Innholdsfortegnelse for Aug-2018 i Yachting World

The 27m spirit of tradition yacht Savannah reaches past islands off the coast of Sardinia during the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta in June. The courses made a spectacular sight from the air as the fleet rounded some of the many rocky outcrops – though this year two yachts miscued and hit. Savannah went on to win her class in the regatta with a hat trick of wins. “It’s a wonderful regatta and the best location in the world,” enthused her owner, Hugh Morrison.…

AN ECLECTIC SELECTION OF YACHTS and their single-handed skippers gathered in Falmouth ahead of a mass race to les Sables d’Olonne for the start of the solo Golden Globe round the world race in July. The Suhaili Falmouth 50 Parade of sail marked the 50th anniversary of the day Robin Knox-Johnston set sail from the Cornish town on his 32ft ketch Suhaili to begin the original Sunday times Golden Globe Race. Knox-Johnston and Suhaili were joined on the water by historic vessels including Sir Francis Chichester’s Gipsy Moth IV and Sir Alec Rose’s Lively Lady as well as the 2018 Golden Globe Race skippers. A 200-yacht armada tacked between Falmouth and St Mawes before Knox-Johnston set up a start line between Suhaili and Gipsy Moth IV. Then a cannon was…

‘IT CAN REDUCE AROUND HALF THE DISPLACEMENT AT 18 KNOTS. SKIMMING IS THE OBJECTIVE’ NAUTOR’S SWAN continues its seemingly inexhaustible launch of new models with the announcement of its smallest new boat since the original Swan 36s in 1967 and 1988. The radical new ClubSwan 36 follows on directly from the success of the ClubSwan 50 launched in 2016. The new 36-footer, like its bigger sister, is a one-design racing machine by Juan Kouyoumdjian Naval Architects for the Nations Cup programme of regattas. Although Nautor describes it as an entry-level one-design sportsboat, the 36 pushes the design envelope even further than the 50 and should help merge the techniques of dinghy and yacht racing. The yacht has a retractable bowsprit, chamfered bow, an adjustable deck-stepped mast and a transverse sliding…

THIS EXTRAORDINARY VESSEL is the self-built brainchild of Sven Yrvind, a 79-year-old Swedish sailor and writer who set sail at the end of May on a 15,000-mile solo v [4TH SPREAD] oyage from Dingle, Ireland, to New Zealand. Exlex is 5.76m long, with a beam of 1.04m, and has two 2m2 lug sails. Navigating by iPad, at the time of going to press Yrvind had crossed Biscay and was heading south along the Portuguese coast, having sailed 766 miles in 20 days. His intended route includes rounding the Cape of Good Hope before heading south of Australia on a Southern Ocean crossing to New Zealand. He has 60 years of microyachting adventures behind him, including crossing the Atlantic on a previous 4.5m keel-less homemade design. Track Yrvind’s progress on www.yrvind.com…

Even parking a superyacht can be eye-wateringly expensive. A survey of the most expensive marinas in Europe has put Ibiza Magna top of the list, with mooring fees of €4,000 per day for an 180ft superyacht. The ranking was created by Engel & Völkers Yachting, based on basic fees for a mooring berth for a 55m yacht during high season. The top ten are all in the Mediterranean and Adriatic.…

When the Great Seamanship series was planned back in 2004 it was about giant waves, dismastings, amazing rescues and the like. Research, however, led me into a wonderland of nautical literature with so much to give that discounting it for lack of stormy seas would have been a lost opportunity. Over the years, the result has been a mix of inspiring accounts, some in line with the original brief, others diverging, but all with tales to tell and lessons to be learned. This month’s article falls into the latter category, because the actual sailing only occurs at the beginning and end of the voyage. The fact those miles are logged off Arctic Russia and through the Sea of Azov is almost by the bye. The book in question is Sailing…

Globalstar Sat-Fi2 US$499 What is it? Fast data transfer, low(er) cost satellite communicator. Who is it for? Anyone voyaging outside of terrestrial mobile phone coverage. Black box satellite communicators that operate via a wireless link to a smartphone or tablet are not new – the Iridium Go led the way three years ago. This device is offered at a lower price point and with reduced call costs, depending on the plan. It also benefits from significantly faster data transfer – at 72kbps it’s a full 30 times faster than the 2.4kbps that is currently offered by the Iridium Go. The unit can be powered via USB, or a 10-40V DC supply, and has a built-in antenna. However the optional remote antenna and mobile docking station are needed to mount the…

