Sports Boat and RIB Preview

The UK’s hardest hitting powerboat magazine

Greek RIB CHARTER

FIND YOUR HOLIDAY DISCOUNT INSIDE

NAUGHTY NOUGHTIES HIGHLIGHTS FROM A DECADE OF DEDICATED PLEASURE

Summer

SIESTA IN SEARCH OF THE UK’S GREATEST BOATING HIDEAWAYS

BRITISH BRUISER ALL ABOARD THE ASTONISHING NEW REVENGER 32

PUBLISHING

EXCELLENCE THROUGH EXPERIENCE

IPAD FOR NAVIGATORS

£3.95

AUGUST 2010

CAN THE IPAD CUT IT FOR THE BOAT BRIGADE?

+ DRIVE TIME: BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE BENETEAU FLYER AND THE X-JET 140

78 KEY BOATING MOMENTS FROM THE LAST DECADE

26 IS THE IPAD REALLY WORTH THE FUSS?

6 I SB&RIB

CONTENTS AUGUST 2010

REGULARS WORD FROM THE WATER..........................

10

Fancy a cheap charter RIB? Step this way . . .

SUPERYACHT NEWS....................................

16

Can massive wealth really buy you bliss?

CLASSICS UPDATE.......................................

18

The modern classic from Broom

20

WORD FROM THE CIRCUIT.........................

The Round Ireland Race gets underway

22

BEST ACCESSORIES....................................

The expert guide to heavy weather boating

26

THE IPAD NAVIGATOR................................

HD navigation from Apple and Navionics

29

WORD FROM THE WEB..............................

Capelli v Stingher: a reader’s dilemma

HAVE YOUR SAY.........................................

98

Fill in our survey and win a free SB&RIB cap

DIARY DATES............................................

Get on board with the Blade Run . . .

32

THRILLS AND SPILLS AT THE 2010 SPORTS BOAT AND RIB SHOW

104

FEATURES SPORTS BOAT AND RIB SHOW....................

32

Sun, speed and spectacular bargains

BUY YOUR OWN RACE BOAT.......................

40

Cutting-edge machines we can all afford

BEST BOATING RETREATS............................

44

Five of the nation’s greatest weekends away

ISLE OF MAN LOVE.......................................

50

Outward bound at the spiritual home of power

SB&RIB I 7

NEWS I ACCESSORIES 4.

5.

4. Advansea VHF

6. Bolle boating shades

New from Plastimo, we have a compact, waterproof VHF radio, developed to compliment the growing range of AdvanSea marine electronics. The FX-400 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 mounting kit. It’s great looking and very well priced equipment.

Price: £169.99 www.navimo.co.uk www.advansea.com

There are not many sunglass manufacturers with an entire range designed for the specific rigours of boating but Bolle is the exception. Bolle marine sunglasses are worn by the likes of Ellen MacArthur and, while that’s eminently reassuring, it’s not the CV that is of relevance to us but the technical features. On all 11 models in the Bolle marine range, you get polarised lenses to combat low-level glare from the surface of the water, plus a hydrophobic coating designed to repel water from the surface of the lens. You also get a choice of lenses, designed to match the type of boating you do, whether inland or offshore. You might need to add a buoyant strap to anchor them to your face and keep them afloat if they tumble overboard, but with that in place you have a very effective marine solution.

Price: various www.bolle.com

5. Heavy Weather Powerboating Heavy Weather Powerboating is designed to be the power driven equivalent to Heavy Weather Sailing - the classic reference on the Adlard Coles Nautical list. Edited by Hugo Montgomery-Swan and endorsed by Bear Grylls, contributors include world champions and endurance record breakers, as well as designers, instructors and RNLI coxwains. Like Heavy Weather Sailing, it includes chapters on the theory of dealing with rough seas and shares the hard-won experience of experts in their field, leaders in their class and ordinary powerboaters who found themselves faced with extreme weather, and yet survived to pass on the lessons they learned.

Among other topics, Heavy Weather Powerboating looks at offshore adventuring, high-speed helming techniques, operating in the surf and surviving terrifying phenomena such as black holes and rogue waves. Having seen the preproduction copy on a leisurely gin-assisted flight with the book’s editor, we can happily affirm that it deserves a place on every powerboater’s shelf. Top class.

Price: £25.00 ISBN: 9780713688719 www.acblack.co.uk

6.

SB&RIB I 23

LIFESTYLE I FORUM

FORUM FOCUS WWW.SPORTSBOAT.CO.UK

Why don’t you join in the discussions?

