BLU

The First Issue

“There is no better way to escape from one’s intricacies than lounging on the deck of a boat”

Dissemination

CHARTERING SERVICES

of the Great British Boating Empire

Take the vacation of a lifetime by chartering one of our motor or sailing luxury yachts around the exotic Islands of Malta and Gozo.

Ten Fathoms: the 22 Immutable Commandments for Sailors

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Fishing for Blacktail Persistence Rewarded: 34th Rolex Middle Sea Race

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Letter from the Editor

Boating is our life. We were all born on this island or somehow gravitated towards it. We have been in love with the sea for as long as we remember and have chosen to make it our livelihood. It is an integral part of our culture and it is also a core part of the lifestyle of many people who live here.

This is precisely why boating deserves a magazine. Not any magazine. Not a product with a few dressed up articles and fancy pages, but a magazine which understands how we, the boating people of this island, live our lives at sea.

Boaters are united by our love of everything marine, but boaters also appreciate the finer side of life. We want to spend quality time on our boats, but we also want to look good doing it. We do not only want to get to our boat on the marina, but we want to do so in style.

This is where BLU comes in. Building on the strength and experience of seasoned boating journalists, editors, and a strong and renowned publishing house, this is the one magazine every boater will be waiting for on a quarterly basis.

Finally boaters in the Maltese Islands are once again getting the publication they crave for. One which is well-written by people who love the sea. One which is made from the heart.

Enjoy the issue.

Publisher & Editor in Chief Jason Attard

Richard Muscat Azzopardi

Editor Richard Muscat Azzopardi Design & Layout Effective Marketing Ltd

editor@blumag.biz

Photography Mike Caffrey Print Progress Press

Published by: Effective Marketing Ltd Ajiree Court, 04, Testaferrata Street Ta’ Xbiex XBX1403, Malta Tel: +356 2010 7775 info@blumag.biz

© All rights reserved. The Publisher’s written consent must be obtained before any part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means whatsoever. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the editor or publishers. Whilst every care has been taken in compiling contents, the editor and publishers cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. You are reminded of your right to refuse receipt of this publication and/or our other products or services by sending such requests in writing to Effective Marketing Ltd., signed by the person refusing receipt.

a member of

COntents

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12

Marina di ragusa

disseMination of the great British Boating eMpire

ten fathoMs The 22 Immutable Commandments For Sailors

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21

Malta professional Yachting association launched

audi Q

fishing for Blacktail

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persistence rewarded

planning Meals for trips

dreaM Yachts Cruisin’ all over the world

We take a look back at 34th Rolex Middle Sea Race

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Malta to Monte carlo

have Your cake and eat it!

superYachts in Malta

In a 9.5m Chase RIB

Boat Review: Dufour 500 Grand Large

The future is bright, but better marketing is needed

MARINA

Marina di Ragusa 4

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MARINA Often overlooked in favour of larger cities, Marina di Ragusa is the closest point of Sicily from Malta.

A mere seven hours away in a sailing yacht and three or so in faster power boats, the marina is highly attractive to our locals as well as tourists. This is also due to the fact that this seaside village / resort enjoys a state of the art, modern and very well equipped marina which has proven to be highly attractive.

The Marina Opened in 2009, it is quickly gaining popularity for all the right reasons. It is well-equipped, very organised and reasonably priced. Taking over 700 boats, it also offers attractive wintering packages.

The use of showers and a laundromat are offered to all of its clients, and some shops and a lovely Sicilian Café are part of the marina complex. The Marina itself is a 10-minute walk from the city centre, but a very efficient shuttle service is run daily, so you never have to wait for more than five minutes if you want a lift to the edge of town.

What to do in Marina di Ragusa Marina di Ragusa is perfect for a relaxing holiday, so we wouldn’t recommend it to anyone whose priorities are cultural sight-seeing or shopping, unless you’d like to visit the neighbouring cities.

However we definitely do recommend it to anyone who wishes to spend a few days in complete relaxation, taking walks while stopping for frequent espresso and ice-cream breaks, and maybe even getting in some beach time.

The seaside resort nature of Marina di Ragusa is reflected in the attitude of the majority of the inhabitants, especially in summer where it is mainly Italians and Sicilians who are visiting to make the most of their summer holidays. So expect lots of beachwear (even in restaurants and coffeeshops) and a relaxed approach to life in general.

We have one recommendation for you to try out – the pre-dinner or post-dinner stroll along the promenade. The atmosphere is fantastic, with everyone out for a walk in the evening.

In winter, the population decreases dramatically and everything is much calmer. The number of people who live there year-round is relatively small, so some shops and restaurants may be closed. We still think it’s a brilliant place to visit in winter – especially if you’re not a fan of crowds.

Food The promenade of Marina di Ragusa is one long line of restaurants. Some restaurants are even right on the beach, so you can enjoy a lovely meal just a few metres away from the waves lapping the beach.

If you want to buy food, there are a couple of supermarkets that are within walking distance – but keep in mind that if you want to buy anything heavy, the walk back to your boat won’t be enjoyable. We suggest buying heavy products like bottled water, canned food and any food that you can store from home, then purchasing fresh items from a supermarket in Marina di Ragusa.

You’ll find a butcher, a fish shop, a baker and a greengrocer, all within a short distance from the main square – any local will point you in the right direction. We think it’s fantastic that they’re all so close to each other, so you can prepare fresh food on your boat without having to travel very far. www.blumag.biz

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MARINA

To fully embrace the local culture, we think you must try a coffee and a croissant, or ‘un caffe e un cornetto’, in the morning, along with everyone else grabbing this must-have breakfast before a day at the beach. Granitas and brioches filled with ice-creams are also in high demand when in season.

The Sicilian day continues with savoury snacks from 11am onwards, followed by a light lunch, aperitivi with copious nibbles offered at seven, and then by a hearty dinner after 9. Do it right like a Sicilian on holiday and you’re never more than half an hour away from your next meal.

Transport Transport options are slightly restricted in Marina di Ragusa. Buses are relatively regular, and you can obtain a schedule from the marina office.

There are buses that only serve Marina di Ragusa itself, and buses that can take you to Ragusa, Pozzallo or Catania – perfect if you have fellow passengers on your boat who need to leave earlier, as they can travel to Pozzallo by bus and catch the ferry to Malta.

You can also rent a car, and visit any of the neighbouring cities. Ragusa, Scicli and Modica are all within less than an hour’s driving distance.

Syracuse is a slightly longer drive, taking about two hours, but worth it for anyone wanting to visit a larger city and get some shopping and sightseeing done. We also recommend paying Agrigento a visit for the renowned temples.

In conclusion As Marina di Ragusa is a seaside village, its popularity is highly seasonal. Summer is the busiest time of the year, with many foreigners visiting the marina, and Italians and Sicilians coming from all over to spend their summer holiday there. Offering vast lengths of uninterrupted sand, the beaches are packed with sunworshippers, families and watersport enthusiasts, and the shallow warm waters are an irresistible temptation for everyone. If you’ve never been there, we recommend that you add it to your must-visits for next summer.

