Innehållsförteckning för August 2024 från Practical Boat Owner

Editors of sailing and boating magazines in years past often took weeks off to go sailing. Sadly, in today’s media climate, it’s rare that I have the opportunity to escape my desk and go sailing for extended periods. So when Finnish Ocean Globe Race skipper Tapio Lehtinen rang me and asked if I wanted to be part of a delivery trip to take his Swan 55 from Gosport to Helsinki, I jumped at the chance. Although Galiana WithSecure is bigger than most boats that grace the pages of PBO, I knew Tapio and co-skipper, Ville Norra, had spent years preparing for the race and that many of their ideas would work on everyday cruising boats. Over the four days at sea, Ville and Tapio showed me the practical improvements they’d…

This year’s Round the Island Race saw winds gusting 54 knots and 3-4m swells, and nine incidents including a man overboard (MOB) rescue. Of the 939 ‘race for all’ entries on 15 June, 418 retired and 154 completed the 50-mile course around the Isle of Wight. Several classes were cancelled before the start due to the adverse forecast. As the weather took a turn for the worse from the outset, many competitors retired between Cowes starting line and Alum Bay near the Needles. Among those was the five-strong crew of Walkabout IV, a Dufour 40, after a huge wave swamped the boat. Knockdown Skipper Steve Daniel, 69, who suffered a fractured tibia in the knockdown, said: “All of our lifejackets automatically inflated under the deluge. “As we surfaced a rapid…

A new, free guidance note on the Netherlands Standing Mast Routes is now available from the Cruising Association (CA). These routes are a popular passage for sailing and motor yachts, serving as a gateway to destinations like the Kiel Canal and the Baltic, or simply offering a new cruising experience. Recognising the importance of keeping the cruising community informed with easy to find up-to-date advice on the routes and possible disruptions, the CA’s European Inland Waterways Section (EIWS) has launched a free guidance note on Sources of Information on the Netherlands Standing Mast Routes. This guidance note supplements the existing 48-page guide Through the Netherlands via the Standing Mast Routes. It details the numerous sources for obtaining up-to-date information, such as where to find alerts on the status of locks…

PBO editor Katy Stickland has taken over as chairman of the Yachting Journalists’ Association (YJA). After six years serving the YJA as chairman and vicechairman, Cliff Webb and Mark Jardine have handed over the ‘helm’ during the annual general meeting (AGM) held on 4 June, at the Royal Ocean Racing Club in London. Katy is now chairman, with Lou Johnson who owns Box PR, in the vice-chairman role. Cliff, whose tenure marked the longest continuous position as chairman in YJA history, said: “I think we can look back with some satisfaction at what has been achieved in terms of stabilising the YJA financially and setting a new path for the association to move forward on. “I’m delighted that Katy and Lou are prepared to take on these roles now, as…

SOUTH COAST & CHANNEL ISLANDS Abandoned boats The impact of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) abandoned boats on the coastal environment will be the focus of a new, free event held by the University of Brighton, which is conducting projects in Chichester Harbour. A symposium at the Brighton campus on Friday 5 July aims to bridge the gap between science and policy for end-of-life boats. Dr Corina Ciocan, principal lecturer in marine biology, said: “We want to encourage the exchange of knowledge between scientists and policy makers, as well as bringing in the wider community perceptions and needs.” Funded by the university’s RaKE Initiatives, and supported by the School of Applied Sciences and School of Business Law, registration is free. Lunch and snacks are offered as well: https://forms.office.com/e/QsGCSJ3b60 On the rocks Four…

Since time immemorial, and even before that, the folk of Essex have been renowned for spinning yarns and telling tales with such aplomb that far more than you’d think have been found innocent. Sadly, what with CCTV and dash-cams, this rich oral tradition is fading into the past, but over the years I’ve made strenuous efforts to preserve the more legitimate aspects of this seam of living history by conducting interviews in the Maldon branch of Essex University in the Queen’s Head pub. It’s where the old timers used to gather, and though many of them are long gone their stories live on through the generations. And none told better stories than those who worked the shallow, tea-brown waters of the Blackwater estuary and labyrinth of the marshbordered Essex archipelago.…

