Innholdsfortegnelse for July 2018 i Sailing Today

Just zip it Because space on board is tight Storage space on board is often at a premium, unless you’re on an enormous cruise ship and that’s definitely not our style. We love this boaty style wash bag, as it gives more than a nod to our favourite pastime. It’s 100% polyester so incredibly durable and is fully lined so any bottle leaks won’t find their way onto your clothes. Plus there’s an internal pocket to help with organisation. • £30 • northsails.com Fedora flair Baseball caps are so out this season If you want to avoid sunstroke, and I think it’s safe to say we all do, then you need to wear a hat to protect your head. But it doesn’t need to be a boring cap like everyone…

Often referred to wrongly as ‘Tahiti’, the Society islands are one of the five archipelagos of French Polynesia. Tahiti is the chief island of the group, and of the whole territory, which is autonomous, but still answers to Paris. The base on Raiatea gives easy access to Tahaa, Bora Bora, Maupiti and Huahine, and there is plenty to keep you occupied here for two weeks or more. There is little tide, and in the main winter season, from May to October, the prevailing winds are the southeasterly trades. The official languages are French and Tahitian, and the currency is the South Pacific Franc, which is pegged at 119 to the Euro, or about 100 to the dollar.…

‘Of all the cruises you have done, how many have gone exactly to plan?’ Another season, another big mistake. I blame the long, cold winter when there were far too many opportunities to flop in the armchair while the rain poured and frost got hold. It’s a dangerous time, when the dreams start, ambitions rise with the vigour of the flames up the chimney, and you start to plan the coming summer’s cruise. This is when it all goes wrong. I sometimes wonder if cruises would be better if no planning went into them at all. I know that we are all supposed to compile a passage plan before leaving harbour, but I’m not talking about working out the tides, the current, the lighthouses. I wonder if we shouldn’t all…

It was 1am on a hot, moonless night; Bosun Bird lay utterly still at anchor in Marovo Lagoon. But for some reason I slept uneasily, slipping in and out of a bad dream. Then I was suddenly wide awake; I must have heard something. I lay flat on my back under the sheet, my eyes wide open, heart pounding. I took a couple of deep breaths to relax. Out of the corner of my left eye, I seemed to see something unfamiliar. Right by my head, only a foot from the pillow, there was a motionless figure, blocking my view of Jenny on the opposite bunk. For a moment I thought I was back in my nightmare. Then adrenaline took over. I shouted incoherently, thrust the sheet off, grabbed the…

Here’s the bad news. Three months to sail around Britain - and see things - is tight. It is well worth doing but tight. So, starting from Plymouth, and having read that typical wind and currents don’t significantly favour either clockwise or anticlockwise, we decided to go up the east coast first on the grounds that it would be relatively less interesting. That went well. It is wonderful. From start to finish. Who knew? Lots of you, of course, but my only experience was a few days sailing the North East coast, off-season, more than 20 years ago. That was with a BBC Look North camera crew and the footballing legend Bob Moncur who, since you ask, scored in the Fairs Cup final of 1969. They remember that sort of…

Forty-five years ago Grand Soleil launched its first ever yacht; the Grand Soleil 34. She was a smart cruiser/racer that was fun, affordable and introduced yet more eager sailors to the delights of going yachting. Forty years on and the company continues to flourish and continues to build larger and larger yachts. Their biggest is now the Grand Soleil 80. Yet clearly the company has not forgotten its roots and perhaps it was a nod to its own heritage – possibly combined with a fear that young sailors are being priced out of the market – that inspired the launch of its new 34. Of course, back in 1974, 34ft was a pretty decent sized yacht, but things have changed now. This is, without question, the entry level Grand Soleil…

