CHANGES TO SOUTH COAST BOAT SHOW
MDL Marinas has announced new dates for the South Coast Boat Show in 2023. Hosted at Ocean Village Marina, the popular boat show will now be held over 21 - 23 April. The change came about after King Charles’ coronation was confirmed to be held on 6 May, which falls during the original show dates.
“Following consultation with our exhibitors, we have decided it is in everyone’s best interests to move the dates of the show,” said Tim Mayer, sales and marketing director at MDL Marinas. “The coronation of the King is a major event, which quite rightly will see many people watching in London or on the television from the comfort of their homes. The South Coast Boat Show is focused on showcasing power and sail brands to serious buyers, and to generate strong leads and direct sales for the boat dealers, we need to ensure that as many people can attend as possible.”
Now in its fifth year, the South Coast Boat Show features many of the marine industry’s most exciting and innovative boating brands, as well as an extensive range of ancillary services such as associated gear, finance and insurance.
In further show news from MDL Marinas, it has been announced that the Green Tech Boat Show will play centre stage at the South Coast Boat Show. Eco-friendly and innovative products designed to make boating more sustainable will be showcased alongside power and sail brands.
“We have taken the decision to make the Green Tech Boat Show a feature of our popular South Coast Boat Show as boat purchase and sustainable boating are no longer a separate conversation with the boat buying public,” explained Tim Mayer. www.mdlmarinas.co.uk/boat-shows
CLASSIC CAR SALE RAISES FUNDS FOR RNLI
The late Robert Furniss Riding’s classic car collection sold for £1.1m by H&H Classics at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford to benefit the RNLI and other charities.
Headed by a selection of Rolls-Royce and Bentley models,the 15 cars were offered for sale ‘without reserve’. From the sale price a total of £754,200 will benefit the RNLI and other charities in Robert Riding’s bequest.
The oldest cars in the line-up were a 1924 Bentley 3 Litre Vanden Plas Tourer (£140,000 sale price) and 1926 Rolls-Royce 20 HP Landaulette(£42,000 sale price), while the youngest was a 1991 Maserati Bi-Turbo Spyder (£10,500 sale price). The car which achieved the highest price, however, was the 1934 Rolls-
Royce Phantom II Continental Sedanca Coupe (£170,000).
Helen Hopkins, head of legacies at the RNLI,said: “We are incredibly grateful to the late Robert Riding Furniss for naming the RNLI as one of the beneficiaries of his estate, along with others. The sale of the classic car collection will form some of the donation as the RNLI is the residuary beneficiary, so we are very grateful to see it raise so much money. Six in 10 lifeboat launches are only possible due to gifts in wills. Any gift left to the RNLI, large or small, makes a huge difference”
DEE CAFFARI SHARES HER EXPERIENCES
Dee Caffari, UKSA’s Youth and Mental Health Ambassador, visited the Cowes based charity to share her Round Britain and Island Race experience, as well as giving its Further Education students the opportunity to ask questions regarding building resilience while out on the water.
UKSA appointed Dee earlier this year to raise awareness and find solutions to help young people whose mental health has been affected by falling below the poverty line, having less time outdoors and reduced employment prospects.
Dee Caffari said: “It was great to return to where my sailing career started at UKSA and share some of the challenges, triumphs and frustrations of my race around Britain and Ireland this summer. It is important to me to be able to inspire the students and speak honestly about how difficult times can be but also give them the confidence to face their own challenges ahead. I hope I have inspired them to go on and have an amazing future in the marine industry.
Bella Rainbow, 16, a student at UKSA, said: “I found Dee Caffari’s talk very inspiring. As a young aspiring female sailor myself, her experience of her struggles being female and not being seen as a strong person in the industry
is something I can really relate to. It was also amazing to hear that she was a teacher before she became a sailor. Hearing her talk has given me the drive to complete my Further Education course and to sign up to UKSA’s Superyacht Cadetship after I graduate.” www.uksa.org
SUPPORTING WETWHEELS
SKIPPERS NEEDED
SBS BoatLife will be supporting the Wetwheels Foundation as the chosen charity for 2023.
Conceived and founded by disabled yachtsman Geoff Holt MBE DL, Wetwheels offers the opportunity for all disabled people to access the sea in a safe and rewarding way on board fully accessible, purpose-built powerboats. Getting out on the water has been shown to build and boost confidence, as well as improving physical and mental wellbeing during an enriching experience.
Boating with the Wetwheels Foundation is in a safe and stimulating environment, with full wheelchair access to the boats, a ramp to the steering position and adapted steering controls. The
team ensures all participants are active, as opposed to passengers, plus there is the opportunity to steer the boat whilst learning seamanship alongside peers, friends and family members.
Chief executive of the Wetwheels Foundation, Neil Wilson said: “We are delighted to be the official charity for SBS BoatLife 2023. This will be our first visit and we are excited to meet those attending The NEC and to see friends, both old and new, from the maritime industry. We look forward to coming to Birmingham to share our vision of ensuring barrier-free access to the water.”
boatlifeevents.com
FLARE DISPOSAL
AMERICA’S
ALL ABOARD
By Jane HydeIN SEARCH OF SKIPPERS
Iam usually very organised when it comes to Christmas shopping, but this year I have barely started. Fortunately, putting together this month’s Christmas Gift Guide has really helped and I now have a few more packages hidden away. I also love a Secret Santa, which is not only fun but is a great way to cut down on the shopping if there is a large group of you.
Check out charities’ online shops too for loads of great gifts, plus you could buy a virtual gift or simply a membership. The RNLI is a great example, but there are many more, which we will bring you in next month’s gift guide.
In the meantime, someone who has been doing some incredible work fundraising for the RNLI is volunteer lifeboat crew member Brad Johnson. Earlier in the year we ran a story about the Tube Challenge which saw Brad and fellow crew member Nick Walton visit more than 200 underground stations in 17 hours. In this month’s Shootin’ The Breeze we catch up with Brad to find out how his 200 challenges to coincide with the upcoming 200-year anniversary of the RNLI is going. Find out more on page 27.
Not only does Brad give up his time as a lifeboat crew member but he has become more involved in fundraising for the charity too. There are many opportunities for us to support people and organisations around the country. This might be volunteering like Brad, but it could also be using your skills in another way.
For example, on this page you will see that The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is looking for freelance skippers for next summer. This is an amazing opportunity to use your sailing skills to make a difference to young people living through and beyond cancer. You can, of course, volunteer with the Trust too; there is lots of information on their website.
Before the 2023 summer season, though, MDL Marinas has announced a date change for the South Coast Boat Show at Ocean Village Marina. Originally scheduled for early May the news of the coronation of King Charles on 6 May means the show will now be held over 21 – 23 April. Add the date to your diary!
Back to now, and for many it is a time for boat maintenance and general end of season jobs. We are, as always, here to help. This month’s Hot Topic sees Yamaha’s Jonny Twelvetrees explaining how to winterise and store your outboard, while on page 24 we have some more general end of season maintenance advice.
We have a couple of new competitions for you. First up, Typhoon International is giving away a Hendra Hinge Entry Women’s Drysuit worth £649.95. Entry details can be found on page 23. We also have a fantastic book bundle worth more than £100 to give away courtesy of Adlard Coles. Enjoy the paper.
Could you do something incredible and use your sailing skills to make a difference to young people living through and beyond cancer? The Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust is looking for freelance skippers for the 2023 summer season.
If you are a Commercially Endorsed Yachtmaster, with a minimum of a Cruising Instructor endorsement, and are interested in inspiring young people to believe in a brighter future after cancer treatment, the Trust would love to hear from you.
Supporting young people aged 8-24, the Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust sails on four and five day trips from Cowes and Largs on Scotland’s west coast. Each trip has a flotilla of between three and six boats.
This year, 519 young people were supported by the Trust after two pandemic-affected years, with 266 of these enjoying a four-day sailing adventure
for the first time, from Cowes or Largs. In addition, 190 young people returned to the Trust for further sailing adventures.
Liz skippered for the Trust for the first time in 2021, having been a mate volunteer for many years. She said: “This is the highlight of my career and the thing that I have dreamed of my whole life is being a Trust skipper, so what do I like about it? Absolutely everything.
“I would say to other skippers it is the best sailing and the best experience you will ever have. You will never laugh so much, you might not cry so much, you definitely have to learn to play Uno, but it gives you something that is indefinable and absolutely beautiful.”
Closing date: Monday 5 December 2022.
www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org/news/ skipper-for-the-trust-in-2023
CHANGING
How one of the first marinas
the Firth of Clyde
Australian whisky followed up by
Beaujolais Nouveau
SAILORS OF THE YEAR
The unstoppable Nacra 17 duo Ruggero Tita and Caterina Banti have added more awards to their impressive collection after being named Male and Female Rolex World Sailor of the Year 2022 at the World Sailing Awards. The pair struck Tokyo 2020 Olympic Gold and continued to dominate the event, winning both the European Championships and World Championships by impressive margins.
RAMSGATE WEEK
In order to run the regatta on neap tides and as a result of competitor feedback, Ramsgate Week dates have moved to August from 2023 (7 - 11 August). The format will be generally in line with the 2022 regatta with the inclusion of an additional Performance Cruiser class catering for those with asymmetric and code 0 sails. Organisers have taken the Round the Goodwins race out, and a further announcement will be made regarding a new date. They are also promoting a Classic Cruiser Class and, providing there are at least two entries, this will be the first time classic boats will be seen racing off Ramsgate for many years.
OPINIONS NEEDED
The Canal & River Trust has started a consultation for boat licence holders to agree on a minimum standard of customer service facilities that, within existing resources, will best meet the needs of those living on and navigating the network. The process will also set a standard for the quality and availability of facilities. Phase one of the consultation will take place until 21 November. Provide your feedback: shorturl.at/bsyP6
ELLA'S ARCTIC MISSION
Ella Hibbert, 25, is planning a recordsetting sail to be the first woman to solo circumnavigate the Arctic, non-stop. The voyage is to raise awareness about climate change, the endangerment of Arctic wildlife and the importance of pushing towards using alternative sources of power. Ella has set up a fundraiser to help her buy a boat, which will be auctioned off at the end of the trip, with the proceeds going to the charities she is fundraising for. Ella aims to set sail from Hamble-le-Rice in May 2024, with the trip taking around five months.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/solosailing-the-arctic-circle
OCEAN PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR
Princess Yachts has supported Oceanographic Magazine’s, Ocean Photographer of the Year competition for a third year.
Aimed at shining a light on the beauty of the world’s oceans and the threats they face, the awards are made up of nine categories, with this year’s winner of the overall Ocean Photographer of the Year 2022 being awarded to Ben Thouard.
Chosen from thousands of international submissions, Ben’s image –beautifully composed and full of texture and action - shows a surfer battling against one of the heaviest waves in the world, Teahupo’o, which translates as ‘place of skulls’.
This year’s finalists included images of posing pods of pilot whales, humans exploring the farthest reaches of the ocean and recovered reefs booming with biomass. The finalists’ images will be displayed as part of a free open-air exhibition at Tower Bridge in London until 7 November.
ARCTIC SAILOR WINS WITH CLIMATE CHANGE STORY
NEW ATTEMPT AT RECORD
Jon Amtrup’s article was the judges’ first choice in Yachting Monthly’s Brian Black Memorial Award 2022, which seeks to promote and encourage adventurous sailors to explore environmental issues and to document them in writing and photos.
Glaciers on the Arctic island of Svalbard have retreated more than a kilometre in 12 years, a rate of over 100m a year. Norwegian sailor Jon Amtrup has witnessed the changes first hand, having sailed to Svalbard regularly over more than a decade.
His evocative account of the desolate beauty and incredible wildlife of the island demonstrates a deep love for this landscape, but puts it in stark contrast with the global effects of climate change, as well as the local effects of masstourism, oil exploration and other threats to the environment.
The judges, including Dee Caffari and Mike Golding, chose Jon’s article because of its clear communication of the biggest environmental challenge of our time, seen through the lens of one small island group. The article was brought to life by the stunning photographs of crewmember James Austrums.
Mike Golding said: “Jon Amtrup’s winning piece eloquently captured his observations of the receding ‘permanent’ ice front in the North – while at the same time highlighting the complex contradiction of the visitors who travel to witness the same – inevitably at yet further cost to the planet.
“One hopes that each of these visitors can, like Jon, communicate what they have seen so that ultimately, we all learn to tread lighter on the earth towards a future where, just perhaps, ‘climate change’ describes a world getting cooler again.”
Since 24 October, the crew of Sails of Change have been on standby, studying the weather conditions and gearing up for the challenge. The objective, since 2017, has been to win the Jules Verne Trophy: 40 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes.
“It is the ultimate sporting goal, an extraordinary time to beat, that has been halved in the space of 30 years,” said skipper Yann Guichard.
37m long, 23m wide and weighing 21 tons, Sails of Change is the largest ocean racing trimaran ever built, and has a track record to match. Launched in 2008, the boat held the Jules Verne Trophy from 2012 to 2017 (45 days, 13 hours). Sails of Change was acquired by the Spindrift team in 2013 and went on to win the Route de la Découverte
Since 2021, Spindrift teams have been preparing a round-the-world attempt without using fossil fuels, a ‘challenge within the challenge’ according to Yann. There will be no combustion engine onboard to power the boat’s electronics, communications, desalination and water heating.
“To compensate, we have solar panels, two wind turbines and a methanol fuel cell,” said Yann.
The Spindrift team’s commitment to protecting the environment does not stop with the boat. The crew, as well as the boats, promote the ‘30x30’ message, relaying the call from scientists to protect at least 30 per cent of ocean and land by 2030, in order to prevent biodiversity loss and to build resilience to climate change.
A Slice of the Future
The latest concept design from Feadship is Slice, which is a revolutionary 85m yacht that tackles one of the biggest owner grievances in yacht design: long hallways, dark interiors and stacked living spaces.
Engineered with a glass strip running entirely from bow to stern, allowing for natural light to filter in through multiple decks, Slice “turns the inside out and the outside in,” explained Studio De Voogt lead designer Chris Bottoms and head of design Tanno Weeda.
Instead of offering a few new features or showcasing a single new technology, Feadship set out to completely reimagine a yacht from inside out. In simplest terms, the designers sliced their CAD model right down the centreline and pushed the halves apart to make room for a strip of glass running from bow to stern. It is not glass alone, but glass overlaying a structural
framework that lets natural light filter through multiple decks.
Having a slice running down the middle opens up countless spatial and lighting possibilities. Corridors become so much more than just hallways transitioning from one space to another – they have their own purpose and become enjoyable spaces in their own right.
The heart of the yacht is the 70m2 atrium at main deck level. Uninterrupted by a staircase, the atrium is more than a lobby but a destination in its own right.
Its cascading circular balconies open a wide range of possibilities for lighting and art installations.
To conceptualise Slice’s interior, Feadship turned to Dutch designer Marco van Ham and asked him to avoid teak entirely. Instead, Marco and his team brought in a palette of backlit marbles and onyx.
TECHNOHULL GTX
Technohull’s GTX is a sporty 10m plus day boat. Clean design lines with dynamic and sporty edges along with a sharp bow are all geared for top-of-the-line performance under any weather profile.
There is a choice between a double seat configuration with a back-to-back seat or a double row of seats, a wide fully equipped console, a carbon hardtop with full glass windscreen or a high windshield in the case of the open edition.
Being a day boat with a strong emphasis on the essence of spending a day at sea, the GTX has ample and comfortable lounging areas both at the bow and stern and, thanks to her wide beam, her spacious deck offers freedom of movement.
Engine options include a twin configuration of Mercury 250, 300 or 450 as well as twin Yamaha 250 or300hp.
