Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2021 i Yachting Monthly

Sophie Dingwall has been named the winner of the inaugural Brian Black Memorial Award. Her article, Polluted Paradise, examined ocean plastic pollution and its devastating effects on Caribbean island communities. While the competition initially focused on Europe and the Arctic, the judges, including sailors Mike Golding and Dee Caffari, felt Sophie’s ‘engaging writing, stunning photos and clarity of focus on one environmental issue’ made her entry the standout winner. Sophie, 28, was presented with her £2,000 cash prize, as well as a £1,000 donation to an environmental project or charity, a trophy and a commemorative handmade pen, at the Southampton Boat Show. She nominated Surfers Against Sewage to receive the donation. Sophie began sailing as a child and was part of the Team GB Cadet team. She has sailed the…

The Spirit 46 has graced the silver screen in the latest James Bond film, No Time to Die. The yacht is seen sailing in the Caribbean, where 007 has left active service and is enjoying a tranquil life in Jamaica. It is not the first time Suffolk-based Spirit Yachts has taken a starring role in a James Bond film. The modern classic yacht brand previously showcased its Spirit 54 in Daniel Craig’s first 007 movie Casino Royale Spirit Yachts CEO and Head of Design, Sean McMillan, said the firm was ‘honoured’ to be associated with ‘such an iconic brand’, adding that the Spirit 46 ‘suits the Bond character very well because of the combination of beauty and practicality’. The Spirit 46 is just over 14m long and is sold as…

Betty II, my boat, was 100 years old this summer and I threw a party for her. As the bunting fluttered from the 25ft gaff cutter’s masthead and a few friends toasted her good health, I pondered the life of Claud Worth, arguably UK yachting’s greatest influence during the time of my centre-boarder’s build on the Thames Estuary in 1921. In his book Yacht Cruising, I learned that Claud, his wife, Janet – always referred to as Mrs Worth – and their son Tom spent the summer of that year sailing their 53ft gaff cutter, Tern III, from her mooring at the top of the Hamble, around Britain. ‘Mrs Durham’, Cathy, doesn’t like sailing and my son, Richard, prefers the company of his pals to mine, so a century after…

People sometimes have the perception that global warming is melting all the ice so a small boat passage through, say, the Northwest Passage is easy. This is too simplistic: global warming is melting the ice and there is a lot less ice than there was 20 years ago but there are still ‘good’ ice years and ‘bad’ ice years. There are long-range ice forecasts but we don’t really know what kind of year it is going to be until the navigation season has started. 2018 was a ‘bad’ year and only three vessels managed to transit the Northwest Passage. 2017 was a ‘good’ year and there were 32 successful transits, 22 of which were made by yachts. Navigating in these waters requires both good planning and luck. There are a…

Roald Amundsen, the Norwegian who led the first successful transit through the Northwest Passage famously wrote, ‘I may say that this is the greatest factor – the way in which the expedition is equipped – the way in which every difficulty is foreseen, and precautions taken for meeting or avoiding it. Victory awaits him who has everything in order – luck, people call it. Defeat is certain for him who has neglected to take the necessary precautions in time; this is called bad luck.’ He completed the transit in 1906 but his advice is as relevant today as it ever was. Some have followed it and others have not. I am not sure if the Franklin expedition should be counted as a success or a failure. Much has been written…

The yacht industry may still be gingerly getting to grips with battery-powered craft, and us leisure sailors are still wedded to our dirty diesels, but the hydrogen revolution is coming to boating. In fact it may be here already, according to Tom Sperrey of Fuel Cell Systems in Berkshire. ‘We could do it today,’ he tells me. ‘I could have your boat in the water with a fuel cell by the spring for £100k plus the cost of the boat!’ Hydrogen fuel has the potential to be entirely carbon-free, producing just water as a by-product of its use. A decade or more ago, it was assumed that hydrogen combustion would provide a useful stepping-stone to the use of hydrogen fuel cells, because it allowed manufacturers to use existing engine blocks…

One of the most amazing things about owning a yacht is how little red tape there is, or even laws to follow, compared to life ashore. The rules that do exist are generally there for good reason. If you own a boat on inland waterways it is now mandatory to have at least one carbon monoxide alarm. On the coastal yachts I survey, it baffles me why so many don’t have any kind of carbon monoxide alarm. Over the last few years there have been an increasing number of fatalities reported by MAIB, for instance, from the build-up of carbon monoxide in craft. These incidents most often occur when the crew are asleep and faulty systems are being run, such as poorly-fitted diesel heaters with the wrong type of exhaust…

