

This is e ectively a lightweight pole with a propeller on the end. Secure the pole in a dedicated rowlock and power your tender ship to shore. The near silent electric engine and batteries are within the pole, which is light enough for almost any member of the family to carry. Easily storable, with a battery level monitor – and it ﬂoats.

EQUIPMENT INNOVATION OF THE YEAR

>> SCANSTRUT, ROKK

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<< TEMO 450 ELECTRIC OUTBOARD

22 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

Where to store your dinghy at home? A garage or shed is the obvious choice, but even a Topper takes up most of the ﬂoor space. SkydockBarton’shoists your dinghy to hang from the roof, with di erent ﬁttings available according to what kind of roof it is and how much weight you need to take. Equally useful for dinghy clubs.

TO VOTE GO TO britishyachtingawards.com THE NOMINATIONSBRITISHTHE 2022AWARDSYACHTING

<< SKYDOCKBARTON

CARTOGRAPHYGARMIN NAVIONICS+

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Up to 5,000 updates daily gives peace of mind, plus Garmin’s own data is bolstered by contributions from other sailors, bringing the reliability that a large volume of users brings. Garmin Navionics+ is powerful cartography with myriad features helping you understand your surroundings at sea and shoreside – not least it o ers an eye-opening degree of navigational insight into what the seabed really looks like.

TO VOTE GO TO britishyachtingawards.com

ROYAL OCEAN RACING CLUB

<< JACKETSKAGENHANSENHELLY

These are races and regattas organised by sailors for sailors, backed up by a wellinformed and hard-working comms team, with stunning photography bringing it all to life.

DON MCINTYRE

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR >> THE NOMINATIONS BRITISHTHE 2022AWARDSYACHTING 23Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

MUSTO FLEXLITE ALUMIN RANGE

No more holding the race instructions at arm’s length, or having to change specs on board to see the plotter. These shades come with a bi-focal lens in the bottom part, rated to +1.5 magniﬁcation strength. They’re quality sailing sunglasses with a ﬂexible frame that “can bend under pressure”. Polarised lenses block glare and a hydrophobic coating repels water.

<< ZHIK ELITE SHORT

An admirable rethink of the sailing short. No more saggy pockets down by the knee, these are tapered for a less bulky ﬁt and are aimed at sailors who spend long hours aﬂoat or who prefer wearing shorts from spring to autumn. Comfort comes via a four-way stretch, with extra give in the thighs, plus industrial-level abrasion resistance on the bottom, and a raised cut for back protection. The material is water-repellant and protects against UV rays.

SAILGP

Mustang is a big north American brand launched in the UK and Europe this year and it has impressed with its hi-spec range of sailing clothing. The Callan jacket is well cut with sailors in mind, lightweight and breathable, using stretch fabric. The jacket also features clever pockets and zips to give weather-proofness.complete

CLOTHING INNOVATION OF THE YEAR

<< JACKETCALLANMUSTANG

The company’s most innovative piece of clothing to date, the Skagen O shore Jacket contains a minimum of 50 per cent recycled content that might performancedesignedweatherproofconstruction,Tech®featuresbuoys.repurposedincludeﬁshingThisjackettheHellyPerformanceatough,systemforhigh-sailing.

The man who changed the face of o shore racing with his recreation of the Golden Globe Race in 2018, now has no less than three round-the-world events, for amateur sailors to enter in relatively normal yachts. Do it solo, do it crewed or do it in a self-built mini design. And McIntyre is not short of takers.

Three years in the making with much development and testing by the British Sailing Team. The 3mm neoprene thickness is designed for northern European waters, while Musto’s unique Alumin fabric means the heat beneﬁts come in a lighter product, better for both club and elite racing.

The Royal Ocean Racing Club's military level of organisation is responsible for an impressive roster of pro-am events around the world.

>> ROOSTER SUNGLASSESBI-FOCAL

Mid-way through season 3 of this global series, an achievement in itself given the pandemic, audience ﬁgures are still growing and SailGP's wider initiatives, for the environment, for youth involvement and for its host communities, are numerous, conscientious and generous. The 50-knot racing is pretty exciting, too.

PODCAST

beam reach in full sail across flat water on a lovely summer’s afternoon.’ In fairness, the Force 4 had been gusting up a bit and a nasty-looking cloud bearing down from the wind’s eye seemed to have my name on it, but I’d just been handed up a mug of tea and I was comfortable at the helm, so I sat tight.

Every cloud has a silver/Dacron lining... the ‘perfect storm’ that prompted the purchase of a new suit of sails

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

The sea to windward didn’t suddenly turn white as it does for a real stinger of a squall. It went black instead, indicating a reasonably

any a good yarn at the yacht club bar starts out with the universal intro, ‘There I was…’. To guarantee continued attention, this is best followed by ‘… and the waves were 40ft high’, but if drama on this scale floats your boat, the account below will fail miserably. This month’s opening gambit is a less-thanthrilling, ‘There I was, enjoying a

serious puff heading my way. My yacht is 44ft on deck, she’s heavy displacement and has a long keel, all of which helps her deal with a cap-full of wind, so I drank my tea and got my come-uppance. To spell it out bluntly, when the wind hit us the boat fell over.

Not content with heeling until her capping rail went under, she carried on down until the coach roof windows were awash. If ‘Constance’ had been a modern, flat-floored

Tom Cunliffe

CUNLIFFE/COMMONSTOMPHOTOSWOOD,CLAIREILLUSTRATION: Tom Cunliffe

24 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

“A nasty-looking cloud bearing down from the wind’s eye seemed to have my name on it”

25Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

A more traditional shape with balanced sections and waterlines doesn’t have these problems. Of course, it doesn’t feature a big aft cabin and a cockpit perfect for cocktail parties either so, as the Yorkshire Tyke famously observed, ‘Yer don’t get owt for nowt’.

Two questions arise from this minor incident. The first is, why did the yacht remain under control when abused so roundly? The answer is simple. Hull shape. There are exceptions of course, but in general, many of today’s cruisers with a good deal of beam aft will struggle to keep steering if laid down as hard as this. The reason is that as they heel and their beamy quarters are submerged, the buoyancy increases, lifting the stern. This tends to dig in the bow and can raise a central spade rudder clear of the water, leaving the yacht with no choice but to broach to windward. She can be kept on her feet by dumping the mainsheet or traveller so that the centre of effort of the rig moves forward and she comes upright into the bargain. This is ok as long as you don’t mind having to take the trouble, even for quite minor incidents. You also need to physically release the sheet. Unfortunately, on many yachts, mine included, the sheet and its attendant winch and jammers are out of reach from the helm, so if you’re alone on watch as the yacht takes control you are not well placed for a happy result.

yacht, she might well have rounded up out of control; many would have tacked themselves in disgust, but not she. With a couple of extra spokes on the wheel, she kept right on going, straight as a gun-barrel, still under perfect command. This was fortunate because from where I was stationed abaft the binnacle, it was a 10ft scramble at 45 degrees to the mainsheet jammer. Sounds of consternation were coming up the companionway, followed by Roz my wife, who had not been enjoying the view of the fishes swimming past her galley scuttle. Immediate action was demanded, so I did what we used to do on race boats that

ABOVE ‘Constance’ powering steadily upwind under control in a fair breeze

There’s not a lot any of us can do about the hull shape of our yachts, but the second question is a lot more manageable. ‘Constance’ is not what you’d call beefy, but she’s a big, strong boat more than able to take care of herself, so how come she gave us such a fright? The wind that hit her was strong, but not what I’d call severe. I was too busy to waste valuable seconds peering into the wind dial, but it certainly was nowhere near full gale force. Like most relatively narrow yachts, she isn’t noted for stiffness, but this was beyond a joke. It could only be the sails.

were over-canvassed in the gusts. I steered high with the greatest of care. I certainly didn’t want the boat coming head to wind with all the chaos and loss of control that follows. Instead, I brought her gingerly onto a close reach, so that the main began spilling wind and the forward third of the genoa turned inside out while the leech still drew. This did the trick. Not for the first time I blessed her perfect manners and, with ‘Constance’ back on her feet, we rolled the genoa away, set the relatively tiny staysail and clapped a couple of reefs into the main. Back on course in tranquillity, I finished my tea before it blew out the mug.

I didn’t argue.

26 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

“‘Constance’

me in for a new one. He said that I’d be astonished at the improvement. Sailmakers always say that, don’t they, but Pete’s different and I knew he was right. The next day, Roz and I were cruising along in light airs. I looked up at the mainsail, which was the same age as the old genoa, and began to wonder. I didn’t dare voice what I was starting to think, but Roz has sailed with me for half a century. She knew what was coming and took the initiative.

TOM CUNLIFFE

Tom Cunliffe

The genoa came with the boat when I bought her in Florida 10 years ago. We hadn’t had her a season before it became clear that it was causing some issues. It was a little too long in the luff, so that although it set without creases, there was no built-in slack for me to crank up some luff tension. Any sail made from conventional cloth needs luff tension as the wind hardens. Without it, the camber (the curvature of the sail producing the aerofoil) drifts aft from its proper place around a third of the way back from luff to leech. It sags away to the middle of the sail or, heaven forbid, beyond. Two undesirables spin off. First, the yacht will not point as high as she can. Secondly, as the sail lifts less and the drag increases, the yacht heels more than she should. This generates weather helm and contributes heavily to any tendency she may have to lose control in gusts.

am not a rich man, so rather than replace it, I took it along to my sailmaker, Pete Sanders, and asked if he could do anything with the beast. Ever the sportsman, Pete didn’t try to sell me a new one. Instead, he re-cut it, shortening the luff and flattening the main body, or bunt, of the sail. When I hoisted it the following season, ‘Constance’ was transformed. She pointed five degrees better and stood up like a church. But that was eight years ago. Since then, that genoa has seen me through many a thousand miles. Against all odds it is still sound in cloth and stitching, so I just hadn’t noticed how it was slowly returning to its old wicked ways until we took that knock. Like back-ache, a sail that’s on its way out stealthily creeps up on you until one day the penny drops and you say to yourself, ‘I think I’ll take a pill.’

That’s what my genoa was like when I inherited it. Yet it was in otherwise good condition and seemed to have years of life left. I

I couldn’t believe my luck, but I had to ask her how she felt about the money. Her answer was salutary.

yearsthataanddegreespointedtransformed.wasShefivebetterstooduplikechurch.Butwaseightago”

ABOVE Eyeing up a sorry genoa

“Why don’t you order a new main as well,” she said.

“How many more years will we have the boat?” she wondered. “Nobody knows what the future holds and there’s little gain in saving our money for the undertaker. Why not enjoy ‘Constance’ to the full while we can instead of nibbling at the job bit by bit and maybe never giving her the chance to live as she should.”

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 tomcunliffe.comat

Nobody enjoys raiding the piggy bank for a new sail, especially when the one you have isn’t falling apart. For me though, the time had come, so I called Pete, told him what had happened, and asked him to book

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‘A friend has just done a 50mile round trip by car to get a bottle of gas to guarantee next morning’s sandwich’bacon

ow is your energy crisis going? Not too well for me, I’m afraid. If you’ve been reading this column for some time you will know that my boat doesn’t plough through the water driven by wind or diesel, but by its skipper being regularly fuelled with tea. But now that’s become an energy problem – I’m running short of gas.

The energy crisis has hit Paul where it really hurts; in the gas locker of his boat, where the shortage is threatening his ability to brew a decent cuppa

If you are not familiar with these stoves, they are works of art , sculpted in brass and stainless steel. You could be certain that whatever else on the boat may fail, this stove was never going to break. The only problem, and it’s a big one, is that they consume paraffin. Now, paraffin is safer than gas, quite easy to get hold of, but it needs the dreaded meths to light it. Also, timing is crucial. Put a match to cold paraffin and you will only get a sooty, yellow flame; but preheat it and burn it under pressure and you get a wonderfully hot roar. But it takes practice to get that far and the rehearsals can be scary. If you don’t pre-heat the paraffin sufficiently, once you turn on the pressurised fuel you get a jet flame reaching the cabin roof, a bit like a jet engine exhaust. After you’ve been close to ringing the fire brigade for the third time, you gradually get the hang of it, which I did. But the snag, for me, was that pre-heating done with meths – cue that bilious feeling. And I do now know that you can preheat with a small blow torch instead, but nobody ever told me that.

I don›t blame the retailers, but I must cast a suspicious glance at Calor Gas. I’m sure they’ll tell us it’s “supply chain issues, or driver shortage , or the war” probably with a bit of Covid thrown in just to ice the cake. It would be fine if we could shop elsewhere, but given that the gas lockers on a lot of boats are built around the size of their cylinders, it’s difficult. You can buy refillable bottles now, but finding somewhere convenient to get those topped up is like searching for the Holy Grail. A friend has just done a 50-mile round trip by car to get a bottle of gas to guarantee next morning’s bacon sandwich, and there have been many others whose summer cruise has had the dark shadow of a desperate butane-fuelled treasure hunt hanging over it.

and you had to refill it. Meths isn’t cheap either. But there was another problem; the smell of burning meths made me seasick. I was rather more prone to it back then than now, but even to this day I can feel queasy just thinking about it. I thought I would solved this debilitating problem by changing boats, but not so.

When it comes to the whereenvironment,isthebalancetobefound?

YOURHAVESAY

Which leaves us with electricity. What? An electric cooker on a boat, and all the batteries needed, and the invertor the size of a sub-station, and solar panels big enough to act as wings. Isn’t electricity always the first thing to fail on a boat, therby the last thing you want to make tea with? I could go on, telling you why electricity on boats will never catch on but, quite frankly, I haven’t got the energy.

Next we bought a lovely wooden yacht, built with the same care as went into a Chippendale sideboard, and truly gorgeous she was. Apart from the shimmering varnish, and her sleek lines, and the red leather upholstery that creaked, she boasted a Taylors Paraffin Stove swinging gently to and fro in its gimbals, desperate to bring countless kettles to the boil.

I used to think those nice people at Calor Gas were my friends, but these days I’m not so certain. Once every few months I would lug my empty gas bottle ashore, swap it for a full one and have the kettle on within minutes. But not these days. Ask if they’ve got any gas and you get the same shocked response as if you’d asked for a free berth for the night. “Not a chance, mate!” (Have you noticed how you’re always ‘mate’ when it’s bad news?)

Paul Heiney

But I don’t want to give up on gas just yet because I’ve lived through a couple of alternative energy sources in my time, and it wasn’t pleasant. My very first, and very basic boat, had a weird kind of two burner stove, which consisted of a small tin filled with wadding into which you poured half a bottle of meths. Then you lit it, and all of half an hour later the kettle reluctantly came to the boil. The problem was that by the next time you used it, which might have been six hours later, the meths had evaporated

WOODCLAIREILLUSTRATION 28 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

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Andy has scene,performanceknowledgeunparalleledoftheracingfromgrassrootstoelitelevel

If the Italians were already dominant, the worrying thing for the rest of the fleet is that Tita and Banti believe they are only just getting going. Coach Bruni is always looking for new ways to test his sailors, making them go sailing in the dark to heighten their lesser-used senses, sending them out in big, nasty waves so as to make everything else feel relatively stable and easy. The ‘train hard, fight easy’ approach is certainly working for the time being. But perhaps they have revealed their hand too early. Or perhaps the best is still yet to come.

After racing away to a relatively straightforward victory at last year’s Olympic Regatta in Tokyo, the Olympic gold medals around their necks have done nothing to diminish Tita and Banti’s allout bid for world domination.

THTACYCOMMONSPHOTO:

30 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

There is something different about the attitude of ITA 26 as it flies along. In a drone shot with 15 or 20 Nacras in view, my co-commentators and I could start to pick out the Italians from a crowd. Their boat is a bit more bowsdown and slightly heeled to windward, not dissimilar to the look of the F50s competing on the SailGP circuit.

As a sailing journalist and TV commentator

The latest development on the everevolving Olympic catamaran was to make it possible to adjust the angle of attack of the rudder elevators on the fly. Whereas for the last four-year cycle leading up to Tokyo you could only set your rudder angles before the start, now the sailors have the ability to adjust the angle while racing. This relatively inexpensive modification has made it possible to hydrofoil upwind as well as on the downwind legs.

In the really light airs, when the whole fleet was low-riding in displacement mode, with one or two hulls in the water, the Italians were as good as anyone else in the fleet. No worse, and probably a bit better. As soon as there was even a sniff of being able to hop up on to the foils and get the boat out the water, however, they were in a class of their own.

Andy Rice

“This relatively inexpensive modification has made it possible to hydrofoil upwind”

I’m sure that the experts in Nova Scotia could pick out many more subtle performance differences. Three-time Olympic medallist and former America’s Cup skipper Iain Percy was there as coach to John Gimson and Anna Burnet,

he Italian coach was only half joking when he asked us to switch off our drone footage of the boat that was running away with the championship. I’m just back from commentating at the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 World Championships in Nova Scotia, and coach Gabriele Bruni knows that his world-beating team, Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti, have something very special going on.

ANDY RICE

The foiling dominance of the italian pair of Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti in the Nacra 17 has had many conspiracy theorists scratching their heads. Yet the explanation is likely a simple one...

the British team who came to Canada as defending World Champions as well as Tokyo Olympic silver medallists. A year ago they were not so far from the Italians, with whom they’ve done plenty of training camps over the years. However, in Canada the Brits could only finish fourth, not far off the second-string Italian team in silver or the Finnish crew in bronze, but light years off the pace of Tita and Banti. Percy, along with other high performance experts like Paul Cayard (USA) and Darren Bundock (AUS) who were in Canada, will be scratching their heads about how to close the gap to Italy. Whenever a team is so head and shoulders above the rest, suspicions of ‘mechanical doping’ inevitably arise. What illegal mods have been made to the boat to achieve that kind of stellar speed advantage? Well Nacra 17 class measurer Chris Henderson has got to the bottom of past misdemeanours, notably the French boats that ‘accidentally ran aground’ and had their boards cases repaired in such a way as to give them a more favourable angle of attack. That was in the first cycle of the Nacra 17 class, and it was to Henderson’s and other people’s credit that the French advantage had been negated by the Games in Rio 2016. There have been other illegal mods exposed since then, some intentional, some accidental. But despite close scrutiny, Henderson could find nothing untoward with the Italian boat in Nova Scotia. No doubt the Italians have refined their equipment to be the best it can possibly be within the bounds of the one-design rule, but it was clear from the live coverage of the racing that there are some things they do plain better than any other team. Their ability to whip the boat around through the manoeuvres is very consistent and precise. They haven’t quite got to the full foiling tack, but their touchdown at the mid-tack is minimal.

This small mod has been a gamechanger and no team has understood this new world more quickly than the Italians. They have been dominant all season and they came to Canada as clear favourites for the world title. That said, no one could have predicted the margin of invincibility. The Italians won 14 of 16 races across the week, their other two scores a 2nd and a 20th in very light and fluky winds, which they discarded from their overall results.

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or this series I suggest options for a specific Saturday a few weeks after the date of publication.

The activities will be those that I would consider for a day of a sailing course and are pitched at Day Skipper candidates as well as aspiring Yachtmasters.

My starting point for these plans is to take copies of the tidal stream chartlets in the Almanac so I have a snapshot of what is flowing where for every hour of the day.

ABOVE LEFT Sunset on the Beaulieu River BELOW are best shared

I assume winds SW Force 4-5 and I leave all the tidal height calculations, passage planning and pilotage to you. Times are in BST unless otherwise stated.

For this Saturday (29 October 2022) the time of HW Portsmouth is 1335UT and it is mid-way between springs and neaps. It is also the last day before the clocks go back – so take advantage of the daylight while you still have it. (Sun rises 0752 and sets 1745).

I will concentrate on building skills and fun activities for all the crew to enjoy. I would encourage all confident skippers to delegate various activities to their crew, who then become ‘skipper’ for a given task.

Plans

Clive Loughlin suggests three different itineraries for sailing in the Solent on Saturday 29 October 2022 – October 29 2022 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

With just a single day at your disposal there is simply no time for relocating the boat before the start of the adventure, so I suggest different options for those berthed in Lymington/Yarmouth, the River Hamble and Portsmouth.

