Sailing Today

SAILING TODAY ISSUE 181 MAY 2012

WHAT’S NEW IN ELECTRONICS 2012? ,!4%34 $%6%,/0-%.43 ). 0,/44%23 s %0)2"3 s !)3 s 2!$!2 s 6(&

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CRUISING

HEBRIDES UNCOVERED THREE WEEKS IN THE

PUBLISHING

WILDERNESS ISLANDS

SEAMANSHIP

ASTRO

MADE EASY

LEARN CELESTIAL NAVIGATION

EXCLUSIVE

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LIGHT LOTTERY IT COULD BE YOU...

MY MARINA

BRIXHAM GATEWAY TO THE WEST BOAT TESTS

USED SIGMA 33 ONE DESIGN STALWART

NEW GRAND SOLEIL 39 EXPRESS CRUISING ITALIAN STYLE

MARINA HANDLING PINNED ON BY A GALE: WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Untitled-1 1

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CONTENTS

Books reviewed p16

MAY 2012 ISSUE 181

54

NEW BOAT TEST Grand Soleil 39 ELECTRONICS SPECIAL What’s new?

87

SEAMANSHIP What would you do?

04 Sailing Today May 2012

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84

36

RALLY PORTUGAL Our competition winners

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Just In! p20 To buy a back issue call 01442 820580

This month NEWS AND VIEWS Sailing News

6

Readers’ Letters

10

View From the RYA

14

Riding Light

92

ASTRO NAV SIMPLIFIED Troubleshooting tips

130

GEAR AND EQUIPMENT Books

16

Just In

20

Gear on Test

24

Buyer’s Guide: Fire Extinguishers

28

12 page Electronics Special

36

BOATS New Boat Test: Grand Soleil 39

54

Used Boat Test: Sigma 33

62

CRUISING USED BOAT TEST Sigma 33

62

Hebridean Adventure

70

Brixham

78

MY MARINA

SEAMANSHIP Marina Handling: What would you do? Part 2

87

Astro Navigation Made Simple

92

PRACTICAL Tools: Clamps

96

Lifejacket Lights

98

Q&As with Nick Vass

100

WIN! WIN! WIN!

78

MY MARINA Brixham

Old Pulteney 12-year Old whisky

11

Force 4 Chandlery voucher worth £50

12

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE!

68

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JUST IN Duncan Kent browses the boating market to bring you a heads up on the latest new kit.

EMBLA OFFSHORE JACKET £500

ULTIMATE COMPACT SAW £119.98 The DSM20 is the latest tool in Dremel’s range of Versatile Tool Systems. This ultimate compact saw has a powerful 710W motor and makes cuts up to 20mm deep in most common DIY materials.

The DSM20 makes a beautifully clean and precise cut compared with toothed wheels, thanks to its abrasive wheel. It also requires no lower guard mechanism – unlike tools equipped with tooth-bladed wheels – and is capable of performing straight cuts, flush cuts close to the surface and plunge cuts with no kickback. In particular, its plunge cutting ability is second to none with the lack of teeth on the blades.

It is easy to operate using just one hand and its abrasive wheel allows for both push and pull action. Additionally, it is extremely easy to change accessories using the shaft lock button.

The 710W wormgear driven motor runs at 17,000rpm, ensuring there is sufficient power for any task it is required to perform. It also has an adjustable depth guide, making it possible to cut through most materials up to 20mm thick.

The Dremel DSM20 comes in a sturdy storage case with a range of accessories and attachments supplied as standard including: • 1 x 77mm Multi-Purpose Carbide Wheel, for soft and hard wood, plywood, composites, laminate flooring, drywall, PVC and plastic • 3 x 77mm Metal Cut-Off Wheels, for cutting copper pipe, coated wire shelving, metal, sheet aluminium and other materials • Straight Edge Guide • 2 x 4 Cutting Guide, which fits over 37mm x 86mm timber • Vacuum Cleaner attachment CONTACT: B&Q WEB: WWW.DREMEL.CO.UK

The spring/summer 2012 Embla sailing collection for women continues to develop, blending the brand’s professional grade performance technologies with new high-end fashion styles to obtain a sleek look, on and off of the water.

The Embla Offshore Jacket brings Helly Hansen’s design expertise in offshore sailing gear into the urban realm with a contemporary, Scandinavian inspired style that blends advanced fabrics with highly functional features. The jacket’s three-layer HellyTech Performance waterproof, breathable construction is built to handle unexpected squalls, whilst its protective high collar and slim fit add finishing touches to the new classy Embla styling.

