Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2017 i Yachting World

www.twitter.com/yachtingworld www.facebook.com/yachtingworldmagazine The spirit of adventure and innovation Long-distance cruising begins with a dream, but succeeds with a solid plan. Few people have talked to more cruisers and sailors throughout the world than Jimmy Cornell. This fascinating, highly intelligent and driven man has had a huge influence on cruising for more than 30 years. He founded the ARC rally, wrote the ‘bible’ that is World Cruising Routes and has carried out numerous skipper surveys. Far from enjoying a relaxed retirement, he relatively recently finished a 20,000-mile cruise through the North West Passage in his latest yacht Aventura and is publishing a new book about cruising. Cornell knows exactly what it takes to prepare a yacht and crew for bluewater cruising. So if that is what you dream of, make sure…

Dutch yacht designer Frans Maas and two crew died in June when the yacht Capella lost her keel and capsized off Ostend. Capella was competing in the Genisol Light Vessel Race on 1 July when the keel detached and the yacht capsized off Ostend. Three of the six crew members on board, including Maas’s grandson, climbed onto the upturned hull of Capella and were rescued by a dredger. They were later taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia after around six hours in the water. Frans Maas (79) and Freddy Franssens (71), both from Breskens, died during the incident and were found by rescue services. A sixth member of crew, Hannes Goegebeur (18), was lost, and his body was found two weeks later. The 100-mile Light Vessel Race set off from…

email yachting.world@timeinc.com Write to The Editor, Yachting World, Pinehurst II, Pinehurst Rd, Farnborough Business Park GU14 7BF Letters may be edited as appropriate www.twitter.com/yachtingworld www.facebook.com/yachtingworldmagazine Taking the night shift Thanks for your feature online on night watches. I’m very choosy about who I’m going to sail with, particularly on overnight/multi-night trips. I was once a last-minute addition to crew that was doing an offshore race. It didn’t take me long to figure out that half the crew thought this was a cruise. Night fell, they went to bed and didn’t get up until morning; hard to say they were missed. During the day, they just sat in the cockpit reading. That was manageable, but when we hit a couple of squalls, they came on deck to take pictures and selfies…

Where do you stand on foiling? Are you for, against or ambivalent? I ask because the 35th America’s Cup seems to have polarised opinion on whether this is the way forward for our sport. You may think that there is nothing unusual about this. It is, after all, an extraordinary way to conduct a race and, as such, is bound to stir debate. But there are a number of issues that have surprised me as I have listened to the wide range of views. The biggest surprise has been that the general public is more accepting of foiling than the sailing community. To non-sailors, the combination of speed and manoeuvrability, enhanced on screen with the Liveline graphics, brought the competition alive, while making the racing easy to understand. Few were…

For almost 25 years Spirit Yachts has been melting the hearts of yachtsmen with its distinctive range of wood epoxy modern classics. In that time the company has built 66 yachts ranging in size from 37ft to 100ft and accumulated a volume of knowledge in sophisticated, timber epoxy yacht construction few, if any, companies in the world can match. In short, it’s a story of great British boatbuilding. Today, Ipswich-based Spirit Yachts is embarking on a new phase in its development using an order for a 111ft sailing yacht to exploit the benefits of electric propulsion, the latest high voltage lithium battery technology and smart control systems to reduce the need for fossil fuel power. Like all Spirits, she’ll be constructed in timber from sustainable sources and because of her…

£2,102 Although not a new product, this webbing line furler is rarely seen outside of French performance cruising yachts. It’s a great option for anyone who wants to maximise the efficiency of a roller furling headsail, but whose boat is not configured for a belowdeck furler Using webbing in place of a furling line allows for a much lower profile furling drum – it’s only the height of the 15mm wide tape – giving an additional 200mm of luff length to the headsail. A metal link with a swivel joins the webbing part of the furling line to a rope tail, so operation in the cockpit is exactly as for a conventional furling system. The stanchion leads are shaped so that the swivel passes smoothly through them. The system has…

Almost 400 yachts took part in a record Rolex Fastnet Race fleet this year, starting from Cowes on 6 August. Among the bigger yachts fighting for line honours were Tony Lawson’s MOD70 trimaran Concise 10, Ludde Ingvall’s foil-assisted supermaxi CQS and George David’s Rambler 88. The largest yacht was the Baltic 115 Nikata. For a fleet of Volvo 65s, the race counts as ‘Leg 0’ of the round the world race this autumn. We report with news and exclusive video from the race – follow it at www.yachtingworld.com/fastnet and on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.…

