Latitudes 38 Summer 2014

Latitudes

Spring/ Summer 2014 ISSUE 38 ÂŁ3.50

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ARC 2013

Two routes, one record breaking year

30 Peters and May

34 World ARC

51 Secchi Disc

All well and good, but 20! Twenty Bordeaux 60 converged on Porquerolles in June 2013 – and each one unique! Of course, the Bordeaux 60’s success is due in part to CNB’s ability to meet its customers’ specific requirements, based on its experience in ‘one-off’ boat building. And the fact that more than forty Bordeaux 60 yachts can be seen sailing all over the world is due to the architect’s talent, the design office’s expertise, and the shipyard’s industrial organisation. But more than anything, the Bordeaux 60 is a state of mind.

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Clar!s, image builder - Photo Nicolas Claris

When one loves, one doesn't count.

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LATITUDES

List of Advertisers 6 16 12 14 3 4 14 50 49 54 36 46 45 27 52 8 9 44 33 26 48 42 54 48 36 2 32 42 38 17 56 38 14 54 52

Admiral Marine Insurance Ayuntamiento Las Palmas Berthon International Bomarine CNB Discovery

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Echomax

Contents

Fischer Panda

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Gill UK

Foreword by Andrew Bishop, MD of World Cruising Club

GN Espace Hamble School of Yachting

10

Horizon Ownership Hydrovane IGY Rodney Bay Marina

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13

18

30

Mactra Marine Equipment MailASail

34

34 41

Mobmat

Events Diary What, when and where

Nanny Cay

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Ocean Safety

Team Surv Mapping the World’s Coastal Waters

Patronato Turismo de Gran Canaria

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Peters and May

Owning a yacht with Horizon Flexible ownership in the Caribbean

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51

Secchi Disc Tracking Climate Change

Rolnautic

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Books & Gear The latest books for bluewater sailors

Traveleads

YachtCom & SailCom

World ARC Circumnavigators set sail

Marlec

watt&sea

Shipping your boat home Advice from Peters and May

Marina de Lagos & boatyard

Saint Lucia Tourism

ARC 2013 Two routes, one record breaking year

Lagoon

Raymarine

Rally News Round up of rallies

Jeanneau

PYD

Club News News and events from World Cruising Club and our Corporate Members

Imray

Marina Santa Marta

Viewpoint

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noonsite.com News updates from the cruising sailor’s information site

Yellowbrick

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The Cruising Sailor’s Choice: As a strong supporter of World Cruising Club for many years, Admiral has developed to meet the needs of rally participants, with added benefits not available from other insurance companies.

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• Cover for piracy, acts of terrorism and associated risks.

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• High single article personal possessions limit of £1,000 for unspecified items.

• Contribution to accommodation costs if yacht is uninhabitable.

• Ability to insure most nationalities.

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• Discounts for those entering both ARC and WorldARC

Admiral Marine Limited, 4 Barnack Centre Blakey Road, Salisbury, SP1 2LP, United Kingdom T: +44 (0)1722 416106 F: +44 (0)1722 324455 E: quotes@admiralyacht.com W: www.admiralyacht.com Admiral Marine Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

www.worldcruising.com LATITUDES

Viewpoint

Editor Jeremy Wyatt

Deputy Editor Sarah Collins

Contributors Andrew Bishop Lyall Burgess Horizon Yacht Charters Richard Kirby Peters and May Andy Schell Paul Tetlow Tim Thornton

Photography Credits Chris Binks Suzana Buraca Discovery Yachts Peter Finnigan Mia Karlsson Kieran Higgs Imray Laurie Norie and Wilson James Mitchell Chris Parker Michaela Parker Clare Pengelly Susie Plume Paul Tetlow Vicky Whibley Tim Wright Photoaction.com Jeremy Wyatt Andreas Zimmerman And to all other yacht crews who submitted photographs!

Cover Image

by Andreas Zimmerman from Dragonfly

Design Aaron Rudd Creative www.aaronrudd.co.uk

Publisher World Cruising Club 120 High Street, Cowes PO31 7AX, UK Tel: Email:

+44 (0)1983 296060 mail@worldcruising.com

Websites: worldcruising.com

noonsite.com oceancrewlink.com

Last year World Cruising Club launched five new rallies, ARC+, ARC Panama, ARC DelMarVa, ARC Baltic and ARC New Zealand. Launching rallies is the easy part - successful promotion and delivery is harder!

