Innehållsförteckning för July 2017 från Sailing Today

Smythson stationery Letters from our correspondent Handwriting is fast becoming a lost art, with more and more time spent tapping away on keyboards, tablets and smartphones. Stem the tide of the tech-takeover and begin writing to your loved ones with good old-fashioned pen and paper. These charming stationery sets are perfect for sailors, with their nautical motif and ocean blue envelope interior. They evoke the golden age of travel, making for a special missive on arrival at its destination. • smythson.com • £36 JCrew jacket What the well-dressed gent is wearing Picture the scene: you’ve anchored off some glorious bay on the Cote d’Azur and you’re all set for a run ashore. It’s vital you look the part and JCrew’s new ‘summerweight’ Ludlow tailored jacket provides a dapper solution to…

‘Sailors have often opted for safety in numbers when it comes to making a daunting passage’ The concept of cruising in company is something almost as old as sailing itself. Go back through the centuries and sailors have often opted for safety in numbers when it comes to making a daunting passage, be that to ward off pirates or privateers or provide reassurance and back up in bad weather. Yet it wasn’t until 1986 that seasoned cruising sailor Jimmy Cornell came up with the concept of formalising this arrangement in order to make the transatlantic crossing that bit less daunting for cruising sailors. The event was an immediate hit; with the draw of security in numbers augmented by the promise of a lively get together both prior to departure and…

‘The wind had gone absent without leave and it was Last Chance Saloon. We dragged’ When it comes to anchoring, one of the many benefits of technology is Google Earth. Used in tandem with a suitable chart, it’s the business for checking out a likely berth if your hoary old pilot book is so out of date it was probably ordered by Noah in his youth. This afternoon I flashed up Castro Urdiales just west of Bilbao in the southeastern corner of the Bay of Biscay. I was saddened to see that moorings have proliferated inside the long breakwaters with the eternal Biscay swell clearly reaching the outer rows. This now means that any cruising mariner who shapes up for the ancient Knights Templars’ church on the hill expecting a…

‘The wind is a fickle mistress. And, even when you do get it in the right direction, the strength can by frustratingly flukey’ Sailors, true sailors, know how to grab their moments. A mere ten knots of wind guarantees them swiftly casting off the lines or, for the truly skilled, stylishly sailing off the anchor, to go out and play in the light breeze. Strengthening winds don’t faze them and they will happily glide along, heeled over so far that you can see more keel than deck, in a sea frothing with white horses only to later remark nonchalantly at the local bar that it was “a little fresh out there today”. Cruisers are, by and large, not as cool as sailors. We’re dreadfully fair-weather really. We reef early and…

Rob and Tom Humphreys run Humphreys Yacht Design and both have seen yacht design evolve over the past two decades. During that time, the company has been responsible for penning the lines of a number of iconic racing yachts, including Ellen MacArthur’s Kingfisher. Yet designing cruising yachts remains their bread and butter and successful partnerships with manufacturers such as Oyster Yachts, Azuree, Southerly and Elan garnered some hugely influential designs over the last 20 years. The pair are therefore in a strong position to look back at 20 years of development in design. Rob recalls: “Back in 1997, yacht design – particularly in cruising yachts – was still moving away from the influence of the IOR rule. Cruising yacht design is always driven by racing yachts and the influence of…

‘She surged forward at over six knots, passing little gatherings of guillemots and razorbills. Gulls, kittiwakes and terns flew overhead’ Sailing as a boy in the comparative safety of the Firth of Clyde we spoke of St Kilda in hushed tones. It was the furthest and most remote archipelago in the constellation of archipelagos that make up the Hebrides and it was infamous for the frequent storms that tracked past its Atlantic walls, even in the height of summer. In a small way it was our Everest. Here and now, as a young old-boy, I wanted to test myself and my half-remembered teenage sailing skills by making that passage to St Kilda. I looked about my new old-boat: 36 feet of oceangoing wooden yacht, two-masted with a powerful bowsprit, sweeping…

HAMILTON CITY Hamilton Princess is located in Bermuda’s capital, Hamilton, with the city centre a short walk away THE PINK PRINCESS The large pink hotel is a conspicuous marker on the approach to the marina LUXURY MARINA The 60-berth marina offers five-star luxury, with a dedicated marina concierge and gourmet onsite catering FERRY CHANNEL The access channel to Hamilton Princess is dredged to 15m to accommodate the cruise ships and ferries which regularly pass along here As Bermuda prepares to host the America’s Cup, Donna Eastlake discovers what this mid-Atlantic jewel can offer the cruising sailor The eyes of the sailing world will be firmly fixed on Bermuda this summer, when it hosts the 2017 America’s Cup. The island is expecting visitors aplenty and those heading here in their yacht…