For more information visit: http://www.portoturisticomarinadiragusa.it/ www.blumag.biz

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NEWS ANALYSIS

of the great British Boating empire rs more‌

ve estors, Blu Magazine unco

to foreign inv Sealine and Sunseeker sold

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NEWS ANALYSIS

have had to cut back luxury world in general. Some brands he recession has taken its toll on the to use a marine n up the ghost and found themselves, give just have ers oth reas whe s area in certain metaphor, “swimming with the fishes”. sold off, however great British household names being two saw we mer sum last of rse cou Over the t fates. umstances and will suffer very differen they were sold under very different circ entity whilst seeking thus operating legally as an insolvent was and , ion trat inis adm in was line Sea on. The brand simply ensured that the brand will live external finance options. And the sale group beght off by Aurelius AG, the investment bou e wer gns desi ts’ boa its of few a name and The group knows a been included in the Hanse portfolio. hind Hanse Group, but this hasn’t yet ld has been told yet is ul boat business, and all that the wor thing or two about running a successf seas (i.e. outside the UK) under license. that the boats will be manufactured over

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NEWS Analysis

As part of the takeover, the line of boats was chopped drastically and renamed, presumably with the models left being the only ones making the company money.

The sad news here was that in the process of the takeover, Aurelius did not take the company’s existing stock of boats or the premises, which meant that the cultural heritage of Sealine will change and the 230 workers in the Kidderminster factory all ended up without jobs.

The Sunseeker takeover happened for a much sprightlier reason; Wanda, a Chinese conglomerate, wanted it. And it was bought out for £320 million.

“We wanted to buy 30 Sunseeker yachts because we are planning to build three marinas here in China. So then we thought it would be a better deal if we just bought the company”, is how Wanda’s 59-year-old chairman Wang Jianlin described why he had decided to buy Sunseeker, the UK’s leading luxury yacht maker.

“China’s consumption is growing, especially the market for high-end luxury products — such as superyachts – it is growing very rapidly,” said Wanda at a lavish news conference in the Chinese capital. “For instance, we have noticed the growth in consumption of luxury yachts, also private planes — the growth is exponential.”

Seeking to reassure existing clients and potential future customers Wang added, “Under no circumstances will we compromise the Sunseeker brand. Absolutely, it will not happen.”

For Wanda, China’s largest property developer, with £26bn of assets and annual revenues of close to £15bn, the purchase of Sunseeker represents small change.

Under the terms of the deal the management of Sunseeker will retain 8.19% of the equity. www.blumag.biz

Stewart McIntyre, the MD of Sunseeker, added that the company now plans to dramatically increase production, from 180 yachts a year currently to around 370 yachts a year, in order to meet new Chinese demand.

“It was a very, very attractive proposition from Wanda,” he said. “We have to maintain our position as a prominent brand in the world, and we will do everything in our hands to make sure that happens.”

He promised that all of the company’s operations in Poole, Dorset, where they currently employ around 2,300 people, would be safe after the takeover. Indeed Chinese firms have a good track record in this regard, often preferring to increase investment and staffing levels (such as what happened during 2010’s Volvo transition.

Dalian Wanda Chairman Wang Jianlin at the company’s press conference announcing the acquisition of yachtmaker Sunseeker and the construction of a new luxury hotel in London. (Dalian Wanda)

Wanda last year set the current record for the biggest Chinese takeover of an American company when it bought the AMC cinema chain for $2.6 billion.

Founded in 1988, Wanda within China runs 38 fivestar hotels, 57 department stores and 6,000 cinema screens, among other commercial concerns, with assets worth a total of 300 billion yuan ($49 billion).

In the same week that it announced the Sunseeker purchase the group also announced the development of a 700 million pounds ($1 billion) five-star, 160room London hotel at Nine Elms on the South Bank overlooking the Thames River.

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Sailing

Ten Fathoms The 22 Immutable Commandments For Sailors

I recently read somewhere a detailed list of do’s and don’ts for the sailing enthusiast. It was a list of commandments supplemented and illustrated by accounts of how the great man had handled a Force 10 storm. He had hove-to for days in the Antarctic under a full-blown gale. There is only one way of handling such situations, it was suggested. That is precisely and exclusively the way they were handled by the writer himself. I do not wish to minimise the capability of the writer, but I was tempted to come up with my own list of little rules for the sailor, rules that do not extend to saving life and perhaps one or two limbs, but that you may find useful nonetheless.

You may like them and you may not. This is one rare instance today where you are not obliged or invited to click any “like” button!

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Sailing

Here goes: 1. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s boat, even if it happens to be a Wally or a Jongert.

2. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s gangplank, spinnaker or cruising chute.

3. Thou shalt not leave a safe anchorage before obtaining a favourable weather report, even if your destination has the most exciting pub in the area.

4. Thou shalt under no circumstances decide to leave a safe anchorage because a good friend advises it or you are in a hurry to get to point B. 5. Thou shalt keep a good watch, including looking behind the boat at frequent intervals while on course.

6. Thou shalt avoid sailing in areas known to include reefs at night unless you have a tried and tested modern navigation aid.

7. Thou shalt not drop anchor until the area around your anchoring circle has been thoroughly explored.

8. Even if the dip-stick reads “My cup runneth over”, that is no guarantee that the boat was previously owned by a priest, as you may have been told when you bought the boat, so carry out a good service anyway.

9. Thou shalt not reverse the polarity of the bilge-pump, the water should be going out, not in.

10. Thou shalt not lay down your anchor over the mooring lines of your neighbours, even if it is clear “they” have anchored irresponsibly.

11. Thou shalt not partake of alcoholic drinks before a long voyage and shalt drink in moderation thereafter.

12. Thou shalt not commit consistent and persistent jetty-ramming.

13. Thou shalt learn how to goose-wing and heave-to from real experts.

14. Thou shalt take the batteries out of electronic equipment before winter storage.

15. Thou shalt not empty your holding tank in the wrong place whether you think you are unobserved or not.

16. Thou shalt check engine and prop prior to departing on long voyages. A loose prop is an expensive depth-finder.

17. Thou shalt not maintain your course if the container-ship’s radio masts are in line, even if you swear you have right of way.

18. Thou shalt not hibernate and abandon the boat completely in winter.

19. Thou shalt locate the winch handle prior to releasing a sheet in winds above Force 4.

20. Thou shalt not leave one end of a rope unless thy knowledge of the whereabouts of the other end is certain.

21. Thou shalt not pretend to know all the answers, or you will lose all your crew 22. Thou shalt settle all thy differences with the crew ashore, or else….

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All installations and services are undertaken by fully qualified factory trained technicians, with 24/7 service available to clients to ensure the highest level of service.

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News

Malta Professional Yachting Association

launched

The Seminar ‘Malta, A Better Superyacht Destination’ that was organized by Wilfred Sultana & Associates in collaboration with the Internatioanl Superyacht Society (ISS) and Transport Malta (TM) on Wednesday 11th September served as the ideal opportunity for the formal launch of the local branch of the Professional Yachting Association (PYA). The PYA is the worldwide Professional Body for Yacht Crew and represented in Australia, Gibraltar, Greece, Italy, Montenegro, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Caribbean, Turkey, United Kingdom and the United States.