At World Cruising Club we are fortunate to have a large and diverse World Cruising community of sailors who have come together through participation in our rallies over the years as owners or indeed crew, who enjoy the Club is about rallies we deliver, and return to sail with us again, either repeating a rally, or joining a new adventure. encouraging As well as launching the five new rallies, of which four are being sailors to extend delivered through 2014, the effect of the 2011 announcement their cruising that World ARC was to go annual is now being felt as we plan for the start of World ARC 2015 whilst the current rally is crossing the boundaries” Pacific and will not be finished until after the 2015 has started and

“

itself by then be well into the Pacific!

Andrew Bishop, Managing Director

Additionally we are involved with initiatives to reach out to sailors beginning their offshore cruising adventures, including the new Blue Water Open Boat weekend at Berthon’s Lymington base in early June, and in the USA the Annapolis Spring Boat Show. To further recognise the international nature of our community we have decided that after a successful inaugural presence at the Düsseldorf Boat Show earlier this year that we will have Boot Düsseldorf as our main participant meeting place in 2015. In place of a presence at the London Boat Show, we will hold more rally specific prestart activities instead. For owners looking for boats there is no doubt that Boot Düsseldorf offers a far better opportunity to see many more makes and models, and is the place to go; but be warned - given the expansive nature of the Show you need to allow two full days to explore the whole show.

With so many rallies and activities going on it is inevitable that you will see some new faces working with World Cruising Club! Most of these will be working on specific rallies, with some familiar faces appearing on a more regular basis as we build the team. The Yellow Shirts on the ground, backed up by the strong team in Cowes, are the strength of the organisation, in delivering consistently good rallies; together they understand the importance of getting it right, and ensuring our participants leave a rally wanting to do another one with World Cruising Club.

They are all a great credit to World Cruising Club, for which I thank them.

Two new rallies are now behind us, with ARC+ now an annual event. Soon it is ARC DelMarVa, then ARC Baltic, and for the World ARC participants the inaugural ARC New Zealand. Thanks to all of you who have shown your support by joining our new events. It is an exciting year for all of us!

Andrew Bishop

Managing Director, World Cruising Club

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- Š Jeanneau - Westimages

Your passion deserves an exceptional yacht.

LAUNCHING SPRING 2014

www.jeanneau.c o m

www.claris.fr - Photos Nicolas Claris

Lagoon supports the ARC Rally

to refer to as the Lagoon attitude: A great ambiance and an unforgettable class organization in terms of preparation and safety. Lagoon is proud to be a partner of the ARC Rally!

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LATITUDES

Spring / Summer 2014

Club News

A round-up of news from World Cruising Club and supporters

Discovery Yachts On Board As Corporate Members Choosing for cruising: The New Bluewater Open Boat Weekend World Cruising Club have teamed up with leading bluewater yacht brokers Berthon and Yachting World magazine to host a unique weekend rendezvous at Berthon’s Lymington UK base in June. The new Bluewater Open Boat weekend is for sailors who are aiming at going offshore cruising and want to know what to look for when choosing a bluewater cruising boat.

For those in the boat search phase of their countdown to offshore cruising, the Bluewater Open Boat weekend will provide the knowledge to help make the right choice of boat, plan a refit, and manage the costs of cruising, as well as meeting and mingling with experienced bluewater cruisers to share knowledge and gain inspiration, all in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

World Cruising Club’s Jeremy Wyatt, explained the concept for the weekend: “We already run a series of very popular seminars to help sailors prepare for their first ocean crossing. However, these are aimed at people who have boats. Since we often get asked about boat choices by people planning for their retirement

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boat, we wanted to create an event totally focused on bluewater boat selection. By displaying a range of different styles of boats, we aim to show how their varying attributes affect the overall boat package. Throughout the weekend there will also be displays of offshore cruising equipment, and a chance to mingle with industry experts and other cruising sailors. Previous World Cruising Club rally participants are invited to bring their own boats to the weekend, and share their personal experiences offering “open boat” viewing to other cruisers.”

A key element of the weekend is the concept of a cruiser’s rendezvous, encouraging ARC and World ARC sailors to bring their boats to Lymington, opening them up for visits by future offshore cruisers. Mixing and mingling with both experienced cruisers and industry experts will provide a unique learning environment for anyone thinking of cruising bluewater.

Over 130 people have registered to attend the inaugural weekend at the time we went to press.

Please see www.worldcruising.com/training for further information.

