Innehållsförteckning för Yachting Year 2024 från Sailing Today

EVENTS On the water, 2024 will see the Olympic Games take place in Paris, but more of interest to those who prefer classics to modern performance yachts will be the 2024 America’s Cup, due to take place in Barcelona from August to October. We were out in 2024 at the Puig Vela classics regatta, witnessing the ferocious speed of the AC75s out in the bay training – the teams have already decamped to the Catalonian capital, where they will remain until the race itself. The area is known for its strong, steady wind (the ‘Garbi’), and this, the 37th cup, should be one for the ages. It’s sponsored by Loius Vuitton which, given the long, powerful association of fashion and sailing (Panerai, Prada, Rolex and Puig spring to mind) seems…

CHARTER The charter holiday season in Croatia typically runs from May to early October and with so much going for it, including easy access from the UK, and conditions to suit all abilities, it has become a new favourite as far as sailing holiday destinations go. Its location in the Adriatic Sea opposite the eastern coastline of Italy and its border countries of the Balkan Peninsula (Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Albania), offers a short haul flight of approximately two and a half hours from Gatwick to the popular city of Split, so for those travelling with young children and/or older family members, this is a location worth considering. Also because of its northern Mediterranean location, the temperature is generally less intense early in the season, with an…

There was a time when, if you were searching for a cruising catamaran, your choices might end up being a bit limited - this is certainly not the case any more. Cruising multihulls are the fastest growing sector of the boatbuilding industry and the result is that there is now a vast range of boats to choose from. An exploding market has also meant that designers are pushing the boundaries in many different ways in order to make their product stand out. Balance Catamarans is a fine example of this. The South African company is the brainchild of its President, Phillip Berman, an American who set up the company in 2013. Berman, a former Hobie world champion racer, has written many books on multihull sailing in his time. His years…

The objective has been to be true to the spirit of the vessel, to preserve elements of her past – from both her original era and successive eras – but to bring in new design elements so as not to be captive to it. We wanted a comfortable boat and we wanted a pretty boat.” These were the aspirations of the new American owners of the 1931 Camper & Nicholsons motor yacht Marala, and there isn’t any doubt that they have achieved all of that and more. Life afloat for the owners began on the Thames when they lived in London with their three small children in the 1990s. Having initially rented a house overlooking the river, they bought a 1909 houseboat on which they lived for seven years during…

It was early April when I stepped aboard Kokomo, a Leopard 47 catamaran that I was to call home for the next few months. The big plan was to sail from Martinique through the Panama Canal to the Galapagos, before undertaking the 6,000nm hike across the Pacific to Marquesas. Then, through the Toumataos and French Polynesia in July, New Caledonia in August, and down to Sydney. My skipper Hosso and I had already moved Kokomoko from New York to Martinique and she was waiting where I had left her four months earlier in Le Marin Bay. When Covid dented Hosso’s charter plans. It would be a crew of three; Hosso, myself and an old friend, Boomer. Both lovely guys but I was somewhat dismayed that both were vegetarians. Back for…

THE OCEAN RACE 11th HOUR’S BIG MOMENT 50 years on from when it was first held, the 2023 edition of The Ocean Race pushed on boat design, saw speed records fall and culminated in a finish that nobody could have predicted, writes Georgie Corlett-Pitt. This gruelling, 32,000nm event, which started as the Whitbread Race in 1973, once again held the sailing world rapt, silencing pre-race naysayers who wondered if it would go ahead. And the round-the-world yacht race’s 14th edition drew to a close amidst unexpected tension in Genova, Italy. On more than one of the six previous legs, mere minutes had separated the five cutting edge contenders in the foiling IMOCA 60 class. The climax, however, was played out not on the finish line, but in the protest room.…

AMERICA’S CUP UPGRADED BOATS AND MORE TEAMS IN SPAIN The America’s Cup Selection Series opens on 22 August 2024, with the 37th America’s Cup match itself starting on 12 October. Once again, 75ft foiling monohulls will take centre stage, as the Protocol confirms that the AC75 class will be retained from the last Cup. Teams have the option of either modifying a first generation AC75 (which opens up the option of new teams buying second-hand), or building a new boat - but can only sail one AC75. In a forward-facing Cup first, any team entering AC37 has to agree to retain the AC75 class for the following cycle. While traditionalists say this move defies the ethos of the Cup as determined by the Deed of Gift, whereby the winner is…

Back in the mists of time – well, 2002, French manufacturer Jeanneau launched a boat that was to set a trend for many years to come. This was the Jeanneau 54 DS. A semi deck saloon luxury cruiser that launched a thousand pale imitations. The new Jeanneau Yachts 55 is the natural successor to this yacht and you might think that sticking to this tradition of innovation is difficult. After all, we live in an age where most boats are all pretty well designed but often just a tad, well, forgettable. This is not a charge I can level at the Jeanneau Yachts 55. OK the hull shape itself is pretty similar to its contemporaries but step on deck and things take a turn towards the most distinctly different. So…