Image: Technohull
UNDERWATER SUPERYACHT
Dutch builder U-Boat Worx has unveiled the 37.5m Nautilus underwater superyacht. Once it is built, the vessel will be equally at ease functioning as a yacht or a submersible.
The diesel-electricNautilushas a depth rating of 200m, with a surface cruise speed of 9knots and an underwater speed of 4knots.
When functioning as a boat, theNautilusoffers a massive sundeck equipped with a freshwater pool, a bar and a dining table. This al fresco arrangement is retracted before the submersible slips below sea level.
A newly invented, completely pressureresistant electrical tender is stowed under theNautilus’saft deck and
will stay outside while diving. This tender, the Aronnax, may also be used for transporting five scuba divers underwater to a dive spot.
The proposed design for the submarine has a master bedroom and four staterooms, as well as sleeping quarters for up to six crew. A fully equipped galley makes cooking an underwater meal simple and fun. However, interior layouts are fully customisable by the client.
The superyacht submarine will be able to stay underwater for up to four days. At cruise speed, the underwater endurance is six hours.
TheNautilushas a starting price of €25 million (c.£22 million).
ENTR - E E ESPRO
Following on fromits28m Forza and 39m Eterea projects, Centouno Navihas introduced an entry-level model.
At 16.5m overall with a 4.6m beam, theVesprois afastdayboator weekenderwhose name translates into ‘dusk’ or ‘twilight’.
“TheVespromay be smaller thanhercousins, butshehas the same lightweight construction using carbon and fibreglass in a hybrid sandwich with vinylster resin and PVC foam core for optimal mechanical characteristics,”said naval engineerMarco Arnaboldi.
The aft cockpit comprises a large walkaround sunpad and the fold-down panels in the bulwarks serve to increase the size of the aft deck and swim platform. The long foredeck is easily accessed by walkways on both sides and is almost entirely filled by another sunpad. Under the hardtop is an L-shaped divan with
accompanying dining table, facing sofa, bar unit and, naturally, the helm station. The accommodation below deck provides a comfortable ensuite V-berth in the bow and a spacious lounge space with galley. There is also the option of another guest cabin behind the stairs leading below deck. The Vespro is expected to make her international debut next summer.
Ray SLX 260 Surf
Ray’s next generation of sport boats
of the SLX 260 Surf. Combining the luxury of the SLX 260 with innovative wakesurfing technology, the new boat is built to elevate the experiences of boaters who enjoy both casual cruising and the thrill of watersports.
SLX 260 Surf offers boaters more flexibility for fun – whether they want to share a romantic getaway, cruise around in comfort with friends or give watersports
try with the kids or grandkids,” said Carrie Fodor, senior manager of design engineering. “In addition to advanced features designed to facilitate wakesurfing, the vessel leverages the SLX 260’s elevated style and easy-to-use amenities.”
NEW SYSTEM STARTING FOR FLARE DISPOSAL
New arrangements for disposing of redundant marine pyrotechnics, more commonly known as flares, are being rolled out by the pleasure vessel industry.
This new system replaces the voluntary and temporary scheme which Her Majesty’s Coastguard has been providing since 2010 from 17 of its stations, and the RNLI at its headquarters in Poole.
The new arrangements, supported by both British Marine and the RYA, provide a website with links to businesses offering disposal services across the UK. The Green Blue’s Environmental facilities service includes contact details of businesses offering flare disposal.
You will be able to contact the providers directly to discuss your disposal needs. The listed businesses offer not only a disposal service for private individuals, but can also offer guidance and advice in supporting the disposal of any unwanted flares.
So, if you need to dispose of flares you should look at the list
to see if there is a provider based near you (by boat or by car). If not, you may be able to dispose of your flares at:
• local marinas
• where you bought them
• possibly life raft services
• local authorities
• waste disposal businesses, some of whom may already offer a disposal service
On 31 December 2022, the current HM Coastguard scheme will end, and so the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has been working with Department for Transport and the sector to find a service of the same standard to replace it.
Although HM Coastguard will continue to receive old flares from the public until the end of the year, the new arrangements are in operation now in order to provide an overlap.
Claire Hughes, director of Her Majesty’s Coastguard, said she welcomed the innovative approach from the industry.
She said: “This is a very important breakthrough and I
am very grateful to British Marine and the RYA together with the wider marine and waste disposal industries for working to find and provide a solution to this ongoing challenge. Providing disposal services for these redundant marine pyrotechnics is really important as they can put public safety and the marine and coastal environment at risk.
“Also, by doing this, the industry is helping and supporting HM Coastguard by making sure we can be fully focused on saving lives at sea and supporting coastal communities in making our coast and waters a safer place for all.”
The new arrangements, which will continue to build over time, will offer solutions to not only boatowners, but also provide guidance and advice to businesses, such as yachting and boating clubs, chandlers, marinas and boatyards, who may see business opportunities in offering their members and customers local solutions.
thegreenblue.org.uk/ environmental-facilities-map
INSPIRATIONAL YOUNG PEOPLE
Nominations are now being sought by MDL Marinas for its Sail Training Awards 2023.
Now in their fourth decade, every year these awards offer 12 inspirational young people the opportunity to enjoy a life changing sailing experience with the Ocean Youth Trust South onboard its sail training vessel,Prolific.
MDL is looking for third party nominations for young people aged between 12 and 18, who have overcome adverse personal circumstances, shown exceptional accomplishments and achievements or who have supported those around them. Those in contact with young people are invited to send in nominations, including teachers, guide or scout leaders, youth group leaders, friends and employers.
The winners will spend five nights onboardProlific, becoming involved in all aspects of life afloat, including hoisting sails, sailing the boat at night and cooking and cleaning with the rest of the crew. This voyage will take place from 1 - 6 April 2023, departing from MDL’s Ocean Village Marina.
“Being onboardProlifichelps to build a young person’s confidence and creates a sense of responsibility and pride,” said Hazel Craik, organiser of the Sail Training Awards at MDL.
“Over the past 30 years plus, we have seen just how much of a difference a voyage with Ocean Youth Trust South can make to someone’s life. The work the charity does with young people is fantastic and we are delighted to support it with our Sail Training Awards.”
The winners will be selected from the regions in which MDL Marinas are located; the South West, Dorset, Hampshire, Thames Valley and East Coast.
Making your nomination at www. sailtrainingawards.co.uk Nominations close on 13January 2023.
THE CRUISING ALMANAC
The Cruising Association and Imray have launched the fully revised and updated 2023 edition of the Cruising Almanac.
Trusted as the go-to on board reference for sail and motor cruisers, the Cruising Almanac features the Shetlands in the north around the coasts and islands of Great Britain and Ireland and spans the continent from Bergen into the approaches to the Baltic and down to Gibraltar.
Authored by the first-hand knowledge of the CA’s experienced members, expert editorial team and the Regulations and Technical Services group (RATS), with Imray charts, the Cruising Almanac is stacked with essential information, checked and revised to reflect the changing cruising environment.
£25 for CA members / £35 for non-members (plus postage). www.theca.org.uk/catalog Read more from the Cruising Association on page 35.
the Cruising Almanac
PUSHING HARD IN THE GGR
Last month, in Golden Globe Race news, it was Britain’s Simon Curwenwho was leading the fleet with Tapio Lehtinen(FIN) and Pat Lawless (IRE) chasing him.
Since then, however, the southern hemisphere has not been overly welcoming, and the fleet has been consistently in confused seas over 4m and winds averaging 15 to 20 knots with occasional gusts to 40. Boats and sailors have taken a toll with several sailors injured, and a few boats needing repairs.
Simon Curwen(UK) onboardClara was the first to exit the doldrums, but broke his genoa halyard early in the Southern Ocean and decided to shelter off the coast on Trindade island. There he went up the mastto repair, to no avail, hurting himself in the process. He finally decided to continue with his removable forestay to Cape Town and look for shelter there and repair before heading into the Indian ocean.
“I got a bit bashed, there is not enough shelter behind this small island! I was hove-to and got up the mast for a couple of hours. On the way down my bosun’s chair started falling apart, I had to cut myself free and freeclimb my way down the rest of it.”
Damien Guillou(FRA) on board PRB reported that the stainless steel rudder shaft of his wind vane broke at the top of the rudder. The rudder was secured by a safety line so was not lost. Damien was able to make the necessary repairs, but had to wait for favourable weather conditions. It is the second windvane problem Damien has experienced; he returned to the Les Sables d’Olonne to repair and strengthen the mounting system, setting off six days behind the fleet.
Elsewhere Abhilash Tomy (IND) had a gas leak which is now repaired andPat Lawless(IRL) had a solent halyard snap in 40 knots squalls. He switched sails and planned to repair his halyard when conditions eased.
Ian Herbert-Jones(UK) repaired his mainsail battens andElliott Smith(USA) suffered major deck/ hull leaks from starboard on the long, windy port tack to Trindade. Ertan Beskardes(UK)still cannot store power in his batteries but is happy to be sailing in fresh winds.
In terms of race positions, Tapio Lehtinen (FIN) took a more easterly route right after Trindade, getting closer to Cape Town, initially stealing first spot from Simon and leading the fleet towards South Africa.Damien Guillou(FRA) did the same trick another 250 miles back and took fourth position stealing both the spots ofKirsten Neuchäfer(RSA) andAbhilash Tomy (IND), but then fell back to sixth.
Tapiosaid:“It is great here, the sailing conditions could not be better, I do not understand why we do not always sail in this latitude! I know that the high pressure is approaching and conditions might be tricky later on, but for the moment it is absolutely perfect weather!”
However, at the time of writing Simon Curwen was leading the fleet, followed by Tapio Lehtinen(FIN) and Abhilash Tomy(IND).
You can follow the progress of all 13 sailors at goldengloberace.com/livetracker. The UK sailors are: 1st Simon Curwen 8th (up from 9th) Ertan Beskardes 11th (down from 8th) Guy Waites 12th (no change) Ian Herbert-Jones
Entry is open for GGR 2026! You could enter with a budget below €100,000. Should you sell the boat after the race, it could cost you less than €45,000. Find out more at: goldengloberace.com/2026-ggr
THE ROUTE DU RHUM –DESTINATION GUADELOUPE
OCEAN GLOBE RACE
On 10 September next year, the 2023 Ocean Globe Race will set sail around the world in the spirit of the original Whitbread to celebrate its 50th anniversary, and the three stopover ports have been announced.
Sir Francis Chichester made his groundbreaking one stop solo circumnavigation in 1967 chasing the original clipper ship sailing times around the world. That led to the first ever around the world yacht race in 1968, the Sunday Times Golden Globe. It was single handed, so in 1973 it was decided
to hold the first ever fully crewed yacht race around the world. The legend of the Whitbread Race was born.
“Following years of negotiations with many ports, compounded by Covid issues and tough economic times, we are excited to finally announce thatCape Town, Auckland and Punta del Esteare marks of the course, all cities rooted into the DNA of the original Whitbread,”saidDon McIntyre, founder and chairman of the Ocean Globe Race. “We
are particularly excited to be stopping in Auckland at the halfway mark, an absolute favourite stopover for many Whitbread and later Volvo ocean race crews.”
Don added:“Sadly UK ports are not interested in hosting the start and finish of this epic adventure and historic occasion. Discussions continue with EU ports with this important decision to be announced in the weeks ahead. A Prologue prior to the start is planned and could leave from Portugal or Spain.”
There will be a total of 138 solo skippers setting off on 6 November for the 12th edition of the famous French single-handed transatlantic race, La Route Du Rhum, to cross the Atlantic between Saint-Malo, France and Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe - a total distance of 3,542 miles.
The sailors are divided into four Classes: Ultim 32/23, Ocean Fifty, Imoca, Class40 and two categories: Rhum Mono and Rhum Multi. The Ultim 32/23 class will have eight starters, as will the Ocean Fifty. There will be 38 Imoca and 55 Class40, the biggest class, and finally 17 Rhum Multi and 12 Rhum Mono.
The race features seven women and 131 men, and there are 24 non-French sailors representing 13 nationalities. It is a strong and typically diverse mix of experienced skippers, many renowned figures of offshore racing, many returning for another go, former winners (there are four defending champions) and as usual on the ‘Rhum’ there are professional sailors, seasoned amateurs and hardy adventurers.
Watch out for the UK’s James Harayda (IMOCA), Pip Hare (IMOCA), Sam Davies (IMOCA) and Sam Goodchild (Ocean Fifty).
www.routedurhum.com
CUP TEAMS ON THE WATER
The race for the 37thAmerica’s Cup, in Barcelona, is well and truly underway and October saw all five teams on the water with Alinghi Red Bull Racing continuing its training in Barcelona, Emirates Team New Zealand proceeding with commissioning the world’s first AC40 in Auckland, New York Yacht Club American Magic taking Patriot, their AC75, for its first sail since AC36 and the launch of both Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli’s LEQ12 in Cagliari and INEOS Britannia's first test boat, code-named T6, in Palma.
In the America’s Cup they say that ‘the days are long but the years are short’ and with less than two years to go until the start of the challenger series that will decide the boat that will race against ETNZ for the famous silver ewer, currently held by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, preparations are beginning in earnest.
Design teams are now at full capacity with data being gathered, super computers at the max and decisions that they make in the coming months being critical to the success of their teams in 2024. Pretty soon, boat-builders in the country of origin of each challenger, will be laying the foundations for the build of each syndicate’s sole AC75 that they will use to compete in the 37th America’s Cup.
Meanwhile at McConaghy’s in China and at the ETNZ North Shore facility in Auckland, work continues around the clock to deliver the hulls, foils and systems for the new class – the AC40 – that will be used in the Youth and Women’s America’s Cup as well as becoming custom testing platforms for the AC teams as they trial new ideas and theories to get an edge in what looks like being the closest America’s Cup in history.
Preparations in Barcelona are well advanced with the bases allocated and design work continuing by all the teams to create immersive, engaging sites to capture public attention whilst retaining the form and function to house the teams as they prepare for the racing.
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli
The Luna Rossa Prototype has been launched at the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Cagliari base. Manufactured with carbon composites, the building process required nearly 10 months and over 30,000 work hours of over 25 people and 40 members of the design team.For the construction of the hull and composite components, 5,000 square meters of carbon fibre were used in the different materials that make up the structural core.
Max Sirena, team director and skipper, said:
“It is a very innovative project in which we will concentrate all our development, that will be transferred to the new AC75 with which we will participate in the 37th America’s Cup. It has been a complex process; we pushed in all sectors, drawing also on our experience from the last edition, to optimise the fundamental aspects, define the lines and increase the aerodynamic and hydrodynamic development.”
Alinghi Red Bull Racing
The impressive, youthful and determined Alinghi Red Bull Racing Swiss team has continued its training schedule in Barcelona aboard BoatZero, the world’s first AC75 that was originally Emirates Team New Zealand’s ‘Te Aihe’ – the first boat built for AC36. The sailors and their Sailing Advisers (Dean Barker and Pietro Sibello) have made enormous progress on the water and as the light summer winds around Barcelona give way to autumnal Mediterranean breezes, the team is following a step-by-step approach as they learn more and more about the boat. Foiling manoeuvres are coming and there is a building confidence all around the team who brushed off a serious capsize in horrendous mistral conditions in September to put in long days of testing and trials on the water. Data is being relentlessly captured by the ARBR Design Team who are on the water every day and a multitude of cameras have been spotted all around the boat.
Emirates Team New Zealand
ETNZ has been busy commissioning the world’s first AC40, testing her out in a variety of weather states in the variable spring conditions of Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. The process has been wildly successful with the AC40 performing straight out of the box. Feedback has been extremely positive about the one-design nature of the boat and the team has been ironing out systems and software whilst pushing the boat to its limits. Top speeds have been in the “high 40s” and the boat has performed well in choppier, swell-like conditions as well as being blisteringly fast when the sea state is flat.