Available in Navy, sizes XS-XL CONTACT: HELLY HANSEN TEL: SEE WEBSITE FOR DISTRIBUTORS WEB: WWW.HELLYHANSEN.COM

RONSTAN STICKY GLOVES FROM £19.99 Early 2012 sees the release of a new, modified range of performance sailing gloves by major hardware brand, Ronstan. Designed for all abilities and disciplines, these durable race gloves offer the same ultimate performance, control and protection as the previous Ronstan Glove, with the modification of sporty graphite and black colour scheme and graphics to match the growing range of Ronstan Dinghy Sailing Gear.

Four versions of the Ronstan gloves are available: three full finger gloves and a cut finger glove, which are available with or without a ‘sticky’ palm.

The sticky palm is designed to reduce fatigue by minimising the physical effort required to hold rope.

Extremely durable, due to the double aramid stitch teamed with amara leather in high wear areas, these race gloves also offer maximum flexibility thanks to a mesh panel on the low cut wristband.

Available from most major UK chandlers and nautical clothing shops.

CONTACT: MARATHON LEISURE WEB: WWW.MARATHONLEISURE.COM

ECONOMIC ANTIFOULING £49.99 (2.5LTR) Seajet 031 Samurai is a new self-polishing antifouling protection for the ‘budget conscious’ boat owner. Available in a choice of four colours – black, shark grey, red and blue, 031 Samurai is a copper based formulation containing slightly less booster biocide than some of Seajet’s other antifouling products.

Owners of boats up to 35ft length will find that one 2.5 litre can is sufficient for one full coat and Seajet recommends applying two coats for one full season’s use. Suitable for all substrates apart from aluminium, 031 Samurai will provide good all round hull protection in either salt or fresh water environments.

Owing to the self-polishing nature of this product, however, 031 Samurai is not suitable for yachts on drying moorings.

CONTACT: MARINE & INDUSTRIAL TEL: 01692 406822 WEB: WWW.MARINEINDUSTRIAL.CO.UK

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HAMBLE I CHANDLERY PLYMOUTH

Your partner on and off the water...

“From making the decision to buy a Dufour, it has become abundantly clear Marco Marine really do care!

We found every aspect to be professional, knowledgeable and helpful in all aspects of purchasing a new boat and even better, it’s ongoing!

Oh, and the boat? She’s great!”

Marco Marine is the UK importer for EdgeWater Power Boats and Minor Offshore - the All Season boat. We are also the Dufour dealer for the entire South of England and Southern Wales.

We offer a large range of pre-owned boats for sale as part of our brokerage service. No matter what you need, we

can assist you whether it is a new 52 foot yacht, 14 foot power boat or advice on how to change a stanchion.

• New and used boat sales • Servicing and aftercare • Spares, repairs and upgrades • Overseas delivery and commissioning • Commercial fleet operations • Income from your boat options

Marco Marine Limited, Hamble Point Marina, Hamble Hampshire, SO31 4JD Hamble: +44 (0)2380 453245 Plymouth: +44 (0)1752 869062 e: info@marcomarine.co.uk www.marcomarine.co.uk January 2012 Sailing Today 23

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ELECTRONICS SPECIAL

ELECTRONICS ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT TO TODAY’S BOAT OWNERS, SO DUNCAN KENT BRINGS YOU A 12-PAGE SUMMARY OF THE VERY LATEST LAUNCHES AND EXPLAINS HOW THEY CAN HELP YOU NAVIGATE MORE SAFELY AND LET YOU FULLY ENJOY YOUR TIME ABOARD.

S

ince the 1990s and the rise of Local Area Networks (LAN) for computers, there has been a gradual tendency towards networked navigation instrument systems in the modern cruising yacht.

Most of the instrument manufacturers cottoned on to the fact that they could sell a customer a complete set of instruments that would ‘talk’ to each other and freely share their data with other devices in the network. Although the manufacturers don’t actually state that you can’t mix and match instruments from other providers, they do actively encourage you to buy your entire package from them to ‘facilitate’ interconnection and data sharing.

There is something to be said for this approach. If, for some reason, the

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NAVIGATION NETWORKS

instruments won’t communicate with each other, then you’ve only got to call one company to sort it out. Likewise, if the manufacturer introduces a software update and it doesn’t work with the other connected instruments, then they must do something about it by introducing upgrades for all the other devices they sell as well.

The downside of having all the same make is that parts of the system might not actually do everything you want them to.

There’s nothing particularly clever about the way marine instruments interface or share data. The link is usually physical – transmitted through a multi-core cable that carries data in the form of a low-voltage, digital signal – and consists of ‘sentences’ of information contained within a language, or

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CHART PLOTTERS

‘protocol’, such as NMEA, SeaTalk, SimNet etc. The most widely recognised protocol is currently NMEA 0183, which has been in use for many years, although extra ‘sentences’ have been added to the language during that time as equipment has progressed and new concepts have been introduced.