A Caribbean sailing holiday is one of the most exhilirating ways to escape the UK winter. Add in some competitive racing to the mix, and any lingering memories of having to scrape the windscreen in the morning are banished for good. The Caribbean with its guaranteed sun and good winds has not only become a favourite choice for charter holidays in general over the winter months, but it has also become a destination for those keen to embrace the hugely popular Caribbean racing scene. The season runs from January to April avoiding the hurricane period. The good news is that there are now so many charter companies specialising in Caribbean race charter and Transatlantic crossings. There is plenty of choice to either sign up as a crew member aboard a…

Two rare paintings Brixham based John Chancellor (1925-1984) is considered one of the finest marine painters of his generation. His career was cut short with his death aged 59 and there are only 150 paintings in existence. To find two on offer in Totnes is a rare event. On offer is an oil, ‘Fishing Boat out of Brixham’ (above left) depicting a Brixham Mule battling a heaving swell off Start Point. Chancellor spent most of his life at the helm of merchant vessels. Also on show is a watercolour titled Punching Westward (above right) , featuring a French Grand Banks barquentines beating across the Atlantic bound for the Newfounland Banks. Both paintings are on show at Davidson Fine Art, 22 High Street, Totnes. The oil is £24,000 and…

For those who like to take things at a slower pace, the cruising world has plenty to offer in 2024 and one of the big headline stories has been the huge uptake in rallies. Entry to the classic ARC in November was actually fully subscribed and the organisers have been forced to get creative with a new event, ARC January, which will predictably take place in, yes, January. Sarah Collins of the World Cruising Club explained the concept behind the new event: “ARC January will set sail from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria on Sunday 9 January 2022, allowing crews to enjoy Christmas and New Year in Europe before setting off on that Atlantic adventure. “Following the classic trade wind route, direct from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia, boats can…

CHARTER The short haul charter flights and package holiday revolution back in the 1970s led to the introduction of flotilla sailing holidays in the Greek islands and, by the 1990s companies like Barrie and Heidi Neilson’s Sailing Holidays was, and still is, one of the key players. There is no doubt that companies like this, as well as others including Sunsail, Wildwind and Nautilus Yachting are not only responsible for introducing thousands of newcomers to sailing every year, but also keep the fun aspect of sailing alive. With so many reputable sailing holiday companies now operating in this desirable area of the Mediterranean, choosing a holiday that suits your needs can seem a bit daunting. The first thing to consider is the wind conditions that vary considerably across Greece, which…

Lucky me to be roaring into the roads off Saint-Tropez at Les Voiles this year in a RIB with the famous marine photographer Kos. We can see Baruna, Tara Getty’s ‘new’ yacht tooling along as the crew are limbering down after the day’s race. And they are going to keep going for a little so I can get on deck to see first-hand how she sails. Kos is super-relaxed. She already has a lot of photos, having documented the restoration of this famous yacht over a number of years. The 72ft, 1938 yawl with her 96ft-high mainmast looks powerful surging along in the eight-or-so knots of breeze. She must be doing seven or eight knots herself, on the wind. At Porto Cervo, I later learn, she averaged 9.6 knots over…

50° 47’.37N 000° 20’.81E Premier Marina’s Sovereign Harbour, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, is located just east of Eastbourne, and therefore an ideal location not only as a permanent base, but also as a pit stop when transiting the Channel. Just 90 minutes by train from London Victoria, via London Gatwick Airport (45 minutes), and with easy access for cruising further afield, this south coast marina is convenient too, particularly as a base for crew changeovers. For boaters looking to relocate to the waterside, it’s even possible to find a property overlooking its own mooring at Sovereign Harbour. Given the fact it is in the heart of Sovereign Harbour’s Waterfront ‘village’ there’s an expanse of retail shopping/provisioning, and dining facilities to suit all tastes, and free, all-day parking.…

Going bluewater is the dream of many a sailor, but finding the boat to do it in is only half the story. Even a freshly minted Oyster is likely to need some kitting up, not least because so many of the gear decisions are personal ones. From safety equipment to watermakers, it’s a question of capacity, cruising plans and budget. One of the most important issues to grapple with is that of energy autonomy. Heading offshore, most people want to add some renewable energy in the mix. And if you do choose to stick with fossil fuels, you’ll need to do some careful calculations about generator size and consumption. Wind power D400 British-built machine with a top output of more than 600W, but good low-wind performance too. £2,061 plus £407.16…