Indholdsfortegnelse for December 2020 i Sailing Today

The RNLI has launched a Christmas appeal after the pandemic caused an unprecedented shortfall in income. On top of fundraising activities having to be paused, causing a loss of ‘millions’, the charity also had to spend £1.2m to ensure its volunteer lifeboat crews and beach lifeguards had PPE. Overall the RNLI had to buy 6.7 million pieces of PPE, including almost 700,000 face masks, 2.4 million gloves and 5,000 litres of hand sanitiser. The Christmas appeal hopes to raise £2.05m; visit RNLI.org/Xmas Meanwhile the RYA and RNLI have joined forces to produce a series of ‘how to’ videos with advice and tips on how to safely enjoy being on the water. One of the videos reveals the top five reasons lifeboat crews are called into action, along with tips on…

The cancellation of two Southampton boat shows in September, on the eve of both events, is having a knock-on effect across the wider events industry, it is claimed. Both the Boats2020 event and the MDL Ocean Village Boat Show were called off by Southampton City Council, hours before they were due to open their doors, due to fears over the spread of Covid-19. Steve Heap, Chairman of the Events Industry Forum, said: “The ramifications of the decision by Southampton City Council are being felt the length and breadth of the UK. “Given the apparent inconsistency nationally and this council’s lack of rationale locally, the wider UK events industry is justifiably nervous about committing to future events, however well they meet the guidelines in place. “This is untenable. Without clarity of…

‘By choosing to learn to sail we cultivate an understanding of the constantly fluctuating conditions’ In a world where technology surrounds us, where ‘Siri’ leads us to the nearest café, ‘Alexa’ puts on our favourite music and a series of electronic beeps enables us to reverse park without denting the rear bumper against a wall, have we grown far too accustomed to surrendering some aspects of our seamanship to the anchor alarm, the autopilot, or the depth sounder? Imagine relinquishing the steering and speed controls of your car to an automated system, taking your hands off the steering wheel while you happily sat back and relaxed as your vehicle cruised comfortably along the motorway. Perhaps you could even nod off? It sounds crazy and of course the world of cars…

Followers of performance sailing almost fell off their chairs earlier this autumn when Giles Scott didn’t win a regatta. Having dominated the Finn class for most of the past decade, the 33-year-old returned home to Portsmouth after September’s Finn Europeans in Poland with a rare silver. “There is room for improvement there,” was Scott’s take on the matter, having had the flight home to reflect. “I am obviously disappointed at not having won the week but I’m not surprised at how competitive the racing was. “It’s all fuel for next year and looking forward it is a little bit challenging, what with the schedule having been reworked, but we just have to deal with it.” By this point in the year Scott was hoping to have bagged his second Olympic…

For those not familiar with Elan Yachts, allow me to give you the briefest of introductions; the company is based in Slovenia and started out making skis. Those au fait with alpine pursuits will doubtless know this already, as their skis are of some repute. From here, the company used its expertise in laminating to branch out into building yachts. This has meant that visitors to the factory, perched high in the Slovenian Alps and many miles from the sea, are both charmed and baffled by the stunning but geographically bewildering setting of the factory until this quirk is explained. Anyway, the company has been turning out a fine selection of cruising and racing yachts for many years now; for over 20 years they have worked exclusively with the designer…

Ultimate Sails All Ultimate Sails dinghy covers are designed and made to order in the UK with a lead time of around two weeks. Ultimate uses waxed thread and specialised needles to create a more solid waterproof seam. Custom covers can be priced and built from a simple measuring sheet for a perfect fit. • ultimatesails.co.uk • 023 8155 0086 Exe Sails Exe Sails is a highly respected company which provides a selection of dinghy covers plus biminis, stack packs, sail covers, sail bags and dodgers – plus, of course, actual sails. • exesails.com • 01392 874 449 Pinnell and Bax All P&B covers are made in-house in the well established UK sail loft ensuring quality control and fast lead times. Whether you’re looking for a new Trailing, Flat or…

Over the past 20 years or so, the term 'code zero' has often been mis-applied to describe a variety of large asymmetric sails used on different points of sailing. However, the generally accepted definition is that it is a sail which, under most racing rules, rates as a spinnaker but is set when sailing upwind in light airs and perhaps on a beam reach as it gets windier. For IRC racers, they are especially useful for offshore and round the cans races. Alan Harris-Guerrero of Sail Shape explains: “IRC yachts love these sails as they don’t affect their upwind/ reaching sail area on the IRC certificate, so in light to medium airs an IRC yacht with a small jib power-reaching can hoist a code zero giving a massive boost in…

