Innehållsförteckning för June 2025 från Yachting Monthly

St Katharine Docks Marina in London is excited to welcome the Nao Santa Maria, a replica of the 93ft galleon sailed by Christopher Columbus, which will be open to the public from 29 May to 8 June. In the 15th century, the navigator and explorer Christopher Columbus led an expedition onboard his flagship, the Santa Maria. The four-masted galleon is thought to be one of the most significant and influential ship designs in history and was capable of coping with the heavy winds and waves of the Atlantic Ocean. Columbus departed from Huelva in Spain on 3 August 1492, and sailed west in search of a faster way to China instead of the established route around Africa and across the Indian Ocean. Ten weeks later, on 12 October, 1492, the…

Shuddering our way through the latest cold front, accompanied by dank spring drizzle, it seems fitting to talk of the glory of dryness. A lot of our sailing, down the decades, has been preoccupied with dehumidification, both intimately personal and saloon-related. I never forget one particular moment, in Falmouth, when we squelched up in the dusk from the town pontoons in full oilskins, steaming gently from underpants to thermal vest, and paused for a moment outside a branch of, if I remember, Milletts. We gazed, like starstruck Carrie Bradshaws in Sex and the City contemplating the latest line in Louboutin stilettos. ‘Look!’ croaked Paul, awestruck. ‘DRY CLOTHES!’ The sight of unremarkable cotton jeans and acrylic hoodies from the Far East was almost too much for us. We yearned for them,…

WITH SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE AWARD Zhik, the pioneering sailing brand, is proud to sponsor the Spirit of Adventure Award. The Award celebrates the most inspiring cruising adventures undertaken in and around British and overseas waters. Whether crossing the English Channel, cruising the Scottish Isles or tackling adventures in Europe, we’ll publish the stories we feel encapsulate a true Spirit of Adventure. Share your tale in words and images and we will pick the best one each month. Then, an expert panel from Zhik and Yachting Monthly will pick the best article of the year at the Southampton Boat Show in September 2025. The winning author will receive a suite of sailing kit worth over £1,000, including the all new OFS700™ Jacket, Salopette and Seaboot 700 packed in a 45-litre waterproof…

Some boats’ reputation is such that you might feel almost daunted by the prospect of sailing them, let alone writing about them. If they’re as good as they’re cracked up to be, you might simply find yourself repeating things that have been said before, over years or even decades. And if they’re not? Do you risk invoking the wrath of diehard enthusiasts who won’t hear a word said against them? Thankfully, any concerns I might have had on this score didn’t stop me accepting an invitation to sail with Donald Begg on his Swan 38. After all, the Swan 38 is one of those boats that you just have to sail during your lifetime, in the same way that you have to sail the S&S 34 and Contessa 32. With…

BALTIC 38 Boats that can realistically be considered worthy of with the Swan 38 are surprisingly few and far between. While plenty of IOR One Tonners and competitive boats of similar size were built at around the same time, few could compete in terms of build quality, finish or fit-out below decks – and that’s one of the principal reasons for buying a Swan. Most that can compete in the quality stakes are less performance-orientated – certainly less race-bred – including other Scandinavian designs. X-Yachts of similar size are much newer. The Sigma 38 is an example of a more recent racer/cruiser that’s fast, tough and capable, but without the joinery to drool over. In many ways, one of the closest equivalents is another Finnish boat designed by an American:…

DIAGNOSIS: We bought our boat, Cassini, a Beneteau Oceanis 50, in 2022 intending to live aboard for long periods from the summer of 2023. After a winter overhaul and a few shakedown cruises to Cornwall and the Channel Islands that spring, it became clear that our existing domestic bank battery would need to be renewed before we set sail for our planned cruise to the Caribbean later in the year. Our existing lead-acid batteries were AGM type. AGM or Absorbent Glass Mat, is a battery type and construction that is sealed and low maintenance, unlike the old ‘flooded’ cells that need to be topped up with distilled water from time to time. Our AGM batteries were charging well enough, but the rate and depth of discharge was fast and low.…

