Innehållsförteckning för May 2019 från Sailing Today

Two firsts marked the 2018 Yachting Journalists’ Association Yachtsman of the Year and Young Sailor of the Year Awards: all-female winners and a tie for the YJA Yachtsman of the Year trophy. Sir Robin Knox-Johnston presented the YJA Young Sailor of the Year to 15-year-old Emily Mueller, winner of the Volvo Gill Optimist British National Championship. The 2018 YJA Yachtsman of the Year Award was presented to joint winners, Tracy Edwards and Nikki Henderson. Nikki was the youngest ever skipper to compete in the Clipper race aged 24. Tracy Edwards, skipper of the first all-female crew to compete in the Whitbread race in 1988/89, is now campaigning to raise awareness for girls education worldwide via her Maiden Factor project.…

The Inmarsat Fleet One satellite service is now available as a line-fit option on new Lagoon, CNB and Beneteau yachts, including unlimited data for two or three years. We reported back in January that Beneteau was looking at ways to deliver automotive industry-style options and tech to yacht buyers – and connectivity was high on the list. The Fleet One system ias designed for boats in the 40ft to 70ft range and, unlike the internet-only offers of some yacht Wi-Fi rivals, Fleet One combines the IMO-certified GMDSS functionality of the Inmarsat C system. So as well as getting Netflix onboard, Beneteau buyers get the full added benefit of Inmarsat’s traditional safety offer. The package cost is around €17,000, which makes little difference to the monthly lease payments on a 40ft+…

FESTIVAL OF STEAM & TRANSPORT 21 - 22 APRIL, CHATHAM HISTORIC DOCKYARD From steam trains, to a free funfair, to food stalls to steam punks and live music – a waterside Easter extravaganza not to be missed. Adults £14, children £10.50, Families £40 thedockyard.co.uk ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK 27 APRIL – 3 MAY The 52nd edition will commence with the Round Antigua Race followed by five days of competition – and parties sailingweek.com MERSEY RIVER FESTIVAL 31 MAY – 02 JUN A celebration of Liverpool’s historic waterfront. The three-day festival offers tall ships, and lots of family fun – and it’s free to all explore-liverpool.com INTRODUCTION TO CRUISER RACING 6 April, Emsworth Chichester Cruiser Racing Club’s free seminar on what is required to get involved in cruiser yacht racing ccrc.co.uk/seminar DEVON…

Fountaine Pajot 45 In the case of Fountaine Pajot’s new 45, it’s clear that design house Berret/ Racoupeau has produced a thoroughly up to date and interesting catamaran. She features a relatively fine entrance with dreadnought bows. As you’d expect, there is ample internal volume, with the standard version featuring a huge owners suite. The 45 has a newly designed helm station to improve handling, promising excellent performance and comfort for long passages. catamarans-fountaine-pajot.com £419,000 Privilege Signature 510 French manufacturer Privilege was acquired last year by German giants the Hanse Group and everyone has been eyeing the company with interest since to see what their next move would be. The 510 is an interesting opening gambit. The Marc Lombard design is surprisingly sleek and sporty for what is surely intended…

I often think that our community remains a village at heart, despite the surprising numbers of us who go down to the sea for adventure, for fun or just to take a break from the daily grind. It doesn’t matter what far-flung harbour you land in, you’ve only to raise a glass with a stranger to discover that he’s actually a long-lost shipmate of some disreputable bloke you knew years ago in a different life. The coincidences don’t end there. Not so long ago my telephone rang with a call from a young woman who makes her living researching people’s boats. From time to time, she hits a blank wall, leaving her no option but to put the question to her private panel of ancient mariners, which includes me. “Do…

Let’s go through Jack Sound under spinnaker,” my wife Carol said eagerly. I looked doubtfully at her, and then at the great ballooning symmetric splash of colour that was pulling us smoothly across St Brides Bay. Jack Sound is a narrow pass beset with sharp fangs both above and below the water; not a place to hamper manoeuvrability with a restrictive sail plan. But the sun was shining, the tide was with us, and Carol was beseechingly enthusiastic. We set our bows to pass Tusker Rock narrowly to port and aimed to the east of The Blackstones. We were committed. All was going well till we sailed into a wind hole; the spinnaker collapsed, and we lost way. Except we didn’t; the four knot tidal current swept us swiftly on,…