WWW.SPORTSBOAT.CO.UK/FORUM

WORD FROM THE WEB (WITH JANE RICKARD, WEB EDITOR)

Greetings from the busy world of Sports Boat and RIB online. Firstly a quick word of thanks to those of you who have sent me videos of your boats for the website. They’ve been great but we’re always looking for more, so keep sending them in. Alternatively, if you spot a cool video somewhere else, just send me the link and we’ll share it with the rest of the online readers.

Rapid news bulletins There is one particular area in which the Internet is an unbeatable resource, and that’s the news. It’s incredible to see how quickly an event can be splashed across the world’s Internet news pages. We are talking minutes in many cases. So where better to read the latest boating news than your own magazine website (www.sportsboat.co.uk)? We were among the first, for example, to tell you about the recent acquisition of Raymarine by FLIR, so log on regularly to catch the latest boat and kit news.

Regular events updates We also keep you posted on the latest marine events taking place up and down the country, from boat shows to regattas, festivals, race meetings, training days and cruises in company. This is your website so if you’re involved in a nautical event, big or small, and you would like it plugged on the site, send me some info and we’ll get a story on to our events pages. Send a picture as well if you can and it will make an even bigger splash.

CHECK YOUR LIFEJACKETS

A vote for change

Jamie1131 Right then. Who hasn’t checked their lifejackets yet this season? Well let this be a warning to you. I just checked my four crewsaver auto 150N crewfits and all of them had expired. Worse still, the one I wore yesterday had a puncture. Check them out and, if need be, replace them with new ones.

If May’s election got you in the mood for voting, check out the polls on the Sports Boat website. We regularly measure opinion of the latest hot topic on the website so let us know what you think of the issues that affect you. As well as being an enjoyable way of spending your time, it enables us to know what kind of things are important to you and your boat life. Head over today and become a part of it. We look forward to welcoming you on board.

In the meantime, email me any time at webeditor@cslpublishing.com. Ideas, suggestions, rants - I welcome them all . . .

Jane

www.sportsboat.co.uk - all about having fun on the water

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.

SB&RIB I 29

SUMMER FESTIVAL

The family-friendly 2010 Southampton Sports Boat and RIB Show at Ocean Village Marina has come and gone. Mike Pullen was there to pick out some of his personal highlights . . .

N Above: Families gather for lunch before checking out the on-water entertainment

32 I SB&RIB

ow in its sixth year, the 2010 Sports Boat and RIB Show was formally opened by one of the world’s best offshore sailors, Mike Golding OBE. It was a thoroughly auspicious start to a free event that had been blessed with brilliant sunshine and a tremendously engaging cross-section of exhibits from the UK marine industry.

Down on the water, the Freestyle Asylum personal watercraft team and the Thundercat Racing UK crew got people in the mood - and visitors quickly began taking to the water in a variety of ways. The RYA’s RIB driving sessions, the Sunseeker Experience trips (pictured right) and Dave Mumford RIB Rides got visitors out, while demo rides from the assorted pontoon exhibits also added some weight to the traffic of showgoers heading in and out of the marina.

Appropriately, the show was supported by the BMF’s ‘On The Water’ campaign. Among its goals is the commitment to inspire people to go boating more regularly and to provide them with the information, resources, advice and ideas they need to achieve it.

As the one show in the annual calendar where visitors really get to engage with the hardware, the Sports Boat and RIB Show seems like the perfect stage for making that happen.

LIFESTYLE I SB&RIB SHOW REVIEW

SB&RIB I 33

ManLove Motorcycle mecca, home to three-legged cats and tail-less kippers, and sceptred isle set in a silver sea. The Isle of Man is a very special place, says an emotional Tom Isitt.

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LIFESTYLE I ISLE OF MAN

F

or me, the Isle of Man is a glorious, wild, beautiful and enchanting place, but a place tinged with sadness.

I have had such wonderful times there, but lost too many friends there as well. It can be a cruel and unforgiving place, both as a boater and as a biker.

Even though the island has more than its share of rain, for me it’s all about blue skies, cut grass, hot tarmac, rough gorse and Castrol R. And the noise - the yowl of a GSX-R through Cronky-Voddy, the roar of a big twin powering out of The Gooseneck, the ring-ding-ding of a race-tuned stroker going down through the gears at Creg-ny-Baa. Oh yes, memories are all about the smells and the sounds.

I will never forget the day I first saw Joey Dunlop.

It was my first trip to the island, a gorgeous June day, and I was sitting with a mate on a drystone wall just before Ballacraine, dangling my feet out over the

Above: We will get to the boat stuff soon enough. In the mean time, here’s a picture of me, nailing the TT circuit on a Ducatti in the 80s . . .