There are two stages of sea sickness: in the first stage, you are afraid that you are going to die, and in the second stage, you are afraid you won’t . Steve Dyer I don’t get seasick, but was told of this cure by a long term sufferer. Take 30 minutes before setting off: One Kwells Kids 150mg Two Pro Plus 50mg One Hayleve (chlorphenamine) 4mg Derek O’Reilly I’ve tried them all and nothing worked for me until I found Paihia Bombs, available from Paihia Pharmacy, New Zealand. I have been using these for years and enjoying my sailing and fishing in Bass Strait, Tasmania in dinghies and Iarge boats without nausea or side effects like dry mouth. Rob Claridge I take Stugeron [the generic drug name is cinnarizine]. I…

Where have all the forepeaks gone? After perusing the websites of some of the best known yacht builders, I am struggling to see a design with an adequate forepeak, at least one suited for cruising beyond ‘marina land.’ I’m talking about a walk-in forward area with standing headroom and enough space to swing a cat. If a yacht is billed as a ‘world cruiser,’ a ‘go-anywhere concept’, or a ‘bluewater dream’ that is capable of cruising the mid-latitudes and tropics, this implies load-carrying capacity for at least a few of the following items: spare anchor and rode; inflatable dinghy and one spare outboard; some spare running rigging and cordage; snorkelling and diving gear; fishing gear; paddles; oars; awnings; a gennaker and more. Then there are the optional toys, such as…

Spirit Yachts has come a long way since a 37-footer called Spirit was built in a cowshed in Saxmundham in 1993. The hull of this beautiful long-ended, wood epoxy sloop was so light that Sean McMillan and his late business partner Mick Newman could pick it up between them and turn it over for completion. Demand for larger yachts soon grew with eleven 46s built to date, four 52s and many other sizes including a 56, 74 and the 100-footer Gaia. Despite a steady flow of orders over the years and a big spike in interest when a Spirit 54 ‘starred’ in the James Bond movie Casino Royale, Sean McMillan had to spend a lot of time explaining the advantages of building in wood epoxy to the boat buying public.…

£32.50 I have carried DrSails in sail repair kits for a couple of years, but it’s only recently that I’ve used it in anger. I needed it to reattach the leech reinforcing patch for the first reef on my yacht’s mainsail – a well used laminate sail that has already covered more than 17,000 miles. The patch had become unglued from the main body of the sail beneath it. In preparation for the repair we first had to cut through the outer taffeta layer, then clean the area between the two layers of fabric using DrSails acetone wipes, which make this task really easy. Another advantage of the system is that the sail doesn’t need to be dry for the epoxy to stick, which makes it great if repairs need…

Invisible Hand, winner of July’s 2017 Transpac Race, is a Pac 52, one of a new generation of 52-footers that represents a return to the offshore roots of the TP52 class, and a resurgence of level-rating grand prix racing on the west coast of the US. The original Transpac 52 Class (TP52) left an indelible mark on US west coast sailing, but the few that race in California today represent a wide range of vintages and race only under handicap. The launch of the Pac 52, a brand new offshorespecified 52ft class, is an attempt to recapture some of that TP spirit and get level rating grand prix racing started up again in California. The TP52 story begins in 2000, when a contingent of Californian sailors sought a new racing…

An email from Stormforce Coaching to the yacht sent on 6 May read: ‘Go north, do not pass go, go north, do not collect £200, go north.’ The yacht reached around 30°N on 10 May, when it began heading north-east. An email was read out in court that the crew had sent on 14 May to Stormforce Coaching which read: ‘Why is my rum floating? James just hit a wave hard and it fixed the stereo.’ The following day, 15 May, at 2022 UTC, the yacht sent an email to Innes with the subject heading ‘Urgent’ which read: ‘We have been taking on a lot of water yesterday and today. Today seems worse I think stbd water tank has split so that it is drained checked hull and seacocks for…

On sale 14 September Biggest ever Fastnet Race The 600-mile race is one of the great ocean racing classics, and always testing. Helen Fretter and Elaine Bunting were at the finish to recount the stories of the race Choosing an oceangoing yacht Author and cruising expert Jimmy Cornell advises on what you should consider if you are looking for the elusive ideal cruising yacht for bluewater voyaging What’s the best MOB gear? We test a variety of equipment designed to help locate and retrieve a man overboard Test: Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 The eighth generation of the incredibly popular Sun Odyssey series from the big French manufacturer is something very different: the first of a modern and quite different hull shape. Pip Hare sails the new design…

As a skipper and someone who regularly sails on board new boats with new teams, safety is a priority for me. We all know that accidents happen and, with some of the faster modern boats, they can happen really fast and very suddenly. When something goes wrong, it goes really wrong, often when it is dark and bad weather. These conditions are not typical of when we practise elements of the safety training. We like flat water, daylight and when everyone is fresh and can concentrate. The Clipper Race, the Volvo Ocean Race, the Vendée Globe, delivery trips and cruising rallies have all seen fatalities. Sailing as a sport is inherently risky, and that is also part of its appeal. Harnessing the power of nature is a reminder that we…

