All At Sea May 2009

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BRITAIN’S MOST READ WATERFRONT NEWSPAPER May 2009 • VOLUME 9 • NUMBER 5

Fundraising voyage rekindles memories

The ladies are back

Ellen MacArthur > page 14

Shelley Jory > page 16

www.yachtline.co.uk Tel: 020 7403 3884 • Fax: 020 7403 3885 E-mail: yachtline@yachtline.co.uk Web: www.yachtline.co.uk

Paddle your own canoe

A GUIDE TO EASTBOURNE

Sign up to save fireworks

Canoeing & kayaking > page 18

Boating Britain > page 23

COWES Week Limited is appealing to businesses, sailors, and the public to support the traditional fireworks display by making an on-line donation to a new fund that has been set up to help raise money for the event.

There has already been a significant contribution towards the cost of the extravaganza from a generous anonymous donor, and more than 3,500 members of a new Facebook group, Save Cowes Week Fireworks, have pledged to contribute towards the display.

But since sponsorship for the sailing week ended there are still considerable funds to be raised.

Stuart Quarrie, CEO of Cowes Week Limited, said: “If you feel strongly about the Photo: Rick Tomlinson

Cowes Week fireworks, we ask you to play your part in ensuring that the display goes ahead by making a donation.

“We are extremely grateful for the support we have already received from the local business community, sailors, members of the public and of course from our anonymous donor, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them publicly. However, there is still a way to go to ensure the show will go on.”

TURN TO PAGE 2

SPECIAL FEATURE YOUR EIGHT PAGE PULLOUT GUIDE TO CHARTER HOLIDAYS

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | news@allatsea.co.uk

CREW AND CONTENTS Sea talk.. ................................................ 2 News...................................................... 2 Kit - the latest boating gear.........10 Sailing through the crunch......... 11 Consultant Editor Bob Satchwell

Ad Manager Katie Hawksworth

Sticky’s Tips........................................ 13 Ellen MacArthur.. ............................. 14 Sébastien Josse.. .............................. 15 Shelley Jory....................................... 16 Canoeing & kayaking.. .......... 18 - 19

Group Sales Manager Jody Bratley

Managing Director Sue Baggaley

In the drink........................................ 20 Boating Britain...........................23-34 Charter Holidays pullout.. ..... I - VIII Book reviews.. ................................... 28 Private adverts................................. 32

South Coast Rep. Bill Oakley

Designer Flo Terentjev

Production Controller Anthony Gibbons Contributors Ellen MacArthur Philip Dunn Sébastien Josse Shelley Jory Sticky Staplyton Paul Antrobus Anna Sachdev Published monthly by CSL Publishing Ltd Alliance House 49 Sidney Street Cambridge CB2 3HX Tel: 01223 460490 Fax: 01223 315960 Subscriptions: 01223 444081 Recycled paper made up 79% of the raw material for UK newspapers in 2009.

Classifieds...........................................43 RNLI...................................................... 46 Weather and tides........................... 46 The views and opinions of the contributors to this publication are not necessarily those of the Publishers.

Accordingly, the Publishers disclaim any responsibility for such views and opinions. Printed in Cambridge by Cambridge Newspapers.

Copyright 2009 CSL Publishing Ltd. ISSN 1475-8237

All At Sea is copyright of CSL Publishing Ltd 2009 and may not be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher.

Every care is taken in compiling the contents, but the proprietors assume no responsibility for any effect rising there from. We welcome unsolicited manuscripts and photographs, but accept no responsibility for their loss, damage or total disappearance.

CSL Publishing also publishes Boat Mart, Classic Car Mart, Jet Skier and PW and Sportsboat and RIB magazines.

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Go to www.allatsea.co.uk or call 01223 444081

Generosity at sea CHARITY begins at sea.

That is the only conclusion to be drawn from all the marvellous reports we get about events that give people facing special challenges in their lives the chance to get on the water or raise cash for charities, or both.

The Ellen MacArthur Trust is as inspiring as the woman who provided its name and gives young people in recovery from cancer the opportunity to sail. The circumnavigation of Britain and Ireland will be a wonderful adventure for them and a trip down memory lane for Dame Ellen who sailed solo around the country as a teenager.

Then there is the Toe in the Water charity that gives servicemen and women who have suffered serious injuries the chance to restore their confidence and self esteem by learning new boating skills.

Many of the 1,800 boats that will take part in next month’s JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race will raise funds for charity and there are countless other events across the boating season when the generous boating fraternity thinks of others.

And the value of boating is summed up brilliantly in a comment about the new Sailability boat just named at Fishbourne on the Isle of Wight. Geoff Holt, of Personal Everest fame, said: “It is hard to put into words the sense of freedom, independence and just sheer pleasure disabled people feel when out on the water.”

It may be hard to explain but we all know the feeling of freedom and the sense of achievement gained from the shortest coastal passage.

Think how those young people in Dorset feel when they

Seatalk

By Bob Satchwell

get to sail for just a fiver or how inexperienced sailors view their lives when they complete a circumnavigation or even one leg of the Clipper world race or similar events.

Top sailors, like the elite men and women in other sports, give us more that money can buy. Their amazing achievements, sometimes supported by another big source of charity funding, the Lottery, spur us on in our own less dazzling lives.

Perhaps most inspiring of all are the volunteers who go to sea when we are tucked up under warm duvets. The men and women who crew lifeboats around Britain and Ireland set a magnificent example. No wonder the RNLI exists totally on voluntary funding. That is another example of charity at sea and long may it continue without the interference of the state.

And finally we get our reward for all this generosity of spirit through events such as the fireworks that wrap up Cowes Week, the most famous sailing event on the planet.

The fireworks are free to the boating fraternity and tens of thousands of holiday makers.

But nothing in life is really free. Isle of Wight businesses that benefit from the tourist dividend rightly contribute to the cost but is it not reasonable to ask the public for a donation? If we all give at least a pound the thrills can continue.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Since Cowes Week Limited asked the local business community to help fund the annual firework display earlier this year there has been huge support from Isle of Wight businesses and from individuals. The money donated will go towards the cost of policing the event and the extensive infrastructure needed to ensure the safety of the display.

The world-famous fireworks display takes place on the last Friday of every Cowes Week. This year it will take place on Friday 7 August.

Cowes Week is an integral part of the British social and sporting calendar and attracts around 100,000 visitors to Cowes.

The Southern Tourist Board estimates that Cowes Week contributes £60 million to the Isle of Wight economy Join the Facebook groups: Cowes Week is the Best and Save Cowes Week Fireworks or make a donation - the minimum endowment is £1.00 - through the official Cowes Week website: www.cowesweek.co.uk Photo: Rick Tomlinson

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | www.allatsea.co.uk

Toe in the Water sailors take on top race teams FIVE injured service personnel from the Royal Navy, Army and the RAF took to the water at the Warsash Spring Championships racing under the banner of Toe in the Water.

In the second event of the season for the charity that inspires injured servicemen through competitive sailing, Toe in the Water entered three J80 keel boats as Tip Toe, Big Toe and Little Toe in the two-day series.

After a day of training, the injured servicemen raced in the highly competitive class in ideal conditions with around 15-18 knots of wind and bright spring sunshine.

All three boats produced credible results, with Tip Toe and Big Toe leading the rankings posting top 10 finishes in every race, in what is a very competitive fleet.

Toe in the Water Co-founder Captain Holly King said: “We had the Royal Navy, the Army and the RAF sailing on one boat for the first time.

Despite their different backgrounds, they worked really well as a team and by the end of the weekend they were all on a real high.”

The majority of the injured servicemen who sail with Toe in the Water have no previous sailing experience. Army physiotherapist Holly, from the New Forest, added: “The matched sports boats are ideal for Toe in the Water’s needs. The J80s are more forgiving than some of other sports boats and are quite nippy with lots to do. So with the smaller five-man teams the injured guys can get quickly involved in trimming and racing the boats.”

One of injured servicemen taking to the water for the first time at the weekend was Able Seaman Gary Young, 23, from Glasgow. He broke both hips last year during his RN training.

“Five months ago I was in a wheelchair and now I’m out sailing.

It was extremely difficult to start off with – both physically and getting used to all the jargon but I genuinely

NEWS in brief Down to the line WITH only days to go first race of the P1 powerboat world championships in Malta on May 8, Shelley Jory did not have sponsorship for the season. But she decided to take the F1 “Brawn” approach – get to the line, prove she can get results and keeping hunting down the sponsors. She has formed the first all-girl team Maltese lady racer, Audrien Ciantar.

See Shelley’s own story - page 16

Yarmouth deal YARMOUTH Harbour Commissioners on the Isle of Wight are offering special berthing rates to visiting craft on overnight rates from Monday to Thursday excluding public holidays.

Vessels up to nine metres can expect a £5.00 discount and vessels over nine metres a £10.00 discount.

This applies to any of the Harbour Commissioners’ moorings. There is a facility on the harbour website to book in advance for 15 berths on the ‘walk ashore’ pontoons while 200 other berths will continue to be allocated on a first come first served basis. www.yarmouth-harbour.co.uk

Honda goes west

Sub Lt Kirsty Archibald (second from right) sailing on Little Toe

felt part of the team.”

On Sunday accomplished round the world skipper Hannah Jenner joined the crew of Tip Toe. Shrewsburyborn Hannah, 28, skippered Glasgow: Scotland with style into third place in the 36,000-mile Clipper Round the World Yacht Race last year.

Sub Lieutenant Kirsty Archibald was also sailing with Toe in the Water. Kirsty, 27, from Hertfordshire fractured her back causing damage to her spinal cord .

Also sailing was Private Andy Nanton, 31, from Finsbury Park in London. Andy, who serves with the 4 RIFLES snapped the patella tendon in his left leg in May 2007

whilst representing the Army in a track and field event. Since then he has been receiving physiotherapy at Headley Court. Prior to last weekend, elite athlete Andy had never sailed.

“It’s been great, I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s the first time I’ve sailed, but I definitely want to do some more.”

Toe in the Water relies on voluntary contributions and the generosity of many organisations that offer their support. Toe in the Water Director Tanya Brookfield said: “This second event of the season was a great success. For the five injured guys that took part, it could well mark a turning point in their recovery.

“We’re hoping to get over 60 injured

Photo: Simon Limbrey

servicemen out sailing this year and that will make a significant difference to those lives that have been severely affected by traumatic injuries.”

The charity, founded last year, will be entering teams in seven events throughout 2009. The programme started with the Red Funnel Easter Challenge and includes J80 National Championships, the JP Morgan Round the Island Race, Cowes Week, Dartmouth Week and the J80 Autumn Cup. Toe in the Water receives no state funding and relies entirely on voluntary contributions from individuals, trusts and companies. www.toeinthewater.org

THE Honda Formula 4-Stroke Powerboat Race season opens in Pwllheli on May 9 and 10. Up to 20 Cougar powerboats will visit the towns’ marina. It will be the first of five race weekends which will take place throughout the UK with a mixture of 150hp and 225hp boats across two classes. The F4SA celebrates its tenth anniversary alongside sponsor Honda who created the series in 1999.

Special offers WORLDWIDE sailing company Sunsail are offering special deals to sail in the Round the Island Race in June and Cowes Week in August by extending opportunities to use the company’s matched fleet of 60 Sunfast 37s for Racing Charter, Day Racing and hospitality packages at the Cowes Regatta and the chance to join the 1,800 yachts competing for the fastest time round the island.

News in brief Stepping out

SUZUKI GB Business Development Manager, Richard Whittaker has left the business after more than 27 years service. Richard joined Suzuki in 1981 and one of his major achievements in his time with Suzuki Marine was in making the case for 4-stroke outboards and identifying the market opportunity in the UK, helping to make Suzuki the fastest growing outboard brand.

Mini sail

TOM McNally who has designed, built and sailed small boats across oceans breaking records and raising thousands for charity plans to set off in his latest boat which is just three feet ten inches long after the North Wales Boat Show in July. He will fly the flag for SAIL 4 CANCER.

Fal River Festival

THE Fal River Festival from May 23 to 30 will celebrate life on the river Fal in Cornwall. The nine-day festival encompasses more than130 events which range from music and drama, the arts and heritage to rowing races, triathlons and walks.

PW action

NORFOLK based WaveRunner dealer Beach Rock Leisure will be holding an action packed PW weekend in aid of the Macmillan Cancer Support charity at Sea Palling on the beautiful Norfolk coast over the weekend of 30 and 31 May. www.beachrockleisure.com

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | news@allatsea.co.uk

Weather and tides by email for island racers SAILORS in this year’s Round the Island Race will be able to receive weather and tidal information via free SMS or email.

Th information will be supplied

by Raymarine a race partner of the JPMorgan Asset Management race.

There will also be a full and detailed weather briefing at the Island Sailing Club, Cowes at 1800 on 19 June for competitors, club race officers and safety boat crews.