Back in the day, Rye Harbour Sailing Club had a significant Merlin Rocket fleet. In the clubhouse hangs a photograph of post-war sailing days when some of the fleet makes its way downriver for a race in Rye Bay. No buoyancy aids, wetsuits or efficient sailing clothes in those days. The crews, wearing shirts and pullovers, are smoking pipes and clearly have no intention of capsizing. As the skippers became older they moved on to cruising yachts or simply faded away and Merlin Rockets disappeared from Rye’s waters. Some years later I noticed an advertisement in the clubhouse for an early wooden Merlin Rocket and soon found myself in the workshop of the late owner being shown around the boat by his daughter. It was love at first sight for…

Since 2020 sailors cruising the Atlantic Iberian coast have had to consider another hazard, alongside passage planning and preparations. Orcas have been interacting with small boats, causing damage to around 250 vessels and sinking seven–five sailing yachts and two fishing boats. These mammals, also commonly known as killer whales, belong to the sub-order of toothed whales but are also the largest members of the dolphin family. The population in the Iberian is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature due to low numbers, high neonate mortality and the status of its preferred prey, the Atlantic bluefin tuna, which was listed as endangered in 2019 when the Iberian orcas’s red listing was made; the Atlantic bluefin tuna population is now recovering. According to the Whale and…

When the Collins family met with orcas en route to the start of their transatlantic rally, they couldn’t believe their bad luck. Already, their voyage had been delayed a year due to structural issues… and now there were a few more to add to the list, writes Ali Wood. Skipper Will had given up work 12 years earlier to look after daughters Lucy and Sophie while his wife, Suzy, worked for a London bank. In July 2022, after much planning, Suzy handed in her notice and the family moved on board their Oyster 55 Valent in Southampton, to prepare for their round-the-world adventure. “We just had a couple of little jobs to finish,” said Will. “Those little jobs became major issues!” Shortly before departure, they discovered the aft deck had…

Most cruising boats are unlikely to sail the miles or through the conditions the Sparkman & Stephensdesigned Galiana WithSecure has just experienced. The Swan 55 and her Finnish crew have just raced 30,000 miles around the world, through the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans, around Cape Horn and faced tailwinds with 60-knot gusts and 10m seas while taking part in the retro 2023-24 Ocean Globe Race, held to mark the 50th anniversary of the first Whitbread Round the World Race. The owner and skipper of Galiana WithSecure, Tapio Lehtinen, was an amateur sailor who, at the age of 23, was given the opportunity to crew on the 1981 Finnish Whitbread entry, Skopbank of Finland. It planted a seed that eventually blossomed into his Ocean Globe Race project. Rather than offer paid-for-berth…

Rudders are one of the most critical parts of a boat and should be near the top of your annual maintenance checklist. Rudder failure is a common occurrence on neglected or overworked boats and a very unpleasant and potentially dangerous thing to happen when you’re out at sea. It is important for a boat owner to fully understand how their boat’s steering system works. For example, do you know whether your rudder stock is hollow or solid? Is it made from stainless steel or aluminium, or is it composite? More importantly, do you understand how the system can fail? It is always best with boats to leave nothing to chance and to know how to spot early signs of trouble. This particularly applies to rudders. Take a look around the…

According to the Boat Owners’ Association of The United States (BoatUS), the chances of your boat being struck by lightning in any year are about one in 1,000. Although these odds are less in the UK, it does still happen. Anyone whose boat has been hit by a direct lightning strike will tell you it’s the loudest bang they’ve ever heard. It can leave your ears ringing for half an hour and leave you confused and in shock. Because some important steps will need to be taken immediately to prevent further damage, it’s helpful to have a checklist ready. The huge current surging through the boat can char things in its path but also generates currents in metal objects around it. The intense heat can cause air to expand and…

