Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2022 i Yachting Monthly

The tides of change are swirling hard and fast. Brexit, Covid, Ukraine, royal succession, ministerial merry-go-rounds, mini-Budgets and markets in a spin. Old certainties have gone, like a roaring ebb, and dangerous shoals threaten all around. It is fitting that Ken Endean’s piece on strange tidal curves this month explains why we can’t rely on generic tidal predictions churned out by tide apps (p41). Even those from the best sources need to be treated with caution when navigating shallow waters where finding sufficient water can be the difference between delight and disaster. Sand banks, tide waves and stepped datums all conspire to catch out the unwary. It pays to verify for ourselves what the tide is doing in the absence of trustworthy assumptions. Uncertainty has also brought opportunity. More people…

New owners are being sought for the Island Harbour Marina on the Isle of Wight after the operator, Uavend Investments LLP went into administration. Insolvency practitioner Stephen Lancaster, from Lucas Ross Ltd, was appointed administrator on 16 September 2022. The move left around 25 boat owners stranded after they became trapped behind the marina’s lock gates due to staffing disruption. This lasted 24 hours before the lock gates were opened and boats could leave. Steve Webster was one of those trapped. He said he was disappointed that there were no arrangements in place for boats wanting to leave the marina and was relieved to be under way the next day. ‘We took our chance and exited as we’re not sure what future arrangements may be,’ he said. A spokesperson for…

The Jubilee Sailing Trust (JST) has confirmed that one of its subsidiaries – Jubilee Sailing Trust Ltd – has been ‘forced’ into administration. The insolvent charity, which owns the sail training ship, Lord Nelson, said it had no option ‘after one of our principal creditors threatened imminent legal proceedings to reclaim their owed credit.’ STS Lord Nelson was decommissioned in 2019, and since then the charity has been trying to sell the vessel. ‘We had hoped that the sale of Lord Nelson would have been agreed before our situation reached this point, as the funds from her sale would have been used to repay our debts,’ explained a JST spokesperson. ‘This was our most desired outcome, and recent interest in her sale had looked promising. However, the expedited time frame…

I’m a wimp when it comes to the cold. As soon as the temperature drops below 20°C I transition straight from shorts to foulies. It’s a drag because I love the rugged coastlines of the North, so I’ve had to learn how to dress for cold weather. There are three rules: Number 1: Forget about looking cool. We’re aiming to achieve the exact opposite and look warm and toasty. Number 2: Embrace your inner Michelin woman. Number 3: By the time you’re cold, it’s too late. WIND CHILL We rely on a layer of air trapped against our skin to keep us warm. If this disperses we cool down, and on damp skin the effect is even more pronounced. Wind chill is often overlooked by clothing manufacturers who focus on…

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www.yachtingmonthly.com/books In summer 2009 Royal Marines Kev Oliver and Tony Lancashire rowed and sailed a 17ft open boat from Inuvik in the Northwest Territories to Gjoa Haven on King William Island. They were disappointed not to have seen any polar bears. The following summer they returned and continued their journey. One night, off Somerset Island, they improvised a dry dock for their boat and pitched their tent just above the High Water mark… TONY: At around 0100 I woke from a deep sleep to the gentle rocking of the tent. In my sleep-fuddled state I could only think of one explanation. Somehow the tide had risen above the bank and the surf was now striking the tent directly. Water must have been pressing down hard on the tent above Kev’s…

Those whose idea of sailing heaven is to turn their phone off for a day or two and potter about on the water, best turn the page now. Time to bury your head in the sand and switch off notifications. Why? Because a connectivity revolution is under way which has the potential to bring rapid internet to every spot on the planet, including the high seas – all delivered by satellites. In fact, banking giant Morgan Stanley estimates that the satellite internet market will mushroom to $412bn by 2040, as rivals such as Inmarsat, SpaceX, OneWeb and Iridium tussle for market share. Thousands of new satellites, sleek new user terminals (antennae to you and me), and significantly keener prices will accompany this transformation. At the same time, a new battery…

SWEDEN 390 When I first started out as a sailing instructor at UKSA we were lucky enough to have three Sweden yachts in the fleet. The smallest one, Outreach, was my favourite. She was one of 73 Sweden 390s built between 1991 and 2006. Unlike the larger Sweden yachts which are sleek and lean-looking, the 390 has beautiful curves. There’s a lovely touch of sheer without sacrificing too much interior volume and the generous 3.87m beam tapers beautifully to a neat stern. Above and below decks the build quality was top class. The full-depth balsa core meant that the hulls were light, stiff and well-insulated. Solid laminate replaced the balsa core in high-stress areas such as around the keel and in the join of the two halves of the hull.…

