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CRUISING IN COMPANY
CONTENTS JUNE 2010
REGULARS Word from the water. ....................................................10 Dragon’s Den Theo picks a Williams tender
Superyacht News. ............................................................16 Tom Isitt pays tribute to Baglietto
Classics update..................................................................18 The annual Cardiff Rally is set for a big year
Word from the circuit.....................................................20 Aquabikes on board for the 2016 Olympics
Best accessories................................................................22 Flying seats and tow toys for the thrill seeking boater
Word from the web.........................................................29 Smart Tabs win favour once again . . .
RYA keeps it green..........................................................86 Top tips for managing your fuel
Diary Dates........................................................................ 112 Find a top boating event near you
Have your say.................................................................. 114 Fill in our survey and win a free SB&RIB hat
FEATURES Sports Boat and RIB Show. .......................................... 32 18-page guide to the season’s best event Wonders of Windsor........................................................ 54 The UK’s first ever cross-code outdoor exhibition
UK Engine Quest................................................................ 57 The hunt is on for the nation’s greatest outboards
Convoy capers. .................................................................... 58 The ins and outs of cruising in company
On course................................................................................ 88 Expand your horizons with an RYA training course
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NEWS I SportsBoat AND RIB
SEASON OPENER FOR MASTERCRAFT BOATS UK Following on from a successful London International Boat Show in January, where the company’s magnificent 300 took centre stage, MasterCraft Boats UK has held its first Open Weekend of the 2010 season. Conducted at Salterns Marina in Poole, Dorset, the weekend ran in conjunction with the MasterCraft 300 Customer Sea Trial event, allowing members of the public to see and experience first-hand just how dramatic a commitment the famous tow boat builder has now made to the world of general purpose marine leisure. And Michael Hardicker, Managing Director of MasterCraft Boats UK, was plainly delighted to have had the opportunity to showcase the company’s new flagship on the water: “The 300 is a response to continual requests from existing customers for a larger MasterCraft boat with the accommodation and entertainment potential of a genuine sports cruiser. In the MasterCraft 300, that is exactly what we have.” He goes on: “Having seen it on the stand at the London Boat Show, this was a fantastic opportunity for UK customers to sea trial the 300 for themselves. It’s all very well to see it in an exhibition room but to feel it on the water is to understand just how much time and effort has been invested in producing a first rate product.” For more details on the frankly delicious new MasterCraft 300, visit the MasterCraft UK website or call 08456 767876.
www.mastercraft.co.uk
TENDER MOMENTS WITH THEO PAPHITIS
RE-POWER
WITH EVINRUDE
Williams Performance Tenders has welcomed Dragons’ Den star and business entrepreneur, Theo Paphitis, to its headquarters. Theo, a long-term customer of Williams, is in the process of buying a new tender and wanted to visit the factory to meet the team. It was after a trip to the Williams stand at the London Boat show in January that Theo decided to upgrade to the company’s latest model, the 505D Turbojet. Cited by the builders as “the world’s lightest and most fully-equipped diesel tender”, the 505D is the current flagship of the fleet from the jet tender specialist. Theo Paphitis said: “Williams make fabulous tenders. The brothers Mathew and John have created a great British business success story. Their passion makes the company what it is today.”
www.williamsjettenders.com
BRP has launched a ‘Repower with Evinrude’ spring promotion, whereby customers will be offered up to 20 per cent off (up to a maximum value of £4,700) for repower packages on selected new Evinrude outboard engines. The deal is available on packages bought between 01 April and 30 June 2010, from authorised Evinrude dealers in the UK and Ireland. For details of terms and conditions, visit the BRP website.
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NEWS I ACCESSORIES 4.
4 AdvanSea VHF
6.
New from Plastimo is a compact waterproof FX-400 VHF radio developed to compliment the growing range of AdvanSea marine electronics. The fixed set provides Digital Selective Calling (DSC) capabilities when interfaced with a compatible GPS, plus a large high-resolution display and rotary selection controls for quick and easy manipulation of the menus with cold, wet fingers. Waterproof to IPX7, the ergonomic fist microphone with alphanumerical keys provides a secure grip and is weather resistant whatever the conditions. All accessories are provided as standard including bracket, external speaker connector, weather cover and bulkhead mount kit. It’s great looking and well priced equipment. Price: £169.99 01489 778 857 www.navimo.co.uk www.advansea.com
5 Jobe Hover With the advent of summer, our natural reluctance to learn a watersport that requires any great degree of skill or effort, sees us turn with excitable hearts and open wallets to the world of the towable toy - and where better to turn than Jobe, a company that produces watersports gear of just about every type for just about every occasion. New for 2010,
5.
