Innehållsförteckning för May 2017 från Sailing Today

As I walk through the entrance to Imray's Wych House in St Ives, I’m immediately struck by the many years of seafaring life the company has witnessed. There are charts dating back centuries and gilt-framed paintings depicting the founding members. Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson (ILN&W) has remained in family ownership since its creation in 1904, a rare occurrence today. “It’s an honour,” says Lucy. “We have an understanding of how each of us works and the direction the founders wanted the company to go.” Speaking of that direction, ILN&W is going through “a time of big change”. The printed charts are not being replaced, but they are going digital. The litho press, a dinosaur, which looks like it could swallow a child whole, retired last summer when the digital…

Sweet Sensation crossed her wake on on 19 February at Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas in the US Virgin Islands after a trip of 9,037nm. Our extended Great Loop – one of the iconic sailing experiences on offer in the US, had taken us through the Intracoastal Waterway, rivers and the Great Lakes in our Prout 38 catamaran. Being British and in a sailing boat, we were something of a rarity on the Loop. Our circuit began at Fort Lauderdale on Florida’s east coast, having made our way north through the eastern Caribbean. The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), a system of manmade channels, natural rivers and sounds, runs from Florida to New York harbour, separated from the ocean by a narrow strip of land. At first we made slow progress, waiting for…

This brand-new marina offers shelter from the exposed coast along the north Atlantic. There is little natural protection along this relatively straight stretch of the southeast coast, and so the marina is perfectly located for cruisers looking for a place to rest for the night. The marina has 400 floating berths, for boats ranging between 13ft (4m) and 200ft (60m) LOA with a maximum draught of 6m (20ft). Each berth has access to water and electricity, with free wi-fi for all visitors. The large new shipyard accommodates one of the island’s most established traditional shipwrights for any classic boats in the area. The more modern side of yard operations include an 820-tonne hoist and two large keel pits. The giant hoist’s dimensions provide a much-needed service for the local tourist…

The Canary Islands are renowned for their year-round sun and sporty sailing conditions. Passages between the islands can be exhilarating in oceanic conditions, with swell and stiff breezes, especially where the higher land concentrates the wind. Lanzarote offers a number of marinas on its more sheltered southeast coast, as well as a sublime beach anchorage off La Graciosa – a small island off its northern coast. Be sure to obtain a permit to anchor there from Marina Lanzarote. Further afield, you have Fuerteventura a daysail to the south, with five small marina options. The island itself is almost as volcanic and bare as Lanzarote. Gran Canaria, from where the famous ARC rally sets out to cross the Atlantic every November, is a longer sail to the southwest, and offers first-class…

Ever since watching Captain Ron with that awesome line “a diesel loves its oil like a sailor loves his rum,” I have a little ritual: check the oil, check the coolant, and have a general look around the engine room for anything out of place, writes Delos skipper Brian Trautman. One day, in Chagos, a little puddle caught my eye under the transmission. A dab of my finger and a touch to my tongue later I knew we had a saltwater leak. Its source was the engine’s saltwater pump. The leak was small, but the real problem was the water had run down the shaft, onto the bearings, causing them to seize. Our trusty main engine had suddenly become nearly worthless. We didn’t have a rebuild kit on board and…

This young show on France’s Languedoc coast is in only its eighth year, but it has grown rapidly and now lays claim to being the biggest international multihull show. This year, more than 60 different models of sail and power cats will be on the water at La Grande Motte, including a dozen world or European premieres. All the big multihull brands will be there, from Lagoon and Catana to Nautitech and Privilege. As many as 20,000 visitors are expected over the five days of the show, which runs from 19 to 23 April. Among the boats being launched this year are the Swiss S48, the latest bluewater catamaran from a builder renowned for its quality; the sporty carbon-hulled O Yacht Class 4; the new Neel 51 trimaran with its…

