Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2017 i Sailing Today

‘If we can produce an image of a sail boat at 90 degrees north, that could become iconic ’ Challenging boundaries is a part of human nature; it’s how we discovered the world isn’t flat and put a man on the moon. But what happens when we’ve apparently conquered all horizons? For some, the answer is simple; push further still, taking to sea in smaller craft, against the clock or, in the case of Laura Dekker, as the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the globe. So how long will Laura hold her title? She’s the youngest now, but it’s surely only a matter of time before someone seeks to usurp her crown. The very possibility would make many breathless, but for some it’s an opportunity impossible to resist. The first…

‘The best places tended to be the quieter spots where you could wake up in the morning and not be able to hear anyone else’ With new charter bases opening up around the globe, it has never been easier for sun seeking sailors to chase the winter sun. The Caribbean offers a popular choice, and most of the region’s sailing infrastructure was unharmed by the depredations of Hurricane Irma. But these are well known waters, and were covered in depth in November’s Sailing Today, so we decided to look at some of the more exotic options. Canary Islands With its seven principal islands, the Canary Islands have staked a claim to be one of the world’s top winter sailing playgrounds. Situated about 100km off the coast of Mauritius, the islands…

‘Two US warships, an oil carrier and a container ship ended up with shameful dents’ It has not been a good year for navigation. Two US warships, an oil carrier and a container ship ended up with shameful dents in their topsides and embarrassment written across their faces, especially that of a senior US naval commander who was made to walk the career plank and ended up losing his job. More seriously, there was the loss of life. We await with interest the result of the enquiries, if ever they are made public, and in the meantime sit and ponder how state-of-the-art warships, which can presumably track the motion of a supersonic missile launched a continent away, can fail to spot a lumbering tanker heading their way. Without wishing to…

‘These yachts look great, sail well and are extremely comfortable down below’ A couple of years back I was testing one of the latest generations of fast cruisers built by a popular Italian manufacturer. She was one of the first yachts to sport a Dreadnought bow – whereby the stem is raked aft. The effect was dramatic and I asked the broker who was showing me over the yacht what the practical purpose was ‘wave piercing’, he said with great confidence. Now, I am not a yacht designer, but I do know that while a Dreadnought bow may have wave piercing benefits on a multihull smashing through big seas at 30kn, it is highly unlikely to do much on a yacht that will mostly cruise at around 7kn. It’s a…

‘There is a certain satisfaction in putting a boat to bed for the winter’ As the nights draw in and the winter chill begins to bite, there are only a hardy few who don’t run up the white flag and accept that their yachting will have to take a ‘winterlude’ if you will. While this is obviously a shame, there is a certain satisfaction in putting a boat to bed for the winter and perhaps occasionally heading down to your yacht for a spot of tinkering. On the other hand, some of us will lay up their yacht and then happily forget about it (barring the occasional check) until the spring. There are also a hardy few who are willing to keep their yacht in commission in the hope of…

EAST AND WEST BREAKWATER The breakwaters provide essential shelter to the marina and are marked by fixed red and green vertical lights. The breakwater lights are visible up to six miles out to sea BRIGHTON CITY Brighton is just half a mile along the coast from the marina, and offers a huge variety of shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, museums and galleries to enjoy HUGE CAPACITY Brighton has capacity for 1,200 yachts up to 35m and prestige berthing for boats over 14m WINTER STORAGE Capacity on the hard is limited at Brighton. But facilities for maintenance are good when your boat is off the water Brighton Marina lies just east of the city of Brighton, one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the UK, attracting tourists from across the…

Brighton Marina is a popular base for south coast cruising and Channel hops over to northern France. It also serves as a great stopover for cruisers travelling from the east coast over to the west coast of England, and vice versa. If based in Brighton, then the best options for daytrips are Eastbourne, Newhaven and Chichester. Eastbourne is just a couple of hours east of Brighton and offers a lovely day out. Owned by Premier Marinas, you can stay for an afternoon or longer at no extra charge. The cruise along the coast to Eastbourne is stunning. The famed white cliffs are a beautiful sight and Seven Sisters, leading to Beachy Head are a particular highlight. The tides are notoriously strong in the area so the time it takes you…