ARCONA 430 Few boats offer speed and a quality interior, but the Swedish-built Arcona 430 does, and she leans more towards performance than the XC42. She is quick, responsive and a joy to sail for the helm, and comfortable for the crew both on deck and below. Originally built with a single wheel that dominated the aft end of the cockpit, later models had twin wheels. Her sail handling is well thought out and works well, whether you’re sailing fully crewed or short-handed, although after sailing the XC42, her cockpit would feel more exposed as the cockpit is shallower with a cockpit table that lowers into the cockpit sole. This leaves the cockpit open, which is better for performance sailing. Like the XC42, the Arcona 430 has a galvanised steel…

Water companies are being allowed to skip the final stage of sewage treatment due to problems with the supply of ferric sulphate, known as iron salts. The chemical is used to reduce the level of phosphorus found in wastewater. Phosphorus can affect water quality, causing excessive growth of algae and plants which can clog boat propellers and intakes. Primary and secondary treatment of wastewater will not be affected. Firms will have to apply to the Environment Agency for permission to use the measure, which will be time-limited until the end of 2021. The Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) said any application in high risk areas, such as a shellfish fishery, would be dismissed. ‘This action is strictly time-limited and there are robust conditions in place to mitigate…

An investigation has been launched after a bi-plane crashed into the Sandbanks area of Poole Harbour, narrowly missing yachts. The Boeing Super Stearman was flying as part of the Bournemouth Air Festival when the accident happened just before 4pm on 4 September. The pilot, David Barrell and wingwalker Kirsten Pobjoy, who are both members of the AeroSuperBatics Wingwalker team, received minor injuries. They were rescued by Libby Chambers, her partner, Alan Badenhorst and their three children on their 3.1m RIB, who transferred both of them into the care of the crew of a larger SeaSafe RIB. Barrell and Pobjoy were then taken to North Haven Yacht Club where they were assisted by volunteers with Poole RNLI. Chambers said the pilot did an ‘outstanding job to avoid all the boats which…

Organisers of the Southampton Boat Show believe an increased interest in sailing, mainly driven by COVID-19 travel restrictions, has led to a ‘healthy and positive’ 2021 event. The CEO of British Marine, Lesley Robinson, said although exhibitor numbers were down slightly, demand was high, with some exhibitors reporting the best sales they’ve ever had at a show: ‘We had a really good quality of visitor and customer [..] and exhibitors are selling, including boat brokers, boat sellers and chandleries.’ Alasdair Marshall from SE Yachts, said the company had experienced ‘good footfall’ and met some ‘serious buyers’ at the show. Robinson said the new layout, designed to connect the show to Southampton city, had been ‘a hit’. British Marine made a five-year pledge in 2019 to make the show more sustainable.…

SOUTHERLY 42 There are few high-end bluewater cruising yachts that can boast a draught of just 84cm (3ft). While this increases to 2.7m (8ft 11in) with the swing keel down, the new Southerly 42’s trademark swing keel means that this boat will be able to access anchorages and creeks that most other boats of this size simply can’t get near. What’s more, the iron grounding plate (also provides ballast), twin rudders and skeg-protected prop means that this boat can take the ground and dry out. Whether in the Isles of Scilly or the Bahamas, that’s an appealing proposition. Her builders claim that her sailing performance will still sparkle, with a tall fractional rig – 18.5m (60ft 7in) air draught – and the deep swing keel helping her point at 30º…

I shall never forget the day we were visited by orca as we sailed up the west coast of Africa during the British Steel Challenge. We were hard on the wind and with the side decks just awash it felt like we were standing on the water. A couple of orca had bounded in and were swimming alongside us not more than 30 feet away. As they surfaced we were amazed at how sleek and clean they were with the break between black and white colouring so absolute it looked like it had been airbrushed. The water was crystal clear and we could see them dive deep only to power up and jump above our head height. It was a magnificent display of raw power tempered by grace as they…