the Jobe Hover is a heavy-duty PVC inflatable tow toy, with a full nylon cover. Good for two people to ride in tandem, it consists of two air chambers, a pair of water drains, four foamfilled handles and a quick connector for rapid inflation. With bright colours, quality build and an affordable price, could it be the toy that defines your summer? Price: £259.95 www.jobesports.com
6 Classic but cool Bored of the classic deck shoe? Apalled by the ugliness of the modern trainer-style alternative? Seabago could be the answer. Famous for innovation in the world of marine leisure, Seabago still uses the handcrafted building techniques it has always employed but it is now combining these with some progressive design and some notable performance innovations. Seabago’s Clovehitch shoe is a case in point. It comes in premium Nubuck leather with a non-slip, non-marking sole, breathable Drilex Hydofil mesh panels, flexible Strobel construction, an EVA foot-bed and a slip-resistant sole. It costs a pretty penny but with hints of traditional style alongside resoundingly modern technology, it makes a very impressive marine shoe. Price: £109.99 01983 247981 / www.sailingclothingstore.co.uk SB&RIB I 23
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SOUTHAMPTON
SPORTS BOAT AND RIB SHOW
The much-anticipated return of the Sports Boat and RIB Show is set for the weekend of 22 to 23 May 2010 at Ocean Village Marina in Southampton. Mike Pullen investigates some of the highlights . . .
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f all the events in the annual boating calendar, the Sports Boat and RIB Show is perhaps the most enjoyable for real boating enthusiasts. There are no untouchable exhibits here. Nothing is ‘appointment only’ or ‘off-limits’. Instead, this is the one show where everybody comes together to play with the hardware and to enjoy all that is good about boating. And happily, it has also now returned to the venue where it all began. Having spent a couple of years at Hamble Point, it is once again being hosted by the revamped Ocean Village Marina - perhaps Southampton’s most welcoming and sociable waterfront arena.
NEW race boat attractions
An exciting new feature appearing this year is the ‘Race Boat Area’. Contained within the show’s marina, it will showcase a selection of renowned race boats, including the world-famous 11-metre 1967 Swordsman, GEE. Also on display will be BBC Top Gear cameraman, Iain May’s impressive Hunton powerboat, recently re-powered with twin V8 engines. And there will be several other craft from most of the National and World classes, making a special appearance at the show in advance of the 50th Cowes to Torquay Powerboat Race in August. One of the biggest attractions among the fleet is likely to be ‘Cinzano’ - a 40-foot aluminium classic racing powerboat designed by Britain’s Don Shead and provided by Marcus Hendricks. It’s not one to miss.
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FORUM FOCUS
LIFESTYLE I FORUM
WWW.SPORTSBOAT.CO.UK
Why don’t you join in the discussions? WWW.SPORTSBOAT.CO.UK/FORUM
RNLI CHEQUE PRESENTATION Cap’n Jack I would like to offer a massive thank you to the Forum members who were able to support the cheque presentation. Namely baaldi & Maree (Mrs baaldi), dpb & Marlene (Mrs dpb) and Jokaboat. Smudge and his Missus Lydia joined us as well. The RNLI fundraising Manager Amy and Area Sea Safety Supervisor Keith were delighted with the amount of cash we had raised, I got the impression it was larger than expected, so they wanted to offer a massive thank you to all those on the Forum who donated money to the RNLI auction and helped to make this happen. Lastly it was good to meet all who were there and I really hope we can see you all again soon. Thank you to Smudge and Lydia for your support. See you all at the SB&RIB Show.
POWERBOAT LEVEL 2
IS IT WRONG TO LIKE PONTOON BOATS?
Big Zebedee
Pete Volvo
Just want to say a big thanks to our fellow Forum-member, Baaldi, for his amazing instruction at the weekend when me, Ann-marie and my son, Mac, did our PB2 course. We all loved it and I was shown a few things I didn’t even know my boat was capable of. Mac drove the boat the whole day on the Sunday, all the way up to Ardlui and all the way back to Balloch. I’m still struggling for the words to describe how good the course was. I’d recommend it to anyone. Who knows, there may even be another course up for grabs in next year’s RNLI auction. Thanks again Baaldi from all the family.