Raymarine has teamed up with renowned marine meteorologist Chris Tibbs to provide daily weather briefings during the run up to race day, enabling crews to see the developing weather patterns up to the start of the race.

Downloads will be available from 17 June, giving entrants useful information on weather and tide patterns prior to the race.

Chris will also present the full weather briefing on the eve of the race, providing the weather forecast for the race day, complete with the progression of tides, currents, wind speed and direction for the Isle of

Wight and surrounding waters.

The race, which takes place on 20 June, is the largest and most spectacular yacht race of its

kind in the world, enjoyed by top professionals and newcomers alike.

Attracting more than 1,700 boats and 16,000 sailors, it is vital that

competitors know what to expect from weather and tides.

To receive email or SMS weather alerts, go to www.raymarine.co.uk/rtir.

Gold for Goodison as Brits score five medals

OLYMPIC Laser Champion Paul Goodison struck gold at his first international event of the London cycle, with British sailors picking up a total of five medals at the fourth leg of the ISAF Sailing World Cup in Hyeres, France, last month.

Goodison, 31, who led the single-handed Laser fleet since the second day of the event, finished third in the ten-boat medal race to claim gold 19 points ahead of Russia’s Maxim Semerkhanov in second.

In the heavyweight Finn class Ed Wright picked up silver – his fourth podium finish in five years at this regatta, and his third

Richard Langdon/Skandia Team GBR

consecutive World Cup medal.

“Bryony Shaw’s late form continued in the RS:X women’s windsurfing event and she held on to the silver medal position thanks just two points behind the Chinese winner Chen Peina who struggled in the stronger conditions.

Development squad duo John Gimson and Ed Greig also scored a silver in the Star keelboat class, with Athens bronze medallist Nick Dempsey rounding off the Skandia Team GBR medal haul with a bronze in the RS:X men’s event. http://media.skandiateamgbr.com

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | www.allatsea.co.uk

Cheers – 40 years on SAILING legend Sir Robin-Knox Johnston celebrated the 40th anniversary of his historic solo non stop circumnavigation in the boat that sailed him into the record books.

On April 22 1969, Sir Robin made history as the first man to sail singlehanded and non-stop around the world.

He was the only competitor to finish the Sunday Times Golden Globe yacht race after 312 days alone at sea and is still the only British sailor to win a singlehanded round the world race.

April 22 2009 saw the pioneering skipper mark the 40-year anniversary in central London.

After sailing alone around the planet only two years ago at the age of 68 in the VELUX 5 OCEANS race Sir Robin met his 1969 boat Suhaili at Tower Bridge.

Sir Robin is the Chairman of Clipper Ventures Plc, the marine events company he established in 1995 and which now operates the VELUX 5 OCEANS and the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

He was joined at St Katharine’s Dock by Hull & Humber, one of the ten identical internationallysponsored 68-foot racing yachts which will compete in the next Clipper Race, the only global event for nonprofessional sailors.

On board he was welcomed by eight of the 18 British sailors who have successfully circumnavigated the planet alone, including female skipper Dee Caffari and Dorset hero Steve White, both of whom finished the Vendée Globe race.

Sir Robin said, “Forty years ago

News in brief User friendly Cowes

COWES Harbour Commission is adopting a user-friendly communications programme to ensure regular news is provided feedback is embraced so that everyone is kept better informed about the Commission’s role and its various activities. The plan will use monthly enews bulletins, website enhancements and an annual public meeting to present a report and accounts.

Clearing the decks

CHARITY 4 Cancer has a number of high quality clothing products from Gill and Slam available at silly prices. www.sail4cancer.org/ news _ detail. php?newsid = 4 45 or www.4cancer.org.

Sail for £5

Sir Robin with Suhaili

nobody knew whether sailing alone around the world was even possible – but it was a time of change and adventure, as man landed on the moon and we extended the frontiers of possibility.

“Of the nine starters in that inaugural race, I was the only one to cross the finish line. Completing the race on board Suhaili was an important moment in pushing the boundaries of our sport.

Photo: onEdition

“So much has changed since then, in terms of the size and speed of the boats, as well as the technology.

However, the harsh realities and dangers of the challenge of sailing non-stop solo around the world remain the same.

“Although I am the last British skipper to win such a race around the world, there is such a huge pool of British offshore sailing talent.”

Sir Robin was joined by friends and

guests from the sailing world for a curry lunch in where his achievement was toasted with a dram of Benromach Speyside Single Malt Whisky distilled in 1969.

Only 40 numbered bottles of the special commemorative bottling have been produced and David Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, owner of the Benromach distillery, presented bottle number one to Sir Robin.

Watersports threatened by phosphorus PHOSPHORUS may pollute drinking water and endanger water sports, scientists have warned.

Scientists at North Wyke Research in Devon believe the predicted increase in rainfall caused by climate change is a cause for concern.

They discovered that rate at which dry soil is rewetted has an impact on the level of phosphorus that run

into surface water and pollute the local aquatic system.

Project leader Dr Martin Blackwell said: “High phosphorus concentrations in surface water can lead to harmful algal blooms which can be toxic. ”This can also affect the quality of water for drinking and result in the closure of recreational water

sport facilities.”

The UK Climate Impacts programme has predicted that heavy rain will become more frequent and by 2080 will have risen by ten to 30 per cent depending on the region.

Recreational water users are protected to a degree from water pollutants by the 1976 EU Bathing

Directive which rates water quality and awards beaches as excellent, good, or poor.

But water sports lobby groups such as Surfers Against Sewage are campaigning for further legislation.

The research is supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council.

THE first Sail for £5 Legacy Programme started at the end of April at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy. Funded by the Chesil Trust, a further 1,480 children will get a taste of water sports with an afternoon of sailing tuition for just £5. It is the aim of The Chesil Trust with the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, SailLaser and the Outdoor Education Centre to provide a legacy for Weymouth and Portland after 2012. www.chesiltrust.org.uk

Tarbert facelift

TARBERT, the home of the Brewin Dolphin Scottish Series, has received a makeover ahead of the event at the end of May. New facilities provide an additional 90 individual finger berths and the replacement of a 100m section of old pontoon, allowing even more yachts to moor at the harbour. The development marks the first phase of an ambitious £700,000 plan by the Harbour Authority and Tarbert Village Hall has received a £640,000 facelift. www.clyde.org

Open pursuit

THE 2009 Glyn Charles Memorial Open Pursuit Race, hosted by Hayling Island Sailing Club was won by James Peters and Dicken Maclean of HISC, sailing a 29er. Second were Matt Findlay and Richard Anderton from Weston SC sailing a Fireball and in third John Bell and Graham Williamson in a Merlin Rocket from Hampton SC.

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | news@allatsea.co.uk

News in brief Cowes on-line ENTRY forms for Cowes Week are available online together with a downloadable version of the Notice of Regatta. Enter before 17:00 on June 15 to take advantage of the early bird discounted entry fee. www.cowesweek.co.uk

Lifeboat saves two men and a dog after night aground

RIBEX ORGANISERS of RIBEX 2009 that will take place at Cowes from May to 10, claimed that two weeks prior to show time, the Cowes based exhibition was a ‘sell out’ except for two slots within the tented village.

A star attraction is expected to be the £20,000 special five metre RIB show prize sponsored by title sponsor Suzuki Marine and RIB builder, ASIS Boats. www.ribexhibitions.co.uk

Snap shots YOUR snap of Chichester Harbour could win £100.

Chichester Harbour Conservancy is inviting photographers to get snapping.

The competition regularly attracts over 100 entries. This year’s theme is ‘Inspired by Chichester Harbour Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. The closing date for entries is 11 September. Four cash prizes of £100, £80 and two lots of £50 are on offer. In addition Whitby’s Imaging Centre are offering a 40-page Photo Book for each winner. www.conservancy.co.uk.

Super yachts CAMPER & Nicholsons Marinas is one of the sponsors of the fourth annual World Superyacht Awards, which take place on 16 May at London’s historic Guildhall. The company welcomes yachts up to 100m in length to world-class facilities in Malta, Italy, Turkey, Egypt and Grenada, West Indies.

Farr 40s THE Farr 40 Class Association has announced details of its 2009 European Championship which will be held from 27 July to 1 August in Cagliari for the first time.

The venue was chosen for its sailing conditions and hospitality. www.farr40.org www.sardegnaeuropfarr40.it

COASTGUARDS requested the launch of Littlehampton Lifeboat to assist a yacht in difficulty in gale force winds east of the harbour entrance.

The 7.5m yacht on passage to Brighton, crewed by two men and a dog, ran aground as it attempted to take shelter in Littlehampton during the night.

The following morning a passer-by noticed they were in difficulty and raised the alarm.

Both the Atlantic 75 and the D-Class lifeboats were launched and were on scene in minutes.

Conditions were harsh with torrential rain, a force 7 gale and rough seas pounding the casualty vessel.

Lifeboat crew Jenny Cradock and Jon Maidment entered the water to deploy anchors and rig a towline to stabilise the yacht and hold its bow into the weather.

As the tide came in and the depth increased the lifeboats were able to tow the yacht into deeper water.

With the wind and the sea pushing them from behind the tow into the harbour was very difficult especially as the yacht had jammed steering.

Paramedics were waiting to attend to the hypothermic yachtsmen. The dog was fine.

Lifeboat operations manager Nick White said: “It was an excellent example of teamwork. This is why our crews train so hard.”

Virtual racing will raise funds to fight cancer ONLINE blog site blogSTAR and SailOnline.org have teamed up to create a virtual race raising funds for cancer research to run in parallel with the OSTAR, the Single-handed Transatlantic Race.

Organised by the Royal Western Yacht Club, the race will start on 25 May from Plymouth anmd will finish in the USA at Newport RI. The public will be able to enter the Virtual OSTAR race free of charge and sail in parallel with the solo skippers

competing in the real-life race.

A voluntary £5 registration fee on www.blogstar.org.uk will enter the virtual skipper to compete for a cash prize. The voluntary fee will be split, raising £4 for The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and £1 towards the Virtual Race winner’s prize.

Virtual yacht races are increasing in popularity and during the Vendee Globe more than 300,000 people signed up for the Virtual Vendee.

Through the partnership between

blogSTAR and SailOnline.org who have waived their costs, the funds raised by Virtual OSTAR will go directly to the ICR, Europe’s leading cancer research centre, to help its expert scientists work on their cutting edge research.

In 2009, the ICR marks its 100 years of world leading research into cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

It is a charity that relies on voluntary income. It is one of the world’s most cost-effective major cancer research

organisations with more than 95p in every £ directly supporting research.

Marco Nannini, fundraiser for the ICR, said: “I’ve been an active supporter of the ICR since 2005 and I am aiming to raise £50,000 during my OSTAR campaign. The Virtual OSTAR could provide the right mix of light-hearted entertainment and a chance of winning a substantial cash prize with raising funds for such an eminently worthwhile and deserving cause”.

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | www.allatsea.co.uk

Battle for the breeze THE Solent’s premier early season event finished with a grand finale to both the Raymarine Warsash Spring Series and Spring Championship.

More than 200 boats entered in handicap and one design classes.

The 44-strong Laser SB3 group was the largest and the most lively on the start line.

The sports boats enjoyed multiple windward/leeward courses each week while the larger keelboats were set longer cascading courses in the Bramble Bank and Ryde Middle area.

This year’s racing was marked by gentle conditions, easier on boats and equipment but frustratingly difficult for tacticians and helmsmen.

Only on the final Saturday of the Spring Championships did the breeze top 20 knots. Many of the classes went to the wire with final places tied on points decided on countback.

Addiction (40.7) in IRC2 scored a perfect string of first places whilst Joystick ( J/80) won 13 of the 17 races completed. www.warsashsc.org.uk/

Summer show time in Wales

News in brief New record DP WORLD the UK’s second largest container terminal welcomed the container ship CMA CGM Andromeda which, at 363m long and 131,000 gross tonnes is the largest ship ever to visit the terminal. On her maiden voyage from Asia the ship’s visit to Southampton was her first ever berthing in Western Europe.

Afloat at ten THE tenth annual FREE boating festival and watersports event Poole Afloat will take place on June 20 with more than 30 exhibiting companies and 17 boats on the water. The event encourages people of all ages to enjoy water based activity. Exhibitors will line the quayside while visitors enjoy an on-water experience with the Trya-Boat feature in Poole Harbour. wessex@britishmarine.co.uk

Photo show

Enough wind to cause some J80s trouble

Photo: Eddie Mays

Dinghy sailors sought by charity NATIONAL charity Vitalise is seeking dinghy enthusiasts to accompany a group of visually impaired people on a sailing holiday to Turkey’s Turquoise Coast in October.

The holiday will take place from 12 to 19 October based at the small resort of Ortakent on the southern coast of the famous Bodrum peninsula.

The holiday is offered to dinghy sailors at the specially discounted price of £495.

In addition to sailing there will be the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of other activities including windsurfing,waterskiing,wakeboarding, RYA tuition and fitness classes.