Solent Saturday 32 LOUGLIN/ISTOCKCLIVEANDCALMANACPHOTOS

There is nothing like having to explain a plan to others, to clarify your own mind.

I strongly recommend having a copy of the Admiralty Small Craft Chart Folio ‘SC5600: The Solent and Approaches’ on board, together with a hand bearing compass.

A key part of being a skipper is to explain ‘the plan’ to the crew, and I like to make good use of sketches on a whiteboard, as well as reference to the printed charts, so everyone knows what they are doing.

Skills and Thrills

From here to Bembridge is about

I often include circumnavigationaor partial circumnavigation in a Day Skipper course and find that everyone really enjoys the experience. The passage also breaks down

into useful and worthwhile legs, so everyone has a chance to be ‘skipper’. I would definitely include a short stay at Bembridge both for the experience of crossing the bar (see online tide gauge bembridgeharbour. co.uk), the meandering approach, and the chance for a stroll along the seafront. Be sure to leave in good time to clear the bar!

If the wind is not from the SW and Force 4-5, or if the weather promises to be miserable, I would probably think again and go for Plan B.

Lymington andYarmouth

If after due consideration Plan A sounds like fun, then the basic idea is to make an early start and to be rounding ‘The Bridge’ west cardinal to the west of the Needles at 0700.

Plan B – Bramble Bank

Plan A circumnavigation-

The tidal stream in the Solent will now be heading west until 1900 and with 20nm to go to get back to base it is best to leave Bembridge by 1500. Do this and you will have had the benefit of fair tides for the whole of the day, and the added attraction of a nocturnal arrival.

BELOW Threading the Needles requires a decent passage plan

The tides and times present us with two tantalizing options. Plan A is to do an anti-clockwise circumnavigation of the Isle of Wight. Whether or not this is a good idea depends largely on the crew and, perhaps even more importantly, on the weather.

30nm and with about 1kt of favourable tide, the passage should take 5-6 hours. So with luck you can be off Bembridge Ledge by 1300 just as high water approaches.

If Plan A does not appeal for any reason then Plan B swaps miles for glamour.

33Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

Traffic and Containers

Locks

Be sure to visit the ‘Bramble’ post to pay homage for its service as a hugely useful online weather station (bramblemet.co.uk).

Head back the way you have come, and then if you need fuel, or have simply never visited it before, enter the lock for Hythe Marina. It is good

After circumnavigating the Bramble Bank it should be about 1300 and the crew will be ready for some lunch. Head for the Beaulieu River and either pick up a mooring or anchor between port piles ‘20’ and ‘22’; or continue on the rising tide (HW is at 1402) to Buckler’s Hard for fuel for the boat and perhaps also for the crew at the Master Builder’s.

On the way to the Bramble Bank it is worth taking time to practice a few MOB manoeuvres, and also the rigging of a gybe preventer (see ‘Experts Forum’ in this issue). The western half of the Solent is generally low on traffic, but the same cannot be said for the Precautionary

BOTTOM LEFT Royal ChapelVictoriaatNetley

BOTTOM RIGHT

ABOVE RIGHT Horse Sand Fort

Solent Saturday – October 29 2022

After lunch head back to the Solent, under sail as much as possible, and practice tacking on your way to Newtown River (4nm) for tea and reflection on the success of your sailing year. Depart Newtown by sunset (1745) and head back to base.

Area north of Cowes – so keep a particularly vigilant lookout.

River Hamble

ABOVE LEFT Alum Bay – perfect for breakfast

Tugs are used to containermanoeuvrevessels

The tide will turn to head east about 0700 and should be well established by the time the washing up has been done.

The next challenge is a more modest but still tricky circumnavigation of the Bramble Bank (15nm away). Go round as close as you dare to the 2m contour using just clearing bearings, and with the chart plotter covered up.

NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting34

Proceed leaving the reds just to port and drop your hook (with a trip-line), or pick up a mooring within the Bury Swinging Ground at the north end of Southampton Water. Then put the kettle on while you watch the containers being loaded and off-loaded at impressive speed.

out for Royal Victoria Chapel at Netley (formerly part of a hospital established for the wounded of the Crimean War) and Hythe to the west, at which point it is a good idea to cross the shipping lane and skirt the much less active western shore.

As you head north keep an eye

Fortune favours the brave and the early riser, and I recommend setting off early (0600) and riding the last of the ebb through Hurst Narrows and on to Alum Bay (5nm), for a sunrise breakfast at anchor with the Needles providing an impressive backdrop.

The flood tide heading north up Southampton Water until 1400, creates a perfect opportunity to ‘go the other way’ and pay a visit to the commercial docks (8nm). This is more interesting than scenic, but the SW wind makes for a perfect beam reach, keeping just east of the main shipping lanes.

Watch out for the IoW ferries and especially the Red Jets that routinely travel at 38kts, as well as the container vessels and cruise liners. The larger vessels will often have tug boats attached by lines for-and-aft that allow them to pull and twist and turn the ships in sometimes unexpected directions.

BOTTOM RIGHT The approach to Bosham Quay

BOTTOM LEFT

The ‘West marksport-handPole’dolphin,theapproach to Chichester Harbour

Clive Loughlin teaches for First Class Sailing in the Solent area and is a regular Sailing Today contributor.

35Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

Depart Portsmouth as you normally would, staying in the Small Boat Channel and then check the coast is clear and head east after passing Spitbank Fort.

At the start of the ebb (1400) depart Hythe and head down Southampton Water. For many this may well be the end of the sailing season and I would favour a bit of nature to counteract the bustle of the container port.

Crew always enjoy sneaking through the 60m wide gap in the submarine wall that runs from the shore to Horse Sand Fort. The concrete blocks are visible at low tide and were designed, in 1908, to sink torpedo boats – they are still effective today.

Portsmouth

Head back to Portsmouth on the west-going stream and marvel at the diversity you have experienced, or extend the magic with an overnight at Sparkes Marina.

ABOVE LEFT

The online tidal height is the real world actual height of tide at that point at that time, and includes any factors such as tidal surge, caused by wind and atmospheric pressure, that add to the purely astronomical predictions of the tide tables.

After rounding ‘West Pole’, head north and follow the reds. Currents flow strongly in the entrance – be grateful they will be going the right way!

Tides flow strongly in the entrance to Chichester Harbour, especially on the ebb as in this photo.

Mind the gap

Head through the gap staying a bit south of centre and then plot a course for the ‘West Pole’ port-hand mark on the approach to Chichester Harbour.

Continue east and then north up the Bosham Channel, and tie up at the west end of Bosham Quay. Bosham is steeped in history. A stroll ashore to visit the church and Anchor Bleu pub will refresh body and soul.

The ‘Camber’ south cardinal doubles up as a tide gauge.

an online tide gauge and weather station (cambermet.co.uk). The depth alongside Bosham Quay is 1.5-2.0m above chart datum – double check the plan hangs together for your boat and draft.

Harbour (13nm). Our aim is to get to Bosham Quay, enjoy the AngloSaxon charm of the place, and then depart just before HW at 1435.

Once inside the harbour head east in the Chichester Channel and look out for the ‘Camber’ south cardinal that also doubles up as

With the ebb tide heading east from 0600 it is time to escape the Solent and make for Bosham in Chichester

for the crew to experience locks as there are not too many in the Solent area. Be prepared for some tight manoeuvring inside the marina, and be sure to have all lines and fenders rigged, and a boat hook readily to hand for grabbing out-of-reach lock-lines. Be sure to tell your crew not to fasten the lock-lines to the boat, and also warn them that they will have to hang on to them quite firmly as water floods in or out.

Head for either Beaulieu River or Newtown River to soak up some eco appreciation, and then decide if you really need to get back to the Hamble that evening, or can allow yourself a night under the stars. Either way, take your time to chill while waiting for the flood tide to set in (1900).

The time of high water is very close to that at Portsmouth. I would plan to arrive alongside the quay as early as tidal height and depth of keel allow, and leave before high water. This is no time to run aground on a falling tide.

ABOVE RIGHT

How36 we won the Round Britain & Ireland Race NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

37Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

How we won the Round Britain and Ireland Race

Regular contributor Rupert Holmes, who raced two-handed on Richard Palmer’s JPK1010 Jangada, has the inside story of their route to victory

Pen Duick and the 3300s remained with us on and off for most of the next week, at times crossing tacks only a few 100 metres apart, right up to Muckle Flugga at the northern extremity of the Shetlands Islands, at almost 61 degrees north.

Slavishly following the output of routing software is rarely a route to the top of the fleet, but it’s a great aid to understanding what’s happening with the weather, especially in

TOMLINSONWYETH/RICKTOMLINSON/PAULJAMESPHOTOS:

Ireland Race. Yet from the outset this year promised to be different, with the star-studded entry list including 16 very well prepared, experienced and practiced two-handed teams. More than half a dozen of these had obvious potential to win overall on IRC.

The initial stage of the race, in a slowly building south-easterly breeze after a very light airs start, was not quick for us. We followed Shirley Robertson and Dee Caffari’s Sun Fast 3300 RockIt in tacking along the island shore east of Cowes, however, the bulk of the fleet fared better on the mainland side.

One of the many challenges in offshore racing, especially short-handed, is to manage the many inevitable emotional ups and downs. The knowledge that this is such a long course that’s full of opportunity to get back into the peloton kept our spirits buoyed at this stage.

Light airs continued to predominate for most of the first week, forcing the bulk of the fleet to go very wide of the southwest corner of Ireland to avoid a massive wind hole there. The exception was for the slower rated boats, notably Stuart Greenfield’s veteran S&S34 Morning After, which made good speed ploughing

How we won the Round Britain & Ireland Race

We also closed the distance on the Class 1 and 2 boats ahead, though were still surprised on days three and four when the higher-rated Sun Fast 3300s came into view, along with Marie Tabarly’s legendary 73ft ketch Pen Duick Vl. However, the leading Sun Fast 3600s – Rob Craigie and Deb Fish’s Bellino, and Nick Martin and Calanach Finlayson’s Diablo, along with Sam White and Sam North’s JPK1080 Mzungu! – stayed clear ahead on the water throughout.

BELOW RIGHT Light airs at dawn off the coast of Kerry

ABOVE LEFT Close racing in the early stages of the race

Equally, manoeuvres are planned so that there’s minimal chance of anything going wrong. As a result each one may take marginally longer than some boats in the fleet, but these losses are nowhere near as great as a single botched sail change or gybe.

Early setbacks

efore this summer only nine RoundstopRORC’steamsdouble-handedhadeverfinishedgruelling,non-1,800mileSevenstarBritainand

As with any race, preparation is vital and in this respect Jangada had a head start. Since Richard bought the boat in 2015 she has been meticulously improved with two goals in mind. Improving boat speed is obvious, but in this case it never comes at the expense of reliability, recognising that any breakage or malfunction can cost a considerable amount of time.

BELOW LEFT Wild Pilgrim and Pen Duick VI

directly up the rhumb line in decent breeze and therefore established an enviable lead on corrected time.

Reading the weather

ABOVE RIGHT Jangada and crew enjoying the moderate conditions that typified the early stages of the race

NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting38

BELOW LEFT A congested fleet as the racers approached the western tip of the race course

Most of the fleet immediately hoisted spinnakers on turning south at Muckle Flugga, with the asymmetric boats sailing wide angles back and forth across the North Sea. However, being somewhat tired from the previous few days of bashing upwind, we opted to for the easy solution: poling out the jib and sailing straight down the rhumb line, a move that had us surfing under easy control at up to 12kts boat speed.

difficult transitions. There were plenty of these throughout the race, including a critical one on the approach to St Kilda, a precipitous island out in the Atlantic, 40 miles west of the Outer Hebrides.

We consistently gained ground in the North Sea, reaching a point at which we had an overall lead equivalent to 30-40 miles. Satellite data was again a key element in this, allowing us to download the position of our competitors every four hours for fleet management.

In an interview before the start Richard talked about “out sleeping the competition.” That may sound odd in a race where every minute counts, but it’s all too easy to make bad decisions

BELOW RIGHT Off County Mayothe wind started to gradually increase as we headed north

By the time you converge with the Norfolk coast the race is already reaching its closing stages, with barely more than 200 of the 1,800 miles of the course left to run. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of transitions to negotiate, each one with potential to gain or drop places. And the forecast was for very light airs, with multiple shut downs.

Around 16 hours after turning south we were hard on the wind and jumping off waves again. Possibly the biggest disappointment of the race was the slow realisation that this southerly wasn’t a warm breeze from sunnier climes. Instead, it was the air mass that had come down from the Arctic only a day or two earlier.

39Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

In stark contrast to the heatwave of the first week, the new wind came as a blast from the Arctic. We were in full upwind mode for the next 300 miles, in a sea state out of proportion to the wind strength, which rarely topped

when properly tired. And the next transition wasn’t far away.

25kts. With the cockpit regularly fire-hosed by cold spray, and the bow occasionally dipping into the wave tops, summer clothes had by now given way to top-notch thermals and ocean specification smock tops or drysuits.

Out sleeping thecompetition

ABOVE

The author, right, with owner Richard Palmer

Although the synoptic charts had shown a cold front, satellite imagery downloaded on Jangada’s Iridium Certus 200 system showed a wide band of slow-moving cloud. This suggested we couldn’t rely on the front to sweep quickly across and bring a new stronger wind. Even though the next waypoint was upwind, we therefore deployed the Code Zero and bore away to push through the front, sacrificing distance made good for getting into the new wind earlier. In doing so we also sailed around a pair of 3300s that we could see on AIS were almost becalmed.

But we still couldn’t relax. The wind had continued to build during the morning but we didn’t have enough time cushion to peel from the light S2 to the heavier S4 spinnaker. As a result we were now above the sail’s designed maximum apparent wind strength by a figure uncomfortably over 50 per cent.

Nevertheless, the wind slowly swung aft and strengthened just as the tide started to turn in our favour and we changed to the S2 spinnaker. It was not long before we were making 8-9 kts, with occasional bursts above 10. Even so, it was only when we could see the slightly higher rated Rockit, a little over 10 minutes ahead, easily passing the wind shadows of Norris, off East Cowes, that we could finally be sure of beating Bellino.

The new breeze failed to materialise on schedule and eventually filled at around 0700, giving us less than three hours to sail the final 25 miles. And at this stage we were still reaching with the Code 0, rarely making much more

and the apparent wind is therefore at a maximum. In the event of a broach, our plan was to start sailing with only mainsail but the kite still depowered while bearing away well downwind and waiting for boat speed to build before sheeting on and gradually returning to the fully powered up reaching course.

Photo finish

How we won the Round Britain & Ireland Race

40 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

ABOVE LEFT theApproachingfinishline

By now we knew we had to finish before 1034 the following morning to take overall victory on corrected time ahead of Bellino. However, we were almost becalmed just off Worthing, 40 miles from the finish, with a new south-south-easterly breeze not forecast to fill in until dawn. It was a nail-biting period in which all we could do was get the most out of every gust and puff, while also ensuring we were well rested for the final push.

In the event this wasn’t necessary. Energetic trimming, accompanied by aggressively bearing away in the stronger puffs, was enough to keep the boat on its feet. We crossed the line after 15 days at sea to take overall victory with seven minutes to spare, on a morning in which seven boats finished within an hour.

TOMLINSONTOMLINSON/RICKJAMESPHOTOS: Points O'all Sail no Boat Make Owner Crew Finish time Elapsed H'cap Corrected Pos Points Overall 100 150 GBR958R Jangada JPK 1010 PalmerRichard Richard Palmer & Rupert Holmes 22 Aug 10:27:02- 14 - 22:17:021.00114 - 22:38:321 100 150 94 141 GBR8657L Bellino Sun 3600Fast CraigieRob Rob Craigie & Deb Fish 21 Aug 22:47:46- 14 - 10:37:461.03514 - 22:45:412 94 141 90 135 GBR4436L Mzungu! JPK 1080 WhiteTony Sam White & Sam North 21 Aug 22:57:11- 14 - 10:47:111.03915 - 00:18:403 90 135 86129 GBR6502L PilgrimWild Sun 3300Fast JonesDaniel Daniel Jones & Jon Tyrrell 22 Aug 09:29:48- 14 - 21:19:481.03015 - 08:03:004 86129 83 124.5 GBR795R Diablo Sun 3600Fast MartinNick Nick Martin & FinlaysonCalanach 22 Aug 09:17:46- 14 - 21:07:461.03215 - 08:33:275 83 124.5 IRC overall results – top five yachts

ABOVE RIGHT

Our result also cemented Jangada’s overall win in the RORC season’s points championship, where all races count, and the Gordon Appelby trophy, which counts each boat’s top six results over the season. The covered 7,000 miles of racing during the season, plus a few thousand more in deliveries, with Richard on board for every event, with Jeremy Waitt and myself alternating as co-skipper.

Fully aware of the imperative to avoid problems at this late stage, we discussed a plan for dealing with a broach. What often causes spinnakers to explode is them filling with a bang immediately after broach, when the boat is moving slowly

than six knots over the ground.

The winning duo savour victory not only in class,double-handedthebutoverall on corrected time

The fleet also came back together here and we were joined again by the 3300s and Pen Duick. Ahead of us Bellino and Mzungu continued to enjoy their close battle right to the finish, crossing the line less than 10 minutes apart late in the evening of the 14th day.

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I squinted at the radar screen and saw a large light patch straight behind, indicating big squall of wind and rain was approaching us fast – just a few minutes away.

I was on an extended sabbatical, which the family were calling “The Trip - A Global Family Adventure” (although this part was going to just be me – the family were staying at home as the kids wanted to go back to school for a few weeks).

NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

braced all the muscles in my body, I held on with both hands as the yacht pitched and rolled in some of the biggest waves and swell we had seen in the last three weeks. The wind whistled in the mast and rigging, as crashing waves surged the boat forwards. There was no moon, so apart from an entire sky full of stars, it was pitch black. Some waves glowed from the phosphorescence and the occasional flash of a flying fish whizzed past.

the North Atlantic – over 1,000 miles to the nearest landmass in any direction – south to South America, east to Africa or west to our destination, the West Indies.

ABOVE LEFT The me,seaaftercrewGib-Lanzarote–allsmilesafewdaysat–lefttoright–Ricky,Steve

But before all that excitement, let’s rewind as to how we got here.

ABOVE RIGHT The helm station – mission control for a few weeks

The Atlantic was something I had wanted to sail for a long time but November is normally a month of ‘head down hard’ at work. The luxury of weeks off at this time of year had never previously

Experienced sailor Mat Desforges reflects on his first Atlantic crossing and what he discovered along the way

The boat rolled even more and it was definitely time to change our course slightly to avoid a crash gybe, and to reduce sail. The squall would arrive very soon. As I reached for the ropes the warm (we were below the tropic of cancer) rain lashed my back. I reduced the mainsail, thankful, as ever, for the joys of hydraulics and electric winches – something I definitely wasn’t used to from the smaller boats I normally sailed on.

I was on the midnight until 2am watch, all alone in the cockpit, as the skipper and three other crew caught some sleep below the deck. We were approaching the centre of

A voyage of self discovery

the hydraulic winches had woken him. It was nice to know someone else was around, but the work was done and the boat settled down a bit in the Force 7 as it surged forward, west to the Caribbean.

An extended sabbatical

Atlantic Crossing 42

Just as the squall hit, Steve, our ever-alert skipper, popped his head out the hatch to see if everything was okay. The change in motion and the noise from

BELOW RIGHT The comfortable twin helm of the Oyster 565

43Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

Leaving Gibraltar after the customs shenanigans which is now the UK and Europe, we dodged tanker after tanker as they plied east and west through the Strait of Gibraltar. The African coast was tantalisingly close with the lights of Tangiers clear. The ocean currents through the Strait meant that we were reminded of the strong currents back in Guernsey, where Steve owns

BELOW LEFT Rest and Recuperation in Lanzarote, before the proper trip begins

and up to the job of crossing oceans.

It was chilly at night but warm and clear during the day. The first few days drifted past and the wind played games with us by providing light, fluky breezes but there was enough to get the boat sailing with some occasional engine.