Bosun Bird’s skipper often likes to rail against professionally organised cruising rallies, overlooking the fact that participating in such events is how a number of our friends began bluewater sailing in the first place. “Surely,” he will say in a superior manner, “the point of cruising is to do it all yourself, not pay somebody else to smooth your way... Even the paperwork is part of the fun...” This, while the otherwise-loyal crew tries to catch his eye. “It wasn’t fun when we left South Africa, was it?” she will ask, after our guests have left. We’d spent nearly two years fitting out and sailing Bosun Bird at a small marina-cum-fishing harbour north of Cape Town, after buying her at Richard’s Bay, on South Africa’s Indian Ocean coast, and trucking…

High Latitude Sailing Jon Amtrup and Bob Shepton The worthy Bob Shepton’s greatest hits are narrated on p52 of this issue and – rather by chance – it coincides with the launch of the second edition of High Latitude Sailing, a book written by Norwegian author and sailor Jon Amtrup in partnership with Shepton himself. Shepton needs no introduction but Amtrup also has considerable pedigree in the high latitudes, having cruised the region extensively, particularly around Norway. Polar circumnavigators Trond Aasvoll and Elena Solovyeva have also contributed with insights on the Northwest and Northeast Passages respectively. I don’t know about you, but I am more of a warm weather sailor and have almost zero motivation to head to the high latitudes. Nevertheless, this book is an inspiring read and…

BAVARIA 30 CRUISER ODYSSEY The Bavaria 30 Cruiser is a clever and sound 30 foot yacht with considerable internal volume. This smart 2006 model benefits from a spacious interior given her size and the lighter toned mahogany which gives a warm and welcoming interior and increases the general feeling of space. This Bavaria also benefits from fully serviced mainsail and genoa. The boat is currently moored in the picturesque setting of Lake Windermere and has been kept in superb condition by her current owner and also benefits from low engine hours. Cabins: 2 Year: 2006 Length: 9.45m (31’) Beam: 3.29m (10’8”) Draft:1.85m (6’) Engine: Volvo 19HP Lying: Windermere michaelschmidt.co.uk craftinsure quote: £168 VISMARA MILLS V50 BIG STAR Big Star is the latest generation Vismara and Mark Mills composite…

The crew of American Magic’s second AC75 Patriot expected a fairly modest sail as they headed out onto Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour on the boat’s maiden trip. They got more than they bargained for as the breeze suddenly picked up to 20 knots and, as it did so, their new boat proved itself to be rather a handful. It’s believed the boat’s bucking bronco antics were caused by issues with the foil control system. Shortly after this dramatic take off, the boat attempted to mimic a submarine and was only saved from further fiasco by its fuller bow sections.…

All eyes were on Auckland harbour in late October as the British, USA and Italian teams launched their second AC75s – the boats they will race in the America’s Cup early next year. INEOS Team UK’s boat drew gasps from onlookers as it was unveiled and christened in a ceremony broadcast live from Auckland waterfront. The design is a significant departure from its original boat and compared to other teams’ boats, featuring a large skeg and complex underbody. INEOS Team UK chief designer Nick Holroyd said: “This boat is on time, perfectly on weight and the detail of the fit out and systems is immaculate. That is a real credit to each team member involved. “Since developing the first boat, the race area and the condition limits have been clarified,…

Disabled sailor Natasha Lambert is preparing to cross the Atlantic in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), using the revolutionary sip and puff method. She will be making the passage on the largest vessel converted to use the technology, a Bavaria Nautitech Open 46 catamaran, Blown Away. Natasha, 23, who has quadriplegic athetoid cerebral palsy, will utilise a single straw to control the helm and the sails. She and her team have already sailed the boat from Cowes to Gran Canaria over August, mostly in day sails. Generator and systems specialist Fischer Panda UK has donated a Panda PMS 9000 ND generator, and also supplied a watermaker and air-conditioning system, to assist in Natasha in her attempt.…

The K1 class found an innovative way to hold a national regatta, with concurrent racing held over one weekend - but at 10 different clubs. The class worked with volunteer group Restart Sailing and SailRacer to set up the regatta, after having to cancel its 2020 Nationals due to Covid-19. The inaugural K1 Club Racing Championships took place over 19-20 September; some clubs incorporated K1 races into existing club races. To record and track their race, each sailor used a pre-configured SailRacer tracker. SailRacer tracking provided live coverage of each race for every competitor and recorded start, leg and finish times for each boat, including the number of laps completed. Friends and family could watch all the races live online, while the sailors could replay and analyse their races. Michael…