Cruising sailors who also call their boat their home usually give plenty of consideration to making life on board as comfortable as possible. The level of comfort cruisers and liveaboards choose is, of course, entirely personal and subjective. Some consider a watermaker to be a luxury item, others regard it to be utterly essential. Some may draw the line at a washing machine, but can’t contemplate life without their ice-maker. On larger boats with a high specification, the limitations of space and power generation may not be so restrictive. But for those who own smaller boats, perhaps contending with a more modest budget, some luxuries may have to be sacrificed or compromised. Of course, living a simple and minimalist lifestyle is part of the fun (and, for many, the entire…

JUST LAUNCHED McConaghy MC50 Fresh from the Australian composite wizards McConaghy, the MC50 is the smallest series catamaran in a new range that runs up to 90ft. Drawn by Jason Ker, renowned for his IRC winners, the MC50 has performance in her DNA, designed as a fast cruising cat, capable of crossing oceans. The MC line has incorporated input of experienced owners and sailors, and includes some impressive features. For example, the doors between the saloon and the cockpit concertina, while the saloon windows slide open electrically for al-fresco living. A skylight down the middle of the coachroof lets light flood in, and can be specced as a large ‘solar glass’ generator to keep batteries topped up. Then there is the standard cross brace between the bows, which has been…

JUST LAUNCHED Outremer 51 he original Outremer 51 launched in 2014 and proved popular, selling more than 50 models. It also garnered a number of European and US yacht of the year titles. But things can always improve, so the French catamaran builder has updated the design with the help of feedback from hundreds of owners. The improvements are superficial and substantial: the interior and exterior styling has been changed, but the boat’s performance has also been tweaked. Not only does this make the boat more fun, it is also “an important safety attribute”, says Outremer. With speeds in excess of 20 knots perfectly achievable, you could certainly outrun bad weather and potentially clock up 400 miles over 24 hours. This sleek-looking boat has on-trend reverse bows, curved coachroof and…

This 8m foiling yacht has been developed in secret over the last two years at Weiss Yachts in Switzerland. The design and build began before the latest America’s Cup foiling monohull plans were unveiled by Emirates Team New Zealand. Skippered by its designer Eric Monnin at the Bol d’Or Mirabaud in June, this super lightweight trapeze boat weighing only 850kg has a relatively modest sail area to make it easy to handle by four crew. The two retractable side foils, which stick out like bent cranefly legs, enabled her to hit 25 knots after initial trials. Foil design is by Jean-Claude Monnin, Eric’s brother, who happens to be one of the Emirates Team New Zealand design team……

THE ITALIAN ISLAND OF SARDINIA may challenge for the 36th America’s Cup. In a slightly premature press announcement, the challenge was unveiled before its entry had been officially accepted by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, host club for the 36th Cup. The team will be known as the Adelasia di Torres Challenge, and is headed up by Renato Azzara, who runs Sardinia Superyacht Services. Entries for the 36th America’s Cup closed on 30 June. To be accepted as a Challenger, teams must pay a US$1 million entry fee within 10 days of their challenge being accepted. Late entries will be accepted until 30 November, but are subject to a further US$1 million late entry fee. There are rumours of a second challenger from the US, currently understood to have…

email yachting.world@ti-media.com Letters may be edited as appropriate A firearm conundrum I read your article online on the pros and cons of guns on board with special interest. A month ago we were sailing our Jeanneau 53 in the western region of the Flores Sea in Indonesia, and at 2300 one night we were very aggressively pursued by a completely unflagged, unmarked 30m commercial vessel with some very dodgy-looking men on board. I believe they were after the 30 red jerrycans full of diesel on our deck. Did I wish we had a shotgun with us? Yes and no. Yes, because if they boarded us I would would have some way to defend us and the yacht. No, because if you haul a gun up on deck you’d better be…

Ten years ago, in the stormy South Atlantic en route to Cape Town from Alicante, the VO70 Ericsson 4 hitched a breakneck ride on a fast-moving low pressure system to set a 24-hour record distance for the round the world race. On that opening leg of the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race the Ericsson 4 crew, led by Brazilian skipper Torben Grael and guided by British navigator Jules Salter, touched speeds of 30-plus knots and clocked up 593.23 miles – tantalizingly close to the 600-mile threshold – before being forced to slow after a rudder strike threatened to sink the boat. Ericsson 4’s record remained intact during the next edition. Then when the smaller and ostensibly slower VO65 class was introduced for 2015, many believed that remarkable run was unlikely to…