I would be sailing the Atlantic on what I would describe as a “proper yacht” – an Oyster 565. Much larger than anything I had sailed in recent years. She was safe, well kitted out

Steve and his girlfriend Claire were early on their extended voyage and the Atlantic was the first big ocean to cross; they wanted some crew to share the watches. The journey was to be broken down into two main parts; first was Gibraltar to the Canaries, then to the Caribbean.

So that is where in early November, as the clocks turned back, the nights drew in and the leaves fell, I was going … sailing. I headed by air to Gibraltar to rendezvous with the boat and crew.

Out into the Atlantic

Beaucette Marina and we had met. The boat made light of the ‘overfalls’ and we swept west at 8 kts with few revs and the smallest of sails.

The trip down the African coast was most exciting at night. Not really from a sailing but from a boat dodging perspective. The coastal seas were littered with travelling cargo ships and small fishing boats. We had the small specks on the radar screen indicating an approaching vessel but many of the fishing boats didn’t show up on the radar or AIS. So we had to keep our eyes peeled and adjust

ABOVE Spinnaker prep in Gibraltar

As I planned my departure, the reality of a very different, long and potentially arduous adventure hit home. Time away from the family is always tricky, but as my 14-year-old son Monty reminded me, quoting Riley Whitlem from ‘Sailing La Vagabonde’, who we had met earlier during our sabbatical: “If you’re a sailor…… you gotta go sailing.”

been there. This was my chance.

The butter technique

The Canaries leg was a short hop so after a crew change it was time to cross the Atlantic ocean proper – but first, a few facts.

One old navigation adage is to “head south until the butter melts, then turn west.” Sounded fair enough. We headed south. The winds were light. We motored and sailed a bit when the wind picked up. The butter remained hard.

The winds kicked in for a few hours here and there and we had some lovely sailing. The temperatures rose. The butter started going soft. But the trades never got going. There were hours of little wind. We motored some more. It was slow and frustrating.

The hurricane season has also generally passed (late July to October) so significant storms are less of a worry (and they generally track further north).

Sailing across an ocean for many weeks is a strange concept. It goes from the amazing to pure monotony. During long distance sailing I find myself appreciating what I have at home much more –my family, friends, home comforts. I found my mind wandering as the seascape drifted by and I realised how much I have.

BELOW RIGHT

course, often at the very last minute.

The butter started to melt and the forecast was telling us the trades would arrive. On ‘decision

ABOVE LEFT

We were headed in the general direction of the Cape Verde islands and calculating our fuel usage. We didn’t carry enough fuel to motor more at this rate and run the generator. We recalculated. No one wanted to stop in Cape Verde to refuel.

As we got further west, the trades really kicked in and the boat rolled around. When I say rolling around, I mean the boat was like a side ways roller coaster in a washing machine. I have been on many boats, but this rolling action was for days on end, all day and night.

Atlantic Crossing day’ (whether to stop at Cape Verde or carry on) the trades did as predicted – they kicked in. We were consistently sailing and after the first five days and nights of motoring on and off, we then didn’t use the engine again until 500 yards off St Lucia.

When heading west the sunset helps the navigator .... and is a lovely sight most nights

It was really hard to do much – cooking was a nightmare. Each

BELOW LEFT

Combined with these winds is a generally west flowing sea current of around 1-1.2 kts.

Fueling up the crew as the low latitude dusk quickly turns to night

White sails before the kites are up ABOVE RIGHT “Which skipper?”wayCrew on a serious watch

The winds are more favourable at that time of year. The Azores high pressure weather system is generally over the north mid Atlantic creating an anti-clockwise Force 4-6 known as the trades.

November / December is when it’s best to cross from east to west and it’s about 3,000 nautical miles, so if we travelled in a vaguely straight direction at an average of 6.5-7 kts it would take us about 18-19 days and nights at sea. No land in sight for all that time.

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But accidents happen. You’re careful. You clip a harness on. You wear a lifejacket. But falling overboard can still happen.

ABOVE LEFT Fish for dinner! –mid Atlantic shing can be rewarding

e ultimate nightmare. e rst rule on a yacht is “don’t fall over.”

What if the keel broke? Again, pretty much doomsday scenario. It is incredibly unlikely but can happen.

e days can be monotonous and long. I found that a routine helped. It wasn’t complex but it worked for me. From midnight to midnight it went something like this: Night: get woken up by bloody

Flying sh continually landed on deck. A few decided that wasn’t quite enough; they headed down the hatches. And stank. Before the trip I would think “ ying sh…cool.” A er a few days they were just a stinking menace to be cleared up in the morning. Being out at sea always has its risks and worries; “what if” questions and niggling doubts can intensify when land and potential outside assistance is far away.

What if you got injured? e boat pitches and rolls; if not stored properly then items y around. Good boats are well designed so that there are hand-holds and furniture to brace against as you move about. But one missed hand-hold at the same time that the boat lurches in the wrong direction could mean a long fall against something hard or sharp. If it happens closer to land the discomfort or help at hand is just hours, rather than days away.

time you opened the fridge it was (according to crew Ricky) like “there was a bloke inside who was chucking things out at you”. But this fridge dweller wasn’t satis ed with throwing individual items, he would happily release the whole contents of the fridge.

Flying sh sailing

WE CLEAN AND DRY YOUR SAILS AND COVERS to find out more visit www.tiptopsails.co.uk Salt crystals – are abrasive to stitching and attract damp and mildew. Green Algae will destroy your fabric. Use our UK wide network of trade partners. 47Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

Repeat.

alarm. Wake (kind of). Can’t believe you have to get out of bed. Two hours on watch. Stargaze. Adjust sails. Get tired. O watch. Bounce around your bunk while trying to sleep. Wake - “What? Already?!”

What if you fell over the side?

driTea.Sundowner/catchMeditate/podcast/rest.Lunch.Onwatch.upwithcrew.Getrolledaroundinbunkinginandoutoflightsleep.

Day: On watch. Breakfast. Stretch/ exercise. Boat chores.

Sleep deprivation created some strange moments. Strange dreams and conversations took hold. On one occasion, Steve, while on watch looked at Ed, another crew, through tired eyes and said “thanks for my pint.” Ed looked bemused as we were far from a bar or a pint!

Getting into the routine

Bizarrely, I liked most of it. e starry night watches – listening to music or just enjoying peace as my mind dri ed – were enjoyable. Hundreds of miles from anywhere or anything. But helming out at sea is still my favourite. When the asymmetric is powering the boat along at 10+ knots, I nd my mind can almost go into a meditative state. I am in the right here, right now. My brain seems calm and content, dri ing occasionally to re ect, appreciate, or just think about the world around me. It feels mediative, positive and special. My overriding conclusion from

ABOVE RIGHT Doing a watch from the comfort of a bean bag (drinking iced tea – honest)

Gaining perspective

Hopefully it helped my wife. Or perhaps Ali just thought: “Well that’s bloody good for you! But I am having to deal with all this stuff at home.”

BELOW LEFT My last job before the flight home – top of the mast rig check

At the end of the day it was a bunch of individuals pulling together as a team with one clear objective – to get to the other side of the ‘pond’. We were independent, yet totally dependent on each other and, importantly, the boat. It can be scary, boring, exhausting, amazing. You get to see sights you would never normally see – a million stars at night, whales, dolphins, countless seabirds, massive fish (which we ate) – to name a few.

years of sailing yachts is that the team was so important. I couldn’t do this alone (although I know many do).

Then, like so many epic experiences in life, one minute you’re in the middle of it, loving it and then, in the blink of an eye, it’s over. So, just after midnight one December night the twinkling lights of St Lucia came into view. The trade winds swirled around the first land we had seen in nearly three weeks. We navigated our way into the lee of St Lucia, the omnipresent Atlantic swell died, we dropped the anchor and it was over.

The Atlantic crossing was a memory. A great one, but just a memory. Hopefully the feelings that I had experienced – such as those of contentment, focus and ability to put life’s challenges into perspective – would remain.

It made me put life into perspective. We had intermittent wifi while at sea and I used to send the odd message. One exchange stood out for me in particular. My wife was dealing with all of life’s and family challenges alone and at times shared some issues. Nothing too bad, just the usual stuff that grind us down now and again. I couldn’t do anything, but when sailing far from shore you realise that life’s day to day annoyances, jobs, tasks, lists, admin – just general stuff we all deal with are always there. But in a way they aren’t really the problem. Sure, they need doing and I am not belittling them, but crossing the ocean allowed some distance and perspective on life’s challenges. This was my reply: “I am on watch. The pesky wind is up and down. It’s just rained. The boat is rolling. Speed is low. A cup of boiling tea has just chucked itself at me. The boat’s a tip – stuff is everywhere. Everyone else is cosy and asleep

ABOVE RIGHT Entering the channel to Rodney Bay Marina on arrival in St Lucia

BELOW RIGHT Boat at anchor in the Caribbean for Christmas –accomplishedmission

48 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

Despite all the crew being very much individuals, we really felt like a little team working together. We solved many problems in addition to the day to day jobs of running and sailing a boat. Once a large fishing rope (from another boat) got caught around our propellor and two of us had to get in the sea, use scuba gear, in mid-Atlantic in a building swell to cut it free.

Atlantic Crossing

and I am bloody knackered. But guess what? In the grand scheme of this journey, all of these things are irrelevant. We will get there.”

ABOVE LEFT Marigot Bay, St Lucia

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e Grenadines 50

Tom Fletcher explains his love of the Grenadines, and reveals some charter skipper highlights of the cruising area

CaribbeanDreamin’ NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

When to go andwhat to expect e peak season here runs from Christmas to Easter, when the fresh trade winds regularly top 20kts and there is little rain. Come out of that season, and you can expect a bit more humidity, some

51Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

he best sailing area in the world? In my opinion, the Grenadines. Without a shadow of a doubt. I just can’t get enough. Every time I y in, on a little twin-prop, gazing down at the blue paradise that is Tobago Cays, my heart skips a beat. e nervous anticipation of exhilarating sailing in the strong winds and Atlantic swell, is calmed by the lee of a picture-perfect island sheltering a tropical beach and a rum shack! What really makes the Grenadines stand out to me is how remote they feel. A far cry from the commercialization of the British Virgin Islands (BVIs), the islands all have their own, di erent, authentic Caribbean characters. Scattered in a sparkling arc, stretching some 60nm from the southern tip of St Vincent to Grenada, they are the perfect cruising area for the more experienced sailor. When I’m sailing there, I feel so far removed from the rest of the world, and that’s such a valuable feeling these days.

ABOVE RIGHT The anchorage in the channel off Petit Rameau, Tobago Cays

southernmost passage to Grenada being a bit further. This passage also takes you past a submerged volcano named Kick’em Jenny! There’s an exclusion zone here, which you must avoid. Frighteningly, submarine gaseous eruptions can result in negative buoyancy.

ABOVE LEFT Fort Duvernette, St Vincent

so you can sleep well knowing you are attached to something solid. When anchoring check the pilot book first; it’s prohibited in some areas for reef conservation. When you do drop the hook, look for pale areas where the bottom is sandy. Holding is generally good in thick sand, and it should soon become clear that your biggest problems will be lighting the barbecue in 20kts of wind, and not worrying about the boat dragging. A snubber can be a good idea, as a little swell, and overnight wind, can make for a noisy evening in the forepeak. Although it's difficult to choose, here are a few highlights of the area to consider. The Windward Islands cruising area is compact, but littered with gems and keeps on giving as you scratch deeper. It’s a water sports paradise really, with excellent diving, kite surfing and sailing.

Mooring and anchoring

52 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

rain and lighter winds. The main hurricane belt is north of the islands. Grenada is actually a popular summer base for many Caribbean cruisers, whose yacht insurance dictates they be south of 12 degrees latitude from June to November.

Navigation is, on the whole, easy between the islands, though it pays to keep an eye to windward for passing Atlantic squalls. They can approach quickly and winds can pick up before they hit. Once the rain has set in, it usually calms, and they pass as quickly as they arrived. The canny sailor can often put a tack in at the right time though, and watch the squall sail right past, before resuming their course. There’s no real tide to speak of, but the currents from the Atlantic can be hard to account for when plotting courses, it’s a bit of a black art to get it right. Happily, on the majority of passages your destination island will be within sight, with only the

BELOW Blue Lagoon, St Vincent, where many Sail chartersGrenadinesbegin

Once close to the islands a little more diligence is required, reefs are common and several areas require clearing bearings. The swell and the stronger winds can make pilotage tricky at times. A crewed yacht can be a great way to relax and explore the islands, with a professional crew guiding you around the highlights. This can be a great learning experience, and an amazing holiday.

One of a number of superb anchorages in Tobago Cays

Sailing can be fresh in between the Windward Islands. The Atlantic swell is often over the bow, and one reef in the main is common. It’s an exciting area to stretch your skills and blow the cobwebs away. However, it’s reassuring to know that most passages between the islands only last a few hours, and then you’re out of the swell, tucked in behind your destination. The winds are mainly north-east or east in the winter season, making trips north up the chain harder. A sensible tip is to start your charter in St Vincent and finish in Grenada – a service most charter companies are happy to provide. This allows the majority of your island hopping to be on a southern bearing, on either a beam or a broad reach.

Typically, mooring is on the anchor or a buoy, with a few marinas and quaysides to tie up to. Buoys are usually available, though Christmas and New Years can be busy. They cost from $50EC upwards a night (around £15). Most boat boys, who service the buoys, offer a reputable service. A good charter company will provide you with contacts in most harbours,

PAGEPRECEDING

ISTOCKPHOTOS:

ABOVE Port Elizabeth, Bequia BELOW

Tobago CaysMarine Park:

If there was ever an area to take a crewed charter this might be it. There’s simply so much to see in a week or two, that you can miss the highlights in the time it takes to get accustomed to the sailing and the navigation. A professional crew also deals with the Caribbean hustle, leaving you to enjoy all the good stuff.

Bequia: Moonholeand the Plantations

53Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

Bequia has a stunning harbour, Port Elizabeth, and is a popular destination for Christmas and New Year with a great party atmosphere. I was based here while working for Sail Grenadines, Sail Ionian’s sister company. There are plenty of solid mooring buoys, fuel and water barges, the Rastafarian fruit and veg market, many great restaurants and rum bars, all making it a great bolt-hole in case of bad weather.

I wanted to focus on the lesserknown highlights of the area, but no visit to the Grenadines would be complete without spending some time in Tobago Cays. These five islets; Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Baradal, Petit Tabac and Jamesby, and the reef that surrounds them, are one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. Scattered on the edge of the Atlantic, you can swim all day with turtles, watch the sun go down over the open ocean, and then dine on lobster at a local-run beach barbecue shack. It feels as if you are on an atoll at the edge of the

anchor, beware the current in the Cut shifts 180 degrees. Take the dinghy to the landing stage below the fort, and climb the stone steps that cling to the side of the rock, up to the gun emplacements at the top. Original cannons still sit in place, and the view of St Vincent’s palm-fringed coast is spectacular.

Moonhole is a bit of a curiosity just south of Port Elizabeth though. Built in the 1960s as an ecological settlement, the first house was constructed under a stone arch and was built of whale bones and driftwood. Other houses followed and the community now consists of some 20 dwellings, some of which are available to rent. It’s a crazy place to sail past. Bequia also has some gorgeous old plantations nestled in the lush interior. It’s easy to find a jeep tour, and take in the Heritage Museum, sugar plantations, visit Firefly plantation and participate in the nearby sea salt tour or tasting. Time ashore here is well spent, to soak up the culture and history of the area.

Much of your time in the Grenadines will be spent at anchor so choosing a spot with confidence is key

Fort Duvernette towers above Young Island on the south of St Vincent, close to Blue Lagoon Marina where many Sail Grenadines charters start. The fort was built in 1790, and if there’s a location that just screams ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ then this is it. Take a buoy in Young Island Cut outside the luxury resort where Johnny Depp stayed while filming. However, if you prefer to

St Vincent: Fort Duvernette

I feel I have missed out so much because there are so many more places to see that you shouldn’t overlook. For example, there’s a brand-new luxury marina and resort on Canouan. Plus, Mopion is an unforgettable tiny sand islet lapped by turquoise waters, with one beach umbrella to relax under.

Tom Fletcher has worked three seasons as a charter skipper in the Caribbean, for Sail Grenadines (Sail Ionian’s sister company). Based in Bequia, fullsailgrenadines.comWindwardchartersbareboatGrenadinesSailprovideandcrewedintheIslands.Seeforcharterdetails.

ABOVE LEFT Chatham Bay on Union Island

Union is the main port used to transit between the countries of St Vincent and Grenada. e town of Cli on is a busy place sheltered by the reef that surrounds the harbour. Most cruisers will stop here to get their passports stamped as they leave St Vincent and the Grenadines, and if you do, do not miss taking the dinghy to Happy Island, an amazing reggae bar on the edge of

Grenada: e Molinere Underwater Sculpture Park

Union ChathamIsland:Bay

factory, sugar plantations and rum distilleries are all great options if you stay on. Before returning the yacht though, anchor in Dragon Bay on the west coast just north of St Georges. e waters o the southern headland are home to over 60 sculptures on the sea bed. Created by British artist Jason deCaires Taylor in 2006, the sculptures are mostly human forms, modelled on local inhabitants. ey vary in depth down to 12m, and if you scuba dive it’s worth arranging for a local dive company to pick you up from your yacht, otherwise you can snorkel above the gures.

ABOVE RIGHT Sailing o Union Island BELOW LEFT Happy Island

the reef. However, on the west side of Union is the sheltered remote bay of Chatham. It’s a large, easy anchorage, and when I’m there I love to watch the uninterrupted sunset over the Caribbean Sea. is is one of the places where, if you’re lucky, you can see the legendary green ash as the sun sets. It’s an optical e ect caused by sunlight refracting in the atmosphere, only visible when the conditions are right. A kilometre of ne sand hides a few barbecue shacks and a small, upmarket hotel bar. e lush vegetation behind the beach hides many hiking trails, and Union is a great island to explore. As an antidote to the bustle of Cli on, it makes a tranquil overnight stop.

world, which, in a way, you are. On one, week-long charter I skippered, the guests demanded we stayed... one night turned into ve before they'd had their ll. ere are secure buoys in the main anchorage, run by the park rangers to preserve the coral. If you are lucky enough to charter a crewed catamaran with a shallow dra , a local crew will know where to moor in between the shallow reefs, and secure you idyllic isolation. e snorkelling and scuba diving here are out of this world.

Grenada, known as the Spice Island, has a wonderfully relaxed vibe. It’s a great place to extend your holiday with a villa or hotel stay as there is so much to do in the interior. Rainforest trekking, a tour of the chocolate

Finally, to experience horse riding on the beach at sunset, head to Macaroni Beach on the ultraluxury private island of Mustique.

BELOW RIGHT St George's Harbour, Grenada

e Grenadines 54 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

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Boat test - Windelo 54

56 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

There aren’t that many boats out there built from volcanic basalt fibres but, as Sam Jefferson finds out, the Windelo 54 is a yacht that dares to be different

A tectonic shift in design

57Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

The design team of Barreau Neumann has penned a purposeful looking yacht

any years ago in what seems another life I used to teach sailing in the Caribbean in Hobie Cats.

ABOVE

In other words, we are looking at a yacht that does far more than indulge in a spot of ‘greenwashing’ as it is sometimes known. This is a boatbuilder that is serious about the environment. It’s also a serious enterprise. The builders have already won plaudits with its Windelo 50, plus it enjoys a full order book and is already gaining a loyal following.

To be brutally honest, there wasn’t a lot to do and, occasionally when the torpor got too much, I would take a Hobie out and play around in the waves; getting the boat up to maximum speed then bearing away in an attempt to deliberately pitchpole. This was both exhilarating and extremely ill advised – particularly as it was me who had to carry out any repairs. It was also incredibly fun. Imagine my surprise therefore when I enjoyed a similar sensation playing about in the waves in a 54ft cruising catamaran – obviously I wasn’t trying to pitchpole, but the feeling of dancing across the waves at full throttle was life-affirmingly similar and not at all what I had expected from a big, blue water catamaran.