Discovery Yachts are creators of some of the world’s most inspired bluewater cruising yachts; carefully designed and meticulously built for short-handed bluewater cruising.

Each year several yachts from their range feature on World Cruising Club entry lists including three Discovery 55s currently sailing with World ARC 2014-15. Joining the Corporate Members’ family in April 2014, Discovery Yachts are poised to support their owners taking part in WCC rallies, and enable more and more yachtsmen to embark on their dream of exploring the oceans in the safety and comfort.

Commenting on the partnership announcement, Nigel Stuart, Managing Director of Discovery Yachts added, “The World Cruising Club offers an invaluable and highly regarded opportunity for sailors to explore new destinations and follow their dreams; here at Discovery we offer our owners the means to realise their dreams in safety, comfort and luxury by building the highest quality, ocean passage yachts with the support of our highly experienced owner care team backing them wherever they are in the world. We look forward to working closely with the WCC and supporting our owners who sail with them.”

www.worldcruising.com

Safest distress signal ever At the beginning of February sailors all over Europe witnessed the introduction of the newest revolutionary red distress flare which uses powerful light instead of pyrotechnics: the latest eVDS (electronic Visual Distress Signal) from Odeo Flare.

The LED Odeo Flare offers the same enhanced safety as its multi award winning predecessor, which has already proved itself as safe and reliable, but uses LED instead of laser for even more intense brightness, and offers an even longer battery life of 6 hours.

The LED Odeo Flare makes the SOS signal as defined in Annex 4 of the International Regulations for the Prevention of Collisions at Sea. At the same time it produces a piercing and attention grabbing light throughout the full hemisphere, replicating the light pattern of a handheld pyrotechnic flare.

CLUB NEWS

Discovery Yachts to launch new Discovery 55 Mk II at the Southampton Boat Show in September Discovery Yachts will be launching their new Discovery 55 Mk II at the Southampton Boat show in the UK in September 2014. The new Discovery 55 Mk II draws on the knowledge and experience of hundreds of thousands of miles sailed by Discovery 55 owners and features even more light in the raised saloon, a new sleek deck profile, flush hatches throughout and improved sunbathing areas.

Significant options include a more spacious cockpit, twin or single wheels, twin vertical portlights in the owners cabin and 3 or 4 cabin interior layouts. The superb performance and easy motion of the Discovery 55 come from the classic Ron Holland design which ensures exhilarating and effortless passage-making. The yacht is designed to be sailed by just two people and its ease of handling combined with attention to detail and exceptional use of space make her the ultimate bluewater cruising yacht.

Panoramic vision is the hallmark of the Discovery 55 Mk II, with a raised navigation position and saloon allowing owners exceptional all-round visibility. Features such as the spacious galley with cavernous fridge and freezer and luxurious cabins with super comfortable mattresses all add up to the success story of the Discovery range of yachts.

Discovery yachts would love to welcome you aboard the new Discovery 55 Mk II at the Southampton Boat Show 12th – 21st September 2014 berth M162. For more information please visit www.discoveryyachts.com

Powered by 3 x AA L91 Lithium batteries, the LED Odeo Flare has at least six hours constant run time on one set of batteries which are easy replaced for extended use. The base cap is also fitted with a tripod mount.

SAIL Magazine Joins World ARC Panama Canal Transit

In short, it is a safe, lightweight, high performance, waterproof red LED flare; easy to use and designed to work in the most challenging of environments, either at sea or on land and it can be safely carried in aircraft, unlike pyrotechnic flares of course.

In January, SAIL Magazine’s Executive Editor Adam Cort joined the World ARC 2014-15 fleet as they assembled in Shelter Bay Marina on the Caribbean side of the Panama Canal. Giving a unique insight into what it’s like to transit the canal, Adam filmed his experiences on board Nexus and has created and informative and entertaining video that’s essential viewing for anyone thinking of crossing into the Pacific. The full article is published in the May 2014 issue of SAIL magazine.

Available now in shops and chandleries around the UK, The Netherlands, Germany and France.