A key player in almost all Spirit Yachts projects is John Parker of OneSails, based in Suffolk Yacht Harbour. He is passionate about Spirit’s modern classic ethos. His sails are not only Spirit’s preferred choice, but clients are urged to discuss their needs from early on in a project. “It’s important to understand how people are likely to use their yachts,” said Nigel Stuart. “Are they setters and leavers, or non-stop tweakers? Will they simply go cruising or take to the race course?” Based on these facts carbon mast specification can be decided. “We try to futureproof yachts by building in items like additional sheave boxes and mast track laminate reinforcement for spinnaker poles – it’s amazing how many clients seem convinced they don’t want to race but end up…

How often do you get the chance to study a story from several points of view? Then we sailed away by John, Marie Christine and Rebecca Ridgway offers a notable opportunity. It tells of the Ridgway family leaving their home in the far fastnesses of Scotland to sail to the South Seas, Antarctica and back again aboard English Rose, the 57ft ketch John and Marie Christine raced in the fully crewed 1977-78 Whitbread Round the World Race. This time would be different. With their daughter Bec, her adopted sister Isso from Peru, and chosen friends, there would be more space and less pressure. The voyage was a success and the book is well worth reading for that alone, but what sets it apart is the narrative variety. By having members…

ICE Yachts continues its rapid expansion into the performance yacht market with the imminent launch of the ICE 60. This latest yacht follows three other new launches from the Italian yard in the last four years. This new 60 is, once again, an Umberto Felci design, derived from the well proven Felci 60, but it marks a push into even larger yachts, with plans from ICE that include a new 80- and 100-footer. The ICE 60 is a stiff boat with a lightweight displacement below 18 tonnes – that is lighter than the pre-preg carbon built Swan 60. The hull form is a development of the ICE 33 and 52, including the full forward sections and curved ‘scimitar’ stem shape. “The main concept is low wetted area and long waterline…

Mesa2 – rugged on deck tablet £1,494 What is it? High performance tablet specified for outdoor all-weather use Who is it for? Offshore and inshore cruising and racing This fully ruggedised tablet, which runs Windows 10, can be used as an on-deck repeater and remote control for a PC running below decks. It can also be a stand-alone navigation PC. Professional navigator and electronics promoter Campbell Field bought one earlier this year, using it for the first time racing a TP52 at Les Voiles de St Barth in April. He liked it so much he approached manufacturer Juniper Systems with a view to selling them in the marine market. “After six regattas, including Fast40+ events in the UK and racing on Velsheda during the America’s Cup J Class Regatta, I’m…

£300-700 The soft mouth snuffer is an alternative design for the opening end of a snuffer sock for a spinnaker or a cruising chute, writes Pip Hare. Instead of having the conventional glassfibre ‘toilet seat’ at the end of your sock, the snuffer ends in a malleable opening made of fabric and plastic. I have trialled one of these snuffers for the past eight months on my Class 40 race yacht. The idea of this snuffer is to reduce weight and bulk aloft as well as making it easier to fit spinnakers through hatches and into lockers. The latter is where the hard snuffer mouth can sometimes cause problems. The product seems such a logical idea and immediately makes manhandling the spinnaker into its bag noticeably easier. Initially, I was…

Leading British meteorologist and Volvo Ocean Race navigator Libby Greenhalgh on how to deal with a broach and its aftermath, plus tips on how to avoid broaching by calling the breeze This image of a racing team on the Solent shows a classic broach: the rudder has stalled and the helmsman is no longer able to steer. A broach happens when a boat heads into the wind with too much sail up at too high an angle. The result is exactly what’s happened in this picture: the boat ends up pinned over on its side. The wind strength during the time this photo was taken is towards the top end of suitable racing conditions – in the region of 25-30 knots with full white caps. You can also see that…

The two minutes it takes to rig a boom preventer properly can pay off in so many ways, yet still a lot of sailors consider it an unnecessary hassle. Rigging a preventer will allow you to sail a true downwind course without a constant worry about crew safety. I also use it to pin the boom in its preferred position in light winds with sloppy seas. When racing short-handed with a symmetric spinnaker it also allows me to use aggressive windward heel to make extra metres to leeward. Here are a few of my top pointers for getting the most out of this valuable set-up. Fixing point The preventer should be attached to the outboard end of the boom to avoid damaging the tube in the event of an accidental…

CHRIS TIBBS is a meteorologist and weather router, as well as a professional sailor and navigator, forecasting for Olympic teams and the ARC rally The area encircling the earth near the Equator, commonly known as the Doldrums, is now often referred to as the Intertropical Convergence Zone, or ITCZ. The ITCZ is a scientific term that references the convergence of two sets of tradewinds in the atmosphere, but the Doldrums is a more descriptive term that captures the mood of being becalmed there. In colloquial English, to be ‘in the Doldrums’ is a phrase describing a period of despondency, depression, or inactivity, that is believed to have been first used by sailors in the mid-19th Century. In meteorology convergence between different air streams is common on varying scales. Racing crews…