Innehållsförteckning för March 2024 från Yachting World

Kirsten Neuschäfer, the winner of the Golden Globe Race and the first woman ever to win a solo nonstop around the world ocean race, is among the skippers honoured in the Cruising Club of America’s 2023 awards. Neuschäfer is the recipient of the CCA’s Blue Water Medal, awarded for ‘meritorious seamanship and adventure upon the sea’. The CCA praised Neuschäfer’s ‘tremendous effort, determination, and skill’ exhibited during her 235-day solo circumnavigation, going so far as scraping barnacles from her Cape George 36 Minnehaha’s hull by hand in the Southern Ocean. Other award-winners include Max Campbell, who won the CCA’s Young Voyager Award. Campbell, from Falmouth in the UK, is a regular contributor to Yachting World, having recounted the tale of his solo transatlantic in a Folkboat back in 2019, aged just 20.…

The Ultim trimarans are extraordinary machines. Each with a footprint more than six times bigger than a typical UK detached house they are, quite simply, vast. Admittedly, most of an Ultim’s area is unusable – being either trampoline netting between the hulls, or plain fresh air. And when it comes to comparing living space the tables are turned, most bathrooms being bigger than the trimarans’ habitable accommodation. But the fact remains that these boats are giants. By the time you are reading this the six competitors in the Arkea Ultim Challenge (arkeaultimchallengebrest.com), the first ever solo fleet race around the world for big multihulls, should be approaching half way. In the days leading up to the start you could feel the tension on the dockside in Brest. The howling gales…

A crop of the latest 35-45ft mainstream production yachts, including the ultra spacious Dufour 41 and the smaller sister to the award-winning Hanse 460, plus a couple of less well known yachts, made for a dynamic grouping this year. In this, the most competitive size bracket for volume production yachts, there was plenty to like, but two models stood out: the RM and the Bavaria. The former because it’s different and fills an interesting niche that crosses fast cruising with family sailing, from coastal and shoal draught to bluewater ability; the Bavaria because it masters that mix of deck and interior space, performance and handling in a well finished package. You could argue the Dufour 41 does that to some extent, but here the emphasis is slightly more skewed towards…

The small number of entrants in this category in no way reflects the rich range or huge demand for multihulls. Many new models were launched by the big yards in the preceding years and they’re struggling to keep up with bulging order books. However, these three shortlisted represented a choice pick of the latest fast cruisers and each, in their own very different ways, are responding to this insatiable demand for high end space and pace cruising. Neel continues to enjoy its cruising trimaran niche, using the wow factor of bridgedeck accommodation combined with the type of sailing enjoyment and feedback monohull sailors appreciate. The impressive lightwind performance and direct feel of a Neel I am used to. But I don’t think I’ve ever been so surprised by the amount…

“We’ve been pacing all morning, looked at a thousand forecast models and now we’ve got the dice in the back pocket and we’re going to go out there and give it a go!” Justin Ferris, sailing master on the Botin 52 Caro, was echoing the thoughts of almost every navigator across the fleet of 103 yachts, mere hours before the start of the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. For a week leading up to the Boxing Day start, a large low pressure system had been hanging persistently over the New South Wales and Victorian border, throwing off clusters of thunderstorms like grenades and leaving forecasters and navigators alike baffled as to when it would move and in what direction. The uncertainty persisted all the way to race day, the…

AN INFLATABLE REVOLUTION? A new technology which custom shapes dynamic inflatable structures, and at half the weight of current drop stitch methods, could lead to big changes in marine products, watersports and more In 2007 we saw the first drop stitch-built inflatable paddleboards come on to the market, and since then paddleboarding’s popularity has skyrocketed. It’s estimated that around eight million people did some form of paddleboarding activity in the UK alone in 2021. Affordability and portability makes a SUP (stand-up paddleboard) one of the easiest entry points for people to get out on the water. However, these inflatable platforms can lack the sophistication and performance of a hard board or rigid hull, to some extent limiting both what people can do with them and the design of new inflatable…