The Malta Launch took place on the 10th September at Don Berto Restaurant at Grand Harbour Marina, Birgu. The formal introduction was presided upon by the Honourable Joe Mizzi, Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, and Joey Meen, Training & GUEST Director of the Professional Yachting Association in the presence of officials from Transport Malta (TM), speakers and foreign journalists in Malta for the Superyacht Industry Seminar and other guests.

Joey Meen, Honorary Secretary and GUEST Director of the PYA, to preside over the launch of the Malta Professional Yachting Association.

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The Malta Professional Yachting Association (MPYA) was set up as a body to represent the growing community of professional Maltese crew members serving on board superyachts, and professional crew serving on Malta flagged superyachts. It is also the result of the Memorandum of collaboration signed between TM and PYA last year. The MYPA intends to serve as a representative body to create a dialogue with local authorities, and particularly with TM. MYPA is also interested in promoting opportunities for the education and training of local youths into the superyacht industry.

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Auto Review

Audi

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Q5

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Auto Review One of my father’s favourite phrases is “horses for courses”. He lives by it and refers to it religiously, no matter what the argument at hand is. And to be fair, you have to admit that is it pretty accurate.

Most of our issues in life come from applying the wrong tools for the job or getting to a situation in the wrong frame of mind. If I step into a fast food joint and expect to be fed the very latest in molecular cuisine, then I will very obviously be disappointed. On the other hand, if it is a juicy and greasy burger that I’m after, then I will most probably be at least satisfied and there is a good chance I’ll be delighted.

Cars are pretty much the same. Different brands aim for different audiences, even when attacking the same segment. Within buyers of a particular segment you have a wide spectrum of potential buyers, and if you try to keep them all happy, then you most probably will appeal to none. The Q5 slots into a very competitive segment.

The mid-sized premium SUV market is flourishing like never before. Gone are the days when just being present was enough for you to sell in truckloads. The segment has matured significantly, mainly thanks to the German premium brands, but it has also been attacked by the mid-market brands who are in part stealing sales but on the other hand proving to be a perfect breeding ground for SUV buyers. If you’re doing well for yourself and upgrading from a Qashqai or a Kuga, there is far more chance that you’ll go for a Q5, an Evoque or an X3 than for an A4 or a 3-series saloon.

And this is where the variety issue comes in. Some manufacturers are designing SUVs that take the

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Auto Review

sporty look and feel to an extreme, whereas others are creating smooth all-rounders that impress in their entirety. The Audi Q5 is firmly planted in the latter category. It is not an SUV that will stand out of the crowd in terms of sportiness, this is more of a dark Saville Row suit than a white Armani Jacket. And the fact that the Q5 flies out of showrooms worldwide despite being left virtually untouched for the last four years is testament to that.

Blu magazine was given a lovely white specimen with a cream leather interior. The moment we stepped into it we could feel that a lot of attention was paid to the comfort of these seats.

They’re not only stunning to look at, but also a joy to spend time in. They’re soft but supportive, and finding the perfect seating position took us a matter of seconds. The vehicle we tested was also kitted out with all the creature comforts one would expect in a premium car, but at a glance you could not really tell it. Audi opts for a subtle design both inside and out, and this translates to a very clean interior. All the gadgets hide in the multimedia screen in the centre console, and everything is controlled at the touch of a few buttons. The interface is simple to use, so you’re never confused, but this way Audi can do away with the hundreds of fiddly controls it would have needed otherwise.

The test vehicle that Blu was supplied with was kitted out with the 2.0l Turbo Diesel engine and an automatic ‘box that drives power to all four wheels using the legendary Quattro system from Audi. Put it on Auto and you have a smooth ride around town without having to think about a thing. But move it over to the Sport setting and the car will squeeze out every one of the 170 horses that are raring to go in the engine, it is a setting that transforms the vehicle from the perfect tool for the school run into an aggressive predator that is out for the kill but is perfectly adept at hiding it.

So at the end of the day it does boil down to your personal preferences. There are many phenomenal cars in this segment, and I could sing eulogies to most of them. What this particular one brings to the table is a set of unique characteristics that set it apart from the crowd. Its shape is stunning but unassuming. Its interior is well designed but clean and its performance is adequate and surprisingly economical. This is a car that whispers class and distinction. It is a statement in the way it is not a statement.

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Auto Review

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FISHING

Fishing for

Blacktail Tens of years ago, longer than I care to remember, we had a little Maltese fregatina moored in Marsascala, at a time when the number of inhabitants of Marsascala was around 900 in winter, mushrooming to around 3000 in summer.

One of the earliest fishing methods which I picked up was fishing for blacktail with the “sufri” or cork floats method. The popular name for the method was fishing “bil-forok”, literally implying that the fish died by hanging. This was not a good description but when you collect the successful float, the fish does hang down from the float, so perhaps there is a reason.

The normal float is a cork slice about 8 centimetres square and a centimetre and a half high, painted white. The colour has nothing to do with the success of the fishing but simply makes the floats easier to spot when they are floating on the surface. A nylon line with a hook at the end (traditionally one uses a number three “superior quality” hook) is attached to the float. There is a secret here. If the line dangles in the water your chances of catching the nicer blacktail are diminished.

Ideally it is just the baited hook that should be in the water.

Baiting the hook is a skill. You use one day-old bread cut into a two centimetre cube and twist the hook into it and around it.

Blacktail live on reefs. The smaller ones congregate on the shallows in the middle of the reef. The larger fish feed on

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the edge of the reef, where most reefs in Malta taper off into sandy sea beds. Blacktail are not stupid. If you place a float on the surface above large blacktail there is every chance that they will shoot up, flick the bread away with their strong tails and eat the dislodged bread. No kidding.

So you need the current to help you trick the fish. Bait around six to twelve floats and place them gently on the surface in a row a good hundred metres above and parallel to the edge of the reef in such a way that the current will float them down to the edge of the reef. Throw a few spare pieces of bread just in front or ahead of the floats in the direction of the reef. Take the boat back just enough so that you can see the floats.

When the bread reaches the edge of the reef, the blacktail will shoot up and eat the bread by which time the baited floats will have reached the area and some blacktail will not distinguish baited bread from the other floating bread.

You must be quick to net the caught fish as soon as possible.

As I said, blacktail are not stupid. You will trick them the first few times but not for long. End of April to end of May is the ideal time to fish this way, but vary your fishing areas as much as possible from time to time if you want to be successful.

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Racing As always it began in style. A spectacular start sequence, set against Valletta’s sun-kissed limestone bastions and animated by the firing of cannons from the grandiose Saluting Battery, opened the 34th Rolex Middle Sea Race.

For the second year running the sizeable watching public witnessed a record-breaking fleet depart from Malta ahead of a 606-nm anticlockwise loop around Sicily. 99 yachts from 19 countries easily surpassed the figure of 82 entrants from 2012. A remarkable ascendancy for the event organised by the Royal Malta Yacht Club. The reasons for its continued popularity are clear: a breathtaking race course, tactically challenging and scenic in equal measure, close competition throughout the fleet and, above all, the indomitable spirit of sportsmanship and camaraderie.

