Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2025 i Yachting Monthly

Swedish sailor Dag Eresund was tragically lost overboard from Volvo 70 racing yacht Ocean Breeze while sailing across the Atlantic with the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) which sees hundreds of yachts safely cross the ocean each year. An 18-hour search for Eresund was called off at the end of daylight on 2 December amid worsening seas and gusts up to 30 knots. ARC yachts had been asked to divert to help search the area 20024.838’N 043011.623’W and to keep a lookout for any signs of a person in the water. ‘It is with great sadness that the World Cruising Club (WCC) confirms that 33-year-old Swedish sailor Dag Eresund was lost overboard from yacht Ocean Breeze on Monday 2 December at 0227 UTC,’ said the WCC, which organises the ARC.…

Scotland’s recreational boaters have united against Peel Ports Clydeport’s plans to introduce a conservancy fee on the Clyde estuary – citing concerns that this will restrict freedoms to sail in Scottish waters and will have a negative impact upon marine tourism. At a recent meeting of the Scottish Parliament’s cross-party group on marine tourism, members of the boating community called on Peel Ports to abandon the proposal. Finlo Cottier, CEO of RYA Scotland said: ‘This is about the imposition of a fee with no clear provision of service or facility across a huge part of the recreational boating community. The Clyde is unique in the UK in its size and character, and the Clydeport area which Peel Port controls extends well beyond the commercial shipping channels.’ Sarah Kennedy, Chair of…

Many years ago, I was on a family motoring holiday driving towards Brittany when, in a small town, we passed under a banner proclaiming a regatta. I was baffled: we were still 40 kilometres from the coast. Such hinterland support for sailing was new to me: back home a candy-floss stick’s length from the coast, folks knew nothing and cared less about the maritime world. On more than one occasion I’ve been asked by day-trippers, whether the dark lump of Kent on the other side of the Thames Estuary is France. I once even overheard a young mum say: ‘Look, you can see Calais,’ as she pointed to Sheerness nine miles away. I recently mentioned this to six-times solo circumnavigator Jean-Luc Van Den Heede who was publicising his autobiography (The…

The Beneteau Oceanis brand is one of the bestknown and recognisable in cruising yachts today. Sixty different models or variations have been built over a span of nearly 40 years, ranging from 28ft to 62ft, and in large numbers, making Oceanis almost ubiquitous in virtually every harbour and marina. The Oceanis 38.1, the predecessor of the Oceanis in question today, reached 800 hulls built in just under a decade of production of this one model. That’s some serious output. Some of this is driven by demand from the charter market, with its insatiable appetite for boats that are modern, spacious, easy to sail and affordable, but those characteristics also make the boat appealing to private owners. Most sailors don’t, it transpires, aspire to round Cape Horn or to reach the…

Sailing itself is not that difficult, with a few basic techniques and rules to keep you and your boat safe, whether you’re on a 50-footer or a dinghy. Since Covid 19, plenty of people have bought a boat and crossed the Atlantic without any major issues with very little prior experience. On the flip side, many highly experienced sailors may never have crossed the Atlantic, but are likely to have come across plenty of challenges and even damaging themselves or their boat. That’s because manoeuvring in harbour requires, in many ways, far more skill and knowledge than sailing in a straight line and anchoring in open bays. I’m going to explore the equipment, procedures, and possible challenges that can arise and how to overcome these. Yacht owners invest a lot…

There is not a sailor in the world who does not recognise the craggy, conical peak of Cape Horn. It is, like it or not, the ultimate sailing goal, the siren of all nautical aspiration, the rubicon, once crossed, that bestows sailing spurs upon the voyager. Cape Horn’s lure haunts everyone from the man in the creek to the ocean voyager. And yet more people – many more – have ascended Mount Everest (11,996) than doubled Cape Horn (2,319). Of the Cape Horners, 1,975 were crews, only 194 were solo non-stop circumnavigators, and the remaining 150 sailed round with stops. Not a single sailor who has rounded Cape Horn ever forgets it, and it is the most human of desires to want to share it with others. It is for…

www.yachtingmonthly.com/books During the last two days of the gale, I noticed that the wind tended to drop a little after sunset and freshen up to its full fury by nine or ten next morning. Bearing this in mind, I left Furusand at daybreak on 1 September and sailed down to the outer edge of the skerries where I dropped anchor in a natural harbour to wait for nightfall. I tried to get some rest before the night crossing but found it quite impossible to relax and ignore the menacing sound of the wind roaring across the outer skerries. Towards evening I laid off a number of courses on the chart, and sat in the cockpit for some while trying to memorise the exact positions of all the unlit buoys and…