This was the Windelo 54, which I test sailed out of its home port of Canet en Roussillon in France in exhilarating conditions. The boat showcased precisely how far big multihull cruising yachts have come in recent years. That sharp divide between fast racing multihulls and somewhat lumbering cruising cats has been blurred. Boats such as this Windelo, Outremer and Marsaudo have changed the

dynamic in a manner that was almost unimaginable a few years back. Yet despite that, perhaps the most interesting feature of the Windelo 54 is not the impressive performance but the incredibly forward thinking approach to design. This is a boat with serious green credentials and they are on show from the daggerboards up.

58 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting Boat test - Windelo 54

there – it’s a path well trodden by Outremer and Catana to name but two. Yet the devil is in the detail and this is where the Windelo most definitely starts to head off the chart because the other great aim was to do all this while constructing an extremely environmentally friendly boat. To this end, the company wanted to produce a boat with 50 per cent less environmental impact than traditional designs. The first and most radical step was to switch from using glassfibre to Basalt, a natural volcanic fibre, which offers vibration resistance and durability while still maintaining a high strength to weight ratio. The other great asset it possesses is that it is naturally produced and has no toxic additives. On top of that, the hull is cored with PET [Polyethylene Terephthalate]. This is created plastic from old bottles, which are crushed into very small pieces then melted again in order to create the PET foam. Meanwhile, all woods are sustainably resourced and twin electric motors come as standard.

The concept

BELOW

The basic concept behind all the Windelo range is to produce fast cruising catamarans capable of taking you around the world in comfort. Nothing particularly radical

A powerful sail plan points to performancestrong

A huge and very well lit saloon

The starboard aft cabin – not the wraparoundenormouswindow

Stepping forward and the side decks felt very secure and comfortable while the foredeck was a simply huge space with a big trampoline and storage lockers just ahead of the deckhouse plus a big lazarette in the port hull. To starboard was a nicely proportioned skipper’s cabin.

ABOVE RIGHT

THe forward cockpit is unique in this class of blue water multihull

BELOW LEFT Acres of solar panels on the coachroof

BELOW RIGHT

First impressions were very good. The boat feels suitably huge at 54ft (16.46m) but also looked suitably stylish with lean, purposeful hulls and dreadnought bows topped by a sympathetically designed deckhouse and well dimensioned rig. The 6ft 7in (2m) high freeboard gave good clearance from waves and the nacelle was set well back to further obviate slamming. The boat was designed by the Barreau Neumann team and their stated aim was to produce a boat that sailed well when loaded down with blue water kit rather than just reeling off impressive figures in lightship mode. The boat has twin daggerboards that are set dead centre in the hulls as opposed to being angled in. This is the most effective position but also a bit of a design challenge when it comes to configuring the interior. The rig is a powerful one featuring twin headsails. The inner headsail is self tacking but due to the mast being placed centrally on the boat, this remains a well proportioned sail. The outer headsail is on a sprit and can be switched for a huge 1,819sq ft (169sq m) gennaker. The big mainsail is set on an aluminium mast as standard although this can be upgraded to carbon. The boom was relatively low and afforded good

From the foredeck there is a sliding door that allows access to the cockpit which is, as already mentioned, set ahead of the saloon. This slightly unusual arrangement was first seen in the 50 and has a number of advantages in that you feel very connected to the action up front while also remaining close to the people relaxing, cooking or dining in the saloon. It certainly struck me as a very satisfactory arrangement and a solution to a problem that dogs cruising catamarans; a bridge deck separates the skipper from the rest of the crew, while twin wheels aft can leave the helmsman slightly vulnerable. In this case, the helm felt close to the action – particularly with the big front windows open – but also well protected and secure. You were also afforded a good view of the mainsail

59Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

access for stowing the main, and the coachroof itself was bedecked with solar panels – which brings us to another key feature of the boat; the twin electric motors, which are supplied by Bell Marine and are shaft driven. Under battery power alone, these would give you four hours at 6kts but, of course, the batteries will be constantly replenished via the solar panels, hydroregeneration. Meanwhile, there are twin diesel generators, which provide further back up and give you a motoring range of 1,110nm at 6kts.

On deck

ABOVE LEFT

space is completely seamless. Staying outside though, there is a big dining area and comfortable lounging area.

Stepping aboard, you’re straight into the main living area which, in common with 99 per cent of cruising catamrans blends the outdoor/indoor spaces to provide a huge living space. The boat features the big tilt/slide ‘garage door’ arrangement first pioneered by Bali, which means that in fine weather the transition from outdoor to indoor

The boat is available in three different levels of specification; Adventure, Sport and Yachting – the titles are reasonably self explanatory save for Yachting, which is a more high level luxury spec and was the level to which the test boat was fitted out to.

thanks to a big skylight overhead. Meanwhile, all the halyards exited the mast base and were led direct to two banks of jammers and on to a pair of beefy Harken winches. This makes for minimum friction and is also simple to use, and means that when conditions are wild you have access to all the important lines without going out on deck.

The test boat was somewhat unusual in that it had four cabins in the two hulls plus the skipper’s cabin in the starboard hull forward. In standard arrangement however, the entirety of the port hull is devoted to the owner’s quarters with the main stateroom set aft, a huge bathroom and potential for a small office space forward. In this boat, the office space had been eschewed in favour of a well dimensioned

All that remained was to go sailing. I had noticed that on my drive to the base in Canet en Roussillon that the wind was particularly boisterous around Leucate, just to the north of Canet. I had spotted a number of windsurfers doing Mach 10 or so in the wild Tramontana. I was therefore delighted when we slipped noiselessly out of the marina under electric power

Under sail

The cockpit can be isolated from the main saloon thanks to sliding patio doors but in general, it makes sense to keep things open and sociable. This is one of the great joys of this setup because directly behind the starboard helm is the galley – a nicely thought out U-shaped affair – naturally with an electric hob and oven. Directly aft of this is a dining table, making serving dinner an absolute delight. To port is a modest sofa area with a very comfortable berth for night passages.

The rig is aluminium as standard and features a self-tacking headsail and big reacher outside of that

60Boat test - Windelo 54

ABOVE

The 54 pointed well in the wild conditions BELOW

forward double cabin. This was a light, pleasant space with the bed set out fore and aft. Headroom throughout is an impressive 6ft 6in (2m) and the overall feeling of light and space was really very impressive.

NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

(very easy to handle by the way) and headed directly towards Leucate. What started as a brisk sail became increasingly wild. The breeze was dead offshore, providing relatively flat water, but built steadily and topped out at about 25kts or so. That was plentiful given we had the full main up and it would certainly have been deemed prudent to reef had we not turned tail and run off at the exact point that the wind peaked. The boat pointed very well for a big cat thanks to those daggerboards, while sail handling was impressively simple. The real joy was, unsurprisingly, the forward cockpit. It was a hot, sunny day, so we rolled up the screens and therefore felt completely involved with the action. The steering was sensitive and the overall feel was good. The boat was also nicely balanced and a pleasure to handle. Hard on the wind we were soon making 10kts plus. Obviously, part of the issue with multihulls is the fact that, because you sit flat in even the wildest of conditions, it’s hard to gauge if you’re overpowered. However, the helm provided enough feedback and the boat felt sufficiently skittish to tell me we were getting toward the edge. We were also having a lot of fun and, as we eased off onto a beam reach, the speed continued to build, maxing out at a shade under 17kts. As I say, my days as a Hobie sailor have often left me just a touch wistful as I took the helm on a somewhat more prosaic cruising cat. Not the case here! Despite the wild conditions, we barely took a spray onboard, all the while feeling life-affirmingly, exhilaratingly involved in the action.

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Electric Power: Bell Marine 2 x 20kW

Contact: windelo-catamarans.com

CATANA 53

The Windelo 54 picks up where its smaller sister the 50 left off. It’s part of a band of cruising multihulls that is redefining the genre by providing impressive performance married to good levels of comfort that makes them a blue water cruiser’s dream. On top of that, Windelo has also managed to produce a boat that pays much more than just lip service to the environment, and the fitting of electric motors as standard

LOOKS: HHHHH

MARSAUDON ORC57

Beam: 7.98m (26’2”)

BLUE WATER ABILITY: HHHHH

Price (base): €995,000

OUTREMER 55

LOA: 16.46 m (54’)

Draft Board Down: 2.35m (7’7”)

Outremer has established itself as one of the biggest suppliers of performance cruising catamarans and the Outremer 55 is its newest and largest model. The marque is tried and tested on the blue water trail and the 55 is arguably one of its most polished performers. catamaran-outremer.com

Draft Boards Up: 1.05m (3’4”)

Upwind sail area: 193 m² (2077 sq ft)

ALTERNATIVEBOATS

SAM’S VERDICT

COMFORT: HHH HH

Marsaudon Composites offers a step up in terms of performance. Its 57 is the latest in the range and this boat is a serious speed merchant. On the other hand it is a step down in terms of creature comforts; a touch more spartan and the fit-out a little less polished. Nevertheless, it’s an accomplished fast cruiser. marsaudon-composites.com

6363Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

An all new fast cruiser from the company that played a big hand in getting the ball rolling in this sector. The new 53 offers sparkling performance married to good levels of comfort. Twin aft helms give the boat a sporty feel. catana.com

on a big cruising boat remains the exception rather then the norm – and that should be lauded. All in all the company's willingness to innovate is evident throughout the boat – no more so than in the forward cockpit which, for me, is a real game changer. It made a fun sail exhilarating.

THE SPEC

Displacement: 12,800kg (28,219lbs)

Downwind sail area: 267 m² (2874 sq ft)

In our June issue Matteo Richiardi talked us through preparations for the Round Britain and Ireland race, organised by the Royal Western Yacht Club, in a Vertue 25. He survived to recount his adventures to us… Round Britain & Ireland Race

“Above all, I wanted to test myself and my boat, and bring forward that Vertue culture that has lived and grown over so many years, with so many epic voyages. “The Vertues are little boats with a big heart, the Jeep of the seas,

‘built as a church; comfortable as an old boot’. I wanted to connect somehow to David Lewis’ participation to the first Ostar in 1960 (‘The ship would not travel due west’), the Atlantic crossings of Humphrey Barton (‘Vertue XXXV’) and Peter Woolass (‘George, Stelda and I’), the circumnavigation of Peter and Jill Hamilton (‘The restless wind’), the Cape Horn rounding by father and son David and Daniel Hays (‘My Old Man and the Sea’), not to speak about the many passages and voyages that have remained undocumented, including the maiden voyage of my own boat, Mea, from Hong Kong to the UK, in 1959-1962. The last time Mea saw the Ocean was in 1987-1988, with an Atlantic tour under her fourth owner, the Suede Anders Lindgren. I wanted to bring her out of the semiretirement that is the destiny of many classic boats, and I wanted her to bring me to the Ocean."

Mamma Mea

Matteo, what were youlooking from this race?

NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

Mea all

Mea's

ABOVE set to for the start in Plymouth

64 RICCIARDIMATTEOPHOTOS

t the start of the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland race in Plymouth, on 29 May, few people would have bet that the little wooden boat Mea, a 1959 Vertue 25 designed by Jack Laurent Giles, would manage to complete the 1,900 miles of the race course. After all, Mea was the smallest and oldest boat ever to enter the race, having obtained a wild card from the race organisers as she was below the minimum length requirement. And her skipper Matteo Richiardi had no previous experience of ocean racing. Indeed, plagued by calms, adverse headwinds, and electrical failures, it seemed that Mea was bound to join the many other boats that had to retire from the race. Yet, on 5 July, 37 days after that late May Sunday morning, she crossed the finish line, last but certainly not least, having gained victory on corrected time. We caught up with Matteo post race.

RIGHT route map around Britain and Ireland (noon positions)

And how did it go?

“The second half of the race, from Lerwick to Plymouth, was more of an ultra-marathon, where we had to inch our way forward through calms and headwinds. Classic designs like Mea are not really fit to beat against

An interesting take on self-steering

BELOW LEFT Celebrating at the end of leg one

BELOW RIGHT Mea's appointedwell-cabin

65Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

ABOVE RIGHT

“Very well: a beautiful race, I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it, even when we were becalmed for days in the Celtic Sea and on the east coast of England, had to fight against headwinds and spring tides in the Channel and had to shelter from two gales off the west coast of Ireland. Indeed, the last experience is among the best memories, as it allowed me to better appreciate the wild scenery of the Irish coastline. I divide the race in two parts. The first two legs, from Plymouth to Lerwick, were wild and exciting. Ocean sailing at last. Extended calms with nothing in sight, then a couple of Force 7 and Force 8 storms that hit us on the west coast of Ireland. Big waves, 5-6m high, although with a long period. At times, the landscape looked almost alpine, with mountains and valleys and snow on top. I recognised the Matterhorn a couple of times, while waves of the majestic but less vicious

“While the first half of the race was more of a test for the boat, the second half was a test for our resolve. Consider that I also had to go to Plymouth from Mea’s home port on the River Orwell, in Suffolk, and then sail back, adding another 700 miles to the overall journey.

ABOVE LEFT Mea crosses the start line in Plymouth

Mont Blanc type were ubiquitous. And then the wildlife. We were never alone. Hundreds of dolphins, basking sharks, moon fishes, gannets, puffins and many other species of seabirds (not to say the longest jelly fish I have ever seen, about 1.5m long). Mea has a very low freeboard, and when you are sitting downwind in the cockpit, on a beat, you are a palm away from the water. And there were the dolphins accompanying us for days and days at times. One night we were joined by a single dolphin. We could hear it squealing through the hull while we were resting in our berths: I am not sure whether it was calling us, talking to the boat, calling for more friends to join, or just singing for fun!

“When I passed in front of Harwich, at the mouth of the Orwell, I heard many voices in my head saying ‘Stop! You've completed your circumnavigation!’ But I never thought I wouldn't make it to the finish the race, and seal our story.”

the wind and the tide, so it was a game of stop-and-go, with flat tacks for six hours, followed by decent advances when the tide was with us. I had two spinnakers and two spinnaker poles with me. But I was able to hoist them for a total of only 12 hours in the whole race, a couple of hours sailing towards Lizard Point on day one, and a few hours on our approach to the Shetlands.

Did you encounterany problems?

“This race taught me that to stormproof a boat, you need to sail through storms, something I was too happy to overlook in my preparation. Mea behaved splendidly, but we were plagued by water infiltrations during the worst weather, which made life aboard wet and damp at times. We had to put everything – from pillows to sleeping bags – in plastic bags, wrapping ourselves in tarpaulin sheets while lying in our bunks. We somehow managed to fix the worst leaks by sheathing the corners of the deck house with a strong duck tape, and make a strategic use of cloths around the cabin. However, a lot of water was finding its way underneath the cockpit floor, dripping directly on the engine. This ultimately caused a complete electrical failure when we were off St Kilda: no engine, no other ways of recharging the batteries. I had to bridge each and every one of the 12 wires that connect the engine controls with the engine itself, then try to protect everything from water as well as I could, but it

What was the most emotional moment in the race?

“In addition to that, in future I want to be able to explore the places where I sail to. I could consider a transatlantic race, but only as an incentive to get to the other side.”

Killing time during a calm with some fine dining BELOW

Arrival back in Plymouth

“I haven’t made any concrete plan yet, but I really hope my sailing adventures on Mea have just began. What I know is that I need at least a couple of years to finish preparing Mea, given that my budget is tight and I have to carefully plan each round of work on the boat and each new piece of equipment. In the meantime, I hope to do more racing but that is likely to be with broadly similar boats: there is no point in competing – even on corrected time – with boats that are twice or three times faster. The Brest festival in 2024 is on my horizon, as well as the Classic Channel Regatta, for instance.

“I was incredibly fortunate to have two fantastic mates for this race, with a changeover in Lerwick: Mahoney –a Polish grower from the Canary islands – and Paolo – an Italian Professor. I did not know them before the race – Paolo is a friend of a friend and Mahoney responded to an online ad that I put up when I was desperate for a crew, a few weeks before the start. We sailed together for two qualifying cruises – 300 miles and four days each – and everything went well. However, Mea’s cabin is four metres by two, and I did not know what would happen when sharing such a restricted space for weeks after weeks. Incredibly, life aboard remained always enjoyable, and this tells it all, I guess. We had an exceptionally good time, lots of laughs, ate better than I ever expected given the conditions and the two little alcohol burners of Mea’s stove. We also also sailed decently well, I suppose… I would have no hesitation in setting sail for another adventure with Paolo and Mahoney immediately.”

NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting66

The three musketeers; Paolo, Mahoney and Matteo

first miles of the race, off Plymouth. The former owners of Vertues Gay Caroline and Maiden of Tesla, who came to meet us in Blyth to share memories of their own boats. All the followers of our blog site, measailing. wordpress.com, those who posted comments and those who didn’t, who perhaps found inspiration by our tale of passion and perseverance. And the lady who recovered, on a beach in the Isles of Scilly, the message in the bottle we dropped off the coast of Ireland, and contacted my family back home, sending pictures of her beautiful watercolour carnet de voyage adorned with a piece of my own writing.

Around Britain and Ireland Race

worked. We also lost the autopilot while entering the Channel, which gave us ample opportunities to practice sheet-to-tiller.”

ABOVE RIGHT

ABOVE

What about the crew?

“The most beautiful and touching experience of all was being able to connect with like-minded people: a true kinship of the sea, perhaps. Like Alasdair Flint, who sent us his spare mainsail as our backup one parted two days before the start (Alasdair was preparing to sail his Vertue Sumara of Weymouth to Greenland). Roger Robinson, the editor of the website vertueyachts.com, who came to Plymouth to meet us before the start carrying two spare tillers just in case, and then came back to welcome us after we finished the race. John Milligan in Galway, who gave us his pilot books of the Irish coast in case we had to seek shelter from the weather (we did). Keith Baker, whom we met in Lerwick as he was leisurely sailing solo on a small boat around the UK, the other way round. Jon Dunsdon on Vertue Hippo V213, who waved us goodbye by sailing alongside Mea for the

And what are yourfuture plans?

“And last but not least, the emotion of waving goodbye to my wife and my two daughters on the spectators’ boat, at the start of the race, and seeing them on the pontoon ready to take my lines, in Suffolk, six weeks later. This adventure would not have been possible without their support.”

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022 67 GREECE CROATIA TURKEY THAILAND FRANCE CARIBBEAN Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under registration number 585660. For an instant quote visit our website today www.visicover.com Get a quote and buy online Tailor make your policy to your needs Update cover online whenever you want Interest free instalments Agreed value or market value options Discounts for experience, boat security etc Are you paying too much for boat insurance? Call us: 01634 890512 elitesailing.co.uk Join the Elite Sailing Club Follow-on sailing, discounts & events RYA Sailing & Motor Cruising Courses Competent Crew • Day Skipper Coastal Skipper • Yachtmaster • Helmsman Shorebased Courses Day Skipper • Yachtmaster • On-line courses with on-line video classes Plus Around Britain Adventure Sailing Milebuilders • Fast-track Yachtmaster Own Boat Tuition • ICC Chatham Marina on River Medway 45 mins from London RYA Sail and Motor Cruising Training Centre

ABOVE RIGHT

A visit to Antigua's English Harbour and HarbourFalmouthisamust

As a rough guide, the Caribbean

ISTOCK/SUNSAILPHOTOS: NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

The range of companies that offer Caribbean charter (bareboat, skippered, or crewed) is vast but a good starting point to get an idea of what’s on offer, check out Nautilus, Sunsail, The Moorings, Dream Yacht Charter and Island Sailing. You’ll find most companies that offer Caribbean charter offer a price without flights and transfers included, so to avoid nasty surprises, it is important check what’s included in the package before booking.

he winter sun Caribbean charter season, which runs from December to April avoiding the hurricane period, continues to be one of the all-time favourites for yacht charter. Consistent tropical temperatures, good sailing winds and some of the most spectacular cruising grounds in the world, are just some of the reasons why the Caribbean never fails to attract sun-loving sailors.

The Caribbean, with its exotic paradise islands, crystal-clear lagoons and soft, clean sandy beaches, is recognised more as a skippered or bareboat charter destination as opposed to flotilla, so it’s all about freedom and choice, and is a particularly good option if you are looking for something a bit different.