‘THE GULF STREAM DELIVERS A RELATIVELY TEMPERATE CLIMATE’ I could already feel the wind pick up while I was sitting at the nav station of the Bowman 57 Oriole as she dug in and started to heel assertively. A reef was needed and first mate Holly Vint peered below decks expectantly. An arctic gale had been forecast nearby – though not for our specific area – and I was about to experience another learning curve moment on the effects of topography and localised anomalies in this unique corner of the world. Sailing inside the Arctic Circle I should have been in full offshore clothing, but the balmy conditions of previous weeks leading up to our recent crew change in Tromsø had made me complacent. Reefing Oriole requires work at the…

Looking for a pair of trainers for fashion, road and cross-country running? They don’t exist. Or a bilge keeler that will take to the ground, sleep eight and go to windward like a witch? No chance. We have to make compromises when buying new products. If we expect them to do all things we end up with something only partially fit for our needs. Fully appreciating how you spend your time afloat is crucial in determining the type of boat that will best suit your needs. Saffier has cornered the daysailing market with its attractive, easy-to-handle and well-built small yachts, perfectly fit for their purpose. This new SE 37 Lounge, a veritable supercar of the sea, is an uncompromising luxury daysailer. By that I mean it is not pretending to…

Drones have really advanced over the past few years, with anyone now able to try their hand at piloting a device. Mini-drones are a great first dip in the water, with plenty of fun to be had piloting. Larger quadcopters practically fly themselves now, with a raft of automated flight modes featuring on models. Not only are drones fun to fly, many are equipped with fantastic cameras to capture stunning aerial views that would be impossible to achieve via any other device – just look at Volvo Ocean Race footage for proof of that. However, you need to fly sensibly, so be sure to read the Drone Code (http://dronesafe.uk/drone-code), which provides all the information you need to fly safely – being courteous to those around you at anchorages is key!…

ANDY RICE talks to Vendée Globe and Global Challenge skipper MIKE GOLDING You don’t need to tell Mike Golding about the importance of making your boat bulletproof. After all, this is the man whose keel dropped off his IMOCA 60 when 50 miles out from the finish of the Vendée Globe in 2005. He still finished, coming into Les Sables d’Olonne in a very impressive 3rd place. Modern IMOCA 60s are complex, cutting-edge machines operating at the boundaries of reliability, but even when sailing a more run-of-the-mill boat, Mike would always run a series of checks before embarking on any kind of long-distance offshore race, even a hop across the Channel. Aside from big Vendée moments like keels falling off and masts falling down, Mike has suffered his minor mishaps…

“THE STAR IS A VERY UNBALANCED BOAT AND TO FIND THE RIGHT BALANCE IS KIND OF AN ART” ENRICO CHIEFFI NOMINATES THE STAR CLASS The coolest boat, for sure, is the Star Class. Clearly, on one side it’s for personal reasons, because I was World Champion, but it’s a 100-year-old design and it’s so modern in its way. The Star is a very unbalanced boat and to find the right balance is kind of an art. But when you find it, it’s like getting fine music from a piano. It gives you feelings like no other boat. When you find the right tune it is gorgeous, unique. Sailing now is evolving very quickly into foiling, and I love it. But at the same time the beauty of these old classes…

JUST LAUNCHED Leopard 50 In its guise as the ‘own brand’ catamaran of Sunsail and the Moorings, Leopard has been extraordinarily successful. The Cape Town yard of Robertson and Caine has turned out over 1,500 catamarans and almost all of them have been sailed to their new homes around the globe – a phenomenal calling card, when you think about all those South Atlantic miles. The new 50 replaces the popular 48, updating it with a host of features that have proved popular in the smaller models. From the outside, the boat has been restyled rather than redesigned. The topsides have been jazzed up with a stripe of smoked glass that conceals bigger portlights. The coachroof is more angular and square. This has the advantage of increasing the window area…