Club of the Year The shortlist will be revealed this coming month for the RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year competition, supported by Gallagher. Keep an eye on our website for details of each shortlisted club and how to vote: yachtsandyachting.co.uk Marine Quarterly The Marine Quarterly is celebrating its 10th anniversary with its winter issue, published at the beginning of December. The publication is edited by sailing author Sam Llewellyn, who says: “We publish any stories we think might be interesting to someone sitting in the cockpit of a yacht thinking about not much – pieces about sailing boats, shipping, oceanography, adventures, sea life, naval matters, voyages, fisheries, extracts from forgotten classics, original fiction and just about anything else related to salt water.” themarinequarterly.com Ocean Race Europe…

Royal visit UKSA in Cowes welcomed its Patron, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, on 9 October, when she toured the site for an update on the academy’s ambitious Building Better Futures campaign. Round Ireland record Pamela Lee and Cat Hunt have become the first female double-handed crew to circumnavigate Ireland. They crossed the line after three days, 20 hours, 29 minutes (to be ratified). They sailed a total of 761 nautical miles in a Beneteau Figaro III. The record attempt was made in partnership with The Magenta Project to inspire girls in Ireland and the UK to move into offshore sailing. Olympic flame burns Japan’s new prime minister has vowed the Tokyo Olympics will take place next summer “as proof that humanity has defeated the pandemic”. Yoshihide Suga told…

The season is winding up and November gales are scattering the ashes of the boatyard bonfires. We won’t be seeing so much of our boats for a while and, as long as we can divert our attention from the attractions of TV and social media, we’ll be grabbing the opportunity offered by dark evenings for some proper reading. I’m writing this in the saloon of my boat as I sit out a rainy day in harbour. On the bookshelf opposite is a well-thumbed copy of Moby Dick which I managed to read from cover to cover this season. It hasn’t been all plain sailing. In fact, much of the process has been more akin to a stiff beat with a suit of canvas that would do credit to the tarpaulin…

‘IT SEEMS INCONCEIVABLE THAT THERE WON’T BE AN OLYMPIC GAMES IN 2021, BUT WHO WOULD BET MONEY ON THAT?’ Reporting at the 49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 European Championships in Austria was my first escape from the country since Miami in January. A journey to the beautiful shores of Lake Attersee. With mountains soaring above the picturesque lake, it was no surprise to discover just how random, patchy and shifty the breeze proved to be for the regatta. As ever, the professionalism and optimism of Olympic sailors demanded that they take every piece of luck as it came, refusing to believe they were too clever when things went their way, refusing to be too downhearted when things conspired against them. The resilience and bouncebackability of the best sailors never fails…

Joining dozens of other boats that poured out of the narrow mouth of Germany’s River Schlei, I was prickled with a sense of excitement and trepidation. Very few others turned north like us, towards Danish waters just 12 miles distant. In these Corona times, most turned south and east towards Kiel, safely in the German Baltic. And yet, we’d done our homework. Sweden to the north was open to all-comers, and the Danes were adamant: ‘Danish waters are not closed’, read an email from someone at the Danish Maritime Authority. Transit and even anchorage were permitted, although we could not go ashore without ‘permission from the authorities’. That bravado began to evaporate somewhat as we observed two large patrol vessels converging on our position. With a confidence I didn’t feel…

I really liked this boat – partly because it’s clever and the concept works and perhaps also because, by teaming up with Porsche, Elan has created a boat that feels just a little bit different. If you are trying to produce a high end product, this is really important. Quality is also superb and the general feeling is that Elan has put a lot of thought into this boat and the rewards come when you sail it. THE SPEC Length overall: 15.2m (49’9”) Hull length: 14.3m (47’) Beam: 4.5m (14’7”) Draft (standard): 2.45m (8’) Displacement: 12.327 kg (27,176lbs) Sail area: Main: 62.60 m2 (667sq/ft) Jib: 51.14 m2 (548sq/ft) Contact: elan-yachts.com Price: (base) €369,900 (as tested) €574,350…

So what about the Arctic then? Well, I suppose we must leave aside my climbing a new rock route with the Wild Bunch in Greenland and arriving at the top of our 500 metre wall absolutely exhausted, and promptly naming it ‘Never Again!’ Sailing and climbing in Greenland and Baffin Island, Canada with the Wild Bunch was always an adventure owing to their consummate skill, humour and expertise, always of course taking their musical instruments with them up the big walls as they climbed from the boat, sometimes literally from the deck onto the wall (as depicted by their videos on YouTube). I think it must really be the double transits of the Northwest Passage that qualify for a ‘best adventure’, if only because we nearly did not get out…