New York Yacht Club American Magic
Based out of their home waters of Pensacola, the most western city on the Florida Panhandle, NYYC American Magic is back on familiar home waters with the team launching Patriot, their AC75 race-boat from the 36th America’s Cup in Auckland.
With decorated Olympian Tom Slingsby confirmed as helmsman and Paul Goodison, Gold medallist from Beijing 2008, back in the afterguard, the Americans are a team to watch in this cycle as the inherent speed of Patriot – one of only two boats to take a race win off the Cup winning Kiwi boat ‘Te Rehutai’ – means that they have an excellent, proven platform to build from.
INEOS Britannia
At the end of October INEOS Britannia launched its first test boat, codenamed T6, designed and built-in collaboration with Mercedes-AMG F1 Applied Science. T6’s work will start with an extensive testing period, primarily aimed at validating the team’s design tools and testing key componentry ahead of the design deadline to start the build of the team's AC75 race boat. T6 will operate throughout the winter from the team’s new base in Palma de Mallorca. Test data and results will be streamed back to the design, engineering and performance teams at the team’s UK headquarters in Brackley, where work is underway on the research and design of what will become the team’s AC75 race boat.
STRUCTURE CONFIRMED FOR THE YOUTH AND WOMEN’S CUP EVENTS
The Youth America’s Cup starts on 19 September 2024 and the Women’s America’s Cup on 3 October 2024.
The rapidly re-vamping Port Olímpic, a short and pleasant stroll down the palm-lined promenade that stretches the length of Barcelona’s waterfront, is set to be the new base for the future stars of the America’s Cup to begin their journey to winning the Holy Grail of world yachting.
Both series begin with a week of practice for the teams before the fleets are split, where possible, into two with the confirmed AC Teams competing
in one group and all the invited yacht clubs from around the world competing in another. Each group will race a Qualifying Series of fleet races to produce the top three podium teams from each group.
Those teams will then move forward to a ‘Final Series’ of four fleet races to produce the top two teams who will advance on to the respective Youth and Women’s America’s Cup Single Matches to determine the respective winners.
Fleet racing will be replaced by one-on-one Match Racing and winning the Youth or
Women’s America’s Cup will be an achievement of the highest order rewarding those teams that can bring a big game mentality and the ability to switch effortlessly between the very different disciplines of fleet and match racing.
The Youth America’s Cup Single Match Race is being run on the same day as the America’s Cup Challenger Final on 2 October 2024 – and will be raced in between the Final flights – whilst the Women’s America’s Cup Single Match Race will be held on 16 October 2024, the date scheduled for two
America’s Cup Match races and again between flights. The notion of ‘One Design’ is abundantly represented in the official Notice of Race with corrector weights being deployed to standardise crew weight differences and an explicit requirement that ‘Yachts will be provided and will be configured by ACE to be of equal performance. Teams will not change the configuration of a yacht without the specific approval of ACE’.
The intention is to produce desperately close and competitive racing where
talent, sailing skill, foiling ability, racecraft and consistency are rewarded over big budgets and training time – indeed prospective Youth and Women’s teams are not permitted to even sail on an AC40 together between the date of publication of the Notice of Race and 30 June 2023.
Prospective entries will be invited to submit Initial Information Documentation from 1 November 2022 running through to the 30 June 2023 with the organisers intending to publish a full entry list by 1 May 2024.
NEWS NAUTICALSNAPSREADS
Reeds Nautical Almanac 2023 £49.99 / Adlard Coles Nautical
Reeds Nautical Almanac is the trusted annual compendium of navigational data for yachtsmen and motorboaters, and provides all the information required to navigate Atlantic coastal waters around the whole of the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands and the entire European coastline from the tip of Denmark right down to Gibraltar, Northern Morocco and the Azores.
British/Commonwealth Cruiser vs Italian Cruiser
By: Angus Konstam £14.99 / Osprey Publishing
This illustrated history explores the cruiser forces of the Italian and British Royal navies, the jack-of-all trades warships of the Mediterranean Naval War. This illustrated study, written by naval expert Angus Konstam, compares and contrasts the design, weapon technologies and combat performance of the opposing cruiser forces.
Heavy Weather Sailing 8th edition (hardback)
By: Martin Thomas & Peter Bruce £99.99 / Witherbys
This book is for crews of any size contemplating voyages out of the sight of land anywhere in the world. This edition includes new thinking on a variety of aspects of heavy weather handling and recent heavy weather experiences, with a foreword by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.
Turn to page 26 to enter this month's Adlard Coles book bundle competition.
Four remarkable stories of skill and gallantry at sea have been recognised at a national awards ceremony.
The Coxswain of RNLI Padstow lifeboat, the crew of a Spanish air/sea rescue helicopter, an HM Coastguard paramedic and the crew of a Maritime and Coastguard search and rescue helicopter were among those celebrated by national maritime charity, the Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society, for their bravery at sea at its annual Skill & Gallantry Awards ceremony.
The Lady Swaythling Trophy was
AT SEA HONOURED
Coastguard paramedic, for his ‘meritorious actions in rescuing others’ after helping a fisherman trapped in machinery onboard a Danish fishing vessel last year.
The Edward and Maisie Lewis Award, for outstanding air sea rescue, was presented to Rescue 924, the crew of Maritime and Coastguard air/sea rescue helicopter based in Newquay.
In July 2021, Storm Evert was thrashing the south-west coast of England and Rescue 924 was contacted to provide assistance to the first of a series of emergencies involving yachts which were at risk of being blown aground. Over the course of the next four hours the crew received continuous tasking to support five separate incidents at remote locations across the Scilly Isles.
awarded to Richard Pitman, Coxswain of the RNLI Padstow lifeboat Spirit of Padstow, for outstanding seamanship during the recovery of a badly-damaged fishing vessel in violent storm force conditions earlier this year.
Richard was praised for his meticulous planning in preparing the boat and its crew for what lay ahead, and subsequently skippered the boat in the most demanding of conditions whilst consistently displaying first class decision-making skills.
An Individual Commendation was awarded to Mark ‘Spike’ Hughes, an HM
A Crew Commendation was awarded to the crew of Helimer 401, a Spanish Super Puma helicopter, for its meticulous planning and outstanding airmanship after helping two crew members of a catamaran adrift in severe weather last summer. It became clear that the yacht had no propulsion or steerage and the two crew members were concerned that the vessel was likely to break apart in the prevailing conditions. The crew of Helimer 401 recovered the crew in two consecutive, skilfully executed winching serials.
A Lord Lewin Award for outstanding service to the charity was also presented to two of the Society’s volunteers. Suesan Brown, the Honorary Agent for Grimsby, was honoured for her dedicated service and exceptional commitment to her local maritime community. While Sylvia Aplin, Honorary Agent for Beer and Seaton, Devon, was recognised for her long standing dedication to fundraising for the Society. www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk
The committee of the combined yacht clubs of Poole has announced that the next International Paint Poole Regatta will be held from 25 - 27 May 2024.
The regatta will also host the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s GBR IRC National Championships, in a historic first move away from the club’s Solent home. Poole Regatta has previously included high profile races as part of the wider regatta, hosting the only rounds outside the Solent for the Fast 40+ series in 2018 and, this year, the Cape 31s. The 2022 IRC Southern Area Championship also took place as part of Poole Regatta. As such, the regatta is ideally suited to run the 26th RORC GBR IRC National Championship whilst sticking to its roots to include closely matched racing and individual starts for a wide variety of keel boat classes.
Poole Regatta president Andrew Pearce said: “We are delighted to have International Paint renew their title sponsorship again for what is now
over 20 years continuous support. It is particularly exciting with the news that we will be hosting the RORC GBR IRC Nationals across the weekend as well. The two regattas fit very comfortably together. With Poole being such a short trip away from the Solent it should encourage all boats to race, both the traditional fleets based in the Solent as well as bolster the attendance of boats from further west.”
DID YOU KNOW…
The International Paint Poole Regatta in its current form was reintroduced in 2000 to celebrate the millennium and has developed ever since. 2016 saw the historic Canford Cup, which predates the America’s Cup ‘Auld Mug’ by two years, re-appear from a private collection and with the help of the yachting community of Poole was purchased by Poole Museum to be presented to the overall Poole Regatta winner.
REGATTA DATES ANNOUNCED FINALS POSTPONED
The SSL Gold Cup Finals, scheduled to be held in Bahrain from 28 October - 20 November, have been postponed.
In a statement the SSL Team, the Bahrain Maritime Sports Association and the Sailing Athletes Foundation said they are “naturally dismayed to have to make this decision with the event so close, but logistical and technical challenges, amplified by the current world environment,
made it impossible to host the event in the manner that the event deserves.
“Bringing together the incredible National Teams, made up of the most decorated sailors ever assembled at one event, remains the intention of the SSL Team and, despite this setback, the goal remains as strong as ever. We share the disappointment of the sailors set to compete, as well as that
of sailing enthusiasts worldwide and the wider sporting public who were looking forward to following the event.”
The arrangements for the event moving forwards will be announced in due course, following discussion with the SSL teams.
The Star Sailors League has been a World Sailing Special Event since 2017.
www.starsailors.com
RYA DINGHY & WATERSPORTS SHOW
Get the latest kit and equipment, visit your Class Association, meet up with friends and get season ready at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show.
With tickets due to go on sale soon, the popular event is set to take place on 25 - 26 February and is heading into its second year at the Farnborough International Exhibition Centre. Suzuki is again the headline sponsor of the show having supported the show for more than 15 years.
From new boats, boards and tech to holidays, musthave clothing and accessories, it is a great place to discover all the latest developments in the industry. It is also the place to get inspired for the season ahead and the line-up of experts and sailing legends will help visitors make the most of their time on the water.
With hands-on experiences, demos from legends, talks and exhibitors offering everything you need to get afloat, visitors can learn something new, improve their tactical skills, get better at racing, progress through the RYA pathways, or find out what is next in terms of training and qualifications.
www.dinghyshow.org.uk
ROUND-UP
FIND YOUR DREAM JOB IN THE MARINE INDUSTRY
discussion with industry experts, where they had a unique opportunity to ask questions regarding careers and opportunities in the leisure marine industry. There are some fantastic opportunities out there and all the apprentices are really enjoying their roles in the industry.”
Graduate marine careers
This is one of the most exciting times to get involved in the marine industry, as we work to meet global demand and keep the UK a top maritime nation. And the industry needs ambitious, motivated people to meet these challenges.
There are plenty of opportunities for graduates in the marine sector, with opportunities to use and develop the skills acquired throughout their studies. On a graduate programme you will be exposed to a wide variety of work and get fantastic training whilst spearheading innovation too.
There is huge scope for career advancement in the marine sector, and some programmes have an international focus, so there may be the opportunity to spend some time abroad. You can also learn about finance, management and HR as well as more technical areas.
Job seeker
On the British Marine website you will find vacancies listed from British Marine member and non-member organisations covering a whole range of roles from customer services to yacht broker, marine electricians to skippers. You will also find details of training courses and funding opportunities to help support you in finding your perfect role.
o are loo ing or a o in the arine sector visit mymembership.britishmarine.co.uk/careers/marineo vacancies
Career changer
In the recent British Marine members survey more than 70 per cent of respondents highlighted the need for a skilled workforce. With the need for skilled workers, vital for the industry to flourish, having the right training and right people is crucial.
As a career changer you can take your existing skills set and utilise them in the marine sector; you could go from doing the electrics on a new building to the electrical fittings onboard a superyacht; from selling cars to selling high speed RIBs and find yourself embarking on a fantastic career in a thriving, interesting and diverse sector
The UK marine sector is made up of more than 6,300 companies with a combined worth of over £4.2 billion and offers a wealth of career opportunities that many may overlook. As an industry it is at the forefront of innovation, pioneering new technology, with world renowned craftsmanship and is a world leader in design, but how do you go about finding your dream job in this exciting industry?
There are a whole host of diverse career opportunities available within the leisure marine sector, offering opportunities for a variety of skill sets across many different roles.
From engineers and designers to boat builders and technicians, craftspeople and hospitality supervisors, to welders and marketers, many people simply do not realise the full extent of the roles and opportunities that exist.
“The marine sector has a lot to offer - job security, career development, training and a great variety of work - with businesses looking for practical, handson, technical problem-solvers who have the passion and initiative to manage and deliver key projects. You can also expect a thriving, passionate and hardworking culture, with plenty of opportunities to ensure a great work/life balance,” explains Manj Mahey, head of training at British Marine.
Whether you are a school leaver or graduate, experienced tradesperson or skilled professional there are opportunities in the sector to get involved in interesting, challenging and important work.
Marine apprenticeships
Whether you are preparing to leave school or looking to change careers, the marine industry offers a range of apprenticeship opportunities. As an apprentice you spend time both in the classroom as well as out in the field, getting first-hand experience in a range of workplace activities.
You will be assigned a coach/mentor who will guide you through the apprenticeship, which will last
anything from one to five years, starting at Level 2, equivalent to GCSEs progressing through to Level 7, which is equivalent to a master’s degree, depending on the apprenticeship being undertaken. Plus, you will earn while you learn, taking home a salary, alongside gaining qualifications and occupational experience at the same time.
There are a whole host of apprenticeships offered by marine employers including Engineering Technician - maritime defence apprenticeship, Marina & Boatyard Operative apprenticeship, Boat Builder apprenticeship, Outdoor Activity Instructor apprenticeship.
It is worth remembering that the list is by no means exhaustive and that new Standards are being developed all the time.
View apprenticeship opportunities here: britishmarine.co.uk/Careers-and-Training/MarineApprenticeships/Apprenticeship-Opportunities
Manj added: “At the recent Southampton International Boat Show we welcomed 65 apprentices from across the marine sector to a recognition ceremony to celebrate their achievements, after which they took part in a panel
o nd o t ore a o t grad ate opport nities visit britishmarine.co.uk/Careers-and-Training/MarineCareer-Pathways/Graduate/Graduate-Opportunities
or advice on careers in the arine ind str visit britishmarine.co.uk/Careers-and-Training
There are many differing apprenticeship opportunities available in the marine industryImage: Richard Tarr Image: Emily Whiting
POWER TALK
Bringing you the latest marine engine news…
Building on a successful collaboration, Volvo Penta and CMB.TECH have announced an agreement designed to accelerate the development of dualfuel hydrogen-powered solutions for both land and sea applications.
The strengthened collaboration will create synergies aimed at leveraging the competences and product offerings of both companies –establishing dual-fuel hydrogen technology as a low-carbon interim solution before suitable zeroemissions alternatives become viable.
“From the initial dual-fuel technology projects we have seen reductions of CO2 emissions up to 80 per cent,” said Roy Campe, chief technology officer at CMB.
“It is clear that the energy transition is a major challenge in many types of applications. With the dual-fuel technology we have been developing over the last few years, we can provide a cost-
effective and robust solution for a variety of applications. We think there is huge potential in this solution for customers, both on land and at sea.”
Heléne Mellquist, president of Volvo Penta, added: “The development in this area is moving fast and with this partnership we see a great opportunity to further explore and be part of increasing the use and availability of hydrogen solutions. I believe that this dual-fuel approach will appeal to many of our customers by its ease of installation, maintenance and use. In addition, it will help accelerate our customers’ transition to more sustainable operations.”
The design and testing of the hydrogeninjection system will take place at CMB.TECH’s Technology and Development Centre in Brentwood. Here, Volvo Penta engines will be tested to optimise the hydrogen-diesel injection strategy for maximum reliability and emission savings.
ePropulsion has announced an agreement with Mastercraft and its Crest Pontoon brand to power the 2023 Crest Current.