A new study by the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) in Southampton has revealed where marine heatwave events are most likely to occur in UK waters and how long they are likely to last. The study, led by NOC biogeochemical modeller Dr Zoe Jacobs and published in Frontiers in Marine Science, shows there are regional marine heatwave hotspots in the southern North Sea and English Channel and calls for more research. Using computer models, the study revealed that these regions may also be susceptible to low oxygen compound events near the sea floor, highlighting the threat to benthic ecosystems. It also uncovered regions that have marine habitats that are more sensitive to marine heatwave events. The research was sparked by the occurrence of an intense marine heatwave in UK waters in…

Fambridge Yacht Haven has successfully diverted 66,505kg of waste from landfill in 2024 through its partnership with Green Recycling, a significant milestone for the group which reflects the marina’s 2022 commitment to ensuring that no waste generated on site is sent to landfill. The 2024 results demonstrate the successful strategy: 77% of waste collected was recycled; 23% of waste was converted into energy; 0% of waste was sent to landfill. Fambridge Yacht Haven provides Green Recycling skips at its River Crouch marina to collect a wide range of materials, including: food, paper, cardboard, glass, metal, wood, and plastics. ‘As custodians, we’re responsible for maintaining and preserving our marinas, ensuring our coastal areas are future-proofed for generations to come,’ said Danyal Adams, marina manager. ‘We’ve listened to what our customers and…

Aseagoing boat is not a toy. It is the most serious of vehicles, built to let humans brave an unpredictable, lethally dangerous element with efficient control and reasonable dispatch. Boat design and boatbuilding are therefore solemn endeavours, demanding utter trust from vulnerable human customers who will face peril miles away from help. Materials, rig and balance in design can make the difference between life and death. With all that seriousness, does a boat’s prettiness matter? Do you, should you, mind whether your boat is good to look at, not a frump but a smokin’ hot babe or a timelessly elegant dowager? You will, after all, be mainly on board when she is afloat, so it’s other people’s view you are enhancing or spoiling. Does beauty matter? Some will immediately cry…

Use AIS but don’t forget the basics The introduction of AIS has made our lives much easier, especially if you integrate it in such a way that the vessels or objects are presented on your chartplotter. Although I am not a fan of integrating all electronics, it certainly adds to the convenience, especially for those of us who only sail a couple of weeks a year. It also has the tendency, however, to make us a bit lazy. When the AIS is used for collision avoidance, it is a good and necessary practice to check what you are deducing from the AIS before taking action. You should always look outside or, in case of limited visibility, check the radar. In the navy we always said, ‘It is happening outside,’ a…

All the fun at a fraction of the cost? Many sailors dream of owning their own boat, with heady dreams of a seafaring life, but the mundane reality is that many yachts sit unused for the majority of the year, with a few weekends and weeks of cruising here and there. It can be difficult to justify the return on investment of money, as well as the time needed not only to go sailing but to maintain your pride and joy. That’s where shared ownership comes in. Get the details right, and you could have all the benefits of owning your own boat for a fraction of the cost and time of being sole custodian. It’s satisfying to know the boat is getting properly used too, and maintenance will be…

The Atlantic passage had been strange. The crossing from Scotland to the west coast of Greenland, or vice versa, is usually ‘the meanest Atlantic crossing of them all’, fraught with gales halfway across due to the depressions regularly spinning up from Newfoundland to the Faroes and Iceland. I have previously termed the mid-point ‘gale alley’. But that year it was strangely calm all the way across. After six days of gentle breezes, one of the South African climbers turned to me and said, ‘Is this your gale alley, Bob?’ Cheeky monkey! The crew, Steve Bradshaw, David Glass, Clinton Martinengo and Andy Porter, were hard climbers from South Africa who had written to me and asked, ‘We are looking for an adventure this summer, have you any suggestions?’ ‘Well’, I replied,…