‘I consider sat comm connection as safety equipment second only to a life-raft, and a very close second at that’ Passages and their planning consist of the three Ds: departure, duration and destination, but they must include the factors mentioned under voyage planning: understanding currents, and a long-term overview of wind trends. It’s important to bear in mind the general wind trend if the passage is five days or over, because though the specific forecast may deviate from the prevailing, or expected pattern, there will be a high probability it will revert to the norm at some point during the passage... PART TWO Passage planning Weather Wind pilots provide a pattern of wind direction, but they are a historic record of wind direction and strength. They are by no…

Rick Tomlinson calendar Now in its 33rd year, the Rick Tomlinson Portfolio Calendar for 2021 features 12 spectacular images from Rick’s recent assignments around the world – the TP52s in Cape Town, INEOS Team UK, the JOG racing off the Needles, the Fast40+ class and an amazing shot of a killer whale by Pelagic in the Falklands. The smaller, desk calendar features different photos from Rick’s year on the water, including the Moth Worlds. • Portfolio caldendar £19.95 +p&p • Desk calendar £7.95 + p&p • rick-tomlinson.com Digital Yacht fun Digital Yacht’s NMEA to WiFi servers take the boat’s NMEA information like AIS, GPS and instrument data and make it available for navigation and charting apps on smart phones, tablets and iPads. The Navionics Boating app now supports AIS, position…

The appointment of a harbourmaster in France is a political one. It is a role selected by the mayor and, as such, this means that it can be open to an element of baksheesh. This is because, in some ports, the job is something of a sinecure. Without wishing to point fingers, I nominate role of harbourmaster to the port of Marseille as the biggest sinecure of them all. I pulled in here with the aim of a night’s repose and some moderate pastis drinking at the midway point of a cruise. Entering Marseille is rather magical as this is one of the great historical ports of the world and retains a very authentic salty tang. The marina is also incredible, as you motor right to the heart of the…

The RYA and British Marine have joined forces to pile pressure on the UK Government over its failure to help sailors who may be “stranded” after the UK leaves the EU. The two organisations warn that returning UK leisure boaters face being hit with potentially thousands of pounds in extra costs after the end of the Brexit transition period, unless the Government acts. HM Treasury granted a one-year extension to the controversial ruling over ‘Returned Goods Relief’ in October, but sailing authorities are demanding that the government goes further. The RYA’s Director of External Affairs, Howard Pridding, said: “We are pleased that the Treasury has listened to our concerns, however a one year extension remains wholly short of the three-year transitional arrangement that is needed, and fulfilling the other conditions…

15-year-old Timothy Long from Aylesbury has become the youngest person to sail solo around Britain. He was welcomed by his parents Nick and Sue as he finished in Hamble on 1 October after sailing 1,600 miles anti-clockwise, having set out on 16 July. As he stepped ashore, he was shown video messages of congratulations by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, Alex Thomson and Dame Ellen MacArthur, whose own voyage around Britain inspired him. He has so far raised more than £10,000 in sponsorship for the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust. The previous record was set by Tom Webb, who sailed around Britain aged 17 in 2011 and who offered Timothy advice before the trip. Timothy’s mother Sue said: “It was about the adventure and the challenge more than a record. There were some…

The first IMOCA 60 designed for a crew, rather than a solo racer, is being built in France by the 11th Hour Racing Team. The US team aims to enter The Ocean Race 2022-23 with skipper Charlie Enright and team CEO Mark Towill. The new IMOCA 60 is being designed by Guillaume Verdier and full-size scale models have allowed the team to try different configurations. The Ocean Race course includes up to 10 stopovers and more upwind and tight-reaching sailing angles than previous races. Additionally, the boat is designed to meet the rules incorporating a crew of five (four male, one female) and one Onboard Reporter, and a heading-only autopilot.…

Sanders Sails has been making protective ‘cuddle curtains’ so that people can hug their loved ones in care homes without risk of passing on coronavirus. The cuddle curtains – essentially a plastic blanket with arms – have been given free to care homes in the New Forest area of Hampshire and word is spreading, with requests coming in from elsewhere. Peter Sanders said: “For the first time in months people have been able to see their husband, wife or close family member in a care home and give them a hug. “With the potential for local lockdowns and care homes being more closed to relatives, these curtains may become more necessary.” Sanders Sails has covered the cost of the materials, with the help of local charities and members of the…

Solaris 60 Italian boatbuilder Solaris specialises in the sort of stylish yachts that will embellish any anchorage. The 60 is the latest addition and features the sort of aggressive, sleek styling we have now become accustomed to. In fact, the 60 is, if anything, slightly racier than earlier iterations and features a very low, minimalist coachroof and powerful rig plus a deck configuration which is clearly set up with racing in mind. That said, this remains a luxury yacht, with generous accommodation plus dinghy garage and crew quarters. solarisyachts.com Eryd 32 Another new arrival in the increasingly congested world of the fast, stylish daysailer/weekender market. This slick looking Italian design features only the merest hint of a coachroof and a massive cockpit. Displacement is an extremely modest 2000kg. Perhaps the…