The recently launched pontoon will include a factory-installed ePropulsion Navy 3.0 Evo electric motor and an E175 battery. The ePropulsion Navy Series is the backbone of
ePropulsion’s line of electric outboard motors providing efficient and clean power for aluminium fishing boats, dinghies, daysailers and cruising sailboats.
Thanks to the direct-drive technology, the Navy electric outboard boat motor is quiet, lowmaintenance and reliable.
Yanmar is making waves in the waterways of Venice with the installation of an engine for Matteo Tiepolato and his traditional wooden taxi boat Aquamarina. It is the first water taxi in Venice to be fitted with a Yanmar engine.
Matteo, who has been operating a water taxi service in the city since 2008, said that
with current fuel prices, along with smooth acceleration and responsiveness, economy is key: “I have complete faith in the engine which is economical to run and gives me peace of mind. It suits the water taxi service, but I would recommend it to anyone for leisure purposes also.”
The new owner of the 1920 ketch Talisman valued the yacht’s historical significance, but he could not help but wonder how its original designer, Henry Rasmussen, would improve his classic design with access to today’s technology.
Could he restore the Talisman and its systems for another 100 years while maintaining its elegance and eco-friendliness?
The Talisman, when new, was strictly windpowered. The 75-footer was the first steel-hulled yacht built at Rasmussen’s shipyard and she sailed under several names, with different owners, for 99 years. A diesel engine was installed and she later survived a fire and a lightning strike, but damage went unrepaired and time had taken its toll.
In 2019, a crew sailed the battered yacht to HCC Bådeværft in Denmark. The owner’s brief: history meets technology. The team at HCC was ready to take on the challenge; it would require a complete restoration.
Torqeedo’s Deep Blue 100kW electric drive system replaced the diesel engine and a 25kW electric bow thruster was added for manoeuvrability. Both are powered by a Deep Blue lithium-ion battery bank charged with renewable energy from onboard solar panels and by using the
electric drive as a hydrogenerator when the yacht is under sail.
However, the owner’s vision for Talisman went beyond a sustainably propelled yacht that generates its own energy. All materials and systems were evaluated to ensure a low environmental impact. Everything that was removed from the yacht during the restoration was evaluated, catalogued, cleaned and repaired. Anything that could not be reused was recycled or ‘upcycled’. Even the old sails were transformed into unique bags for the owner’s onboard guests.
Some basic maintenance needs to be done to make sure your boat is not only ready for the winter months, but is also protected and ready to go at the start of the new boating season.
degrades and its chemical properties change preventing it from properly combusting in an engine. The shelf life of fuel is generally three to six months, but can be much less. To prevent fuel system problems in storage, boat owners should add a bottle of fuel stabiliser to slow the degradation process that causes gum and varnish deposits throughout the fuel system. A fuel stabiliser also cleans, lubricates and maintains fuel pumps, carburettors, fuel injectors and compression rings.
atter aintenance – It is recommended that batteries be removed and all terminals, battery posts and other connections be cleaned and coated with an anti-corrosion grease like Lucas Oil Marine Grease, which contains unique polymers, anti-wear agents and tackifiers designed for fresh and saltwater environments. Marine grease is also great for trailer wheel bearings, trailer chassis and other friction points requiring premium marine grease.
Record high temperatures around the world meant more people than ever turned to boats and personal watercraft as a way to cool off, but now that autumn is here, many owners need to start prepping for winter storage. If done properly, their craft will be ready to go for the next boating season, but if not, they could be stuck with expensive repairs.
To prevent these types of issues, a few simple maintenance steps, provided
here courtesy of Lucas Oil, can make the prep process a breeze and keep marine products running like new.
Cleaning – Making sure boats, personal watercraft and their trailers are clean and free of residual saltwater, dirt and grime is a very important step to preserving all the different surfaces found on them. Hulls, decks, railings, tie down cleats, interior spaces, controls and more should be cleaned thoroughly
and inspected for damage. For added protection against winter elements applying products, such as Lucas Slick Mist Marine Speed Wax, to gel coats and other shiny surfaces provides protection against moisture, dust, dirt and other elements.
el ste – A fuel system is one of the most critical components of a boat or watercraft to prepare for storage. When stored for extended periods of time, fuel
Engine Oil – After a long boating season that may have involved scheduled oil changes, it is very important for boaters with both inboard and outboard motors to change their oil prior to storage. A high-quality conventional or synthetic engine oil will keep internal components lubricated and protected throughout winter. Additionally, when a bottle of, for example, Lucas Complete Engine Treatment is added to engine oil, it reduces gum and varnish, friction and wear of internal engine components, improves engine oil’s cold temperature fluidity and helps extend oil life.
“Being on the water to fish, waterski or just cruise with friends and family is something people cherish, but not taking the proper steps to store your boat can cause a lot of headaches down the road,” said Morgan Lucas, president of Lucas Oil. “Taking a little time to properly prep your boat in the autumn can make a world of difference when getting ready for the next boating season.” lucasoil.co.uk
rn to page 2 to nd o t how to winterise o r o t oard.
“Taking a little time to properly prep your boat in the autumn can make a world of difference when getting ready for the next boating season”
dividends next seasonImage: Frederico Rostagno/Shutterstock
OFF WATCH
SUDOKU
pampered
(6)
Noise made by a snake (4)
Substandard (8)
an
device
a socket (6)
Shun (6)
Dark grey colour (8)
root vegetables (8)
Popular spice (6)
Ride a bicycle with the pedals at rest, especially downhill (9)
Mends (7)
Secure against leakage (4)
10 Making fit for a specific purpose (9)
12 Slices of bread with a filling between them (8)
13 Fence of closely planted shrubs (8)
15 Formal charge of wrongdoing (7)
18 Identification tags (6)
20 Archaic form of the word ‘you’ (4)
CROSSWORD
Each letter of the alphabet has been given a di erent number. Substitute numbers for letters to make words to complete the puzzle.
check-box and letters either side of the grid may help you keep track.
Using the letters in the wheel, you have ten minutes to find as many words as possible of three or more letters, none of which may be plurals, foreign words or proper nouns.
Each word must contain the central letter and no letters can be used more than once per word unless they appear in di erent sections of the wheel.
There is at least one nine-letter word to be found.
Nine-letter word(s):
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
IN STYLE
A selection of our favourite clothing gift ideas...
NAUTICAL CLASSIC
Traditional nautical wear, such as these nautical striped tops, always make a great Christmas gift. The Mario Bi-colour Top, available in a couple of colour options, is a medium weight cotton Breton top with a classic boat neck. The Mousqueton Marina-P Women’s Top is a classic French design with 3/4 sleeves.
Mousqueton Mario Bi-colour Top: £41.95
Mousqueton Marina-P Women’s Top: £37.95 www.arthurbeale.co.uk
FUN FEET
Socks are, of course, the classic Christmas gift, and we love these Chatty Feet socks which are guaranteed to make the lucky recipient smile. Famous Artist Socks include Andy Sock-Hole, Frida Callus, Feetasso and Vincent Van Toe, while Modern Artist Socks include Roy Lichtenstoe, and Sole-Adore Dali. Sock sets come in a brightly coloured presentation gift box, ideal for Christmas. Box sets: £33 Pair: £9 notjustashop.arts.ac.uk
QUICKIE ROLLNECK
CHRISTMAS WITH NAUTICALIA
WOODLAND TRUST
Every purchase from the Woodland Trust shop – including Christmas cards and gift wrap – makes a contribution to the Trust’s work with woods and trees, meaning you can fight climate change and help create havens for wildlife, while also ticking off items from your Christmas to-do list. This
product in the Trust’s Christmas range is eco-friendly, whether it’s FSC-certified wooden
or bird feeders made from recycled plastic. If you would rather move away from giving
gifts completely, the Woodland Trust can help with a selection of green ‘virtual’ gifts and unique tree and woodland dedications in woods across the UK. shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk
Set of 7 soaps gift set, £18
Soap and bath bomb gift set, £18 Hedgehog shopping bag, £8.99
Save the trees shopping bag, £6.99
rCUP - cream and green, £14.99
AQUA PARKA
Gills Aqua Parka has been a huge success since its launch earlier this year. A high loft thermal fleece lining keeps
New
been
making
£145 www.gillmarine.com
length Parka a
This is a lovely gift for that
person in your life. What could be better when
an afternoon on
near the
NOW cup - cream and coral, £6.99 Circular bottle, £14.99
SIGG MyPlanet drinks bottle, £17.99
instead of physical gifts. This is great for the friend who ‘has everything’. It might be a monetary charity donation or it could be buying a gift that will directly benefit someone or a service connected to a charity. Some examples from the RNLI…
Fuel a lifeboat (£10, £20), Crew sea gloves (£25), Crew wellies (£55) or Crew pager (£115) shop.rnli.org/pages/virtual-gifts
PHOTOS OF
PHOTO OF THE MONTH WINNER!
With over 400 Tonnes of chain in stock, as well as a huge selection of rope, shackles, swivels, buoys and other mooring products, BGD are able to help you with most of your mooring & anchoring requirements
SOLID ZINC grade 40, calibrated chain is manufactured in Italy and is coated with an increased layer of galvanising, giving it increased longevity. It’s smooth finish & calibration makes it perfect for use on windlasses.
SOLID ZINC is tested, stamped & certified. Certificates available on request.
MF Solid Zinc 6x18.5 DIN766 £4.25 per mtr
MF Solid Zinc 7x22 DIN766 £5.30 per mtr
MF Solid Zinc 8x24 DIN766 £7.70 per mtr
MF Solid Zinc 10x28 DIN766 £11.15 per m
MF Solid Zinc 10x30 ISO £10.85 per m
MF Solid Zinc 12x36 ISO £15.30 per m
MF Solid Zinc 13x36 DIN766 £16.80 per m
TITAN GRADE 40
Tested, Stamped & Certificated, Hot Dip Galvanised, Calibrated Chain Suitable for use on windlasses
Titan Chain is BGD’s own brand. Sourced in China and made specifically for BGD, Titan chain is a high quality, Grade 40 chain that performs well on windlasses. Titan chain can be supplied c/w a test certificate on request.
Titan HDG 6x18.5 DIN766 £3.45 per mtr
Titan HDG 7x22 DIN766 £4.56 per mtr
Titan HDG 8x24 DIN766 £6.48 per mtr
Titan HDG 10x28 DIN766 £9.36 per mtr
Titan HDG 10x30 ISO £9.36 per mtr
Titan HDG 12x36 ISO £12.24 per mtr
Titan HDG 13x36 DIN766 £13.80 per mtr
Titan 316 Stainless Steel Chain
6x18.5mm DIN766 £9.96 per mtr
8x24 mm DIN766 £17.50 per mtr
10x28 mm DIN766 £27.50 per mtr
10x30 mm ISO £27.50 per mtr
12x36 mm ISO £36.50 per mtr
Kong
Straight
Stainless Anchor Swivel Connectors
6 - 8mm £44.95
8 12mm £78.95
12 14mm £229.00
READY MADE MOORING LINES!
Polyester Black mooring lines. Spliced soft eye & whipped end. Packed in pairs in a netted stowage bag. NB. * = 1 Line Only
16mm Diam x 8mtr £29.78 16mm Diam x 10mts £35.71 16mm Diam x 15mts £50.47 18mm Diam x 8mts £33.41 18mm Diam x 10mts £40.13 18mm Diam x 15mts £56.93 20mm Diam x 8mts £42.65 20mm Diam x 10mts £51.50 20mm Diam x 15mts £37.80*
2k £69.00 5kg £99.95 7.5kg £182.40 10kg £299.0 15kg £399.00 20kg £496.80
2kg £69.20 5kg £144.00 10kg £240.00 16kg £384.00 20kg £480.00
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Q: What fabric is the Hendra Hinge Entry drysuit made from?
A: NAME: ADDRESS: EMAIL:
Closing date: 29/11/12. Send by post: 13a Thornwood, Colchester, Essex, CO4 5LR, online at www.allatsea.co.uk or email editor@allatsea.co.uk with the subject header ‘Typhoon competition’. Winners will be notified by email/phone. The winners will be the first correct entry drawn at random after the competition closing date. Open to over 18s in the UK only. No cash or alternatives will be offered. Please indicate on your entry if you do not wish to receive information about other products and services from All at Sea, by phone, post, email or by SMS.
Win a Typhoon Hendra H/EWomen’s Drysuit at ea has teamed ith aters orts c othin and e i ment man act rer hoon nternationa to i e a a a endra in e ntr omen s r s it.
Variation and Deviation explained
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The course on your chart or your boat navigation app will be plotted relative to ‘true north’, the direction along the earth’s surface towards the geographic North Pole. However, your compass will always point to ‘magnetic north’, which is different.
This is because fluid iron in the earth’s core acts like a huge magnet, creating a relatively weak magnetic field. The needle in a compass is magnetised and freely suspended, and it aligns itself with the earth’s magnetic field.
Variation is the difference between true north and magnetic north and is measured in degrees and minutes (either east or west). It is shown on your chart in the compass rose.
The size of the variation will depend on two factors: where you are on earth and when you are there. In some places variation is minimal (two or three degrees), and given most people on the helm cannot steer to that level of precision, it is not worth accounting for. However it can, in some places, be up to 30 or 40 degrees, so it certainly needs factoring in.
Variation changes over time, and as it can be predicted your chart will show the yearly change relative to the date it was printed.
What is deviation?
So that is variation, but what is deviation? It is important to understanding the error caused by local magnetic fields. Although we said that your compass points to magnetic north, annoyingly that is not
entirely true. Objects on your boat, such as radios and mobile phones, create their own magnetic fields, which mess with the compass. This is called deviation. Unlike variation, deviation changes depending on the boat (with their different objects and layouts) and also on your heading. Why on the heading? Imagine you have a radio installed in front of the steering compass. When heading north your compass needle will be attracted towards it, which is fine because that is the direction you are heading anyway. Head east and the needle is pulled in two directionstowards magnetic north and towards the radio.
Creating a course to steer
You need to convert the course from your chart into a compass course to steer. You will also need to convert your compass course back into a true course if you want to transfer it onto your chart.
The main thing to remember is whether to add or subtract variation and deviation. From true to compass add the degrees if they are west (and subtract east), and from compass to true do the opposite; subtract west (and add east).
There are a few different mnemonics to help you remember: “Error west compass best” and “Error east compass least” –best in this case meaning the biggest, so add it.
HOT TOPIC
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you have got a Yamaha outboard, a list will be available in the outboard’s owner’s manual, including the proper Yamaha lubricants, additives and filters for the job. The correct amount of engine oil for your engine model can be found next to the oil fill cap under the engine cowling.
For a visual explanation watch the video which accompanies this feature at All at Sea’s website (head to shorturl.at/emoDV) about how to apply Variation & Deviation to a course to steer.
savvy navvy is the boating app that brings all essential marine information together in one place. It features global charts, wind and weather forecasts, tidal graphs, GPS Tracking, automatic weather routing and marina and anchorage information.
As the main boating season draws to a close, our thoughts turn to packing up our boats and storing equipment for the winter. For some items, it is as easy as popping them in a box in the garage. For other bits of kit, like outboards, it is a little more involved to ensure that they are in tip top condition when spring rolls around again.
Before you start, it is advisable to put together a checklist of everything you will need so that you can be sure you have got it to hand when the time comes. If
Change Oil and Filter - It all starts with changing the crankcase oil. Place an oil pan under the lower unit, remove the drain plug and allow the oil to drain completely. Replace the drain plug and check the old oil for discolouration or foamy residue, which might indicate water getting in through a damaged seal. Next you replace the engine oil filter, making sure you moisten the rubber gasket on the new filter with a little fresh engine oil to ensure a proper seal. Install
the filter by hand, tightening it until it is snug. You can now refill the crank case with the proper amount of the correct engine oil, before fogging the engine.