The extreme beauty of the British Virgin Islands has to be seen to be believed

ABOVE LEFT

Also, with so many airlines now offering regular, direct 8-10-hour flights from the UK to places like Antigua, Grenada, Barbados, and St Lucia, it’s hardly surprising the Caribbean remains a preferred winter charter holiday destination.

takes in the Lesser and Greater Antilles chain, with the Leeward Islands at the top (Greater Antilles), and the Windward Islands to the south (Lesser Antilles). The chain of small islands between St Vincent and Carriacou are known as the Grenadines, which offers the most spectacular cruising grounds with places like Tobago Cays a popular, remote, ‘Robinson Crusoe-style’ hot-spot. The Virgin Islands (British and US) in the Leeward Islands are well served with European-style marinas and have bases for many of the

Remember also that generally to book a bareboat charter (where you hire the whole boat without crew), the skipper requires relevant qualifications – RYA Day Skipper Practical qualification or RYA International Certificate of Competence (ICC). For the Caribbean however, formal qualifications are not compulsory, but you should be Day Skipper

The Great Escape

Atlantic Crossing 68

well-known charter companies. The Virgin Islands offer dependable, steady trade winds, sheltered waters and short passages with line-ofsight navigation, which makes for stress-free sailing particularly for less experienced crews.

A charter holiday in the Caribbean is the perfect way escape the harsh northern hemisphere climate this winter says Sue Pelling

Time to book

ABOVE

One of the largest selections of By the Cabin charter is offered by The Globe Sailor with destinations such as The Grenadines, British Virgin Islands (Tortola), and Guadeloupe. For the adventurous sailor, this company also offers 20-day transatlantic voyages from France to Martinique, plus sailing instruction courses around the Caribbean.

For something different and a truly luxurious trip, take a look at Kraken Travel’s Antigua to Sint Maarten Cruise aboard an Oyster 62, or the company’s otheroptions, which include the Classic French Caribbean Highlights cruise, or Tobago Cays Discovery.

The Moorings and Nautilus are among those that offer Sail By The Cabin week-long holidays exclusively in the British Virgin Islands (BVIs), while companies like Seafarer offer ultimate luxury aboard a Lagoon 620 Catamaran on an eight-day Martinique Dream Sailing Cruise. According to Seafarer, “you will be pampered by your crew and chef who will prepare exquisite recipes with fresh local produce, especially tropical fruits, vegetables and fish.”

Dream Yacht Charter is another company that has an extensive

The lush tropical island of St Lucia and one of its many sheltered paradise bays

range of By the Cabin Yacht Charter options for up to 11 days aboard a luxury catamaran in the Caribbean. Choose either the Bwritish Virgin Islands, St Martin, Martinique, Guadeloupe, or Cuba.

Sunsail is one of the many companies to offer British Virgin Island charter

Solo travellers, couples, or friends who want to experience the freedom of the ocean and all the fun of a charter holiday but without the responsibility of being ‘in charge’ or needing to obtain the required yacht charter qualifications, a sensible option is to sign up for a By the Cabin charter. Enjoy full board with delicious meals carefully prepared and served by the professional crew each day. And, as well as sharing special holiday moments with like-minded guests, it’s a great way to learn the ropes in a relaxed environment.

Theglobesailor.comSunscapeyachting.co.ukSunsail.comSeafarersailing.co.ukSailgrenadines.comPlainsailing.comNautilusyachting.comMoorings.co.ukKraken.travelIsland-sailing.comHelm.ytDreamyachtcharter.co.ukClick&boat.comBorrowaboat.com Useful Contacts 69Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

BELOW

standard and be assisted by at least one competent crew.

A surge in winter sun interest is already underway with companies like Seafarer Sailing that organises Caribbean charter holidays in the BVIs, Grenada, St Martin, Antigua, Martinique, and Cuba experiencing higher than usual demand. Commenting on interest so far for the 2022/23 winter season, Seafarer Sailing’s Joe Snowden said the demand is actually way higher than usual for this time of year: “We have seen steady demand for Caribbean charters with two week durations either as a charter or a sail & stay combination proving popular. February and March appear to be the busiest months. It is the top end of the market that has proved the most resilient, with demand for catamarans and larger yachts. Also after a hesitant start, the deluxe cabin charter is going well.”

If you are looking for a bareboat charter and are particularly keen on getting a last-minute deal, it’s worth checking some of the web aggregators such as borrowaboat. com, theglobesailor.com, or click&boat.com. Most of these companies also offer add-ons such as skipper or entire crew.

A-H lateralvesselsupaccommodatePontoonsPONTOONScanallvesselsto15mandforlargerthereissubstantialberthing E W N S VISITOR PONTOONS 51°37.50’N 0°48.23’E GULL’S EYE Burnham Yacht Harbour Marina, set in the charming Essex market town of Burnham-on-Crouch, is well-equipped and the ideal base for exploring the unique waterways of the east coast and beyond writes Sue Pelling BURNHAM YACHT HARBOUR MARINA

BROKER OFFICE FUEL BERTH HARBOUROFFICEMASTER HARD STANDING MARINA OFFICE AND FACILITIES BOAT SLIPWAYYARDAND TRAVEL HOIST RNLI BASE

is well-organised and welldesigned marina has plenty of facilities including a boatyard on site that serves most vessels up to 60 (18m) loa, and 16.5 (5m) beam, plus a travel hoist that can accommodate up to 35 tonne vessels. All berths have access to water and electricity. Diesel is available from the dedicated fuel berth at the marina, while petrol can be obtained from the fuel berth at Essex Marina, Wallasea Island, just across the river.

It may be a fair distance upriver, and will undoubtedly put navigation skills to the test with plenty of sandbanks to negotiate along the way, but it’s well lit and easy to navigate to the marina.

Passage planning

Follow the buoyed channel to Green SHM No11 (FlQ G), turn to starboard for the yellow entrance marker (FlY5s) to Burnham Yacht Harbour.

is peaceful haven not only o ers visiting cruising sailors a welcome retreat from the harsh conditions in the North Sea, but is also an ideal start location for a Channel hop to Holland and Belgium, or further a eld across the North Sea to Scandinavia.

e river is used regularly by commercial vessels drawing up to 6m heading to the Baltic Wharf at Wallasea Island on the south side of the river, which means the Whitaker channel is well marked and maintained.

Given its convenient position with 24/7 instant access, Burnham Yacht Harbour is also home to Burnham-on-Crouch Lifeboat Station. Founded in 1966, this is one of only a few lifeboat stations that house its inshore lifeboats in oating boathouses.

Approach the river Crouch from the East Swin or the Wallet via the Spitway and N Swallow SWM into the Whitaker channel.

It is advisable for visitors however, to contact the Harbour Master at the dedicated marina o ce on VHF

Burnham Yacht Harbour is also a popular choice for annual berth holders not least because it is conveniently situated close to the railway station for mainline trains directly into London Liverpool Street, via Wickford, which takes approximately one hour. ere is ample parking in the recently upgraded, snazzy new carpark, and plenty of facilities and services including a supermarket close by.

ABOVE Quayside view with Burnham Sailing Club pictured far le ABOVE RIGHT A calm, safe haven with access at all states of the tide 51°37.50’N0°48.23’E

Burnham is also noted for its impressive pub-to-mile ratio, so the chances of being le ‘high and dry’ are fairly slim. Check out the waterfront favourite, Ye Old White Harte, where you can relax and enjoy a pint of local Adnams ale and watch the sun go down.

ucked away 13.5nm up the River Crouch, o the wild, at Dengie Peninsular is the quaint old market town of Burnhamon-Crouch. Among its many attributes is Burnham Yacht Harbour Marina, located on the north bank beyond the quayside moorings, at the west end of town.

Burnham Yacht Harbour marina was constructed on the old rugby elds in 1989 and o ers secure (24-hour on-site security), fuss-free mooring with access at all states of the tide. ere are 350 nger berths for vessels ranging in length from 7-14m plus lateral berthing for larger vessels and visitors.

ISTOCKPHOTOS: Gull’s Eye - Burnham Yacht Harbour Marina

Harbour guide

e main building is the hub of the marina with its o ce and adjoining workshops. ere is a shower block, and a laundry room that gives berth holders and visitors full access, and a restaurant and bar ( e Swallowtail), which is a popular place to enjoy lunch, an a ernoon drink or dinner overlooking the marina.

A gentle stroll along the seawall footpath into Burnham town, takes about 20 minutes, with several places of interest to watch out for along the way including three clubs – Burnham Sailing Club, Royal Burnham Yacht Club, and Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. e town is quintessentially English with its eclectic mix of whitewashed, weatherboarded and red brick cottages. One of Burnham’s most historic landmarks is the clock tower in the centre of town. Built in 1877, it was an addition to an existing school that was originally built in 1785.

From Sunken Buxey North Cardinal Mark, the spire of St Mary’s Church (which is di cult to identify) leads 233 degrees to Outer Crouch SCM lit buoy; then steer 240 degrees past Foulness Pt into the river. ere is a 2.2M unlit gap between Inner Crouch SWM lit buoy and the Horse Shoal NCM lit buoy but you will see the mouth of the river Roach on the south side, just 2.5nm to Burnham. You’ll also see a landmark on the north bank – the towering Royal Corinthian Yacht Club building – which marks the start of the 8kt speed limit through the mooring trots.

The upper reaches of the Crouch was once a busy commercial shipping route for Thames Barges, which used to carry produce to and from the mill at Battlesbridge, and the Barge pub was once a favourite haunt for bargemen. The Barge is still there, as is the adjacent and hugely popular antiques centre, but it really is only possible to navigate this narrow stretch with a deep keel yacht at high water. Alternatively, jump on the train from Burnham to Battlesbridge, which takes about 20 minutes and enjoy a relaxing pint at The Barge.

Maldon, just round the coast to the north on the River Blackwater, is another interesting place to visit. As well as producing some of the finest sea salt in the world, Maldon is a pretty, heritage town that is also home to some of remaining working Thames Barges that rest majestically in the mud berths along the quayside. The visitor pontoon is at Hythe Quay.

Harbourmaster office hours: Summer (April-October): 08001900 seven days a week

FACTFILE

Winter afloat (November to March): from Annual:£153/mfrom£356/m

Tel: +44 (0)1621 786832

Burnham Yacht Harbour Marina is located at the west end of town

Berthing fees: Daily: £3.50/m (including water and SixWeekly:electricity)£21/mmonths(summer): from £277/m

Services on site: Full service boatyard, and shipwrights +44(0)1621Clarke+44SwallowtailDieselLiftCradleStoragehireout/inberthRestaurant:(0)1621785505&CarterYachtBrokers:785600

Other local services: Chandlery: Marinestore at Maldon. Tel: +44 (0)1621 854280. Will deliver to EssexmarinaMarina petrol: +44 1702 258531

ABOVE RIGHT Thames Barges rest majestically along the quayside at Maldon

73Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

VHF Channel 80 Email: admin@burnhamyachtharbour. co.uk Website: burnhamyachtharbour.co.uk Postcode: CM0 8BL

Coop supermarket postcode: CM0 8BL

Channel 80 before arrival to check berth availability, and berthing instructions. Also for local buoyage/ navigation updates, and live shipping movements, it’s worth taking a look at the Crouch Harbour Authority website – crouchharbour.uk.

The River Crouch stretches 10nm further up river via Fambridge, Brandy Hole and Hullbridge, to Battlesbridge – the end of the navigable part of the river. This is a lovely, sheltered area for cruising but be aware that from Brandy Hole up to Battlesbridge the river dries out completely at low water, so you need to check tidal charts carefully.

Tel: +44 (0)1621 782150

Other attractions: RSPB Wallasea Island Wetlands Nature Reserve A wildlife-rich habitat and a great place to visit, just across the river from Burnham

Winter: 0800-1300 (weekdays) 0800-1800 (weekends)

BELOW

Cruising grounds

There are plenty of popular anchorages including Cliff Reach, which is just around the corner from Burnham on the north side. Further up at North Fambridge, it’s possible to stop off for a drink at the Ferry Boat Inn or drop anchor in Stowe Creek just beyond.

Open: 24/7

74 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

riting about new yachts can be a funny game. I often catch myself writing that a boat a little short of £1m represents ‘very good value’. Given my own boat cost £5k this doesn’t seem to stack up. Yet it is, of course, often true. There aren’t that many boatbuilders out there that are absolutely stinking rich after all. I don’t see Elon Musk quaking in his boots over the launch of the latest range of Bavaria Yachts.

thoroughly contemporary lines give a first impression of both speed, style and, yes, a touch of class. There’s a reason for this, as the S35 was designed by Sergio Lupoli who is best known for his work with Italian boatbuilder Comar, whose Comet range of cruiser/racers are proven performers. In fact, the Viko 30 shares the same lines as the Comet 30, although this experiment has not been repeated with the S35. Anyway, Lupoli knows how to turn out a good looking yacht and the S35 features decent freeboard and a heavily rockered profile, a deep (1.95m) bulbed keel with the option of a shallower (1.6m) keel, single rudder with relatively low aspect ratio, modest beam carried well aft, a dreadnought bow with fixed sprit

For a boat with such a low price tag, first impressions are important and the S35 certainly gives a decent account of itself; dramatic and

Boat Test - Viko S35

ABOVE

The Viko S35 boasts dramatic lines penned by Sergio Lupoli

The Viko S35 is the cheapest 35 footer on the market by a country mile. Question is, is it any good? Sam Jefferson finds out Back to basics

time of £65,000 or so for its S35. Now, it’s hard not to be cynical when confronted with a price tag of this nature. I even heard someone mutter ‘what’s the catch’. Yet I had reason not to be cynical – largely because a few years back I tested the similarly keenly prices Viko S30 and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a polished performer – Yes, a little plasticky down below, but the most important thing was that it sailed really rather well in what were, from memory, rather wild conditions. I therefore eyed the new S35 without prejudice and looked forward to test sailing the boat.

Given all that, I must admit to being somewhat surprised when I walked past the Viko stand at the Southampton Boat Show last year (2021) and spotted a price tag at that

Down below

and a towering sail plan – with the option of a significantly smaller one for less speed obsessed cruisers. All in all, the first impression is good as you approach the boat – it does not look particularly bargain bin, it must be said.

On deck

Out on the side decks there is a good feeling of space and the boat features an unusually large raised toerail which gives an added feeling of enclosure but also seems to somewhat needlessly add to the freeboard, which seems a bit peculiar to me.

ABOVE LEFT Twin helms are an optional extra but help open up the roomy cockpit

ABOVE RIGHT the running rigging set up is simple and functional

BELOW LEFT A decent sized bathing platform and distinctive backrests

I seemed to recall that the Viko S30 was a bit plastic fantastic down below but this wasn’t really the impression I got from the S35. Judicious use of light oak made for a very pleasant vibe and the overall feel was one of light and space. It’s only when you look a little closer that you note that the door handles look a bit, well, undersized and the sink cover is a tad flimsy. Yet the feel was good and the basic joinery was well done too. The layout can’t be wildly radical in a 35 footer so on the Viko there is a standard L-Shaped galley to port, heads to starboard, and saloon area up forward. There are double doors opening into the forecabin, which adds to the feeling of light and space, and the fore cabin is a decent size. As mentioned, the test boat was the three cabin version and this was a shame as the two cabin option seems more sensible to me. In addition to more storage, you get a larger aft cabin and heads/shower compartment plus the option of a chart table. By contrast, the three cabin version offers a lot of accommodation but the aft cabins are pretty

Step aboard and the boat still feels pretty good. There are twin helms but these are an option – although a standard single wheel is hardly a disaster on a boat of this size. It

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER2022 75

does however, open up the roomy cockpit which is very deep, giving a good sense of security. The boat has a decent amount of storage in a pair of lockers under the helmsman’s seats. It should be noted that the test boat was the three cabin version, which actually removed a chunk of that accommodation, as on the two cabin version the starboard side aft cabin is replaced with a large storage space although this is accessible only from below decks. The sporty feel of the yacht is upheld, as the boat features a traveller situated in front of the helm, with the mainsheet on a cam cleat. There are two winches on the coamings for the headsails and a further pair on the coachroof for the running rigging. The helm feels reasonably enclosed by the bathing platform and there is a sensibly dimensioned cockpit table to round things off.

What must also be said is that Viko managed to get to a very keen price by making a lot of kit non-standard. This is certainly not a rarity at all but it is rather taken to the extreme here. For example, the standard engine spec for the S35 is a 15hp diesel with the option of 20hp or 30hp upgrades. I think it’s fair to say most boats of this size have a 30hp as standard. Nevertheless, Viko’s UK broker estimated that a decent amount of add ons still brought the price to around £100k, which remains lower than a similarly specced 35 footer from, say, Beneteau. Needless to say that the test boat was fitted with almost every option going.

BELOW RIGHT the interior is light and modern and it is only smaller details that betray the fact this boat is built to a price

ABOVE

This is a fun little boat that is surely the definition of that cliché ‘a lot of boat for your money’. True there are certain refinements that could be made and I do wish I hadn’t been prejudiced by the big rig/smaller keel combo but this was easily dealt with and the boat was able to get back on her feet nicely with one reef in. The price

COMFORT: HHH HH

is truly eyebrow raising and, even with the caveat that you need to add on a plethora of ‘extras’ to go sailing, the boat is still about £20k cheaper than most competitors which remains astounding.

LOA: 12m (39’3”)

As the wind filled in the tall rig and shorter keel option made for a boat that needed to be reefed early

Length on deck: 10.88m (35’9”)

It sounds like I’m being harsh and, in fairness, I am. This is, after all, a 35 footer built to a very competitive price and the overall impression down below is very good. It’s an eminently liveable space that actually feels a bit classy. There are some small details that betray the fact the boat is built to a strict budget but overall, the feel is good.

Price: (base) €88,000

UK broker: vikoyachts.co.uk

Beam: 3.74m (12’4”)

The boat performed very well in light conditions

While the overall feel of the new Viko S35 is good, how does she perform under sail? We had a good day for a test, with conditions starting out fairly fluky and then building as we headed out of Southampton Water into the Solent, peaking at 20kts or so. We put up a full main, rolled out the headsail and were immediately on the move at a sprightly pace. We headed out the River Hamble in company with a big Hallberg Rassy 46 of the old school and it was instructive that we promptly took large chunks out of this boat in the modest conditions. As mentioned, this boat had the sportier rig, which is a full 3m taller than the standard so, as you would expect, the boat was quick off the mark. The helm felt reasonable but the feel was stymied somewhat by one of those old school autopilots that is built into the wheel and which you engage manually. This seemed to add some friction to things and detracted from the feel to some extent. As the wind picked up we really started trucking along but it was at this point that the boat demonstrated that a combination of the big sport rig and

Builder: Viko Yachts

76 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting Boat Test - Viko S35

BLUE WATER ABILITY: HHHHH LOOKS: HHHHH

cramped and low plus the heads/ shower is a bit on the small side.

SAM’S VERDICT

Easing off the wind, the boat completely regained her composure and it was tempting to shake out the reef. We were now making a solid 7kts plus and the boat felt good. The mainsheet was extremely well placed from the helm and the helm position was exceptionally comfortable whether you were sitting out on the rail or reclining against the padded backrest.

THE SPEC

Under sail

times. The Hallberg Rassy forged on stolidly and left us in its wake until we put in a reef and rolled away a bit of headsail. At which point the boat found its feet nicely and got into a good groove, hitting 7kts and behaving very well. I would say that considering the boat started corkscrewing up into the wind fairly early, you should not bother with the bigger rig at all if you go for the 1.6m keel version. By the time we reefed down, we had the equivalent sail area as the smaller rig version anyway. On the other hand, I’d be interested to see how the deeper draft boat sails in boisterous conditions with the bigger rig.

Draft: 1.95m (6’5”) Shallow draft: 1.6m

Displacement: 13,448 lb (6,100kg)

Engine: Yanmar 15hp (20hp and 30hp optional upgrades)

BELOW

the shallower 1.6m keel and smaller rudder was not an ideal mix, with the boat spinning out a couple of

77Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER2022 77

Characteristics: Sand bed, lines can be taken ashore

rated anchorages in

Lat/long: 39° 21.77’ N, 2° 50.08’ E

Here’s the top 10 anchorages in Mallorca as chosen by users of the Navily app

10 most

anchorages and marinas around Europe. Happily, they

overview

NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

Navily rating: 4.8

1: Platja Cabrera (below)

A stunning and peaceful mooring on the islet of Cabrera. Mooring buoys only and reservations should be made online but in reality this is so complex most users just turned up and were rewarded with beautiful clear waters and peace.