PADSTOW CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL 7-10 DECEMBER - CORNWALL The people of Padstow are opening their doors for some festive family fun at their Christmas Festival. Set around Padstow harbour, there’ll be cookery demonstrations from world famous chefs (left ). More than 100 local producers will be selling gifts and products in the traditional Christmas market. visitcornwall.com RNLI CHRISTMAS LIGHTS 3 DECEMBER – DEVON Join Clovelly residents for their Christmas lights ceremony, in aid of the RNLI. Sing along to carollers and a local brass band, as they promenade through the town to the harbour. There will be a fireworks display. visitdevon.co.uk VICTORIAN SEASIDE FESTIVAL 2-3 DECEMBER – ST ANNES, LANCASHIRE Travel through time with the Victorian Festival at St Annes. Enjoy a Victorian Christmas with stalls, music and events, celebrating the…

The San Blas Islands of Panama demonstrate just what a varied and beautiful cruising ground the Caribbean is. This low-lying archipelago comprises approximately 365 islands and cays. A mere 49 are inhabited, making it a cruising paradise. The area has a fascinating history, being occupied by the indigenous Guna Yala, who operate largely independently from the Panamanian government. The Guna Yala are self sufficient and are famous for producing beautiful hand-woven cloths or Molas.…

Leatherman bangle Rugged good looks This multitool from leading manufacturer, Leatherman takes its inspiration from the removable links on a watch strap. Each link is a specific tool which can be removed from the bracelet for individual use. A large number of tools are available now, with more promised at a later date, so you should be able to select the tools you use the most or will find most useful and link them together to create your own bespoke tool. Or you can buy more and build specific bracelets for specific plans. • leatherman.com • From £159 Maritime masterpiece Tacking duel - Steven Dews Steven Dews has long been recognised as one of Britain’s top living marine artists. Born in Yorkshire in 1949, he has travelled and…

‘The British obsession with weather can pay dividends when it comes to planning a trip’ 1 HOW MUCH TIME DO I HAVE? This may seem like a statement of the bleedin’ obvious, but there is a temptation to try to fit far too much into too short a space of time. This is exacerbated when flights to some exotic destinations can take well over 12 hours. Flights to more obscure destinations can also be considerably more complicated than, say, flying to Athens. As an example, a flight to Phuket - a notable chartering destination in Thailand - will still involve switching onto a different aeroplane at either Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. Factor in jet lag into the equation and you ideally want a couple of weeks to ease yourself into…

‘Once hurricanes, tsunamis and squalls are dealt with, the next threat to yachtsmen is piracy’ When embarking out on cruising life you will inevitably come across a certain amount of nervous questioning about your plans. Stepping from the safety of the land and onto the wildness of the sea tends to be perceived, quite rightly, as waving goodbye to a sense of what is normal. The fact of the matter is that we all live with varying levels of risk every day of our lives – it’s simply that there are many forms of risk for both yourself and your children that are accepted as reasonable. Getting into a car and driving down a motorway; flying as a family across the Atlantic; cramming into an overcrowded bus in Central America…

SOLARIS 50 PRICE: £430,000 Arguably the natural competitor for this yacht and one boasting similarly striking lines. This Soto Acebal design is considerably heavier than the ICE but remains a relatively light displacement. craftinsure quote: from £1,358 solarisyachts.com ITALIA 15.98 PRICE: £680,000 Another beautiful Italian design that errs more to the cruising end of this spectrum. The styling is still very striking, but the lines are more conservative, with more moderate beam and somewhat more taper aft. craftinsure quote: from £poa Italiayachts.com X-YACHTS X4(9) PRICE: C£423,000 The Scandinavian take on the stylish cruiser is every bit as alluring as her Italian counterpart. The X4(9) is a tad smaller at 49ft and is the brand new big sister of the X4 which was extremely well received. Niels Jeppesen in a return…