The RNLI has teamed up with the RYA, HM Coastguard and Irish Sailing to produce checklists to boost boat users’ skills and help them prepare their vessels for the new season. In 2024, RNLI lifeboats launched 1,900 times to powered boat users and sailors, aiding 1,447 people and saving 42 lives. Sarah Pennicard, of the RNLI water safety team, said: ‘We always want people to enjoy our coastline, but things can quickly go wrong at sea, which is why it’s so important to be prepared. By keeping our essential checklists on board, you’ll be reducing the risks of incidents occurring or increasing in severity.’ The lists of things to check before going afloat include checking the weather forecast and tide times, checking onboard safety equipment and making sure the crew…

The Association of Brokers and Yacht Agents (ABYA) and the British Marine Boat Retailers and Brokers Association (BRBA) have announced a new joint industry-standard broker’s contract – the BRBA/ABYA Sales Purchase Agreement. This agreement, a key outcome of the strategic alliance between ABYA and BRBA unveiled at the Southampton Boat Show 2024, is a significant milestone in strengthening professional standards in the sector. The new Sales Purchase Agreement provides brokers with a legally robust framework designed to improve clarity and consistency in yacht transactions. It also offers additional protection for consumers, helping to enhance overall confidence in the buying and selling process. The contract will be reviewed annually to ensure it remains aligned with industry best practice and regulatory developments, and both organisations recommend its adoption by members. The development…

Boom brakes and descenders Regarding the original subject and correspondence – boom brakes and John Francis’s letter in the February edition – it would be difficult to do direct and meaningful comparisons between proprietary boom brakes and descenders as so many of the operating factors are variables, like sail size, pre-tension, setup geometry, materials, quality control and so on. Comparison tests may have to be so sanitised and short as to make them meaningless for practical purposes. Whilst the operating principles of these devices are similar, their basic design criteria differ greatly. The descender has to control the movement of a known mass, say 100kg of person with gear, usually a known pre-tension (their dead weight), descending with a known acceleration: the uni-directional gravity. The boom brake on the other…

Sometimes, if you stick around for long enough, you will see things that appear and then disappear before reappearing some years later. It happens in all areas of life, including yacht design (does anyone still believe that foiling is a new idea?). And, now and again, an actual model of yacht will vanish from the scene before making a comeback – if it’s good enough. Take the Broadblue 346, for example. She was launched back in 2007 as the Voyager 10, undergoing extensive sea trials before I took her for a spin on the Solent one breezy day the following year. A while later she became the Broadblue 345. Then Broadblue disappeared, and that might have been that as far as the boat was concerned. As it turned out, that…

Almost all vessels, in the days of working sail, had to take the ground when calling at destinations around Britain. Some port towns were on estuaries that dried out at low tide; many coastal harbours had walls that did not extend beyond low water, because underwater masonry was disproportionately expensive. Until the Industrial Revolution brought steam dredgers, and also machinery for construction of gated basins, taking the ground was the norm rather than the exception for both coastal craft and ocean-going ships. At some places, small traders were even run on to open beaches, where their cargoes could be unloaded directly into horse-drawn carts. Their skippers did that kind of thing regularly and modern, amateur mariners must make similar judgements about the effects of wind, waves and tides when beaching…

Things have changed considerably over the last few years when it comes to freedom of movement to sail and travel within the European Union, and many of the freedoms British sailors took for granted five years ago are now gone. Here are a few guidelines to help point you in the right direction for some of the key issues this summer. This article does not cover VAT regulations for buying, selling or importing your boat to or from the EU. Please be aware also that regulations and their implementation vary from country to country and even from port to port, and things are in a state of flux, with new systems and processes being introduced every few months at present. It is therefore worth checking with the authorities and with…