This year’s race was characterized by light conditions, demanding patience and perseverance in the quest for small positional gains. The Kristina Plattner-skippered Maxi Morning Glory from Germany claimed line honours as the race’s fastest boat while the Rolex Middle Sea Race Trophy for overall winner was awarded to B2 from Italy.

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Racing

Persistence

rewarded

Taking a look back at the 34th Rolex Middle Sea Race www.blumag.biz

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Racing

B2 is the answer Michele Galli’s TP52 B2 ended an eight-year hiatus since the last Italian victory at the Rolex Middle Sea Race. On that occasion, Carlo Puri Negri’s Farr 70 Atalanta II scooped both of the race’s main prizes.

B2 arrived in Malta with winning intentions as Spanish navigator Nacho Postigo confirmed shortly before the race. “This is a boat which has a good chance as it performs well in both light and strong winds.” Almost exactly three days after the start, B2 was the eighth boat to complete the race. An impressive feat that saw her top the leaderboard on corrected time. Immersed in rapidly fading conditions, the chasing fleet would find it impossible to surpass the B2 benchmark.

The TP52 is a stripped-down racing boat, not constructed for comfort but more so for maximum performance. It is a model that regularly performs well in the fickle world of offshore racing.

Both Franck Noel’s Near Miss from Switzerland, winner of the 2012 the Giraglia Rolex Cup, and American Brian Ehrhart’s Lucky, Rolex Middle Sea Race winner in 2010, are TP52s.

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Racing

B2’s success was one of persistence, teamwork and creative thinking in the face of adversary. On the second night the crew lost their onboard electronics, probably due to flooding. “We tried everything to reboot the system, but it simply didn’t work, all the displays went black,” explained Postigo. The solution relied on the height of modern cellular technology: one smart phone with a compass app strapped to wheel pedestal to maintain course and another phone loaded with digital cartography to plot position.

Technology may have provided a stopgap solution to the navigation, but in the absence of key instruments, the ItalianSpanish crew was forced to rely upon inherent nautical instincts and traditional methods to get the best from the yacht. “We ended up racing B2 like a dinghy and Francesco (de Angelis) had to call strategy almost completely blind – I don’t think he had more than two hours sleep!,” confirmed Postigo.

Expertly guided by de Angelis, B2 was able to avoid many of the traps the chasing fleet fell into. “It was a difficult race, the first time this team has done a race this long together. To arrive

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ahead of almost 100 boats is a great achievement,” explained de Angelis, no stranger to the course. Sailing an all out racing boat like a TP52 is not necessarily the most relaxing way to experience the Rolex Middle Sea Race. “We are very tired!,” he continued, “comfort is not really associated with a TP52 and we experienced everything: light, medium and some strong wind. Technically and physically it was a very challenging race. The key was not losing ground in the difficult moments or becoming blocked during periods of light air.”

Triumphant Return Morning Glory returned to the Rolex Middle Sea Race for the first time since winning the competition in 2006. Derailed by a last minute technical hitch the 100-ft Maxi Esimit Europa 2, line honours winner during the last three editions, was unable to defend her title and consequently the chase for line honours was more open than in recent years. Morning Glory and the two competing 72-foot Mini Maxis Alegre (GBR) and Robertissima (ITA) began as favourites.

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Racing

Morning Glory, Hasso Plattner’s 86-ft Maxi, skippered for the first time by his daughter Kristina, led from the start and was able to gain a march on her nearest rivals through the Messina Strait and the approach to Stromboli. While the race record of 47 hours, 55 minutes and 3 seconds was never under serious threat, her position at the front of the fleet was comfortable. “There were a few light patches in the north of Sicily after Stromboli.

We got in the lee of the island and ended up with a lot of light running so it wasn’t conducive to getting the record. However, we never felt threatened by the boats behind us,” explained navigator Andrew Cape.

Fellow afterguard member Chris Nicholson agreed: “The conditions were lighter than predicted but that didn’t surprise anyone. This is a very changeable racecourse, which definitely keeps you concentrated. Weather forecast and routing software are not that useful, you have to see what is happening around you and react.”

Despite not being able to race the boat to anywhere near its full speed potential, most evident during the painful crawl to the finish line after just over two days and 16 hours at sea, the crew enjoyed their success. “The victory means a lot,” explained Kristina Plattner. “It is the first time my father has not been on the boat when I am here. I was quite scared beforehand to do this without him but I’ve known some of these guys for years and they looked after me really well. It’s been pretty awesome!”

Corinthian courage Despite the difficulties encountered during the long week at sea, the vast or mainly Corinthian fleet revelled in the competition, its challenges and warm welcome on arrival back in Malta.

Massimo Juris and Pietro Luciani’s First 40.7 Blucolombre (ITA) won the increasingly popular and keenly contested double-handed class, where re-

sources are stretched to the limit. “I originally entered the boat with a regular crew and then I saw there were already a lot of double-handed boats so I switched my preference,” explained Juris.

When pressed for his reasons for sailing double-handed, Juris admitted: “Sailing with just two people, there is more room on board. For an owner to manage a crew it’s always a big ask. In long races with a lot of people it can be uncomfortable.” On the other hand, sailing double-handed the hours are longer and responsibility greater. “You have to be available at all times,” continued Juris, “the watch shifts are very important, you have to manoeuvre continually as if you had a full crew. The legs are relatively short so you can’t put things off. We are always having to bang on the boat to suddenly wake the other one up!”

Racing fully-crewed and as a local sailor Edward Gatt Floridia, Maltese skipper of J/122 Otra Vez, could draw on greater Rolex Middle Sea Race experience. “Racing in light airs is very tiring, to keep the boat moving requires the whole crew to concentrate, even the off-watch have to wake up and move their weight to the correct side of the boat. The weather suited the bigger yachts this year.” The rare statistic of just one retirement demonstrates just how well prepared the largely amateur fleet was and their determination to finish the course, in spite of what the elements dictated.

Hopeful for a hundred With the race over for another year, the Royal Malta Yacht Club is already looking to the future and is confident that the race will break the symbolic hundred entrant level next year. “The club speaks with many sailors and yacht clubs in the Mediterranean, word of mouth from sailors who have enjoyed the race helps. We have seen a big increase in the medium to smaller boats and amateur crews. Hopefully it will grow even more,” explained Commodore Godwin Zammit.

The 2014 Rolex Middle Sea Race will start on Saturday 18 October, 2014. www.blumag.biz

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Grub

Whatever the nature of your trip, and even if it’s a short trip around the island – planning your meals ahead is a must. Spending time cooking on a boat while moving can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, so we’ve thought up some yummy foods for you to prepare for the trip.

You can’t go wrong with a classic, right? Pre-made bruschetta is simple to make, and as long as you have fresh bread and some good olive oil, you’ll keep everyone happy.

