Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2018 i Sailing Today

Sea-safe tech Stay connected on the water Following the theme of waterproof entertainment, Getac Tablet F110 is perfect for seafaring types. You can’t quite take it swimming with you, as you can the BOOM 2 speakers (facing page), but it’s tough enough to withstand the rigours of life on board, and won’t stop working in rain or sea spray. The 11.6in screen is great for watching a film or catching up with emails, and it won’t lose its touch-screen capabilities when wet. • £1,623 • getac.com The world in your pocket Never be lost again In stark contrast to the ultra modern technology and luxury yachts featured throughout Sailing Today, this beautiful pocket compass from Dalvey has a timeless look and feel to it that transports you back…

I can think of a host of good reasons for shaping a course towards northwest Spain for a summer’s cruise. The food’s great, the wine’s OK, the natives are generally friendly, and despite the efforts of Brussels and the Euro, the fun-loving Spanish have contrived to keep prices on the right side of even. There are some interesting harbours too. One way and another, it has a lot going for it, but don’t fall into the trap I have more than once and imagine that the weather will be handing out any favours. For a start, fog has a habit of spoiling your day. Galicia isn’t the sun-soaked Costa del Boozo, it’s an outpost in the frowzy North Atlantic and it generates lousy visibility like Manchester did in November before…

On the office wall of this family-owned business on the fringes of the Norfolk Broads is a map of the world, peppered with black pins. “I put one in every time we get an order from overseas,” says owner Chris Jeckells. “We send them all over the world, but people don’t know that. I haven’t yet found a marina anywhere in the world that doesn’t have one of our sails.” From the 6,000sqft sail loft, sandwiched between Oyster Yachts and the Bijou Wine Bar, Jeckells’ 21 staff make around 45 sails per week, ranging from Wayfarers (they work a lot with Hartley Boats) to vast one-off sails for superyachts. Business is booming at the moment, with more orders than last year from the London Boat Show crammed into the shorter…

CONTEST 67CS Contest’s 67CS is the flagship of the Dutch boatbuilder and she certainly looks the part. She’s a tad lighter than the Kraken 66 and, being designed by Judel/ Vrolijk, there is a bit more emphasis on performance. She is a touch flashier in appearance and lacks the centre cockpit. contestyachts.com DISCOVERY 68 The natural rival for the Kraken 66 as she works on the same premise of providing the ultimate bluewater cruiser. This big Ron Holland design is an updated version of the Discovery 67 which is a proven performer on the bluewater circuit. discoveryyachts.com HALLBERG RASSY 64 There is no questioning the credentials of the Swedish cruising giants and the 64 is the flagship of its range. She also features a centre cockpit and oozes Scandinavian quality.…

Portland Marina is located within the protection of Portland Harbour, on the northeast coast of the Isle of Portland, along the busy south coast of England. When approaching from any direction, the first landmark you’ll pick up on the horizon, will be Portland Bill Lighthouse. Opened in 1903, the red and white striped tower is distinctive in its design and marks out the southernmost point of the Isle of Portland. From here you will navigate northeast around the coast. Keep a good distance from the coastline as you sail north, as the currents along this stretch of the English Channel are strong, and the coastline very rocky. Getting too close will spell disaster as the many shipwrecks along this stretch go to prove. The man-made harbour wall is constructed from…

It’s the time of year when your kit bag is generally in need of a bit of an overhaul and your handheld VHF is often the first port of call when it comes to upgrading and renewing. ICOM’s IC-M25EURO is brand new to the market and boasts a plethora of clever touches. Perhaps the most eye catching is the fact that this new unit actually floats. And not only that, but once immersed in water, an LED flashing light is activated making it easier to locate and thereby minimising your chances of losing it in the drink. Other smart new features include a slimline design and lightweight build. It weighs in at a very modest 200g. On top of that, it boasts an impressive 11-hour battery life and a USB…

FINNGULF 41 | Ocean One Designed by Karl-Johan Strahlmann, Ocean One is a stunning performance cruiser by Finngulf, and very much a sailor’s yacht. She’s a joy to sail but also offers a huge level of creature comforts below decks. She has spent most of her life sailing along the south coast of England, with occasional adventures across the Channel to explore Europe, though she’s well equipped for adventures much further afield. Her current owners have carried out extensive maintenance to her deck, hull and interior, so she’s ready for comfortable travels with her new crew. She sleeps six people across three cabins; with a further two berths in the saloon. The saloon itself is fairly spacious, accommodating a large dining table and a good-sized chart table. The galley is…

The Oyster World Rally set off from Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua, in January 2017. Since then the 31-strong fleet has crossed the Caribbean Sea, transited through the Panama Canal, and sailed the lesser-travelled waters of the south Pacific Ocean, en-route to their current stop, New Zealand. Sailing Today set crews a photo competition, which was voted on by our readers, and the overwhelming winner was this image of Moorea, named ‘A view from Tahiti’.…

