Sports Boat & RIB magazine January 2010 preview

The premier choice for UK boaters

JANUARY 2010

sun, sex and speed Behind the scenes at the world’s most glamorous race series

Engine revolution

World’s first on-water test of the Caudwell Axis Drive

On board with Azimut

Night boating

Skippers’ tips for extended winter cruising

open season on Italian exotica

Ultra Sport 2010 kit bag

London boat show Preview The future looks bright for the accessories addict

Inside the P1 World Championship

The future of stern drive has arrived

Sneak preview of the new season’s watersports range

Best of British

In search of the perfect Welsh boating destination

The leisure RIB reconsidered . . .

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news Sports Boat and RIB Show cranks up the heat Preparations for the much-anticipated return of the Sports Boat and RIB Show are gathering pace. The event, which will run from 22 to 23 May 2010 at Ocean Village Marina in Southampton, has seen its exhibitor list swell in the past month with the signing up of some major industry figures. EP Barrus will be attending, with boat partners including Stingher RIBs, Revenger RIBs, Ring Powercraft, Cobra RIBs, Renagade RIBs, Scorpion RIBs and Orkney Boats. Barnet Marine, distributor of XS, Avon, Bombard and Zodiac RIBs, will be there, alongside Warsash Marine, with its super-durable French-built Zeppelin RIBs, and Hockley Marine, importer of the illustrious Capelli RIBs, reviewed to such acclaim in previous issues of SB&RIB. The shared ownership fleet of RIB Shack Marine will also be there, with its Ribeye boats and Ribtec cabin cruisers, as will the British RIB-building perfectionists from J-craft.

Southwater Marine is also now on board with a selection of Monterey sports boats, as are Tribal Watersports and Sorcerer Boats. With six months to go until the show kicks off, it looks like being a hell of a weekend. We will keep you updated as further details emerge . . . www.sportsboatandribshow.co.uk

The 2010 SB&RIB Show looks like being the best yet

C90 powered Buzzi Fiat Powertrain Technologies, a leading company in the world’s marine power market, is to introduce the new C90 engine. The new engine, which the manufacturers claim is class-leading in terms of specific power, fuel consumption and emissions, will apparently benefit from recent progress made in the automotive sector and in the development of engines for heavy transport. Two versions will be available - one designed for leisure boats (C90 - 620) and the other intended for professional craft (C90 - 380).

Two of the C90 – 620 units have been installed on the FB-Design Buzzi 42-foot RIB (pictured) - and on this test platform, which weighs in at 6,700 Kg, the drivers have already been reaching speeds of around 64 knots at half load. The introduction of these latest two models to the FPT portfolio means that the C-unit family of engines now boasts eight versions, ranging from 200 to 825 hp. www.fptpowertrain.com

A pair of the new C90 leisure engines have been pushing the 42-foot test craft to 64 knots at half load

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news miami magic

Do you need a better excuse to visit Miami?

If, after the London Boat Show, you fancy a bit of winter sun, how about a trip to Miami Beach? From 11 to 15 February at the 2010 Yacht & Brokerage Show, you will find a selection of new and used yachts from the world’s most acclaimed boat builders. The in-water-only display covers more than 1.2 million square feet of space on the Indian Creek Waterway along Collins Avenue and will highlight hundreds of vessels valued at more than three-quarters of a billion dollars.

It doesn’t even matter that you can’t afford the hardware. Just enjoy the dream . . .

boy’s toy triumph The new M-626L Series Thermal Night Vision System has been announced the overall DAME Award winner at METS in Amsterdam. The M-626L system incorporates a micro-lux, low-light camera for improved visibility during twilight hours and a 26-degree field of view - an improvement of 25 per cent over previous cameras. The unit is operated with a remote joystick, which can be located anywhere on the vessel. The FLIR M-626L Series Thermal Night Vision System won both the ‘Electronics Equipment of the Show’ category and the overall DAME Award for best new product.

special tenders from goldfish Salterns Boatyard, the UK distributor for the Norwegian-built Goldfish luxury RIBs has announced a sharp upturn in interest in the boats for use as Superyacht tenders as well as standalone leisure RIBs. The Goldfish 36, launched at the Southampton Boat Show in 2009, was sold during the event and has already been entered for the next Round Britain Race, but it seems that other potential buyers are more interested in using the boats as tenders for their larger yachts.