Along the same lines, sandwiches are also easy to prepare, or if you have all the ingredients prepared beforehand, you can open everything out and allow everyone to assemble their own sandwiches to their liking. If you want to stay away from bread, you can have rice crackers, crackerbread, pita bread or even tortilla wraps.

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Planning MEALS For Trips

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Grub

Some ingredients we suggest for the DIY sandwiches:

some olive oil to make a paste anyone who doesn’t like the classic pairing of avocado with smoked salmon. creative here, and offer condiments such as mustard, chutney, sweet chilli sauce, sun-dried tomato paste, pesto and even honey. personal, after all.

Pasta Since boiling water and making pasta while travelling is risky, the best way of having pasta on your trip would have to be preparing it beforehand. Somewhat of a cultural tradition, baked pasta is a standard for most.

We tend to only think of baked pasta with tomato sauce, but a variety of options are available. Pasta with any vegetable and a creamy sauce can be made into baked pasta, with the simple addition of eggs to the recipe.

Pasta salads are also perfect for your trip. Anything you desire can be made into a pasta salad, and sometimes the simpler it is, the better it will taste. Just remember that if you want to add anything like mayonnaise, boiled eggs or tuna – you’ll limit the fridge life of your pasta salad.

When considering options for your meals for your travelling, it boils down to one simple thing – keeping cooking while on the move to a minimum. If the sea is even slightly choppy, cooking can be dangerous and uncomfortable. So look for options that either eliminate cooking altogether, or that can be premade. Don’t be afraid to keep it simple and light, after all you’ll probably more than make up for it in meals when you reach your destination. www.blumag.biz

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YACHTS

Cruisin’ all over the world

In every issue, Blu is to take a look at a couple of dream yachts. In this issue we have taken two boats that are built for cruising all over the world, even though they could hardly be any more different from each other; the Hallberg-Rassy 55 for sailors to drool over and the Wallyace 25 for those of us who lust for superyachts.

Dream YACHTS

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YACHTS

The Hallberg-Rassy 55

Known as the Rolls-Royce of yachts, Hallberg-Rassy sailing boats have always been the dream boats of people who want to retire on a boat and sail the world on it.

Hallberg-Rassys are traditionally center-cockpit affairs that are built like rocks. They are not built for speed, but they are made to take any weather condition in their stride and to be comfortable enough to live on for years on end.

The Hallberg-Rassy 55 is their new model for 2013. It connects closely to the successful 64, with lots of natural light through large tempered glass portlights in the saloon, as well as four hull portlights and seven flush mounted skylight hatches, of which three are in the saloon alone.

White painted wooden panels in the saloon alcoves further contribute to the spacious and inviting feel.

Rig for Blue Water Cruising The rig has triple spreaders, which are only swept back three degrees resulting in extra stability and are not in the way when sailing downwind.

Furthermore, there is an option for a jumpstay that gives additional stability when using a permanent hydraulic cutterstay. The permanent cutterstay gives freedom and comfort for ocean crossings.

The top part of the side panel of the windscreen is slightly curved and the steering pedestal allows space for an integrated 14 inch plotter.

Developed push button sailing Apart from all the comfortable push-button operation we are already used to on Hallberg-Rassys, the 55 is offered with both bow- and stern thrusters as well as backwinding genoa sheet winches.

Walk-in engine room The engine room is really worth a chapter of its own. There is a large door and a walk-in engine room. It is carefully sound insulated and perforated aluminium plates also cover the insulation. In here all the technical equipment is found: low RPM main engine, low RPM generator with soundshield, double heaters, all pumps, filters, pressure equalizer for the fresh water system, AquaDrive flexible coupling for the engine shaft, high pressure pump for the watermaker, just to mention a few. All easy to maintain, all well sound insulated. The engine room lighting is 24 v, but there is also an optional 230 v fluorescent light, with power supply from either the shore connection or the inverter.

Large and well-protected cockpit The new 55 has a longer cockpit than its predecessor’s and the helmsman’s position is slightly elevated like it is on its bigger sister, the HallbergRassy 64. As on the 64, there is no garage necessary for the sliding hatch. www.blumag.biz

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Yachts

The WallyAce 26 The breakthrough WallyAce 26m Kanga is characterised by several distinctive marks, compared to the other boats in her category:

wider and more stable hulls (10 to 15 % wider than similar yachts) longer waterline to increase performance higher free board to improve the seaworthiness in rough weather and increase the interior volumes lower centre of gravity generated by her sleeker lines bigger and more exploitable interior volumes larger open-air social areas unrivalled space within its length: 128 sqm of outside social space over two deck levels as well as a 50 sqm interior saloon area the total square metreage is 282 sqm, over 30 % greater than its nearest competitor in its length

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tender garage located amidships with direct access to the crew and service area aft owner’s and VIP suites opening onto the Terrace-on-the-sea® with direct access to the water separate entrance to the service quarter for the crew to directly access the tender and the dock heavy duty engines for long range cruises and low consumption gyroscopic stabilizer TA true long-distance ocean cruiser, she is classified as a ‘pleasure yacht’ and therefore manageable without a professional crew engine room and tender garage located amidships to concentrate the weights in the centre of gravity and provide a smoother wave riding.

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Yachts

Wallybow®

Interior layout and styling

With this yacht, Wally introduced the new Wallybow®: “The bulb is incorporated into the bow: this unique Wally design is an innovative feature developed by our R&D department” explains Tommaso de Luca, chief designer at Wally and WallyAce’s Technical Manager. “This combines the advantages of vertical bow to pierce waves and of the bulb to improve performance.”

The WallyAce 26m Kanga features over 50 sqm of social area incorporated in the glass walled superstructure, that includes the lounge with large sofas, the dining table for 10-12 guests, and the steering and navigation station.

Propulsion, Consumption, Range The propulsion system is characterised by engines that run at low RPM offering many advantages such as low vibration, low noise, low consumption, little maintenance, and long life.

“We expect Kanga to sail at 11.0-11.5 knots cruising speed at 1,300 rpm” continues de Luca, “with a consumption around as little as 5 litres per nautical mile. This is an unprecedented rate for a 10-guest/4-crew /90-ton motor yacht”.

As a result of this exceptional efficiency, the WallyAce 26’s range is expected to surpass 3,000 nm: “another remarkable and unique target in her category.”

Decks The WallyAce 26m features three decks: the 60-sqm sun deck over the superstructure that is a large sunbathing and lounge area, featuring the vast 3x3-meter sun-pad with adjustable backs, the fully equipped bar with counter and stools, and the sofas seating 8-10 the 120-sqm main deck with the two social cockpits (one forward with table and seats for 8-10, and one aft with dining and lounge areas) and the superstructure, that is completely surrounded by glass to enhance the Wally inside outside living concept the 95-sqm guest and service deck in the lower level. www.blumag.biz

The accommodation layout reflects the perfect configuration for large families and charter capabilities: four large double cabins, sleeping up to 10 people (two cabins have additional pullman beds). All cabins have ensuites.

The owner’s and VIP’s are aft opening onto the Terrace-on-the-sea with direct access to the water.

The crew and service area is forward, and it is aptly separated from the guest night area by the engine room and the garage, thus providing maximum privacy. The crew accommodation is for four people sleeping in two double cabins.