I’ve just got back from a great holiday in California, during which my wife and I hired a pontoon boat to get a few hours out on the water at a place called Bass Lake (near Yosemite). Having seen pictures of these things, I have always felt that they are poor excuses for boats and only suitable for hosting enormous Americans while they sit and drink beer, attached to the pontoon. But now I really understand them. On a summer’s day with a group of mates they add up to some serious fun. The one we had was good for about ten knots and it was as stable as a dock. It even had a decent enough turn of speed considering it only had a 25hp outboard, and it was just so easy to use. The bigger engined ones (50hp+) have ski poles and, on a mirror flat lake, are enough to pull a boarder or skier (not the coolest looking wakeboat but hey, a day on the water is a day on the water). Not sure they would work on the North Sea but Windermere would be feasible. Of course, in true American style, you can get these things with 300hp Evinrudes on the back. Does that save me from the shame of appreciating a pontoon boat?
baaldi No problem. It was great to be up in Scotland, seeing how the other half live. No launch fees, no car parking or trailer parking fees and just five quid to register your boat. England and Wales should hang their heads in shame.
JOIN THE FORUM FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A PAIR OF YAMAHA RIDING GLASSES
WORTH £15
With reflective UV-400 protection, comfortable wraparound design, buoyant frames and secure, adjustable head strap, they are available in either silver or blue.
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THE WONDERS OF
WINDSOR
If you have grown tired of boats on stands amid soulless networks of empty exhibition aisles, you would have done very well to visit the inaugural British Leisure Show. Alex Smith reports . . .
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t had been murmured in marine circles that the end of March was a bad time for an outdoor show. It hadn’t been explicitly asserted - more grumbled in a rather cowardly and indistinct ‘House of Commons’ fashion, as though the sages suggesting it were too flabby of chin and antiquainted of mind to enunciate the words with any conviction. Bla bla bla cold, rah rah rah wet, and so-on and so-forth . . . In fact, like some rather excellent ideas that the marine industry has seen before now, it met a rather lukewarm reception in some quarters but the show went ahead regardless and it did so with a format very much unfamiliar to the UK’s boating fraternity. Put together by James Brooke and his crew, and held at the Royal Windsor Racecourse on the banks of the River Thames, the British Leisure Show was designed to broaden our horizons by bringing together a set of complimentary leisure pursuits we all enjoy.
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Zones at the event were to incororate Caravan & Camping, Cars & Bikes, Britain & Abroad, Outdoor & Country, Extreme Sports, Motorhomes & Campervans, Holiday Homes and, of course, Boats & Watersports. A selection of top sports boats and RIBs would be complimented by superbikes from KTM and Aprilia, and supercars such as the Aston Martin Vanquish S and the Lamborghini Murcielago. For those of us who appreciate the majesty of automotive muscle, it was to be a great event . . .
The surprises
On arrival at the show, the first good news to strike home was the ease of access. The traffic management was first rate and the parking was free. From there, after a short (and rather lovely) walk to the show entrance, past petroleum-coloured Lamborghinies, we found ourselves at the heart of the action. Once inside, I would have been extraordinarily impressed by the affordable food and drink, had I not been even more powerfully struck by both the calibre and the extent of interactive activities on offer. All
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ON THE WATER I ATLANTIS 26CC
ATLANTIS
26 CC Fancy a bigger boat? Want a bit more for your money? Simon Everett heads for Guernsey to test the new Atlantis 26 CC . . .
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enerally, the desire for a bigger boat has to be weighed very carefully against the cost of upsizing. If you want more space, you know you’re going to have to pay through the nose for it. All that remains is to work out how much more you are willing to pay. But the Atlantis 26 CC alters the dynamic of this particular dilemma, by remaining an amazingly affordable boat for her nominal length and yet employing a very simple interior layout to offer the passenger a great many of the benefits you would associate with a far larger craft. There is certainly much more room on deck than her 21-foot sister and far more kindly seakeeping too, but this is not just a consequence of the additional five feet in length. It’s also a consequence of a tremendously deep freeboard, plus a high prow and a deep-V hull. This combination of qualities combines to provide an ability to run short, nasty seas at speed and yet remain totally dry. It makes a lot of sense. After all, her home waters around Guernsey are some of the shortest, steepest seas you will find anywhere in the world. It is precisely this proving ground that has given rise to this new Atlantis with its imperious seakeeping and its uncompromising ‘big-boat’ feel.