An increase in UK sailors choosing to cruise at home and the rise in boat ownership due to the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a nationwide shortage of marina berths. The Yacht Harbour Association says berth occupancy is ‘very high’, with many marinas full to capacity. ‘There is no north-south divide, although marinas on the south coast filled up a lot earlier than those in the north,’ explained the general manager of the association, Jon White. ‘But there is a challenge of availability of berths, especially along the south coast. There has been lots of local visitor traffic in the UK, with people travelling between marinas. This is partly due to the COVID-19 boat-buying boom, and it is good to see new boaters. ‘We have also seen people bringing boats…

The long dry summer has left some sections of waterway in Scotland and Europe closed to recreational sailors due to low water levels. Flemish Waterways announced at the end of August that pleasure craft could only navigate routes which were used by commercial vessels including the Lumburg and Kempen Canals, East Flanders, West Flanders, Leuven-Dijle Canal, Albert Canal and Kempense Canals. Restrictions will remain in place ‘for as long as necessary’. A spokesperson for Flemish Waterway said: ‘We have decided that pleasure boats will only be able to pass through the locks with commercial navigation. Depending on where the commercial traffic is, this will have an impact. Smaller canals, where there is no commercial traffic, will not be blocked.’ In Scotland, restrictions were introduced on the Forth and Clyde Canal,…

A new charity–the National Independent Lifeboat Association (NILA) – has been launched to support and recognise the UK’s independent lifeboats. There are 46 independent lifeboat organisations that operate around the coastline and on inland waterways across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. They are run by volunteers and funded by donations. The Department for Transport and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency have welcomed the new association. Founder and honorary president of the NILA, Anthony Mangnall MP, said the charity would ‘provide the access and information for our independent lifeboats to thrive as well as ensuring our coastline has maximum lifesaving coverage. ‘The recognition of this association by the Department for Transport and UK Search and Rescue will ensure that independent lifeboats can speak with one unified voice while maintaining their…

A pilot scheme to run a catamaran ferry service for foot passengers and cyclists across the English Channel to France, is under way. SailLink, which was founded by boatbuilder and sailor Andrew Simons, will initially run between Dover and Boulogne-sur-Mer in 2022-23, with a crossing time of four hours. There are plans to expand from Ramsgate to Dunkirk in 2024, and Newhaven to Dieppe in 2025. The routes are designed according to the prevailing winds and tidal streams, accessibility and suitability of the ports. Prices for the pilot phase are £85 one way and £150 for a return. Each purpose-built sailing catamaran can take a maximum of 12 passengers. In the first year, there will be one return crossing a day. www.yachtingmonthly.com/saillink…

Reliability and redundancy were primary drivers when choosing our wonderful Garcia Exploration 45 Pearl of Penzance. We maintained this theme by specifying manual toilets, only to hit the buffers of Garcia’s experienced sales manager, Francois Treguay, now a good friend. With typical Gallic charm he said ‘Non, I reject your option’. ‘François, you don’t seem to understand; it’s my bloody boat and that’s what I want.’ ‘Non, I won’t let you do this. It’s for your own good. Our fleet of cruisers only have problems with manual toilets.’ ‘OK, OK. I can’t quite believe we are saying this but to keep you happy we will have one manual and one electric toilet.’ ‘Non, I like you too much, I have your best interests at heart.’ And so, thankfully, we ended…

The sound kind of creeps up on you. Pretty much like climate change. You think it’s all quiet walking along stranded icebergs on Svalbard. But then you hear it in the Arctic silence: the discreet crackling of old air, millions of years old, that is freed from the melting ice and released into a new world. But more of the melting ice later. Every story has a beginning, and our story starts in Tromsø, Norway. We were just a tiny white speck in all the blue. Behind us, mainland Norway slowly sank into the sea. Ahead of us lay adventure and the Barents Sea. We were heading for Svalbard on Isbjørn, a Swan 48 from 1972, and the usual three layers of wool were down below. We were sweating away…

Q I have never fully understood why the fixed marine VHF radios tend to be below in the cabin by the nav station rather than at the helm where it would be more convenient and of more use. Frankly, leaving the helm to use the radio either for regular traffic, or in response to a call, is ludicrous. A handheld doesn’t really work because of the lack of range. The obvious answer is a dual handset, but the question is which is best for a relatively typical 38ft sailing vessel? I also don’t understand why this is not standard equipment. Any guidance from the experts would be helpful. Teddy Vivian A Duncan Kent responds: I wholeheartedly agree. In this day and age, when most VHF radios are waterproof to some…