The 36, designed and built by Goldfish Boat AS in Norway, with a stepped decompressing hull, has been constructed with the intention of allowing the occupants to enjoy high speeds, even in rough sea

states. As well as hydraulically damped seating for six, you get a small cabin inside the main control pod, plus two occasional berths and plenty of room to store loose gear. The power, meanwhile, comes from a pair of Yanmar 315hp diesels, which have been tuned up to 380hp. That makes these ‘Dmax’ Yanmars highly compact for their power, reducing weight and providing up to 80 knots in most conditions.

01202 707391 www.salterns.co.uk

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Four Nations racing www.bananasharkracing.com

As the Honda series splits apart, John Cooke examines what is to become of the UK’s biggest race fleet . . .

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n 2010, the ‘Honda’ series will find itself split in two. The newly created Four Nations series will carry on pretty much as before, with the same boats and engines, and P1 will also have a series in which the larger Honda 225 boats will be repowered with Mercury XS 300s.

What effect this will have on the 225 boats is anybody’s guess, but they already have a reputation for turning over with 225 four-stroke horsepower, so with an extra 75 geegees of two-stroke power and lighter weight, the results could be phenomenally exciting. Having said that, with less weight and a shorter leg they may even be more stable but one thing is for sure - they will be a lot quicker, with speeds likely to push up into the 80s.

Venues and dates are not yet finalised for this P1 series, but the boats will be attending some of the European events with ten boats from each of the classes getting help with transport, and up to 15 boats for the UK-based rounds. The question is does this mean that P1 will make a return to British shores?

The other half of this story is that a group of stalwarts has set up its own 4 Nations European series with the original boats and engines and will race in England, Scotland, Ireland (twice) and Wales. It is not overly clear who is the breakaway group, but the P1 faction has done a deal with the previous incumbent, Steve Curtis, and the 4 Nations lot are staying with the original power - so you make your own minds up. It hopefully won’t turn into a battle to entice entries into one series or the other as this will only do harm to both championships. It is my fervent wish that everyone gets on well but only time will tell.

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P1 preps Meanwhile, there’s lots more news from the original P1 Series. It may only have finished in the middle of September but apparently, Drew Langdon (who came so close to winning the Evolution Class in his first season with a Buzzi hull converted from a Supersports boat) has bitten the bullet and bought a Fountain hull. It has been ‘on holiday’ in Germany with the German Searex team for a while, so I am assuming he will be transferring his motors from the Buzzi over to the Fountain, giving him the improved top speed he has previously lacked.

Now that the Cowes Torquay race has returned, surely there’s a chance that the P1 Series will make a welcome return to British waters Keeping on the P1 theme, Dan Cramphorn and Kim Collins in their Donzi sponsored by SW1 Capital took the boat over to Key West for the US ‘World’ Championships, and won the first race beating all of the home teams in the Production 2 class. Sadly the next two races didn’t go exactly to plan with the boys from Brighton nearly sinking the boat in the last race after a raw water strainer split open.

With a good showing in their first season in P1 with five race wins, another P1 crew out in Key West was Nigel

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r ac e n e w s Hook with his new team-mate for 2010, Michael Silfverburg. They were racing Nigel’s venerable old Skater monohull, which has seen a lot of action over the years and, despite its age, it was still good enough for an overall podium after three races. Nigel isn’t exactly known for pushing his own equipment but he certainly gives 110 per cent in P1.

The pair will be racing in the brand new Ocke Mannerfelt-designed Canadian built Vector 40, which is basically a 40-foot Batboat with folding wings, which enable it to be trailed and docked without having to walk the plank to get on and off the boat. This striking craft is made by a factory with a wealth of experience. In fact they also happen to make Campion sports boats and, while Campions are great little craft in the regular leisure environment, I can assure

you that if you even slightly overpower one of the smaller bow riders, the results can be a bit dicey.

Interestingly Ocke Mannerfelt was only responsible for the hull. It was his son and heir, Ted Mannerfelt, who designed the top half of the new Vector 40 but they obviously work well together. I am hoping that with Ocke Mannerfelt’s help they have produced a boat worthy of the designer’s name.

fool Britannia . . .

I’m sure I’m not the only person to find it strange that a brand new country like Croatia can find the budget to entice P1 to race on their patch of water. It’s equally noteworthy that Class One has an event in Romania of all places. And yet apparently, no-one can find a few quid down the

back of the sofa to entice either of these glamorous series back to the UK. Plymouth was a natural amphitheatre of epic proportions for Class One, and Cowes definitely used to benefit from the glamour and glitz of P1 racing on August Bank Holiday. Well now that the Cowes Torquay race is back to stay, surely there is an opportunity for the P1 boats to entertain the crowds while the Marathon boats do their thing? We’ll keep you up to speed on developments . . .