The marina sits on the north side of Hamilton Harbour, within the hook-shaped stretch of land to the west of Bermuda. To access the harbour, enter the Great Sound (racecourse for the America’s Cup) at the west of the island. The entrance is marked by The Commissioner’s House, standing high on the cliff, in the Royal Naval Dockyard. Heading southeast, you’ll enter the harbour by passing between Agar Island and Lefroy Island. The marina sits at the edge of a shipping channel dredged to accommodate the ferries and cruise ships, which regularly utilise this waterway. This makes for easy passage. The first signpost on approach will be the pastel pink buildings of the hotel itself, on your port side. The hotel is large and well lit, so clearly visible day…

‘I wouldn’t set off on a long ocean passage without an EPIRB on board’ When you’re preparing your boat to take you and your family offshore in all weathers, safety is paramount, but just how far do you go and what should one consider a mandatory level of equipment? Of the many electrical and electronic devices being heavily promoted to boat owners as ‘essential’ for offshore cruising, which should you really be carrying? SAFETY Obviously, any offshore yacht will be equipped with basic safety gear such as a liferaft, lifejackets, MOB mark and retrieve kit, but how many other electronic devices are really necessary? I wouldn’t set off on a long ocean passage without an EPIRB on board and I also believe every crewmember should have their own PLB and…

The hypnotic beauty of the south seas has captivated sailors for centuries and this anchorage off Tahiti sums up the sheer beauty in contrast between the deep blue of the pacific and the brillliant azure waters around the reefs. The artist Paul Gauguin was so captivated by the different shades of light and dark that he settled on Tahiti as his home and devoted his later years to capturing the beauty of the place. It’s easy to understand why the sailors of the Bounty were so seduced by Tahiti that they risked all and mutinied rather than return to England.…

Amel 50 £tbc French boatbuilder Amel has long enjoyed a reputation for turning out high quality cruising yachts that you can cruise anywhere. As a testament to this, more Amels have participated in the ARC than any other brand. Although its designs are highly individual and somewhat idiosyncratic, Amel enjoys a rock-solid reputation and hugely loyal customer base. All this makes the new Amel 50 an intriguing addition, as she’s something of a departure from its usual models. At the most basic level, the eagle eyed will note that she lacks the trademark ketch rig associated with the brand and, in terms of styling, the 50 is a departure in many ways from previous models. Ultimately, the lines are conservative, yet beam has increased compared to previous models and there…

‘No one particularly chooses to own a slow boat, so there can be little harm in developing a fast cruiser’ • ROOMY COCKPIT The cockpit feels exceptionally roomy and you feel nicely enclosed • HIGH BOOM The boom is much higher that on previous Grand Soleils, giving a greater sense of space on deck • FREEBOARD The freeboard has been raised compared with the LC’s sportier sisters • FULLY BATTENED The fully battened main is a powerful sail • HEADSAIL The LC features a modest fore triangle that allows for a self-tacking headsail For those of you not fully acquainted with Grand Soleil yachts, I’m going to tell you a very brief story relating to this Italian marque. Over the years I have worked sporadically as a charter yacht…

Owing to its position in the mid-Atlantic, Bermuda has become a traditional stopover during transatlantic crossings. It’s natural stopover for yachts taking the northerly route between the US and Europe. It therefore offers a welcome respite for sailors after weeks at sea. However, as a result of its isolation, cruising grounds are limited to the coast of Bermuda itself. Don’t let this put you off though; the island has plenty to offer the cruising sailor and the famed year-round breeze, which attracted the America’s Cup to its shores, can provide plenty of good cruising opportunities. The south coast is peppered with dozens of secluded coves and deserted sandy beaches to visit and explore, and you could spend weeks happily doing just that. First up, the famous Horseshoe Bay on the…

‘You may be caught out as you come screaming down the face of a wave to the trough and find yourself turned end over end - pitchpoled’ Knock downs can be caused by the wind when the boat may broach or get caught in a Chinese gybe or if the boat gets caught out by a sudden squall. Sometimes a boat running before a sea can be given a shove by a wave – and the wind does the rest. A knock down here will be to 90° or less. Knock downs caused by waves occur when the boat goes beam on to a big sea because a rogue wave catches the helm out and here the knock down will vary and is likely to be greater than 90°. With…

ROUND THE ISLAND RACE ISLE OF WIGHT - 1 JULY The Round the Island Race is set for another exciting year. Organised by the Island Sailing Club, the event, which attracts over 1,600 boats and around 16,000 sailors, is one of the largest yacht races in the world. Spectators can watch the race on the mainland and Isle of Wight. The first start in Cowes will be at 05.30. roundtheisland.org.uk COWES WEEK ISLE OF WIGHT – 29 JULY-5 AUGUST Cowes Week is an important and much-loved event in the British sailing calendar. A mix of competitive sailing and socialising, it attracts up to 1,000 competing boats, around 8,500 competitors and at least 100,000 visitors. cowesweek.co.uk SHRIMPERS AND CRABBERS RALLY FALMOUTH, 15-22 JULY Join in the fun at the Annual Shrimper…