Sailing in the middle of the world’s oceans gave Chris Brooks plenty of experience handling big weather conditions. He shares his knowledge here with Andy Rice. Across 45,000 miles of sailing around the world on the Clipper Race, keeping the boat going fast and safely in survival conditions reaches the point of becoming routine. But it’s something never to be taken for granted, and there are systems and routines to keep the risk of breakage and injury to a minimum. “In a long offshore race, think at least three hours ahead – ideally more – so you can plan for what’s about to hit you. Getting things in place, with the rig set-up, the sail selection, the crew preparation, all those things are much easier to organise ahead of time…

‘Today it’s very difficult to find pure innovation’ MICHEL DESJOYEAUX NOMINATES MONITOR “It has to be Monitor, of course! The father of all flying rockets!” says Desjoyeaux. One of the world’s first sailing hydrofoils, Monitor was created in 1955 by Gordon Baker, who designed military hydrofoils, and built by his company, JG Baker Manufacturing, with input from the US Navy. “[It was] at the same stage of the current America’s Cup, with the technologies of that time,” explains Desjoyeaux. “Today, it’s very difficult to find pure innovation, as lots of solutions have been tested/tried. Most of the time, only successful ones are known. (Though I heard that at the end of the 18th century, they pulled a flying machine on Thames river, by horses running on both sides!).” Monitor carried…

Finnish solo sailor Ari Känsäkoski safely made landfall in Durban, South Africa, on 16 January, 25 days and 1,600 miles after dismasting in the remote Indian Ocean. Känsäkoski, who was competing in the Global Solo Challenge – the single-handed ‘pursuit’ style non-stop around the world race – was dismasted on his Class 40 Fuji on the night of 21 December in the Roaring Forties. He was sailing in the Indian Ocean at a latitude of over 41° south, when the D1 lower diagonal shroud failed after shearing off at the tip-cup. Känsäkoski dropped all sails, hoping to secure the mast at first light by rigging a Dyneema replacement D1 or similar, but in 20 knot winds the boat’s violent rolling under bare poles caused the deck-stepped mast to buckle, breaking…

The third leg of the Ocean Globe Race, the Whitbread-era-style around the world race, is underway from Auckland, New Zealand to Punta del Este, Uruguay on a classic Southern Ocean leg. However, the skipper of race leaders Translated 9, the Swan 65 which won both Legs 1 and 2, has stepped down after breaching the race rules regarding sail repairs and making a false declaration. An investigation by Ocean Globe Race organisers found that three sails from Translated 9 – a genoa and two spinnakers – were sent to a sailmaker for inspection and repair in Auckland, New Zealand, following the team’s arrival after winning Leg 2. According to the Notice of Race, sails can not be sent to a sailmaker for repairs without approval and advanced notice, though a…

Wharram’s Legacy I was delighted to see Yachting World publish the article ‘Wharram’s Legacy’ in your December 2023 issue. I love the drawings by Benjamin Flao, he is an amazing artist and I greatly admire his skills. A longer version was published in French in Voiles & Voiliers, but as many people do not read French I am very happy to see it now published in English. However, I noticed one change in the text [from] the French version and something I would like to contest. One sentence describes Wharram’s first pioneering Atlantic voyage on the 23ft 6in double canoe Tangaroa: “Despite a fraught passage, encountering storms in the Bay of Biscay; being suspected of being spies by Franco’s Guardia Civil, and twice nearly capsizing, the trio successfully crossed the…

Gripped by the nail-biting battle at the finish for line honours of the Sydney Hobart race, as the leaders were heading up the Derwent River, I was 455 miles east of Martinique on day 14 of a transatlantic, glued to updates through a temperamental Starlink connection. If you didn’t follow it, then check out Crosbie Lorimer’s report (on page 50) and the highlights video. It was the second-closest finish in race history. It never ceases to blow my mind that a 600-mile race can come down to seconds. We’ve all said it before when racing (particularly when you are at the back!): “It’s not over, until it’s over. Anything can happen.” But it’s when we see a finish like that, where we are reminded that nothing is set in stone…