1. Fundamental questions Before we consider issues of particular importance to multihulls, remember some important points relevant to buying any boat: a) Who will you be sailing with? This is the most crucial yet most ignored question to be answered. The ideal boat for four fit and experienced friends is most likely to be a disaster if chosen by an inexperienced couple. b) Where will you be sailing? Not just coastal versus ocean or tropics versus high latitudes, but also whether shallow draught is required for your favourite spots. c) Where will you keep the boat? This question has much more significance for a multihull because their large beam limits the availability of berths and increases marina costs. On the other hand if you have a shallow water mooring a…

After almost 1,000 units sold, Lagoon is replacing its classic Lagoon 450 model with the new Lagoon 46. While the 450 may be a tough act to follow, the 46 benefits from the yard’s innovative construction techniques and years of feedback from dealers and owners. With a larger sail plan and updated design, the 46 looks poised to take top place in the hearts of both owners and charter users. Lagoon has been building catamarans for too long to make a false move. That’s why when management felt that its tried and true 450 model, long a cruising favourite and a winner of transatlantic events such as the ARC, was getting near retirement age, it went back to a team that has designed many successful models for Lagoon: Nauta Design…

Unlike some other yachting luminaries, James Wharram’s name is little known beyond the narrow sailing fraternity. Yet his contributions to both ocean sailing and amateur boatbuilding are considerable – as his thousands of DIY devotees worldwide will testify. One of life’s great eccentrics, Wharram is a true pioneer – habitually ahead of his time and sometimes misunderstood as a result. Always operating from the margins, Wharram has stubbornly done things his own way, often in the face of convention. His 1950s Atlantic crossings aboard the Polynesian-inspired twin canoe vessels Tangaroa and then Rongo with two young German women were a case in point. Perhaps overshadowed by his liberal lifestyle, only recently has his work started to enjoy wider recognition. I met Wharram, alongside longtime design partner Hanneke Boon, at their…

La Grande Motte is a large marina that opens directly onto the small bay of Aigues-Mortes behind the western end of the Carmargue delta –specifically the tip of the Espiguette beach peninsula. Aigues-Mortes translated means ‘dead water’, and because it’s located between the two wind systems of the tramontana and the mistral you will mostly find excellent sailing conditions at all times of the year. However, whenever you plan to visit, you need to be sure of your weather forecast. Wind direction and force can change suddenly in the region, and strong east or south-easterly blows can whip up a dangerous amount of swell and surf in the entrance to La Grande Motte, making it impassable. Severe conditions aren’t very common in the summer, but the northerly mistral and south-easterly…

Uku Randmaa crossed the Les Sables d’Olonne finish line at 09:00 UTC on Sunday 10 March to secure third place in the Golden Globe Race. Thousands lined the river entrance to catch a glimpse of the 56 year old Estonian solo circumnavigator and his boat. Waiting for him at the dock was his wife Maibi and young twins Thor and Orm who were born shortly before his departure, together with the family of fellow Golden Globe circumnavigators. Winner Jean-Luc Van Den Heede was one of the first to shake his hand, followed by second-placed Dutchman Mark Slats. After almost 252 days at sea, all Uku had left in his larder was three packets of powdered soup – he arrived home craving pizza!…

She was called White Lotus, a lovely name summing up all the elusive, fragile beauty of the East. It’s a pity she looked like a whitewashed toilet block. Not even a catamaran’s mother could say it was pretty. It (never, to my mind, she) rocked on the outgoing tide, squat and beetlebrowed and somehow menacing, like one of those alien spacecraft my grandsons never manage to quite kill off in their computer games. I’ve always been prejudiced against catamarans. They take up so much room, boatspreading in every port and anchorage. The people sailing them seem so smug, floating around with precious little effort and no discomfort at all. What’s the point? You can’t call it sailing if you’re not living at a 45-degree angle with a bucketload of spray…