‘Snatch loads are major factors causing anchors to drag so minimising these effect is advantageous’ ‘As the wind gusts, the yacht moves backwards and develops kinetic energy’ A conundrum – what is the connection between a young lady in the process of making a bungee jump and a 38ft catamaran anchored using 40m of 6mm chain subject to four days of constant 30/35 knot winds. To put the question into context, the young lady probably weighs 60kg and the catamaran 7,000kg. Also many catamarans, as illustrated (facing page), are supplied as standard with 8mm chain and some even opt to have 10mm chain. The young lady completed her jump safely and the yacht did not drag, even with its minimalist chain. The simple answer is that both are relying on…

‘Most new generation anchors provide astonishingly improved holding power’ It is virtually impossible to authoritatively test the holding power of an anchor as there are so many unpredictable factors affecting its performance. The two most recent improvements established with the latest generation of cruising anchors are a roll bar and a ballasted tip, both of which are intended to assist the anchor to set/reset as quickly as possible. The roll bar is designed to turn the anchor over when it hits the seabed, ensuring the flukes penetrate quickly and effectively, and continue to dig in rather than break out. The ballasted tip, sometimes a lead insert (Spade) and sometimes just thicker steel, then helps the anchor bite quickly as it puts the centre of gravity over the tip, encouraging it…

We’ve teamed up with the Wine Beagle to provide you with a great opportunity to pick up the ultimate winter warmer; a case of the finest wine, worth £165. About the Wine Beagle The Wine Beagle, aka Jamie Collins, sells delicious but affordable artisan wines for home delivery. The focus being on small wineries from the lesser known, up-and-coming European wine regions. These hand crafted wines are rarely available anywhere else in the UK and because of Jamie’s lean online-only, no-middlemen business model, they are extremely good value. Rather than stocking a bamboozling array of choices, Jamie does just one wine offer at a time and only when he’s confident that he’s found an absolute belter. This means that he can be ultra-selective in his choices and guarantee a consistency…

GOVERNMENT UNDER FIRE The Government has been criticised for its poor response to the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) Report. The suite of MPAs is designed to protect and enhance the marine environments of the UK coast and Overseas Territories. Mary Creagh, Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee (EAC), said: ‘The Government has not adequately responded to our concerns around Marine Protected Areas.’ Emma Barton of the RYA said: ‘Establishing an ecologically coherent network of marine protected areas will contribute towards achieving the governments’ shared vision for clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas.’ She continued: ‘We believe this vision can be achieved without any adverse effect on either the public right or the safety of navigation for recreational boating.’ Borrow a boat makes waves Borrow a Boat,…

Catana 53 c£996,000 Catana Yachts specialise in cruising multihulls that are also capable of a really impressive turn of speed and the new 53 promises more of the same from the French manufacturer. The new yacht boasts striking, somewhat angular styling combined with generous freeboard. Weighing 14 tons, she’s not exactly a lightweight flyer, but this is still modest for a 53ft yacht. Combine that with daggerboards and an easily driven hull and you have a recipe for a luxurious performance catamaran. catana.com Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 319 £62,000 Jeanneau’s new Sun Odyssey 319 sits as the baby of the range at just 29’6” which by today’s standards is small. Yet despite her diminutive proportions, she certainly looks like a proper little cruiser and boasts a roomy interior. In an interesting…

‘In anticipation of a juicy payday, I took my girlfriend out for a pre-departure curry in Southsea’ If we’re honest, most of us with a logbook full of miles look back on our first solo skippering effort with mixed feelings. Unless we finished up on the wrong end of the lifeboat’s towrope it must have been a success of sorts. However, if the passage wasn’t a broad reach in daylight with Force 3, a fair tide and an easy berth laid on by the angels, there’s generally a catalogue of mistakes to balance the books. Happily, so long as we don’t nurse the sort of personality problem that turns all misfortune into ‘bad luck’ or some other cove’s error, we can always find time once the lines are secure to…