LOA 10.95m 35ft 11in Beam 3.80m 12ft 6in Draught 0.70m 2ft 4in to 2.40m 7ft 11in Displacement 7,800kg 17,200lb Think big, choose small. Here we see the culmination of a lifetime of good ideas and practical experience from a veteran designer and shipyard poured into a comparatively compact package. The B36 is designed by and built for racing sailor, designer and J Class supremo Gerard Dykstra to downsize from his previous Bestevaer – in both size and desired cruising areas – from past high latitudes exploits to his local wetlands. Favourite features include the deep, protected cockpit and doghouse (for seated watchkeeping), the deep stowage in both, the drop down transom step-cum-swim platform, the kick-up rudder blade, and of course the centreplate, which helps allow you to dry out while…

What do you do when you have yachts that are as diverse as innovative daysailers, a lake sportsboat, a recyclable one-design and an elite high-end carbon weapon? Well we define them as ‘Special’. And this year’s eclectic bunch really were special and full of interesting new ideas. Take the Cape Cod 767 (no, I’d never heard of it either). This is just the kind of delightful niche French daysailer the EYOTY programme helps uncover. It’s a 25ft modern trailable dayboat packed with fresh thinking, yet from a traditional Bordeaux yard which builds classic style craft. Innovative features include the kick up rudder, a retractable mechanism for the electric drive, a pop up cockpit table, and folding backrests – it’s like something from a Transformers movie. And there are neat details…

For all the pain that this famous race dishes out year after year, it has never wanted for competitors over its 78-year history (backed by Rolex since 2002). A wooden plaque in the shape of Tasmania, which hangs in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s members’ bar, bears the names of over 130 ‘Hobart Heroes’ who have competed more than 25 times. So what exactly lures sailors back year after year? Navigator Lindsay May doubled that milestone in 2023 aboard Geoff Hill’s Antipodes, celebrating his 50th consecutive race since 1973. “Fifty years just crept up on me and I’ve been more than fortunate to be invited by generous owners and key crew, to be part of their team. In all, only 18 owners across 21 yachts,” he recalls. “What draws…

It’s often thought that yachts with wide forward sections inevitably slam uncomfortably in head seas. But that’s not always the case as, when the boat heels, the hull’s immersed section changes shape and no longer presents the flat underside to the waves. Conversely, traditional hull designs with a V shape forward might slice through waves neatly when upright, but can slam badly when heeled as they present an almost flat surface that bashes down on the water after plunging off wave crests. I tested a prototype C46, used as a test bed for almost every conceivable extra (which made it over 70% more expensive than the base price model). For my first sail we had a cross-shore breeze of 8-15 knots, combined with an awkward short onshore swell generated by…

In his new book, Knowledge 2.0, author Mark Chisnell – who has been published on a wide range of topics and is also a former professional sailor, navigator, and most recently a rules advisor for the British America’s Cup challenge INEOS Britannia – offers a ‘user’s guide to knowledge’. The book tackles tricky questions such as: how much is survival in extreme situations down to chance? How much self-confidence is too much… and can lead to disaster? Each area of knowledge is illustrated with examples from sailing. “Competing in sailing’s elite events – the Olympics, the America’s Cup or professional ocean racing – requires high-level knowledge across many disciplines. It demands knowledge of science, engineering, data analytics, computer science, simulation and modelling, deal making, finance, human resources, management, marketing and…