Grease the Fittings - For the best results, use a grease gun charged with marine grease to lubricate all grease fittings. Then spray the entire engine with a protective shield; at Yamaha we use our own specialist Yamashield to repel moisture and prevent corrosion, before replacing the engine cowling to finish the job.
Change the Fuel Filter - Next, it is time to change the fuel filter. To replace this, unscrew the existing one and put in the new filter. For health and environmental reasons, make sure you dispose of the old filter and fuel properly.
Add Fuel Stabiliser - To keep your fuel fresh throughout the winter, you will need to add a fuel stabiliser. Stabilised fuel not only helps to make sure your engine starts in the spring, it also helps prevent corrosion, rust or other engine damage while in storage.
Wash and Dry - Finally, before storing your outboard engine for the winter, thoroughly wash and dry the outside to get rid of any residual salt or grime.
By following these simple steps, your engine should be ready and waiting for you when the weather warms up. But you do not have to do this yourself. If you
have got a Yamaha outboard, we have got a network of dealers who would be happy to do all this for you.
Or, if it is time to replace your engine, our dealers will be able to help with that too, although if you are looking at a portable outboard, you can now buy these online with Yamaha’s new Click&Collect service.
Find out more about Yamaha’s new Click&Collect service: www.yamahamotor.eu/gb/en/products/marineengines/buy-outboard-engines-online
Turn to pa e to find out more about general autumn maintenance for your boat.
ec n r ch r di nd i e h ne cre e heir wn ne ic e d which e wi h he cDid you know... The magnetic compass as a shipboard navi ational instru ent first shows up in historical records in the early 1400s The needle in a co pass ali ns itself with the earth’s a netic field
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A few simple jobs now will mean your engine will ready for the new season
eplacin the oil filter
We discuss important topics with marine industry experts who share their opinions and top tips to help you get the most from your boating.
DOUGAL THE SOUND OF SAILING…
When we talk about the love of being afloat, what we are often describing is the wonderful assault on our senses as we enjoy all of the sensations that we are experiencing. Surprisingly, this does not just include the obvious ones, the wind on the face or the motion of the waves, but all of our senses, including sound.
After all, what can be more evocative than the sibilant hiss of water rushing past the hull, or that gentle slip-slop of night time waves against the hull that can ease even the most problematic of sleepers into a blissful land of nod.
There is, though, one other sound that today has all but disappeared, yet for many of that generation for whom nights away were spent at an anchorage, rather than a marina, this has to be the sound of getting from the boat to the pub and then back again at closing time. Those who were already asleep on board would be roused from their slumbers by a noisy, clattering rumble that would see them smile, turn over and then say “Seagull” before going back to sleep.
That smile would say it all, because back then the choices for an outboard for the tender were a 40 plus or a Century and both were made by the British Seagull company at a factory in Poole. That meant the problems with the outboards, which were thankfully few, were common to us all. After an evening run ashore, to start the engine you had to fiddle with the push-pull fuel tap below the tank, feel for the manual choke on the carburettor, then wind the starting cord around the flywheel and pull hard.
RELIABLE BUT NOT GREEN
Few Seagulls started ‘first pull’; dropping the starting lanyard overboard you would have to row back, meanwhile others in the boat would have to beware of the flailing cord as the big pull needed to start the engine risked ‘crowning’ any unwary passengers.
Amazingly, Seagull outboards were in truth incredibly reliable as there were so few parts to go wrong, and the stories of how they got dropped overboard, dragged back up, rinsed off under a hose, refuelled and then started again were legend – and true! British Seagulls were in use right across the globe, from the frozen wastes of the ice caps to the heat and humidity of the tropics, where they would run and run, often with the most minimal of servicing and attention.
That said, they were noisy, smelly, not very fuel efficient and an environmentalist’s worst nightmare, as they ran on a hefty 25:1 mix of two-stroke oil, which meant that when running you left a faint but distinguishable oil slick in the wake behind you. However, despite these failings, Seagull outboards helped power the huge growth in coastal sailing in the 1960s and ‘70s. Because of this, it is easy to think of the Seagull as being right at the forefront of marine outboard motor development, but when taken in global terms, they were quite a late developer.
Instead, the first outboards hark right back to the very early days of popular leisure boating in the late 1870s, and these were electric. The batteries of the day were heavy and lacked capacity, so the next outboard developments focused on the petrol-powered units that came out of the USA. In the first years of the 20th century practical motors started to appear in growing numbers courtesy of the ‘Porto-Motor’, but these would soon be overtaken by one of the all-time great innovators from the world of boating.
Ole Aaslundeie was born in Norway, but when his parents emigrated to the USA the name was Americanised to Evinrude and it would be the company that Ole created, bearing his name, that would finally create a user friendly and reliable two-stroke outboard that would include nearly all of the features that we recognise today.
Given that the back of a small boat is hardly a kindly environment for a complex engine, simplicity would be paramount. It was this basic layout, a
CHANGING NEEDS
Outboards would be given a chance to show their true worth during WW2, when the changing nature of modern warfare saw the need to easily transport assault boats that could be handled by troops with only minimal training. Outboards might be the answer, but in order to become an effective power supply there would need to be something of a step function in performance from the current 5hp that was in use with pre-war yacht tenders to a far more powerful 50hp motor.
Once again it was Evinrude who would come up with a new engine, whilst one of their big competitors, Johnson, developed an equally important 22hp outboard that was used to help position the units that formed the basis of a floating bridge.
These outboards played key roles in the abortive Market-Garden attacks into the Netherlands, then the successful crossing of wide rivers such as the Rhine.
In the years following the return to peace, import controls meant that the American outboards were hard to come by, so the market was open for UK built units to satisfy demand. Although the motor now known as the British Seagull was numerically dominant, frequently mounted on one of the ‘new’ Avon inflatables and happily traded with the tagline ‘The Best Outboard in the World’, they remained low powered, slow revving ‘chuggers’ that had no place in
the performance market. That role would be filled by the British Anzani engines; light, fast revving and powerful, ideal for the growing range of speedboats.
There were also other formats of early outboards in use abroad, with the Asian ‘long tails’, where a lengthy prop shaft was welded directly to the end of the crankshaft, then the whole lot balanced on the transom, but thankfully these did not have a place in our home waters as one can only imagine the carnage they would have caused in a busy anchorage at night.
NEW OUTBOARDS
By the late 1970s and the 1980s the world of leisure boating was changing fast, with globalisation providing a stream of smart new outboards that were lighter, quieter and in so many ways more user-friendly, and the stalwart of the UK boating scene, the Seagull, would no longer provide the soundtrack to our sport.
Moreover, the way in which we spent time afloat was changing as trips became passages from marina to marina and, for many boats, the tender itself became almost superfluous.
Elsewhere, though, the outboard was not just coming of age, it was getting beefier and better, but the next stage in the outboard story will have to wait until Part 2 of this series!
Although we take for granted the choices we have nowadays when it comes to outboards, this has not always been the case.
Win this boating book bundle!
All at Sea has teamed up with Adlard Coles to give away a fantastic bundle of boating books worth more than £100.
The Complete Ocean Skipper 2nd edition by Tom Cunliffe (Hardback £32): The Complete Ocean Skipper covers everything a sailor needs to know when planning and preparing for an offshore cruise or ocean passage. The second edition o this definiti e hand oo is fully updated, with new and revised content on multihulls, autopilots, radar, anchoring and software.
Channel Coast of France by Paul Heiney (£18.99): This is the perfect companion for exploring the pretty harbours and beautiful beaches of the Channel Coast of France. The book is lavishly illustrated with the author’s own photos of this alluring coastline’s bustling ports and hidden gems.
www.bloomsbury.com/uk/ non fiction na tica
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Skipper’s Cockpit Weather Guide by Frank Singleton (£12.99): This spiralbound instant reference guide will help you draw the most relevant weather information from a variety of sources, understand and apply broader forecast data to your location and your anticipated route, and know when and how to make those necessary alterations.
All Hands on Deck (£12.99): This sailing activity book is brimming with ideas and information for young sailors to inspire them to discover, explore and learn about sailing and boats. Full of lovely illustrations and imaginative and educational ideas for making the most of sailing, it is the ideal sailing companion for children.
The Sailor’s Sin Bin (£10.99): The book compiles the best of the short reallife confessions from sailors from Yachting Monthly’s Confessions feature, many of them illustrated by original cartoons. These cautionary tales are arranged into themed chapters, for the amusement and edification o readers.
The Dinghy Cruising Companion 2nd edition by Roger Barnes (£17.99): This guide, updated and expanded for its second edition, is invaluable for all aspiring or already-enthusiastic dinghy cruisers, showing how to get started and how to expand your horizons. The information and advice are interwoven with evocative stories o the a thor s ad ent res a oat.
ENTER HERE
For a chance to win this great prize enter below, online at www.allatsea.co.uk or by email to editor@allatsea.co.uk with the subject header Adlard Coles Competition. You can also enter via the All at Sea newsletter (sign up at www.allatsea.co.uk/aasnewsletter)
Q: Which of the books being given away has ideas and information for young sailors?
A:
NAME:
ADDRESS: EMAIL:
Closing date: 29/11/22. Send by post: 13a Thornwood, Colchester, Essex, CO4 5LR, online at www.allatsea.co.uk or email editor@allatsea.co.uk with the subject header ‘Adlard Coles competition’. Winners will be notified by email/phone. The winners will be the first correct entry drawn at random after the competition closing date. No cash or alternatives will be offered. Please indicate on your entry if you do not wish to receive information about other products and services from All at Sea and Adlard Coles, by phone, post, email or by SMS.
Shootin’ the Breeze...
QTELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE SKEGNESS RNLI LIFEBOAT STATION.
BRAD: Skegness is a dual boat lifeboat station situated on the East Coast of Lincolnshire. We have an allweather Shannon class lifeboat and D class inshore lifeboat. We are most busy during the summer months when the town comes alive with tourists. Most of our jobs include tourists who get into difficulty either in the water, near the beach or on pleasure crafts. We have had a station in Skegness for nearly 200 years and been a part of the RNLI since 1864, so we are one of the oldest institutions in the town and very much part of our local community. We have a crew of around 30 volunteers as well as an amazing team of fundraising and community volunteers who support the work of the station.
In 2024 it will be the RNLI’s 200th birthday, and so Skegness RNLI Lifeboat Station crew member Brad Johnson, and his crewmates, are taking on 200 challenges, many with a ‘200’ theme, to raise funds for Skegness Lifeboat Station.
QWHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO JOIN THE RNLI?
BRAD: There is something quite special about the RNLI. Whether it is the amazing work the charity does saving lives at sea, the comradery of the crew or the opportunities you get as a volunteer with the RNLI, there was something that drew me to volunteer when I moved back to Skegness in 2020. Joining has been the best thing I have ever done, and I would not change a thing about my experience so far.
Q
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT SKEGNESS RNLI LIFEBOAT STATION?
BRAD: All-weather lifeboat crew and inshore lifeboat crew and also a fundraiser and volunteer within the community team.
QHOW DID THE IDEA FOR 200 CHALLENGES COME ABOUT?
BRAD: When I found out the RNLI was celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2024, I thought I needed to do something to celebrate it. I thought some challenges with a 200 theme would be an excellent idea. We have paused some of the challenges recently as it transpired that I love being involved in fundraising, which has led me to work closer with the Community and Fundraising Branch to support our annual Lifeboat Ball, which raised over £21,000 in October. I have also been supporting various events over the summer to raise funds for the station, so my journey into the 200 for 200 challenges has led to something much bigger and broader.
QWHAT HAS BEEN THE TOUGHEST CHALLENGE SO FAR?
BRAD: I think mentally demanding was the Tube Challenge. This was nearly 17 hours on a train in full lifeboat gear, which was a real mental struggle as you have both the physical exhaustion and the counting down one by one of each station, especially when we had 50 to go within the final two hours. Physically demanding was the walk from Skegness to Mablethorpe and back in full lifeboat kit. That took ages and was a really physical challenge. We started just after 8.00 in the morning and it was dark by the time I returned, so it was a real slog but worthwhile.
Q THE CHALLENGES ARE RAISING FUNDS FOR THE LIFEBOAT STATION – CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE COSTS INVOLVED IN RUNNING A LIFEBOAT STATION?
BRAD: A total of six in 10 lifeboat launches are only possible thanks to the generosity of supporters leaving a gift in their Will. In addition, locally we hold fundraising events and open days to raise funds, all of which go towards keeping our volunteers safe by providing the best equipment and training when heading out to save others.
The average annual cost for training a crew member is £1,400. In addition to the training, they will need the appropriate kit when heading out in all weathers - a drysuit will cost £804 for example. Every penny donated really does help save lives at sea.
QDO YOU SAIL WHEN NOT ON THE WATER WITH THE RNLI?
BRAD: No, I do not and had limited boating experience before joining. The RNLI teaches you everything you need to know, whether you are an expert sailor or complete novice like I was.
QWHAT ARE THE FIRST STEPS FOR SOMEONE INTERESTED IN JOINING THE RNLI?
BRAD: Pop in, say hello and keep turning up. It is not glamorous and it will mess up your sleeping pattern if you get a flurry of night jobs. However, if you keep turning up, for training and for the pager, I can honestly say it is worth it.
There is nothing more rewarding than this volunteering experience. You literally gain a whole new extended family by being crew. At times it can be tough, both physically and emotionally, but the bond you form with these people, who can be so different to you, is something indescribable.
QWHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES/ INTERESTS OFF THE WATER?
BRAD: I work in education so I am really passionate about that. Also, in the more low octane world, I build Lego in my free time – it is a real difference from the fast-paced lifeboating world but it is how I relax. Other than that, food, friends and travel. I love going out for dinner and going away with friends, many of whom are crew members. As I said, they do become family and they are literally always there for you, whenever and wherever you need them.
More information on the challenges: lifeboatfundraising.org/200
JustGiving: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rnli200 Facebook: facebook.com/rnli200 Instagram: RNLI200
“They do become family and they are literally always there for you, whenever and wherever you need them”Skegness RNLI’s all-weather lifeboat, Joel and April Grunnill Image: RNLI/Nick Walton One of the 204 tube stops across the London Underground network visited by Brad Johnson and Nick Walton in the epic tube challenge Brad Johnson, and his crewmates, are taking on 200 challenges to raise funds for Skegness Lifeboat Station Image: RNLI/Nick Walton Image:
SAIL AWAY
NEW GREEK ROUTE
Discover The Moorings’ new two-week Cyclades itinerary for Athens.
This is a new route packed with ancient history to discover, from ancient theatres, temples and medieval castles, to exploring traditional open-air markets and dining in intimate tavernas and stylish waterfront restaurants. As travellers cruise through the Aegean Sea, they will be spoilt for choice when it comes to snorkelling, diving, swimming and sunbathing on pristine beaches.
Prices for a two-week Cyclades itinerary, departing Athens, for a fully equipped Moorings 43 Power Cat, based on four people, starts from £10,982.05 and includes Wi-Fi and damage insurance.
Prices for a two-week Cyclades itinerary, departing Athens, for a fully equipped Moorings 45, based on four people, starts from £ 7,126.55 and includes Wi-Fi, fuel and damage insurance.
0330 332 1524 / www.moorings.co.uk
CHARTER SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT
Whilst most people picture blue skies and a sun-soaked vista for their holidays, there are plenty of reasons to enjoy a winter sailing trip.
If you are keen to learn a new skill, you can head to a local watersports centre and learn to sail at any time of the year. Alternatively, consider chartering a skippered boat in the UK or abroad. Whilst you will need to ensure you are appropriately wrapped up, winter is a beautiful time to explore the beautiful UK coastline and offers the chance to see a
range of wildlife - think whales, seals and sea birds - you would miss at other times of the year.