FLOATING HOTEL PLANNED The Port of Milford Haven has confirmed it has received planning permission for four floating hotel rooms. The rather unusual addition will form part of the Milford Waterfront development, comprising shops, cafés, restaurants and accommodation. Neil Jenkins, destination director at the port, said the intention was to “offer a unique experience for anyone wanting to soak up the tranquil marina atmosphere without necessarily owning a boat”. (See architect’s design, above.) The floating rooms build is set for completion by Easter 2018. VHF channel change advisory The Maritime & Coastguard Agency is advising cruisers and racers that there will be a change to some of the VHF channel numbers used to contact the UK Coastguard. As of September 2017, VHF channels 23, 84 and 86 will be replaced…

Outremer 4X c£638,000 Outremer’s 4X is the multihull world’s take on the performance cruiser and has won plenty of hearts and minds already. It’s essentially a pimped up version of the Outremer 45 cruising cat. Yet while this yacht forms the basic platform for the yacht, there have been significant alterations to boost overall performance. Most significantly, she’s three feet longer than her cruising sister and features carbon-fibre in her construction and mast. The sail area has also been increased and dreadnought bows added. The result is a strong, seaworthy catamaran that will cross oceans comfortably but also at great pace. The balance between out-and-out speed and safety can be a tricky thing to get right on a multihull, but Outremer looks to have hit the sweet spot. swiftsureyachts.com RM1370…

• LINES French duo Olivier Poncin and Xavier Fay used a vacuum-infused foam cored sandwich for performance • SAIL PLAN Powerful, versatile, and with a working sail area of 860sqft • UNIQUE DOOR The entire bulkhead flips up, garage door style, to provide an ingenious ‘indoor-outdoor’ solution For those looking to charter a yacht this summer, and browsing the options out there, it won’t take you long to realise that it’s more expensive to hire a multihull than the equivalent-sized monohull. There’s a very good reason for this and it is simply that the market doesn’t lie. The modern multihull offers more space and greater comfort levels than the equivalent monohull and this is naturally reflected in the cost of charter. And yet if you actually choose to buy a…

ARRECIFE There’s plenty to do in the bustling city, with museums, markets, cafés and restaurants MODERN MARINA Completed in 2014, Marina Lanzarote offers 400 floating berths. Facilities include shops, restaurants, showers, an ATM, wi-fi, water and electricity CHANNEL Pick up the well-marked channel inside the harbour, where the water gets very shallow on either side CRUISE TERMINAL The former car park has now become a cruise ship terminal. Even recent charts may not reflect this BREAKWATER Serving as a berth for ships, the breakwater is well lit with two green flashing lights and an east cardinal Marina Lanzarote has undergone a huge redevelopment in recent years, now offering first-class facilities for cruisers and racers from around the world. Donna Eastlake learns more Marina Lanzarote is on the long southeast coast…

‘There is a focus on versatile garments that perform and look great on and off the boat’ New technology and corresponding claims about its performance in technical sailing clothes seems to emerge every couple of years. The current crops of Musto MPX and Henri Lloyd Elite cruising gear are both said to be 30 per cent lighter than the previous generation, and 20 per cent more breathable – all without affecting the waterproofing of the garments. That’s because they use the latest Pro membrane from Gore-Tex, which requires a much lighter backing layer for strength than previous iterations. It still counts over 1.4bn microscopic holes per cm2 – 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet, but hundreds of times bigger than a single water molecule. The testing that Gore carries…

POOLE HARBOUR BOAT SHOW 2017 POOLE, 19–21 MAY For three days in May, the third instalment of the Poole Harbour Boat Show will see exhibitors fill the marina and stalls line the quay. With stunning views of Brownsea Island, and in close proximity to lively cafés, bars and restaurants, Poole Quay Boat Haven is perfectly placed to host this prestigious show on the town quay. Open to everybody. pooleharbourboatshow.co.uk CAPTAIN BLIGH: MYTH, MAN, MUTINY 17 MARCH 2017 – 7 JANUARY 2018 Remember one of the most famous West Countrymen, in the 200th anniversary year of his death. This new exhibition brings to life one of the great survival stories, via a specially-built replica of the Bounty’s launch. nmmc.co.uk CONSTABLE AND BRIGHTON EXHIBITION 8 APRIL - 8 OCTOBER Explore John Constable’s…