Turn to Starboard has thrown down the gauntlet to its supporters to help raise £100,000 for a new training boat. The charity, which works to help injured veterans and their families, launched the Float-A-Boat campaign in January 2018. Supporters will be taking part in fundraising events, including a 24-hour life raft survival challenge, as well as donating. CEO, Shaun Pascoe, said: “Recent research shows that many [veterans] need some kind of support with mental or physical health needs in the years to come, and we feel humbled to play a part in helping them to move on with their lives.” TOM TOPS CHARTS Our very own Tom Cunliffe has been awarded the medal for Services to Cruising, by the Royal Cruising Club. In a statement, they said: “His written works…

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 319 £62,000 The new 319 is the baby of the Jeanneau range and with a hull length of 29ft 6in, this is definitely a pocket cruiser. She does boast generous beam and freeboard, which gives her good internal volume, but also makes her look slightly dumpy on the water. She promises to be a versatile performer, however, and comes with the option of a standard fin keel or a stubbier winged keel and centreboard combination. Remarkably for such a small yacht she comes with wheel steering. The interior feels spacious and comfortable and there are two fully enclosed cabins. Jeanneau.com Bavaria C65 c£1.1m The trend towards bigger production yachts shows no sign of easing up and Bavaria’s new C65 underlines this in style. This is the biggest…

Television has never really got to grips with sailing. They’ve tried all sorts of tricks to bring it to the masses, and failed. Their holy grail, of course, is to get millions of Saturday night sofa surfers gawping while someone famous struggles with a winch - Strictly Come Gybing. Dream on, I say. Those who think sailing will ever make a mass TV sport are as deluded as those skippers who think they might just get back to the mooring before the pubs close - it never happens. To understand sailing you have to do it, not watch. Of course, none of this will stop those determined TV people having a go. So pity the poor contestants in the Volvo Ocean Race who have been the focus of the latest…

I had always been tempted by the northwest coast of Spain, and it made the decision to sail singlehanded there from Plymouth – to spend the summer exploring the area fully – an easy one. It had been a drizzly start from Plymouth and initially a brisk beat. Luckily I had a good weather window and Biscay was kind to me. I covered the 420nm to Gijon on the north coast of Spain in three days. Taking the line between Ushant and the Ushant TSS, I had then been able to steer onto a close reach and enjoyed a superb, and more comfortable, sail across Biscay. My arrival port was Gijon, which has a very good marina close to the town. I was joined there by my wife Liz to…

‘Suddenly in a 70 knot gust the boat shot backwards on the plotter and Steve and Alan shot out of the saloon’ The windiest place on earth? At the very least South Georgia tried hard to qualify for such a title. Beyond that it was cold; with or without the wind chill factor. For me it all started in Baffin when the crew from Steve and Trish Brown’s expedition yacht Novara visited my own boat Dodo’s Delight in 2014. Somehow the plan to visit South Georgia to recreate Shackleton’s legendary traverse of the island was mentioned and I said: “Oh I would be up for that.” I was kindly included. By September 2017 we had all assembled on board, ready for the passage to South Georgia. There were seven of…

The concept of Airbnb has been a phenomenon in recent years and has definitely changed the way in which many of us think about planning our holidays. It was therefore only a matter of time before it occurred to someone to apply the concept to yachts. After all, they are generally located in areas that would broadly be viewed as prime real estate and let’s face it, there are very few owners out there who wouldn’t mind their boat working for them when they are not out enjoying it for themselves. So the question most of us want to ask is this; how exactly does it work? Well, one man in a decent position to explain is Tim Ludlow, one of the founders of Beds on Board, the first company…

As with all marinas on the south coast of England, there is a plethora of cruising opportunities. You could head for the buzzing east coast, with Lymington, Brighton and Cowes just some of the many options for daysails or longer trips away from your home port. Alternatively, you could set your course for the wild adventures of the west coast, with its rugged cliffs, untamed landscape and open waters, it promises some challenging but exciting sailing. Heading west from Portland Bill, you encounter the broad sweep of Lyme Bay, both of which need to be negotiated before reaching the enticing havens of the west country, with Dartmouth often favoured as the next stopover. Your efforts will be rewarded with a whole treasure trove of Devon and Cornwall culture, should you…

‘A boat turning downstream will quickly find itself pinned onto the downstream boats’ If I had the choice between sailing in tidal or non-tidal waters I would chose tidal every time. However, many of the people I teach have only previously sailed in the Mediterranean or Baltic and regularly come unstuck in UK waters. My aim with this article is to pass on a ‘feeling’ for the tides and to highlight those areas that may trip up the unwary. Tides show their presence in both the flow (tidal stream) of water and in the change of depth (tidal height). They follow a roughly six-hour cycle between high and low water. In the Solent we regularly experience tidal streams of up to four knots and a tidal range of 4m. The…