You can follow Nigel Hook at www.nigelhook.vstourtrac.com You can follow P1 at www.powerboatp1.com You can follow the 4 Nations Honda series at www.4nationseuropeanoffshore.com

As two new series emerge from the original Honda fleet, we will see some of the 225 boats powered by the ferocious Mercury XS 300

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Azimut open season

As the size and price for entry to the world of Azimut dips slowly toward the masses, a slice of Italian exotica eases tantalisingly within reach. Paul Mahy explores Azimut’s 2010 range at an open weekend in Lymington.

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tested Azimut

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rowing up and working on the inter-island passenger ferries from St. Peter Port, gave myself and others a grandstand view of some of the world’s most glorious craft. Many of the island’s wealthy would park them alongside a pontoon and spend lazy summer’s days doing a fine job of making everyone else jealous. Among the old favorites were Camper and Nicholson and Riva. Sunseeker was also getting into the swing back then, challenging established marques like Fairey and Fjord.

The really classy craft that were heading for the Med only tended to pop in for fuel before heading off to their southern playground and these, on the whole, were much larger than the local craft. Their names were impossibly exotic too, with langorous syllables that dripped off the tongue - Benetti, Feretti, Azimut - these craft were special and we knew it, so we treated them with due reverence. Boat skippers would slow more than usual in passing, cameras would click and sighs of longing would be audible.

However, such fond memories are a very far cry from this. I am in Lymington, beneath a blustery autumn sky, where Clipper Yachts, UK agents for Azimut, are holding an open day. There are some splendid craft on show but the key boat is not one of those vast and untouchable megayachts of old but something altogether more approachable . . .

Azimut 38 The new Azimut 38 was just recently launched at the Southampton Boat Show and, while she props up the bottom end of Azmiut’s current range, her proportions seem far more generous than the numbers suggest. She is in fact closer to 40-feet than to 38 and, when you pair that with a 12-foot, five-inch beam and a fly bridge, she looks a great deal more imposing than I had imagined.

Even so, her lines appear very sleek, thanks largely to the Italian flare in the shaping of the salon windows. Two vertical rectangular windows, situated amidships on the starboard side, mirror a ‘slimming’ technique more traditionally used in far larger craft. In tandem with the rakes and angles of the rest of the windows, and the very Italian blending of curve and straight line, these features manage to make her look anything but overweight.

She’s been designed specifically with the UK market in mind and, while that makes me feel faintly flattered, I can’t help noticing that it is quite a stretch actually getting on board. Access is only from the stern, so it would be wise to do what > Place private ads for free at www.sportsboat.co.uk

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ot on the heels of British Formula 1 World Champions, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, a trio of adrenalinejunkies are aiming to match their motor racing peers and score a hat-trick for the UK by adding the 2010 Powerboat P1 World Championship title to this island’s burgeoning trophy cabinet.

A bronze medal, winning six out of ten races and picking up a throng of new European fans along the way, would normally translate into a marvellous effort first time out – unless you’re part of Team SW1 Capital.

Daniel Cramphorn, Kim Collins and Simon Luhr were desperately unlucky to miss out on challenging for 2009 SuperSport Class gold, especially after racing to victory in the final four races of the season. As well as a luckless trip to Italian coastal resort, San Benedetto del Tronto, where all the boys took home was an extortionate spare-parts bill, several teething problems attributed to a rollercoaster year of successes and failures. But looking ahead to 2010, Dan assures us that Team SW1 Capital is confident of going places: “We know what’s needed to get the best out of our Donzi powerboat and conquer every challenge in our pursuit to become Powerboat P1 World Champions.”

The fairytale The SW1 Capital fairytale began in September 2009 when Collins and Cramphorn met over a chat about props, V8s and a savage run of luck with the ladies at the BladeRun Powerboat Rally.

It didn’t take Dan very long to convince Kim to sign-up to Powerboat P1. In fact he reckons it only took a beer or two and 18 months later, the Brighton-based pilot would use Cramphorn’s sales pitch, to recruit the team’s principal sponsor and navigator, Simon Luhr.