Design that works Patrick Wheeler, the designer and builder of Atlantis boats, recognised a need among local fishermen (and also among local leisure boaters, keen to explore) for a fast, ultra-seaworthy, open-decked boat. When the spring tide runs against just a mild breeze of force 3 to 4, the waves that build up in the run out from St Peter Port to the north can easily reach six feet or more. The Atlantis 26 has been designed to allow people to go out in much worse conditions and make the run across to Herm in winds as aggressive as force 8. To help cope with the need to run through big seas at 25 to 30 knots, the Atlantis 26 is built with massive strength. It uses 4x2 longitudinal stringers just for the chines, while the main keel hog is a huge 12-inch beam with additional four-inch full-depth stiffening in critical areas. The total thickness of the hull is in excess of three quarters of an inch and the hull sides are of one-inch honeycomb. The deck is then given an inch and a half of honeycomb to provide rigidity and strength without adding weight high up and upsetting the balance. And the upshot is that, despite
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ON THE WATER I THE C-BOAT
THE
C-BOAT From an international sailor with a penchant for power comes a boat to join the ranks of the world’s undisputed greats. Words by Paul Mahy Pictures by Zoja Gresnerova
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SIX OF THE BEST with Colin Jones
WATCHES
A passion for wristwatches seems to have become an unavoidable feature of my genetic make-up. My father tinkered with them, my son has a collection of 20 and I trail along with a mere ten. And while we all enjoy the idea of the famous Rolex Submariner or the Omega Seamaster, there is some even more enjoyable equipment around that you may not have considered. Here, I have described what I consider to be six of the very best boating watches currently on the market, each with a price for which you should aim. As a committed boater, I have bought (and continue to love) every single one of them. They all have different main functions, so they all get worn depending on what I plan to be doing, but a great website to help you choose between them is www.sportswatchinformant.com. The fourquestion section is especially useful in deciding what is suitable for your lifestyle. Enjoy . . .
Suunto X9i GPS - £286 This one is first on my list because it was the first expensive watch I bought and I still use it as a pure navigator on land and as a backup for dinghy and canoe expeditions. It easy to see in poor light and you soon get to use it, with no need to fumble for the function you need. Special features: GPS; good compass; barometer;
Pro Trek Casio PRW-500T-7ER - around £350 This is the newest and perhaps the best watch in my collection, with some revolutionary watch technology. It has only just become available, so I am still revelling in the new functions and in the big buttons used to access them. I do not need to look at the watch to activate the menus and the display is large and clear enough for reading without glasses. That is a big plus for many of us. Special features: Super accurate time by radio; barometer; thermometer; easy-to-view compass (very stable); tough solar power recharge; stopwatch; countdown race start time; digital altimeter. Personal reasons: It is the latest technology so I know I need it. More practically, I like the combo of digital and analogue at-a-glance display. Also good is the close fitting strap and the specially toughened scratch resistant mineral glass. It will be good to see just how durable this one proves.
www.casioonline.co.uk
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temperature; speed; distance; tracks; WPS; weather trend; chrono; easy-to-use menus like a mobile phone. Personal reasons: This is a toughie and has survived all the things we do. It is a recreation in its own right, because you can plan routes on the PC and even view your track on Google Earth. It gives as much practical pleasure after the trip as when you are out skiing, boating, cycling or hiking.
www.suunto.com
Casio Waveceptor WVQ-550LE Around £150 This is my macho, show-off watch. It’s bright yellow and black colouring is very distinctive and suits the type of market at which it is aimed. The new super accurate radio time technology means that the owner never needs to adjust the time and only needs to change the battery every two years. It follows the engineering principle that if it looks right, it probably is right. Special features: High visibility fascia, clearly readable in most lights; three hands; 24-hour time; stopwatch; digital date; very rugged construction. Personal reasons: I particularly like this because it has a solid, boaty feel on the wrist and it reeks of eccentric class. It is also a great timepiece, an opinion shared by a 60-year old guy on a forum: “I have Rolex and Omega in my addictive’s collection, but I have never had one to equal this for stunning looks and accuracy. Go for it.” I agree. Note: in my opinion, the Casio website does not do this product justice.
www.casioonline.co.uk
SEADOGS
If you want to share your boat with a dog that can genuinely embrace the lifestyle, you need to make sure you get the right one. Mike Pullen steers you clear of the pitfalls and introduces you to some ideal First Mates . . .