Cardigan The town of Cardigan lies at the head of the Teifi estuary; a low road bridge limits further upstream passage of navigation for yachts, but there are ample waters to play in downstream. Much of the estuary dries, and access over the bar depends on suitable tides and conditions. However, once entered, the shelter is good and moorings are available. Just inside the entrance to the estuary lies the Patch Pontoon and the hospitable Teifi Boating Club offers refreshments, showers and moorings. Further up the waterway is another pontoon at pretty St Dogmaels providing easy access to the village shops and hostelries such as the Ferry Inn overlooking the Netpool’s moorings. Intrepid voyagers can continue up to the town pontoon, handy for the attractions of the high street. Newport…

As multihulls continue to grow in popularity among cruising sailors swayed by the benefits in draught and accommodation they offer, so too do the boat shows that celebrate them. The five-day La Grande Motte event in the South of France, dedicated entirely to multihulls, founded in Brittany in 2009 has achieved international recognition over the past decade. With boatbuilders from across the globe descending on the sunny southern French port town, it’s sure to once again be a huge success. World premieres The show will be chock full of new boats, with an impressive 13 world premieres, including the hotly anticipated Sunreef 60, the hybrid version of the Privilege Serie 5 and the Aventura 44 all representing the catamaran clan. Trimarans will also be strongly represented, with the Neel 47…

Lagoon is the market leader when it comes to cruising catamarans and it has a business model that means it simply cannot afford to make a mistake. That means time and money is spent on making sure it gets things right. So when Lagoon decides to literally break the mould that it has used to produce almost 1,000 Lagoon 450s, you know the 46 really is ready to make its extremely popular predecessor a fond memory from the past. And when you decide that it’s time to pack it in and take the family cruising, the Lagoon 46 is a cat that will give you the freedom you want.…

So where do you want to go? La Grande Motte is a fantastic location for anyone looking for a base in the western Mediterranean. Turn left out of the harbour entrance and you’ve got the Côte d’Azur in your sights, via the bustling metropolises of Marseille and Toulon. After that you’re on your way to the delightfully relaxing islands of Porquerolles, Port-Cros, St Marguerite and St Honorat, followed by the glitzy Saint- Tropez, Cannes and Nice – and all are perfectly do-able with a week or so in hand from La Grande Motte. Once you’ve checked off the Côte d’Azur, the islands of Corsica and Sardinia beckon. Corsica can easily soak up weeks on its own, with its plethora of ports, coves and anchorages, set in what some consider to…

Waterproofing is usually measured in millimetres. This is the height that a 1in by 1in column of water has to reach before the fabric starts to allow water through. Broadly, good waterproofing starts at 10,000mm and extreme waterproofing at 20,000mm. Breathability is measured according to the amount of water vapour that can pass through a square metre of fabric in 24 hours. Test methods vary, but generally speaking good breathability starts at 10,000g, while an excellent product would exceed 20,000g.…

Are the following statements true or false? 1. Catamarans capsize; monohulls don’t. 2. Monohulls sink; catamarans float. 3. Catamarans are more expensive than monohulls. 4. Catamarans are faster than monohulls. 5. Catamarans make you seasick. Catamarans capsize; monohulls don’t Sort of true, but not really. The view that cats capsize but monos don’t has its roots in the history of multihull development. Years ago cats were focused on high speed, especially for racing. It is only in the last 20-30 years that many catamarans have been designed specifically with cruising in mind. Racing catamarans are light, highly powered (lots of sail), with narrow hulls for low drag and wide beam for power to carry that sail. Cruising catamarans are much heavier, have about the same sail area (so less power…

Ambitious plans are afoot to revitalise Holyhead Marina following the devastation of Storm Emma a year ago. “Experts have confirmed that global warming/ climate change means that these un-survivable weather systems are likely to be more frequent and floating breakwaters will no longer be sufficient to protect the marina,” says Marina Director Geoff Garrod: “The only possible way forward is to build a rubble mound solid harbour wall, and this is what we propose to do.” For the 2019 season, Holyhead Marina has 100 metres of pontoon landing stage with alongside berthing on both sides for visitors. There will be limited power, water and diesel. “Vessels cannot be left unattended for long as there is no protection from the northeast but, essentially, we should be able to limp through this…