Vitalise Holidays Manager Sam Earl

said: “We need sailing enthusiasts with a zest for life for this unique opportunity.

Their skill and enthusiasm will really make the experience of navigating a dinghy along the Turquoise Coast come alive for the visually impaired holidaymakers.

The sighted guides will gain a real sense of achievement and have a

great holiday at an affordable price.

So if you have a passion for life and you’re looking for the experience of a lifetime, Vitalise needs you!”

For more information about becoming a sighted guide, call Vitalise Holidays on 0845 330 0149, email viholidays@vitalise.org.uk, or visit www.vitalise.org.uk

IT will be show time in Wales this summer. The fourth South Wales Boat Show will take place from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 June at Margam Park, Port Talbot, near Exit 38 of the M4.

The second North Wales Boat Show will run from Friday 24

to Sunday 26 July at the Vaynol Estate, Bangor, near to exit 9 of the A55.

Marina and mooring costs compared to the south coast are very competitive and there are great cruising opportunities from the many harbours in Wales.

Over the past three years more than 4,500 children have been able to try sailing, canoes, jet bikes and Zap Cats and more than £5 million pounds worth of craft and product have been sold. www.southwalesboatshow.co.uk and www.northwalesboatshow.co.uk

SOUTHAMPTON based Australian International Marine Photographer, John Greenway, who photographs yachting events around the world is exhibiting at the Harbour Lights Cinema located at the Ocean Village Marina, Southampton, UK. The Marine Action Exhibition runs until May 23. Entry is free.

Down under SAILTIME, the fractional sailing and membership based group with more than 60 bases in North America and Europe, will be launching in Australia at the Sydney Boat Show in July and in New Zealand at the Auckland Boat Show in March of 2010. SailTime members around the world will be able access a worldwide fleet of up to 160 yachts.

RYA Muster MORE than 50 visitors turned up to the RYA Spring Muster with boats ranging form 40-foot yachts and Sunseekers to a 25foott Scorpion RIB. Raymarine, ICOM, Ocean Safety and Sea Start offered tips and advice during dedicated one to one sessions on board participants’ boats

News in brief New record DP WORLD the UK’s second largest container terminal welcomed the container ship CMA CGM Andromeda which, at 363m long and 131,000 gross tonnes is the largest ship ever to visit the terminal. On her maiden voyage from Asia the ship’s visit to Southampton was her first ever berthing in Western Europe.

Afloat at ten THE tenth annual FREE boating festival and watersports event Poole Afloat will take place on June 20 with more than 30 exhibiting companies and 17 boats on the water. The event encourages people of all ages to enjoy water based activity. Exhibitors will line the quayside while visitors enjoy an on-water experience with the Trya-Boat feature in Poole Harbour. wessex@britishmarine.co.uk

Photo show SOUTHAMPTON based Australian International Marine Photographer, John Greenway, who photographs yachting events around the world is exhibiting at the Harbour Lights Cinema located at the Ocean Village Marina, Southampton, UK. The Marine Action Exhibition runs until May 23. Entry is free.

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | news@allatsea.co.uk

Humber prepares to host global race THE distinctive orange livery of the Hull & Humber yacht heralds the return of the only English entry in the Clipper 09-10 Round the World Yacht Race.

The occasion was marked at a St. George’s Day launch ceremony in St Katharine’s Dock near Tower Bridge in London.

It will be the second time the UK region has competed in the 35,000 mile global race as part of a two race sponsorship deal with race organisers Clipper Ventures by regional development agency Yorkshire Forward.

In Clipper 07-08 Hull & Humber came a close second behind the US entry, New York, in the world’s leading event for non-professional sailors with ten identical 68-foot yachts sponsored by international cities, states and countries from across the globe.

Hull & Humber will be competing against new contenders from California, endorsed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Cork, Republic of Ireland, and Cape Breton Island – Nova Scotia, Canada, plus two other return entries from Singapore

and Qingdao, China.

In a double celebration Hull and Humber is also looking forward to hosting the race start on 13 September this year and finish on17 July 2010, the first time a global yacht race has departed from and returned to the UK east coast.

Planning for the Clipper 09-10 race start began last autumn with a local sailing committee established to develop the water programme which is now well advanced.

The fleet is due to arrive in the Humber on 4 September and will stay over in Grimsby on 5 and 6 September before relocating to Hull for the final week’s preparation for the race start.

The Red Arrows have been booked to salute the fleet as it prepares to set sail in the Humber.

The distinctive red Hawk jets are based in Lincolnshire and built by BAE systems predominantly at their Brough factory near Hull.

The Clipper race was created by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston who celebrated the 40th anniversary of his first record-breaking cicumnavigation last month. He is now chairman of

Photo: OnEdition

Clipper Ventures.

Clipper 09-10 will be the seventh edition of the race which is crewed by people from all walks of life, many of whom have never sailed before training for the race.

Each yacht can accommodate up to 18 crew under the command of a professional skipper.

Sir Robin said: “Sailing, navigation and telecommunications technology may have come a long way in the last 40 years but the sea remains the same and there remains a huge sense

of accomplishment in traversing the world’s oceans.

“More people have climbed Mount Everest than have sailed around the world. It remains one of life’s great challenges.

Neil Jenkinson, Yorkshire Forward’s assistant director of cultural and major events, said: “We have a great opportunity to build on the success of the last Clipper Race and promote our region even further to a global audience.” www.ClipperRoundTheWorld.com

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | www.allatsea.co.uk

Island sailability boat named

News in brief Down under

ISLE of Wight wheelchair users went out on a new boat specially commissioned by Fishbourne Sailability Club as a part of the official naming ceremony held at the Royal Victoria Yacht Club.

Mrs Gay Edwards, High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight, named the boat Dougal and made the inaugral trip with members of the management committee and Geoff Holt, of Personal Everest fame.

Holt said: “It is hard to put into words the sense of freedom, independence and just sheer pleasure disabled people feel when out on the water.”

Steve Warren-Smith, Commodore of the RV YC said: “We are proud to be able to host Fishbourne Sailability and hugely impressed that they have brought this important project to completion in just eight months.”

SailTime, the fractional sailing and membership based group with more than 60 bases in North America and Europe, will be launching in Australia at the Sydney Boat Show in July and in New Zealand at the Auckland Boat Show in March of 2010. SailTime members around the world will be able access a worldwide fleet of up to 160 yachts.

New home for Cowes lifeboat

Top attraction

THE RNLI bid for the Old Custom House in Watch House Lane, Cowes, has been accepted subject to contract.

The new station will provide faster access to the Solent and improve overall operational efficiency.

2010 Regatta

Michael Vlasto, RNLI Operations Director, said: “The decision to put in a bid was a difficult one in the current economic climate but the RNLI always puts operational priorities first.”

Work on the modifications, subject

to planning approval, could start in 2010 but it is also subject to the availability of funding and overall RNLI priorities. Cowes Lifeboat Station currently operates from Shepherds Wharf Marina.

The current priority for fundraising on the Isle of Wight remains the appeal for Bembridge, where a 15 month project to build a new lifeboat station and slipway began in March 2009.

THE 2010 International Paint Poole Regatta will take place over the Bank Holiday weekend of May 29 to 31, next year. The event allows local club racers to sail against serious National Champions in an area which provides a level playing field for all competitors. Hosted by the seven combined clubs of Poole and the Poole Yacht Racing Association onshore entertainment takes place at Poole, Parkstone and the Royal Motor Yacht Clubs. www.pooleregatta.co.uk.

THE River and Rowing Museum in Henley on Thames is one of the best places across the country for disabled people to visit according to Rough Guide to Accessible Britain.

It attracted over 20,000 visitors last year to see exhibitions on the history of rowing, the Thames, the local riverside community, and a collection on The Wind in the Willows.

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | news@allatsea.co.uk

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KIT

SHOES FOR YOU IN preparation for that glorious summer that we are going to have, you might want to invest in a pair of Hydro South boating shoes, designed for warmer temperatures.

As well as an open mesh upper from toe to heel for breathability, they have a quick lacing system and a removable PU midsole.

They come in a range of colours for men and women with a price tag of £80.

Helly Hansen: www.hellyhansen.com

YAK BUOYANCY UP next we have the Yak Vent buoyancy aid designed for serious paddling and touring and as such offers great mobility on the water together with comfort and safety.

Supersoft PVC Foam provides 70 Newtons of buoyancy; these are set inside separate front and back panels adding extra comfort and warmth. The sides are made of stretch mesh to allow for more flexibility and feature two adjustable belts with quick release buckles, which provide a secure fit and ensure the buoyancy aid can fit all body shapes.

Crewsaver: 023-9252-8621

ARE YOU LEGAL? SAFETY Marine have sent us some advice regarding Halon Fire Extinguishers, which have been illegal to have fitted to your boat since 2003.

It’s important to note that you could have a damage claim refused if you use a Halon extinguisher and even if you put out a fire using one your insurance could be invalidated.

Although once popular, it was found that Halon used in fire fighting equipment has the highest ozone depleting capacity of any chemicals in common use. So, all Halon systems and fire extinguishers were to be decommissioned by the end of 2003.

So, if you do still have one of these

it must be correctly decommisioned and disposed of. Your local Civic Amenity site should accept Halon extinguishers for disposal, but check with your local council first. Or, you can take it to an authorised disposal agent; you can find a list on the Halon Users National Consortium (HUNC) Web site at www.hunc.org. It is strictly illegal to just dispose of Halon fire extinguishers, or to discharge them into the atmosphere.

For independent technical advice about fire fighting systems for marine situations, call the Safety Marine technical team on 02380-226-300 or Email advice@safety-marine.co.uk.

BAGS OF ROOM HERE’S a handy bag to keep your kit in. The Waterproof Backpack Dry Tube is made from PVC tarpaulin that is electronically wielded at the seams to ensure nothing gets through. When closed tightly using the fold seal system it will protect contents from dust, sand, dirt and water. It also has removable straps, so that you can use it as a handheld bag, has a roomy 60 litre capacity and is available, if you choose, with a front window. Yours from £39.99.

Overboard: www.over-board.co.uk

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | www.allatsea.co.uk

More sailing for less cash SO summer is well on its way. The fair winds and sparkling water of the south coast await . . . but we all have to watch the pennies a bit more carefully. What do we do?

Boat sharing and syndicates have been around for years and other fractional schemes have emerged from the US market more recently. In these more demanding economic conditions we expect to see all these share schemes growing in popularity.

Another innovator, Pure Latitude, has entered the field with a completely new approach. It has system that is being hailed as a major step forward for keen sailors and one of the best ways to get on the water at a very reasonable cost.

Pure Latitude is, in its loosest sense, a club. You simply join and members then have exclusive use of a range of professionally maintained performance yachts and motor boats.

The concept was put together by long time yachtsman Martin Gray, who had already seen similar schemes working successfully in the field of performance cars and private aircraft.

“We have kept it affordable and also very simple,” said Martin, “Unlike private syndicates, which struggle with members’ differing needs and opinions, or other fractional schemes which can be restrictive, our club is simplicity itself.

“There is a range of levels of membership each giving a number of “points” which are used to buy boat days. The cost of a boat day varies with boat type, day of week and season.

You just pick the membership that best suits your anticipated level of usage and the types of boat you like to use.

“The flexible online booking system allows you to pick and choose what you take, when you take it and how long you take it for.

“We also offer training, a crew finder service and racing. We really have tried to think of everything to make it affordable and easy for people with a range of experience levels to get out and enjoy the water,” he said.

The Pure Latitude concept can be considerably easier than traditional charter because once you are familiar with a Pure Latitude boat you can simply turn up with your family or friends and set off without any further checks or briefing.

One member of says the club is transforming his sailing. He aid trying to maintain a boat when the economy is on a downward spiral was hard to justify. Now he can enjoy just as much sailing, actually probably more, for a fraction of the cost he was paying when running his own boat.

While his main choice was for performance yachts, he had a great weekend out with the family on a motor boat.

The idea that you can try out different boats with family and friends is very appealing.

Members of have access to a sailing fleet that includes, a First 27.7, a Dufour 34, an X37 and a Hallberg-Rassy 36 plus a 29-foot motor boat and a 6.5 m Rib. One thing that sets Pure Latitude apart is that, whatever level of membership, all members have access to all the boats, right up to the largest.

With memberships starting at just £325 per month (compare with a Hamble marina 34-foot mooring at over £500 per month) it really is quite compelling.

To join Pure Latitude, you simply pay a one off joining fee of £600 and then add on the membership level you need, depending on what, when and how much you want to sail throughout the year. It is all very easy and flexible.

“When you compare sailing with Pure Latitude with owning your own boat, it becomes very clear just how much money you can save,” says Martin.

“Add in the fact that you have access to multiple boats, so you can match the boat to the passage you’re planning and crew numbers, and you have much more flexibility than you get with your own boat. We also take care of all the costs and remove worries over depreciation, insurance and servicing.”

Currently most of the Pure Latitude fleet is based on the south coast in easy reach of London and southern counties but new locations will be added over the coming seasons.