The first challenge of a cruise in higher latitudes is to get there. The boat needs to be seaworthy and comfortable for the delivery voyage. Good, and free, guidance for choosing and equipping offshore sailing boats can be found in World Sailing’s Offshore Special Regulations (OSR). They are designed for yachts competing in offshore races but the advice holds good for cruising yachts. The OSR are split into different categories ranging from short warm weather races (Cat 4) to trans-oceanic races in the world’s most hostile conditions (Cat 0). Voyages to higher latitudes will fall within the Cat 1 or Cat 0 categories. When you have arrived at your cruising ground there will be new challenges. Depending on the area, these might include: poor charting, cold and windy conditions, ice,…

The days of ‘attempting a transit through the Northwest Passage to highlight global warming’ are gone. We all know global warming is happening and, if we are honest with ourselves, we should know that our presence in the Arctic is not helping. If we choose to sail there, we should make it incumbent upon ourselves to minimise our impact on the environment. We sail there because we love nature, so it should not be difficult to convince ourselves that we should do our best to protect it. ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS ■ The Arctic has one of the world’s most fragile ecosystems. ■ The short Arctic growing season means that plants grow at a very slow rate. ■ It is home to some of the world’s most endangered species. ■ Cold temperatures…

For centuries humankind has settled along our coastlines, but for some, myself included, that was never enough. Curiosity got the better of me and the freedom of the unknown ocean became more appealing than the safe haven of the earth beneath my feet. Life at sea is the best way I’ve found to experience nature and for me, the connection to the ocean is incomparable to anything else. Witnessing first-hand the damage being done to our oceans, I found myself distressed and needed to embark on a path with intention and purpose, and so I confirmed my position on board and packed for a voyage which would carry me more than 5,000 miles from the UK to Panama. I would spend five months on board the 72ft steel yacht, Traveledge,…

There are several anchorages around Sark but two of the most delightful are Dixcart and Derrible Bays on the south-east side. These lie either side of Point Château, just half a mile south-west down the coast from Creux harbour. Approaching direct from St Peter Port is probably the simplest route. Coming from Guernsey you need to keep a good half-mile south of L’Étac, as drying ledges straggle up to four cables south-west of Little Sark. Continue on an easterly course until Point Château is west of north. The old leading line of Sark Mill is now obscured by trees but if you make for a point just over a mile 290° from L’Étac and then turn towards Point Château on 340° you will clear the drying patches of Balmée and…

www.yachtingmonthly.com/books The winter snow still cloaked the mountain tops of Crete. A trimmed white blanket lay draped over their pinnacles, such that a perfect line formed around their midriffs, as if a horizon were frozen into the mountainside. And below that horizon – emerging shrubs dappled the slopes like the waves do the sea. To see through the eyes of the golden eagle searching above, those mountains would be like looking down at a limpet shell on the beach. The shell’s sun-bleached top and rugged sides were miniature mountains themselves. On the closer, more arid hillsides, goat tracks zigzagged their way up, much like Blue Eye had zigzagged upwind into the protected bay the day before. It had been an irksome undertaking, beating along the northern Crete coastline, which, for…

REVOLVE ROLATUBE ROLLABLE EXTENDABLE BOAT HOOK £60 Whilst pricey for a boat hook, this innovation rolls down to the size of a coffee cup – in the manner of a snap bracelet – with the hook slotting inside. It can be stowed in a drawer or fender locker, then quickly extended and the top attached; locking into a robust pole. Made from a plastic composite that is recyclable at end of life, the manufacturer uses longer versions of the design to create communication masts with built-in radio antennae; or motorised models with cameras attached for inspecting nuclear reactor cores. www.revolve-tec.com MRS PONTO PACKRAFT LIGHT, COMPACT TENDER From £825 Part of the extensive MRS packraft range, the Ponto weighs 2.9kg and has an approximate rolled size of 360mm x 180mm, making it…

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) has warned that if sailors fail to comply with the new voluntary no-anchor zone at Studland Bay then it will consider introducing bylaws banning anchoring altogether. From 17 December 2021, boat owners will be unable to anchor off South Beach. The no-anchor zone will be extended further north and east in June 2022. This area is extremely popular with skippers as it provides excellent protection. The MMO is working with the UK Hydrographic Office to ensure the area is clearly marked on Admiralty charts. The voluntary measures are being introduced as part of efforts to protect the eel grass that grows in Studland Bay, which is a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ). The MMO has said it will be looking to ‘inform and educate’ sailors about…