The interior styling is simple and fresh, with teak wood joinery and beige coloured fabric.

Construction The WallyAce 26m is a semi-custom line built using the sandwich GRP construction technology.

The hull skins are 50% thicker than those required by the Classification Register, offering up to three times the mandatory solidity and toughness to provide a true round-the-world cruiser.

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Travel

Malta to Monte Carlo in a 9.5m Chase RIB David Farmer tells us a tale of 2 men and a test drive of a very expensive 9.5mt Chase Rib that took 7 days and covered 850 miles.

Tuesday 13th May We launched our new HYST chase Rib and went on a quick cruise down from Bugibba to Valletta to meet the crew member Mark, who had flown from France to join me for this delivery trip. I spent some time with Mark, helping him to familiarise himself with the Rib’s systems and engines. This was paramount as we were going to spend quite a lot of time together on this craft.

The weather reports were becoming a concern as the prediction of a strong SE wind meant that we could be stuck in Malta without the chance of making the Monaco Grand Prix for our client. Final sea trials with John Ross (Malta Yacht Surveys) in a building sea and worsening conditions proved to be a success and we were ready to go... www.blumag.biz

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Travel

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Travel

Wednesday 14th may (Day 1) I picked mark up from the Hotel and set off to collect the boat.

We decided against re-fuelling in Gozo on route as we really wanted to give the boat a tough run before we attempted the crossing to Sicily, we fuelled up the boat in Valletta, and, armed with 2 tuna Ftiras we left the harbour on a course to Scilly at midday. The last person I saw on the quay was a local fellow boat owner who commented “you’re surely not going now”. A tight deadline meant we had to leave then, so we blasted out of the harbour. Running at a steady 28-30 knots, the 2 Honda 250hp engines purred gently. There are only 8 of these engines in Europe, so the test was undoubtedly going to be good for them as well.

We arrived at Messina at 18:00 and got the boat alongside into a berth in a marina on the west side of the Messina straights. A hotel and a beer were desperately needed, we found a great little hotel and enjoyed a Sicilian Pizza in a great little bistro in town.

LOG: 228 litres fuel | Distance covered: 140 miles |Average speed: 28 knots

Thursday 15th May (Day 2) Fuelling was testing since the fuel jetty was undergoing major restoration. We took 360 litres in the boat and in cans that were duly strapped down into the boat. Having a bow thruster in this Rib was a blessing, as the Messina Straight Pilot boats were being slammed against the pier. We were able to have some kind of control, in our best Italian we communicated with the Pilot onboard one of the boats, I will never forget his words “there will be 40 knots of wind through here in an hour.” Taking this as a warning we hurried the fuel process along.

He was right on the button. In exactly 1 hour, the wind blew with such ferocity through the Messina straights that the sea went from a swell that was easily handled whilst re-fuelling, to a ranging white capped totally confused sea that was whipped up to 3 metres in 10 minutes. We got clearance and opened the throttles. Within minutes we were soaked through, spray and waves coming from all sides. We got to the eastern sea board side in 45 minutes, and the wind had eased. One of the good things about being in a 9.5m high-powered Ribs is that you can outrun and get to shelter very quickly. www.blumag.biz

By midday we were getting battered from the land side with an SE blow, our heading now meant that the chop and waves were hitting us on the starboard bow and the cold wind swept was just like having a glass of sea water thrown into your face every few minutes!

We were taking constant spray but managing to keep 23 knots in what was now a steady 2 metre sea, the container port known as Gioia Tauro was a very welcome site as we pulled inside a small marina, to dry off for a bit.

We headed up the coast to Capo Vaticano, but on rounding the cap we were hit by numerous short squalls with horizontal hail and rain, more spray and wind than I had ever seen before. We passed the town of Pizzo (famous for ice cream), but a few miles past, the battering just got worse that we couldn’t see from the spray and hail, the ferocity of the wind was so great we turned the Rib on top of a wave and headed back to Pizzo. Our arrival in Pizzo caused somewhat of a stir, the marina crew had seen us go by at speed and gave reference to us being in the SBS. Since we were in a dark grey and silver high speed Rib, I think we kind of gave off that impression!

“We knew it wouldn’t be long before you would be back one of them said, we saw you with the binoculars you turn and head this way.” “You would have been mad to try and go further in this weather,” the second man said, “we recorded 63 mph winds” Mark and I both knew that was it for the day, it was only 14:00, time to berth up, clean the boat down and wait for the weather to pass.

LOG: 165 litres fuel | Distance travelled: 30 miles | Average speed: 20 knots

Friday 16th May (Day 3) We awoke to a crisp clear morning with no wind at all. We had some time to make up so at 06:30 we slipped out of the harbour and left Pizzo behind us.

The Rib likes being in some rough weather, but is also at home in light seas, so we cruised the morning at around 30knots. We arrived in Capri at 15:45 looking to fuel, but the fuel station was closed till 6. We emptied the cans into the boat and headed into the bay of Naples. Over the course of 170 miles things 39

Travel

changed completely. The people had changed, the boats changed, the wealth and attraction of the Island of Capri and the bay of Naples made us understand how large and varied Italy is.

17:30 arrived at our berth in marina Mergellina Sanazzro, re-fuelled ready for another early start in the morning, all said we had a good day with a stiff breeze in the afternoon and 1.5m sea, the Rib just ploughed through everything we had thrown at it so far, apart from just being wet and cold we had now travelled over 350 miles.

LOG: 340 litlres fuel |Distance travelled: 170 miles | Average speed: 28 knots

Saturday 17th May (Day 4) 05.30 we left our berth and cruised at 28 knots out of the bay headed for Rome, settling on a course that would take us just off the island of Ischia. We enjoyed the sights and back drop of some of Italy’s finest coast line, early afternoon we needed to fuel up again, we were really covering some distance

now, Porto Di Roma was our next stop, we refuelled in the marina, paid the bill and Mark went to sort out our log entry.

To our dismay, the documents were not on the boat, we moored the boat alongside the visitors’ jetty and searched, after a few minutes it became clear we had left them in Naples at the hotel, a quick phone call to the manager of the hotel confirmed this.

Our agent in Naples rustled up a taxi driver who picked them up and drove them to Rome to meet us. Three and a half hours later, the taxi driver turned up along with his family, dog, children and mother to meet us with the documents. We guessed that an hour of this time was spent rounding up the family to embark on a very, very expensive taxi ride to meet 2 English men in a Rib in a marina in Rome.

Hastily getting underway we headed for Civitavecchia with building seas and strong winds.

We didn’t stay long there we needed somewhere

to berth for the night, the small marina in Civitavecchia looked as dodgy as ever so we headed back over our tracked course to Riva Di Traina for the night.

Nowhere to find fuel that night as a early start was called for, the sea had built to over 3.5 metres late that afternoon so we were very glad to be in the shelter for the night.

LOG: Fuel: 350 litres | Distance travelled: 165 miles | Average speed: 27 knots

Sunday 18th May (Day 5) It was becoming really difficult to get up in the morning with aches and pains everywhere now. At 07:30 we headed out from the marina, aiming to get to Livorno. It very quickly got rough again and as we passed Civitavecchia, the sea was over three metres high once again.

