Innehållsförteckning för February 2017 från Sailing Today

‘ALTHOUGH THE DECLINE IS NATURALLY WELCOMED, THERE ARE CAVEATS’ The capture by pirates in the Philippines of the bluewater cruising yacht Rockall turned into a tragedy in November when one member of the crew was killed, the other taken hostage. It emerged later that Rockall had previously been captured by a group of Somali pirates off the coast of Yemen, in 2008. Yet amid the news, statistics were released by the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) indicating that piracy is at a 20-year low. The figures for January-June 2016 reveal that there were 98 incidents in that period, which compares favourably with the 134 recorded attacks in the preceding six-month period. However, while welcoming the news, the IMB remains cautious, with Pottengal Mukundan, Director of the IMB, stating: “We are encouraged…

THE FAROESE ARE NOT INTO SAILING, PERHAPS WISELY GIVEN THE CLIMATE Ullapool is where I first got the idea of sailing to the Faroes, the nearest foreign country to the west coast of Scotland where we keep our boat (Ireland doesn’t really count). Years ago I had anchored there in our Contessa 32 to find two other Contessas, just returned from the Faroes in 48 hours. Not so far as I had imagined. But the years went by without any action, and one planned attempt was aborted when we heard how much it would cost to change crew. Finally, in 2014 we did it, from Ullapool where I had left our present boat – Pickle, a Rustler 36 – after a cruise around the Outer Hebrides. What a good place…

‘FRIENDS HAD A STUBBORN INFESTATION OF COCKROACHES ON BOARD: LARGE, PLUMP, GLOSSY ONES’ Stop scratching!” I’m pleading with my three-year-old daughter who has a cluster of red welts on both her calves. Yes, the cruising life is an extraordinary one, packed with fulfilling encounters and adventures. However, today I am bemoaning the unwanted company that we experience from time to time – the bugs. Sometimes it’s mosquitoes, persisting through any screens or nets we put up to stop them. You could be enjoying a lovely tropical siesta down below when suddenly the high, tinny whine sounds in your ear. By then, of course, I find that they’ve already bitten me so I try to spot one, squatting fat and bloated with my blood on the wall somewhere, and smack it…

ADVANCED A44 €650,000 (C£548,000) European Yacht of the Year in 2015, this speed machine has a stylish interior. The hull is GRP with carbon reinforcement and carbon rig. It is pitched as a daysailer, but would serve for short cruises. advancedyachts.it NAJAD 450 C£505,000 This expensive and singular boat has the classic Swedish centre cockpit and large aft cabin, with a modern twist. Her conservative lines promise good handling but she’s a weatherly boat not a racer. boatsales.co.uk X-YACHTS X4 £254,000 The Danes have realised there is a gap in the market between their cruising and performance lines, and the 41ft X4 is designed to plug it. With a fo’c’s’le owner’s cabin and one or two cabins aft, there’s lots of room, and the finish is a step up from…

It’s all about anchorages and pubs with jetties around Milford Haven. The Cleddau is navigable for 6nm up to Picton Point; clearance under the bridge just past Neyland is 36m and under the power cables 1nm further on it is 25m. Beyond Lawrenny, the going is suitable only for bilge-keelers. Dale Shelf and Sandy Haven are popular anchorages; otherwise, do a sailing pub crawl, stopping off at the Griffin Inn at Dale, the Jolly Sailor at Burton, under the bridge past Neyland, and the Lawrenny Inn. Local berth holder Paul Cleaver recommends anchoring at Dale: “It’s got good walks and an excellent pub, and spectacular sunrises and sunsets. You can moor at the pontoon and walk ashore if the tide is suitable, and there is a large pontoon in the…

Handy Guide to the Racing Rules Every four years, the racing rules of sailing are officially updated, amended and generally tweaked by the sport’s governing body World Sailing. While little has changed for occasional racers, the RYA has republished the basic rules in a very convenient pocket format – ideal for quick consultation as you approach the windward mark. It covers issues such as who stands on and who gives way, acquiring right of way, rounding marks and protesting. There’s also a useful page on signals from the committee boat. • £4 • rya.org.uk/go/racing NavLink UK Available only for Macs via the Apple Store, this app from Digital Yacht claims to turn your computer into a chartplotter. It uses UKHO charts for Britain and Ireland, and allows you to plan…

I remember when the worst job on board seemed to be flaking the sail onto the boom. We would use any artifice to avoid getting the main up, just to skip the hassle of wrestling with yards of heavy Dacron, and all while balancing on the wet coachroof. For months of an extended cruise, the spinnaker would come out only in perfect conditions because once it was up, we were never sure whether we would manage to snuff it again. It was all the fault of a sticky snuffing line and a badly positioned sheave. If any of this sounds like a familiar story, it might be time to look at some of the options to simplify and improve your boat’s sail handling. It could be just a case of…