You can read the full report at www.sailmagazine.com and view the video at www.sailmagazine.com/cruising-grounds/sail-transits-panama-canal

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L YA C H T B R O K E R S

www.berthon.co.uk

uk Open 7 days a week

Follow us on Twitter @BerthonGroup

Lymington United Kingdom Phone 0044 01590 679 222 Email brokers@berthon.co.uk

Golfe-Juan France Phone 0033 493 636 680 Email brokers@berthonfrance.fr

Rhode Island USA Phone 001 401 846 8404 Email sales@berthonusa.com

BERTHON ARE PROud SuPPORTERS Of THE ARC Berthon are offering the Discovery 55’ BLUE MONCHU for sale. Hull #3 of this incredible sisterhood which has become the benchmark for shorthanded world cruising, the Discovery 55’ is still in production today. From 2002, BLUE MONCHU’s current discoverers have hugely updated her including nice new paint last year. Her sailing programme completed, she will be available to see, touch and write a cheque for in the Mediterranean this season. Berthon are the preferred brokers for the Discovery brand.

www.worldcruising.com

RALLY NEWS

Rally News ARC and ARC+ 2013 was a record breaking year for the ARC; Max Klinks’ Knierim 65 Caro smashed the ARC course record crossing the finish line in Rodney Bay Saint Lucia after just 10 days, 21 hours, 25 minutes and 10 seconds at sea, record distances were covered by yachts sailing almost 1000nm more than the rhumb line due to unseasonal weather patterns and two starts meant that the most boats ever have sailed across the Atlantic with World Cruising Club this year. Read the full round up on pages 18-25.

Don’t miss out if you want to be on the start line of the ARC in 2014! Spaces have been filling up for both route choices since entries opened in September and we advise you to enter via the website as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

As always, the ARC fleet represents almost every principle sailing nation and all walks of life. This year we have boats registered from 31 countries across the globe, and crews are made up of families, partners, friends, and colleagues all keen to embark on the adventure of a lifetime across the Atlantic. Follow the event on the www.worldcruising.com/arc

World ARC 2014: Pacific cruising The current World ARC rally is now cruising the magnificent islands of the South Pacific with 43 yachts sailing with this years trade-wind circumnavigation. Highlights so far have included transiting the Panama Canal, visiting remote Pacific islands of the Marquesas and climbing the Mount Yasur active volcano in Tanna. The fleet will visit Tonga, Fiji and Vanuatu in June and July, arriving in Australia in the middle of August.

Australia is the half-way point for the circumnavigation and our new “half ‘n’ half” format is proving popular with several crews wanting to spend longer in the Pacific. Several boats are taking a year out to cruise down to New Caledonia and New Zealand, before re-joining the following year’s rally in Australia. The Australia to Caribbean route is open to all boats, not just those that have sailed the first half of the rally.

Follow the fleet on the World ARC Facebook Page, via the logs at www.worldcruising.com

World ARC 2015: Santa Marta added to Panama Canal Route The Colombian port of Santa Marta, on the country’s Caribbean coast will host the World ARC fleet for the first time in January 2015.

Lying just north of Cartagena, Santa Marta is the oldest colonial city in South America and quite enchanting. Opened just three years ago, the new fully serviced Santa Marta Marina is ideally placed to break the journey from Saint Lucia to the San Blas Islands of Panama, giving World ARC sailors the opportunity to explore this beautiful part of Colombia. Tourism is growing fast in Colombia, and with the stunning Tayrona National Park, right next door, there is much to offer the visitor.

The World ARC 2015 fleet will depart from Saint Lucia on 10 January, as World ARC now sails annually from Rodney Bay. There is already a diverse fleet confirmed for the next adventure including many familiar faces from previous World Cruising Club rallies.

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RALLY NEWS

Ocean adventures on ARC Europe and ARC USA 42 yachts from 13 different nations set sail on their ocean adventures with World Cruising Club rallies ARC Europe and ARC USA on 3 May with flexible route options proving popular and offering plenty of choice for ocean cruising in company.

Sailing the Atlantic west to east, ARC Europe began from Nanny Cay, Tortola (25 boats) and Portsmouth, Virginia USA (7 boats). The fleets combined in Bermuda, and are on their way to the Azores and onto Marina de Lagos, Portugal, or other European ports. In tandem, ARC USA set sail from Nanny Cay, Tortola alongside the ARC Europe fleet. 8 boats sailed via the Old Bahama Channel to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida USA, whilst Bavaria 40 Kristy Sue kept with the ARC Europe fleet to Bermuda then headed towards the US east coast.

Amongst the fleet, many familiar faces from previous World Cruising Club rallies have returned to cruise home together with ARC Europe and ARC USA whilst new participants have been warmly welcomed during the social programmes and happy hours in the start ports. A full report will be published in the Autumn/Winter edition of Latitudes Magazine.

