Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2023 i Sailing Today

Tide 25 Tide Yachts is not a manufacturer UK sailors are particularly familiar with but it is part of a boatyard based in Emden, Germany, that has already produced the Tide 36. The 25 is a versatile little daysailer that looks like it will combine sprightly performance with a decent amount of internal volume. The boat is available in a number of configurations including a deep T-keel with twin rudders if you go for the sport option, or single rudder and shallower L-shaped keel if you go for the Komfort version. The boat features a twin berth forward plus sofa berths and a small galley aft. ● mfh-emden.de Jeanneau 55 This Phillippe Briand design could safely be described as mould breaking. Jeanneau wanted to design a boat that was almost…

Just retired? Looking forward to spending more time on the water? Everyone has their own particular ‘bucket list’, and mine used to include such extravagancies as sailing round the world, but the realities of advancing years have now made these both extremely unlikely and positively dangerous. There are however a few very viable destinations and passages that I have always wanted to undertake, and this article is about my thought processes in planning one particular ‘bucket list’ adventure. I have always wanted to visit the Isles of Scilly and once made it as far west as Falmouth before foul weather made continuing a bad idea. I am also keen to explore the French coast south and west of the Channel Islands, but although I have been to the Channel Islands…

Spring Berths Choosing a marina berth is a big deal. It can define your whole sailing experience in fact. Not only will it dictate your cruising ground for a day or weekend sail but the general ambience and 'feel' of a marina can affect the way you view sailing as a whole. If you are around like minded people, the experience is hugely enhanced. By the same token, a boatyard that specialises in certain types of repair can make a huge difference to your boat owning experience. Of course, sometimes we don't have much choice; geography will often dictate our marina choice. Frequently choices are further limited because marinas actually haewaiting lists for new berths. Nevertheless, it can pay to shop around and many operators offer berth holder benefits. This…

In May I travelled to Polynesia on a project with the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation to explore how modern sailors in European waters can apply natural navigation techniques used by Pacific seafarers thousands of years ago. From watching birds to gazing at stars, riding waves and spotting clouds, we hoped to create a new way of navigating that brings together the best of both worlds, embracing technology while celebrating the timeless beauty of natural techniques. In this article I will focus on stars, exploring how a basic understanding of their movements can aid your night passages, adding an extra level of information to help you work out where you are and which way you’re heading. POLE STARS As you would imagine, there are two varieties of pole stars; one…

DISCOVERY 58 | KARIBU Epic deck saloon bluewater cruising yacht from Ron Holland and the Disco people in 2016, Karibu has a designer interior in crown oak and with leather trim, and a great kit list for mile munching. Perfectly sorted for short-handed, she provides sparkling sailing and fast, reliable passage times. Professionally maintained from day one, she has cruised the Mediterranean and is yet to put an ocean beneath her keel. Year: 2015LOA: 17.90m (58’9”)Beam: 5.10m (16’9”)Draft: 2.35m (7’9”)Displacement: 27,250kgHull construction: GRPEngine: Yanmar 6BY3-160SDesigner: Ron Holland & Ken FreivokhAccommodation: 7 berths in 4 cabinsBuilder: Discovery YachtsLocation: Palma de MallorcaContact: berthoninternational.comcraftinsure quote: £POA DEHLER 34 | SWAN SONG The Dehler 34 cruiser/racer Swan Song was delivered new to the current owner by UK Dehler specialists Inspiration Marine Group in Spring…

‘There is a continual subconscious dynamic component to how you exist on a boat’ It sounds obvious but probably one of the greatest challenges of living on a boat is adjusting to a home that is constantly moving. I mean, your house never loses its foundations and drags its way down the street. The average apartment doesn’t buck and bounce in a storm or when another, bigger apartment, moves past it too quickly. And, unless your home is a campervan, gypsy wagon or bus conversion, you grow accustomed to more or less the same view out of your windows. Yes, there was a definite learning curve to suddenly being in constant motion even when not underway, actively sailing. It reminds me of those scenes in Mary Poppins when the cannon…

Controversy as Clarisse Cremer is dropped ahead of Vendée Globe Long-term offshore sailing sponsor Banque Populaire has come under fire after it dropped skipper Clarisse Cremer – who has recently given birth to her first child – ahead of the Vendée Globe 2024. Banque Populaire said Cremer’s maternity leave meant she’d not been able to log enough qualifying miles to guarantee her race entry. But critics pointed to other skippers with similar or less mileage, some with projects launched more recently than Cremer’s, plus the fact that there are two seasons still to go before the race start. The resulting row hit the headlines in France, with widespread criticism of Banque Populaire’s decision, including from France’s Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castera and from Christelle Morançais, president of the Pays de…

Tom Cunliffe Once upon a breezy day, my Yachtmaster Examiner’s hat was jammed down hard on my head as the boat provided by the sailing school bore away into Bomb Ketch Lake in Portsmouth Harbour. The boat had a wide stern, a lovely aft cabin and a clean, modern rig. The candidate in charge was a very senior officer in the Royal Navy. So far his performance had been exemplary. He’d answered my tricky questions about tugs and tows in the dark with aplomb. When confronted by a steady-bearing yacht on port tack – he being on starboard – in a situation made awkward by the imminent arrival of a homicidal high-speed ferry, he’d done the right thing by all concerned. His chartwork was beyond reproach, and the task now…