Looking over the bow of the first hull of the brand new Kraken 66, the photographer has captured the Hong Kong skyline backlit just before dusk, with Victoria Peak to the left of the image. The 66 is the flagship of the growing Hong-Kong based bluewater cruising brand, and has been built as a mini superyacht. Features include an interior navigation station with broad visibility, Kevlar-reinforced forward sections, a windscreen and a large, secure central cockpit. The boat also has a so-called ‘Zero’ keel. Being lead encapsulated in GRP and multiaxial Kevlar laminate, Kraken says there is therefore ‘zero risk’ of the keel falling off.…

Wooden wallets Pocket some traditional craftsmanship Using only traditional craftsmanship at their West Sussex workshop, the Wooden Wallet Company eschews mass production techniques. The result is that no two of its small wooden card wallets are the same. Rare and exotic hardwoods are carefully selected for unique markings that add to the finished product, are then routed, sanded and finally polished. A clipped coin is inlaid, and the wallet can be engraved for an extra fee. The spring mechanism inside the wallet presents each card, making it handy for credit cards or business cards. They are made out of burr elm, yew and oak. • from £160 • woodenwallets.co.uk Atlantic islands Adventure sailing in an ocean passagemaker Some people wait years to experience sailing in Madeira and the Azores, via…

In the course of a lengthy chat with Magnus Rassy, I can’t help but wonder that, had he not chosen to inherit his father’s hugely successful boatbuilding business, he might have carved out a successful career in diplomacy. Rassy oversees what must be one of the most respected yacht cruising brands in the world, and during our conversation I ask him if he bridled at a rival yacht manufacturer’s somewhat provocative claim that its yachts are of a “higher quality than a Hallberg-Rassy”. He smiles wryly when I put the question to him and replies with admirable delicacy: “I don’t think any comment is needed other than it is good to be acknowledged as the measure others are judged after.” It’s an indication of this measured, understated man that he…

Over the winter I often keep myself cosy with thoughts of the sailing season to come. I plan the perfect cruise in perfect conditions with friends relaxing and having fun, taking the occasional swim in the sea or river and enjoying good food al fresco. In the UK such opportunities are fleeting, but for two days in June last year my dream came true. I am a member of Royal Dart Yacht Club ‘Ladies Afloat Group’. We are of mixed abilities and meet every Thursday during the season to enjoy cruising, dingy sailing, kayaking or just being on the water. This time a group of us decided to ‘push the boat out’ and set aside two days for an adventure. With the winds and tides forecast as not being suitable…

APPROACHES Access to the lower basin is at all states of the tide. Beware the shoal water south of Neyland Pt and stick to the buoyed channel SERVICES As well as a small chandlers, marine engineer, sailmaker and rigger, there is a popular local watering hole called The Bar NEYLAND TOWN Limited facilities include a small Co-op supermarket and some take-aways, plus buses to Tenby and Haverfordwest TIDE SILL The sill between the upper and lower basins dries to +1.5m at LW springs. See the depth gauges either side of the channel Milford Haven has heavy industry but its waterways are surprisingly picturesque with plenty of creeks and anchorages, such as at Neyland. Emma Bamford reports When we ran a recent feature on cruising around Milford Haven, we had a…

If you want to discuss the merits of the Canary Islands with a yachtsman, you generally don’t have to look too far. This stunning archipelago is the ideal stepping-off point for anyone planning an Atlantic crossing. Every year thousands of sailors make their departure to the new world from here following in the wake of Columbus. Yet, in addition to being an almost obligatory stop off for bluewater cruisers heading west across the Atlantic, this group of 13 islands and islets is also a great place to enjoy a short sailing break. BREEZE TO ORDER There are plenty of compelling reasons why, but at this time of year, with the weather in the UK far from tempting to all but the hardiest sailors, the Canary Islands’ climate is the key.…

SEA TRADER 41 | MARRA Marra is a long-keel sloop designed by ES Barens and built and completed in Durban by Desmo Engineering in 1988. In her original guise as Tsai Chen she was junk-rigged. However, she was sailed from Durban to Newfoundland and from there to Cardiff, and refitted as a Bermudan masthead sloop carrying six sails – a fully battened main, storm trysail, inner foresail, roller furling, Yankee jib and spare jib. The original engine was replaced with a Volvo MD 2040 diesel. Marra’s internal layout consists of six berths across three cabins. Two are in the fore cabin, which has an adjacent heads compartment. A further two are found in the saloon, and in the owner’s cabin, situated aft, there is a large double berth…