Far Left: The Isle of Man enjoys a majestic setting, with realistic cruising opportunities to England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland

It has the verdant rolling countryside of Suffolk, the craggy cliffs of West Wales and the unmistakable atmosphere of the Scottish Highlands narrow verge. Manx Radio informed us that Joey was safely through Quarter Bridge and on his way towards us. A few minutes later we could hear a bike in the distance, and we leaned forward, craning to see the approaching rider. A wall of noise, a blast of wind, and

SB&RIB I 51

In a world already attuned to the benefits of the small jet boat, there is an exciting new option for the British boater. Alex Smith tests the X-Jet 140 ...

60 I SB&RIB

ON THE WATER I X-JET 140

T

he moment you look at the Sapphire Marine website, you realise that the X-Jet is attempting to be something different. An automotive style ‘START’ button takes you through to a homepage, glittering with seductive spec shots of a waspish little jet boat - and all to a musical accompaniment that falls somewhere between Mission Impossible and the Matrix.

It is plain that we are supposed to find the little X-Jet 140 alluring and, in fairness, it has plenty of tricks up its sleeve to achieve that. For a start, it’s a 14-foot jet boat from a British boat builder down in Poole. That in itself is enough to rouse the interest.

Add in the fact that it is powered exclusively by the rather rare and exotic Weber MPE 750 engine, plus the fact that it is currently the only X-Jet you can buy, and its resounding novelty value begins to leach through into a profound conviction that you need a closer look.

The benefits of jet

Instead of using a propeller to ‘screw’ its way through the sea, a jet-driven craft sucks water in through a grate on the underside of the hull and ‘blows’ it out through a tube at the stern. As a result, a jet boat has no working parts protruding beneath the hull, which makes it ideal for shallow water running. The X-Jet itself has a draft of just 12 inches and, because there is no exposed prop, it is a very safe form of propulsion for recreations like skiing, where people are routinely in the water. Manoeuvrability is another useful benefit of jet propulsion, as is the fact that (because no gearbox is required to go from ahead to astern) the engine tends to enjoy an easier life. The only real flaw of a jet boat is the fact that ‘blowing’ water against water is less efficient than using a well matched prop.

SB&RIB I 61

REVENGER IS SWEET

Revenger, the famous and much-loved British RIB builder, has launched its biggest ever boat in the form of the 32-footer.

Mike Pullen heads for Southampton to get the OFFICIAL UK EXCLUSIVE.

72 I SB&RIB

ON THE WATER I REVENGER 32

UK EX CLUS IVE

I

n recent times, there has been a trend towards larger and larger RIBs, with ever more complex layouts. Many builders are even beginning to incorporate larger ‘tube-top’ cabins, but Revenger has remained true to its roots and produced yet another performance RIB with the familiar layout of the tried and tested Revenger open boat.

I already feel quite honoured that Sports Boat and RIB is the only magazine to have been given access to this boat, due to her being delivered to her new owner just a few days after our sea trials. Despite some fairly grotty weather then, we were always going to jump at the chance to take a look. But on arrival, we had an additional treat in store. Not only did we have the new 32 with a pair of Yamaha ME422 High Output sterndrive engines, but we were also greeted by the outboard version, resplendent in teak and looking eminently purposeful with a pair of Verado 300s on the transom. It was most definitely time for a play . . .

SB&RIB I 73

Diary Dates Now well into the 2010 season, July and August are among the busiest months in the calendar . . .

17-18 July

JULY • 03-16 July

Spirit of the Sea Maritime Festival

Eastbourne Extreme Eastbourne seafront

Weymouth & Portland 01305 785747

www.eastbourneextreme.co.uk

www.spiritofthesea.org.uk

• 04 July

Titchfield Boat Jumble

26-28 August Dartmouth Royal Regatta Dartmouth, South Devon www.dartmouthregatta.co.uk

Hound Hill Farm, Titchfield, Hampshire 02392 381405

• 10 July

Dragon Boat Race Day River Avon at Chippenham (football fanatics please note the World Cup third place decider kicks off at 7.30pm) 01249 656172

• 10-11 July

River Stour - Steam, Electric & Boating Festival Sudbury 01787 313199

www.riverstourtrust.org

• 17-18 July

Thames Traditional Boat Rally Henley-on-Thames

www.tradboatrally.com

• 17-24 July

Cowes Classic Week info@msjeventmanagement.co.uk

www.cowesclassicsweek.org

• 30 July - 01 August North Wales Boat Show Gwynedd

www.northwalesboatshow.co.uk

• 31 July - 07 August Cowes Week www.cowesweek.co.uk 104 I SB&RIB

TALKING POINT I DIARY OF EVENTS

07-15 August Conwy River Festival Conwy, North Wales

www.conwyriverfestival.org

SHOLIW GHT

BladeRun Europe, Rotterdam: 15-17 July

As powerboating looks for a welcome boost, BladeRun Europe has announced 30 fully paidup competitors, as well as the backing of the city of Rotterdam. BladeRun is now one of the feature events among Rotterdam’s official list of summer initiatives, which include events as illustrious as the Tour De France.