“Kim talked me into getting involved” recalls Luhr, whose 23-year career in finance boasts a CV that includes spells at Morgan Stanley, Nomura and Marble Bar Asset Management. “We thought it would be good for the profile of SW1 Capital to get involved with Powerboat P1 at this particular time. We were approached formally just after the season started in May, but I must admit we had been talking on an informal basis for quite a while.”

Victory in the season-ending Sicilian Grand Prix of the Sea in sumptuous Siracusa represented a good return on Luhr’s initial investment. At times during Sunday’s Endurance Race (a 70-nautical mile marathon, as opposed to Saturday’s shorter 40-nautical mile Sprint Race) Luhr and co were cornering deck to deck with two or three boats. And despite not > 46 I SB&RIB

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sun, sex and speed freaks After powering to third spot in their debut season in Powerboat P1, Britain’s Team SW1 Capital is committed to putting the sex back into offshore racing. Simon Lush investigates . . .

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here’s absolutely no doubt that RIBs command a huge following in today’s recreational boat market, and take a large slice of the sales of boats in the UK. When it comes to familysized craft of four to six and a half metres in length, the perceived advantages in terms of safety and versatility of craft with tubes are easily understood. In fact such craft compare favourably with hard hulled craft in terms of performance, running costs, and purchase price.

However when RIBs get far larger, say 8.5 metres and above, the basic (and logical) principles of RIBs sometimes get lost in translation. On the one hand we see serious commercial RIBs boasting tough beamy hulls, large, equally tough tubes that kiss the water when at rest, and sufficiently powerful engines to provide good safety and performance.

Often comprehensively equipped with seating, electronics, rescue gear,and even wheelhouses, these tough sea-going craft are the standard choice of canny rescue organisations, authorities and commercial operators. They commonly exceed the specifications of similar sized hard-hulled craft and are designed to provide both performance and a high standard of safety and comfort over extended periods of use for those aboard.

According to a theory I just made up, this boat falls somewhere between a Bugatti Veyron and a tractor On the other hand we see extremely sleek RIBs of similar length with lighter build, smaller tubes that frequently sit clear of the water, and the bare minimum of practical equipment or accommodation aboard. These craft frequently boast two, three or even four extremely powerful outboards, giving them an obscene turn 56 I SB&RIB

of speed and a splendidly self-indulgent carbon footprint. Their sole purpose in life is to go quickly and to impart a macho (dare I say penile) lifestyle image.

In general, such craft are rigged to carry far fewer people and offer far less protection from the elements than their commercial counterparts. The extremely high cost of their multiple engines can frequently mean their purchase price dramatically exceeds that of a similar length, fully equipped (but slower), seagoing hard-hulled craft. The basic logic for their existence, as far as ordinary mortals are concerned, could be considered seriously flawed. They are, in effect, the Bugatti Veyrons or perhaps the Concordes of the sea.

The rational approach That brings us very neatly to the subject of this particular test – the altogether logical Solent 9m RIB. Hand built for (and marketed by) Solent RIBs, this craft is modelled on a proven 22-degree deadrise planing hull, similar in some ways those you might see on a classic Revenger. You get wide reverse chines, two spray rails per side, and enhanced bow lift, with no planing pad astern.

With an external beam of 2.75 metres (and 1.7m inside the tubes) the Solent 9m is certainly not short of available space.

The two-tone grey and blue Hyperlon tubes taper from 24 inches at the stern to 14 inches at the bow. They also touch the water when at rest, providing plenty of additional stability when the payload requires it - and, as far as I’m concerned, that’s exactly the right premise for a proper RIB. The accommodation on board includes two pairs of comfortable double jockey seats behind the mid-mounted console and a double suicide seat moulded into the front – all nicely trimmed in light grey with contrasting blue detailing. Ahead of this there’s an expanse of uncluttered open deck until you get to the raised (and very spacious) dry bow locker.

Very sensibly there are two equally cavernous under-deck lockers in the >

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tested

Solent 9m RIB

Solent 9m RIB

After a long and fully justified rant about the state of the world and everything in it, Irving Stewart gets down to business with a fresh take on Solent’s new nine-metre RIB.

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Ray of light . . .

For Richard and Nicole Caldwell, their boat plays an important role in providing shared experiences for the whole family. Craig Barnett finds out what they really think of their new Sea Ray Sundeck 240.

Please introduce yourself.

RC: We’re Richard and Nicole Caldwell, and we have two young daughters, Emma and Rachel. We originally hail from Australia and I’m currently a pilot with Emirates airline.

So is the Sea Ray your first boat?

