Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2018 i Sailing Today

Cruising cufflinks A nod to the ocean It’s a shame Christmas has passed, as these little sailing boat cufflinks would make the perfect stocking filler for your boating friends and family. Designed by Joseph Turner, a British sailing brand based in the north of England, they’re a fun way to show your devotion to the ocean, without going over the top. Moulded in silver, with cobalt blue detailing, they'd go with pretty much anything, but we can see them worn while watching the racing at Cowes or on the jetty at Southampton Boat Show, as you check out the latest launches. • £49 • josephturner.co.uk America’s Cup classic A modern take on a beloved yacht The Columbia model yacht is perfect for anyone who has a love for the sea…

One theme of this month’s Sailing Today is cruising in the Mediterranean. Over the years I’ve had many a joust with the Middle Sea and seen plenty of changes in ports, boats and people’s aspirations. The Med itself hasn’t altered at all. It’s still blue, it’s often ‘all-or-nothing’ for wind and it can get very hot in summer, but the harbours are transformed since I ran a sailing school off a beach west of Marseilles in the late 1960s. Shortly afterwards, a marina was built at Beaulieu on the French Riviera. Man-made havens have now proliferated, most of them requiring stern-to mooring techniques, but thankfully, many of the old ports are still open to yachts. They’ve been tidied up, of course, but some of the character remains to keep us…

Serious cruising is about functionality, comfort and safety. A modern cruising yacht has most of these issues solved, especially if you fit the options. Everything from TV to deep freezers are routinely available now. Everything solved except- of course - THE DINGHY PROBLEM! On most recently designed yachts, there is no horizontal surface structure near the stern to mount a davit. Yacht designers have given up on the challenge of handling dinghies because drop down platforms and dinghies cannot work together without one damaging the other. On most modern cruising yachts: • The only accessible mounting points are on the transom about 2.5-3 metres apart either side of the platform, but any device mounted here would offer suspension points far wider than the lifting eye separation inside any dinghy size…

Chines. Back in the days before yacht designers got hold of them, chines were generally steep coastal valleys – or in fact a method of taking cuts of meat from the spine of an animal (preferably dead). Anyway, once yacht designers got hold of them, they took on an entirely new meaning. In the world of yacht racing a chine – essentially inserting a hard angle into the profile of the hull shape – can provide a yacht with a performance boost in certain circumstances. In the world of yacht cruising they are generally used to give a yacht a dramatic look and provide yet more internal volume aft. Yet, in recent years, designers have begun to move away from the hard chine aft. To my mind this is no…

It’s been several decades since tin-based TBT antifouling was outlawed for use on leisure craft and since then yacht owners have relied almost entirely on copper-based products laced with various other biocides to keep the weed and barnacles away. Copper metal (Cu) and cuprous oxide (CuO) are the basis of most metallic biocides currently found in antifouling paint. Both these elements are very effective in deterring larval, mollusc and weed growth, but their ability to arrest the growth of some weed and slime depends on their concentration within the coating. While CuO is a very good antimicrobial product, it does require a high concentration to be fully effective against all types of marine fouling. For this reason paints that contain less copper metal, or use less powerful ingredients like Copper…

RUSTLER 42 | PANTALAIMON II Designed by Stephen Jones and launched in 2002, Pantalaimon ll is a stunning performance cruiser by Rustler and very much a sailor’s yacht. She’s a joy to sail but also offers a great deal of comfort and practicality below decks. She’s spent most of her life sailing along the coast of England, with occasional trips across the Channel to explore Europe, though she’s equipped for adventures much further afield. Her current owners have carried out updates and improvements to her deck and interior so she’s ready for comfortable travels with her new crew. She sleeps five people across three cabins; with a double berth in the saloon. The saloon itself is fairly spacious, accommodating a large dining table and a good-sized chart table. The galley…

Splice up your life Protecting and maintaining the ropes on board your yacht might not be the most exciting or even remotely enjoyable aspect of the sailing lifestyle, but it’s certainly essential. Regular maintenance will save you money over time as you won’t need to replace them as often as if you just leave them to fray and erode. With this in mind, Marlow has published a new splicing guide with everything you need to know about this essential sailing skill. There are step-by-step guides to everything from rope maintenance to emergency repairs, and they’ve included helpful diagrams, so there’s no confusion about each stage of the task. You’ll be a splicing expert in no time. As Dame Ellen MacArthur says in her foreword: “Marlow knows a thing or two…

SAVE BRISTOL BOATYARD A petition has been launched to save Bristol Marina’s boatyard after Bristol City Council revealed plans to make changes to the lease, making it impossible to run. The council claims they need to take 40% of the boatyard’s land to accommodate a new un-named operator for the Dry Dock. Davina Lund, who owns the boatyard said: “This loss of boatyard space will mean the boatyard will quickly become unprofitable. We won’t have the space for the many commercial boats in the harbour, such as the Tower Belle and Bristol Ferries, to be maintained, repaired or safety checked. They will have nowhere else in the Harbour to go. Bristol Marina’s boatyard is also the only place dredgers can launch, helping keep central Bristol safe from flooding. Petition: saveourboatyard.co.uk…