Bareboat charter of a Lagoon 42 owner version with water-maker and A/C for seven nights, sailing from Phuket, Thailand, starts from £5,148. Price is based on departure on 20 May 2019 and includes mandatory extras and the damage waiver fee. An early booking discount applies for bookings made outside of 180 days*. Charters are available in 50+ destinations worldwide, from a fleet of more than 1,000 monohulls and catamarans. For more information on bareboat, by-the-cabin and luxury crewed charters, visit www.dreamyachtcharter.co.uk or call +44 (0)23 8045 5527. *Please note flights are not included in the price. Prices are correct at the time of being provided but may change without notice.…

Type of boat: Craft able to take the ground enjoy an advantage over deep draught yachts along the Welsh coastline as many havens and estuaries are shallow or dry out, though ample options do remain for those needing to stay afloat. Access to some rivers requires an approach over a shallow bar which can be fraught with difficulties in adverse conditions; a dropping tide with a westerly force 7 can induce fearsome breakers that make many havens unapproachable. Be sensible and don’t take things for granted; a deep keel yacht following that ‘big wide ketch – she must draw more than us’ over a shallow bar could come to an unexpected halt – the ketch might be us with our keel raised. Passage planning: The key essential to enjoyable sailing…

It was such a calm morning as we left Aruba that we briefly debated putting the gennaker up. The two reefs in the main seemed like overkill as our Lagoon 440 catamaran Two Drifters sailed smoothly at 6kt. And then the wind began to build and the sea with it. We were soon sailing at over 8kt and hitting double figures as we sped down large waves. Then my husband let slip that this 268nm passage from Aruba to Santa Marta in Colombia had a fearsome reputation among sailors and the potential to be one of our most treacherous sails yet. My heart skipped a beat. I was very grateful to be part of a group of 40 boats on an organised Ocean Cruising Club (OCC) rally, travelling together through…

LEOPARD 45 The Leopard 45 is a relatively new model. The exterior styling has evolved from the more curvaceous deck features on the current Leopard range into a sharper, more angular look. It’s available in a three or four cabin layout. leopardcatamarans.co.uk FOUNTAINE PAJOT SAONA 47 Fountaine Pajot states that its 47 footer features both performance and agility. It’s available in two layouts,with a three-cabin owner's version with a large master suite or five-cabin charter version with private en suites to the four double guest cabins. catamarans-fountaine-pajot.com NAUTITECH 46 Nautitech is the multihull wing of Bavaria Yachts and its boats are direct competitors of Lagoon. The 46 has been around for a couple of years now and is available in both flybridge and ‘open’ configuration – meaning twin helms set…

It has been a torrid time for the makers of technical sailing gear recently. They’ve been suffering like the rest of the high street, and there’s been a welter of major changes. Musto has been acquired by Norwegian outfitter Helly Hansen, while Henri Lloyd went into administration last year and is poised to return to the market some time soon under Swedish ownership. Why should we as sailors care? Well, both companies have vowed to go back to their technical roots with a renewed focus on R&D for sailing clothes. So in time, that should translate into some exciting new gear for us. The bad news is that prices are rising – Henri Lloyd, for instance, is planning a hike of up to 30 per cent.Luckily, stalwarts like Gill have…

DEHLER 36 DB | DORIS Doris the Dehler 36 is described by her broker Red Ensign as ‘very exciting – a German rocket ship!’ We couldn’t agree more with the sentiment, and if Doris is as well turned-out and ‘uptogether’ as we’re led to believe, her new owner should have plenty of fun at the local yacht club regatta. The boat was designed for racing and cruising, and should do both pretty well, although the rig, with its large mainsail, is configured with sportier sailors in mind. The hull construction is GRP reinforced with Kevlar, while a deep bulb keel ensures she’s a very stiff boat, again pointing to that performance focus. The racy feel extends to her interior, which has a pleasingly contemporary if slightly quirky feel…

What better tonic for the winter blues than a trip to southern Spain? It was, after all, February – that most despondent of months, in which, even if your boat isn’t on the hard, you can barely countenance chilly days and even chillier nights on board. But, like a migrating bird, fly south for the winter, and the seasons and options for sailing drastically open up. Jeanneau owner and author Robert Bard did just that, sending his 45ft Sun Odyssey Bardeau to Spain, Brexit be damned, and he and his long-time sailing companion assembled a crew for a weekend in the ancient walled city of Cartagena in Murcia, where the recent opening of Corvera airport, with daily flights to the UK, makes short breaks afloat easy. Yacht Port Cartagena is…