In 2002, however, the NMEA 2000 binary (digital) standard was introduced, in which data transmission was speeded up considerably (250,000bps as opposed to 4,800bps for NMEA 0183). NMEA 2000 enables a greater number of instructions to be exchanged simultaneously, through the same cable, creating what is now termed a ‘CAN Bus’ system, similar to that used in a modern car’s electronics. It also enables power to be taken through the same cable

P43 AIS SYSTEMS

P46 RADAR

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WHAT’S NEW?

GUIDE 2012 as data, eliminating extra wiring.

NMEA 2000, however, has not been universally accepted by all the manufacturers, many of whom decided to develop their own bus protocols instead. Some of these are based roughly on NMEA 2000, others not, so this can and does create some confusion for the technically average yachtsman looking to upgrade his navigation system.

THE FUTURE The past decade has heralded a prolific rise in wireless connection of every sort, spurred on by rapid technology developments in the domestic mobile communications market.

Barring a few notable exceptions, such as TackTick, now owned by Raymarine and a wireless wind instrument from Nexus, the marine instrument market has been very slow to take on this useful method of integration and build WiFi transceivers into their networks. Only TackTick currently supplies a full instrument system that uses WiFi to connect transducers to their networks, although some are starting to move towards wireless for transmitting NMEA data to repeaters.

P48 COMMS

UK marine electronics provider Navico (Lowrance, Simrad and B&G) recently announced its ‘GoFree’ wireless strategy – technology designed to deliver wireless viewing and limited control of its fully integrated navigation, entertainment and digital switching networks. GoFree has evolved with the intention of delivering not only the latest technology, but also to provide consumers with a low cost and flexible solution and is intended to integrate smart devices within the marine environment, allowing the user to display and control network data and other peripheral devices via their mobile smart devices without the associated costs of embedding WiFi technology into individual items of equipment.

In a similar fashion to the app market being open for anyone capable of designing and publishing their own apps, the GoFree wireless strategy will provide application developers with wireless access to the NMEA0183 and NMEA2000 data protocols via a marinised WiFi access point based around an ethernet wireless router.

Another UK marine instrument supplier, Raymarine, has long been at the forefront of

P49 SAFETY

technology with its innovative systems and was one of the first to produce a high speed, networked instrument system for the leisure boater using its proprietary SeaTalk protocol.

Raymarine recently launched its ‘e’ generation of HybridTouch MFDs, including the e7, e95 and e125. These incorporate wireless remote access to smart devices via Bluetooth and WiFi interfacing. As with Navico’s GoFree system, navigational data can be transmitted wirelessly to a portable WiFi device within range, to the point where, using the Raymarine Viewer App, an iPad can be used to entirely mimic the e7 MFD. As well as displaying navigation pages it also allows you to stream live video and thermal images to your iPhone. Currently, there is no control capability from the mobile, but to compensate for this Raymarine supplies a limited remote control that connects to the network using Bluetooth.

With boat owners becoming comfortable with mobile devices like smart phones and tablets, WiFi will soon allow users to choose the units they wish to incorporate into their network and from where they can be viewed >> and controlled.

P50 AUDIO AND TV

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CONTACTS

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USED boaT TEST

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SIGMA 33

RACING RETIREE JAKE FRITH TOOK A 1982 ONE DESIGN CRUISER RACER FOR A DASH AROUND THE CENTRAL SOLENT. WOULD THIS RACING THOROUGHBRED PROVE TOO FLIGHTY FOR CRUISING DUTIES? The Sigma 33 was the first in a long series of offshore capable cruiser racers produced by Marine Projects from the late ’70s and was the company’s first dalliance with one design yachts, a Sigma forte later consolidated with the benchmark 38. The Sigma 33 was one of the latest must have sporty boats when the ’79 Fastnet wreaked its havoc and, like other notable designs, such as the Contessa 32, this disaster helped seal its reputation.

Designer David Thomas was aboard one of the Sigma 33 prototypes in that fateful race and, despite several knockdowns, some cracking around the coachroof, a stove-in window and split washboards, the crew refused rescue from a Dutch Naval vessel and the plucky Sigma continued to Newlyn.

The experience prompted some detail changes to later models of the boat (smaller windows, beefed up washboards, different coachroof layup), but the general design had proved her pedigree in atrocious conditions.