RC: Not at all, I’ve been boating since I was a youngster. My uncle had an old

Swiftcraft and taught us to waterski when we were kids. I’ve kept a hand in ever since and when I was a pilot in North-western Australia I had an inboard ski boat – to be honest I think I did more hours in the boat cockpit than a plane cockpit! When we moved here we decided to get a boat to teach the kids to waterski and bought a 20foot Mariah, which we’ve now upgraded to the Sea Ray Sundeck 240.

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Why the upgrade?

RC: We were back in Melbourne at Christmas and went out on a friend’s 22foot Bayliner, it had a lot more space and got us thinking.

NC: There were two families on board that day and it made us realise how much we’d benefit from more space. We just looked at each other and said – as the classic line goes – ‘We’re gonna need a bigger boat’!

We didn’t need much convincing.

What were the main criteria you were looking for when selecting your new boat?

RC: Interior space was paramount and the Sea Ray 240 is so well laid out in that regard. It utilises space other boats we’d > SB&RIB I 61

The Tenby Factor People always seem to go on about Tenby. Ooh its pretty. Oooh it’s friendly.

Ooooh I want to marry it. Mike Pullen packs his journalistic cynicism and heads west to find out what all the fuss is about . . .

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pparently, Tenby (or Dinbaych Y Pysgod) means ‘Little Fort of the Fishes’. But the moment I arrive, through an arch in the medieval town walls, it’s a name that seems fundamentally ill-equipped to describe what modern Tenby is all about. Yes, it’s a fortified coastal town boasting a decent little fishing fleet but I am immediately impressed by a sense both of scale and of gentility that I had not expected.

A colourful and beautifully kept Georgian frontage tumbles downhill in zig-zagging pathways to a pretty harbour, where a vast, panoramic stretch of sandy beach extends on both sides of the town and a wide open bay cradles a great sweep of south Wales seascape, with pretty St Catherine’s Island at its heart.

It really is a hell of a setting and there’s plenty amongst it to

keep the visitor entertained. The Pembrokeshire National Coast Path runs through here and the wildlife watching is good too but if birds, seals and dolphins don’t tickle your fancy then there are plenty of facilities available for the more active visitor. The enormous beach to the south side of the town caters for the full range of watersports activities, while a big choice of pleasure trips for leisure boaters and fishing enthusiasts can be found operating out of the town’s busy harbour.

As a place of historical interest, as well as natural beauty, Tenby attracts a lot of seasonal tourists, so it needs to be well developed for the visitor and, happily, it is. In addition to a promenade that ambles all the way from the harbour to the cliffs at the end of North Beach, the town is criss-crossed with cobbled streets, lined with a really staggering selection of restaurants and pubs. >

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Ultra Sport looks to 2010 Ultra Sport Europe, the UK’s biggest Action Sports equipment distributor, has given its dealers a treat by showcasing the new 2010 range of Liquid Force, O’Brien, Bern Helmets and Straight Line accessories. Mike Pullen was there . . .

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ox End Park in Bedford was the location. The Ultra Sport Europe water sports gurus brought the entire 2010 product range to the party and Box End supplied the cable and the boats. All I had to supply was myself, my wetsuit and my notebook.

Liquid Force It’s worth pointing out right at the start that what we had come together to look at was the design and manufacturing

culmination of the two longest standing board manufacturers and biggest brand sellers in the world market place today - Liquid Force and O’Brien.

Starting with Liquid Force, you have to say that, if you’re looking for a range that covers every single enjoyment angle there is to be had on a board, there are very few options out there. Continuing with all the best sellers like the S4, Watson, Shane and so on, they are also producing the highend range of ‘FLY’ series boards which are

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some of the lightest most performancedriven decks on the market.

Basically, Liqiuid Force has taken the Flex technology that has become so prevalent in recent board construction and made it more user friendly so that you get a board that actually works off the wake and the cable as well as on rails. They have done this with their Hybrid range, with Ennen, Watson and Henshaw each getting a Hybrid board added to the line-up.

Of course, no credible new batch >

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skipper’s tips

NIGHT BOATING

Night boating As winter takes hold and the nights draw in, most boaters head for home. But night nav can be an extremely rewarding pastime if you know what you’re doing. Jon Mendez shares the secrets of effective night boating.

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oating is one of those sports where the contrast between day and night is acutely pronounced, but you don’t see ferries and commercial ships calling everything off when darkness falls. And yotties also seem to see night sailing as part and parcel of the everyday experience.