Navily rating: 4.9

relies on the feedback of its users to

3: Sa Colobra(above)

Characteristics: Sand bottom with beach and snack bar

Contact: Navily+0034971656282isanapp

A good anchorage in a sandy cove on the south side of the island some miles east of Palma and well protected from N and NW winds. There is a beach with restaurants and shops nearby. Can get busy so best to take a line ashore to avoid swinging into other boats.

Top ten anchorages in Mallorca

that

Lat/long: 39° 51.23’ N, 2° 48.17’ E

with us.

A wild but spectacular anchorage on the NE coast of Mallorca. La Colobra is a narrow bay set between towering cliffs with a beach nestled at its head. Space is limited and the steeply shelving cliffs mean that you’ll need to put out a lot of chain. The reward is a spectacular anchorage.

Lat/long: 39° 8.75’ N, 2° 56.15’ E

2: Cala Pi (below right)

Never mind the Balearics...

Navily rating: 4.8

Characteristics: Mooring buoys only, water point and snack bar

that determine the finest have agreed to share data Here is look the top highly Mallorca based on than five user reviews. to navily.com for a full

Lat/long: 39° 8.95’ N, 2° 55.92’ E Navily rating: 4.7

6: Cala Mondrago (below)

Lat/long: 39° 18.92’ N, 3° 0.13’ E

5: Cabrera (above)

4-5 meters of water at shallowest points.

No anchoring, only mooring buoys but Portocolom offers good shelter in a well formed cove on the SE coast of Mallorca. A good place to refill with water and re stock the boat in pleasant surroundings.

Lat/long: 39° 20.18’ N, 2° 59.20’ E

Lat/long: 39° 20.97’ N, 3° 11.33’ E

7: Illa Gavina (below)

Lat/Long: 39° 32.70’ N, 2° 22.83’ E

79Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

Navily rating: 4.74

10: Andratx (below)

8: Cala Molto (top right)

famous Mondrago natural conservation site. Well sheltered from N to SW winds by impressive rocky formations, it is a perfect place for a few days’ stopover.

Lat/long: 39° 43.67’ N, 3° 27.23’ E

Characteristics: Sand bottom, good holding, plenty of space, restaurants ashore

Large sandy cove on S coast of the island. Anchor on the sand bottom and enjoy the crystal clear waters and white sand beach close to hand.

Characteristics: Sand bed, beach

Characteristics: sand bottom, beach and many restaurants ashore

Characteristics: mooring buoys only, snack bar nearby

Navily rating: 4.5

Situated towards the southern tip of Mallorca, this bay offers the choice of both anchoring and mooring buoys. This is a good anchorage if you want to re stock as the town of Colonia Sant Jordi is just a short dinghy ride away. There is a dinghy dock and toilets ashore to make life easy.

Characteristics: Mooring buoys only, all facilities available in Andratx port

Contact: 0034 971 671 721, VHF Ch9

Another mooring in the same bay as Platja Cabrera on the islet just to the south of Mallorca. Booking online is again complicated but the rewards are great. The anchorage is extremely tranquil and there is an excellent tapas bar nearby.

9: Colonia de Sant Jordi (below)

This anchorage is located on the SE coastline of the island, in a bay facing the

Lat/long: 39° 25.07’ N, 3° 15.77’ E

Mooring buoys in a relatively sheltered bay just off the chic port of Andratx, described by one user as ‘the St Tropez of Spain’. All facilities are close to hand and there is excellent support from the local marineros to help you tie up.

Navily rating: 4.6

4: Portocolom (above)

Navily rating: 4.67

Contact: +34674442282, VHF Ch 9

Navily rating: 4.56

Located at the extreme NE tip of Mallorca boaters appreciate the anchorage for the good protection it provides from westerlies. A perfect place to shelter in case of bad weather but space is very limited. You will need to arrive early to secure a spot. Once you find yours, you will anchor with ease in a sand bed with good holding in

Characteristics: Sand and seagrass on seabed, snack bar available ashore

Characteristics: mooring buoys only, water point, small pontoon and snack bars all available Contact: VHF Ch9 or tel: 0034971824658

Run to reach

Most boats of a certain vintage were designed with three sails in mind: main, genoa and spinnaker. They allow you to cover every point of sail with reasonable efficiency, but there can be some chinks. Take my Sadler 34: her gigantic 150 per cent genoa goes from beating upwind in a light zephyr to broad reaching in a gale. Tacking so much canvas in anything over 10kts is hard work for the crew, and for the deck fittings.

Buyer's Guide - Sails

Sam Fortescue looks at the options for refreshing your boat’s downwind sail wardrobe

The term ‘reaching’ really covers a multitude of different wind angles from 65 degrees apparent round to 140 degrees. On a close reach, you’d be relying on the aerofoil principle, whereby low pressure behind the sail creates lift. But from a beam reach round to a broad reach, it is simple pulling power: you want the sail to create as much drag as possible. While the big overlap of a 150 per cent genoa is theoretically capable of doing both jobs, it is heavy and hard to

BELOW Hyde Sail’s triradial cruising chute in action

symmetric spinnaker. Then there are mutant versions of racing sails, like the ubiquitous Code 0 for reaching. “Cruisers these days want simplicity and an easy solution for shorthanded sailing,” says Annabel Shove, UK dealer for Rolly Tasker.

And, when it comes to a run, I always struggle to decide between the undoubted speed and satisfaction of setting the spinnaker, or the inelegant but hassle-free option of letting the genoa take the strain.

“There’s a whole generation of things like J-Boats that were designed for an overlapping headsail, but for better or for worse, they’ve moved to non-overlapping inventories,” says Peter Kay of One Sails UK.

80 WALDERVANONNEARRIGO/KURTPHOTOS: NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

Instead, he argues for a reaching sail that has a more modest 55 per cent halfway girth, like One Sails’ Flat Furling Reacher. It is designed and cut to serve a dual function. In light

oaxing extra speed from the comessailonlydownwindboatisnotamatteroftrim.Thereapointwhere

Reaching sails

“That is good for handling and rating, but leaves you underpowered across and upwind. In an ideal world, I would have a sail dedicated to downwind and a sail that is dedicated to across the wind and upwind in very light airs – especially for modern boats, where they don’t have overlapping sails.”

Kay snorts at the idea of carrying a Code 0 on a cruising boat. The sail, which emerged as a fudge for the 1997 Whitbread Round the World Race, has evolved to have a girth halfway up the sail that is at least 75 per cent of the sail’s foot – lots of belly, in other words. “IRC Code 0 is nothing like the sail in that original Whitbread.”

handle, and prone to stretch. That’s why rig design has tended towards a smaller jib and a dedicated reaching sail, such as an asymmetric.

Sail makers are not blind to these issues. Cruising chutes, gennakers and asymmetrics have emerged as alternatives to the

more radical steps are required if your symmetrical spinnaker is beginning to look a bit asymmetrical, or the genoa is more belly than bite. It’s time to renew the downwind sail wardrobe.

“Where family cruising is now on the increase it’s largely up to the parents to both skipper and crew the boat. With an asymmetric, you are filling that gap in light airs broad reaching where a genoa could be just too heavy to fill, so you end up resorting to the engine. It gives you the ability to carry on sailing.”

Running sail

ABOVE LEFT A widelyhaswithhandlingyachts,sailefficientremainssymmetrictraditionalspinnakerthemostdownwindformostcruisingbuttheeaseofassociatedasymmetricsseenthemadopted

“If you’re happy playing with spinnaker poles, there’s nothing better than a traditional symmetric spinnaker,” confirms Kay. “But a lot of people don’t like that. If, for perfectly understandable reasons, you don’t want to fuss about with

Another solution is the Parasailor – a pole-less spinnaker with a slot and a horizontal wing to support it in low winds. The slot dampens gusts and reduces rolling, by allowing the pressure to escape. It also flies from an impressive 60-180 degrees apparent wind angle. UK Sailmakers has its own version of the sail, called the Oxley self-stabilising

Either way, spec the sail in a modern spinnaker nylon if you can afford it – such as AirX from Bainbridge. It is fantastic at resisting ripping and bursting, repels water, and features bias and weave that resists stretching and generates maximum power.

81Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

North Sails’ newly-launched Easy Furling Gennaker fits this bill perfectly, optimised for headings from 130-160 degress apparent wind angle up to around 20kts. Modern boats are increasingly designed with this in mind, and indeed X-Yachts hasn’t sold a boat with a symmetric spinnaker for a decade.

Perhaps surprisingly, a symmetric spinnaker is still the most efficient downwind sail for most boats. Asymmetrics don’t allow you to run so deep, forcing boats to gybe downwind. Only fast, light displacement craft gain enough speed from doing this to outweigh the extra distance that has to be covered. It is rarely the case with comfortable cruising yachts.

And there are a host of similar products out there, such as Elvstrom’s Furlstrom reacher, or Dehler’s Freeride sail.

poles and guys, you can design an asymmetric that is optimised for going downwind. You can’t go down to 170 degrees, like with a symmetrical, but you might still be able to go down to 150-160 degrees.”

“We find the ease of handling far outweighs the last few degrees that a symmetrical spinnaker can run deeper,” says Stuart Abernethy of X-Yachts GB. “If you can handle it easily with two aboard, then the sails get used far more often – and that is key.” Most customers will take a G2 style asymmetric with a snuffer.

airs of 5kts or less, the sail catches a lot of breeze on a windward reach, keeping you sailing. Then, as the wind or the course falls further aft, the sail works very well in stronger winds round as far as 130 degrees off the wind.

North Sails has developed an off-the-peg product called the Tradewind – twin headsails in lightweight (1.5-2.5oz) spinnaker nylon, which are hoisted independently of the headstay. There’s still a light pole to hold out the windward clew, but it can all be rigged on a furler. Plus, the two clews Velcro together to act as a single reaching sail up to 70 degrees true wind angle.

BELOW Hyde Sails’ cross cut main, jib and staysail

ABOVE RIGHT Parasailor’s perforated gennaker in action

Rolly Tasker’s Code-C sail is a little more specialised, with an effective range of 70-135 degrees apparent wind angle in winds from 15-22kts. “Our Code C sail is a hybrid between a Code 0 and an asymmetric, optimised purely for cruising,” says Annabel Shove. “What is really appealing is how easy the sail is to handle. With its straight luff, the sail is fitted with a torsion rope finished with thimbles that enable the sail to be fitted to a bottom-up furler. With a continuous furling line led back to the cockpit, this sail can be furled away in a matter of seconds, just like a genoa.”

asymmetric for going downwind, the less efficient it becomes on a reach. Either you need to consider buying and stowing a separate reaching sail for those conditions, or accept that life is a compromise and choose one or the other. “If you only had one, take the downwind sail,” advises Kay. “That’s the one that’s going to make the most difference.”

A short bowsprit offers a tack point for the sail that keeps it clear of guardwires, forestays and the like. Older boats can be modified to tack to the bow roller or even the pulpit. With a continuous furling system rather than a traditional snuffer, the sail can be easily launched or doused from the cockpit. It requires no pole and just two sheets, so can be gybed simply.

The compromises entailed with spinnakers have spurred efforts to find alternative downwind sails. A popular option for tradewind sailing is a double headsail – most effective when one of the sails is loose-luffed, so the pressure escapes without inducing roll.

But the more you shape an

Doyle+44onesails.com2380458213Sails

Meanwhile Doyle’s Utility Power Sail is designed to cover light airs beating up to an impressive 33 degrees apparent, as well as heavier reaching and round onto a dead run – a real jack of all trades.

North+44doylesails.com2380332622Sails

Meet the sailmaker

Perhaps the best-known name in the performance sail business, North also has a thriving line of cruising sails too. A cruising version of its moulded 3Di sails uses polyester, Dyneema or aramid fibres instead of carbonfibre. Cruising laminates and woven sails are also available.

BROGANSEASEE.COM/DAVIDCANTINIGUIDOPHOTOS: NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting82

Lower-cost cruising asymmetrics can also benefit from the Structured Luff technology, he adds. “We’ve done from 25 to 80-footers, from a Cornish Crabber up to a Sunreef 80.” Cost is around 10 per cent higher than a traditional asymmetric.

It offers a dedicated Flat Furling Reacher for cross-wind sailing, which is good from 50 degrees in light airs down to around 130-140 degrees apparent wind angle in a blow. And for powerful downwind sailing, it offers a cable-less furling gennaker marketed under the IFS moniker. High modulus fibres are machine-laid at the luff of the sail to channel loads – like a furling cable, but a fraction of the weight. This so-called ‘lens’ also provides a structure to furl the sail around. Less tension is required to set the sail properly, there is less weight in the rigging, plus the lens supports a small luff projection to windward, for extra power. Dispensing with the expensive luff cable makes this type of sail price competitive with a traditional asymmetric sail.

ABOVE CENTRE Doyle Sails has a cruisingsailsendrangecomprehensivefromtopperformancethroughtolaminates

Offering the full gamut of woven and laminate sails, Doyle’s high-end Stratis range adorns racing yachts of all stripes, from New Zealand’s successful SailGP team down. Stratis sails are fully customised to the boat in question, but can be laminated with numerous types of

BELOW RIGHT A craftsman at Jeckells working on a traditional sail using traditional methods

The Kiwi company is proud that it was the first to develop cableless technology for asymmetric sails, launching its Structured Luff back in 2014. Carbonfibre is laid down the luff to replace the torsion cable, and the sail projects to windward for better reaching. “We’re still the only sail manufacturer that can build complete lenses from head to tack,” says Will Alloway of Doyle UK.

Jeckells+44northsails.com2392525588

ABOVE A full suit of OneSails featuring a Dacron radial genoa, cross cut main

This long-running, family-owned sail loft pioneered laser cutting in the 1980s, and produces robust, reliable cruising sails. Jeckells has the capability to produce laminate sails, too, utilising multiple weights

OneSails

For upwind work, OneSails offers the full range of woven, laminate and membrane sails, including its high-end 40T Forte line, which can be simply split into its constituent parts for recycling.

fibre, from low-cost polyester up to high-modulus carbonfibre.

The same choices are available for reaching sails – 3Di membrane, laminate and woven, but only the fastest, lightest boats will see a return on the heavy investment in hi-tech reaching sails: those that are capable of fast VMG sailing. North also has a cable-less technology called Helix, which it now offers in a cruising G1-style gennaker. Most cruisers will choose a nylon or polyester woven asymmetric or symmetric spinnaker for deep downwind work. North’s NorLon product is resin impregnated to resist tearing, and built using radial panel construction. The Easy Furling Gennaker is its latest offering aimed specifically at cruisers. North also offers a line of neat load sensing shackles, which wirelessly relay realtime load data from the clew of the sail. They’re not cheap, however.

Rolly+44crusadersails.com1202670580Tasker

Crusader+44kempsails.com1929554308Sails

With the world’s biggest sail loft in Thailand, Rolly Tasker is squarely focused on the cruising market. It does offer a couple of racier lines too, in the form of its CDX Pro Laminat, Lite Skin and Tape Carbon sails – the latter of which uses carbonfibre tape laid on a single taffeta laminate along load lines.

For downwind work, Kemp has a reaching sail called the Ultra Light Genoa, aka a Code sail. It is designed for close reaching in light winds, or to be poled out in a twin-headsail running rig. It also recommends a free-luffed gennaker or cruising chute for deep downwind work, all

nylon sail for gybing downwind. Plus, the full range of symmetric and asymmetric spinnakers.

Crusader’s answer to the Code sail is the Super Zero, which has been optimised for cruising. Fly it from around 40-100 degrees apparent wind angle – and leave it rigged and furled, thanks to the UV strip on the leech. “The sail was conceived by our customers needing a solution for improved light wind performance with the sheets eased, particularly on modern yachts with non-overlapping headsails,” says founder Paul Lees.

on a top-down furling system. Kemp was an early mover in top-down furling, developing its own RolleX TD system, but has since switched to using specialist hardware.

Well known on the racing circuit, Quantum produces Dacron sails as well as a hi-tech Fusion-M product, where a variety of different fibres are custom laid on the laminate. Its downwind sails are race-oriented, falling into three reaching variants capable of 40, 60 and 80 degrees off the apparent wind, and three standard asymmetrics that can run down to 160 degrees.

Hyde Sails’ tri radial cruising chute

ABOVE Rolly Tasker’s Code C gennaker BELOW

For smaller boats below 30ft loa, there’s the Magic Zero gennaker, which is a high-cut, free flying

Hyde+44jeckells.co.uk1603782223Sails

Catering to cruisers and racers alike, Crusader has plenty of experience with hi-tech laminates and membranes from the top manufacturers. The loft distinguishes between plain cruising, longdistance cruising and cruiser-racer products, all to different specs.

Its downwind sails include a full range of asymmetric sails, from Code 0 to A4 and A5. But for the cruiser, Rolly Tasker has developed its allround Code-C sail, which covers close reaching to 65 degrees in lighter airs, then broad reaching down to about 140 degrees apparent wind angle in over 20kts. With the use of a pole, the sail can even be used on a run. A Sveggen top-down furler is recommended with the Code-C.

Based in Wareham, Dorset, Kemp offers the full range of woven sails for cruisers, as well as laminate panelled sails for better performance. The loft can handle radial cut, fully battened and mast-furling mains, offering a ‘Super Cruise’ product for easy-to-handle and durable sails.

Still synonymous with winning dinghy sails, Hyde has grown to a range that runs from cruising to Grand Prix racing. Sails are made in Asia using woven and laminate materials. Besides the standard A sails, Hyde does an off-the-peg cruising chute in sizes from 27sq m (£579) to 108sq m (£1,656) and in a range of colours. Hard to beat on convenience and price. A snuffer costs from £240 extra.

Kemp+44Hydesails.co.uk2380457779Sails

Quantum+44rollytasker.com2380457619Sails

83Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

For downwind work, the loft offers an asymmetric cruising chute, for use with a snuffer. The radial head version can be sailed to 70 degrees apparent wind angle, with the tri-radial sailing even closer. All sails carry a five-year guarantee.

of laminate in a single sail for optimum strength and weight.

+44quantumsails.com2380455106

› 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.

› Ease of Use Switch on, twist the tiller handles, go. Almost anybody can do it; no experience, strength or mechanical knowledge is needed.

› Quietness & Smoothness Electric motors are a delight to use.

Outboard?anConsideringElectric NESTAWAYTelmail@nestawayboats.comwww.nestawayboats.com08009992535BOATSistheUK’snumber 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). “Using a well-engineered electric outboard has been a revelation.’’ TOM CUNLIFFE Classic Boat › 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) Torqeedo 1103 › 916Wh battery › GPS data on tiller gives speed & range indication › Removable tiller (more compact for storage) › Near‐silent direct drive › Much more robust than the previous model (Torqeedo 1003) Epropulsion Spirit PLUS Quiet, Convenient, Reliable and Easy-to-Use

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.

› 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”.

› Ease of Handling The batteries are removable, and the “pass up and down” weight (the shaft/motor assembly) is then 10kg or less.

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:

› 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.

Email your thoughts to editor@

Pro sailor Chris Draper knows a thing or two about racing - and cruising too for that matter, as our Q&A with him on page 91 reveals. One piece of advice he shares is to "make the most of your losses". It's food for thought for anyone looking to improve their own sailing performance, whether racing or cruising.

“We entered the busy Thames Estuary in 20kts of upwind sailing. Compared to the light airs we had been experiencing, it felt like we were sailing very fast in a gale as we navigated between all these obstacles. We made our sail changes and headed into the night, keeping up the conversation about upcoming hazards and focusing on identifying the right lights in the darkness.“Sandbanks are ever shifting in strong winds and waves, so it came as no great surprise when I tested the depth on the chart on a small sandbank. In theory we should have had three metres under us, but the reality was just one metre below the keel. Knowing the chart was not accurate to depth, added just a little more stress, so I opted to go round the outside of the next shallow patch.