It was when watching Casino Royale in 2006 that Montenegro first come on my radar. I’m not entirely sure that any of the actual shooting of the film had taken place in Montenegro but nonetheless, I was still very much drawn to the idea of the lush, mountain scenery, and it went onto a subconscious list of places to visit. Since that time much has happened and lots of things were put on hold, shelved, or just remained on a bucket list. There is nothing like a worldwide pandemic, bereavements of family and friends, plus retirement to name a few, as major wake-up calls to kick start that bucket list, and ignite 'you only live once' touchpaper! During lockdown there was a lot of time for reflection, dreaming, and future…

Dylan Fletcher-Scott Think back to the Tokyo Olympics and the men’s 49er medal race is perhaps the stand-out moment – an absolute nail-biter that saw Dylan Fletcher-Scott clinch the first ever 49er gold for Great Britain – and in style. He and crew Stuart Bithell (470 silver medallist at the 2012 Olympics) finished just a pole-length ahead of their German rivals in a decisive move that secured gold for the Brits and relegated reigning Olympic champions, Peter Burling and Blair Tuke of New Zealand, to silver. It was a stunning victory, well-earned through smart tactics, outstanding teamwork and precision boat handling. For Dylan, it was the culmination of 15 years of Olympic campaigning, that has also seen him compete at Rio 2016. Returning from Tokyo to a hero’s welcome, he…

he southern Ionian is notoriously deep, necessitating long lining in many bays. One of the most common questions I get from charter guests at Sail Ionian is: “Where can I just anchor, and not have to long line?” Route planning is hugely important, ensuring that guests get an itinerary tailored not only to their interests and preferences, but also to their skill set and proficiency. Whilst a couple sailing alone might appreciate a lot of quiet bays mixed into their route, they would curse my name every time they had to long line short-handed! So, here is my charter skipper selection of spectacular anchorages, with shallow enough water that you can just sit back and swing on the hook! Kalo Limani (Agia Sofia), Kefalonia This is a great easy option…

Buyer's Guide – Clothing Wet weather gear has for decades followed a pattern of gradually increasing waterproofness and breathability, with a corresponding reduction in weight. New yarns, fabrics and manufacturing techniques are driving progress here. At the same time, new features are constantly being added with the feedback of top-flight racing and cruising sailors: a reflective patch here; a cargo pocket there. But the next generation of offshore gear will manage all these things without trashing the environment in the process, as more recycled yarn finds its way into jackets and trousers and less damaging waterproofing agents are used. Gill British brand Gill recently revamped its collection of big boat sailing gear, although they’re still known as OS1 (ocean), OS2 (offshore) and the coastal OS3. To rein in prices, Gill…

There are the stock reasons why sailing can’t go ahead -too much wind, not enough wind, too much current, waves too big. But reporting at the Lanzarote International Regatta in February I was met with a new one. Dust from the Sahara. The dreaded ‘Calima’ engulfed Lanzarote and all the Canary Islands. The Calima is a hot wind that blows from the Sahara Desert less than 60 miles away on the west African coast, and it reduced visibility to less than a few hundred metres. So racing for the 470, 49er and 49erFX fleets was brought to a halt for safety reasons, because we might have lost sailors in the dust storm. Which was a terrible shame because the quality of the racing had been sensational up to that point.…

Boat test - Beneteau Oceanis Yacht 60 We have now gotten used to the big manufacturers of sailing yachts turning out a flagship model that they describe as a ‘mini superyacht’ so Beneteau’s new Oceanis Yacht 60 comes as no surprise in that respect. In others, however, I did find the boat noteworthy and different and came away feeling that Beneteau had made a statement and laid down the gauntlet to other rivals such as Hanse, Bavaria and Jeanneau with this yacht. The boat replaces the old Oceanis Yacht 62 which was a bold, flashy boat from memory but this is a yacht that will linger longer in my memory for all the right reasons. The main one being that, despite its large dimensions, the new 60 was a boat…

Boat test - Bavaria C57 In the last few weeks the previously widely respected Associated Press somewhat blotted its copybook by urging journalists working for their company not to refer to the French as ‘the French’ as this could be seen as offensive. This led to a great deal of bemusement – not least in France. The French embassy in the US suggested it might now be known as 'the Embassy of Frenchness in the US'. Anyway, squeamish staffers at AP may want to look away at this point because I’m afraid to say I’m going to go all Jeremy Clarkson on you here. No, I’m not going to eviscerate Meghan Markle or refer to anyone as ‘hamster’ but I’m going to talk, as George Bush liked to do, in…

Two years ago I reported that only six marinas in the UK had registered themselves as capable of collecting washdown water contaminated with old antifouling paint. Today, that number stands at 19 along the British coast, according to the facilities map on the RYA’s www.thegreenblue.org. uk website, with Fambridge Yacht Haven the latest to invest. And that represents progress of a sort. Many paint manufacturers are tackling the issue from the other end, by reformulating their products to remove biocides. There is also a concerted move towards foul release coatings, which rely on super slippery finish that fouling just can’t find any purchase on. Hempel got there first with SilicOne and more recently, the cheaper Hempaspeed ZF. Now they’re joined by SeaJet’s Bioclean Eco and International’s B-Free, although this latter…

Charter Guide - Mediterranean lthough Greece, with its fantastic range of sailing areas, remains one of the most desirable Mediterranean destinations for charter – bareboat, skippered, fully crewed, and flotilla – business continues to flourish throughout the Mediterranean with the desire to explore further afield to places like Croatia and Montenegro on the increase. Tommy Tognarelli, CEO Plain Sailing charter, said the company – which celebrates it 10th anniversary year – has seen huge demand for Mediterranean charters. “The last few years we’ve been booked up every week of the summer, which seems to have triggered people to book earlier this year. The excess demand has also triggered a range of price-increases across the Med, but the above-inflation rises do not seem to have dampened demand.” One of the reasons…