So why do so few sports boaters go out on the water after dark? Yes, it presents new challenges and requires confidence, planning and self-assurance, but boating at night can be an extremely rewarding experience. Just ask an advanced powerboating student about the best part of the course and every one of them will say the night exercise.

The nature of night boating There are practical benefits to night boating. The sea is often quieter without the wakes from other craft and the onshore wind often dies away, allowing the sea to flatten off. So if you want to go out at night what’s so different?

Well for starters you can rarely see where you are, where you’re going or where you’ve been. On land when you drive at night you use lights to see the road and for others to see you, but this doesn’t work on the water, because as soon as you use a light you lose sight of everything that is not directly in the beam.And if other craft used lights they would blind you, so instead of driving lights, we use navigation lights. The red light on the port side and the green light on the starboard side allow you not only to see another craft but to make an > Place private ads for free at www.sportsboat.co.uk

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FLY FISHING

Saltwater fly guy Craig Barnett talks to international fly fishing expert, Martin James, about the allure of quiet man’s fishing . . .

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he opening day of the UK’s 1941 fishing season was a dramatic introduction to angling for a young Martin James. “It was the 16th of June and Europe was at war. I was sitting on a Kent riverbank with my uncle, dangling a length of garden twine with a hook and worm on the end, a flight of German bombers rumbled overhead – en route for London. In came the Spitfires and shot down one of the bombers, which crash landed close by. My Uncle ran off to alert the Home Guard. I however stayed, transfixed by fishing. It was my first time and I caught seven rudd that day. It’s fair to say it was a seminal moment in my life.”

Following his childhood conversion to the angler’s art, Martin counts himself privileged to now live every fisherman’s dream. “It’s been a true Boy’s Own adventure,” he says with obvious glee. “I work as a fishing adventurer photographer and broadcaster.

This involves everything from travel journalism, personal coaching and fly demonstrations. A very fulfilling part of my job is helping underprivileged young people achiever their potential.”

Asked how fishing can help in such a situation, Martin answers with obvious conviction. “Fishing is an individual sport, there’s no pressure or competition. It provides a focus, and lots of time to talk. You have the opportunity to mentor someone who has lacked attention at home.”

Apparently saltwater fly fishing differs from his early experiences on Britain’s freshwater rivers. “Technique is similar to traditional fly fishing, but with saltwater kit you need bigger reels with a better braking system. A rod designed to cast a 12-weight line, rather than the freshwater five weight is what you should look for. Line is very important too. Invest in the best your budget allows. As for boats, a simple, uncluttered centre console runabout with plenty of open deck space, is ideal for effective fly fishing.”

But why choose fly fishing over the more popular trolling? “For me trolling is glorified sun-bathing,” Martin sighs. “Fly is more interactive. You hunt and target fish, rather than covering miles of ocean, blindly waiting for a hit. You need to consider the little things like the fact that fish don’t have eyelids, so they will be found in shaded areas.”

So who, we wondered, was taking an interest in fly fishing? “Surprisingly for some, around 70 per cent of my pupils lately have been ladies. They tend to pay more attention and learn a better technique. Maybe it’s the silks and feathers of the flies that attract them, rather than a wriggly bait.”

Being a ‘frequent flyer’, Martin has fished some of the world’s best spots. Highlights

include Venezuela, Ecuador, Brazil, Costa Rica, all over the USA, the Bahamas, Russia and targeting char in the Arctic Circle. He even spent time in the Amazon jungle with the Ticuna Indians as guides and trackers, fishing unexplored backwaters.

He is now based in the United Arab Emirates, but how does the local fishing compare? “There is incredible fishing on the East coast of the UAE and the Musandam – it has the opportunity to be world class.

Dorado fishing out of Fujairah is amongst the best in the world, but it requires proper management. A catch and release programme should be introduced and local fishermen should be more stringently regulated and educated on fish stocks.”

Martin added: “Killing the biggest and strongest fish is senseless – they hold the best genes and lay more eggs. They need to be protected. It’ll pay dividends in the future. I recently saw three sailfish on the slab at the local fish market. It broke my heart.”

Martin’s passion for fly fishing is unmistakable, so if you want to learn this most exacting of skills from the very best, take a look at his website and discover a new way to enjoy your time on the water . . . www.martinjamesfishing.co.uk

Fly fishing from a boat is about knowing your fish intimately and applying skill and patience in its capture - perhaps that’s why women seem to be better at it

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