When it comes to new way,comparesanystruggleendlessthatsailingopportunities,isasportoersnearvariety.Itothinkofothersportthatinsuchawhetherit's

- Rigging a gybe preventer

di erent types of boat, class, destination or simply, the conditions. No two sails are ever quite the same.

WYETH/RORCPAULPHOTO: 85Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

Solo sailing - marina challenges

Dee Ca ari describes how she and co-skipper Shirley Roberston handled some of the UK's trickiest coastline

Good to know

- Racing vs cruising

Dee recently competed in RORC’s gruelling Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race - an 1,800nm marathon in which she sailed two-up with Shirley Robertson on a Jeaneau Sun Fast 3300. Oil rigs, wind farms and shipping lanes were just a few of the things to contend with; She writes… “As we descended the North Sea, we started to see oil rigs which all have a 500m exclusion zone around them. While most are derelict, there are some still in operation and they are ominous in their stature. Lit up like Christmas illuminations at night, they are easy to spot and, therefore, avoid.

“That night was busy and feeling tired wasn’t an option... ”

Keelboat masterclass

- Richard Falk on contingency planning

- Switching from single to doublehanders

By nature, I ﬁnd most sailors are adventurous, and keen to take up new opportunities where they can. Part of the appeal is in applying knowledge and skills and in testing them in new contexts. Chatting this month to Chinese Olympic medallist Lijia Xu gave a fascinating insight into how she overcame her years of deeply ingrained singlehander habits to win her ﬁrst ever event in a doublehander. The physical skills needed to sail the boat may have been similar, but the challenge came in adopting a whole new mindset. It's something she is keen to do more of.

“Joining the list of obstructions to avoid along this stretch were wind farms. These are tricky as they are both numerous and well spread out over large regions of the North Sea. Not surprisingly, they also have a massive e ect on the wind ﬂ ow. I decided not to tack to pass one wind farm to weather and, as a result, we spent a long time passing it to leeward. This was ﬁ ne initially but I can’t help feeling that it was a mistake and we su ered more random wind direction and strength being the wrong side of what was a huge expanse of water covered with turbines.

Read Dee's full account at deeca ari.co.uk

Pro insight North Sea hazards

This month

Don't miss...

A few days later I found myself on board a Multi 50 trimaran in 20 knots of breeze - an exhilarating experience but so far out of my own comfort zone in every respect! An extreme example perhaps, but I think it's good to discover where your own boundaries lie - useful when setting yourself your next goal or adventure.

EXPERTS' FORUM

sailingtoday.co.ukAcrossthedivide

“As we were a couple of hundred miles from the waypoint, close to the Norfolk coast at Great Yarmouth, we began to see more shipping. Large containers and commercial ships were now added to our ‘obstructions to avoid’ list.

“Once past the Norfolk coast waypoint, we still had the Thames Estuary to navigate and then the South Coast before the ﬁ nish line, but everything then happens very quickly indeed. Once clear of the waypoint you need to be on top of the navigation because now sandbanks and tra c separation schemes are added to the mix. On a chart at ﬁ rst glance, there is not a lot of room to sail in, and choices are limited. At this stage of the race, we had the added pressure of seeing our competition close once again. The same boats we had been sailing with from the start all the way up to Muckle Flugga were now back in view and on the AIS.

EXPERTS' FORUM SAILGPFORBUCKLEJONPHOTO 86 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting Any close cross needs quick tactical decisions

Tactical options

the last roll of the dice at the end of the final run to the finish (fig 1) Blue gybes onto port tack, initially looking vulnerable. These foiling cats accelerate quickly though: it looks like the cross may be on. But Green thinks otherwise: initially sailing low to put the pressure on Blue, they luff late, to cross behind, apparently to avoid a collision, “Protest”.

The commentators describe it as a ‘Hollywood’: an unnecessary alteration of course to fool the umpires. But the umpires are in little doubt: the penalty is against Blue, now out of the competition.

But that would make Green’s attacking options too easy: wait for Blue to gybe, gybe inside, exiting on Blue’s wind, and maximise the chance of rolling over the top. We saw last month how the options diminish as the laylines approach.

Blue feels understandably hard done-by - all their instrumentation and experience suggested they were crossing cleanly. The boat was accelerating, the cross becoming safer with every metre travelled. They feel that the umpire’s tech should have told them the same.

At the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Ben Ainslie gave himself the worst possible of starts as a consequence of this interpretation. To any independent observer he was on port tack, clearly crossing a competitor who was on starboard tack. The competitor altered course, protested, and convinced the jury that he had a reasonable apprehension of a collision. Result: GBR DSQ in the first race of the regatta.

HOW TO WIN

It’s

Coach boat view not from the RIB this time but from the comfort of the sofa via YouTube, racing expert Mark Rushall analyses that cross…

The close cross

Seen

Did Green truly doubt that Blue was crossing? We will never know. But as it was reasonable that they might have that doubt, the penalty went against Blue.

What were the tactical options for each boat? In position 1, each had one more gybe to the finish. Blue was approximately two boat lengths ahead and the loss due to a gybe is about a boat length. The starboard end of the line was furthest upwind, giving a slight advantage to that end. In the absence of other boats, the fastest route would be to sail to the layline for the starboard end, then gybe.

In case 50, an upwind boat on starboard tack claimed that they had to duck a boat on port. The protest committee dismissed the starboard tack boat’s protest because they could not prove that the port tack boat was not keeping clear. The appeals committee overturned this decision: if the starboard boat altered course because they had a genuine and reasonable apprehension of contact, then the port tack boat had broken rule 10 (port/starboard). And worse: if the right of way boat has that concern, does not alter course, and there is a collision, the right of way boat has broken rule 14 (the anti-collision rule).

Back to the cats: it had little to do with ‘ghost boats’ or other technology: all the umpire or protest committee needed to establish is that the right of way boat had reasonable concern of contact.

But keeping clear in this context as far as the racing rules are concerned is more nuanced: before looking at Blue’s tactical options we should first look at the impact World Sailing Case 50 has on the keep clear boat (available in full online.)

I don’t want to duck!

Therefore, Blue had to gybe where they did: close enough to the layline to the port-hand mark that Green could not attack in this way without risking under-standing the port mark, having to sail low and slow, or gybe again.

Class culture

Being aware of the 'culture' helps; for example in club racing it’s a common courtesy to hail “starboard” if you are expecting a boat on port tack to keep clear: they may not be aware that you are there. At an open event, you’ll rarely hear a “starboard” hail: you are more likely to hear a “carry on” call from a starboard tack boat who really does not want a boat tacking anywhere near their lee-bow.

87Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022 Fig 1 Fig 2 Fig 3

of an even more extreme incident where the sailing club landlady approaches the start on port hailing “starboard”, and the rest, being tenants, dutifully keep clear!

//box out at the very end//Keeping out of trouble at the committee boat

But bear in mind that class conventions are not a part of the rule book and therefore not enforceable. Many years ago, we were racing the SB20s, sharing a racecourse with another class. I began to doubt my competence when I ducked the second port tack boat in a row who then completely ignored our “protest” hail. Not trusting my judgement, I held ﬁrm on the next close cross, the damage resulting meant we'd broken rule 14 as well as the other boat breaking rule 10. In the bar afterwards, the class rep explained their convention that no call of “starboard” means “carry on!” We recently heard

put you back in the danger zone.

Most of us are sailing at closer to 3kts than 30 kts, giving a little more time to weigh up the options. Using a transit is one of the best ways to judge whether a cross is comfortable or hairy. If beating on port tack, pick something on the land in line with the bow of a beating boat approaching on starboard. If the land is moving past the bow to the left, you are probably crossing. If it is moving to the right, you are passing behind. And if the land is stationary, they are going to hit you exactly where you are sitting or standing. Remember that a left shift will make the cross clearer, a right shift may

“Hold your course”

Once on port gybe, it’s a simple risk-reward decision for Blue. “If I cross clean ahead, I can’t lose. If I fail to cross ahead, I’ll be disqualified. If I lu and reach behind Green, their gybe will put us roughly even, but my extra speed may be enough to negate the finish line bias. The race is still open. If they misjudge their layline, or perform a poor gybe, it’s a safe win for me.” Only the people on the boat can make that call, and it is easy for the coach to make the right call from the sofa with the benefit of hindsight!

In ﬁg 2, Yellow is happy with their lane and doesn’t want to tack. The cross is very marginal. A duck will put Yellow right in the lee-bow zone from Blue. There is an alternative: Yellow pinches high and slow, well before Green arrives. Sailing free at the last minute gets Yellow back up to speed, further away from Blue, with every chance of lee-bowing Red.

Additionally, upwind, if a port tack boat is ducking a starboard tack boat, the starboard tacker must not bear away if that causes the port tacker to change course immediately.

All four starting strategies are potential race winners. Minimise last minute hiccups by practising the approach and getting a good feel for the e ect of tide and windage at slow speed. If approaching on starboard tack, try several dry runs, and pick up a land transit through the stern of the committee boat to nail that approach layline. And always keep rule 15 (acquiring right of way) and rule 16 (right of way boat changing course) in mind when manoeuvring closely against the other boats.

Pedestrian crossings

Another common misapprehension is that the starboard tack boat must not change course when a port tack boat is approaching. In fact, rule 16 allows the starboard boat to change course, so long as they give the other boat room to keep clear each time they do.

The ‘alternative duck’ works just as well downwind (ﬁg 3). By sailing low and slow on the approach, Purple avoids the need to reach high and around Orange’s stern, keeping away from Pink and inside the lay line. Would this tactic have worked in the sofa scenario? I'll let you judge.

In a boat that sails downwind angles, use the same technique when crossing on opposite tacks on the run: if the land is moving to the right, you are probably crossing.

The trouble with rigging a preventer is that you normally first think about it once the boom is already well out. The boom then has to be hauled back inboard with the mainsheet, and someone tries to tie a bowline around the end of the boom while standing precariously on the side deck.

Keep in mind that clambering into the dinghy and motoring/ rowing ashore is mostly an inconvenient exercise. That being the case, you don’t want to have to return to the boat for forgotten items such as sunscreen or insect repellant. I always have a backpack ready to go with my essential items: sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, tissues/wipes, umbrella for sun and rain, facemask (where needed) and a flashlight.

I have found it necessary to normally use a winch to put decent, but not excessive, tension on the line to prevent a gybe. If the line is just pulled hand tight and locked off in the self-tailer then the slack left in the line, combined with stretch, means the boom can sometimes still flip across.

Regardless of what dinghy you have, it is your main mode of transportation to and from the boat. When you take your dinghy ashore, you’ll want to be cognitive of the tides; if the tide is coming in as you beach your dinghy, you’ll want to throw out a dinghy anchor, or if the tide is coming in, you’ll need to drag it up the beach. If you’re tying your dinghy to a dock it is common courtesy to leave the engine down so the prop won’t bang into and damage the otherAlwaysdinghies.besure to start the engine prior to releasing the line; I’ve heard way too many stories of folks adrift by not following this common sense procedure.

It can be helpful to have extension lines fitted to both port and starboard sides of the boom.

If ever I am sailing on a run I always rig a gybe preventer. Strictly speaking it does not actually prevent a gybe, but it does serve to stop the boom swinging across unexpectedly at high speed, with all the attendant risks that this involves.

This dodgy manoeuvre can be avoided by having a preventer extension line permanently rigged from the end of the boom to somewhere near the mast. This line can have a loop spliced on the forward end and secured with a bit of bungee.

Over the years I have heard a good number of Maydays. Most are not too dramatic and are down to engine failure, but of the serious Maydays when someone has been injured, the most common cause, in my experience,, is because they have been hit on the head by the boom. Sadly some of these prove fatal.

Prevention is better Cruising clinic

Susan Koning has several years of experience living on board and exploring exotic destinations. Here she offers her top tips to increase confidence and comfort when living aboard. This month, she considers why you should show respect for your tender...

Now when you decide you should rig a preventer, the extension line can be unhooked and the main preventer line rigged as before, but this time tied to the extension line rather than directly to the end of the boom.

NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting88

This gybe preventer line is then pulled tight when the boom is well outboard, as it will be on a run or broad reach. Basically, it braces against the mainsheet that is holding the boom off the shrouds, and ‘locks’ the boom in position.

The first way is to have an accidental gybe – especially if it could have been anticipated and prevented.

A gybe preventer comprises a line led from the end of the boom and run towards the bow, outside of everything, and then via a fairlead, turning block or round a cleat, back inside the rigging and taken to an easily accessible, and currently unused, winch in the cockpit.

If you happen to broach and the boom goes in the water, it is vital to be able to quickly release the preventer to avoid rig damage. For this reason the preventer line must never be cleated-off.Thesecond way to fail a Yachtmaster exam? Send a crew member onto the coachroof without first closing the main hatch.

There are two quick ways to fail a Yachtmaster Exam, as resident cruising expert Clive Loughlin reveals…

An important dinghy safety protocol is for the operator to always attach a kill cord on their wrist, which is in turn attached to the ignition; should the driver be pitched out the dinghy for any reason, the engine will stop dead.

When you decide to do a controlled gybe, the preventer can be paid out under a bit of tension as the mainsheet is hauled in to get the boom safely inboard. Then do the gybe, and send your preventer crew back forward of the mast to re-rig for the other tack.

Love your dinghy!

ISTOCKPHOTOS EXPERTS' FORUM

Since winning double Olympic medals in the Laser Radial (now ILCA6) – including gold in 2012 - Lijia Xu has become a successful sports journalist. But this summer she returned to competitive sailing in Weymouth, winning the 2000 Nationals, and this time, had a crew to consider…

There are over 2,400 RYA Training Centres in 58 countries worldwide offering more than 100 courses. For more information on RYA Training courses, visit rya.org.uk/training

By considering these potential problems, working through and practising solutions and potentially adding certain tools or spares to your inventory, you can turn what may be a terrifying situation into a minor inconvenience.Havesomefun with your family or friends next time you are out by playing the ‘what if’ game and working out how you would deal with various issues on board.

PHOTOGRAPHYBOWERSCLASS/RICHARD2000ISTOCK;PHOTOS

reduce the risk of gear failure through regular maintenance and the risk of finding ourselves in foul weather through careful passage planning and monitoring of weather forecasts. However, we cannot eliminate the risks altogether.

This same principle of ‘what if’ can be applied to just about any potential problem on any boat. What if the forestay fails? What if the steering cable breaks? What if the outboard on the tender fails half-way between shore and vessel in a strong offshore breeze?

What if…?

Richard Falk, RYA Director of Training and Qualifications, explains the importance of taking the surprise out of an onboard crisis by challenging yourself and your crew to consider a range of eventualities...

What did you learn?

Yes, Race 9. The start was pin-end favoured, with the windward mark biased to the right. I planned to start on port and find a gap to cross, but I ended up ducking half the fleet and was mid-20s by the windwind mark. However, it was a three-lap race so had plenty of time to catch up and finished fourth in the end. One thing I learnt from my Olympic campaigns is not to resign yourself to a discard when you are in a disastrous situation - you never know what's to come in future races. Also, keeping focused despite setbacks helps you to keep making the right decisions.

Q&A

Experience shows that it is not so much the problem that we encounter that is important, but rather how we respond to or deal with the problem that reallyLet’smatters.consider something we have hopefully all thought about. Most skippers will have at the very least considered what they may do in the event of a crewmember falling overboard. For those who have done courses you will have been shown a technique or two for recovery, and will have had the chance to practise those. The principle here is about dealing with the ‘what if’s’ of boating. In this case, ‘what if’ someone falls overboard? By discussing the MOB issue and practising a couple of different manoeuvres and recovery techniques (hopefully regularly), you are already a long way towards a solution in the unfortunate event that this situation ever arises. Put simply, you have taken the surprise out of the situation and your brain is not faced with the initial question of “how do I start dealing with this problem?” It has a few potential solutions already prepared and ready to go.

What was the biggest challenge during the event?

I’ve never sailed planning boats downwind before so I had no feeling or experience of how to control the angles downwind in different wind ranges. During the RS Aero Europeans earlier this month, I was the fastest downwind sailor, catching up lots of boats on every leg, therefore sailors kept approaching me for advice and tips. Whereas during the 2000 Nationals I was always losing places on the run. It’s a completely different world from singlehanded dinghy sailing.

Getting a good start and playing the shifts upwind - skills from my singlehander years that are still transferable.

I hadn’t raced since the 2016 Rio Olympics until now due to injuries, but it has been so nice to be pain-free and racing again! Now, I’m excited to broaden my experience by sailing lots of different classes.

LIJIA DOUBLINGXU UP

How did you adapt your sailing style for this class?

I’m not used to talking while sailing, so my crew Callum (Farnden) had a hard time knowing when to react during manoeuvres, as I often forgot to give him notice beforehand. And in stronger winds or heated situations I just reverted to my old singlehander habit of not talking at all! Thankfullly, he quickly learnt to anticipate my actions.

Was there a race when things didn’t go quite as planned?

Skills boost

What was your secret to winning this event?

Play around on boats for long enough and you will experience something going wrong. This may be an engine failure, a halyard that parts, a broken deck fitting or steering damage. This is not about being cynical or a doomsday theorist, it is simply a fact of life when you combine the many variables of weather, sea state, mechanics, electrics and of course – the human factor. Things can and do go wrong. Sometimes these are minor inconveniences, and sometimes they have the potential to be catastrophic.Wecanofcourse

Talk to the crew more, and practice sailing the three different modes on downwind legs. I now know the trick between the ‘soak’, ‘intermediate’ and ‘send-it’ modes, but when to use which, still requires experience.

What’s next?

Follow Lijia Xu online via @xulijia on Instagram or xulijia11 on Twitter

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FORUM

So many, from the times we spent with the incredible friends we made, to surﬁ ng sessions with just the family. Stunning passages. But to be honest, all of it - I wish it had never ended. I cannot wait to go again.

Then?DESTINATIONS

BOAT PREP TO-DO LIST PRIORITIES

Try to sail the most fun boats possible. Don’t shy away from the highest level competition. Enjoy your losses, learn from them and focus on addressing your weaknesses. Keep open minded about where the sport may go, and keep following its path. Have fun. We only get one go.

WHAT DID YOUR RACING SELF LEARN FROM YOUR CRUISING SELF?

Then? Garmin inReach satellite communicator. And now? Spare air.

Fast lane vs slow lane

AVERAGE AND TOP BOAT SPEEDS

And now? SailGP is a year-long series with 12 events worldwide. Each tends to be a 5-7 day trip away; jet lag is not my friend!

TYPICAL MEAL ON BOARD

WHAT'S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE CRUISING MEMORY?

WHAT WOULD YOUR ADVICE BE FOR OTHERS THINKING ABOUT DOING A SIMILAR CRUISE?

WHAT DID YOUR CRUISING SELF LEARN FROM YOUR RACING SELF?

And now? Probably about 35 kts in a decent breeze; maximum for me was 50.9 kts sailing with Japan SailGP Team last season.

MUST-HAVE ITEM WHEN LEAVING THE DOCK

AND WHAT'S YOUR ALL-TIME FAVOURITE MEMORY FROM RACING?

Then? In 20 kts of breeze upwind we would do 60+ true wind angle at 7.5 kts – tried to ignore the leeway!

Then? Fountaine Pajot Lipari 41 Fille de Joie

ESSENTIAL CLOTHING ITEM

Then? Boardshorts. And now? Goggles.

CREW JOBS

Sometimes it’s a good idea to slow down.

TYPICAL PERFORMANCE

And now? In the same breeze in an F50 we’d do 32 kts at 40 degrees true wind angle.

Pro EXPERTS'insight

That boats take a lot of love to keep in great order, and to never underestimate how much work the shore crews put in to keep our race boats working properly.

Do it, don’t think about it. It’s the best thing you’ll ever do. If you’ve got kids, go well prepared for schooling. Anticipate more boat maintenance than you’re expecting but that’s part of the fun, and meeting other like-minded cruisers who will always o er help and advice when you have an issue. Have a skill that you can o er to help others with their boats. Buy a boat that is comfortable on the anchor but still sails well.