ARC FAMILY TAKES TO LIFERAFT Five people had to be rescued from a German yacht taking part in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers after it started to take on water three days into the crossing. Skipper Alex Grefath, his wife Alexandra, two children aged 10 and 12 and crewmember Jorg Zeibig were all rescued from their liferaft on 23 November by the research ship James Cook. They were 375nm southwest of Gran Canaria, two days into their 2,500nm voyage. The skipper of Noah, a BM39, emailed rally control at 1218 UTC on 23 November, reporting that the boat was taking on “significant volumes of water”. Some reports indicate that Noah may have struck an underwater object. Grefath put out a Mayday call two hours later when the electric pumps failed.…

Diva 34SC £93,000 Swedish firm Diva has often been viewed as the archetypal Scandinavian boatbuilder, producing superbly finished, high-quality cruising yachts that were deeply conservative in design. However, few could accuse the new 34 of being in any way retro in design. This new Diva’s styling is bang up to date with a torpedo keel, light displacement and even the option of twin wheels. If anything, the design tilts toward performance cruisers. Down below she is also thoroughly modern with a light, open-plan layout. It will be interesting to see if Diva’s reputation for high-quality finish will remain firmly in place. divayachts.se Euphoria 68 £POA A couple of years ago Turkish boatbuilder Sirena Marine announced its new Euphoria range of fast, luxurious cruisers. At the time, it was easy to…

• RACE READY Even for cruising, the large B&G head-up displays on the mast are an exhilarating confirmation of your pace • BLADE JIB With the blade jib, it’s possible to achieve very tight, efficient sheeting angles, thanks to the barberhauler sheet lead • FOOT BLOCKS A nifty pop-up panel at the helm gives the helmsman a nice level footing on the heel • PLATFORM A bathing platform can be specified on the 465, requiring a split backstay This is a sailor’s boat. A pure dynamo generating sailing excitement. Not of the buckle-up and hang-on-for-your life variety. This is no barely cruisable ocean racer; no IMOCA lite. She is simply a beautifully balanced, gloriously responsive cruiser’s dream. But let’s rewind a little. I am putting the cart before the horse.…

With the Bristol Channel to the south and St Bride’s Bay to the north, check tide times and plan accordingly. In strong winds against an ebb tide, give St Anne’s Head a wide berth to avoid confused seas. The south-facing entrance to the Milford Haven waterway is via two deep channels – west and east. If you are entering at night via the west channel, leading lights will guide you on a bearing of 039 ° (T), lining up Great Castle Head [Oc4s and Fl WRG] with Little Castle Head behind it [Oc8s]. Yachts do not have to travel along the channel but must keep clear of tankers and deep-draught vessels, and keep at least 90m away from refinery jetties. Monitor Milford Haven Port Control on VHF Ch 12. Shipping…

THE LOWS TEND TO BE MORE SEVERE AND GALES MORE FREQUENT Preparing a boat for any ocean voyage is a lengthy process, but it requires even more effort and planning if you intend to cruise the world’s higher latitudes. Of course, you’ll need mental stamina, effective risk evaluation, and flexible planning, but what of the boat herself? For simplicity’s sake I’ve broken the outfitting precautions into four challenges: weather, ice, staying warm and (lack of) supplies. WEATHER Higher latitudes tend to have less fine weather and less predictable bad weather than elsewhere. Approaching the Bering Sea, I found that forecasts were reliable only for 24 hours and sometimes much less. Between the rapidly moving fronts and the micro-climates of the islands and mountains, weather was very hard to predict. The…

CA BLUEWATER WORKSHOP 18 FEBRUARY, CA HOUSE, LONDON The Cruising Association is organising a one-day workshop in February concentrating on modern technology for bluewater craft. Presenter Mike Reynolds will discuss AIS, High Frequency (HF/SSB) radio and satellite imagery-based electronic charts. The price is £17 for CA/ OCC members or £20 for nonmembers, including refreshments. theca.org.uk MARITIME HISTORY SEMINAR 28 FEBRUARY, IHR, SENATE HOUSE, LONDON Intriguingly entitled ‘10 things I hate about Edward Barlow’, this hour-long session will look at the life of a 17th-century sailor. Convened by the National Maritime Museum, but held at the Institute of Historical Research in London rmg.co.uk MIAMI BOAT SHOW 16-20 FEBRUARY If you’ve missed all the European boat shows, there’s a chance to catch up with the latest offerings – in Miami. On the…

When I was younger I always said to myself that the older me would own a Sigma 33. I know, I know I should have been aiming for a Swan 65 or something, but I’m a modest man with an awful lot to be modest about. The Sigma 33 therefore made a lot of sense. It was modestly quick, modestly good looking, modest but comfortable down below and could take you across an ocean or across the Solent – whichever was your wont. The problem is that now – like me, in fact – it’s getting a bit old and tired. The other problem is that if you cast around for a modern equivalent, there isn’t much there. Did I say isn’t? I meant wasn’t, because I couldn’t help but…