The wind is sitting at about 25 knots, and I’m 15 miles north of Padstow, but the tide is against me. Although I’m making good speed (4 knots), I just can’t point. So, I put in a tack, and it takes me almost 180° around due to the tide. I’ve missed the tide and will have to sit it out till midnight when I can head to shore. It’s going to be slow, but I know I can do it. I’ve already lost my engine and most of my battery power. I’m only using battery to power my navigation lights, but luckily there’s not a boat in sight, so I’m not too worried. I’m back to old-school navigation so I head down below to fill in the log and mark…

https://www.pbo.co.uk/reviews/boats/elizabethan-31-the-solid-offshore-cruiser https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A5I4g89tBKw&t=127s Elizabethan 31: the solid offshore cruiser https://www.bit.ly/pbofeed www.pbo.co.uk/more https://www.pbo.co.uk/gear/mediterranean-sailing-the-essential-kit-you-need-86660 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuKIZUxKttI&t=8s Mediterranean sailing: the essential kit you need Berthing a boat using wind and tide https://www.pbo.co.uk/seamanship/berthing-a-boat-using-wind-and-tide-86921 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_a6m7o7H7Zs&t=345s Do-it-yourself mast stepping https://www.pbo.co.uk/expert-advice/do-it-yourself-mast-stepping-86683 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9qPZ8LxkYY&t=33s…

Following a review of advice about sailors carrying spare diesel in cans when entering the EU, the Cruising Association’s regulatory advisory team (RATS) says: “this should be avoided if at all possible.” The Istanbul Convention allows temporary importation of fuel held in a vessel’s main tanks between different customs jurisdictions without any customs liability. This is not an EU rule and applies to all of the signatories to the convention, which includes the UK and EU. The CA’s Trevor Page, said: “While the convention does mention lubrication oil for normal servicing, it does not mention spare fuel in cans. It can be argued that these are outside the protection of the Istanbul Convention and potentially liable to import duty and/or customs action for the evasion of duty.” He added: “The…

Do you know any individuals or Royal Yachting Association (RYA)-affiliated organisations making an outstanding contribution to sailing or boating life in the UK? Nominations are open for the new look RYA Awards, which merge the former Club of the Year and Volunteer Awards into one celebration. From inspirational volunteers to forward-thinking clubs, the awards aim to celebrate all those going the extra mile across two categories: 1) The Affiliate Awards to honour clubs, classes and organisations with accolades including Together on Water, The Green Blue team, Young Persons, Active and Event of the Year. 2) The Individual Awards to honour the commitment and achievements of both long-standing and young volunteers with Unsung Hero, Long Service, Rising Star, Guiding Light and Inspirational Race Coach or Instructor accolades. Nominations must be made…

Seven national governing bodies of water-based sports have formed an alliance to call for an end to the discharge of raw sewage in UK waters. The Clean Water Sports Alliance of Angling Trust, British Rowing, British Triathlon, GB Outrigger, Paddle UK, Royal Yachting Association and Swim England have united to fight water pollution, setting the vision to achieve healthy and nature-rich blue spaces. Collectively, the organisations represent almost 450,000 members, elite athletes and water users who rely on UK waters for sport and recreation. Pollution from various sources contaminates UK inland and coastal waters, damaging ecosystems and making those who take part in water sports ill. Water that is unfit to host water-based sport has also caused events, training sessions and activities to be cancelled or postponed. By uniting, the…

Pleasing solutions It’s not for me to comment on someone as accomplished as John Passmore (Learning from Experience, PBO, Summer 2024) but his achievement did prompt some thoughts from my own experiences. I agree with his suggestion to take a load of 2-3mm line. I would add Spectra to this as it doesn’t stretch. The best thing to get tension is a traditional serving mallet. If you don’t have one keep the principles in mind so that you can cobble one together. Another way to increase tension after stretch is to hammer very thin wedges under the lashing. In the past, I have used a domestic table knife with the sharp edges filed off. I am often asked to run my eye over boats about to take on an ocean…