Some might argue that the Sigma 33 was not a runaway success when first launched, because it was designed by Thomas as an answer to a search for three new one design models instigated by RORC’s Offshore One Design Conference in 1978. When the OODC plumped for the OOD 34, Hunter Impala and Aphrodite 101 as its chosen designs, it could

have left the Sigma as just a pretty set of lines on the shelf of a design office. However, Marine Projects, who were building Moodys in Plymouth at the time, were persuaded to take the design on, building it under their new Sigma Yachts subsidiary.

Marine Projects’ size meant that the hulls could be built identically, so that there would be opportunity to build a one design fleet should the boat take off, but Thomas had also designed the boat to rate well under the then popular IOR rule, so it had broader appeal. With 408 of the boats being built from 1978 to 1991, it was by far the runaway success of the Sigma family and it gained a strong following as a one design class throughout the 80s and beyond. 44 of the boats were built to the ‘C’ specification to denote Cruising. These had a shorter masthead rig, smaller sails and shallower keel. Boozeroo, the boat that we are testing here comes under a third column, one of several Sigma 33 OODs that have been retired from the racecourse and converted over the years for fast cruising use. She’s now out of class for one design racing and she carries a slightly cut down mainsail, plus her genoa is the size of her old racing number two headsail. Of course, she retains the benefits of the deeper racing keel along with the cruising constraints of having a 1.75m draught.

ABOUT THE OWNERS Tony and Amina Cleal bought Boozeroo in 2006 after 10 years with a much loved Macwester 27. The pair, along with their sailing mad cocker spaniel Aoife spend long periods aboard the boat, hence the home comforts, such as the charcoal heater. Tony and Amina have clocked up something between eight and ten thousand miles with a long term summer cruise most years, taking in many stopovers from Lewis in the north to Ille d’Yeu to the south.

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My MARINA

BRiXHaM MaRina BRIXHAM, DEVON

WE VISIT CRUISING SAILORS AT THEIR HOME PORT TO GET THE INSIDE LINE ON WHAT MAKES THEM BERTH THEIR BOAT THERE. FROM LOCAL ATTRACTIONS TO NEARBY CRUISING GROUNDS, WE GET THEIR PERSONAL RECOMMENDATIONS.

B

rixham: Friendly pubs, Devonshire cream teas and fish. Mix them all together and you have a pretty potent mix, which isn’t nearly as repulsive as you might imagine.

The town has always had a reputation for being a little more down to earth than some of its neighbouring ports (Dartmouth springs to mind). This may be to do with its very strong links with the fishing industry. This reached a peak in the 1890s when the town boasted a fleet of some 300 smacks and ketches with the Brixham trawler gaining fame for its seaworthiness.

Back in the days before the railway reached Brixham, fish landed at the port

were then taken to Portsmouth by fast cutter and from there to London by horse and cart. At this time, the port was a sea of masts and sails. Although those boom days are over, Brixham is still a working harbour with a healthy fishing fleet.

It is also a charming port of call for anyone planning a cruise of the southwest and, for many, represents the gateway to the West Country and all of its accompanying charms.

The marina was built back in 1990, the brainchild of an American developer, who also invested in housing on the site of the historical boatbuilders, Uphams of Brixham. The developer clearly over

extended himself at a difficult time and the marina was acquired by MDL, which owns several marinas across the country.

Brixham has much to attract the cruising yachtsman; not only is the approach extremely straightforward, but it offers excellent shelter in anything other than a hard easterly. Even then, the substantial breakwater ensures that swell is kept to a minimum, while the fact that it is not located on an estuary means there is also very little tide flowing through.

The marina has recently been upgraded and features very smart facilities. There is also excellent access to the town, which is a five minute walk away.

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BRIXHAM DEVON

nigel, PaUline, PeTeR anD PaUline – BAVARIAS THE COMPETITION TO TALK US THROUGH THE DELIGHTS OF BRIXHAM WAS FIERCE AND IN THE END TWO CRUISING COUPLES – WHO SHARE 35 YEARS OF CRUISING FROM BRIXHAM BETWEEN THEM – TALKED US THROUGH WHY THEY CHOSE THIS MARINA TO KEEP THEIR PAIR OF BAVARIAS.

P

always wanted to return. eter and Pauline Humphries and their “I chose Brixham because it was a bit friends Nigel Bright and Pauline more reasonably priced than the Dart or Clarke perfectly illustrated the tight knit Torquay, and also had its own charm. community that exists within this friendly We also found that the trip down from marina. Not only are the pairs good friends, Gloucester was perfectly manageable and but they also have a shared interest in it’s only the last few miles beyond Newton Nigel’s Bavaria 38 Ventulus, which Nigel Abbott when things get tricky.” bought off Peter, who now owns a Bavaria The couple fell in love with Brixham 44 Manequin. Still with me? Anyway, the couples are still speaking and have even Left to right: Peter, Pauline, Pauline and Nigel aboard Nigel’s sailed in company.