Understanding the weather is an essential thing to grasp when you’re planning a stint of out-of-season sailing. There are four challenges to contend with as sailors: frontal depressions, cold polar air, low sea temperatures and fog. Depending on whether you’re in the autumn, winter or spring their frequency will vary, but you need to be prepared for them at any point. The seasons are created by the sun’s annual migration from 23° south in mid-winter, to 23° north in mid-summer. It’s an extraordinary journey covering almost 3,000 miles in six months. The sun drags the weather systems with it and the patterns we experience shift dramatically, giving us our seasons. If we’re lucky, during the summer months the British Isles lie under the protective embrace of the Azores High, which…

The demands of winter weather mean that your skills need to be sharper and you need competent crew who can respond to unpredictable conditions. Reefing needs to be second nature but it’s also important to employ more subtle controls such as halyard, outhaul and backstay tension to depower the sails. If you’re venturing out beyond your immediate cruising ground, make sure you’re familiar with fitting your storm jib in case you’re caught out. Although there’s usually more space to play with in marinas, power handling is challenging in strong winds. Practise using a midships line to spring on when you’re being blown off. Don’t neglect the theory either. Being confident in your use of the radar and interpretation of light sequences and fog signals will allow you to focus your…

Preparing our new boat for our first journey together wasn’t straightforward. I only had three weekends to get her ready, which involved a long drive from Plymouth to Conwy each time. Once we finally got under way the passage was far from plain sailing – we experienced bad conditions in the Irish Sea, near battery failure, electrical issues, and crew that became so seasick and confused that we had to stop at Milford Haven before waiting for a storm to pass. We then had rudder-bearing issues crossing over to Land’s End, but eventually made it to Plymouth safely. All of this was at the beginning of March and it was very cold at night. Buying a boat, as they say, is one of the most exciting days of ownership, and…

The talk on the pontoon was all about the weather. 25-30 knot southwesterly headwinds in the Bay of Biscay would be the first test for the 16 skippers in the 2022 Golden Globe Race after leaving the shelter of Les Sables d’Olonne. This would be followed days later by the remains of Atlantic cyclone Danielle. The choice was to either head westwards into the heavy weather and 4m waves to round Cape Finisterre or sail in milder but more uncertain winds along the French and Galician coastline. It was a decision the skippers would have to make without the benefit of weather routing. The rules of the Golden Globe Race means modern equipment such as chartplotters, GPS, mobile phones and fibres such as Kevlar and Dynemma, are banned; instead, they…

The fuel system comprises everything from the boat’s fuel tank to the engine’s fuel injectors. There are two distinct parts of the fuel system: that installed by the boat builder and that attached to the engine. The tank, primary filter and all the pipework to and from the engine are designed and installed by the boat builder. On older boats, you may find modifications to this part of the system, so investigate it thoroughly to see if you need to bring it up to scratch. One of the biggest problems with pipe work is leaks, often caused by vibration. But more about that later in the series. Generally, apart from routine servicing and the usual wear and tear, there should be little trouble from anything supplied with the engine. The…

Three floating offshore windfarm projects off Shetland have been offered seabed agreements by Crown Estate Scotland. In total, they will cover 560km2 of seabed, and be located in 100m of water, generating 2.8GW of electricity. The UK’s current biggest offshore windfarm, Hornsea One, off the Yorkshire coast, can produce 1.2GW. The seabed agreements for the sites – known collectively as NE1 – will be signed later this year, before the projects progress through consenting, financing, and planning. The Shetland Fishermen’s Association has warned that NE1 overlaps with known haddock nursery grounds and wants more research to be done into the project’s impact. The Crown Estate owns virtually all the seabed around the UK out to 12 nautical miles, and has committed to helping to accelerate the development of offshore windfarms…

A new marine watch scheme has been launched at Castle Point by the police’s Essex Marine Unit to target antisocial riders of personal watercraft (PWC). It is now looking for sailors to join Essex Marine Watch to report those who break the law by landing illegally or speeding in the Thames Estuary and around Canvey Island to the police. Essex Police have run similar schemes in the county, which has a 350-mile coast, as part of their Operation Wavebreaker initiative. In 2021, Essex Marine Unit officers dealt with 84 anti-social behaviour incidents involving PWCs, down from 99 in 2020. Four PWC riders appeared in court for offences, including speeding. Sgt Alex Southgate, from the marine unit, said speed limits are set by local harbour masters to ensure the safety of…