The rain is lashing down, and I have got my hood up, but the ruddy thing is falling over my eyes and because I can’t see I have just nearly T-boned a cardinal, and put the helm down, and now I am on the north side of the south cardinal in 1.5m and the boat draws 1.6… Hang on. Other helm. Sounder numbers increasing? Yep. Phew. Hats, though. The purpose of a hat is to keep the rain off the head and the hood out of the eyes. When I was an infant, yachting caps were made of thick blue serge with shiny brims. These were worn by members of the Royal Yacht Squadron and Reg Varney in On the Buses. In summer the blue serge top was crowned with…

Under 25ft, cruising yachts rarely offer standing headroom, making it tricky for cooking or dressing, not to mention the chronic back ache from constant stooping. If you plan on living aboard permanently, consider headroom a priority. Cruising for extended periods also requires some ‘normality’ in your facilities, so you feel relaxed about washing, dressing, cooking and eating. Sleeping quarters can be rudimentary, provided the berths are large enough and well padded, but lack of space in the galley and heads often causes frustration. The key to a successful liveaboard galley is plenty of prep space and stowage. Most boats use bottled gas (LPG) for cooking. If you plan to live mainly in a marina, however, you can use an electric hob, microwave and air fryer. Privacy is rare on a…

Perhaps a bit extreme for an everyday cruising boat, the gimballed chart table on Galiana WithSecure deserves a mention for its clever design. It was built and installed as a nod to French sailor Éric Tabarly, who had full-size gimballed chart tables on all of his Pen Duick yachts; Pen Duick VI had a Harley-Davidson seat. The chart table on Galiana WithSecure can be adjusted, depending on the boat’s heel. The Harley seat can also be moved and has five different positions. “The chart table can be adjusted to heeling angles of 12.5° and 25° to make it level but we realised that the 25° is slightly too much, so maybe 20° would have been better,” said Norra. To change the table’s angle, there is a screw underneath that locks…

Having recently finished building Athena, my 18ft plywood motorboat (see PBO March 2024) she was sitting on my driveway on her trailer, open to the elements. In only a short space of time, she’d started to look grubby, so I began to think about some sort of shelter to keep the worst of the weather off her and to make maintenance easier. I looked online at fabric garages and tents but they all needed some sort of modification to get my boat in. I’ve always been a keen DIYer so I sketched out what the ideal protection would look like. I wanted an open shelter, and to get my boat under cover with enough room to walk down the side. This meant I’d need an internal width of 3.2m. I…

At 1927 on Tuesday, 14 May 2024, Padstow lifeboat launched to look for an overdue yacht, Pink Delta. Pink Delta was not at her last known location, 27 miles north of Trevose, so the lifeboat crew began a search. Meanwhile, Falmouth Coastguard discovered that the yacht was in fact not due into Padstow Harbour until 15 May, so the lifeboat crew was stood down. At 2220, just as the crew were returning to the station, they were tasked again because a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) alert had been received from Pink Delta–16.5 miles north-west of Stepper Point. Coastguard Helicopter 924, also tasked, was first at the scene. The air crew confirmed it was the Pink Delta with one person on board and were stood down. Two Padstow lifeboat crew went aboard…

PAINT & ANTIFOULING Preventing barnacle growth on a propeller Q I have recently ‘inherited’ a boat which has been languishing in the water, seriously neglected for some time. I’ve finally got around to lifting it out and was not surprised to see barnacle growth on the propeller, given the amount of time that it has been in the water. I understand the barnacle residue is called glue and I’m trying to find out the best way to remove it. I’d also like to know which is the best primer/antifouling I could use to keep the prop as barnacle-free as possible in the future. I’m not entirely sure but I am assuming the propeller blades are bronze. I’m hoping one of PBO’s experts can help! Sarah Fleet Richard Jerram replies: The…

With a network of six new marinas constructed and open along the islands along the east coast from Stornoway to Barra, sailors have the choice between fully-serviced facilities or isolated wilderness anchorages while cruising in the Outer Hebrides. Island hopping down the more sheltered east coast offers the experience of visiting the Hebridean capital of Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis, through Tarbert and Scalpay in Harris, Lochmaddy and Lochboisdale in Uist via Eriskay to Castlebay on Barra and beyond to the southernmost islands of Vatersay and Mingulay. For the more adventurous, the west coast offers white sandy beaches, sea lochs and small island groups leading to the renowned World Heritage Site of St Kilda. While many destinations are easily approached, some particularly on the western, (Atlantic) side require careful…