Bavaria, Ventulus.

Both also share interesting tales about how they ended up in Brixham. Peter and Pauline were originally based in Gloucestershire and actually had a swinging mooring in Brixham before the marina was built.

Peter explained: “As a lad, my family always came down here in the school holidays, because Dad had a boat in Dartmouth, so I

to such an extent that, on retirement, they opted to move down there full time and buy a house.

Bristol based Nigel and his partner Pauline chose Brixham largely based on the area’s rich cruising grounds. Nigel explained: “Although Bristol is near the sea, I always found the cruising grounds rather limited and also pretty intimidating.

“The West Country just seemed more appealing and also not too difficult to drive to from Bristol.

“There are no issues with tides and access is incredibly easy.”

Both couples were also effusive in their praise for the marina itself and its facilities, pointing out that they had recently been refurbished.

They also enthused about the sense of community within the marina.

Both are involved in the Brixham Bay Hoppers, which was founded about 12 years ago and organises local cruises for anyone who owns a boat within Brixham harbour. Call Nigel on 07775 803343 for details.

There is a brokerage and sea school on site.

sPeCial iMRaY ReaDeR OFFeR, saVe 10%

BeRTHing anD FaCiliTies Contact: Shaw Smith, Marina Manager, Tel 01803 882929 or email s.smith@mdlmarinas.co.uk or go to www.mdlmarinas.co.uk.

Facilities: Brixham has plenty to offer berth holders and visitors alike, including water, electricity, which is metered, a launderette and showers, which have recently been refurbished.

In addition to this, there is ample storage ashore. WiFi is also available.

Car parking: An annual priority pass can be procured for £163.

Fuel: There is a fuel berth within the marina, which also sells Calor Gas. Repairs: No lift out: The marina recommends taking your boat round to Dartside Quay for lift out and repair.

Annual berthing charges: Berthing for a 10m yacht is £4,043.50 inc vat.

Daily: £3.32-£4.60p/m.

Monthly: £53-£55p/m.

the shell Channel PIlot

by Tom Cunliffe – £35.

Just call Imray on 01480 462114 and quote sailing today. www.imray.com the West Country

by Carlos Rojas – £27.50.

CHARTS AND PILOTS

adMIralty Chart folio SC5602.

IMray C14, C6, C10. tIdes -0505 Dover (use Torquay differences on Plymouth).

May 2012 Sailing Today 79

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Friday 20 th – Sunday 22nd April Hamble Point Marina · School Lane, Hamble, Southampton SO31 4NB

The South’s premier family boat show at the South’s premier marina location Boats for sale, equipment, servicing, insurance, clothing, berthing – everything you need in one great location l New and used boat sales – sail and power – dayboats, sportsboats, cruisers and RIBs l Boat jumble, chandlery and local produce l Practical workshops with RYA Active Marina programme l RIB rides l Restaurant and bar

and much, much more

e on-site parking re F · n o si is m d Free a For further information or to reserve exhibition space, contact Julie Doe at Hamble Point Marina

%

Active Marina

(023) 8045 2464 j.doe@mdlmarinas.co.uk

atshow.co.uk

ntbo www.hamblepoi

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Marina handling

?

This MonTh haMble school of YachTing’s James Pearson looks aT a couple of TrickY Marina handling scenarios ThaT a cruising skipper and crew MighT find TheMselves confronTed wiTh. There are no ‘righT answers’ To These kind of quesTions, buT here’s whaT we discovered.

what would you do? scenario 1

raring To go S

teve and Richard have arrived at their boat (a fin keel 35 footer), on a Friday summer’s evening.

They hope to spend a week cruising westwards from their Solent marina, hopefully getting well into Dorset. There is the tail end of a depression lingering, but settled weather is forecast, and they really want to

get underway that evening. The boat is moored pointing downtide with a strong tidal flow and 25 knots of wind in the same direction. The unfavourable wind and tide are not set to moderate for a couple of hours, however. The skipper Steve’s fear is not getting out of the berth, more getting set onto the line of bow rollers and anchors waiting downwind. Steve has doubts about committing to this manoeuvre as once they are untied, there may be no turning back. Richard is keen to give it a try, with decisiveness on throttle and helm, but then again it’s not his boat or insurance policy that’s on the line here. There is little prop walk with this boat, so it can be ignored.

What would you do?

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Developed, tested and worn by Iain Percy and Andrew Simpson Olympic, World and European Champions Discover more at www.clarks.co.uk/sailing

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