NATIONAL PARK The marina is adjacent to San Lorenzo national park. This is noted as being a mecca for twitchers ONSHORE STORAGE Shelter Bay offers haul out and storage ashore if required SHELTERED HAVEN The clue is in the name; Shelter Bay is well protected Shelter Bay Marina nestles in the northwest corner of Limon Bay, along the north shore of Panama. The bay heralds the entrance to the Panama Canal, so Shelter Bay is, for many, the final stop-off before transiting the Panama Canal, a bucket list favourite for many a sailor. It’s a tricky and time-consuming venture, taking around ten hours to travel the 50 miles (80 kilometres), but it means adding your name to the list of those who have crossed directly from the Caribbean Sea into…

Shelter Bay Marina offers many and varied cruising opportunities, and whichever course you set will be greatly rewarded. Of course one of the most popular options for us, and our readers, is to cross the Caribbean Sea to the cruising paradise of the Caribbean islands. The warm waters, sun drenched coastline, wonderful food and culture, are a heady mix that is find it hard to resist and you could easily spend an entire sailing season exploring these islands alone. From the beautiful British Virgin Islands, fast recovering from Hurricanes Irma and Maria, to the spectacular sailing around the coast of St Lucia, it’s an ideal cruising ground. You’ll generally find the best sailing from December to April. However, if you’re familiar with the Caribbean and fancy a bit of a…

TEUTONIC TROUBLES The yachting world is still reeling after it was announced that German giant Bavaria Yachts has gone into administration. The Black Forest-based manufacturer and its 600 strong workforce faces an uncertain future after it opted for self administration and was placed in the hands of Dr Beck and Partner, a company specialising in insolvency. By opting for self administration the company has safeguarded the wages of its workforce until June and also means that production and delivery of existing orders will continue as normal. Nautitech, the multihull arm of Bavaria, is unaffected as it is a separate company. Eric Appel, Chief Operations Officer of Bavaria Yachts said: “In the current situation, we will continue to provide our customers with the customary high quality. “The top priority is now…

The departure of the Oyster World Rally fleet from New Zealand seemed emblematic of the upturn in the fortunes of the boat builder which has been buoyed by securing substantial backing following a period of financial uncertainty. The rally, which set off from Antigua last year, is held solely for owners of Oyster Yachts. The organisers hosted a 'Farewell New Zealand' party at the Opua Cruising Club, Auckland. Paul Adamson, the new CCO of Oyster Yachts, was at the event and was able to meet the participants and share with them his experiences of his circumnavigation aboard Oyster 885 ‘Lush’ during the OWR 2013-14. CHEEKI RAFIKI: DIRECTOR CLEARED OF MANSLAUGHTER Douglas Innes, Director of Stormforce Coaching, has been cleared on four counts of manslaughter following a retrial. A jury deliberated…

X4 (6) £388,500 X Yachts make beautiful boats but I have to say that their branding in recent times has left me confused. This is their new X4(6) which is part of their new line of cruiser/ racer that sits between the Xc range of cruiser/cruiser (racer) and their Xp range of racer/cruiser. She follows on from the recently launched X4(3), X4(9) and X6(5). All clear? Never mind; she’s a lovely looking yacht and, if she’s anything like the predecessors in this range, will capture the best of both the cruising and racing worlds in one sleek and stylish package. The hull is 44’3” long once you take off the integrated bowsprit. First impressions of the interior are that it looks pleasantly airy while if she is anything like her…

As the grey weather of North Biscay softened and turned to calmer seas, sunny skies, and gentle breezes, our spirits rose. The wind veered and was now from the north, giving us easy downwind sailing and level decks with the mainsail on one side and the genoa poled out on the other. Dolphins swam playfully in Aretha’s bow wave – a first for the children and a great distraction from the schoolbooks. In South Biscay we fished for the first time since Plymouth. It was only 30 minutes before the reel started screaming and the rod bent over. We slowed down by furling the genoa and within 10 minutes we had landed a 10-pound bluefin tuna. In spite of minor leaks and things to be fixed, Aretha, our Oyster 53…