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On sailing boats the exhaust pipe is swept up into a ‘swan neck’ to stop following waves flooding the exhaust when the engine isn’t running. Exhaust gas normally drives water up over the swan neck and out of the system, but of course if the engine isn’t running and seawater is entering the system, water will accumulate in the lowest section of the exhaust pipe. Eventually there will be enough water to enter the exhaust manifold and run into any cylinder that has its exhaust valve open. Because water is incompressible it can shatter the piston or bend a connecting rod if you attempt to start the engine with water in the cylinder. Seawater entering working parts can also contaminate the oil and cause serious corrosion. WHY IT NEEDS TO…

SADLER 26 A more conventional yacht with a massive reputation, which was on Peter’s list of possible purchases before he bought Curlew, is the Sadler 26. This was the third design built by father-and-son team David and Martin Sadler, following on from the Sadler 25 and the Sadler 32 (which themselves followed on from David’s involvement with the Contessa 26 and 32). But whereas the Contessa ethos stayed closer to the boats’ Folkboat origins, with low freeboard and (in the case of the Contessa 26) long keel, the Sadler designs moved the concept firmly into the modern era. The result was a seaworthy little yacht with a generous amount of accommodation – ample compared to the Contessa 26, though modest compared to the Ranger 245. The 9ft 5in beam, compared…

Super-fast conditions riding the edge of a low pressure system in the South Atlantic have seen solo sailors in the Vendée Globe race repeatedly smash the 24-hour solo record, now standing at an astonishing 579 miles. The front pack of Charlie Dalin, Macif Santé Prévoyance, now leading the race, Thomas Ruyant, Vulnerable, Nicolas Lunven, Holcim – PRB, Sébastien Simon, Groupe Dubreuil, Jérémie Beyou, Charal, and Yoann Richomme, Paprec Arkéa, all broke the 24-hour record, each going faster and faster. But it was Sébastien Simon who trumped the fast moving posse with a new record of 615.33 miles in 24 hours on 27 November en route to Cape Town in 24-26-knot winds. The improved wave handling capabilities of the latest generation of foiling IMOCA yachts combined with a manageable sea state…

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) has launched a public consultation into new safety measures set to make the search and rescue response faster and easier for people carrying Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) on the water. The MCA is proposing an update to bring PLBs under the same registration requirements that currently apply to Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs). The change would require people to register their current and any new PLBs with the MCA – free of charge – if they are used in a maritime environment, ranging from sea and coast to inland rivers and lakes. Registration means that when a PLB is activated, HM Coastguard can use the details to identify, verify and locate the person in distress and send help more quickly and effectively in…

CHARTER GUIDE Plan your next adventure afloat. Where to go sailing? FLOTILLA IN GREECE The best of the Saronic Gulf and all its history SAILING WITH FAMILY Cast off with youngsters BE THE FIRST TO READ IT Subscribe at www.yachtingmonthly.com End of life for yachts It occurs to me that it could be possible to reuse yachts as homes on land. With the purchase of sites for lots of mobile homes, why not consider older yachts which may no longer be as safe as would be desired when afloat? A family of three or four (with small children) could easily live in any boat over 36 feet long. After having their masts and keels removed, the yachts could then be set into a concrete base. Proper plumbing, gas and electricity…

HI-LIFT LIFEJACKET £285 www.teamomarine.com Outstanding innovation from Southampton-based firm TeamO Marine who impressed the DAME jury with this new design which features a twisted bladder that moves most of the wasted buoyancy above the waterline, found on conventional lifejackets, to an inflated pillow on the casualty’s back – lifting the upper torso out of the water whilst keeping the nose and mouth higher. The wide-set front of the jacket provides stability in the water and controls the orientation of the face and body in line with ISO standards. The fit around the neck is designed to be comfortable during long periods of wear, with the re-distribution of the bladder volume allowing the lifejacket to be much slimmer when packed. Its 150N performance outperforms the ISO standard required for a 275N…