Visit www.purelatitude.com or call 023 8000 1234 Email: enquiries@purelatitude.com

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sailing through

the crunch

company

focus

AAS0905 Southwater

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ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | news@allatsea.co.uk

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | www.allatsea.co.uk

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Take time in the pool to learn how to survive Sticky’s tips

By Sticky Stapylton

PRIOR to my delivery trip to important, should not be, if you go Croatia I went on a Sea Survival overboard. course with the Southampton Useful items to be taken into Watermanship Centre. the liferaft if you have to abandon There is no laid-down requirement include: a bucket for a loo, two for instructors to take more than one sponges, one to mop up seawater, survival course but I am very glad I one to mop and keep condensation went on this one, my second in 40 to supplement the water, plenty years or so of sailing. of Carnation milk, extra sea My last course was way back in the sickness pills, the motion will early 90’s and procedures, equipment make the most hardy sea sick and and methodology have all come on a unbreakable spectacles. bit since then.

For the liferaft drills, I cheated a bit Our instructor Steve Gravells by wearing a new breathable dry suit I was excellent. His class was a really had just bought. I was experimenting diverse bunch, with students ranging with this because I planned to wear from a couple of old knackers, it for the first two legs of my delivery of which I was one, to youngsters trip. It will be interesting to see how going for the Fast track Yachtmaster much the suit hums after being worn Offshore qualification and a group for nearly a week. It may also be of four budding Polish sailors. interesting to see how much I will be We covered everything we needed humming after wearing it! to know about liferafts, lifejackets, A number of useful reminders came flares, EPIRBs and a lot more. out of this course which I pass on.

We went into a local pool, practised How many of you have canister jumping into the water from a height liferafts which are stowed on their and also from the sides? It is worthwhile equivalent of a checking with the My last course was manufacturer that yacht’s deck.

Then we went way back in the early this is acceptable, through all the because with some 90’s and procedures, rafts the CO2 bottle drills for righting, from both inside will put pressure on equipment and the canister seals and and outside, methodology have moisture may get in. entering and Apparently there have exiting the liferaft. all come on a bit been failures as a We were reminded since then. result. of the initial first Many of us know that aid which needs to be given to a casualty who has with some handheld flares there is a fallen overboard and particularly possibility that burning plastic dross what your reaction should be, and as will drip off the flare once ignited.

Yes, we must hold the flare over the side, and it is advisable to wear a very strong glove to protect the hand.

Most importantly the user must look away from the flare because of its brightness.

Much will depend on the power of the flare and how much flame comes off it but we were recommended to point the flare down so that the burning plastic dross fell more easily into the sea. I suppose it is a matter of experimenting once you have set the flare off.

Often when you inspect a

lifejacket before donning it, you find that the material is rolled up before being secured by the Velcro edges. Apparently this can cause malfunction; the jacket should be flaked like a sail and will then inflate more quickly and effectively.

We were advised to practise putting on our lifejackets in the dark. Just imagine a power failure and a need to put them on quickly; could you manage it? Possibly as an owner, yes, but what about inexperienced crew?

Another useful tip for anyone on a long distance delivery is to

study what rescue services there are in each country you are sailing by.

We are all so used to the RNLI, and it may come as a bit of a shock to find out what little there is available elsewhere.

I cannot emphasise enough that anyone going on any form of long distance trip at sea should attend one of these survival courses, even if they have done so before. I found the experience more than worthwhile.

Even those crossing the Channel will find the education valuable. instructor@sail-help.co.uk www.sail-help.co.uk

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | news@allatsea.co.uk

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Fundraising voyage rekindles memories Ellen MacArthur WITH the start of The Ellen MacArthur Trust Skandia Round Britain voyage on May 3, it’s amazing that after so much preparation, we are finally starting our journey round the UK. Since launching the project last year, it has been non-stop, assembling a team to look after the voyage, preparing the yacht, planning the route, creating the website and of course, most importantly, inviting the young people to sail on the various legs around the country.

This will be an inspirational voyage, and around 85 young people all in recovery from cancer or leukaemia will sail in separate crews of five the 2,000nm around the coast of Britain, just as I did aged 19 in my little Corribbee Iduna.

I departed from Hull but obviously this departure day will bring back many memories of when I began my first solo long distance passage and how much I have grown since.

I hope the young people will experience some of the same amazing things that I did on my trip, learn more about the yacht, the environment we all live in, and experience and the camaraderie that only happens when you sail together as a tight crew.

We have a website dedicated to the voyage www.roundbritain.org. You

will be able to track the progress of the boat round Britain on the home page, and see photos and video taken by the crew.

All on board will be ‘twittering’ and writing blogs about their voyage and you can sign up to talk to the boat via ‘friend connect’.

During the voyage we are raising funds to ensure more young people in the future have the opportunity to experience the challenge of sailing and regain their confidence, as they recover from cancer and leukaemia.

We are encouraging people to ‘Buy a Mile’ so for every £10 donated, a ‘fundraising yacht’ will move forward one mile. You can track the progress of this alongside Scarlet’s once the voyage begins.

We hope it will beat Scarlet back to Cowes, raising our target of £20,000 . . . although it would be even better if it could go round twice!

Although I will not be able to sail on very much of the voyage, I will be holding talks around the country at most of our key stopover ports to help raise money for the Trust.

I am thrilled to get the chance to talk about the charity, my life in sailing, and the exciting times ahead for me - the fact that any money raised will go to the Trust makes it even better.

You can find details of when and where I will be talking and also buy tickets at www.roundbritain.org.

100 per cent of the proceeds of the talks will go to the Trust. It would be great to see you there.

Photo: onEdition for The Ellen MacArthur Trust

No mistaking our trusty craft SCARLET Oyster, our yacht for the voyage, looks unbelievable, and there is absolutely no mistaking that she represents the Ellen MacArthur Trust, with her majestic new blue hull and sails.

The team took her out at the weekend for a shake-down sail and photo-shoot with five young people who will be participating on the voyage.

It was a great opportunity to ensure everything will be ship-shape and working properly for the departure.

Our departure from Cowes will give us the chance to thank everyone who has supported us and made this journey possible, including our partners Skandia, BT and EST.

I also cannot wait to get going and meet the five young people I will be sailing with from Cowes to Dover on

the first leg. Look out for us at ports all around Britain over the next fourand-half months!

Photo: onEdition for The Ellen MacArthur Trust

ELLEN will be appearing in An Audience with Ellen her trust’s Round Britain voyage.

It is the first time Ellen has had the opportunity to speak to the public since the end of her round the world record attempt. These are the dates and locations: Brighton Tuesday 5 May (1830 hours)

Edinburgh Wednesday 17 June (timing tbc)

Falmouth Monday 31 August (timing tbc)

Dover Saturday 9 May (timing tbc)

Aberdeen Tuesday 30 June (timing tbc)

Torbay Saturday 5 September (timing tbc)

Greenwich Saturday 16 May (1400 hours)

Inverness Friday 10 July (timing tbc)

Cowes Sunday 13 September (timing tbc)

Central London Wednesday 20 May (1830 hours)

Glasgow Monday 27 July (timing tbc)

Hull Saturday 6 June (timing tbc)

Liverpool Friday 14 August (timing tbc)

Newcastle Tuesday 9 June (timing tbc)

Cardiff Thursday 27 August (timing tbc)

More venues will be confirmed over coming weeks, so please keep checking the website for more details about the events. www.roundbritain.org.

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | www.allatsea.co.uk

Shake out the oilies – we’re going sailing Sébastien Josse TIME to get the oilies out of the closet, we are going sailing!

After delivering BT from Antwerp - where the cargo ship coming from New-Zealand had arrived - to Brest, it’s time for us to head for the startline of the Grand Prix Petit Navire in Douarnenez, Western Brittany.

This festive yet competitive event kicks off the 2009 IMOCA season but other series Class 40, Dragons, kite surfs, Optimists - are also taking part in this traditional gathering which combines racing and a proper maritime festival on land.

BT will face tough opposition, since Vendée Globe winner Michel Desjoyeaux and IMOCA Champion Armel Le Cléac’h are expected in Douarnenez, where our 60-footers are in for two days of speed runs across the bay and two days of coastal racing to follow.

Considering the speed potential that BT displayed last season - in The Artemis Transat as well as in the Vendée Globe - I’m thinking we can get a good result, which is always a good way to start a year.

It will also be very interesting to see how Jonny Malbon’s Artemis behaves, as she is one of the most powerful boats on the circuit. What’s more, the Artemis IMOCA campaign now being managed by the Offshore Challenges, Jonny and I will be working together and that’s an excellent way for everyone to improve.

Naturally, everyone has their sights set on the Transat Jacques Vabre, the double handed race between France and Costa Rica that will start in November, as it’s the pinnacle of the 2009 season.

My co-skipper Jean-François “Jeff” Cuzon

and I are already training in that perspective.

Jeff is a long-time friend, a fantastic sailor who has been crowned World Champion in the 470 Olympic Class in 1999, and who is BT’s electronic systems expert.

The way he masters navigation and routing software impresses me almost as much as his talent when it comes to “reading” the race course or placing a boat exactly where it should be when the gun goes off.

Admittedly, for the moment he does not know the boat as well as I do, though I bet he could rewire the whole electrical system with his eyes closed.

We have planned a comprehensive training programme that will include offshore sessions as well as weather analysis and strategic brainstorming - working on the data of the previous Jacques Vabre races.

Of course, racing will also be a big part of our training, and BT will be in the Solent this summer for Cowes Week and the Artemis Challenge, the specific round-the-island IMOCA 60’ event, before setting off for the Fastnet Race.

This year will mark the 30th anniversary of the tragic 1979 edition, and I am sure we will have the opportunity to honour the bravery and generosity of lifeboats volunteers, whose dedication should be saluted on a daily basis.

On a lighter note, I will line up for this year’s Fastnet as “title holder” in my class, since I had won it in 2007 alongside Vincent Riou aboard his famous orange PRB. We had taken a serious beating during that event, so hopefully this year it will be a bit nicer on the gear and on the men.

Jeff and I will race this classic course as part of our double handed training, so challenging conditions will be welcome but if we can have good fun in the process, I’m not against it of course!

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ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | news@allatsea.co.uk

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The ladies are back Shelley Jory British Powerboat Champion www.shelleyjory.com

AT last I can announce the long awaited news that I will be racing this year and not spending the season just planning the wedding.

It has been a long few winter months when I have had to keep my mouth shut (quite hard for me) about my racing plans.

I have yet to secure my budget for the season’s racing in the Powerboat P1 World Championships starting on May 8 in Malta but I have decided to take the F1 “Brawn” approach – get to the line, prove I can get results and keeping hunting down those sponsors.

As you all know I raced in the P1 championships last year in the Evolution class but this time I am returning to my old Honda winning ways and have set up the first all girl team to race in P1.

I have joined forces with Maltese

lady racer Audrien Ciantar.

Audrien is part of a power boat dynasty in Malta and has been living in the powerboat world all her life. She herself has laminated, built and tested many race boats in the family business Chaudron Powerboats.

Audrien raced in the Powerboat

Audrien Ciantar – throttle woman

Chaudron 44, the girls’ new powerboat

P1 in 2004 with her World Champion brother – Aaron Ciantar.

So between us we have few valuable years of experience.

We have chosen to keep it in the family and race a 41-foot Chaudron Powerboat, with two 525 Mercury EFI engines amounting to 1050 HP but this

is not just any Chaudron Powerboat.

This is No 44, the current twice World Championship winning boat owned by Angelo Tedeschi.

We will race under the umbrella of team “Racing Project” owned by Angelo so he is our team owner, which makes things interesting when Angelo is also returning to the circuit to retain his title with Audrien’s brother Aaron.

So not only will there be rivalry with the boys in the SuperSport class but we will also be out to fuel the brother/ sister competition and our own team owner competition.

The Racing Project team will be me in my favourite driving position with Audrien my new partner in crime on the throttles.

The season starts in Malta then takes us to Turkey, Sweden, Italy and finally to Bahrain on October.

Due to the logistics of the boat and lack of finances we have spent less than two hours training together but nothing is going to stop us being on

the start line on May 8 in Malta.

We are not the only race circuit to start the season’s battle – the Honda Formula Four Stroke championship gets underway in Pwllheli, North Wales the same weekend.

The Honda Championship will see the teams compete over five Grands Prix to see who walks away with the national title. They are visiting venues across the UK such as Pwllheli, Plymouth, Lowestoft, Cowes and the Isle of Man. F4SA celebrate their tenth anniversary this year alongside sponsor Honda who created the series back in 1999.

Since then their fleet of boats has grown from just four which raced in Torquay in May 1999 to up to 20 boats.

Celebrations to mark the anniversary include re-visiting some of the original race sites that made up the early years of Honda racing in the UK, including Pwllheli where I proudly raced in 2004.