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or those of us who grew up witnessing first-hand the heroics of Lassie and the glorious pathos of the Littlest Hobo, the humble dog is a beast worthy of great acclaim. The companionship it affords, the comedy, the loyalty, the protection, the selfless service - it all comes together to create an animal that is not just great to have in the home, but ideal to have as a crewmember aboard your boat. And while crashing through the waves with your trusty sea dog by your side (or reclining on a sunkissed beach, sharing barbecued sausages and salty anecdotes) is an image that may have you heading for the local pound in search of a new pooch, you should be aware that picking the right variety of dog can be a very tricky business. If you think that any old dog will bound gleefully into the drink or stand proud on the foredeck the moment you command it, you need to think again. I have witnessed many an embarrassed sailor, trying to coax his timid woofer to board his boat, only to be left disappointed, embarrassed and faced with an awkward drive home - neither party willing to discuss the matter. And by this point of course it’s too late. You can hardly take him back to the pet shop, citing H2O intolerance as the reason for your relationship breakdown. And what about the kids? Do you really want to leave them distraught cos you have decided their dog doesn’t pass muster? No, you don’t. So get it right first time by picking the right dog for the job and prepare yourself for a crewmate who is not just keen to get out on your boat but capable of handling it in safety . . .
What do you need from a good sea dog? The ideal sea dog needs to be quick to learn, eager to please, good with the family and of quite a settled and attentive nature. It also needs to be fond of the water, good at swimming and blessed with a coat that will put up with a dousing without getting smelly or waterlogged. You should avoid dogs that are especially large, energetic or unpredictable and go instead for a small to medium sized family dog with a gentle (not timid) temperament, plenty of intelligence and some proven water work on its CV. Tough though the brief might seem, there are plenty of good options just waiting to be explored (the creature on the left is not among them) . . .
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RYA ISSUE OF THE MONTH I TALKING POINT
❝
❞
How do I avoid fuel spills?
In the third of the RYA’s series on how to be a greener powerboat enthusiast, Sam Jefferson addresses the issue of fuel spillages.
Below: Adding detergent to a fuel spill is about as productive as kicking a sick man in the face
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et’s be honest, it has happened to us all. From personal experience I can shamefully recall fuelling up a particularly large motorboat on the Thames. After standing dutifully by the nozzle for a couple of minutes I got bored and jammed it open. This left me free to wander around doing other important tasks such as drinking coke and sunbathing. Ten minutes later, I returned to find the boat, part of the deck and a large section of the Thames all fully fuelled up. What did I do? Panic of course. Tearing away from the fuel jetty, I proceeded to fill the Thames with enough Fairy Liquid to host a pretty respectable foam party on a quarter mile stretch of the river. Not only was this extremely embarrassing but it was also extremely bad
for the environment. So, given my predicament, was this the right thing to do? I caught up with the experts from the Green Blue Programme to find out . . . The first point to make is that you should definitely NOT put detergent in the water. It simply breaks up the oil into smaller particles that are more digestible for fish. What’s more, the phosphates in detergents can cause algal blooms, which in turn lead to a loss of oxygen and the death of aquatic life. Instead, if you have a big leak, you need to come clean and inform the relevant authority. That could be the Environment Agency or the Habourmaster, depending on where you are. There is also a 24-hour pollution hotline you can call on 0800 807060. For smaller spillages, you can now get hold of spill kits and deal with the problem yourself. These kits are usually priced at between £30 and £40 and contain pads and suitable oil absorbents to prevent pollution. The other key factor is to make sure you work out how to use it. You need to react quickly after a spillage, so fumbling around reading the instructions might mean you are too late to actually do any good. The best method of course is to make sure it doesn’t happen in the first place. Here are 14 top tips from the Green Blue to help minimise the risk: 1. Check your bilge before pumping, as oil and fuel can leak from the engine and gather down below
2. Use a drip tray under the engine to catch leaks (this is a legal requirement on many inland waterways) 3. Use a bilge sock to absorb oil and fuel in the bilges 4. Use a funnel when pouring fuel or oil 5. Use a fuel collar to catch drips when refuelling 6. Avoid overfilling your tank to help reduce the risk of fuel overflowing from vents 7. Allow room for expansion in the tank 8. Maintain fuel lines, connections and seals to help avoid leaks 9. Transfer oil and fuel in proper containers 10. Dispose of waste oil at appropriate facilities 11. Dispose of all oily or fuel-soaked materials in hazardous waste containers 12. Avoid using oil and fuel on the pontoons, other than on those dedicated to refuelling 13. If possible, on land, do not to use oil and fuel within ten metres of the shore 14. Never store oil and fuel in areas that are prone to flooding or extremes of wind or tide So there you have it, a few basic pointers for a cleaner, greener boat life. For further tips and advice, go to www.greenblue.org.uk. 108 I SB&RIB