X 43 The new version of the X43 has some pretty big boots to fill. Not only had X-Yachts sold more than 100 of the yachts, she impressed many on launch, with YM’s Graham Snook stating that she was ‘one of the best boats I’ve ever sailed’ That is not a huge surprise from the Danish yard, which has always upheld an impressive reputation when it comes to the building yachts with outstanding sailing performance. Back in 2016, when the X43 MkI was launched, it was one of the first in a new line of models in the X-Yacht’s ‘Pure’ range. Over the years that range has expanded to several models. But, significantly, this is the first second generation of a ‘Pure’ X-Yachts boat. The hull shape has been redesigned…

Heavy Weather Sailing is an important book because it reveals that no one, be they top racers, ocean rovers or careful cruising folks, have the definitive answer to dealing with being caught out. You can stow a Jordan Series Drogue, set the toughest storm canvas, or spend your time studying GRIB data to go the right side of a storm, but sooner or later you are going to get whacked. This is attested to by the impressive list of great sailors who have laid out their own harrowing stories in the eighth edition of what is often referred to as the sailor’s ‘bible’. In it, authors Martin Thomas and Peter Bruce probe exhaustively the known facts and try to make sense of them as a guide to extreme sailing. But…

Do you offer a tow or not? Q Paul and Jill are sailing their 11m cruising yacht, Rigel, south along the French coast to Carteret on the west side of the Cherbourg peninsula. There is a marina with a sill and the entrance channel dries, so they are aiming to arrive in a couple of hours, about an hour before high water. About 12 miles from Carteret, Paul and Jill are motoring over a windless sea when they come across a sailing yacht about the same size as Rigel with the crew waving their arms and clearly in trouble. Their problem turns out to be lack of fuel. They are heading for Granville another 50 miles down the coast. The favourable south-going tidal stream will turn in a couple of…

Since conditions are less forgiving, the boat needs to be well-found and seaworthy. Squalls and heavy rain soon expose tired sails, old rigging and leaky deck fittings. Cold hands slow down tasks on deck, so equipment needs to operate smoothly. Boat husbandry over the summer, such as seizing shackles and servicing winches, is inexpensive but will keep things running sweetly when you need them most. Additional kit can be expensive but some creature comforts become a necessity rather than a luxury. SPRAYHOOD & COCKPIT TENT If you haven’t already got one, a sprayhood is the single biggest improvement you can make. Cockpit tents take this a stage further, extending your living space in winter and summer. They also create a natural drying room for damp kit, and some boats will…

On a warm summer’s day you might get away with chucking the lines off and seeing where you end up. During the winter you can’t be so spontaneous. A detailed plan is essential. Simon Rowell explained that you need to sail defensively: ‘Keep a good eye on the weather and assume that you will be caught out. In the summer months, the likely worst-case scenario is that you get wet, in the winter you need to play the “What if?” game more carefully.’ SHELTER Introduce your crew to winter sailing with short days in sheltered waters. Don’t be tempted to venture offshore unless everyone is experienced in cold conditions. Use the lee of the land to find hospitable conditions. PLAN YOUR EVOLUTIONS Handling sails is difficult with cold, clumsy hands.…

1 DON’T SAIL WHEN TIRED Driving long distances and working through a long list of jobs put a lot of pressure on me and ultimately led to me being very tired at the start of the return trip. Although this didn’t cause any huge problems it would have been better for me to have been well-rested. 2 CHECK COMPASS LOCATION We had fitted two electronic compasses – one for the autopilot and the other for the chartplotter and radar. We discovered that they were mounted too close together, which is why we couldn’t calibrate them correctly. Once I relocated one to another location it was fine. 3 KNOW YOUR BATTERY HEALTH The domestic battery appeared healthy as it was being charged by the shore power charger. In reality, it was…

Many offshore sailors will be familiar with the vagaries of using a basic satellite phone on board. There’s the anxious wait as the modem establishes a data connection and the breath-holding as the tablet downloads GRIB files and emails at sub-dialup speeds. The airtime plan is like something from the 1980s cellular world, with separate data plans or calltime, all carefully set up to ensure it works. With a bigger budget it is possible to install a bigger antenna capable of faster data transfer. But costs can quickly spiral into the hundreds or even thousands of US dollars per month. All that is changing, however, as global players like Inmarsat invest heavily in new satellite constellations and new entrants such as Starlink roll out their services. New services and cheaper…