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | www.allatsea.co.uk

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ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | news@allatsea.co.uk

Paddle your own canoe With the launch of national Go Paddling Week All at Sea gives you the low down on how to get into Britain’s favourite water sports: kayaking and canoeing. Anna Sachdev reports.

PADDLESPORTS are one of the most popular water recreations in the country with just over one million people from the UK canoeing at home and abroad.

It is no surprise the activity comes tops as it is a relatively low cost and accessible hobby.

It should be, after all, the sport has advanced somewhat in modern times but the logistics of canoeing have not changed much since our hunter-gatherer ancestors were fishing in kayaks as long ago as 500BC. Canoeing and kayaking suit all ages.

Although they are most popular with the under 35s, they can be tailored to any age. It is almost as popular with women as men and is a suitable recreation for disabled people.

There is so much scope to suit your interests, whether it be enjoying a lazy day drifting with the tide or someting more strenuous, paddling is an excellent eco-friendly way of observing local wildlife or you could get the heart pumping in more challenging settings and advance to sea kayaking, canoe surfing, sprint

racing, marathons or white water kayaking.

These are options that can be progressed to once you have learned all the essential safety and rescue procedures. This does not mean it is necessary to spend six weeks splashing around in a swimming pool.

There are plenty of clubs and paddleboat holiday providers which offer the chance to try out each type of boat and plenty which take all ages starting usually from mid teens for adult classes. Children as young as eight can join the junior classes.

The best way to start is to find your nearest paddle club. The BCU - British Canoe Union - has a list of approved centres and affiliated clubs, on their website www.bcu.org.uk If you want a gold star training framework to start your paddling career investigate the BCU Paddlesport Performance Awards.

There is no better time than now to try it out. Canoe England’s Go Paddling Week taster sessions are available across the country visit www.canoe-england.org.uk

© Steeve ROCHE / Fotolia.com

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | www.allatsea.co.uk

© AVAVA / Fotolia.com

Canoeing facts Kayak or canoe?

The most obvious difference between a canoe and a kayak is that a canoe has one paddle while a kayak has a twin paddle, which makes a kayak slightly easier to manoeuvre. Kayaks generally have a closed deck and cockpit to prevent water from entering the boat. Kayak paddlers are seated whilst canoeist are on their knees. However the terms are essentially inter-changeable and you will find that the definitions vary in different countries.

Open canoeing It has the antiquated look of the Ansel Adams American indian photos, the Canadian canoe is ideal if you want to remain dry it is also more versatile than an open cockpit kayak.

They are great for touring on calm, open and white water. The large capacity also allows storage for all the essentials when you and company want to go off the beaten track.

They are the tradionalist’s canoe and provide stability which is ideal for your first paddle strokes.

Sea kayaking Sea kayaking is for paddlers with experience.

It involves riskier conditions but can also be easily tailored to your interests. There are many websites which provide a good starting point for enthusiasts. One word of advice is to invest in a good boat. These are usually spray decks or skerries, generally closed cock pit, as you do not want to waste money upgrading after a few months. Sea kayakers often say they enjoy the sport most because of the other enthusiasts they meet, often on the web, which offers an opportunity to swap boats and find new racing or touring haunts.

Open cockpit kayak Ideal if you want to be on the water and not in it! This boat is suitable for covering long distances but not on choppy waters. It is also suitable for those who want to get into white water rafting but have no desire to become kayaking experts.

Closed cockpit kayak Good for touring on calm, open, and white water. A good preliminary to the sea kayak. It is essential that you understand how to do a capsize drill so that you can exit safely under water if necessary.

Safety essentials Above all, avoid going out on an expedition alone or without practice or experience.

n

Start with easy rivers and canals.

n

You can work up gradually to sea and estuary canoeing when you are confident with steering and you have learned enough to deal with the elements of winds, tides, currents and buoyancy.

© Olga Lyubkina

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n

On the sea or rivers with strong currents there should be at least three boats to a group.

n

Even for the quietest waters all canoeists should be able to swim at least 50 metres in canoe clothing.

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ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | news@allatsea.co.uk

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It’s official…now we’re all in the pink In the drink

By Paul Antrobus

AT last, it seems the prejudice against rosé wine in this country is disappearing.

Rosé is now apparently 20 per cent of our wine consumption. It has been put into the costof-living index Shopping Basket as an item we all buy “every week”, displacing the wine box.

Rosé is made from the same grape varieties as white or red and not just in France. Good examples come from Italy, South Africa and Chile.

The best are pressed from a mix of white and red grapes. It is the skins that do the colouring. The winemaker treats the red grapes as if they were white and controls the colour through the mix.

Features the local very pale Rosé Campaux - super flavour and goes well with French cheeses!

Some, dubbed ‘modern rosés’, are made at lower temperatures to make a fresher, lighter wine. And some are just blended red with white wine, but are not necessarily inferior. Rosé Champagne, for example, is made this way.

Rosé has long been a summer favourite of the French during their annual dash south.

Local vineyards will all make some to meet this holiday demand but in relatively small quantities taken up mostly by local sales. They are always worth trying.

Last year we stocked up at the Campaux vineyard a few miles inland en route to St Tropez. Their rosé was a stunner with a pale, delicate flavour, and only six euros a bottle. You simply will not find it over here, so do try it in local restaurants and shops if you are anywhere in the region.

The depth of colour is a safe indicator of flavour and style. Some are deep pink and quite full-bodied. Others, especially the local south of France offerings, have such a light tinge as to look almost grey – they are sometimes called vin gris or blush - and are light and refreshing.

The small-scale productions and ready local market means prices are not generally cheap

but price will usually be an indicator of quality.

Meantime, back in UK, prices are mostly around £8 a bottle and wines noticeably more on the darker side.

Sancerre Rosé is a classy wine that is widely available. Louis Jadot Beaujolais rosé is made from Gamay grapes at new-style low temperature with 12.5 per cent abv (Waitrose).

One excellent pale one is Domaine de Buganay from Grenache, Cinsault and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes of the Côtes de Provence region. There is no need to super chill and it is great with sea food.

The South African Arniston Bay Cape Crossing from Shiraz and Pinotage (a specific SA grape) is a solid drink on the darker side but has proved very popular with guests on our River Thames outings.

There are some to be found as low as £3.99 at pre-Budget prices. Chat-en-Oeuf Vins de Pays d’Oc (Waitrose) admits to an unspecified blend of Languedoc grapes. With a screw top and good flavour it is a great boat bottle. A new world Neblina Merlot Rosé from Chile from Majestic drinks well.

Expect to see rosé all over the sailing circuit this summer, so get to know what suits you.

Domaine de Buganay and Arniston Bay Cape Crossing

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A guide to Eastbourne

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Eastbourne comes RUMOURS are afoot that the famous retirement town of Eastbourne is dragging itself into the consciousness of the boating fraternity. Alex Smith checks it out.

BENEATH the glare of Beachy Head sits a town with a reputation for its aged population.

But as I enter Eastbourne for the first time, I am delighted to see an old lady hobbling past a billboard bearing the headline: “Eastbourne Club Brawl – DJ intervenes”. That at least suggests a little change in the status quo . . .

As I get more accustomed to Eastbourne it seems that everywhere you look, retired folk are interspersed with unguarded youth. And it is partly this change in the demographics of the town that has spawned a fresh breed of seafront bars like Café Belge on Grand Parade, with its bourgeois boast of Belgian Beer and “50 ways to eat mussels”.

It is lots more plush than you would expect of a central promenade pub in an old seaside town and, having tested it at great length, I am pleased to report that it is well worth a visit (www.cafebelge.co.uk).

Happily though, there persists a hard core of threadbare ‘pound a

pint’ watering holes where sagging people with hidden wrinkles pursue nights of passion with drunken youths and visitors to the town stand open-mouthed at the fact that a night out can be so cheap. And it really is a cheap place to be, not just for drinks but for entertainment, accommodation and food too.

Perhaps it is Eastbourne’s rather drab reputation that keeps prices so low but if that is the case, it is misleading because Eastbourne is actually rather pretty and well kept.

Take a walk along the front and the impression is one of vibrancy rather than shabbiness. Mini trains ferry people up and down the long and pretty promenade, past the floral explosion of the Carpet Gardens, past bowling greens and clean pebble beaches, to the vibrant bandstand and the elegant pier.

At one end, the Seven Sisters Country Park sits astride the magnificent Beachy Head cliffs, with its two famous lighthouses, while at the other end, the town gives way

© Carsten Weigel / Fotolia.com

firstly to a quiet scattering of winched up fishing boats and then to the magnificent new developments at Sovereign Harbour.

It is actually a rather splendid

setting, and the hub of it all is the pier. The amusements arcade, ‘Funtasia’, is a bit limited and the bars and restaurants are busy because of their location rather than

their quality but the re-opening of the ‘Camera Obscura’, a 360-degree Victorian projector, elevated for a better view at the end of the pier, is well worth a visit.

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out of retirement Accommodation

A thoroughly modern marina THE marina at Sovereign Harbour was built in 1993 and it is still ushering along the development of waterfront apartments and catering establishments.

It is a safe harbour in all conditions and is accessed via a lock that is manned 24 hours a day. It makes a useful stop for those en route between east Kent and the Solent, but such is the draw both of its facilities and of the attractions in and around Eastbourne, that it is worth a stop in its own right.

Sovereign Harbour is everything you would want from a large, modern marina, with a 24-hour reception (VHF channel 17 or 01323 470099) and a self-service fuelling pontoon stocking both petrol and diesel.

Just in case you have not used the selfservice system before, it works much like a garage forecourt. You remove the nozzle from the pump and a member of staff remotely enables the line to begin pumping. Once you are finished, just call into the reception to pay.

There is access to the sea at all tides and at all times of the year, plus a lift capable of moving up to 50 tonnes.

The majority of berths are supplied

with 240v electrical supplies (16 or 32 amps) and you can pay either with a pre-purchased credit card or with the metered supply.

Fresh drinking water is available from hoses on each pontoon and there is a 24-hour launderette with coin-operated machines, a shower and toilet block and free disposal of rubbish and waste oil.

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Like just about everything else here, the on-site chandlery is open seven days a week.

The town is a short taxi ride east but if you just want to hunker down in your boat, there is an Asda superstore in the neighbouring retail park, alongside a Multiplex cinema, a dry cleaners, cashpoints, a pharmacy and a post office.

© Shirley Hirst / Fotolia.com

THERE is no shortage of places to stay in Eastbourne but much of it consists of faded sea view town houses with inadequate parking facilities. Prices go from as little as £25 per person, even in season but you will need to book ahead to get a good deal on a decent quality place.

The accommodation page on www.visiteastbourne.com is far and away the best place to start searching. The page includes pictures, exhaustive details on the facilities offered and an online booking facility. There are also links to maps and a list of attractions close to your hotel.

At the top end, the five-star

Grand Hotel on King Edwards Parade is a regal old Victorian place overlooking the sea, with its own gardens and just about every facility you could want, including swimming pools, a health spa and a good gym (01323 412345; www. grandeastbourne.co.uk).

Expect prices of around £115.

There is plenty of cheaper stuff around on the seafront but for more character and better quality, head inland towards the old town, where places like Ocklynge Manor may have you wondering why the rest of the south coast is quite so expensive (01323 734121; www.ocklyngemanor.co.uk).

© Shirley Hirst / Fotolia.com

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Spectacular views from Beachy Head BEACHY Head, the most famous (and infamous) part of the Eastbourne Downland, rises 162 metres (535 feet) above the sea and is the highest chalk sea cliff in Britain.

The views from the top, both east over the town and the beaches to the harbour and west towards the famous old Belle Toute Lighthouse are breathtaking.

On a crystal clear day you can see past Pevensey Bay and Hastings to Dungeness in Kent, nearly 40 miles away.

And we are told (though we have yet to confirm it) that when conditions allow, you can see even further to the west, past Seaford Head to Brighton and Selsey Bill, with the outline of the

Isle of Wight in the distance.

It is a hell of a spectacle and since the 1600s it has been infamous for suicides. Now it is difficult to say whether it is the fresh air, the panoramic views or morbid curiosity, but either way, the cliffs at Beachy Head are always busy with windswept ramblers so don’t expect solitude.

Eastbourne Buses runs a service along the seafront from the Sovereign Centre to Beachy Head, where you will find public toilets, a car park and a rather humdrum pub. You will also find the Beachy Head Countryside Centre. Entry is free and includes the Downland Experience - a walk through the history of the area - and some original work from local artists.

Things to do OTHER than long stretches of good pebbly beaches, a good value nightlife, a top class marina and the mind blowing grandeur of Beachy Head and its lighthouses, the Eastbourne area offers plenty to keep you entertained for a long weekend or a five-day break.

Hastings is 18 miles to the east and Brighton 24 miles to the west, and between them the South Downs is peppered with pretty villages,

ancient castles, country houses and country parks. Highlights include the Glyndebourne Opera House, Sheffield Park Gardens, Drusillas Zoo and Pevensey Castle.