What to do with difficult crew mid Atlantic? Q Jim is regretting taking on Ed as crew on a transatlantic voyage. Bellatrix is a sturdy 13m production GRP yacht in good condition with all the recommended safety gear for ocean sailing. Jim, who is well qualified and experienced, sailed from the UK to the Canary Islands with four crew who all got on well. Unfortunately one of them had to fly back for family reasons. Jim knew he could continue the passage to Antigua with three crew, but four would be better. Ed met Jim when he was walking past Bellatrix on the pontoon. He struck up a conversation with Jim, complemented him on his yacht and explained that he was a highly experienced yacht crew looking for a berth…

Zen Again, our Japanese designed and built 1980s IOR ¾ tonner, is a wellequipped ‘pocket’ blue-water cruiser. She has over 50,000 miles under her keel with us and about twice that with previous owners. The original Japanese owners circumnavigated South America from Japan. The second Japanese owner did a single-handed partial circumnavigation of the Pacific, finishing in Australia. We purchased her at home in Australia and have spent the last 10 years slowly circumnavigating. We started the season on the hard in Deltaville on Chesapeake Bay in the US. We prepared Zen Again by changing from a 16kg to a 20kg Manson Supreme anchor, 8mm to 10mm anchor chain, rewiring the mast, a new Tasker mainsail, a Tides Marine Sailtrack and a new Pelagic autopilot, some of which is will…

THE ROUTE The Northwest Passage was completed via Lancaster Sound – Beechey Island – Resolute – Peel Sound – Tasmanian Islands – Victoria Strait – Cambridge Bay – Tuktoyaktuk – Barrow Head – Chukchi Sea – Bering Strait – Nome, Alaska (where we left the boat for the winter). From Scotland to Nome was 6,059 miles. It took approximately a month and a half for the Northwest Passage itself, setting off on 8 June from the west coast of Scotland and arriving on 20 September in Nome, Alaska. RECOMMENDATIONS 1 For the Northwest Passage, sailors must undergo an ‘apprenticeship’ and gain experience of sailing through ice floes. It is too serious an undertaking to go through the Passage without proper preparation; conditions year-round are entirely unpredictable. 2 Two must-have books…

And then there was light, most welcome it was, too after a gruelling drive via several motorways into the pitch black New Forest. I drove on, motivated by the thought that somewhere ahead of me, a berth aboard a Nicholson 35 awaited and a glass or two with the skipper and crew. Thankfully the receptionist at the Master Builder’s House Hotel was a local lass and knew where Gin’s Farm was. Down through a winding lane, converted to a fairy-tale tunnel from overhanging and leafless oaks, I at last saw the light of Gin’s Farm reflected in the cold, low tide mud of the Beaulieu River. Barrie Martin, commodore of the Little Ship Club and his crew Celia Greetham, batted not an eyelid between them at my late arrival for…

For our Atlantic crossings in 2015 and 2016, we installed an Iridium satellite communication system together with special equipment to compress emails in order to limit the colossal expense of communicating using it. It meant we could keep abreast of weather forecasts whilst on passage by importing GRIB files (concise binary stored meteorological information) and for publishing accounts of Hejira’s ocean adventures in blogs on our website. Unfortunately, a ‘user error’ resulted in a whopping £6,000 bill, due to my ineptitude one calamitous afternoon. I had removed the firewall to send a picture – of a large omelette – attached to a blog I was publishing but forgot to put the firewall back on! The connected onboard electronics then had a field day updating, downloading and doing whatever they wanted…

You can’t miss Peter Waite’s boat Curlew. As you come out of the Stoke Gabriel estuary on the River Dart, she’s the first yacht you meet on the line of deep(er) moorings that run up and down the river proper. This means the Hunter Ranger 245 is visible from Peter’s house in the village but it also means some newbie sailors literally can’t miss her, and on at least one occasion, Peter has had to fix a rather nasty ding in the topsides where a dinghy has rammed into the boat. I used to keep my Victoria 26 about four moorings up from Curlew – safely out of the line of fire – and she always struck me as a bold-looking boat with a purposeful air. We loved our Victoria…