ARC Baltic: Inaugural cruise sets sail in July

ARC Portugal 2014: Celebrating 20 years

Starting from Kiel, Germany on 7 July, 30 yachts are signed up for World Cruising Club’s new rally ARC Baltic.

Ready to explore six capitals in six weeks, crews hailing from 10 nations and aged between 7 and 82 are set to enjoy the programme combines great sailing with stopovers in Tallin, St. Petersburg, Helsinki, Mariehamn, Stockholm, and Copenhagen. The fleet will be led by Hans Hansell on board Working on a Dream who will guide the rally through scenic archipelagos, historic towns and cultural sites providing an extensive insight into Baltic cruising.

2014 marks the 20th edition of ARC Portugal, celebrating two decades of rallies sailing south to Marina de Lagos. Each year crews are treated to great sailing conditions, time ashore to experience the fascinating local culture and form fast friendships that make this rally one of the most social ways to start the Med season.

In Plymouth prior to departure, all yachts will be fitted with a Yellowbrick Iridium tracker which will regularly update the Fleet Viewer on the World Cruising Club website for the crossing of the Bay of Biscay, and for the legs along the Iberian Peninsula to Lagos.

World ARC South America: Expedition trip pioneers the route for the future Pioneering the new World ARC South America route, a small group of no more than 3 yachts will scout the route this winter as part of an expedition led by veteran high latitude sailor, Andy Dare. This year’s group will prove the route ahead of the main fleet, who will prepare to depart Europe for their own Southern Ocean adventure in 2015. Combining free cruising periods through Patagonia and the Chilean canals with the security of sailing with a fleet nearby, the experience will be amazing.

“It’s a real expedition stuff and is very exciting sailing there, as hardly anyone visits this spectacular region, so you are still very much a pioneer down south!” – Andy Dare.

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DISCOVER LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA DESCUBRE LAS PALMAS DE GRAN CANARIA

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LATITUDES

Spring / Summer 2014

ARC 2013

Why do the Rally?

In its 27th year, the popularity of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers has never been higher. 2013 marked the first-ever ARC+ rally, which saw 43 boats take the starting line in Las Palmas 14 days ahead of the larger fleet, and sail south to the Cape Verde’s for a brief stopover before crossing the Atlantic in the heart of the Trade Wind belt.

ARC+ came about as a way to meet the increasing demand from sailors wanting to sail in the ARC – the waiting list of boats wishing to join grew so long, that an entirely new route option suddenly became feasible. As it turned out, though unexpectedly, almost 60% of ARC+ entries were from former ARC participants who wanted to see a new part of the Atlantic before making the crossing. Boats like the catamaran Easy Rider and the OVNI 445 Hanami II, ARC veterans, looked at the new rally as a way to even further expand their horizons, which has always been World Cruising Club’s goal.

Even so, there remains that elusive question of what, exactly makes the rally so popular to so many people. We trawled the logs and talked with crews on the docks in Saint Lucia to get the answer.

For most, the ARC represents that once-in-alifetime moment, an unforgettable adventure

that takes time, money and an enormous amount of emotional resources to even make it to the starting line in Las Palmas. Not to mention completing the 2,800 nautical mile ocean passage The majority of the 230+ yachts in the fleet are family cruisers on sabbatical from ‘normal’ lives ashore, with houses, cars, pets and mortgages – in short, responsibilities. Yes, there are also the racing boats with professional crew on board (Caro, who set a new ARC racing record this year is the best example), but they are the exception, not the rule (though in fact, having those few big boats makes the ARC that much more exciting – how often does a family cruiser get to rub elbows at the same parties as some of the best sailors in the world?

After all, the ocean is the great equalizer – out there, the conditions are the same for everyone).

For the American flagged Hallberg-Rassy 40, Windleblo, the ARC passage has been the culmination of a lifelong dream. Skipper Jack Hoopes bought his boat in Sweden several years ago and has been cruising Europe in anticipation of finally taking her to his home waters in America.

As they neared the end of their 3-week Atlantic crossing, the reality of it all began to sink in.

“It is bittersweet that the end is in sight,” Jack wrote in his blog. “This journey was so many years in the making – the dreaming, the planning, the scheming, and now our first major ocean crossing is nearing completion.”

Of all the sailors we spoke to on the docks, the British-flagged Hylas 46 Adina, who are continuing around the world, provided the best insight into just what it is about the ARC that makes it so special.