‘It’s a maze of mudflats, islands and pristine beaches. Wildlife is abundant and the area is steeped in history’ If the hustle and bustle of the Solent is beginning to lose its appeal then you should cast your eyes a few miles further east for a very different cruising ground. Chichester Harbour is officially an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB), full of islands and channels and pristine sandy beaches. Wildlife is in abundance and the area is steeped in history; head ashore you will find country walks, Roman ruins and great pubs and restaurants. The harbour covers an area of 28 square miles with 40% covered by water at high tide but just 10% at low. This dramatically changes the look and feel of the surroundings, and for me…

Win a luxury break aboard ‘Samphire’ a superb new ‘designer’ houseboat based on the famous Chichester Ship Canal in Premier’s Chichester Marina. Perfect for couples and families alike, Samphire offers fully heated accommodation including two beautifully furnished double bedrooms, the master with an ensuite shower room; a family shower room, a spacious living area with a private balcony and a well-equipped ‘cook’s’ kitchen. Outside there’s a glorious upper sun deck, a private garden and a wonderful array of wildlife to observe. Strolls around the marina, a restaurant/bistro just steps away, local pubs, harbour views and shoreline walks complete the picture. Samphire is part of Premier Marinas’ Salterns short break/holiday apartments collection - www.thesalterns.co.uk The prize includes a three night Friday-Sunday stay for up to four people to be taken before…

‘With faith, honour and courage, anything is Possible’ Tracy Edwards is, for many, a sailing legend. At just 26 years old she inspired a generation of women and changed the opinions of many men, as she skippered the first ever all-female crew in the 89/90 Whitbread Race, finishing second overall in her class, aboard her beloved yacht, Maiden. The achievement saw her awarded an MBE. Following the race, however, financial issues meant that Tracy was forced to sell Maiden and carry on life without her. Until, that is, she received a phone call from Eden Marina in the Seychelles in 2014. “The marina manager called me saying Maiden had been abandoned and, although they’d been looking after her as best they could, they couldn’t keep her any longer,” she recalls,…

‘Small flocks of green parrots abounded and we spotted an eagle or two’ The island enclave of Martin Garcia lies in the delta of the River Plate between Tigre (a suburb of Buenos Aires) and Carmelo in Uruguay and is well worth the visit. It is a beautifully preserved nature reserve and is steeped in history. There are several approaches to the island. The shortest route from Buenos Aires is across the shallows, but this is restricted to shallow draught boats. Most yachts will need to approach from the deep-water channel that leads to the Rios Uruguay and Parana or pass through the deeper channels inside the delta. The main anchorage lies on the southwestern side of the island, near the ferry dock in about 2.5 metres. The 2km square…

Set against the backdrop of the famous white cliffs of the East Sussex coastline, this stretch of coast is instantly recognisable to cruisers as they approach the south coast. A large wind farm (Rampion) is currently under construction in two sections 8 and 16 miles from the shore directly south of the marina. It may not show up on current charts but should certainly be considered when planning your approach. The entrance to the Marina lies between the marina’s east and west breakwater arms - western breakwater QR 1 sec 9.6m 7M; eastern breakwater QG 1 sec 8.3m 7M. It’s dredged to 1.7m CD, however storms tend to drive sand in to form a bank to the south and east of the end of the eastern breakwater and shoaling may…

‘Probably the single most significant safety measure is to make sure that your eyes have adapted to night vision’ There is something rather magical about sailing at night, and I love it. In many ways very little changes – the chart plotter, depth sounder, log, AIS and radar still work just as they do in daytime, and yet somehow everything is different. Although you can sail at night with your eyes glued to an electronic screen, it is much more fun (and safer) to supplement technology with traditional techniques, and I hope the following will help you brave the dark and help you to discover a new side to navigation and, indeed, a new side to sailing. Sailing in the dark is not something to be undertaken lightly. Probably the…