‘The only time frustration can overwhelm me these days is at anchoring time’ Here’s one piece of advice novice skippers should listen to: as soon as the shouting starts, all is lost. Shouting doesn’t get you anywhere on a boat. I know this to be true because I’ve done a bit of bellowing in my time. It was always a waste of effort, and soon after I’d done it I realised that a more moderate approach would have yielded a better outcome, and a happier ship. I remember the first time I lost my cool, my calm, my everything. I had sailed back from Ireland into Falmouth in a decent boat but equipped with an egg whisk of an engine which delivered just marginally more power than a pair of…

‘THE ENTRANTS HAVE MILLIONS OF EUROS RESTING ON A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH’ The French would describe this Vendée Globe start period as ‘particulier’. Only 5000 people are allowed on the race village site at any one time. Against every principle of freedom of access to a legendary race which is owned by the region you need a ticket – albeit free – and everyone is scanned in and scanned out. Having been here in Les Sables d’Olonne for a week of the three-week build up, I have not quite understood the process for changeover from one three-hour visitor session to the next. There are three a day, and certainly there is no klaxon at the end of the session or announcement of ‘right everybody out, next lot in’. Is…

X YACHTS XC 50 Arguably the originators of the grand tourer concept, X Yachts' XC 50 has been around for a while now but retains its style, elegance and superb performance. x-yachts.com GRAND SOLEIL 46 LC LC stands for Long Cruise – or whatever the Italian is for that – and is a refined version of its more performance orientated sister. As you’d expect there is comfort, speed and bags of Italian style. keyyachting.com ARCONA 465 A slightly different take on the performance cruiser from the Swedish boatbuilders. Nevertheless, this is a splendid mix of speed and style. The quality of fit out is also superb. seyachts.com…

ST: First up, hearty congratulations on receiving the award! BS: I am deeply honoured but can’t help feeling there must be other people out there more worthy of the award. But very glad to receive it! ST: You’re an expert in both, but do you prefer climbing or sailing? BS: That’s a difficult one. In a sense they came separately; I was a fanatical rock climber for 25 years after my time in the Royal Marines (where I learnt my climbing) and then sailing came after that, and in a way has gradually taken over. After sailing round the world (with no climbing) I realised you could combine the two, hence the Bill Tilman type expeditions, combining sailing and climbing in Greenland and Baffin, Canada. ST: What are your plans…

The north coasts of Devon and Cornwall are not crowded with safe ports, which makes Padstow in the Camel Estuary a significant stopover for yachts rounding the Lizard to – or from – destinations in Wales, Scotland or the farther reaches of the Bristol Channel. It’s not just a place ‘on the way’ to somewhere else though, as many cruisers from Welsh and Cornish ports have Padstow on their list of summer cruising options. Padstow Harbour is a welcoming and sheltered haven with good access in most weather conditions, unless the wind becomes unruly from the west. That’s when the notorious and aptly-named Doom Bar begins to live up to its reputation – one that includes at least 500 shipwrecks recorded since the early 1800s. The sandbar is composed of…

The summer season has been blighted by cancellations, making it fair to assume that, despite the onset of the chilly British winter, this year more sailors than ever before would want to delay hanging up their sailing kit in favour of maximising time on the water. But is there evidence for this? Y&Y put the question to the RYA’s director of racing, Ian Walker, who has been leading the sport through these unprecedented times. Together with his team, Ian has been working hard to lobby government, interpret legislation, and create guidelines for safe sailing. While generalisations are difficult due to regional variations in the impact that Covid-19 is now having, Ian is optimistic that a high level of racing activity will be able to continue this winter. “I think that…

Y&Y: Do you find winter sailing a challenge? SH: Cold weather sailing, in itself, isn’t so much a challenge; it’s about ensuring you have the right sailing gear on, and ensuring you have eaten the correct food prior to sailing and taking enough with you afloat. KB: We also think a lot of it is mindset; if you go to an event thinking ‘it’s cold’ then you probably won’t enjoy it. Embrace it, wrap up, commit to the racing and be confident! Y&Y: How do you physically prepare yourselves for winter racing? SH: Try to keep warm before going on the water, lots of layers, drink hot drinks. Also try to warm up the muscles before the first race to avoid injury. As sailors, it’s easy to forget to warm…