Or, head further afield and enjoy the awe-inspiring backdrop of snow-covered mountains, cascading waterfalls and some of Europe’s most dramatic coastlines in Norway. You may even be treated to a spectacular light show courtesy of the famed Northern Lights.
www.borrowaboat.com
SAILING IN WINTER SUN
As the evenings are getting cooler, we decided it was time to ask Sunsail about those all-important winter sun sailing destinations. They came up with some really interesting ideas, alongside the more familiar British Virgin Islands, St Lucia and St Martin in the Caribbean.
Staying in that part of the world, Belize offers sheltered sailing within a barrier reef. From their base in Laru Beya Marina, on the west of Placencia Peninsula, you can explore picturesque anchorages hidden along palmfringed cays and see more than 500 species of tropical fish while snorkelling or diving along coral reefs.
Lastly, we are heading to Asia and the tropical bliss of the Andaman Sea. It will not take you long to see why Phuket is known as the Pearl of the Andaman.A sailing holiday here will introduce you to a world of exotic beauty and idyllic islands.
Belize Sailing Holidays from:£3,623
The Whitsundays, Australia from:£8,305 Phuket Sailing Holidays, Thailand from:£2,467
We all know the obvious, and hugely popular, places to charter a boat such as Greece, Croatia and the British Virgin Islands, but there are so many amazing locations all offering their own unique character.
Mexico is obviously a popular tourist destination but have you ever chartered a boat in this fascinating country? It is easy to get away from the busier tourist areas and discover stunning cruising grounds where you will be able to discover incredible wildlife, lovely old towns and relax in beautiful waters.
FURTHER INFORMATION
■ Nautilus Yachting: www.nautilusyachting.com
■ Seafarer: www.seafarersailing.co.uk
■ BVI Charters: www.bviyachtcharters.com
■ Ocean Elements: www.ocean-elements.co.uk
■ The Moorings: www.moorings.co.uk
■ Dream Yacht Charter: www.dreamyachtcharter.co.uk
■ Mallorca Yacht Charter: www.mallorcayachtcharter.eu
■ Sunsail: sunsail.co.uk
■ Tall Ships Youth Trust: tallships.org
From the warmth of Mexico to the chilly waters of Antarctica. If you have ever dreamed of exploring this frozen wilderness a charter is definitely the way to go. The best time of year to visit Antarctica is between October and March when the days are long and the weather is more temperate. A couple of other ideas include the small islands of French Polynesia in the waters of Oceania and Taiwan, with its picturesque coastline and amazing food and beaches.
So, when you are planning your next getaway, why not try somewhere different...
For the holiday of a lifetime, how about visiting The Whitsundays, a chain of 74 islands off the Queensland Coast. The Great Barrier Reef runs along the length of Queensland’s coastline, and makes up the fringing reef of the Whitsunday Islands.Snorkel, dive and explore the beaches and secluded coves of the Whitsunday Islands.
FOUR SEASONS LUXURY SHIPS COMING
Four Seasons is launching a fleet of luxury passenger ships under the name Four Seasons Yachts. The first ship will be delivered by the end of 2025.
The vessel’s 95 spacious accommodations will feature an extensive network of joining suite combinations creating adaptable, villalike residences. Each suite will offer floor-to-ceiling windows and access to terrace decks. The most expansive residence, the ‘Funnel Suite’, will be across four levels.
Luxury travel expert Larry Pimentel is leading the new enterprise: “In partnership with Four Seasons, we are creating a new category of luxury lifestyle travel that appeals to discerning guests.
“We are bringing together the very best across industries to create the pinnacle yachting offering through world-class design, curated experiences and truly exceptional service. When we launch in 2025, there will be nothing else like it on the open seas.”
on your dream holiday this year with the latest news and offersImage: Jamen Percy/Shutterstock.com KEEP ON SAILING Image: stylefoto24/Shutterstock Image: Simon Dannhauer/Shutterstock.com
MARINA FOCUS DEACONS MARINA
Marina Marina Manager: Ben Lippiett Tel: 02380 402 253
deacons@boatfolk.co.uk Bridge Road, Bursledon, Southampton Hampshire SO31 8AZ (entrance marked by a green and a red buoy)
The marina is situated on the west bank of the River Hamble on the outskirts of Southampton. Its sunny and sheltered location provides a tranquil spot for everyone, from dog walkers and
paddleboarders to boaters heading out into the Solent. Being close to Southampton means there is plenty to do nearby, as well as being a quieter escape away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
FACILITIES & BERTHING
No matter the size of your boat or the services you require, Deacons has the capability and warm staff with a range of expertise to assist.
The marina is dredged to 2m and berths can house boats up to 14m long. There are extensive lifting facilities in the yard for sailing and motorboats up to 14m or 15 tonnes, including lifting, relaunching, scrubbing, block off and storage.
Deacons is home to boatcare, boatfolk’s repair and maintenance service, which operates across five sites nationwide and growing. The undercover boatsheds and rigging shop act as a onestop shop for all repair and maintenance tasks, from showers to keels and rigging to thrusters.
The Force 4 chandlery has a wide range of marine stock, including electronics for your boat and the latest sailing clothing. The staff are passionate boaters, immensely friendly and are always on hand in-store or on the phone to offer help or to chat about all things boating.
For anyone in the market for a new boat, Deacons is also the headquarters for boatpoint, boatfolk’s boat brokerage arm, as well as the main dealer centre for Yamaha, Elan Yachts and Quarken UK. The team at the brand new boatpoint office are knowledgeable and focused on finding their customers the perfect match.
In addition, Mendez Marine is based in Deacons for both out on the water and classroom RYA courses, running throughout the year.
Lastly, the excellent facilities for boaters at Deacons include spotless washrooms and a recently renovated bistro offering local dishes.
ACCESS
If arriving by car, use the postcode SO31 8AZ. Exit the M27 at junction 9 or 8 and then follow the A27 down to Deacons Marina. The entrance is marked by red and green navigation buoys. The Force 4 chandlery is directly on your left with the main car park straight ahead, where you will find the marina office.
Bursledon is the nearest train station, just a fiveminute walk from the marina, with regular services from London (around two-and-a-half hours). If walking from the station, turn right out of the car park and walk toward the A27. Turn right under the railway bridge and right again to find the marina.
For watercraft approaching the marina, take special care as the Hamble can get very busy with larger vessels. VHF Channel 68 ‘Hamble Harbour Radio’ will be helpful in choosing a good time to cross into the marina. Arrival and departure should be made at slack water, as the tidal river currents can run at 3 knots.
CRUISING
Deacons is uniquely situated in that it provides a great launching point for both heading upstream for quieter day voyages as well as out into the Solent. The upper reaches of the Hamble have calm waters, providing perfect picnic spots and swimming opportunities for those brave enough to embrace the cool waters. Let the ebb tide carry you back to the marina while enjoying the gorgeous sunsets and natural views.
Cruising south, the Hamble empties into the mouth of Southampton Water. As you flow into the Solent, you are immediately greeted by a number of brilliant options for shorter and longer cruises.
It is hard to miss the Isle of Wight dead ahead, a favourite spot for boaters from around the world. See the famous
Needles rocks, stop off for some seaside shopping and see where the Cowes Week regatta takes place.
Alternatively, head east for a short cruise to the bustling city of Portsmouth. Explore the city’s rich naval heritage, the 24 miles of scenic waterfront or pop into town for a spot of metropolitan shopping.
boatfolk has sister marinas in the vicinity, East Cowes and Haslar Marina, which provide great stopover points for a lunch break or even an overnight stay for those looking to make the most of their visit.
For those looking for a longer, quieter cruise, Lymington is a sheltered haven to the west. Tucked into the New Forest, Lymington is one of Dorset’s jewels, with scenic country walks that end at classic British pubs; the perfect end to any day spent in and around the Solent.
THINGS TO DO
Whilst outside the main city boundaries of Southampton, there is still plenty to do within walking distance of Deacons Marina.
For on-the-water fun, the Bursledon Regatta is practically a water carnival. Hosted by Deacons Marina’s neighbours, Elephant Boatyard, it takes place in early September and has everything from dinghy racing to a themed carnival float display. A public BBQ followed by fireworks is a brilliant way to spend a day by the water.
There is a Tesco Extra just a 20-minute walk away. The Jolly Sailor, the Navigator and the Old Ship are pubs all within a fiveminute walk. Follow the river path on the
east bank to get to Warsash and the Rising Sun pub.
The Bursledon Windmill is Hampshire’s only working windmill. Dive into local history, dating back to 1814, and it is clear to see why it has become an iconic heritage attraction. Guided tours leave every half an hour at the weekends.
There are a number of local taxi companies that can take you to Southampton for those looking for a taste of the city. Like many of the coastal cities on the Solent, the port’s history has been rich and evolved greatly through the centuries. A visit to the Seacity Museum lets you explore stories that date back 200,000 years.
“There is something for everyone: paddle upriver, stroll the riverbank, lunch in The Hamble or explore picturesque Solent hideaways”
MARINA GUIDE
NOVEMBER 2022
SOUTH WEST
PREMIER MARINAS FALMOUTH
Manager: Mark Evans North Parade, Falmouth, Cornwall. TR11 2TD
T: 01326 316620
E: falmouth@premiermarinas.com
W: www.premiermarinas.com
PORT PENDENNIS MARINA
Manager: Mark Webster Challenger Quay, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 3YL
T: 01326 211211
E: marina@portpendennis.com
W: www.portpendennis.com
MYLOR YACHT HARBOUR
Manager/contact: Culum Matheson
Mylor Yacht Harbour, Mylor Churchtown, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 5UF
T: 01326 372 121 E: marina@mylor.com
W: www.mylor.com
FALMOUTH HAVEN
Contact: Barry Buist 44 Arwenack Street, Falmouth TR11 3JQ
T: 01326 310990
E: welcome@falmouthhaven.co.uk
W: www.falmouthhaven.co.uk
MAYFLOWER MARINA
Manager: Charles Bush
Mayflower Marina, Plymouth, Devon T: 01752 556633
E: info@mayflowermarina.co.uk
W: www.mayflowermarina.co.uk
PLYMOUTH YACHT HAVEN
Manager: Steve Kitchen Shaw Way, Mount Batten, Devon, PL9 9XH
T: 01752 404231
E: plymouth@yachthavens.com
W: www.yachthavens.com
YACHT HAVEN QUAY, PLYMOUTH
Manager: Will Rahder Breakwater Road, Plymouth, Devon, PL9 7FE
T: 01752 481190
E: boatyard@yachthavenquay.com
W: www.yachthavens.com
MDL QUEEN ANNE’S BATTERY
Manager: Chris Price Queen Anne’s Battery, Plymouth Devon. PL4 0LP T: 01752 671142
E: qab@mdlmarinas.co.uk
W: www.queenannesbattery.co.uk
SUTTON HARBOUR MARINA
Marina Manager: Mark Brimacombe The Jetty, Sutton Harbour, Plymouth PL4 0DW T: 01752 204702
E: marina@sutton-harbour.co.uk
W: www.suttonharbourmarina.com
KING POINT MARINA
Marina Manager: Mark Brimacombe Brunel Way, Milbay, Plymouth PL1 3EF T: 01752 424297
E: marina@kingpointmarina.co.uk
W: www.kingpointmarina.co.uk
PREMIER MARINAS NOSS ON DART
Manager: Andy Osman Bridge Road, Kingswear, Dartmouth Devon , TQ6 0EA T: 01803 839087
E: noss@premiermarinas.com
W: www.premiermarinas.com
MDL DARTSIDE QUAY
Manager: Alex Warner
Galmpton Creek, Brixham, Devon T: 01803 845445
W: www.dartsidequay.co.uk
MDL BRIXHAM MARINA
Manager: Martyn Sherratt Berry Head Road, Devon. TQ5 9BW
T: 01803 882929
E: brixham@mdlmarinas.co.uk
W: www.brixhammarina.co.uk
MDL TORQUAY MARINA
Manager: Alex Warner Torquay, Devon , TQ2 5EQ
T: 01803 200210
E: torquaymarina@mdlmarinas.co.uk
W: www.torquaymarina.co.uk
WATCHET MARINA
Manager: Matt Driscoll
10 The Esplanade, Watchet, Somerset TA23 0AJ
T: 01984 322230
E: Info@themarinegroup.co.uk
W: www.themarinegroup.co.uk
AVON MARINA
Manager: Alexis Smith Rossiter Quay, Bridge Street, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 1DZ T: 01202 612610
E: info@avonmarina.com
W: www.avonmarina.com
WEYMOUTH MARINA
Manager: Neil Bedwell Commercial Road, Weymouth Dorset. DT4 8NA T: 01305 767576
E: weymouth@boatfolk.co.uk W: www.boatfolk.co.uk
WEYMOUTH HARBOUR
Manager/contact - Jamie Joyce 13 Custom House Quay, Weymouth T: 01305 838423
E: weymouthharbour@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
W: www.weymouth-harbour.co.uk
PORTLAND MARINA
Manager: Paul Swain Osprey Quay, Portland, Dorset. DT5 1DX T: 01305 866190
E: portland@boatfolk.co.uk
W: www.boatfolk.co.uk
LAKE YARD MARINA
Manager/contact - Jenny Burrows Lake Yard Marina, Lake Drive, Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset. BH15 4DT
T:- 01202 674531
E: office@lakeyard.com
W: www.lakeyard.com
POOLE QUAY BOAT HAVEN
Manager: Kerrie Gray Poole Quay Boat Haven, Poole Town Quay, Poole, Dorset. BH15 1HJ
T/F: 01202 649488
E: info@poolequayboathaven.co.uk
W: www.poolequayboathaven.co.uk
PORT OF POOLE MARINA
Manager: Kerrie Gray Poole Quay Boat Haven, Poole Town Quay, Poole, Dorset. BH15 1HJ T/F: 01202 649 488
E: info@poolequayboathaven.co.uk
W: www.poolequayboathaven.co.uk
SALTERNS MARINA LTD
Manager: Robert Golden 40 Salterns Way, Lilliput, Poole, Dorset. BH14 8JR T: 01202 709971 F: 01202 700398
E: reception@salterns.co.uk W: www.salterns.co.uk
MDL COBB’S QUAY MARINA
Manager: Dan Lewis Hamworthy, Poole, Dorset. BH15 4EL T: 01202 674299
E: cobbsquay@mdlmarinas.co.uk W: www.cobbsquaymarina.co.uk
LYMINGTON YACHT HAVEN
Manager: Rupert Wagstaff Kings Saltern Road, Lymington, Hampshire , SO41 3QD T: 01590 677071
E: lymington@yachthavens.com W: www.yachthavens.com
BUCKLER’S HARD YACHT HARBOUR
Harbour Master: Wendy Stowe Harbour Master’s Office Buckler’s Hard Yacht Harbour Beaulieu, Hampshire, SO42 7XB T: 01590 616200
E: harbour.office@beaulieu.co.uk W: www.beaulieuriver.co.uk
HAVEN QUAY, LYMINGTON
Haven Quay Dry Stack Mill Lane,, Lymington Hampshire SO41 9AZ T: 01590 677072
E: havenquay@yachthavens.com W: www.yachthavens.com
DEACONS MARINA
Contact name: Adam Pryce-Jones Bursledon Bridge, Southampton SO31 8AZ
T 023 80 402253
E:deacons@boatfolk.co.uk
W: www.boatfolk.co.uk
MDL HYTHE MARINA VILLAGE
Manager: Mark Baker The Lock Building, Shamrock Way Hythe, Southampton, Hampshire. SO45 6DY
T: 023 8020 7073
E: hythe@mdlmarinas.co.uk W: www.hythemarinavillage.co.uk
SUCCESS IN CYPRUS
Karpaz Gate Marina, in North Cyprus, has, for the fourth time, been voted among the world’s most popular Gold Anchor accredited marinas with recognition in the The Yacht Harbour Association Towergate’s Marina of the Year Awards 2022.