Highlights of the calendar include ‘Eastbourne Extreme’, an outdoor action weekend, featuring Thundercat racing, mountain bike displays, scuba diving and demos from the Eastbourne Personal Watercraft Association (www.eastbourneextreme.co.uk) and

‘Airbourne’, the biggest free airshow in the UK, set against Eastbourne seafront (www.eastbourneairshow.com).

Other events include regular bands and firework concerts at the seafront bandstand from the beginning of June to the end of September (01323 410611), a beer festival, a food and drink festival, an international women’s tennis tournament and a marathon that runs from Beachy Head.

CONTACTS Sovereign Marina Pacific Drive Eastbourne BN23 5BJ 01323 470099 www.premiermarinas.com Eastbourne Police Station 08456 070999 Sovereign Harbour Yacht Club 01323 470888 Eastbourne Tourist Information Centre (not as regularly updated as some but with useful links, not least to a local five day MET Office forecast) 08716 630031; www.eastbourne.org/tic.

Visit Eastbourne (excellent local tourism site with places to stay, attractions and a trip planning facility) www.visiteastbourne.com. © sussexbutterfly / Fotolia.com

© Jaroslaw Grudzinski / Fotolia.com

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BOOKS IN BRIEF The Inland Waterways Logbook

A Life in Wooden Boats

Adlard Coles Nautical • £9.99

Adlard Coles Nautical • £25.99

Adlard Coles Nautical is renowned for its beautifully produced logbooks, and with nothing else on the market specifically for inland waterways boaters, the new Inland Waterways Logbook will be a very welcome addition to the range. This handy, paperback logbook is designed specifically for inland waterways boaters, and contains useful pages of data, including: • Helpful knots • Sound signals • Rule of the Road • How a lock works • Tunnel procedure • Man overboard • Data on the boat • Visitor pages The author is a well-known inland waterways enthusiast and expert, and the book even features an unlaminated area on the cover, so readers can write in their boat’s name.

Emrhys Barrell has spent a lifetime afloat, for pleasure and for work. He has managed boatyards, designed boats, and edited boating magazines. But his greatest passion is for the inland waterways of Great Britain and Europe. He is the author of The Inland Waterways Manual, published by Adlard Coles Nautical.

Publication Date: April 2009 ISBN: 978 1 408 11203 8

For decades, boat building has catered for the rich and the elite, and has been out of the reach of ordinary people both economically and culturally.

Iain Oughtred has challenged this philosophy by designing beautiful, yet inexpensive wooden boats ideal for amateur construction, often basing the designs on traditional local craft.

Iain has a cult following around the world as a result of his exceptionally appealing yet easy to build small boat designs, and this compelling book shows just why. The photography showcases the beauty of Iain’s boats, as well as the stunning Scottish landscape where he is based. Nic Compton’s evocative text traces Iain’s journey and the development of his designs, the growth of the wooden boat movement and the take-up of Iain’s designs by mainstream boat builders all over the world.

This is the only full colour, comprehensive book on this popular small boat designer, and will appeal to existing Iain Oughtred enthusiasts as well as the more general boat building market, attracted by the gorgeous photography and drawn by Iain’s reputation and the philosophy of the wooden boat.

Nic Compton was Deputy Editor and then Editor of Classic Boat from 1996 to 2000. Since then, he has travelled the world as a freelance writer/ photographer. He was Editor of the Official Book of the America’s Cup Jubilee (Notre Voie, 2002) and has written three books: Sailing Solo, Sailboats and The Great Classic Yacht Revival.

Publication Date: May 2009 • ISBN: 978 1 408 10515 3

Reeds Maritime Meteorology Adlard Coles Nautical • £27.00 Reeds Maritime Meteorology is written primarily for serving and trainee deck officers, those studying for certificates of competency in merchant ships and for fishermen. It provides descriptions of the elements and forces which contribute to maritime meteorology and the principles which govern them, and deals specifically with: • Weather forecasting at sea and the use of fax, navtex and satellite technology • Ocean currents and swell • Tropical revolving storms • The development and distribution of sea ice • Weather routeing • Passage planning • The management and care of cargo in heavy weather The book contains revision questions at the end of each chapter, an extensive glossary, and a fold-out chart of ocean currents as well as numerous explanatory photos and diagrams.

For this revised edition, the content and website addresses have been updated.

Maurice Cornish is the retired Head of the Maritime Studies Department at the Glasgow College of Nautical Studies.

Elaine Ives is Head of the School of Maritime Studies at Glasgow College and Senior Lecturer in Meteorology.

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32 SAILING YACHTS

P12310 aas_A/05

1969 Snapdragon 24

P11439 aas_A/03/04/05 /05

£6,500

In good condition Yanmar 1gm diesel engine, furling Genoa, cruising chute. Stainless steel cooker with oven. Interior in excellent condition ready to sail away. (South)

P12085/05

1979 Colvic UFO 34

£13,995

UFO 34 Cruiser / Racer 7 Berth. GRP Fin-keel diesel. Wheel-Steer furlex Redcrest - Yamaha. Unlaunched. Req. Completion (South)

Tel: 07096 690703

1980 Colvic Sailor

£11,000

Jubilee Bilge keel, 1992 18HP Yanmar 20 diesel, re-epoxied 1996, Raymarine colour plotter, new DSC radio, autohelm, Plastimo twin burner & grill 2002, Size 16 self-tailing sheet winches 2006, new heads pump, 90 ft anchor chain 2008. All good condition, two owners from new. (South West)

Tel: 07816 030254

P11408/05

P11417/05

1983 Marine Projects Moody Bilge Keel £20,000

1991 Hunter 27 OOD

Lovely family owned cruiser. Bilge keel Moody 27 currently based at Gosport. She is well equipped for cruising and besides her Volvo MD7 17.5 hp engine she has a full cockpit tent and autohelm. The sale also includes a dinghy and outboard. (South)

Fast racer / cruiser Excellent example of this fast, sure footed racer / cruiser whose performance turns heads. Owner has continually renewed and upgraded producing a boat to be proud of. Interior ticks all the boxes. (South)

Tel: 01237 470393

Tel: 07096 690585

£23,500

Tel: 07096 690588

TRAILER SAILERS

P11705/05

P12018/05

1972 Galion 22

£2,450

Ideal family starter yacht. Is a very well built sailing yacht with 4 berths, 7/8 rig, 2 sets of sails. A frame, Volvo diesel, just antifouled.

Handles well whether inland or coastal. Sadly must be sold. (East Anglia)

£5,850

Trident 24 Triple keel, 4 berth. Good survey 2008. Yanmar diesel, recent service. Features rig to lower/raise mast single-handed, for inland waterways. Ready to go, possible mooring - Southampton.

(South)

Tel: 07096 690642

P11721/05

P11814/05

1971 Marcon Marine Trident

£9,950

Superb Day Sailer New in January 2008 in as new condition. Spray hood, cover, bilge pump, oars, warps, fenders, galv trailor, lighting board, spare wheel, wheel clamp, outboard well suits Yamaha 2.5 four stroke. (South East)

P11961/05

1990 Blondecell Giles 38

£79,500

2007 Laser stratos

£7,350

Long-keel, cruising yacht Comfortable, fast, cutter-rigged, cruising yacht; extensive refit 2008; in commission and ready to go.Phone or email for CD with full details and lots of pics. (South)

LASER STRATOS INC. OUTBOARD In excellent condition, inc. Tohatsu s/s 4hp new 2007. on combi trailer, top & bottom covers, trapeeze (unused). outboard bracket.mainsail/jib/asymetric spinnaker (unused) Ready to go for season. (South)

Tel: 07096 692061

Tel: 07096 692063

Tel: 07096 692091

RIBS

Cruisers over 35’

FISHING BOATS

Cruisers UNDER 35’

P11776/05

Avon RR Lite 260

£1,500

Superb Yacht Tender Yacht tender RIB - the best - with Yanaha 4hp only -all ‘4hrs use’. Can deliver UK early May (any)

Tel: 07096 690648

£27,950

One owner from new. Professionally fitted out to owners design.

All teak interior. 36hp ‘Buhk’ engine. Wheel steering. Recent ‘out of water’ survey for insurance. VAT receipts available. Consider exchange for small bilge keeler. (South)

Tel: 07814 198267

P12114/05

2008 Character boats Post Boat

P11820/05

1984 Cobra 1050

P12220/05

EX NAVAL PINNACE

£45,000

Much admired classic Converted 1967/1971, new decks in 2000, similar to Nelson. Spare diesels (v.economical), fully equipped.

Registered vessel. (South East)

Tel: 33 298714077

P11681/05

1999 Mitchell 31mk.2

£49,500

Superb cruiser/angling boat 200 Ford Sabre with all usual electronics / vhf / radar / gps / plotter. Used private only. Two owners from new. 4 berth exc. condition (South East)

Tel: 01252 317955

1989 Sea Ray 300 Sedan Bridge

£34,995

With 2 x Mercruiser 260HP engines on shafts. The 12ft beam and spacious light interior make this boat ideal for a couple or a family.

(South East)

Tel: 07096 690685

Tel: 07096 690637

WATERSPORTS

SPORTS/ SPEED BOATS P11258/05

P11731/05

P11867/05

2003 Sealine S28

£69,950

Sealine S28 Sports cruiser With only 170 hours on her twin volvo diesels, this Sealine S28 has been well cared for and is in excellent condition throughout. Very well equiped including Vhf, Gps, cd/ radio, electric windlass, twin ... (South West)

ENGINES

1987 Shakespeare Wave rider

£2,500

Cruising Speed: n/a Knots Top Speed: n/a Knots Number of Berths: 4, Hull Shape: Deep Vee, Primary Engines: Other Outboard Fuel Type: Gas/Petrol Fuel Capacity: 10 gal Horse Power: 40 hp Engine Hours: low hours (South West)

Mercury engine And inflatable 2.2HP Mercury and 2.3m inflatable (South)

Chandlery/ Equipment

FOR A SMALL FEE GET NOTICED! P10335/05

P11948/05

WANTED: OLD AND DISCARDED ROPE £POA

FURLING HEAD SAIL

Old and discarded rope wanted. Please support Freshwater Independent Lifeboat by donating old rope to me to make into items to be sold for funds in aid of this great charity. (South)

FURLING HEAD SAIL Working jib - Luff 38’03 Leech 34’00 Foot 15’06 (South West)

Tel: 07096 690571

Tel: 01803 853686

£250

Easyreef Mainsail

£400

Easyreef Mainsail Furling System With Maxiroach mainsail with vertical battens. Luff 30’7’, foot 10’6’, leach 31’6’. Fixes to any suitable mast. 4 years old when removed. (South West)

Tel: 07096 690500

P11880/05

BUKH 10 ME

£350

Ring Powercraft 16

What are Security Numbers?

Private advertisers can opt to replace their own telephone number with an 070 number. When the 070 number is dialled, the caller is diverted to the advertiser’s own telephone number. This prevents the advertiser’s private number from being revealed.

£2,250

Ring 16 Powercraft Mercury 90 HP Black Max Elec T&T. Foot Throttle, Bucket seats, New CLH Trailer, Spare wheel. Light Board, Anchor (Wales)

Tel: 07096 692104

www.allatsea.co.uk P11334/05

P11993/05

Running Jan 09. Head recon Mar 08. S/S exhaust. Alt & Starter motor recently replaced. Panel with key. Water filter. Inspect & collect. (South)

Tel: 07096 692993

Tel: 07096 692036

Tel: 07096 692077

£150

Tel: 07096 692081

How much does this operators and mobile cost the advertiser? phone charges will This service is free to private advertisers.

Is there a cost to the buyer?

vary according to the operator.

For more information about the Telephone Anyone phoning an 070 number will pay a small Number Privacy Service please call: extra charge of up to 01223 460 490 or 50p per minute from a go to www.allatsea. standard BT home or business phone. Other co.uk/privacy

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | www.allatsea.co.uk

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Web and email directory

The finest location,

a fleet of modern yachts, competitive pricing and an unrivalled experience,

make Commodore yachting BRITAIN’S MOST READ WATERFRONT NEWSPAPER the natural choice.