January 2024 saw two fleets of cruisers set off on a sociable circumnavigation, with the 13th edition of the World ARC departing Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia, meanwhile the Oyster World Rally fleet also began their world tour from Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua. The 26,000-mile World ARC route saw 27 yachts start the 2024/25 edition together, heading initially to Santa Marta in Colombia before the San Blas Islands of Panama, where they’ll gather for a Panama Canal transit in February, then into the Pacific to the Galapagos, French Polynesia, and beyond. In total 37 yachts have signed up to take part in the World ARC, with some boats switching in and out in Australia and Indonesia. Lane Jacobs, the owner of Bristol 57 Corsair (USA), commented at the start: “I’ve wanted to…

Hallberg-Rassy 69 tested Toby Hodges had an exclusive two-day test of the largest Hallberg-Rassy ever, sailing it from the Swedish yard in freezing mid-December. Why go this big, who’s it for and does it deliver under sail (enough to thaw him out)…? Land down under The vast coastline of Australia offers varied cruising experiences, from iconic seafront cities to total isolation. Saskia Stainer-Hutchins and husband explored the east coast from Brisbane to Sydney in a Lagoon 46 – and left as better sailors Expert techniques Skills and tips including sailing a yacht with electric propulsion — and how to make the best of this new technology, forecasting currents, and multihull handling Get ready to sail around the world What does it take to prepare for a round the world rally…

The definition of luxury will differ according to personal opinion and from boat to boat. This year’s nominees proved that perfectly. The Contest 50CS, for example, is an archetype luxury cruiser, one built to the highest standards and that could take you to most waters in impeccable comfort. This model is, uniquely, available in two versions: this more conventional 50CS with aft master cabin, or the forward owner’s suite version on the aft cockpit 49CS. We ran a full test on the latter after spending two days aboard in the North Sea, where that noticeably high freeboard, which may not aid boarding nor windage, helped keep us dry on deck in a steady Force 6 gusting 7. As the 50CS proved, this Judel/Vrolijk design keeps slipping along in the light…

“The moon is waxing and rising later now, so there are magnificent star-spotting opportunities,” the crew of Adina blogged. “The Plough, Orion’s Belt and Venus have been joined by the Crux, Mitaxa and Hyades.” “The sky at night is epic,” reported another crew from the ARC rally. “We saw shooting stars and a meteorite that streaked orange across the sky one night last week.” Seeing a night sky teeming with stars, or the moon lighting your path across the sea, are some of the most unforgettable sights of ocean sailing. Like landing a pelagic fish, enjoying a sundowner at dusk, or encountering your first tradewinds squall, these are timeless experiences that come with every Atlantic crossing. How people sail their boats and live on board does change, however, and the…

The weather looked truly terrible for a sail through the San Juan Islands. The week’s National Weather Service forecasts displayed that unwelcome ‘cloud and rain shower’ graphic, puffy gale symbols, and even a few icicle icons. But what did I expect in December at 48° north latitude, on Washington’s west coast? Yet I was determined to go sailing. Optimism, that essential sailor’s friend, ruled the day. I counted some factors in my favour: tucked 70 miles inside the Strait of Juan de Fuca, the San Juans lie in the rain shadow of both the Olympic mountain range and Vancouver Island. This would temper both rain and gales. I’d also have plenty of shelter: the San Juans abound in perfectly protected anchorages, with good depths and sticky mud that positively grabs…

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The Yachting World Diamond is a Jack Holt design which continues to attract devotees – who sail them on some extraordinary adventures – in Australia, 60 years after its conception During the post-World War II boom years of small-boat sailing, Yachting World promoted some 30 designs, most of which allowed for home construction in plywood. The largest was the Yachting World Keelboat, later renamed the Yachting World Diamond. ‘For years the editor dreamt of a planing keelboat,’ the magazine later reported of the resulting Jack Holt design. The prototype, Zest, built by R&W Clark in East Cowes, ‘was thoroughly tested in the hard winds and seas of the autumn and early winter of 1960 (and) surpassed the highest hopes of her.’ Two rigs were tested – masthead and a three…