The two attractive and historically relevant towns of Haarlem and Hoorn, both close to Amsterdam, are easy to visit by boat and have so much to offer. Just for a moment, picture yourself strolling along quiet canals, past beautiful historic houses on cobbled streets, taking in all the flavours that make the very special atmosphere in an ancient Dutch town. And this, ideally, without having to elbow your way through the crowds or raft up your boat in a packed marina? Here’s where to go. The Netherlands is only a short sailing distance from the UK’s east coast harbours, but once there, you can still experience quite a different culture. Even if you don’t arrive by accident – as in the great Arthur Ransome’s book We Didn’t Mean to Go…

◼ Anchoring. The weather is usually good but if it does blow it can be very strong. Brush up your anchoring skills, make sure you have lots of chain – and use it! ◼ Take your time. We took seven weeks, from start to finish in Corfu. The circumnavigation of the Peloponnese itself took five weeks – and we wished we could have taken longer. Not having to hurry means that you can sit out bad weather. ◼ Spring is a great time to go. We left at the end of April. The prevailing north-west wind takes you down the west coast and along the bottom of the peninsula. Leaving in spring means you also miss the Meltemi winds of the Aegean. ◼ Anti-clockwise is best. As the prevailing wind…

Lymington Town Sailing Club (LTSC) has voted in Heather Chipperfield, the first lady commodore in the club’s 79-year history. Heather has been rear commodore of sailing at the club for two years and vice commodore for a year, as well as a member for over 20 years, so is well placed to take on the role. Heather has sailed dinghies and yachts at club level, but has also raced dinghies on the national and European circuit – winning the RS500 world championships in the Netherlands in 2015 (with fellow LTSC member Pete Barton). ‘I’ve visited hundreds of sailing clubs over the years and can only remember meeting one female commodore. As sailing is such a popular sport with both sexes, I’ve always found that surprising. I’m proud to be the…

RS Electric Boats delivered its RS Pulse 63 electric RIB to Salcombe Harbour in March as part of the ZENOW project, a pivotal programme dedicated to advancing the adoption of zero-emission maritime solutions. The ZENOW Project is a key initiative under the Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure (ZEVI) programme, funded by Innovate UK, UK SHORE and the Department for Transport. The project is playing a vital role in driving the UK’s transition towards more sustainable maritime transport solutions.…

The Dutch tall ship Oosterschelde is set to arrive in Cape Town in April as part of a two-year planetary conservation mission DARWIN200, retracing Charles Darwin’s 19th-century route on HMS Beagle. The voyage aims to host and train a total of 200 exceptional young environmentalists from all over the world, engaging them in hands-on conservation efforts in the same locations where Darwin and his colleagues explored the natural world almost two centuries ago. DARWIN200 and Oosterschelde will host emerging conservationists from Madagascar, Uganda, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Nigeria, Israel and Tanzania, who will engage in critical conservation efforts alongside local NGOs in South Africa. The young Darwin Leaders will contribute to various projects, including sea turtle rehabilitation, studying great white sharks, rehabilitating African penguins, and researching both whale and dolphin populations.…

Inside an old jewellery box sits a yellowing fang set in a gold mount. It is the triangular molar wrenched from a shark jaw trolled for somewhere in the South Atlantic at the turn of the 19th century. Those fishing for the predator included my grandfather, Richard Stephens Durham, then a teenage apprentice aboard the three-masted barque, Pass of Killiecrankie. Sharks’ teeth were highly prized by tallship sailors as a lucky talisman to bestow safe passage on the wearer, or to ward off the razor-jawed creatures should a matelot suffer the misfortune of becoming a man overboard. I had long ago heard how Grandpa survived stowing sail aloft on that same ship while a fellow apprentice lost his footing on the yard arm and fell to his death in the…