As one, they roared. And then, amid the chaos of the finish line, there was a moment of pause. Skipper Charles Caudrelier briefly let go of the wheel and threw his hands to his head incredulously. All around him the Dongfeng crew were hugging, wordless in disbelief. Dongfeng Race Team had won the Volvo Ocean Race. Tears flowed freely. Caudrelier said afterwards that it was the first time he had ever cried over a race. Navigator Pascal Bidégorry’s eyes were red raw with emotion and exhaustion. Because this was no straightforward round the world race win. In an unprecedented scenario, the overall victory of the Volvo Ocean Race, a 10-month 45,000-mile epic, was not conclusively decided until the final cross just seven miles from the finish. It was the closest…

‘THERE ARE WOMEN DOING ALL SORTS OF JOBS: SKIPPER, BOAT CAPTAIN, NAVIGATOR…’ How can the Volvo Ocean Race top that? Every chapter of this event – the maxi years, the iconic Whitbread 60s, the radical VO70s – has its loyal devotees. Will the 2018 finish be fondly remembered by fans of the one-design 65s, and how on earth can it go one better? Because this is the end of an era; Volvo no longer owns its eponymous race; the reins of power have transferred – we suspect for a startlingly small sum – to Atlant Ocean Racing. Current co-CEOs Richard Brisius and Johan Salén now not only run, but own the event. Atlant has announced that the next event will take place in 2021, but as the fleet arrived in…

Many believe number seven to be lucky. The seventh day of February proved to be just that. It’s seven weeks since we dropped the lines in Cape Town; the Amundsen Sea was the seventh Antarctic sea that we would cross through; and the seventh storm of the voyage was approaching soon. For a couple of days now, we have been sailing along the 70th parallel. With humidity in the air, Katharsis II became covered with ice which started to form on the shrouds, the mast and the ropes. The icy peak of the mast resembled a decorated Christmas tree. The wind transducer stopped functioning. These obstacles were a hindrance to our sailing and decision-making abilities. For a week, the visibility has been limited to a few hundred metres. In fact,…

‘THE SURFARI, DUBBED A MONOMARAN, WILL BE A GAME CHANGER’ Surfari 48 Five years after first announcing the Surfari concept, designer Ted Fontaine has seen the first yacht built to this philosophy – a 48-footer for musician and avid sailor Jimmy Buffett. The quickest of glances at the photos shows this boat is unlike anything else on the market. “It’s certainly different: that’s what I was trying to do – shake up the sailboat world over here,” says Rhode Island, USA-based Fontaine. “Everyone was a bit jealous of Peter Johnstone’s Gunboats when he first started building them and I particularly liked the concept of single level living.” Fontaine was inspired to take this idea into the monohull world, with a boat that would be easier to handle. “One person can…

The sun is setting, but retains plenty of heat for the visitors to savour the last daylight hours. As the International Multihull Boat Show at La Grande Motte, near Montpellier in the south of France, starts to wrap up for the evening, it is accompanied by a familiar background noise – the sound of corks popping and glasses clinking. The Champagne and rosé are in full flow and there are smiles all around the cockpits of the new multihulls. Deals are being done, boats are being sold, there are plenty of serious buyers, and there is a great atmosphere. It is April 2018, and, in contrast to the monohull world, the market at this annual event is booming. This is the year of the 50ft cat, with a number of…

The organisers of the International Multihull Boat Show in La Grande Motte, estimate that somewhere between 900 and 1,100 catamarans were built last year. Demand is raging, leaving manufacturers scrambling to increase capacity to meet it. The benefits of catamarans are obvious: more living space, faster performance off the wind (and sometimes on it) and a stable platform for a more family-friendly experience. Sailors the world over were also thrilled by the performance of the boats in the last two America’s Cups, while the circumnavigation endeavours of Thomas Coville, François Gabart et al have shown that multihulls are up to the rigours of the oceans. Charter has been one of the catalysts for demand: the facility to pick a new or favourite cruising ground from Tahiti to the Med and…

Cruising round the world as a family has been a dream of Xavier and mine for decades – even before the kids came along! When we first started going out, we enjoyed sailing holidays in Europe on monohulls, but it was on honeymoon in the Grenadines that we fell in love with catamarans, chartering a Leopard, aptly named Two Purrfect. When the opportunity came along to take a two-year sabbatical and follow this dream, the space that a catamaran afforded a family of five made it a logical choice. We wanted each child to have their own cabin, and there were also the other advantages, like the view from the galley when cooking, no roll and not having a keel trying to sink you in the case of a hull…