Nelson is reputed to have said that if you can sail a boat around Anglesey, you can sail a boat around the world. Well, far be it from me to argue with one of Britain’s greatest sailors. I would say that although the navigation and pilotage is challenging, and the local weather can make what appears to be a simple passage rather more demanding, the rewards of sailing North Wales’ beautiful coastline are immense. I have been lucky enough to have sailed in many parts of the world and I honestly believe that the most beautiful is around Anglesey and the North Wales coast. Think of Anglesey as a square, with four sides of roughly 20nm apiece, each with its own unique character. The Conwy River stands just north and east…

‘As safety-conscious as we are for both our small fry and ourselves, there are many who are lost overboard’ Bagpuss is floating away!” comes the fervent cry from our daughter. Every sailor has a plan for a man overboard situation. You consider how you would manoeuvre the boat to recover someone from the water and the process for getting them safely back on board. As sailing parents we’ve learned to size up each moment for what we would do if one of the little ones suddenly toppled over the side. The guardrails are swathed in netting and we insist on harnesses under way and lifejackets in our dinghy. But, as safety-conscious as we are for both our small fry and ourselves, there are many who are lost overboard. Yes, it…

LAGOON 39 FROM £202,000 The latest iteration of Beneteau’s ever popular Lagoon range that blazed the trail for cruising cats over the years and remains a strong performer in its class. craftinsure quote: from £947.40 cata-lagoon.com NAUTITECH OPEN 40 FROM £238,000 The Nautitech is perhaps the closest to the Bali in terms of hull shape and performance. It has proven itself to be a popular yacht and its profile has been substantially boosted by the company being acquired by Bavaria. craftinsure quote: from £1,127.02 nautitech.fr LUCIA 40 c£220,000 Another strong performer in this genre is the Lucia 40 produced by the vastly experienced Fountaine Pajot team. She also boasts voluminous accommodation and sprightly performance. craftinsure quote: from £984.94 fountainepajot.com…

Marina Lanzarote is in Arrecife, within Puerto Naos harbour. It’s advisable to maintain a 0.5-mile distance from the shore, along this stretch of coastline, to avoid the reef. Arriving from the north, the first landmarks will be the well-lit power station and gas towers, in front of the breakwater. Once round the breakwater, head towards the preferred channel mark (red and green post) on the very end of the container wharf Fl.(2+1)R.10s3M. From there, you’ll see the extended Puerto de los Mármoles breakwater, marked with a green mast. If arriving from the south, the multi-storey Gran Hotel will be visible from at least three miles out. Passing the airport on the port side, stay clear of the special marks delineating a tanker discharge point. The reef is the biggest danger…

• FUEL TANKS Ensure there is access to the top of the fuel tank for inspection and extracting water and diesel bug • ALTERNATOR Bring a spare with the right pulley already attached, and of course, spare belts • ANTIFREEZE Renew every two years to protect from corrosion, but use the old silicate product, not the new organic acid version that is bad for brass/bronze and solder • RAW WATER PUMP These can corrode fast, so bring a new set of bearings and seals, or just a whole spare pump • HEAT EXCHANGER These corrode and block over time, so clean regularly. Include new seals and O rings in your spares kit as a minimum • FUEL BLEEDS Identify where they are and paint them red, or mark with a…

ELAN 434 | KUTA OF CARRICK Kuta of Carrick is a yacht built with comfort in mind. She was completed to a high spec in 2006 and has been well maintained by her owners, who have continued to upgrade her. She has sailed across Europe, though she is equipped for journeys much further afield. Her owners have enjoyed trips out to the Western Isles of Scotland, around the coast of Norway and across the Baltic Sea. She has navigated the busy waterways of Rotterdam and crossed the notoriously busy Channel during regular weekend breaks to Boulogne. She has proven herself to be a safe, comfortable and fast boat to sail, with plenty of room for guests to visit. There is ample space with eight berths across four cabins…