“I think for us, the key thing was we’d never been across an ocean,” they said. “Usually we’re quite happy doing independent travel, but we thought, ‘alright, we need some really good help.’”

Tom and Susie from Adina are used to taking breaks from real life and going on grand adventures. This is the third time that they have taken a lengthy sabbatical, but the first that they had attempted something as challenging as an Atlantic crossing.

“The preparation in the handbook was just brilliant. I mean we’d been reading it since a year ago,” they said. “And we always said, ‘if we can get the boat through the ARC inspections, it was good to go around the entire world.’”

For Adina, like much of the fleet, the ARC started long before the gun went off in Las Palmas. They left the UK in March and wanted to have as much of the preparation of the boat done before they left. The ARC support staff was there during the entire process.

“It was simple things like the ARC used Jerry the Rigger, so we knew who to call” they said.

1 Nov 10 Nov

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www.worldcruising.com

They contacted him to inspect the boat before they left the UK and when they got to Las Palmas, Jerry came by a second time, recalled the boat, and was able to go over the rig once more, with the benefit of having already been familiar with it.

“We talked about it when we were at sea, we talked about ‘Jerry’s Checks,’” they said. “Because there’s a face on it, it brings it all to life.”

But it was the safety equipment requirements that really forced the Adina crew to stop and focus.

“We actually went out and we tested all of the safety equipment,” they explained to us in Saint Lucia. “I think that was a really important part – getting all the safety stuff right, and actually testing it, understanding it and knowing how it works.”

Finally, Adina admitted that through all of the equipment checks, all the boat preparations, and all the work involved in making it to Las Palmas on time, it is the friends they have met along the way that will be in their strongest memories of the ARC. When they got to Gibraltar en route to Las Palmas, Adina hoisted her ARC flag for the first time. Almost immediately they realized they had company.

“Millport came in opposite us with their ARC flag up,” they recalled. “Next thing there was another boat down the pontoon from us, George, and

ARC 2013

he got his banner up. Within 24 hours, we’d got them all on our boat for drinks, and they’ve since become lifelong friends.”

When Adina left Gibraltar, they had a problem with their gearbox, which failed shortly after their departure. Millport came out and towed them back.

“You make lifelong friends in this, and Millport crew will be friends forever,” said Tom. When Adina crossed the finish line, having never before been into Saint Lucia or Rodney Bay Marina, before, they were not sure where they were supposed to go. They had their marina map, and had gotten berthing instructions from the Yellowshirt team, but were still unsure.

“And Alvaro, one of the Yellowshirts, just came back on the radio and said, ‘Tom, look at the welcoming party, all those people cheering. That’s where you’re going!’ That just made it for us. It’s a lifetime highlight.”

“You know, some people get slightly sceptical about rallies, and say ‘do you really need it?’” Tom added as he finished up his story. “And I would look at this and I would just a thousand times recommend it to somebody and say, ‘you know, an ocean crossing is a big deal, and you need to have your boat in the best state possible, and the ARC will help you do that.”

17 Nov 19 Nov

One thousand trees planted in ARC Forest Sailing allows us to travel long distances with relatively low carbon emissions, but the reality is that all yachts burn diesel for motive power and to generate electricity. Conscious of this impact, World Cruising Club has teamed up with a local non-profit forestry organisation in Gran Canaria to develop and sponsor a carbon offset project, planting trees where they are most needed, to help offset the carbon emissions created during the ARC crossing.

Since 2010, over 1,000 native trees have now been planted by ARC volunteers on a deforested site in the mountains above Las Palmas de Gran Canaria; not only helping to offset carbon emissions, but also helping to recreate one of the most threatened eco-systems on Gran Canaria.

As part of a five year commitment, paid for by World Cruising Club, the ARC Forest will eventually cover a hectare of land (10,000 m²), improving bio-diversity, reducing soil erosion and mitigating flooding. Managing the project is the Canaries based environmental charity Foresta, ensuring that the small trees planted by crews will grow to become a true sustainable forest, linking areas of historic indigenous woodland to make a “green cordon” around the mountain tops and restoring the native cloud forest eco-system.

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LATITUDES

Spring / Summer 2014

Safety on the high seas - the ARC safety equipment check World Cruising Club take the safety of our participants very seriously, and require ARC boats to carry specific safety and communications equipment. It is also important that crew on board to have undertaken training in using the equipment, sailing in heavy weather and managing emergencies. The safety equipment inspection is one of the few mandatory aspects of the ARC - all yachts must pass before they are allowed to start the rally.