Ofcet 32 SC £126,000 French manufacturers, Ofcet’s 32 SC is part of a new generation of innovative, sporty yachts that almost sit in a genre all by themselves. Taking its lead from manufacturers such as Pogo and Django, Ofcet’s 32 is a lightweight yacht that still offers light, roomy accommodation with plentiful headroom. In terms of hull design, well-known racing man, Marc Lombard has drawn a hull shape that is pretty radical, featuring a slightly bulbous bow similar to Beneteau’s new Figaro 3. There is a hard chine and a deep bulb keel combined with twin rudders. chantier-ofcet.com Dufour catamaran 48 £tbc One of the notable absences from Dufour’s broad and extensive range of yachts is a multihull option. That, however, is about to change with the introduction of this…

‘I put my foot down the first of the cabin steps, and was up to my ankle in cold water ’ Politicians are always leaking, aren’t they? It’s never a steady or even torrential flow, just a constant drip, drip, drip of one secret after another. What I want to know is how they put up with it, because from where I stand the first hint of a drip of anything and I’m sitting bolt upright, giving it all my attention. All my senses are put on high alert, tuned, listening for the next drop, then with either ears or eyes trying to spot it. And that can be the most difficult bit, finding where the leak is coming from. Ask any Prime Minister, or the owner of any boat…

In all honesty, I was never a good yachtsman,” Chay Blyth reflects. He’s many miles from the sea in his family home in Hawick looking back on what has to go down as an extraordinary career. His statement is equally extraordinary – particularly given that this is a man who set the record for being the first person to sail non-stop westwards around the world. He has also taken line honours in the Whitbread Round the World Race, won the round Britain race and the doublehanded transatlantic race to name but a few of his sailing achievements. Despite this, he persists with his line of thinking: “What I was good at was raising money. And if you want to go faster, you need a bigger boat. I discovered that pretty…

JEANNEAU SUN ODYSSEY 490 Slightly smaller than the Oceanis, but also brand spanking new and fresh from the drawing board of Philippe Briand. Unlike the Oceanis, Jeanneau has opted to keep the chine at the stern and there is no shortage of volume available in this new design. jeanneau.com £257,000 BAVARIA C50 Bavaria'sbrand new C50 replaces the Bavaria Cruiser 51 and is a smart new design. like the Beneteau you have three different specification options; 'Holiday' 'Style' and 'Ambition' so you can tailor the yacht to your own requirements. bavariayachts.com £299,000 HANSE 505 The Hanse 505 has been around for a while now and she’s a proven performer with a good track record. In common with the 51.1 she boasts masses of internal volume, with designers Judel/Vrolijk utilising a high…

Astern, the rugged outline of Robinson Crusoe Island sank slowly beneath the horizon, the near-cloudless sky turning to a hazy purple as dusk overtook us. At the beginning of long passages I always feel excited but a little queasy as well. “Have you taken your Stugeron?” Jenny called from below. I checked my tether and shuffled backwards in the cockpit to lean out and make an adjustment to our self-steering gear, one eye on the slowly swinging compass. The optimal course was WNW, the wind was a gentle 10 knot WSW: the vane liked any wind forward of a broad reach, so we were off to a good start. After supper Jenny ran through with me our evening checklist: “No need to reef or to pole the jib? Lifejacket on? Tether…

Cleopatra Marina is located on the Aktion Peninsula, in the heart of the Ionian region, and dividing the Ionian Sea and the Gulf of Amvrakikos. If you’re pressed for time and want to make the most of the area, then you could fly directly into Aktion Airport, situated just 1.5km away from the marina. It’s just under four hours flight time from London. If you have more time, then sailing in offers beautiful views and relatively stress-free sailing. The marina is easily accessible. Arriving in from the west, across the Ionian Sea, this part of the coast is likely to first be identified by the planes arriving and departing into the airport, which in just down the road from the marina. If the afternoon breeze has any NW in it,…

Back in August we reported on the Oyster World Rally – a voyage of a lifetime set up by Oyster Yachts. At the time, the entrants were in the South Seas; surrounded by some of the most captivating and unforgettable scenery imaginable. Sailing Today teamed up with the rally organisers and laid down the gauntlet to the entrants to see who could take the most captivating photograph of this stunning cruising ground. The results have been startling and the decision as to who would win was so tough that we thought we would whittle the pictures down to a shortlist and then open it up to you, our faithful readers, to decide who should be the ultimate winner. So now it’s your chance to have your say. The winning photo…

BRIXHAM PIRATE THURSDAYS THURSDAYS IN MARCH Join the piratical shenanigans under the Old Fish Market on Brixham harbour side. With fun for all the family, locals and visitors are invited to take try arts and crafts, watch puppet shows, dance and sing to live music, and, of course, dress in your best pirate attire. visitdevon.co.uk UNDER THE SEA 30 MARCH - ESSEX Colchester Arts Centre is supporting Surfers Against Sewage, in an under the sea spectacular. The fin-tastic band, Jupiter Ray, will entertain guests, as surprise performers join revellers on the dance floor. Fancy dress is encouraged. visitessex.com DURLSTON CASTLE PAST 3 FEB-3 MARCH - DORSET Explore Durlston Castle, with its interesting history. Standing on the Dorset cliffs, it was built as a folly of local man, George Burt, in…