The three-day powerboating rally will start on the New Muse, passing under the stunning Erasmus Bridge as the boats head towards Antwerp. It will then move to Ostend, before returning to Rotterdam and a homecoming party for 2,000 people.

Though the BladeRun experience is more about adventure, camaraderie and fun than speed and power, international powerboat racers in Belgium, Germany and the UK have already signed-up, with more expected to follow.

Event promoter, Boyd Wahr, explains his hopes for the event: “We would welcome the involvement of more racers, especially from England, as this will further boost the international aspect of the spectacle. They will be warmly welcomed by participants and spectators. And, of course, the Brits love a party.”

SPOT

AUGUST • 01 August

• 21-23 August

Bodelwyddan Castle, Denbighshire 01299 251011

Whitby, Yorkshire

North Wales Boat Jumble www.boatjumbleassociation.co.uk

• 09 August

Tall Ship’s Race, Eve of Sail Spectacular Hartlepool

www.hartlepooltallships2010.com

• 09-14 August

Whitby Regatta

www.whitbyregatta.co.uk

• 22 August

Portsmouth Boat Jumble Fort Purbrook, Portsmouth 02392 381405

www.boatjumbleassociation.co.uk

• 28-30 August

Pendennis Cup

IWA National Festival and Boat Show

Falmouth Bay Cornwall UK 01326 211344

Beale Park, Reading, Berkshire 08448 006583

www.thependenniscup.co.uk

Contact 01242 268980 www.bladerun.nl

www.waterways.org.uk

SB&RIB I 105

TOP BOATING RETREATS

After a good day at sea, no sight is more welcoming than a comfortable mooring, a hearty meal, a decent drink and a bed for the night. Adrian Porter heads off in search of the best boating havens Britain has to offer . . .

1 - Bucklers Hard: Oasis of calm

If you’ve ever cruised the Solent, you will appreciate just how busy it can be. Granted, it’s never exactly gridlock by landlubber standards, but there are an awful lot of boats packed into a relatively small stretch of water. So when the time comes to make port and you need somewhere to unwind, start plotting a course for the Beaulieu River and Bucklers Hard. Despite a relatively shallow entrance, once you’re ambling up the river, enthralled at the lush greenery and picture of calm unfolding around you, you’ll realise it was worth the effort. After just two and half miles of therapeutic wanderings, you will come across Agamemnon Yard at the historic Bucklers Hard with a very large marina.

English eccentricities A few minutes walk from the marina is the main area of Bucklers Hard - two rows of houses which contain within them a local shop, a waxworks and the wonderfully eccentric Master Builder’s pub, restaurant and hotel. The Master Builder’s is a delightfully strange mix. The main drinking

44 I SB&RIB

bar is as you would hope - real ales (try the Ringwood Best), log fire, beamed ceilings and traditional décor. They also have an array of Godminster vodkas, including their peculiar horseradish vodka, which apparently makes a hell of a Bloody Mary. Move through to the restaurant and you find fine dining and a very different atmosphere to the bar.

The accommodation is divided into ‘nice’ and ‘very nice’ tariffs. Weekend rates are often the most pricey. Two nights cost between £240 and £320 but do include breakfast per person (based on two staying), though paying a bit extra (£340-£440) will also get you dinner. Your kids will cost £15 each at all times, though there is a maximum allowance of two.

The drawback to Bucklers Hard is the price.

Mooring on the main pontoons is expensive, but if you have a tender to make shore runs, then I advise heading for the river pontoon or the swinging moorings. True, you won’t be able to walk to land, but as well as benefiting from a much reduced mooring fee, you’ll find that when you turn off your engine, there is no artificial light to spoil the stars and no noise to disturb the peace.

Pontoon prices

Up to 22 feet: £21.50 23 to 26 feet: £26.00 27 to 39 feet: £32.50 40 to 50 feet: £37.00 51 to 60 feet: £49.00

River pontoon/swinging moorings Up to 20 feet: £10.50 21 to 26 feet: £13.00 27 to 35 feet: £15.50 36 to 44 feet: £19.50

Marina facilities

Water Electricity (£2 on top of mooring fees) Fuel station Shower Launderette

Contact details

Harbourmaster’s office river@beaulieu.co.uk 01590 616200 www.bucklershard.co.uk www.themasterbuilders.co.uk