‘Having enough water to drink and bathe is essential. But it’s also desirable to have far more.’ One of the most basic and fundamental needs of living on a true bluewater boat is carrying enough fresh water. You can have large tanks, you can store extra containers, you can install a water-maker or even harvest rainwater but the crucial and main point is that there must always be enough. And, like anything else on a boat, ensuring that you have enough means allowing for and anticipating potential problems or flaws in your provisions. What do you do when you can’t run the water-maker because the generator breaks down or because the anchorage is too murky with pollution? How will you make up the shortfall if your main water tank becomes…

We live in a remarkable age where even the most far flung destinations are within our grasp. Think about it; not so many years ago if you wanted to go bluewater cruising the most practical way to do it was most likely to buy a yacht, fit it out and sail there the hard way. Either that or perhaps hitch a lift on someone else’s yacht. Either way the time and resources that you had to commit were considerable. The idea that you can charter in destinations such as the South Seas, the Seychelles or the Cape Verdes with relative ease is a real game changer. Sue Bedford of Dream Yacht Charter has been in the business long enough to see the changes in the industry as she explains: “Go…

CONTEST 50CS Faster performance bluewater cruiser; sleeker lines, three cabins, high levels of personalisation, all in a Lloyds certified single-shot vacuum infused hull, creating a lighter yet really robust and seakindly construction. contestyachts.com DISCOVERY 48 Born out of Southerly 47 (Discovery took the brand in 2017), the trademark raised deck saloon gives, as always, great seated views, but floor levels and steps are all over the place and seem to shrink space. Unusual underwater profile, yet to be sail tested. discoveryyachts.com HALLBERG RASSY 48 MK II Updated in 2014 with more contemporary detailing including hull ports and more hatches to brighten the mahogany interior, also the introduction of a third cabin. Personalisation limited to options list which includes hard top for the classic HR screen. hallberg-rassy.com…

Fitting your boat out for bluewater cruising can appear daunting if you are starting from scratch; at times the choices can seem bewildering and with every technological advance, there are further considerations. This checklist is garnered from my own personal experience garnered from 360,000 miles of sailing – much of it in bluewater. I guess a key is not to be scared of new technology; embrace it and utilise it where necessary. People may be thinking that someone like Captain Cook did not have all this technology and he made it around the world. Well, he certainly did, and no you don’t need all this technology to sail a good boat around the world. What Captain Cook had was the most advanced technology for his time and he used it,…

Shelter Bay Marina is an all service marina catering for 194 boats up to superyacht size. The 100-tonne travel lift means you can lift your boat out the water for any and all forms of maintenance, from rigging to carpentry. The marina staff will take care of everything, all you need to do is tell them what work your yacht requires and the dates it will be at the marina. And there’s plenty of dry storage should you wish to keep your boat off the water for an extended period of time. You can even have your boat shrink-wrapped to keep it clean and protected from UV radiation and rain. If, however, you are using the marina as a final stop before the Panama Canal transit the staff can help…

When the joys of mucking about in your boat locally begin to dim, it’s time to look at taking her to a new cruising ground. But if you want to explore Scandinavia during a two-week summer holiday, or fancy a crack at the Med, you’re going to have to get the boat there first. Perhaps you don’t have the time to get her out there yourself, or you don’t want to make the passage. That’s when yacht delivery comes in. Far from the stereotype, it’s not just Caribbean sailors and Med racers who use this service, but also those who want a change of scene. That’s because it’s not as expensive as you might think. Take a look at the table below for details. Broadly speaking, there are three types…

COWES CLASSIC WEEK 22-27 JULY – HAMPSHIRE Cowes Classics Week, a leading regatta for classic racing sailboats, celebrates its 11th anniversary this year. With up to 160 classic beauties lined up to take part, this could be a perfect opportunity to find a quite spot along the shoreline on a sunny afternoon and watch top class racing. cowesclassicweek.org SWANAGE REGATTA AND CARNIVAL 28 JULY - 4 AUGUST - DORSET The annual Swanage Regatta and Carnival promises to live up to its glowing reputation with a whole array of activities lined up for all the family. Gig racing, dinghy racing, and yard of ale challenge are just few exciting events planned. swanagecarnival.com POMMERY DORSET SEAFOOD FESTIVAL 14-15 JULY – DORSET The multi-award-winning Pommery Dorset Seafood Festival at Weymouth’s famous historic harbourside,…