We headed for Porto Ecole on the cape off the nature park on the headland, the island of Gigilo was now in sight and the eerie hulk of the wreck of the Costa Concordia was clearly visible from 2-3 miles off. We re-fuelled again in Porto Ecole and headed for a quick downing of espressos. The weather was nice, the tiny port was enchanting and welcoming, but alas we had to leave.

We headed off again after taking on 400 litres of fuel. The engines were performing well and to all expectations and the Rib had sustained minimal damage, but it was nothing that couldn’t be sorted out with ease.

Don’t be fooled by people saying that their boat can go 40 Knots. The boat might reach the speeds, but the concentration needed to drive at this speed is something you gain by experience, and only maintain my keeping total focus on the sea and environment around you. Mark and I were hardly able to hold conversation during the times when doing this speed.

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Travel

friendly yacht, get me back to Malta that night and get moving on the next delivery. A flurry of flight plans and printing of boarding passes put myself and the engineer of another yacht on a high speed train to Rome.

The plan was to get to Livorno. I knew yachts there whose crew are mates of mine. A beer and a pizza with a familiar face was something we were both looking forward to.

We rounded the cape at Piombino between the mainland and the island of Elba with 60-70 miles to go. If the Rib did not make it to Monaco by Wednesday it would not be able to get into the port to meet the mother ship.

Mark and Sam, who was to be his crew, rested for the rest of the day and waited for the weather to improve.

The moment I was informed of the decision to pull me out, the adrenaline that was and had been pumping through me suddenly stopped, tiredness now was the weather, I could not even carry my bag onto the train, the moment I sat down I fell asleep and awoke in Rome, but this time at the airport!

A storm brewed. It was travelling at an estimated 100 knots, and it quickly developed into something we couldn’t outrun, doing our homework on places to berth if we got caught out paid dividends.

With the storm gusting 40 knots and raining hard we almost surfed into a marina to get some shelter.

We arrived at Livorno late in the afternoon, made contact with the crew, tied up alongside and were promptly marched off by the crew for a beer and pizza.

The crew had been following the weather along our route and were surprised at how much ground we were covering given the weather in the first couple of days. I sat there and pondered, we were often the only boat out there for miles and miles, and rarely saw another boat!

LOG: Fuel: 368 litres | Distance travelled: 180 miles | Average speed: 27 knots

Monday 19th May (Day 6) We had now travelled over 650 miles, and the weather was once again blowing and the sea raging.

We left the port and headed for Genoa, the coastline was really shallow and there was nowhere to run to if we developed a problem or needed to get out of the weather. On exit from the breakwater it became clear very quickly that we were at the limit. We were both exhausted from the barrage of weather that had been bestowed on us for the last 5 days. The first couple of waves to hit us were so www.blumag.biz

LOG: Fuel: 390 Litres | Distance travelled: 18 miles | Average speed: 20knots

Tuesday 20th May (Day 7) big that a turnaround would have put us in danger of flipping the Rib. So we increased the speed and angle of attack to the sea and we got further out and into safety. But just off the rivermouth at Pisa we had had enough. We had only travelled for about 9 miles, we were soaked and really at the point were enough was enough. I looked at the entrance to the river. Had we been on a surf board it would have been great for us, but taking a Rib into there would have had its dangers and getting out would have been impossible.

So we headed back to Livorno. Those 9 miles lasted for what seemed like to be forever. On getting back to Livorno we had to re-evaluate our situation. I was under pressure to get back to Malta to deliver another tender. We had allowed for 5 days, we were now on the 6th with still 150 miles to go, decisions needed to be made as the weather was not expected to improve for the rest of the day. We took the decision to replace me by a crew member from our

The weather had subsided so Mark and Sam headed out in favourable weather up to Genoa and across to Monaco, arriving with the Rib at 23:00 hours into the port of Herclue (Monte Carlo). The boat had made it with a couple of hours to spare and it had taken all that got thrown at it extremely well.

The only scars of battle were some paint chips and minor GRP damage from underwater flotsam.

The test was a testament to the product, because delivering a rib over 850 miles in testing weather re-enforces the notion that our Ribs are built from only the best materials with top workmanship.

On my part, I arrived on back in Malta on Monday night. I was sun burnt and windswept, but the next day was spent preparing for the next delivery, on the Wednesday I loaded another rib onto the ferry from Malta to Sicily, this time delivered by road.

In Siracusa a wheel bearing broke on the trailer en route to Palermo for a night sailing, I had to fix it, but that’s a story for another day.

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BOAT REVIEW

Have Your Cake and Eat It! Boat Review:

Dufour 500 Grand Large

Compromises. They seem to rule our life. We always seem to need to make them in order to achieve what we need to.

Most boats are usually a collection of them. You have to choose between performance and comfort, size and price, light and clean lines... the list goes on.

However, if there is one name that always reduces the amount of justifying that one must so do, it is the name that symbolises French know-how when it comes to modern boats: Dufour Yachts.

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BOAT REVIEW

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BOAT REVIEW

Ever since Michel Dufour founded his boatyard in 1964, the company has been delivering comfortable performance cruisers that sail well, provide good value, and offer fine and attractive accommodations.

Its innovative models push the boundaries, offering an unrivalled sailing experience. One of the few French yards exclusively dedicated to building sailing yachts, the Dufour team has shown that it is passionate about sailing, listening to the desires and expectations of their customers.

This attention to detail and determination to produce perfection is probably why Dufour Yachts consistently provide so many yachting enthusiasts with the ultimate escape.

The new Dufour 500 – which replaces the 485 and 525 Grand’Large models - marks a major step in the development of their cruising-oriented Grand Large range.

Designed entirely by Felci Yacht Design, this new 50-footer, with a hard chine that carries its beam well aft, fits well with Dufour’s long legacy.

Introduced at last year’s Cannes International Boat Show in September, the new Dufour 500 GL pushes attention to detail much further, with an unusual list of equipment considering the size and price of the boat: a swing anchor roller, winder and ropes concealed beneath the deck, modularity of all the interior fittings and of its cockpit... the list goes on.

Its design is exceptional in how it redistributes the use of space, offering everyone a unique feeling of freedom and volume on board.

The main impression you get when you descend into the saloon is that you have arrived inside a large power boat or a 45-foot catamaran. There is no way you could have imagined that this size of saloon and galley could fit inside a fifty-foot monohull, and once you’ve played around with the benches and the chart table for a few minutes, you realise that the boat can serve very different functions depending on the situation you’re in. It can create a great atmosphere if you’re entertaining a dozen or so friends for drinks, but it can also seat eight to ten people at table comfortably. No banging of elbows here.

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The main cabin utilises space like no other production boat: the layout may look unorthodox but once you spend time on board you start to see that this is a major step forward; one which no other production builder has dared to take. But with high risks come high rewards, and Dufour’s were very well rewarded.