Galebound! Stormbound, even. You want to be tied up tight in extreme shelter, with a hefty breakwater between you and the waves, some buildings or rock-faces masking the wind, and a chance to get ashore without troubling the rubberdinghy. It can get seriously comfortable, especially once you’ve silenced the wiry tap of the halyards and the troubling squeak of fender-on-hull. So comfortable that for the following two days nobody wants to go out sailing at all, in case the sea hasn’t calmed down properly yet. But weathering a big gale at anchor? Different altogether, as Ken Endean’s blood curdling account of Scilly 2021 reminds us (p42). Yet if you’re a serious cruising boat there will not always be snug harbours available. Indeed some have to do the hardest thing of…

Q John is skipper of Grace, a traditional wooden 35ft gaff cutter. He is on passage to the maritime festival at the Breton port of Douarnenez. He has two crew who have done the trip before, but after sailing nonstop since yesterday, they are tired. Currently he is 10 miles west of Roscoff beating into a westerly wind. It is drizzling and the visibility is about one mile. Although the spring tide has helpfully swept them along the north Brittany coast, it is now slack water and will turn against them at a maximum rate of 2.6 knots. It is 2100 hours and the light is fading. John wants to press on because the event starts the next day and the idea of shellfish washed down with cider and Calvados…

High-latitude sailing attracts all sorts. Many go because they want to explore beautiful cruising grounds and build on their experience. Unfortunately, it also attracts ‘Adventurers’ whose egos exceed their abilities. These people are a danger to themselves and others. They also give the rest of us a bad name. More about this later. Courses and qualifications help us to acquire a basic understanding of skills but they are not a substitute for experience. You need to know your boat, your crew and yourself. Happily there is a great way of doing this – go sailing! Gain experience in your home waters, get some offshore passages under your belt and fix things yourself. Start going further afield: spend a season or two on the west coast of Scotland or Ireland. Then…

MOORING The buoys in St Mary’s harbour are on a ground chain grid and highly unlikely to shift. However, they are slightly outside the harbour and in a westerly wind will be very uncomfortable indeed. To put it another way, if the Earth was flat, those moorings would have a good view of America, with nothing in between. Pete Hicks, coxswain of the St Mary’s Lifeboat, offers the following advice: ‘If possible, have a mooring strop made up that fits your boat’s cleat layout, with a rubbing patch for across the stem rollers with a thimble and a good shackle to attach to the mooring itself. Many of the incidents we see of yachts breaking their moorings is after a rope which has just been passed through the mooring buoy’s…

After a fantastic holiday sailing to Cherbourg and Alderney, on our Gibsea 92, my husband Rob and I aspired to sail further afield. We had read about sailors voyaging through the French inland waterways, into the Mediterranean, which sounded like a wonderful adventure. The first step was to find a boat that we could comfortably live on. After much research and viewing many different boats for sale, we began to favour the centre-cockpit design yachts, which have a lovely rear berth. One bright, chilly Saturday in November 2015, whilst wandering a Hamble boatyard, we fell in love with Zircon, a Beneteau Oceanis 36CC. We needed a boat that drew less than 1.8m to travel through the canals. The 36CC had a fin keel with a draught of 1.5 metres; shallow…

Send your sailing gossip, diary dates, news and club or owners’ association updates to: yachtingmonthly@futurenet.com Seven-hour mission for The Maiden Factor ‘It was quite tough because some parts had huge swell, there was a lot of wind and it was raining’, says Flo Tovey about her Bristol Channel crossing in a Topper dinghy. The 13-year-old spent seven hours at sea, undertaking the challenge in support of The Maiden Factor – a foundation set up by record-setting yachtswoman Tracy Edwards to empower girls through education – particularly science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects. Welsh Topper sailing squad member Flo set sail from Mumbles, South Wales, on 18 September at 0900 and reached Ilfracombe, North Devon, at 1600. She was supported by her dad, Rob Tovey, and Uncle Dai, along with…

Carbon monoxide has no smell or taste. Once inhaled it enters your bloodstream and prevents your blood being able to carry oxygen as normal. Low-level symptoms are not always obvious, but include a headache, dizziness, nausea, tiredness and confusion, stomach pain and difficulty breathing. More serious poisoning can cause brain damage and death. The NHS recommends seeking medical advice from your GP if you think you have been exposed to low levels of carbon monoxide, and going straight to A&E if you think you have been exposed to high levels. You will then need to have your boat checked for sources of carbon monoxide and any problems rectified before you stay on board again.…