ANTIFOULING www.coppercoat.com info@ coppercoat.com

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MARINE PHOTOGRAPHY

MARINE TELEVISION

www.yachtrope.com 0121 7082878

www.afloattv.com

SAILING SCHOOLS

GOSPORT MARINA,for enthusiasts in the south/east anglia The boating channel MUMBY ROAD, GOSPORT, HAMPSHIRE

www.adrenalinesailing.co.uk

www.antifoulingpaint.com

CLOTHING

BROKERAGE

www.chatham-marine.co.uk info@chatham-marine.co.uk

www.shamrock.co.uk

www.mustostore.co.uk

PONTOONS

www.byb.uk.com

INSURANCE

www.wseven.com sales@wseven.com

www.britanniasailingschool.co.uk

ROPES

www.sail-help.co.uk instructor@sail-help.co.uk

www.shockles.co.uk “Bungee-Cords-on-Steroids�

ENGINE & MARINE PART SALES

www.ropeloft.co.uk sales@ ropeloft.co.uk

www.volspec.co.uk sales@volspec.co.uk

sales@shamrock.co.uk

www.adurboatsales.co.uk

Nautical BooksTo learn more, contact@adrenalinesailing.co.uk send for a copy of our brochure yachtcharter@sailing.co.uk Tel: 023 9279 3421

E X P E R I E N C E T H E E X P E R I E N C E a t w w w. c o m m o d o re - y a c h t i n g . c o m www.sailingalone.co.uk yachtcharter@sailing.co.uk

Insurance made simple.

graham@adureboatsales.co.uk

www.gaelforcemarine.co.uk www.deaconsboatyard.co.uk info@deaconsboatyard.co.uk

Specialist insurance cover for Sports Boats and RIBs Fully Comprehensive to Third Party only

For an instant quotation call 01843 603 441. For online quotations go to www.marinesafe.co.uk Marinesafe Direct is a brand name of Euromarine Insurance Services Ltd. Authorized and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Marinesafe Direct Insurance • Fax: 01843 603346 • reception@euromarine-ltd.com

Moonfleet Moonfleet SailingSailing "MM ZFBS TBJMJOH GSPN QJDUVSFTRVF 1PPMF info@moonfleet.net • www.moonfleet.net

enquiry@britanniasailingschool.co.uk

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Explosive launch MABLETHORPE’S two inshore lifeboats stood by off the Lincolnshire coast for seven hours on Tuesday 21 April, ready to evacuate 22 people from a dredger which accidentally uncovered two bombs. The vessel was dredging up sand to use as part of a sea defence refurbishment when its crew realised they had dredged up the two bombs.

A bomb disposal team arrived from Portsmouth and the lifeboat crews stood down. RNLI helmsman Tom Freeman said: “This was an unusual shout for us, the first of its kind I’ve been involved in during 29 years on the lifeboat crew.”

Disaster averted CREW members from Exmouth launched on Friday 17 April to recover three children – two girls and a boy age 10, 11 and 13 – cut off by the tide at Sandy Bay. The children took refuge in a rocky cave area. Lifeboat crew members Ian Taylor, Giles White and Scott Ranft responded quickly to the call out. The call was at 5.08pm, the volunteer crew were on the sea at 5.12pm and on scene at 5.19pm.

The crew picked up the unharmed children and returned to their anxious parents. The family had been holidaying in Devon.

Saved from a rip A VOLUNTEER RNLI lifeguard rescued a male body boarder from a dangerous rip current 50 metres offshore on 19 April.

Stuart Flowerday was patrolling the bathing area on Perranporth beach with Robin Howell when the body boarder was caught in a rip current. Stuart – also a member of Perranporth Surf Life Saving Club –paddled out on a rescue board to bring the casualty back to shore.

Exhausted crew saved from sinking yacht TROON’S lifeboat crew members were alerted on 16 April to go to the aid of a 40-foot that was yacht in danger of sinking.

Clyde Coastguard requested the launch of the all-weather and inshore lifeboats launch at 7.15pm. The stricken yacht, which had suffered a split hull, had five people on board and was located around five miles south west of Troon in force 4–5 conditions.

On finding the casualty boat, two crew members from the all-weather lifeboat climbed aboard.

They found that the yacht’s crew had been bailing water for almost an hour and were exhausted. One of them was in need of medical attention.

Three of the yacht’s crew were transferred to the lifeboat, while the fourth – a 75-year-old man – was given oxygen and reassured.

The all-weather lifeboat headed back to Troon and during the passage a Royal Naval medic was winched aboard from an HMS Gannet rescue helicopter.

He assessed the condition of the medical casualty and prepared to help transfer him to waiting

GALLEY GOURMET

medical teams on shore.

Meanwhile, the two lifeboat crew members still aboard the yacht used a salvage pump to keep the incoming water at bay, allowing them to take the yacht towards Troon. The inshore lifeboat stayed nearby in case any further help was needed.

After delivering the casualties to the care of waiting medical teams, the all-weather lifeboat headed to sea again and helped escort the yacht to Troon Marina. The yacht was immediately hoisted from the water to safeguard against any possibility of her sinking.

Coxswain Joe Millar said: “This operation can be attributed to the very high level of teamwork and training that all crew members acquire during their time as volunteers with the RNLI.” After the rescue, both lifeboats returned to the lifeboat station and were made ready for service.

The lifeboat crew members were stood down at 9.40pm.

Cooking on board should be simple – the recipe must use mainly store cupboard ingredients, be cooked in one pot, on one gas ring and in record time to conserve fuel.

Egg & Bacon Brunch served with Asparagus INGREDIENTS: Serves: 2 Preparation time: 10 minutes Cooking time: 15 minutes

• 8 fresh asparagus spears • 6 rashers of bacon • 2 eggs • Salt & pepper to taste

DRESSING: • 1 tbsp olive oil • Juice of a lemon • 1 tsp dried tarragon

Method • Prepare the asparagus by snapping off the

tough ends. If small leave whole, otherwise slice the asparagus quite thinly on the diagonal.

• Add a little oil or butter to a frying pan and saute the asparagus for a few minutes, turning occasionally, until tender and golden brown.

• Remove the asparagus from the frying pan and add your bacon, fry until crisp and remove.

• Finally, fry your eggs in the same pan.

• To serve, place four spears of asparagus onto

each plate, season with salt and pepper.

• Top with bacon and egg.

• Beat together the dressing ingredients, and drizzle over the top. Serve immediately with crusty bread.

Healthy Options: • Asparagus can be steamed over boiling water

for 3 – 5 minutes until tender.

• Serve this dish with a poached rather than fried egg.

• Turn this dish into a smart lunch for on board entertaining by replacing the bacon with prosciutto, topped with shavings of parmesan cheese.

COOKED BY: Susan Greenwood

Photo: Nicholas Leach

Tidal Predictions DOVER TIDE TABLES ALL TIMES UTC (GMT). REPRODUCED BY KIND PERMISSION OF THE HYDROGRAPHIC OFFICE AND THE CONTROLLER OF HER MAJESTY’S STATIONARY OFFICE. CROWN COPYRIGHT RESERVED

News in brief

Variations on hw dover FALMOUTH

HW

-6hrs

PLYMOUTH

HW

-5hrs 30mins

DARTMOUTH

HW

-5hrs 15mins

WEYMOUTH

HW

-4hrs 45mins

POOLE

LW

+5hrs 45mins

COWES (IOW)

HW

+30mins

SOUTHAMPTON

HW

+30mins

PORTSMOUTH

HW

+15mins

SHOREHAM

HW

+15mins

BRIGHTON WALTON BLACKWATER HW

DOVER +15mins

LOWESTOFT

HW

-1hr 45mins

ABERDEEN

HW

+2hrs 30mins

NAIRN/INVERNESS

HW

+1hr 10mins

WICK

HW

+30mins

STORNOWAY

HW

-4hrs 30mins

ULLAPOOL

HW

-4hrs 30mins

OBAN

HW

-5hrs 30mins

LARGS

HW

+1hrs

DOUGLAS (IOM)

HW

+15mins

LIVERPOOL

HW

+15mins

HOLYHEAD

HW

-45mins

MILFORD HAVEN

HW

-5hrs 15mins

CARDIFF

HW

-4hrs 45mins

BRISTOL

HW

-4hrs 15mins

CORK/CROSSHAVEN

HW

-5hrs 45mins

BELFAST LOUGH

HW DOVER (S), +1hr (N)

DUN LAOGHAIRE

HW

+45mins

FULL MOON: 24/05/2009 NEW MOON: 09/05/2009

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | www.allatsea.co.uk

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ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | www.allatsea.co.uk

CHARTER HOLIDAYS HOME & AWAY

Š Sportlibrary / Fotolia.com

TO E YS UR E YO PAG UID IDA 8 T G OL U O RH LL TE PU AR CH

Charter a course to boating bliss

PERHAPS you have your own boat in the UK but would like to sail in warmer waters. Maybe you have sailed with friends and would like to do more or perhaps you have always wanted to

learn to sail and even consider buying your own boat one day.

It could be that you have added up the figures and it seems to make sense to charter than own your own vessel. That

means yacht charter could be for you. In the current financial climate what could be more appropriate, a chance for even just a weekend or a day of pure escape?

Chartering can offer the best of all worlds

but deciding on the right charter holiday can be a minefield. We have chosen just some of the most popular areas in this eight-page pullout feature.

Sue Baggaley and Anna Sachdev report.

II

CHARTER HOLIDAYS

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | news@allatsea.co.uk

The right sort of charter THERE are so many different boats to charter in so many places with a huge variety of packages to suit almost every need.

The problem is deciding where and how to start.

Club-based sailing holidays are dotted around the world and they are firm favourites with families.

You can usually dinghy sail, windsurf or sail on day boats.

There are plenty of other activities such as mountain biking, walking, swimming and spa centres for those not so keen on sailing. This makes them ideal for groups and families.

Many companies offer learn to sail holidays for the complete beginner where everything is provided and after several days at sea you will leave

© paul prescott / Fotolia.com

with the appropriate certification.

If you have not sailed before, lack the necessary sailing qualifications and don’t feel the need to learn, or just want a really relaxed holiday, then a skippered and crewed charter could be for you. You can have a skipper and crew, which might include a hostess and a cook as well.

This option is to have a professional skipper, who takes complete responsibility for the safety of the yacht and those aboard.

You need no qualifications in sailing. Even for an experienced sailor this can be a way of exploring new cruising grounds. The skipper is usually happy to take you where you want to go to. Some companies offer lady skippers for girl crews.

A flotilla holiday is a group of yachts sailing together with an experienced skipper on board a lead boat, which heads up the flotilla.

Flotillas vary in size, usually between three and ten boats sailing together. The skipper of each yacht will be expected to have a level of competence. However, flotillas give a sense of security to those new to sailing because the experienced lead crews oversee the sailing.

Flotilla yachts will usually

accommodate between two and 12 people. Flotillas allow experienced skippers to bring friends along for the social side of sailing.

Flotillas offer the option of sailing independently, perhaps at the end of the holiday and of sightseeing when in port. You will feel the reassurance of being part of a group of like-minded sailors and the lead boat crew are always nearby for assistance.

They will also recommend the best anchorages and harbours, the best restaurants and places to visit. The lead crew will assist on technical matters with the boat and often organise beach parties and other fun events.

Bareboat charter is like renting a car. The boat comes without a skipper or crew. You will need to be an experienced skipper and a second member of your group should be able to sail. If you have not sailed for a while you can hire an instructor for just the first day or two until you find your sealegs again. Bareboat charters are for the experienced sailor wanting the freedom to sail doing your own passage planning, your own itinerary, at your own pace. It gives you privacy and independence.

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CHARTER HOLIDAYS UK

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III

Chartering in the UK UK charter boats can be taken for a day, a weekend or weeks.

Day sails generally can allow you to travel for anything up to 12-13 miles and weekend sails 25-30.

For longer holidays perhaps 50 miles and more, which if you are on the south coast offers the opportunity to cross to Holland, France, Belgium, and of course from the west coast across to Ireland.

Short term charters attract anything from birthday parties to stag and hen does. Needless to say you need a crew and skipper for this.

Chartering is also a good option if you want to be involved in events such as Cowes week but do not possess the right boat.

Always use a supplier that is accredited so that you can be confident about your money and your personal safety. The Marine Leisure Association says:” Accredited training providers will have undertaken rigorous checks and provide globally recognised qualifications whilst accredited charter and holiday providers ensure a wide range of benefits from supplying the highest standards to securing your money.”

The MLA’s website www. marineleisure.co.uk and free brochure include ‘Helpful Information from the Professionals’ which has tips

starting from packing your bag to documentation and your well-being.

Check their affiliations to associations such as the Marine Leisure Association or the RYA if you are looking for instruction.

Poole is perfectly positioned if you need a slice of quiet reflection. Studland Bay, Durdle Door and Hengisbury Head are all a stone’s throw away. It is also a great location for exploring the tourist honeypot between the Isle of Wight and Weymouth.

A few miles west is Studland Bay. It boasts pristine quaintness, famous castles and a nudist beach. Further west on the imaginatively named Jurassic Coast is a World Heritage Site with spectacular rock formations and sweeping coastal scenery. Durdle Door and Lulworth Cove are well worth a visit and Hengistbury Head is a great place for walkers.

To the west, huge ships ease past the ultra-exclusive Sandbanks region, where property apparently costs more per square foot than it does in Manhattan. To the east is the Isle of White with the Needles at its western edge.

Nearby Bournemouth has as good a beach as you’ll find anywhere in the UK, but because it is built on cliffs, the town itself enjoys very little real interaction with the sea. There’s no harbour,

no marina and no natural overspill of people across to the promenade.