A man with hibiscus shirt and a tiare flower tucked behind his ear proffers a drink; this is apparently Air Tahiti’s in-flight catering team. Our little turboprop plane swoops in to the island of Huahine, known as the ‘wild one’ of the French Society Islands. It’s no more than a bounce off the tarmac before we’re back in the air again, turning west towards Raiatea, whose tall peaks are clear just 18 miles away. We land on a runway reclaimed from the reef – as close as I’ve ever been to landing on water - and find our own way to the terminal, where we are met by a local taxi driver who throws a garland of flowers around our necks with the customary welcome ‘moana’. Less than five minutes…

‘After half a lifetime banging around the oceans in old wooden boats, I fancy myself a connoisseur of leaks’ Drip, drip, drip…’ The sound was regular, loud and didn’t stop. I was in the engine room of one of the last Newfoundland schooners. We were safely moored up and it was raining stair-rods. The skipper had seen it all and was blessed with a seamanlike sense of humour which, given the state of his vessel, he needed. Crouching beside a generator which had spewed its guts over an oily footplate, I was waiting to help out while its proprietor was away plundering the bosun’s locker for spare brushes. As we surged to and fro along the quay wall, the motor-tyre fenders creaked against the planking and the bilge water sloshed…

I never really thought I’d like yacht cruising” Jeanne Socrates muses. It’s an unlikely statement from a lady who is preparing to embark on her fourth solo circumnavigation which, if successful, will make her the oldest person to ever complete this feat at the ripe old age of 76. She already holds the record for being the oldest lady to complete this feat (and the only woman of any age to have done so from N. America). She would actually be underway at present but an accident at the end of last September left her in a bad way with eight broken ribs and a fractured vertebra so she has to wait until next October to set off in order to round Cape Horn at the height of the southern…

Amel yachts is distinctly different, always has been, ever since the company founder came into the fray in the early days of production yacht building. It takes courage to be different, to challenge conventional wisdom, a quality company founder Henri Tonet never lacked, fighting with the French Resistance and code-named Amel, which he later took for both his own and business names. Five decades on and further to his passing, Amel remains based in La Rochelle, with satellite centres in Hyères and Martinique. Henri Amel, a man with iron will yet good conscience, gifted his company to staff, a deed society is only just now identifying as worthy and sensibly practical. Again, he had dared to be different. It seems this is the company’s DNA. Now, in what some might…

Shelter Bay Marina is located on the northwest corner of Limon Bay, tucked just inside the Panama Canal breakwater, 200 yards south of Toro Point Light. When first arriving into Panama you are obliged to fly a Panama courtesy flag. Many cruisers would do this automatically, however, it is particularly pertinent here. You are also required to fly the yellow quarantine flag. If approaching the marina from the west, you’ll pass the ruins of the 18th century, Fort San Lorenzo, which dominates the Panamanian coastline. From there you’ll soon reach the beginning of eastern breakwater. If however, you are approaching the marina from the east, then keep out for the imposing city of Colón, located directly before the western breakwater. On approach to the breakwater, from either direction, call Cristobal…

‘Dave’s yacht receded rapidly and was engulfed in darkness. It was the last we saw of him for some time’ Where the hell is Dave?” We were motoring across the morning glass of the Ionian just a few miles from Cape Lefkada and the in the soft light of dawn our surroundings were breathtaking; shadows and delicate light; a new day freshly minted with a certain fragile beauty. Yet we couldn’t take any of it in and it was all Dave’s fault. Where the hell was he? At risk of destroying the carefully woven web of dramatic tension I constructed in the first paragraph, I’m going to wade straight in and explain who Dave is and why we had lost him in the southern Ionian. Dave was a delivery skipper…