Voted by berth holders and boat owners, the full-service 300-berth marina on the island’s Karpaz peninsula came
MDL OCEAN VILLAGE MARINA
Manager: Lauren McCann Marina Office, 2 Channel Way Southampton, Hampshire. SO14 3TG T: 023 8022 9385
E: oceanvillage@mdlmarinas.co.u W: www.oceanvillagemarina.co.uk
MDL SHAMROCK QUAY
Manager: Barry Radband William Street, Northam, Southampton Hampshire. SO14 5QL T: 023 8022 9461
E: shamrockquay@mdlmarinas.co.uk
W: www.shamrockquay.co.uk
MDL SAXON WHARF
Manager: David Walters Lower York Street, Northam, Southampton. SO14 5QF
T: 023 8033 9490
E: saxonwharf@mdlmarinas.co.uk
W: www.saxonwharf.co.uk
MDL HAMBLE POINT MARINA
Manager: Debbie Burns School Lane, Hamble, Southampton Hampshire. SO31 4NB
T: 023 8045 2464
E: hamblepoint@mdlmarinas.co.uk
W: www.hamblepointmarina.co.uk
MDL PORT HAMBLE MARINA
Manager: Bertie Marsh Satchell Lane, Hamble, Southampton Hampshire. SO31 4QD
T: 023 8045 274,1
E: porthamble@mdlmarinas.co.uk W: www.porthamblemarina.co.uk
runner-up in the International Marina of the Year category, . Open to all Gold Anchor accredited marinas in the UK and overseas, the Marina of the Year Awards gIve customers the chance to put forward their favourite marina, categorised by berthing numbers and by the type of location of the marina. www.karpazbay.com
MDL MERCURY YACHT HARBOUR
Manager: Dominic Brown SatchellLane, Hamble, Southampton, Hampshire. SO31 4HQ T: 023 8045 5994
E: mercury@mdlmarinas.co.uk
W: www.mercuryyachtharbour.co.uk
PREMIER MARINAS SWANWICK
Manager: Graham Bristowe Swanwick (on the Hamble) Southampton, Hants. SO31 1ZL
01489 884081
E: swanwick@premiermarinas.com
W: www.premiermarinas.com
HAMBLE YACHT SERVICES Port Hamble, Hamble,Southampton, Hampshire,SO31 4NN
T: 02380 201501 E: info@hysgroup.co.uk www.hysgroup.co.uk
PREMIER MARINAS UNIVERSAL
Manager: Graham Bristowe Crableck Lane, Sarisbury Green, Southampton, Hampshire, SO31 7ZN
T: 01489574272
E: universal@premiermarinas.com
W: www.premiermarinas.com
HASLAR MARINA
Manager: Ben Lippiett Haslar Road, Gosport, Hampshire, PO12 1NU T: 023 9260 1201 F: 023 9260 2201 E: haslar@boatfolk.co.uk
W: www.boatfolk.co.uk
PREMIER MARINAS GOSPORT
Manager: Jonathan Walcroft Mumby Road , Gosport, Hampshire. PO12 1AH
T: 023 9252 4811 F: 023 9258 9541
E: gosport@premiermarinas.com W: www.premiermarinas.com
INVESTING MILLIONS
Every year MDL Marinas reinvests millions of pounds to ensure that its 19 UK marinas and boatyards offer the best facilities and the ultimate customer experience both on and off the water.
This year has been no different despite rising costs, with MDL committing over £7 million to maintain its network of coastal and inland marinas to the level of excellence that its berth holders, visitors and tenants have come to expect. This commitment means safe and secure access to the water for boat owners and marina users throughout the year, come rain or shine, with MDL spending in excess of £1.5 million on the replacement and re dec ing o pontoons a walls upkeep and corrosion protection to continue to provide a modern, stable and anti-slip marina infrastructure.
In addition, all tides access at each of MDL’s marinas is guaranteed with an extensive, on-going dredging schedule. This year, over £500K of expenditure has been devoted to dredging, with a further
£500K focused on the refurbishment of onsite toilet and shower facilities and £400k invested in new plant, including two state-of-the-art dry stack forklifts.
As with any customer focused organisation, its staff are MDL’s biggest asset. MDL has invested in comprehensive training for its staff to ensure that each team member has the skills to support the expected exemplary level of customer service, from both an operational as well as a safety point of view.
From an environmental perspective, and with a view to aiding boat owners who wish to make their boating as green as possible, MDL continues to invest in its green initiatives.
Kerry Marriott, head of operations at MDL, said: “We will continue to ensure that our marinas offer an excellent standard of customer service and experience in the years to come and have already allocated over £30 million to be spent in the ne t ve ears. www.mdlmarinas.co.uk
Around the marinas...
New
US boat dealer group MarineMax has co pleted its ac isition o the IGY Marinas in a deal set to signi cantl expand its marina and services siness. arine a con r ed it is paying $480 million in cash for IGY Marinas, which owns and operates a network of 23 marinas in key yachting destinations worldwide.
BOOK WITH EASE
The new online booking platform from D-Marin, which operates 16 marinas in Greece, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Montenegro, Croatia and Italy, is now available.
It enables customers to choose and book their preferred berth in any of its marinas in less than two minutes, and since the rollout began, more than 35 per cent of new bookings have been made via the new digital platform.
Matthias Gehring, chief digital o cer at arin said he online selection o a speci c erth with instant booking capabilities and immediate
ROYAL CLARENCE MARINA
The Bridgehead, Weevil Lane, Gosport, Hampshire. PO12 1AX
T: 023 9252 3523
E: info@royalclarencemarina.org W: www.royalclarencemarina.org
PREMIER MARINAS PORT SOLENT Manager: Mark Phillp South Lockside, Port Solent, Portsmouth, Hampshire. PO6 4TJ T: 023 9221 0765 F: 023 9232 4241
E: portsolent@premiermarinas.com W: www.premiermarinas.com
PREMIER MARINAS SOUTHSEA Manager: Peter Pring Fort Cumberland Road Portsmouth, Hampshire. PO4 9RJ T: 023 9282 2719 F: 023 9282 2220
E: southsea@premiermarinas.com W: www.premiermarinas.com
GUNWHARF QUAYS MARINA Manager: Carl Jarmaine Gunwharf Quays, Marina Office Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO1 3TZ T: 02392 836732
E: gwqmarina@incentive-fm.com W: www.gunwharf-quays.com/marina
ISLE OF WIGHT
COWES YACHT HAVEN Manager: Katy Ednay
Vectis Yard, High Street, Cowes, PO31 7BD
T: 01983 299975 F: 01983 200332
with three ISO standards (ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management, ISO 14001:2015 Environmental Management and ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety) following a series of assessments over the last 12 months by the British Assessment Bureau.
Suntex Marina Investors has anno nced its rst ac isition on the Florida panhandle with the purchase of Legendary Marina, which is among the largest dry storage facilities in the States with more than 180,000 s are eet o space to acco odate 780 vessels.
Camper & Nicholsons announced the opening o its proprietar o ce in Dubai. Located in Mina Rashid Marina the new o ce will o er full-scale turnkey services to domestic and international clientele.
In Italy plans to regenerate the waterfront in the city of Civitanova Marche will create a new super hub or to ris and large achts lling a gap for a high-end marina. The intention is “to create a link between land and sea that not only includes Marche but also Umbria, Tuscany and part of Lazio.”
Willowtree Marina, in West London, has been sold. New owner Sorbon Estates has begun a programme of renovations “to provide an enhanced experience for boaters, visitors and businesses operating from the marina” including a new chandlery, more parking and CCTV.
A multi-million-pound development is coming to Mercia Marina in South Derbyshire. A new building will include shops, restaurants, cafés and apartments.
E: berthing@cowesyachthaven.com W:www.cowesyachthaven.com VHF: Channel 80
EAST COWES MARINA Manager: Mike Townshend Britannia Way, East Cowes Isle of Wight. PO32 6UB T: 01983 293983 F: 01983 299276
E: eastcowes@boatfolk.co.uk W: www.boatfolk.co.uk
con r ation is a ni e ind str solution enabled by the full integration of our operational systems.
“Our special approach allows us to offer this effortless service to all our customers so they can enjoy the sunset instead o e ing waiting or worr ing about being able to get a berth in the marina.
e are delighted at how ic l D-Marin customers have adopted the new digital services with more exciting plans on the horizon. So far, their feedback has been incredibly positive.”
d-marin.com/en/new-online-services
COWES HARBOUR SHEPARDS MARINA Manager: Jock Rafferty Medina Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, PO31 7HT
T: 01983 297821
E: shepards.chc@cowes.co.uk W: cowesharbourshepardsmarina.co.uk
ISLAND HARBOUR MARINA
Manager: Danie Erasmus Mill Lane, Newport, Isle of Wight, PO30 2LA
T: 01983 539994
E: info@island-harbour.co.uk
W:www.island-harbour.co.uk
BEMBRIDGE HARBOUR
Manager/Contact - Gordon Wight The Duver, St Helens, PO33 1YB
T: 01983 872828
E : mail@bembridgeharbour.co.uk W: www.bembridgeharbour.co.uk
YARMOUTH HARBOUR
Harbour Office, The Quay, Yarmouth, Isle of Wight, PO41 0NT T: 01983 760321
E: info@yarmouth-harbour.co.uk
W: www.yarmouth-harbour.co.uk
VHF: Ch 68 (harbour), Ch 15 (water taxi)
SOUTH EAST
MDL NORTHNEY MARINA
Manager: Claire Kennedy Northney Road, Hayling Island, PO11 0NH
T: 023 9246 6321
E: northney@mdlmarinas.co.uk
W: www.northneymarina.co.uk
MDL SPARKES MARINA
Manager: Claire Kennedy 38 Wittering Road, Hayling Island Hampshire. PO11 9SR
T: 023 9246 3572
E: sparkes@mdlmarinas.co.uk
W: www.sparkesmarina.co.uk
BIRDHAM POOL MARINA
Birdham, Chichester, W Sussex. PO20 7BG
T: 01243 512310
E: info@birdhampool.co.uk
W: www.birdhampool.co.uk
PREMIER MARINAS CHICHESTER
Manager: Andrew Collumbell Birdham (Chichester Harbour) West Sussex. PO20 7EJ
T: 01243 512731
E: chichester@premiermarinas.com
W: www.premiermarinas.com
SMALL BOATS WELCOME
LITTLEHAMPTON MARINA
Berthing Manager: Darren Humphries Ferry Road, Littlehampton, West Sussex, BN17 5DS T: 01903 713553 F: 01903 732264
E: sales@littlehamptonmarina.co.uk W: www.littlehamptonmarina.co.uk
LITTLEHAMPTON YACHT CLUB (LYC)
Rope House, Rope Walk Littlehampton, West Sussex BN17 5DH
Office: Fiona Boyce: 01903 713 996 Berthing Master: Bill Kellett T: 01903 732 926
F: 01903 725 911
E: fiona@littlehamptonyachtclub.co.uk
W: www.littlehamptonyachtclub.co.uk
PREMIER MARINAS BRIGHTON
Manager: Mike Hatch West Jetty, Brighton, East Sussex. BN2 5UP
T: 01273 819919
F: 01273 675082
E: brighton@premiermarinas.com
W: www.premiermarinas.com
PREMIER MARINAS EASTBOURNE
Manager: Dan Heckford Sovereign Harbour, North Lockside, Pacific Drive, Eastbourne. BN23 5BJ
01323
01323
sovereignharbour@premiermarinas.com
www.premiermarinas.com
SMALL BOATS WELCOME
NEWHAVEN MARINA
Manager/Contact: Russell Levett
Address: Newhaven Marina, The Yacht Harbour, Fort Road, Newhaven, BN9 9BY
: +44 (0)1273
881
E: info@newhavenmarina.co.uk
www.newhavenmarina.co.uk
MARINA GUIDE
NOVEMBER 2022
KENT
GILLINGHAM MARINA
Manager: Chris Aldous 173 Pier Road, Gillingham, Kent. ME7 1UB
T: 01634 280022
E: berthing@gillingham-marina.co.uk
W: www.gillingham-marina.co.uk
MDL CHATHAM MARITIME MARINA
Manager: Emma Crompton The Lock Building, Leviathan Way, Chatham Maritime, Kent. ME4 4LP
T: 01634 899200
E: chatham@mdlmarinas.co.uk www.chathammaritimemarina.co.uk
MEDWAY YACHT CLUB
Contact: Sue Bannister Lower Upnor, Rochester, ME2 4XB
T: 01634 718399
W:www.medwayyachtclub.com
PORT OF DOVER MARINA
Manager: Chris Windsor Address - Dover Marina, Crosswall Quay, Union Street, Dover, Kent, CT179BN T +44 (0) 1304 241 663
E marina@doverport.co.uk W www.doverport.co.uk/marina
SURREY
MDL PENTON HOOK MARINA
Manager: Andrew Smith Staines Road, Chertsey, Surrey. KT16 8PY
T: 01932 568681
E: pentonhook@mdlmarinas.co.uk
W: www.pentonhookmarina.co.uk
BERKSHIRE
MDL WINDSOR MARINA
Manager: John Harris Maidenhead Road, Windsor, Berkshire. SL4 5TZ
T: 01753 853911
E: windsor@mdlmarinas.co.uk W: www.windsormarina.co.uk
MDL BRAY MARINA
Manager: John Harris Monkey Island Lane, Bray, Berkshire. SL6 2EB
T: 01628 623654
E: bray@mdlmarinas.co.uk
W: www.braymarina.co.uk
SUFFOLK
MDL WOOLVERSTONE MARINA
Manager: Richard Browning Woolverstone, Ipswich, Suffolk. IP9 1AS
T: 01473 780206
E: woolverstone@mdlmarinas.co.uk W: www.woolverstonemarina.co.uk
LOWESTOFT HAVEN MARINA
Manager: Bob Beare
Lowestoft Haven Marina (twin site), School Road and Hamilton Dock, Marina Office, School Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk NR33 9NB
T: 01502 580300 F: 01502 581851
E: lowerstofthaven@abports.co.uk
W: lowestofthavenmarina.co.uk
FOX’S MARINA & BOATYARD
Marina Manager: Lee Gilson Fox’s Marina, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 8SA
T: +44 1473 689111
E: foxs@foxsmarina.com
W: www.foxsmarina.com
ESSEX
FAMBRIDGE YACHT HAVEN
Manager: Danyal Adams Chelmsford, CM3 6LU
T: 01621 740370
E: fambridge@yachthavens.com
W: www.yachthavens.com
WALES
ABERYSTWYTH MARINA
Manager:Adam Knowles
Y Lanfa Aberystwyth, Trefechan SY23 1AS
T: 01970 611422
E: aber@themarinegroup.co.uk
W: www.themarinegroup.co.uk
CARDIFF MARINA
Manager: Andy Coles OBE Watkiss Way, Cardiff. CF11 0SY T: 02920 396078 F: 02920 345116
E: info@themarinegroup.co.uk W: www.themarinegroup.co.uk
CONWY MARINA
Manager – Jon Roberts Conwy Marina Ellis Way, LL32 8GU T: 01492 593000
E: conwy@boatfolk.co.uk W: www.boatfolk.co.uk
MILFORD MARINA
Manager or contact: Melanie Durney Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire SA73 3AF Tel: 01646 796518
E: enquiries@milfordmarina.com W: www.milfordmarina.com
PENARTH MARINA
Manager: Stuart Jones Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan, F64 1TQ T: 02920 705021 E: penarth@boatfolk.co.uk W: www.boatfolk.co.uk
NEYLAND YACHT HAVEN
Manager: James Cotton Brunel Quay, Pembrokeshire, SA73 1PY T: 01646 601601
E: neyland@yachthavens.com W: www.yachthavens.com
PORT DINORWIC MARINA
Marina Manager: Charlotte Dawson Y Felinheli, Gwynedd LL56 4JN T:01248671500/01248 670176 E: Info@themarinegroup.co.uk W: www.themarinegroup.co.uk
BURRY PORT MARINA
Harbour Master: Robert Hockey The Harbour Office Burry Port, Carmarthenshire T:01554 835 691 E: Info@themarinegroup.co.uk W: www.themarinegroup.co.uk
N. IRELAND
BANGOR MARINA Manager: Kevin Baird Bangor, Co. Down T: 02891 45329
E: bangor@boatfolk.co.uk W: www.boatfolk.co.uk
CARRICKFERGUS MARINA
Harbour Master: Ryan Hack Marina Manager: Karen Steelen 3 Quayside, Carrickfergus BT38 8BJ T: 028 9336 6666
E: harbour.master@midandeastantrim. gov.uk W: www.midandeastantrim.gov.uk
BRISTOL
PORTISHEAD MARINA
Manager: Simon Davis Portishead, Bristol BS20 7DF T: 01275 841941
E: portishead@boatfolk.co.uk W: www.boatfolk.co.uk
NEWCASTLE
ROYAL QUAYS MARINA
Manager: Matt Simms North Shields, Tyneside NE29 6DU T: 0191 2728282
E: royalquays@boatfolk.co.uk W: www.boatfolk.co.uk
SCOTLAND
RHU MARINA
Contact: Suzanne Bell Rhu, Helensburgh G84 8LH T: 01436 820238 E: rhu@boatfolk.co.uk W: www.boatfolk.co.uk
LARGS YACHT HAVEN
Manager: Carolyn Elder Irvine Road, Largs, Ayrshire, KA30 8EZ T: 01475 675333 E: largs@yachthavens.com W: www.yachthavens.com
TROON YACHT HAVEN
Manager: Stephen Bennie The Harbour, Troon, Ayrshire, KA10 6DJ T: 01292 315553 E: troon@yachthavens.com W: www.yachthavens.com
SPAIN
MDL SANT CARLES MARINA
Manager: Nicolas Gonzalez Ctra Poble Nou s/n, Apartat de Correus 192, 43540, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Spain T: (0034) 9777 45153 T (UK): 023 8045 0227 enquiries@santcarlesmarina.com W: www.santcarlesmarina.com
HOLLAND
JACHTHAVEN BIESBOSCH
Manager: Renate Ilmer Nieuwe Jachthaven 54924 BA, Drimmelen, NL T: +31 (0)162 682249 E: info@jachthavenbiesbosch.nl W: www.jachthavenbiesbosch.nl
KERRERA MARINA
Contact : Tim Vollum Ardentrive Bay, Kerrera, Oban, Scotland, PA34 4SX T: 01631 565333 W: office@kerreramarina.com W: www.kerreramarina.com
N CYPRUS
KARPAZ GATE MARINA
Customer Service: Mucella Kara PO Box 12 Yenierenkoy, Iskele TRNC Via Mersin 10 / Turkey T: +90 533 833 7878 E: info@karpazbay.com W: www.karpazbay.com
ITALY
MARINARA
Front Desk: Federica Civilla Via Marinara 11, Marina di Ravenna, 48122 Italy T: (0039) 0544 531644 E: info@marinara.it W: www.marinara.it
CRUISING MATTERS
The latest news and views from the Cruising Association.