Ports included (as at 31 May 2024) are: Anglet; Antibes; Arcachon; Barneville Carteret; Binic; Calais; Camaret; Cancale; Cannes; Cap Breton; Cap d’Ail; Carentan; Cherbourg; Concarneau; Courseullessur-Mer; Deauville; Dielette; Dieppe; Dinan; Dinard; Dives-sur-Mer; Douarnenez; Dunkerque; Fécamp; Grandcamps Maisy; Gravelines; Honfleur; Hyères; Isigny sur Mer; La Rochelle; La Trinité sur Mer; La Vicomté sur Rance; L’Aber Wrac’h; Larmor-Baden; Le Conquet; Le Havre; Lézardrieux; Marseille; Morlaix; Paimpol; Perros-Guirec; Plouër-sur-Rance; Pontrieux; Port en Bessin; Port Saint Louis du Rhône; Port-Bail-sur-Mer; Quiberon; Saint Briac; Saint Jacut de la mer; Saint Suliac; Saint Vaast la Hougue; Saint Valery en Caux; Saint-Cast le Guildo; Saint-Malo; Saint-Quay Portrieux; Saint-Raphaël; Saint-Tropez; Sanary-sur-mer; Sète; Trébeurden; and Tréguier. ■ www.pbo.co.uk/france-new-protocol…

Quadriplegic Captain Geoff Holt has completed another trail-blazing voyage around Britain, via the Caledonian Canal. The 58-year-old and his team arrived back at St Katharine Docks, London, in a 9m accessible power catamaran–the first Wetwheels wheelchair-accessible power catamaran, on 12 June after 25 days at sea. Seventeen years ago Geoff spent 110 days doing a solo circumnavigation in a 15ft catamaran dinghy. This time, he stayed dry aboard a Cheetah vessel, supported by co-pilot James Dunn and technician Sam Taylor-Nobbs, plus special guests along the way, and a road crew of Chris, Elspeth and Geoff’s wife, Elaine. The ‘finishing the dream’ goal was to raise awareness of the Wetwheels Foundation and fund four new wheelchair-accessible boats to fill the charity’s locational gaps’ around the UK so more people can enjoy…

There were three of us this time on our Highlands visit at ‘our’ cottage a mile and a half by water from the road end: my sister Joan, me, and our Norwegian friend Ellen, a fellow trainee aboard the tall ship Sørlandet. Our excursions were in the cottage boat, a sturdy white Pioner 12 with a petrol-fuelled Yamaha 5 outboard. Both Joan and Ellen were confident with rowing, and I was in charge of the motor, more by default than choice, given my profound distrust of all things mechanical. Naturally, I assumed a confident air as I tipped it down into the water, but it took me a couple of trips to get the hang of it again. Speed was, I’d thought, controlled by twisting the handle, but I found…

There is every reason to have respect for really rough weather, be it a gale, strong gale or storm-force winds. However, with a well-prepared boat with an experienced crew, there is statistically very little risk. Sails and trim will also affect safety and comfort. The single most important thing you can do for safety when it comes to storms at sea is not to be on the water at all when the weather gets really bad. Good weather forecasting is important, along with the will and ability to postpone or cut the trip short, even if it causes troublesome changes to your plans. The risk of serious problems is also significantly reduced if the boat is robust and in proper condition on the essential points: rudder, keel, through-hull fittings, rigging,…

■ Keep away from known orca locations by reviewing the latest GTOA interaction maps, monitoring Facebook groups and GT Orcas ad Orcinus reporting apps ■ Use the CA’s orcas reporting database and comments library to see what other skippers have done ■ Have contact details of the emergency services: VHF Ch16, telephone 112 and contact details for the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, Maritime Search and Rescue and Coastguard of the waters you are transiting, telephone: France 196/Portugal112/Spain 900 202 202 There are still not enough reports to the CA to make definitive conclusions, but the following is useful information. ■ Depth/distance offshore There may be a reduced risk of experiencing an interaction within two miles offshore particularly in less than 20m water depth. Remember sailing close to shore in shallower…