OYSTER RUNS OUT OF CASH British boatbuilder Oyster Yachts has gone into liquidation, with the loss of over 100 jobs. Workers at the boatbuilding yard in Norfolk were sent home with letters stating their employer had, 'run out of cash'. Staff members were left shocked and saddened by the news, with one person, who wishes to remain nameless, saying: “We want explanations. We have family responsibilities and mortgages to pay”. The company has been a mainstay of the British boatbuilding industry but was rocked in 2015 after Polina Star, an Oyster 825, suffered keel failure. The company appeared to have put this behind them and the announcement was unexpected given that the company had recently announced £80m worth of orders. In a statement, Oyster CEO David Tydeman said: “It is…

MULTIHULL SHOW 18-22 APRIL - FRANCE Now in it’s ninth year, La Grande Motte, has become a respected event in the boating world. This five-day show on the beautiful south coast of France is a celebration of multihulls, with the promise of lots of exciting new launches, at a show where monohulls are not allowed. multicoque-online.com PORTHLEVEN FOOD FESTIVAL 20-22 APR - PORTHLEVEN Enjoy a weekend of Cornish food, beer and bands in this lovely harbour town. Marquees will offer tasty treats, live music and cookery demonstrations. You might even spot the odd celebrity chef. visitcornwall.com LES VOILES DE SAINT-BARTH 8-14 APRIL - ST BARTHS If you’re lucky enough to be out in the Caribbean this April, then be sure to watch Les Voiles de Saint-Barth. The spectacle of nearly…

After building our confidence with coastal trips along the south coast, we wanted to venture further afield, and our thoughts turned to the Channel Islands. This would be our first trip across the English Channel, and the first time we would lose sight of land. There was plenty to challenge our skills – shipping lanes on the way, strong currents around the islands, large tidal ranges, eddies, and a chart full of rocks. A little daunting for a couple of novices, but with promises of stunning beaches, dramatic coastlines, and a warmer climate, we were ready for the adventure. With a limited time to see all the islands, Alderney and Sark were the top of our list and would keep us away from the larger harbours and crowds. At the…

Once the initial questions about storm avoidance and pirate dodging have come to an end, we quite often find ourselves in conversations about how we can afford to sail the world. There are countless useful articles and several helpful books that lay out various methods of funding all kinds of wistful landlubbers’ cruising ambitions. Many of these give detailed examples of how to manage businesses from abroad or perhaps work remotely. Or you can make a number of months’ seasonal or contract work in your home country refill the sailing kitty for a good year or two. But the financial cost of cruising, so well documented elsewhere, is not my go-to response when probed as to how we meet the expense of liveaboard life. Because, what is far more fascinating,…

Most sailors have at some point sat daydreaming and pondering over what ingredients would make up their perfect yacht. A few may have even taken up a pen and pencil and roughed out a few sketches. Yet there are precious few that have then gone on to actually build the damn thing. One person who has is Dick Beaumont, founder of Kraken Yachts. Beaumont is a sort of yachting Svengali and successful businessman who has devoted his spare time to cruising the world. This has given him a very clear vision of what makes the ultimate bluewater cruising yacht and – unlike you or I who merely daydream – Mr Beaumont has the resources and willpower to be a ‘dreamer of the day’ – dangerous men, or at least so…

Portland Marina is located on the Isle of Portland, along the south coast of England. It’s surrounded by natural beauty and protected by the 17th century man-made Portland Harbour. With the wild Jurassic coast heading west, and the vibrant regatta racing Solent to the east, there is plenty to keep sailors entertained. And that’s before you’ve cast your eyes across the Channel to northern Europe and the Mediterranean beyond. The Isle of Portland is connected to the rest of Dorset by the narrow causeway formed by Chesil beach. The Isle itself is forged out of Jurassic limestone, which was quarried for centuries in order to build much of the nation’s capital, London. The cliffs and old quarries are now Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and home to a wide range…

The last few weeks before the sailing season starts are always hectic and the ‘to do’ list never seems to shorten, but do, please, put a safety equipment inspection right at the top. Here’s a few reminders that might help jog your memory as you carry out a thorough, pre-season safety check. LIFEJACKETS AND PFDS When was the last time you serviced your lifejacket? Whatever the maker’s recommendations it’s advisable to check and service any lifejackets on board before the start of every season. Open it up and inflate it through the mouthpiece using a hand pump (blowing it up by mouth may leave warm condensation inside for mould to grow on). Once inflated, check the material over carefully and listen for leaks – especially around the cylinder thread, oral…

Anyone replacing their electronic navigation equipment, or adding new kit to their boat, will have found the routing of all the cables and connectors to be by far the biggest headache. Power cables are easier compared with the data cables, which cannot be cut and re-joined with any great ease, and manufacturers advise against it. This is where wireless transmitting equipment becomes invaluable, especially when solar powered. WIRELESS TECHNOLOGY There are typically two technologies in use: wifi and Bluetooth. Both are radio frequency transmission systems. Bluetooth tends to be used for controlling audio equipment and wifi for large amounts of data transfer between equipment such as radar, fishfinders and displays. Wifi operates on an ‘Access Point’ (AP) and ‘Station’ principle where the AP effectively collects data transmitted to it from…