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ORCA PROJECT
Since launching the online reporting platform in early June the Cruising Association, in partnership with Grupo Trabajo Orca Atlantica, has received more than 300 reports logging ‘orca interactions’ and ‘uneventful passages’ along the worst affected areas of the Iberian Peninsula, during the peak interaction period of June to October.
Established in response to the phenomenon of orcas interacting with vessels linked to the tuna migrations system, the collection of data aims to identify any patterns in the interactions. The CA and GTOA also maintain ongoing consultation and collaborate with government and other organisations in the region.
Every report can be viewed online at www.theca.org.uk/ orcas/reports
The view of the CA and GTOA is that we are some way off achieving statistical significance from the reports received and it is too early to draw any conclusions on the factors which may or may not affect the likelihood of an interaction, but there may be early indicators.
Firstly, looking at antifoul colour it is interesting to note that:
■ 30 per cent of the uneventful passage control group had black antifouling whereas 52 per cent of those reporting interactions had black antifouling
■ 24 per cent of the control group (uneventful passage reports) had copper antifouling compared to only four per cent of the interaction reports
UPDATE
From new boaters to round the world cruisers, crewing service members to inland waterways explorers, the thriving cruising community who visited the Cruising Association at the Southampton International Boat Show represented a diverse mix of interests.
The CA’s membership was boosted during the show by well over 100 new members who took advantage of the discount offers to join the association’s 6,400+ worldwide membership.
The CA also provided a range of opportunities for the new and seasoned cruising community to utilise the knowledge of the expert Regulations and Technical Services group, with how-to talks on the main Foredeck Stage and drop-in Q&A sessions on their stand to answer questions from sail and motor cruisers.
Amongst the myriad of visitors was renowned single-handed circumnavigator Jeanne Socrates, a CA member since 1996, who perfectly summed up her experience of membership, saying: “We are sitting here at the boat show and there are a lot of friendly faces, and I do not think I recognise anyone, but I know I can go and chat with them as we have common shared experiences.
The CA and GTOA will be watching carefully as more reports are received to see whether vessels sporting black antifouling should change their colour scheme, and whether to consider using copper antifouling. Having said that, only three per cent of the uneventful passage boats saw orcas on their passage. So, did the copper antifoul users just get lucky, and is this an erroneous pattern at an early stage in the project?
Secondly, the statistics from reports received to date seem to suggest that turning the depth sounder off has little effect. If the statistics continue to develop in the current proportions, then there is more chance of suffering an interaction if you sail without autopilot: 65 per cent of interactions happened under autopilot compared to 85 per cent of the control group.
The CA adopted a safety protocol to share best practice on how to avoid an interaction and what to do in the case of an interaction. Considering strategies which may be employed to deter the orcas, the Portuguese Institute for Conservation of Nature and Forests and Associação Naval de Lisboa (Lisbon Naval Association) has confirmed a change to their previous policy, and now permit reversing in the presence of orcas. The CA cautions that reversing in certain sea conditions can be dangerous. The Spanish authorities, however, have stated that reversing in the presence of orcas remains illegal ‘except in an emergency’. Find out more about the orca project at theca.org.uk/orcas.
in e n in ed
CAptain’s Mate is your digital cruising companion, providing an unrivalled breadth of information and cruising reports covering more than 6,500 locations in 77+ countries around the world.
The app has been nominated for the British Yachting Awards ‘Equipment Innovation of the Year’. Available exclusively to CA members, CAptain’s Mate provides up-to-date, accurate and informative location data on anchorages, marinas, ports, harbours, boatyards and quays, with 20,000+ member contributions and reports providing first-hand insights and practical knowledge on locations and local interest.
The British Yachting Awards nomination is a fantastic accolade to the team who worked to upgrade the app and CA members who contribute their reports, photos and insights. Place you vote at www.britishyachtingawards.com by 6 November.
“For me, first joining the Cruising Association, the attraction was the library of charts. I used to regularly take the tube over to CA House and spend a couple of hours in the chart room planning my entire journey from Sweden back to England via Norway. It is a wonderful resource, as are the lectures and educational material.”
i en r i e i ed r i in ine
Cruising is the CA’s quarterly magazine for members, packed with more than 100 pages of articles, news, updates, technical tips, discount partners and expertise to facilitate knowledge sharing and inspire your sail and motor cruising journey - all of which complements the vast information resource available on the members’ website.
You can subscribe to a complimentary bite-sized edition of specially selected snippets from Cruising - www.theca. org.uk/public/cruising - which shares a snapshot of the opportunities, benefits and worldwide community of being a CA member.
YOU ARE INVITED: The CA runs a comprehensive autumn/winter lecture and event programme from October to April. All lectures are open to members and to support the wider cruising community and many are open to ‘non-members’ too. The calendar is really interesting, so take a look and book early at www.theca.org.uk/events/all
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Disclaimer: Any advice has been prepared by the Cruising Association, its members and others and they and it have tried to ensure that the contents are accurate. However, the Cruising Association, its employees, contributors and relevant members shall not be liable for any loss, damage or inconvenience of any kind howsoever arising
THE CHANGING FACE OF MARINAS
Now owned and operated by Yacht Havens Group, the original harbour basins in Troon Yacht Haven were constructed in the 1800s by the Duke of Portland to be used for coal and timber shipping. The inner basin, where the marina now lies, was transformed into a marina in 1978 by a consortium led by Sir Robin Knox-Johnston. Unusually for harbour developments, the marina was built in the dry with the greenheart piles concreted to the seabed.
Commenting on the development of Troon harbour into a leisure marina in the late-1970s, Sir Robin said: “Yachting on the Clyde was developing. Kip Marina was already full and Rhu Marina was being planned. Troon was a sheltered basin and the rock surface was sufficiently low to allow the removal of mud to give sufficient depth for yachts.”
fi in the otentia
Being located next to a shipyard and commercial docks, it would be fair to say that, historically, Troon was aesthetically rough around the edges. Long gone were the days of Troon’s old pontoons and chain hoist, but further investment was needed to attract modern day boaters and tourists who demand a greater, allround marina experience.
With some of the finest golf courses in the world surrounding the town, beautiful sandy beaches and a direct train line from Glasgow, Troon’s potential was undeniable.
It was far more than just sailors who were benefiting from the marina. It was estimated that the marina had created 70 jobs in the local town in the 1980s due to the ripple effect of increased tourism, in addition to the 11 employed by the marina.
With changing boating habits and the continued evolution of marinas, Troon Yacht Haven secured a £1.5million+ investment in 2019 to embrace the needs of the 21st century boat enthusiast, upgrading and improving every aspect of the marina experience.
The marina team quietly worked away upgrading facilities: refurbishing berth holders’ washrooms and toilets, adding a sparkly new launderette, installing electric car charging points and creating a comfortable berth holder lounge with live weather station data.
On-water upgrades included the installation of new Walcon 12m and 10.5m finger pontoons, more electricity bollards throughout, eco-friendly LED lighting, improved CCTV across the entire site for added safety and security and 17 new Wi-Fi access points for improved connectivity.
However, the majority of Troon’s investment was allocated to the careful development of the marina’s striking new hotel, The Salt Lodge.
In The Salt Lodge, Troon Yacht Haven is able to widen its appeal far beyond the boating community. The 10 room aparthotel provides a new option for tourists to the Ayrshire region suiting families, golfers and working professionals, as
well as boaters wanting that extra bit of luxury ashore. Aesthetically, the crisp weatherboarding in ocean colours echoes Scandinavian timber homes and traditional Scottish boathouses, bringing a unique piece of architecture to the Troon waterfront.
With the excellent Scott’s Bar & Restaurant on-site, which underwent a £500k renovation in 2017, Troon could now claim to offer modern day facilities for tourists, marina customers and the local community.
o o s e t nt rned
The marina’s investments caused waves around the industry stirring conversations and recognition as high as Scottish Parliament.
Achieving the Five Gold Anchor accreditation for the first time, the independent assessor was quick to praise the service as well as the monetary investment.
“Top class shoreside facilities, including the new Salt Lodge Hotel, combined with excellent customer
service, delivered by friendly and welcoming staff provide a great marina experience for everyone,” said Jon White, general manager at The Yacht Harbour Association.
A Motion to Commend was submitted to Scottish Parliament by Siobhian Brown MSP saying: “It is always fantastic to see a local business thriving. Everyone at Troon Yacht Haven should be proud of their hard work which places the marina amongst some of the best in the world. The new Salt Lodge hotel is a fantastic addition to the area which I am sure will prove very popular.”
The hotel has twice been awarded the Traveller Review Award for exceptional service and customer reviews, as well as being ranked as the best boutique hotel in Ayrshire on All-boutique-hotels.com, but the most important feedback is from those who were on-site for many yearsthe berth holders.
Troon berth holder Steve Lunnon said: “It is great to see re-investment in the marina. By far the best marina, boatyard and staff we have ever come across.
The facilities are spotless, the boatyard clean, safe and tidy and the staff go the extra mile, regularly checking boats and lines, especially in big winds. We have witnessed from the get-go, the team strike that perfect balance between professional and friendly.”
Winter berthing at Troon Yacht Haven for 2022/23 starts from just £95 per metre for six months.
yachthavens.com
The story of how one of the first marinas to be built on the Firth of Clyde helped change the reputation of a harbour town into a thriving destination.
In the drink
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for the Jubilee, which is offered by specialist whisky traders at £300 or more! There are other ‘specials’ which command prices over £150 a bottle.
Most drinks buyers will have a basic knowledge of Scotch or Irish whiskies on the supermarket shelves, and in this column we have covered English and Welsh revivals. Japanese Suntory and American Bourbon are also widely stocked - so why not an Australian? They do other drinks pretty well, especially wines and Bunderburg Rum, and it may be worth checking out as a good gift for any Aussie friends you have in the UK.
I confess to not knowing about Australian whisky until it popped up in an advertisement in the Waitrose customer magazine, where it was announced as Starward Left-Field Australian Single Malt whisky.
It was founded in 2007 in Melbourne by David Vitale, who prides himself on his Italian background and consequent enthusiasm for flavour and taste. His whisky is notably ‘fruity’.
It is distilled from locally sourced Australian malted barley and wheat fermented with brewer’s yeast - hence the tropical fruit taste - and matured for three years (the legal minimum to
be classed as ‘whisky’) in used red wine barrels from nearby wineries (Scotch uses bourbon or sherry or new English oak). The Melbourne weather reputedly often having all four seasons in one day is part of the distinctive maturation, all done locally.
There are other Australian distilleries. The ones making whisky are, like Starward, boutique ‘craft’ operations. Starward arrives in our stores at 40 per cent abv. At Waitrose Cellar it is listed online at £25 for a 70cl bottle and £29 at Amazon.
Royal Lochnagar
Over the last two months most of us have learned more about the Balmoral Estate in the Scottish Cairngorms than we ever knew before, and it reminded me that within the curtilage of the estate is a beautiful boutique craft distillery I visited several times years ago called Royal Lochnagar.
Founded in 1823, it is still a boutique distillery, unmodernised and using traditional equipment. The smallest distillery in the mighty Diageo’s portfolio,
its whisky is an important part of top-ofthe-range blends such as Johnnie Walker Blue Label. For sale it is a 12-year-old single malt bottled at the distillery, 40 per cent abv; it is an excellent whisky with floral notes beginning sweet and ending nicely acidic. Expect to pay £41 for a 70cl bottle, which is a bargain for something so special.
On the boundary of the Balmoral estate, it was a favourite for Royal visits and was granted its Royal status in 1848 by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. This was extended by Edward VII and then by King George V and granted the Royal Warrant by Queen Elizabeth II.
In June 2022 a special Balmoral Platinum Limited Edition was produced
With one eye on the coming gift giving season look no further than Royal Lochnagar as a memorial of September’s events. The 12-year-old in an elegant box is all you need.
Interestingly, the King, as Prince Charles, is credited with authorship of a cute children’s paperback book, The Old Man of Lochnagar. Illustrated by Sir Hugh Casson and published in November 1989, it is still available via Amazon and Waterstones at only £8.
Beau olais ouveauest arriv
It’s time to find the perfect spot for your pride and joy.
With 18 stunning locations, MDL has the best cruising grounds and expert teams to take care of your boat. Plus, with inclusive storage ashore and unlimited WiFi, you’ll find the right berth for you.