If you want the beach, you need to actively pursue it. To that end there are numerous slopes, steps and lifts down to the shoreline, but the town itself barely comes across as coastal.

Yacht charter in Plymouth and the West County offers some of the best cruising in the UK. A weekend charter from here can easily take in Salcombe, Fowey and the Yealm River.

The harbours and rivers of Torbay, Dartmouth, Helford and Falmouth are only a little further. Torquay and the pretty fishing village of Brixham make for a great sail.

Queen Anne’s Battery is a popular marina in Plymouth offering outstanding facilities to 235 permanent berths for boats up to 18 metres and a visitors’ area with alongside pontoon berthing.

You will find all you need here - a chandlery, brokerage and yacht charter, a shop selling essential items as well as a café, bar and restaurant.

Situated in the centre of Plymouth, the marina provides an ideal departure point for those heading across to Brittany or further afield, and there is extensive cruising around Plymouth Sound. The Channel Islands are a popular weekend destination from Plymouth.

Choose the right time of year IN UK waters the summer months are most favourable for obvious reasons. No one wants to holiday in a howling gale.

In Greece and Turkey and you can sail all year round. Most groups will choose the holiday season when they are guaranteed some sunshine and better conditions.

The main charter season is June to September but can be affected by strong Meltemi winds.

These occur mainly during the summer season but also in May and October you may experience this dry wind. Usually the wind

starts soon after midday reaching 4-5 on the Beaufort scale and dies out at sunset. However, it is not uncommon to see 5-7 and can last up to ten days.

It is always best to check wind strength for your planned trip with your booking agent.

For the Caribbean you may prefer to avoid the hurricane season, which is June to November. Hurricanes hit not only the Caribbean islands but also parts of Mexico and Florida.

August to October are the peak months.

© Chuck Terry / Fotolia.com

IV

CHARTER HOLIDAYS MEDITERRANEAN

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | news@allatsea.co.uk

The Mediterranean FOR those not wishing to fly or if you want to save carbon emissions or higher fares these days, some of the most exciting and beautiful waters in the world are right on our doorstep and numerous charter companies provide all kinds of packages.

But for the UK boating fraternity Mediterranean waters are an obvious attraction without the rigours of a long flight or having to battle tides or worry about drying out.

Greece is a very popular destination because of its myriad of islands that offer great hospitality and shelter. The country’s coastline is 15,000 km or 9,500 miles so you need never go to the same place twice, although I defy anyone not to return to the beautiful Ionian Sea. The Ionian is the most popular area in Greece for all the right reasons, including genteel breezes.

It is beautiful, warm and hospitable and if you enjoy history Greece will not disappoint.

The hottest months are July and August when the temperature can reach well over 30 degrees. The winter temperature of around 12 degrees makes it a viable option all year round. Rafting up in one of the many small harbours and sharing a meze and retsina with fellow sailors

will live with you forever.

Turkey has the most amazing archipelago coastline and combines the ancient Greek, Carian and Lycian cultures. The beautiful bays and marvellous ports are a sailor’s dream and are not to be missed, especially Marmaris.

Competent sailors can find more exciting winds, but less experienced crews might prefer the many sheltered bays and anchorages along the coast. These make great lunchtime spots for swimming and snorkelling in clear water followed by fabulous relaxed lunches.

And for a real top of the range experience, a gulet is a traditionally built Turkish yacht and several holiday companies offer skippered and bareboat charters in Turkish waters. A gulet charter is one of the most luxurious crewed charters available.

Croatia has a rugged coastline full of surprises. The steepness of the terrain allows you to sail into a tiny harbour within metres of land and still have 20 metres below the keel. In some parts it seems a little like sailing on the moon because of the baroness. The many beautiful islands offer great food and surprisingly excellent wines. The locals are very welcoming and you

haven’t lived until you have sailed the Kornati National Park.

The Balearics have become one of the Mediterranean’s most popular yacht charter destinations.

The constant sunshine, clear waters and rugged landscape has made The Balearic Islands on of Europe’s favourite yachting playgrounds.

The gothic castles, museums and ancient cobbled streets offer plenty of history while the tapas bars, nightclubs and port side cafes make for a very sociable holiday. The lively harbours of Mallorca, Palma, Ibiza, Formentera and Minorca are unmistakably Spanish. These islands are best seen from the see as the towering coastlines offer coves and beaches, perfect for anchoring up. The secluded beaches of Formentera and Cabrera should definitely be on your list and the picturesque port of Cindadella and the magnificent port of Mahon are two of our favourite spots.

The chartering season runs from April to the end of October. The summer season in July and August is the hottest and tends to have lighter winds but will be the most expensive. Consider April and May and also September and October as the temperature is comfortable, and the sailing is good.

What experience will you need?

YOU only need experience for flotilla sailing and bareboating.

At least one member of your party must hold sailing qualifications equivalent to RYA Day Skipper level but for Greek waters, a second person must be qualified, or experienced, to RYA Competent Crew level. For Croatia the skipper must also hold a VHF licence.

In a flotilla most companies will hold a briefing each morning to cover the destination, weather, lunchtime and anchorages. The lead boat will usually take the flotilla out of the harbour and then you can sail independently until you rendezvous in the afternoon.

It is important to remember that whether you are an experienced skipper or just starting out you are responsible for the boat and your crew.

Some companies offer you a skipper for your first day just so you can get used to the boat. Do not be embarrassed to ask for this.

For bareboat charters you will need a minimum of five days or 100 miles as a skipper on an equivalent yacht,

an RYA Day Skipper qualification and an ICC qualification.

Some will insist on an RYA Coastal skipper qualification as well.

The RYA Day skipper certificate is evidence of your ability to skipper a yacht by day in good weather and local waters. The International Certificate of Competence which is accepted on the Continent is also acceptable provided a sailing log book is held showing the same practical experience required for the Day Skipper course, which is 100 sea miles, five days at sea and four night hours.

Night and offshore sailing require the next level of certification and experience.

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ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | www.allatsea.co.uk

CHARTER HOLIDAYS CANARY ISLANDS

The Canary Islands THE Canaries are known as ‘The Summer Islands’ because winter rarely comes. They are located just west of Morocco, and offer north westerlies. The trade winds are brisk and constant and they accelerate between the islands. The North Easterly trades that once took Columbus to America funnel through the islands creating what are known as Wind Acceleration Zones.

This means that even with fairly light prevailing winds, you can still find enough wind for an excellent sail. There is also plenty of marine life to see as the area around south west Gomera is designated a Special Area of Conservation by the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society.

The Canaries consist of seven main islands and six islets and are particularly suitable for the more

© Sapsiwai / Fotolia.com

experienced bareboat charterer.

The islands pack a huge variety of landscapes into a small area, including weird volcanic plateaus, cloud forest wreathed in mist, cliffs lashed by Atlantic squalls and green fields growing grapes and olives.

La Gomera is still a relatively unknown Canary Island even though it was Christopher Columbus’s last port of call before he discovered America and it has a stunning National Park that was designated a World Heritage Site in 1986. It also offers some of the finest sailing in the world, for beginners as well as the more experienced sailor.

La Gomera is 28 degrees north of the equator in the sub tropics which means it sees average temperatures of 21 degrees in winter and 28 degrees in summer. The island still retains its Canarian character hasn’t been spoilt by mass tourism. You won’t be able to find a full English breakfast or a pint of best bitter on the island, but you will be able to sample some excellent local food and wine.

Viewed from the sea, an amazing sight is ‘Los Órganos’, a spectacular cliff face created by lava, with gigantic pipes plunging into the sea, creating the most incredible underwater landscapes.

© João Freitas / Fotolia.com

VI

CHARTER HOLIDAYS CARIBBEAN

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | news@allatsea.co.uk

The Caribbean THE warm, crystal blue waters of the Caribbean offer some of the world’s most beautiful and exciting sailing.

In Antigua, St Bart’s, the British Virgin Islands, St Martin, Grenada, Martinique, St Lucia, Guadeloupe, St Vincent and the Grenadines, there are numerous companies offering charter holidays on sailing yachts, motorboats, catamarans and even luxury mega yachts and sailing super-yachts if money is no object.

The islands of the Caribbean form a fantastic arc from the Turks and Caicos to Trinidad. They are traditionally described as the Leeward Islands in the north and the Windwards in the south.

The Caribbean is a favourite venue for honeymoons and anniversaries.

The islands have many regattas and there is a plethora of watersports and scuba diving on offer.

So if you are looking for coral and exotic fish, white sandy beaches, sleepy villages and bustling markets, fashionable restaurants and shopping and a slow pace of life, then this could be the place for you.

The weather is rarely too hot and never cold.

You may prefer to avoid the hurricane season, which is June to November.

Hurricanes hit not only the Caribbean

islands but also parts of Mexico and Florida. August to October are the peak months, with the Christmas holidays also very popular. Christmas tends to be the most expensive time of year whereas the summer months are slightly cheaper.

The British Virgin Islands are the most popular charter destination in the Caribbean (arguably the most popular in the world), attracting visitors from all over the globe to its beautiful waters and stunning scenery. The BVIs look a bit like Scotland, except with sunshine and palm trees. And because the BVIs are relatively small and compact, you can cruise at a very leisurely pace without worrying that you are going to miss something — the cruising grounds of the BVIs are barely more than 35 miles long by 10 miles across.

The ever-reliable trade-winds mean that the sailing is excellent, day after day, and they help keep the islands from becoming stiflingly hot.

The BVIs can be roughly split into two island chains, separated by the Sir Francis Drake Channel, a threemile wide expanse of water along (or across) which numerous pleasure craft ply. Among these islands are Norman Island, said to be the setting of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure

© Oleksandr Bondar / Fotolia.com

Island, and Dead Chest Cay, where the pirate Blackbeard is said to have marooned 15 men on this waterless cay with just a bottle of rum between them…there is enough history here to stimulate the imagination and ensure a charter isn’t just about the sun and sea.

With the exception of Anegada,

which is a flat coral island north of the main group of islands, the BVIs are the mountainous peaks of extinct volcanoes, their slopes clad in lush vegetation and golden sands flanking their shorelines.

They are strikingly beautiful and for some inexplicable reason have been spared the sort of tourist

development that has spoiled other parts of the Caribbean. Indeed, the thing that strikes you most about the BVIs is the relative lack of tourists.

Yes, there are a large number of charter boats cruising around the islands, and there are one or two exclusive beach hotels, but there is a lack of development which is rare.

CHARTER HOLIDAYS

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | www.allatsea.co.uk

Final considerations

How much will it cost?

Cooks, cleaners and hostesses all come at a price.

All members of the charter party must take out personal travel insurance as with any other holiday.

This is a sporting activity so make sure purchase a policy that offers the appropriate level of cover.

Most yachts are comprehensively insured including cover to third parties. However, most companies require a security deposit paid in advance to cover the excess charged on an insurance claim to make good any damage or loss occurring during the charter period to the yacht, her equipment and/or to any third parties.

Usually no security deposit or insurance will cover any acts of gross negligence, wilful damage, night sailing, and racing against a third party and sailing under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Read the small print.

SAILING is not like cruising on a luxury liner. In some ways it is more like camping or caravanning on water. Will it bother you that there is very little

© PixAchi / Fotolia.com

YACHT charter is not just for celebrities and those on the rich list We found a two-week sailing holiday on the Internet for £300. And of course the sky’s the limit at the top end.

Most boats come fully equipped but check for additional costs like bed linen, transfer costs, marina charges and boat cleaning as they will vary with each company.

When bareboating you will buy your own groceries, water, fuel and pay your own harbour fees. Normally cooking gas is included in the charter fee. Outboard engines, spinnaker, extra anchor, airport transfer, can be charged extra.

Gulet cruises are usually allinclusive, but some extra harbour fees can be expected when a Turkish vessel enters a Greek port and visa versa.

If you are choosing to finish in a different place to where you started then all kind of costs kick in.

Extra crew can be hired if desired.

VII

privacy on a yacht or relatively small power boat?

It can be the perfect way to relax with no set itineraries. It is just you and your family or

Flotilla sailing is a great way to make friends

friends enjoying nature and each other. It can be as adventurous or as relaxed as you want. But research or lack of it can make or break your holiday.

© Marina Vilesova / Fotolia.com

VIII

CHARTER HOLIDAYS

ALL AT SEA | MAY 2009 | news@allatsea.co.uk

The Caribbean

10 3

4 1 2 9 5

8

7

6 11

The Mediterranean 3

4

1. Antigua 2. St Barts 3. British Virgin Islands 4. St Martin 5. Grenada 6. Martinique 7. St Lucia 8. Guadeloupe 9. St Vincent & Grenadines 10. Turks & Caicos 11. Trinidad

The UK

1. Poole 2. Isle of Wight 3. Weymouth 4. Bournemouth 5. Plymouth 6. Channel Islands

The Canary Islands 5

14 3 2 6

1. Greece 2. Turkey 3. Croatia 4. The Balearics

2

1

Š Wolfgang Zintl - Fotolia.com

Morocco