Vulnerable visitors’ moorings The photo below shows the block of visitors’ moorings at St Mary’s Harbour, in the Isles of Scilly, looking west. The distant horizon is the open Atlantic, with no sheltering feature this side of Newfoundland, and in strong westerly winds those moorings are exposed to considerable violence, when the excellent ground tackle is reliable but the yachts and their mooring rodes may be less so. The diligent harbour staff warn everybody, and yet bad weather often causes grief. At some ports, like St Mary’s, visitors’ moorings have to be laid in locations that are less than ideal. That is not a criticism of the harbourmasters, because if all the best spots are occupied by locals the visitors obviously have to moor in second-best positions. However, skippers who…

Crossing the Atlantic to cruise the Caribbean was a dream long in the making; my planning was meticulous, so, come the time of my departure on the 2024 ARC+ rally, I was confident that both boat and skipper were as prepared as they could be for the challenge ahead. I felt suitably qualified to skipper Arkyla, my 2008 Regina 43, down the trade-wind route from the Canaries to Grenada via Cape Verde. A sailor since childhood, I had an RYA Yachtmaster Offshore qualification, 15,000+ miles under my belt, and crossings of Biscay and the Atlantic already in my logbook. I was confident, though not complacent, in my abilities to meet the challenges of big seas, tropical weather and ocean navigation. Recognising engineering competency to be as important as sailing skills,…

Like many British sailors, I had been put off going to our close neighbour Cherbourg by the thought of crossing the Channel with its shipping lanes, fast tides and bad weather. Ensemble, my Etap 37s, is berthed in the Berthon marina, in Lymington, which is handy both for the harbour and shops and for the Salterns – the old medieval salt workings, but now a migration hotspot for birds. Gathering my courage, before leaving for Cherbourg, I first needed to sort out the new rules for leaving the UK in a private sailing boat. A little internet searching brought me to the web page of Border Force and a form C1331 which has to be filled out and submitted before you leave. Having done this, I was free to go.…

Good luck going round the Peloponnese,’ smiled the seasoned sailor as I told him our plans. He stood at the dock on the Greek Island of Lefkada, looking critically at our yacht as we made last-minute preparations. ‘I ripped my mainsail going round there last year.’ With that the bearded seadog gave us a friendly wave and we cast off our stern lines. Were we biting off more than we could chew? For the last two years my wife Gael and I have kept Songbird, our Beneteau 423, in Corfu. We have been cruising the Ionian Islands, one of the great sailing areas of the Mediterranean. It is beautiful, fascinating and varied. But secluded it is not. In spring 2024 we were in search of new sites and quieter anchorages.…

Yachting Monthly columnist, environmentalist and high-latitude expert sailor Jon Amtrup has joined a growing number of sailors carrying out marine citizen science projects. Jon has signed up his 45ft aluminium-hulled sailing yacht Njord to the International SeaKeepers Society’s Discovery Programme. The first Discovery project Jon will support is ORCA OceanWatchers Citizen Science whale and dolphin monitoring programme, which has a planned sailing schedule as far north as the Lofoten Islands, the Faroe Islands and Norwegian archipelago. The data collected will help identify hotspots so researchers can drive policy and create protected areas to safeguard animals. Recipient of the 2020 and 2024 Brian Black Memorial Award, Jon recently skippered Greenpeace’s high-latitude expedition yacht documenting the ecosystems of whales and dolphins in the Arctic and North Norwegian coastline. To ensure Njord would…

www.yachtingmonthly.com/books Maurice Griffiths, Yachting Monthly editor 1927-1967, was married first to ‘Peter Gerard’. She was a fierce champion of female equality at sea. ‘Peter’ had been born Dulcie Hazel Kennard near Bloemfontein, South Africa, in 1900. As an Army daughter, her first memories were of the open veld, which later translated into a love of the open sea – or if not the sea, then the boats that sail on it. Ponies, a short skirt and a friendly old jersey brought happiness as a child, but a return to Europe and a demand for greater conformity was hard. […]Boats and sailing came to fascinate her and she educated herself as a journalist by subscribing to a yachting magazine and getting involved in its correspondence column under her male pseudonym ‘Peter…