Chris Draper has several America’s Cup campaigns and a 49er Olympic medal to his name and is currently campaigning with Canada SailGP Team. But not so long ago life was very di erent as the pro sailor took a year out to spend time cruising the Caribbean with his family. We asked how the two extremes compare...

FAMILYSAILGP/DRAPERFORDIEMERFELIXPHOTOS 91Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

Then? Me, skipper - route planning, boat maintenance, in charge of toys (surfboards, SUPs, kites etc), cocktail mixer. My wife, H, co-skipper - helming, sail changes, homeschool, in-passage catering. Our kids, Harry and Lily, crew - dolphin watch and ﬁshing. And now? Me, wing trimmer - professional sheet easer, tweak some knobs and dials, run fast to other side, chat about boatspeed and other boats a bit. Phil Robertson, driver; plus upto four other squad members.

And now? F50 catamaran with Canada SailGP Team.

Then? 8 kts trip average; the maximum we saw was 16.8 kts.

CLASS SAILED

Many times up and down the Windward Islands of the Caribbean; we had planned a route across the Paciﬁ c but the SailGP role came up just before setting o

Again, so many epic ones, the sport has been incredibly kind to me, but my best memory will always be our ﬁ rst 49er Worlds win with Simon (Hiscocks) in Cadiz 2003. It was nearly 20 years ago but I still remember each race like it was yesterday. It was the best racing performance I’ve ever been a part of.

Then? Fish curry And now? Bloks or energy chews

AND YOUR ADVICE FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO GET INTO HIGH PERFORMANCE RACING?

And now? These days it’s just making sure I’ve got some wing sheets on the boat and the underwing fairings are clean. We’re pretty lucky in that the SailGP Tech Team look after the wings so they are all prepared for us – they are legends!

Then? Water-maker ﬁ lter changes and engine checks.

When serious illness a ects a child, family life is turned upside down. At Rainbow Trust, we pair families with a Family Support Worker who provides practical and emotional support.

bereavement.Registered Charity No. 1070532

WE ARE THERE FOR AS LONG AS FAMILIES NEED US

Caring for a sick child is often traumatic, demanding and isolating for the whole family. Our Family Support Workers give them vital support - during diagnosis, treatment and, if required, through

£3 could provide activities to keep a sick child entertained; £10 could provide a memory box for a grieving family; £26 would pay for one hour of support to help a family to cope; £60 could provide a customised pack for a sick child to use during virtual support sessions and £182 could provide a day out for a child whose sibling is termilally ill.

YES,

We would love to stay in touch to show you how your gift is helping, with news and information on how you can be involved with our vital work.

YES, please keep in touch by email please keep in touch by phone take your privacy seriously and will never sell or share your details. You can change your preferences at any time by Seesupportercare@rainbowtrust.org.uk.emailingrainbowtrust.org.uk/cookieandprivacypolicy

POST TO: Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity, Cassini Court, Randalls Way, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7TW DONATE BY PHONE: 01372 363438 DONATE ONLINE: rainbowtrust.org.uk/donatenow TEXT TO DONATE*: Text RAINBOWMAG followed by the donation amount in number of pounds to 70490. For example RAINBOWMAG 10 to donate £10. *texts cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you’ll be opting in to hear from us. If you would like to donate but don’t wish to hear more, text RAINBOWMAGNOINFO instead. Please make cheque payable to Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity £25 £50 £100 I prefer to give £ ___________ First name: Last name: Address: Postcode: Phone:Email: Date: Boost your donation by 25p of Gift Aid for every £1 you donate. In order to Gift Aid your donation you must tick the box below and provide your full name and address. I want to Gift Aid this donation and any donations I make in the future or have made in the past four years to Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity. I am a UK taxpayer and understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid clained on all of my donations in that tax year it is my responsibility to pay any di erence  DONATE TO RAINBOW TRUST CHILDREN’S CHARITY Find out more and get involved today T: 01372 363438 rainbowtrust.org.uk Scan donateto

ePropulsion UK

 £POA ewoltech.com

Navionics distributor Navimaps was showcasing its new, uniform 2022 chart catalogue, at the Southampton International Boat Show. For Navionics-compatible chartplotters, users can choose from Navionics+ or Platinum+ charts. For Garmin-compartible plotters, users can choose Garmin Navionics+ or Garmin Navionics Vision+ , with all the new features they o er (see page 22) and integrated Garmin and Navionics content. Upon activation, all Navionics and Garmin Navionics charts enjoy a subscription to year of chart updates.

 navimaps.co.uk



Rooster in the US

epropulsion.uk

Prices range from £149.99 to £319.99, dependent upon coverage area and chart type.

£POA

EnergyMatic propeller

The new ePropulsion F10 electric 10kW POD was making its UK debut in the Environmental Innovation Showcase at the Southampton International Boat Show. The F10 POD is designed to propel medium sized yachts and sailboats up to 10 tonnes. Compact, space-saving and lightweight, it weighs just 39kg, comes with a durable three blade 13”x11.3” aluminium propeller and has a torque level equivalent to a 30hp diesel inboard.

New kit for you and your boat

EWOL has launched its new stainless steel EnergyMatic propeller, a lightweight, high-performance and hi-tech propeller that allows the pitch to be altered to increase motor cruising speed on a yacht, and aids manoeuvrability during mooring procedures. Thanks to its internal “automatic return to the feathered variable-pitch” mechanism, EnergyMatic puts itself into a minimal-resistance position while sailing, without the need to stop the shaft. This means that it is no longer necessary to switch o the engine and engage reverse gear to signiﬁcantly increase sailing speed, with a range of 0.5 to 1.5 knots. Meanwhile its “charging” position means boats with 100% electric or hybrid propulsion, or with an alternator connected to the shaft, will be able to recharge their batteries by sailing in “Recharge” mode.



93Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022

Our US readers will be pleased to hear Rooster has opened up sales stateside, with a dedicated US website. Among our favourites, as winter draws nearer for us northern European sailors, is this kid’s baselayer, the Polypro top. Thermal, with a soft ﬂeece surface inside, longer length and thumb loops for comfort, plus a high rise double lined neck. Rooster Polypro™ is constructed from a combination of Polypropylene (94%) and Elastane (6%). Polypropylene, we’re told, is naturally hydrophobic, which means the fabric is said to feel “remarkably dry, even when wet”.

 $85  roosterusa.com

Navionics+ charts

LAUNCHED

Grace is an excellent example of her kind, beautifully presented, well cared for, and has a good inventory and modern creature comforts such as heating, hot water, and shorepower. Derived from an earlier Scandinavian cruiser-racer design, the Hanse 301 was designed to offer sparkling yet easily handled performance, ideal for shorthanded cruising and club racers alike. As a result of its pedigree, the Hanse 301 benefits from more classical styling than most yachts of their age, and while this does mean internal volume isn’t high, they make an intriguing modern alternative to earlier classics from yards like Sadler and Contessa. This boat has modern design features such as a ‘sugar scoop’ stern, an aft galley and heads compartment handy for offshore passages, and optional self-tacking jib track, which is ideal for solo sailing.

Year: 2002

LOA: 11.89m (39’)

Contact: clarkeandcarter.co.uk

Displacement: 2,980 kg/6,570 lbs

Contact: michaelschmidt.co.uk craftinsure quote: £362

Draft (max): 2.22m (7’28”)

Engine: Volvo D2 (55hp)

Designer: Carl Beyer

Designer: Philippe Briand

Tax£24,995paid £95,000Taxpaid

Beam: 4.10m (13’45”)

craftinsure quote: £178

Year: 2005

BROKERAGE | BOATS FOR SALE

LOA: 9.02m (29’6”)

Location: Hamble, Hampshire

Accommodation: 6 berths in 3 cabins

94 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

Location: Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex

Beam: 2.77m (9’1”)

Three of the best

Engine: Volvo MD-2010-D SailDrive

Displacement: 7,824 kg (17,249 lbs)

Accommodation: 6-8 berths in 3 cabins

FEELING 39 | KIMOCHI

HANSE 301 | GRACE

The Feeling 39 from the lifting keel specialists, Kirie in France, probably represents the ideal shoal draft cruiser. With the keel down she draws enough to sail to windward as one would expect and hope for in a modern cruiser-racer and, with the keel up, she’s ideal for cruising remote creeks and waterways where draught is a concern. Kimochi has only had two owners from new and has proved to be an easy-tohandle family or double-handed cruiser with ample accommodation. She’s also been well maintained including having her mast and rigging comprehensively inspected, overhauled, cleaned and signed off by XW Rigging last year (2021).

Draft: 1.70m (5’6”)

Engine: Yanmar 4JH80

Contact: clippermarine.co.uk craftinsure quote: £POA

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

Draft: 2.14m (7’58”)

Year: 2020 LOA: 15.4m (50’5”)

BAVARIA C50 STYLE | BE HAPPY

Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022 95

This elegant 2020 Bavaria C50 Style is fitted with a Yanmar 4JH80 (80hp) on saildrive with approximately 175 hours. She has had just one owner from new and has been maintained regularly. Her comprehensive list of optional extras include in-mast reefing, hi-lo TV in saloon, tender garage, luxury walnut internal joinery, three-cabin layout, plus crew cabin, full B&G navigation package, Lewmar power winches, 4kw inverter, plus air conditioning, and bimini.

Displacement: 15,490kg

£429,950Taxpaid

Accommodation: 3 cabins

Beam: 5.05m (16’58”)

Location: Beaulieu Sur Mer, South of France

Designer: Maurizio Cossutti

BEAUTIFUL TORNADO CATAMARAN. GBR

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JOHNSON

412. Marstrom Hulls, white, professionally faired and resprayed 2019. Carbon mast, black. Stripped and re-laquered 2019. Carbon chute, white. Carbon rudder stocks, composite blades. New trampoline December 2019. Sails – GP Sails. Big wheel trolley and stern cups. Full Rain and Sun cover. £4950 Tel 07894 280190 / 01243 769000 (GOSPORT)

SEAFARER 18FT WITH 6HP OUTBOARD 8FT DINGHY. 23ft mast. Sails and bag. Replacement bow winch cable. Roller & foresail reeﬁng. Outboard with 2gal tank and Boarding ladder. New mahogany rubbing New marine ply washboards. Enclosed cabin with cushions & storage shelves. Mahogany combings & seat slats. Road trailer with 3 new tyres. New bilge pump. £1675 Tel 01432 277281 / (HEREFORD)

Tel:.co.ukrainandsun02380348854www.rainandsun.co.ukCallPhilipBullon023 8034 8854 Dinghy covers NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting96

MUSTO SKIFF GBR 567. Fully Refurbished by Ovington in 2021 including: New Mast, New Boom. New top & bottom Cover, New Foils, Re-roped, New Blue wave adjustable lowers, sail options available . £8250 Tel 07970 106620 / (DURHAM)

GP14 MAINSAIL AND JIB. Sails 25 years old but barely used. Battens included. Jib in very good condition mainsail needs small repair on edge and is slightly discoloured in places. Buyer collects. £100 Tel 07883 040548 / (BEXLEY)

VANDERCRAFT V3000. 3603. Complete with combi trailer. Winner of four consecutive national champs, plus numerous open and club events. £2200 Tel 01634 727217 / 07732 004231 (ROCHESTER)

MUSTO HPX GORETEX OCEAN TROUSERS SIZE M BRIGHT YELLOW. MUSTO HPX Goretex Ocean trousers size M in bright yellow. Unmarked. worn only twice. massive saving on new price. £175 Tel 07754 337398 / (CHICHESTER)

ZHIK PAIR OF POWER PAD HIKING OUT PADS New and unused. Selling at half price. £49 Tel 01642 655982 / 07879 627224 (MIDDLESBROUGH)

AND

strakes.

MUSTO LARGE HPX OCEAN GORETEX JACKET. Musto Large size HPX Goretex Ocean Jacket colour BrightYellow. As New (Worn Twice) Unmarked. massive saving on new price. £375 Tel 07754 337398 / (CHICHESTER)

TRADITIONAL SELSEY GRP OPEN DAY BOAT. Built in the 80s (clinker) converted to a day boat, 15’-6” long 6’-3”breath 1’-3”draft. Tohatsu 15HP four stroke outboard 2018. Central helm controls. White hull, Blue anti foul. Seating for 8 constructed from polished Baltic pine. Blue vinyl foam pads. Running lights. Raymarine Dragonﬂy 4pro. GPS. Full canvas covers. £7000 Tel 07831 489409 / (SHEPPERTON )

connections.

Brand

Classi edTo advertise call +44 (0)207 349 3787 or email mark.harrington@chelseamagazines.com KNIVES LEATHER STEERING WHEELS www.sailingtoday.co.uk | www.yachtsandyachting.co.uk SAILSFITTING OUT BOATS FOR SALE YACHT DELIVERIES OTHER EQUIPMENTSAILING TUITION To advertise please call Mark on 020 7349 3787 T: (01929) 554308 The Sail Loft, 16 BH20Wareham,LaneSandfordIndEst,Dorset,4DY www.kempsails.com LEATHER COVERINGWHEELKITS • 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 Clyde Marine www.clydemarineleather.comLeatherT.01418814981 Clyde_RYA_Win_16.indd 1 01/11/2016 09:55 Enter coupon ‘ST2022’ on checkout for a free Myerchin Light Pen MYERCHIN KNIVES instagram.com /myerchinuk twitter.com /MyerchinUK CHARTERTOADDEDBOATSNEWTHEFLEET www.sealsdirect.co.ukRubbersealsand trims for the marine industry 01425 617722 FREE, fully illustrated catalogue Please visit our website or call Seals+Direct Ltd, Unit 6, Milton Business Centre, Wick Drive, New Milton, Hampshire BH25 6RH Email: sales@sealsplusdirect.co.uk MARINEINDUSTRIALCARAVANAUTOMOTIVEFREE,fullyPleasevisitourwebsiteorcallWickDrive,NewMilton,HampshireBH256RHINDUSTRIALSOLVEYOURSEALINGPROBLEMSMARINEINDUSTRIALCARAVANAUTOMOTIVENEWCATALOGUE HYDRAHOIST BOAT LIFTER - REDUCED PRICE. Currently set up for a J24, but can be adapted to suit most boats. Lifts up to 1500kg. Approx 6200mm long by 3200mm wide. Located in Poole Yacht Club. £3500 Tel 07808 177659 / (POOLE ) (GOSPORT) J24 RACE READY. One Design Legal Alien Hull number: JRSP-2-87 4215 , Sail number GBR 4064 1987 Rogers boat in excellent condition and race ready. Up to date Marine surveyor report. Current ECHO & ICR certs. Offers considered . £11000 Tel 00353 862340359 / (IRELAND) 24 FT CRUISER QUARTER TONNER. Fully Restored and going fast. 4 berth, ﬁn-keel, open-plan cruiser. Good family boat, self draining cockpit. Re-masted, rerigged, re-keeled, new rudder. Laminate sails little used. 3.5hp outboard. Full recent survey - yard trolley available. Must be seen. £5800 Tel 07765 900259 / (CARDIFF) J24 4270 JOLLY ROGER. Built 2005 J Boats Italy; Prepared by UK Champions for the 2005 Worlds; 5th in the Worlds; Hull faired by David Heritage on the IOW; Always dry sailed; Trailer refurbished and full length sail storage boxes. £14500 Tel +4479 74576252 / (POOLE)

EVOLUTION

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JAM CLEATS Complete with standard sliding tracks. Selling for half price because they are surplus to requirements. £96.7 Tel 01642 655982 / 07879 627224 (YARM) Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting NOVEMBER 2022 97

Well maintained boat. New mast 2018. 1 set racing sails,black square top main and jib in photo plus kite. 1 suit training sails and kite. Recent new trolley. Foils with bags. Lots new ropes/ continuous control lines. Top cover.

2014 FOUNTAINE PAJOT MAHÉ 36 CATAMARAN With Volvo Penta £80000 Tel 07448 321901 (DOVER) OR ANDERSON £77.68 01642 ALLEN VERTICAL

All three of these wildly optimistic and daring leaps came out of nowhere. Neither of us were from sailing families. Both of us had fulfilling and stimulating jobs in architecture, working in London, happily living a normal city life. You can just imagine how bonkers everyone thought we were when, after a wistful moment on the Cornish cliffs, we decided that we were going to buy a sailboat and sail round the world.

And this is what normal looks like for them, which is never lost on me, how their extraordinary start looks nothing like our childhoods did. For a long time they assumed everyone they knew or met also had a boat and it took a while to dawn on them that it’s actually rather unusual. And, as they get older, they see the differences in how our friends and family back in the UK live, compared to how they do. Our trips back are full of jubilant reunions and endless play with cousins but we try to coordinate our moves for holidays and weekends, as they know that these kids have their own other foreign vocabulary of uniforms and homework, early starts and school nights, sensible haircuts and socks.

Day by day, mile by mile, the confidence in this left field decision has grown and flourished. We suddenly found ourselves able to carve out and design something else creative; a whole way of living for ourselves, which was utterly different from how we had expected the progression of our lives to go. We were always learning new things and meeting new people and questioning everything that we’d taken for granted as the standard and ordinary choices before. Suddenly the normal version of us that we’d detached ourselves from seemed strangely lacklustre and plain.

Buying a boat is, in itself, a leap of faith. It’s a commitment to learning how to operate it, a hope of enjoyment and a promise to try. Choosing a liveaboard boat is another kind of leap as it’s opting for an entire lifestyle rather than just looking at a sailboat as a hobby, vehicle or toy. It’s the choice of making your home on the water. The next leap is deciding to actually go somewhere. Whether it’s just hopping across the Channel or plying the world’s oceans, moving your boat while living on it, does, I’ll admit, take guts.

ASTLEHOLLYILLUSTRATION

Making the leap of buying a boat and setting off around the world is always a big deal. Jess reflects on how she came to the decision and how it has affected her and her family

In turn we’re well-aware that we’ve become the weird auntie and uncle, that rather eccentric boat family that becomes the source of gossip for other people. Sometimes I think our parents consider we’ve adopted an anti-conventionalist stance, that we’re somehow actively trying to rebel or seek out ways not to conform. But that’s not really it.

Swimming against the tide is always a challenge but it can sometimes take you to unexpected places, down paths you never could have foreseen, embracing the unknowns and what-ifs about life. A boat can allow you to visit all sorts of places and afford you the freedom to question everything that you previously took to be true. And the future ahead is simply to navigate, steer and enjoy the journey.

98 NOVEMBER 2022 Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting

important role as being the only family home we’ve ever had. Our kids are boat kids. They are children who love climbing and testing their balance; who watch the water’s surface to warn us of a sudden wake; they can happily scramble along the shoreline, following snails or collecting seaglass and shells. They have swum with turtles, snorkelled with giant mantas, paddleboarded with dolphins and sailed alongside whales. They know the anatomy of crabs and squid. Their passports are littered with stamps, they’re familiar with words in different languages and are used to having and making friends all over the world. They are almost always together, a little tribe, a small monkey troop, navigating the conflicts and challenges of being both a team and an individual, working with each others’ ages, strengths and abilities.

efore we bought our boat I was actually pretty normal. It’s now over 11 years since we pushed off from the dock at Falmouth and pointed our bow southwest and beyond. And, if you’d asked me even a year prior to that if I was likely to be doing what we have been happily doing for over a decade I would’ve thought it was crazy.

‘Swimming against the tide is always a challenge but it can take you to unexpected places’

Jess Lloyd-Mostyn

Buoyed by this revelatory novel kind of existence we decided to start a family and ended up having our three kids all as part of our cruising voyages; one in Mexico, one in New Zealand and one on a flying visit back to the UK. Home births and home-schooling became regular phrases in our bizarre vocabulary and the boat took on its most

JESSMOSTYNLLOYDJess 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

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Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting November 2022

Articles inside

Launched

Jess Lloyd-Mostyn

Top 10 Anchorages

Buyer’s Guide

Gull’s Eye

Tested: Viko S35

Charter

A Vertue - Round Britain performance

Transatlantic crossing

Solent day out

Paul Heiney

Andy Rice

Tom Cunli e

Grenadines

New boat news