+ DIGITAL ACCESS Expert advice and step-by-step guides to every hands-on boating job, impartial in-depth gear and boat reviews, practical cruising tips… and more! REASONS TO SUBSCRIBE PRINT ONLY ✓ £16.21 every 6 months ✓ NEW! Digital access to 130+ issues when you subscribe to print!** ✓ FREE DELIVERY straight to your door or device SAVE 50%* DIGITAL ONLY ✓ £16.21 every 6 months ✓ SAVE money on the shop price ✓ PLUS instant access any time, anywhere SUBSCRIBE ONLINE AT www.magazinesdirect.com/XPB/D36T or call 0330 333 1113 and quote D36T TERMS & CONDITIONS Offer closes 29 August 2024. Please allow up to 6 weeks for the delivery of your first subscription issue (up to 8 weeks overseas) the full subscription rate includes postage and packaging. *Save 50% is based on the cover…

Rudders, rudder fittings and sterndrives are at risk of galvanic corrosion. If your boat’s rudder is made of metal it will most likely have a sacrificial anode bolted to it. This will need replacing when more than half of the anode has been lost to corrosion. Points worth remembering are: ■ Anodes will not work if they are painted over. ■ Make sure the metal is bare beneath the anode. ■ For outdrives, check your engine manual to be sure how many anodes you need and where they should go.…

Before moving my 28ft yacht from her marina berth to the travel hoist, I pressed the engine’s starter button, and instead of the engine starting, I heard ‘errrr, errrr, errr’ followed by silence. Further attempts only resulted in the sound of a single click and no attempt to start the engine rotating. Now what? It couldn’t be a flat battery, could it? I’d unplugged the shore power immediately before trying to start the engine, but batteries can fail suddenly. It was summer, so the battery wasn’t too cold to work. Lead acid batteries have several vertical lead plates inside the black plastic box, each coated with various types of lead sulphate and other elements. To aid the adherence, the plates can have a wafflelike surface. Sometimes the sulphate can change…

Some things on a boat you really miss when they stop working and an electric windlass is definitely one of those. Hauling up a heavy anchor and 40m of chain by hand is hard work. Our windlass first failed when the remote control cord’s connector simply fell apart; it was an unbranded, seemingly homemade item that had essentially disintegrated over time. The connector was clearly not suitable for its intended use, so we replaced the broken connector with a properly robust, durable and waterproof Bulgin Buccaneer, quietly confident that things had now been properly sorted. Fast forward a couple of years, and on pressing the ‘Up Anchor’ button at a busy anchorage we were once again rewarded with complete silence, and that feeling of ‘oh dear, not again’. After a…

Since retiring from the yacht charter industry we have enjoyed sailing our own boat, Discoverer of Sleat, a Jeanneau SO 419 to new places during the summer months. Last year my husband Mark and I had three weeks to spare so we decided to visit the Outer Hebrides with our black labrador, Islay. On 31 May (my birthday) we piled all the last-minute shopping on board and set off south. The winds were light and we had a good sail to Rum, where we picked up one of the substantial visitors’ moorings now available. It was a warm evening and we watched a delightful sunset as I opened cards on deck. Day two saw us head off early after the mandatory trip ashore with the dog and motoring southward. The…

If you snag a fishing buoy on your prop you’ll be held stern-to the weather and could get waves breaking into the cockpit. The line will be under tension so you need to try and get the load off by lassoing it and getting it to the surface. 1 Lower a weighted (shown red) line from the bow and walk it back along the deck. 2 Take it through the stern fairleads and winch the snagged line to the surface. Once the line is within reach attach a (green) line from the bow with a rolling hitch. If it’s possible, rig another (blue) line to stop the cut end of the snagged line dropping in the water. 3 Cut the fishing line between the two rolling hitches and let her…