With bright azure skies, lush greenery surrounding remote bays and the deep sapphire seas, the Ionian Sea of western Greece boasts ideal sailing conditions, delectable Greek mezes and welcoming local folk in charming traditional villages. It’s also a cruising sailor’s dream, with light, balmy breezes the norm, and innumerable anchorages almost always within a stone’s throw of a friendly tavern. This sailing paradise is where I find myself working as an RYA sailing instructor for family run yacht charter company, Sail Ionian, based in Vliho on the island of Le›as. After growing up in Lancashire in the north of England and having lived in various places overseas since leaving school in late 2000, it’s no surprise that six years after discovering this gem of a place I have no plans…

‘Did we just hit something? Was that a whale, a log, a sea container?!?’ The general consensus is that the noises of the sea are gentle, calming and peaceful which should make them the perfect complement to a good night’s sleep. Nice idea but I’ve got news for you; it’s very far from the truth. CRASH – we roll over onto our port side and the fold-out chart table seat slides out – BANG – the boom tries to lurch back over to starboard but is held by the preventer – SMACK – goes the block of our main sheet as it wallops onto the roof of the aft cabin – THUMP – as yet more objects slide from their neatly stashed locations and land like icebergs dotted across the…

When people realise I’m the guy who writes the Shell Channel Pilot, the first question they ask is, “Do you actually visit all those ports yourself?” Since you’ve taken the trouble to read this article, you deserve an honest response. Here it is: “Yes, but not every year and the experience is not always without incident.” My current boat, a 44ft cutter called Constance, draws a nudge over 2m on Napoleon’s measuring system. When I took over the book 25 years ago, I owned a 1911 pilot cutter, a mighty vessel a stride or two short of a cricket pitch from the outboard end of her bowsprit to her shapely counter with a full 8ft of draught. Keels of this sort discourage entry into some ports, but my wife Ros…

‘Some marinas do ‘early bird’ offers for those who are quick to make up their mind’ Early spring can be a testing time for sailors as they consider their options when it comes to getting their boat ready for the new season. With the boat out of the water and a bitterly cold breeze frequently still howling around the boatyard, it can take a bit of strength of will to envision the summer season ahead and remember that if you put in the hard yards now, your yacht will be resplendent by the time it hits the water. In these circumstances a decent checklist (see p54) can be invaluable when it comes to mapping out the tasks required to prepare yourself for the spring season and there are two different…

‘Many policies will cover you for occasional amateur racing, such as the Round the Island Race’ Boat insurance in the UK is a complicated jigsaw of underwriters, agents, brokers and more. For the boatowner, it can be hard to navigate the market successfully. Whether you buy online or over the phone, detail is everything when it comes to buying a policy. At its most basic, boat insurance will cover just third party liability – that is the risk that you hurt someone else or damage their property while using the boat. Just as with car cover, this is the bare minimum. If you want to use a public slipway, pontoon or quay, or if you plan to keep your boat in a marina, you have to be able to demonstrate…

The Ionian Sea is an ideal destination for sailors. In summer the gentle breezes mean it’s perfect for relaxed, unchallenging sailing, ideal for families. The reliable temperatures, with highs ranging from 20-32 degrees Celsius year-round, mean it’s nearly always a good time to go, and Cleopatra is the ideal base, as it offers an incredible variety of sailing adventures within easy distance. First up is Le›as. Just 9nm southwest along the coast from Cleopatra, it’s scattered with beautiful beaches, striking cliffs, quiet bays and traditional villages to drop anchor at for lunch, or to explore. The turquoise waters along this stretch of coastline mean swimming off the boat is always a temptation. In fact, this description is true of all of the islands in the Ionian, with the main variation…

For anyone unfamiliar with the Mediterranean the weather can come as a bit of a wake-up call. The idea of the Med as some sort of large lake blessed with a few light zephyrs blowing out of an eternal blue sky is only part of the picture. On average it has more wind than, say, the south coast of England, and at times it certainly can blow and blow too much. Even the humble sea breeze, which I’ll talk about later, has, on average, more bite to it in the Med than along the south coast of England – not surprising when the temperatures which feed a sea breeze are higher in the Med than in more northerly climes. Some of the confusion over Med weather comes from the fact…

Crew Sunglasses Make a statement in these polarised sailing sunglasses from Gill. The wraparound design protects your eyes from sunlight and saltwater, and the polarised, anti-glare lenses mean you’ll have perfect vision on the water. The final, genius touch is that they float so you won’t lose them to the ocean. • £50 • gillmarine.com Southern Ocean Boot Sailing boots are a seasonal essential and the new Southern Ocean Boot from Musto is perfect. Constructed from high quality natural rubber, these boots are designed to withstand everything the British coastline, or even the Southern Ocean can throw at you. The outsole compound provides solid grip and traction on deck, while a 3mm neoprene lining adds comfort and warmth inside. The integrated fabric gaiter prevents water from getting in at the…