MAIDEN VOYAGE Tracy Edwards’ yacht Maiden, which hit the headlines when her all-female crew sailed her around the world in the 1989-90 Whitbread Race, has returned home. The Bruce Farr designed racing yacht, which carried Edwards to victory in two legs of the epic race and saw her ranked second overall, was found abandoned and in a state of disrepair in the Seychelles back in 2014. Edwards has been campaigning to return her to the UK, ever since. The Maiden Factor, run by Edwards, Maiden crew members, and volunteers, was established almost immediately after her rediscovery, with the goal of restoring her to her former glory, and re-launching her as an ambassador for Girls’ Rights. As Edwards herself said: “It’s shocking to me that over 61 million girls around the…

BENETEAU SENSE 51 £250,000 Beneteau’s Sense 50 proved to be a real eye opener when it was launched back in 2011: it’s rare that a yacht bursts onto the scene that is genuinely innovative, yet the Sense had enough touches to put it in that category. Designed specifically for liveaboards, the Sense range eschews aft cabins which not only allows for a much more pleasant transition between cockpit and cabin but also provides bags of storage aft. The Sense 50 has now been replaced with the revamped 51 and, although it features the same Berret/Racoupeau designed hull, there are some very distinctive changes. The first one that smacks you across the eyeballs even before you step aboard is the garish paint job which is rather reminiscent of the ‘glare’ camouflage…

These days there are so many rallies out there, it’s difficult to work out what to choose from. Here’s a handy list of some of the options available: All prices are based on a 40ft (12.2m) yacht with two crew aged over 16. Europe ARC PORTUGAL Start date: May Price: £675 Contact: worldcruising.com Often treated as a shakedown for the ARC, this WCC organised event runs from Plymouth and takes in Bayona, Povoa de Varzim, Gaia, Figueira da Foz, Peniche, Oerias, Sines and Lagos. EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN YACHT RALLY Start date: April Cost: tbc Contact: emyr.com One of the longest running rallies, having been set up on a not for profit basis in 1990. In the past, the rally took in Syria and Lebanon, but the organisers have had…

‘“What do you think it was?” he asked. “Cow’s tongue,” he chortled, and my fellow diners fell into fits of laughter’ No matter how long you sail, and no matter how far you roam, there are some harbours that you will simply never forget. They lurk in the mind, like old loves fondly remembered. Well, most of them do, some harbours you would rather forget, and usually for good reason. In my early sailing days, which always seemed to involve many frustrating passages through the Dover Strait, how I longed for Dover harbour to be a bit more friendly. Asking permission to enter seemed a request too far, met with evident irritation in the reply. Then came the tunnel, the ferry traffic dwindled, and now we find ourselves as welcome…

Issue number one of Sailing Today came with John Goode’s free Breton Plotter. It was an excellent gift and is, of course, still a vital navigation tool. Yet even the most Luddite of sailors has to admit that times have moved on and the rise of GPS has ensured that the way we navigate yachts has fundamentally changed. Bear in mind that, although GPS had been available for military purposes since the 1970s, it wasn’t intended for civilian use, and it wasn’t until the year 2000 that selective availability, which essentially limited the accuracy of the signal, was switched off. Suddenly, the floodgates were opened, as Raymarine’s Andy King explains: “In 1997, the idea of ‘integrated’ marine electronics was just getting off the ground – though everyone still had their…

Part of the thrill of cruising is always going to be opening up new horizons; the thrill of a new discovery. While no-one can exactly expect to discover an entirely new country these days, the shifting geopolitical situation means that countries once deemed unsafe are now available to explore once more. It’s hard to imagine these days, but back in 1997, Croatia was emerging from a shocking conflict. Once the dust had settled, one of the most stunning cruising grounds in the world was revealed and was suddenly open to mass tourism. Jeremy Evans, a veteran marine journalist, cruised the Dalmatian coast both in the 1980s and early 2000s and he recalls the difference: “I first sailed there in the late 1980s and I recall that, while it was certainly…

‘The primeval rainforest park is the only habitat of the endangered black parrot…’ I love Greece. I totally understand the appeal of the blue waters, the fresh food and the easy line-of-sight sailing from one little taverna quay to the next. Equally, I love the Caribbean: the vibrant culture, the heat, the stunning beaches. But sailing holidays can get a bit samey – Med in the summer; Caribbean in the winter. What do you do if you want to go away in the shoulder season? Or if you just fancy mixing it up a bit? Well, if it’s a friendly welcome you’re after with gorgeous waters, empty beaches, fresh seafood and no-stress island hopping, you could give the Seychelles a whirl. The Seychelles is a group of 115 islands and…

HALLBERG-RASSY 37 | LADY LAMONT Designed by Germán Frers and built by Hallberg-Rassy, Lady Lamont was completed in 2005. She cruised the coast of Scotland with her first owners, before being purchased by her current owners in 2012. She has since sailed around the coast of Britain and across the Channel, exploring the many beautiful and varied anchorages of northern France. She is much loved and has been extremely well maintained and cared for. As a result, brokers Berthon describes her as being of a “very high standard and an excellent example of a Hallberg-Rassy 37.” Her owners describe Lady Lamont as: “The perfect boat for cruising around the Channel Islands and northern coast of France.” The 37’s hull was designed with a much longer waterline than previous…