The galley – which spans the entire width of the hull - has been pushed forward of the saloon, allowing for a maximised lounge area. To compensate for the fact that this makes it harder to pass food up from below, the cockpit has also been appointed with its own wet-bar, fridge and… grilling capabilities [yes, a real Plancha!], so that not just dining but even cooking can be done ‘al fresco’.

The sleeping quarters up front are fit for a king, yet the two aft-cabins are not for paupers – princes will be equally happy with the gigantic beds, the ample storage space and the ensuite head and shower available to each of them.

The uncluttered deck, with integrated storage, offers a large open space for the sun-worshippers and for moving around.

With a rare elegance, the spacious aft cockpit is notable by its organisation in two distinct spaces: a “working”area reserved for the active sailors and one for entertaining, relaxing & dining.

The fluidity of movement around the cockpit is evident and the rear ‘working’ cockpit design is aimed at short-handed sailing, with most rope controls lead neatly back.

Whilst at anchor, the large, full-width transom platform with integrated swimming ladder reveals itself in all its ample glory; however, the real surprise is hidden under the central helm seat: a real fullsize plancha is ready for cooking that fresh catch of the day… did we say, innovative?

To compensate for the ample beam carried aft the sailplan is powerful, with a retractable bowsprit to make the most of an A-sail. Keeping short-handed sailing in mind, Felci opted for a reduced overlap of the Genoa (there is an option for a self-tacking foresail, too) and a slightly larger mainsail. www.blumag.biz

BOAT REVIEW

Although not tested at sea by us as at the time of writing, sailing reports from around the world already confirm that the boat performs exceedingly well on all points of sailing, with a sensible above-average stability and an ease of manoeuvre better than its predecessors.

So with its clean lines, unique design and innovative equipment, the 500 Grand Large offers absolute comfort until now reserved for super luxury vessels. It is the perfect synthesis between the Grand Large philosophy and the requirement of sailing, performance on the water, and navigation.

Dufour, in classic French behaviour, just shrugged off the compromises that one expects to make. With the 500 Grand Large they seem to have raised a proverbial middle finger in the face of compromise and said, Non! We shall have our cake and eat it. We shall create a sailing boat that feels much larger on the inside than it should be allowed to be at this size.

Our cabins will be gigantic, our cockpit will be large enough to host a party on. But our boat will sail like a racer, it will look as sleek as any other performance yacht we’ve ever made. We shall not bow down to compromise. And neither should you if you’re in the market for something this size and in budget (the first boat in Malta is already fully equipped; a similar one could be yours for around 350,000 eur ex VAT).

The local Dufour Dealers, S&D Yachts of Ta’ Xbiex have a pre-sold Dufour 500 Grand Large available for viewings; you can contact them on: +356 21 339908 / 9947 7753 or info@sdyachts.com

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Event

Superyachts in Malta The future is bright, but better marketing is needed

Grand Hotel Excelsior Floriana - An admirable response from an engrossed audience

One of the leading speakers at the 3rd Yachting in Malta Superyacht Industry Seminar, which was held last September, had some very positive comments about the industry in Malta.

Ms. Fiona Maureso, Vice President of MYBA The Worldwide Yachting Association and Charter Director of Northrop and Johnson (France) was on her first association with the Event.

“It was a great pleasure to participate in the Seminar, which was well-organised and well attended, and I was impressed with the level of efficiency and professionalism of all the speakers and delegates. Malta certainly has the will and www.blumag.biz

the passion to become an even better destination for superyachts and I would like to reiterate my support for everything you are doing”.

told the audience; highlighting the points that make Malta so attractive. and which offer such potential for the future:

The reflections of Ms. Maureso echoed the overall views expressed by both local and foreign speakers as well as by members of the audience. As the event organiser Mr Wilfred Sultana said: “The previous two Seminars, those of 2009 and 2011, were also acknowledged as informative and interesting but I believe that this year’s edition has taken this initiation to an upper level.”

“Malta is better than people think it is,” Ken Hickling of the International Superyacht Society

Hickling stressed that Malta is dealing with an image 47

Event

Juliet Benning - Editor of Superyacht Business and Mr. Giorgio Lari - Publisher of Nautica/ Superyacht. Such partaking of the international media was secured even in the 2009 and 2011 Seminars through the support and collaboration of the Malta Tourism Authority.

problem. Compared to the historic destination brands of the Golden Triangle, such as Monaco, Palma or St Tropez, Malta is too often seen as the scruffy, provincial alternative.

Fiona Maureso, Charter Director at Northrop & Johnson France, urged the Maltese people themselves to be less modest and reticent about their capabilities and instead go out and sell themselves.

This led to a discussion concerning the possible make-up of a marketing campaign with delegates advising that Malta must begin to see its competition as everywhere else in the Med and not the company next door.

By combining and presenting Malta as a coherent unit, offering the complete range of services, they would be able to reposition Malta in the yachting market. This could be achieved by a stand-out combined presence at trade shows or by encouraging ‘brand’ ambassadors (friendly captains, brokers and industry insiders) and journalists to spread the word.

Undoubtedly the collaboration endorsement of the International Superyacht Society (ISS) together with the first-time participation of the Professional Yachting Association (PYA) and that of the

Mr. Ken Hickling - President, International Superyacht Society Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association (MYBA) gave the Malta Seminar character and credibility.

Valid and motivating information on ‘Yachting in Malta – A Holistic Package’ was presented by Mr. Ivan Sammut, Registrar General of Shipping and Seamen, at the Merchant Shipping Directorate of Transport Malta, while Dr. Max Ganado, Partner GANADO Advocates and Ms. Christine Cassar Naudi, Senior Associate at GANADO Advocates gave a detailed presentation on Malta’s ‘Fiscal Incentives and Financing Aspects for SuperYachts’.

Dr. Anthony Galea, Partner - DF Advocates and Secretary to the Malta Maritime Law Association chaired the Seminar.

Furthermore the presence and involvement of such authoritative entities gave the initiative and the Malta industry in general valuable global exposure.

In fact all press releases for the international media were sent out by the International Superyacht Society through their own marketing network.

Dr. Edward Zammit Lewis - Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth 48

The introduction of the ‘Panels for Discussion’ made-up of local service providers who gave their expert opinions and arguments following a number of presentations, was a successful new concept which undoubtedly corroborated the impact caused by the seminar. The three topics discussed were ‘A Career in the Superyacht Directory’, ‘Refit & Repair in Malta’ and ‘Overview of Yacht Charter in the Mediterranean’.

Referring to global exposure present at the Seminar were three journalists from established trade publications, namely, Ms. Angela Audretsch – Managing Editor of The Superyacht Owner, Ms.

Mr. Wilfred Sultana - Host of Seminar

Dr. Edward Zammit Lewis B.A., LL.D., M.P, Parliamentary Secretary for Competitiveness and Economic Growth addressed the Seminar giving the winding-up message.

The 3rd Yachting in Malta Superyacht Industry Seminar was, in the words of Mr Sultana, “truly a success”; a feat dedicated to all firms making up the Malta yachting industry in general, who are part-and-parcel partners of the Yachting in Malta project, an ongoing promotion venture. www.blumag.biz

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