All skippers have information about the mandatory and recommended safety equipment before they join the ARC, and World Cruising Club provide lots of advice and information in the comprehensive Rally Handbook. Lots of crews contact World Cruising Club by phone or email to discuss any questions, or visit the team at boat shows or training seminars too, which are held throughout the year.

As part of the preparations in Las Palmas, the team of experienced safety equipment inspectors visit each boat and check equipment before the start of the rally, spending time to help crews to talk through decisions about safety and communications at sea and ensuring that boat is well prepared for the ocean crossing.

Rob Gaffney of Hamble School of Yachting has inspected hundreds of ARC boats over the years, and explained, “The safety check is all about

Position Indicating Radio Beacon.

All ARC boats must have an EPIRB, but we find that often skippers do not know how to test them, a task that should be done at least once a month.

helping skippers and crews to prepare for an emergency. Having the right kit on board is part of the process, the other is knowing how to use it. We spend time during the check talking about how to respond to an emergency, and most skippers find the whole inspection process very useful.� Taking around an hour, the safety check begins on deck, with inspection of lifelines and jackstays, guard rails and navigation lights. Our safety team have sailed many thousands of ocean miles between them and happily explain to crews what they are looking for, common problems, and plenty of top-tips to consider whilst they prepare for the ARC. Liferafts and man overboard equipment are also checked, and the emergency steering is tested.

Next the inspector will move to the cockpit for a check on the equipment stowed there including the dates on all the flares and making sure that the correct quantity are on board. This is usually followed by asking to see the EPIRB, the Emergency

Below decks we will check stowage of heavy equipment to ensure it is properly secured, galley safety and review the medical kit, before checking lifejackets. There are many different types of lifejacket on the market but they must all be in good condition and have on them: the name of the boat, a whistle, a light, retro-reflective tape, crotch straps, a sprayhood and also a harness line.

The safety equipment requirements are quite detailed and often yachts fail on some aspects during the first check. Typically have insufficient flares, or are missing spray hoods or crotch straps from lifejackets. Lots of these items can be bought from Rolnautic and other outlets in Las Palmas, so it is a simple process for the safety team to come back to recheck that the extra kit is on board and installed. It is rare that more fundamental problems are encountered, as most skippers are well-prepared long before they arrive in Las Palmas. Links to the complete ARC safety equipment list are in the rally brochure or via the members area of worldcruising.com.

19 Nov 20 Nov

20

www.worldcruising.com

ARC 2013

Putting the Plus into ARC + Cape Verde Launched in late summer 2013, the ARC+ was the first time in the 27 year history of the rally, that there have been two route options. Whilst both started from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and finished in Saint Lucia, it was the addition of a five day stopover at Mindelo in the Cape Verdes, which put the “plus” into ARC+.

22°-26°W, the country is a horseshoe-shaped cluster of ten islands, of which nine are inhabited, geographically separated into two groups: the Barlavento (windward) Islands and the Sotavento (leeward) Islands.

Our host for the visit was Marina Mindelo on the Barlavento island of São Vicente, around 860nm SSW of the Canary Islands, a passage of typically 5-7 days. This first marina in Cape Verde is a

Almost immediately, ARC+ attracted returning ARC veterans, keen to explore the Cape Verdes on route to the Caribbean, amongst them was Pekka Karlsson on Corona AQ, who also took part in the very first ARC in 1986.

By splitting the crossing into two legs, each with shorter time at sea than the direct route, ARC+ especially appealed to double-handers and cruising couples. The typical boat size at 13.80m (45’3) was a little lower than on the direct route at 14.23m (46’9), and around 15% of the boats were multihulls, compared to 10% in the ARC. The Cape Verde archipelago lies in the North Atlantic, just over 300nm off the coast of West Africa, on the same latitude as Senegal to the east and the Caribbean islands to the west. Ranging between 14°-18°N and from

after a week at sea. The marina soon developed a buzzing atmosphere, as ARC+ boats arrived and crews reconnected in the friendly Marina Bar, enjoying top-quality home-made food and live music. The friendly Cape Verdeans mixed and mingled with the visiting sailors, some offering services and goods on the docks and others just enjoying the spectacle of so many ocean-going yachts filling the marina.

haven for sailors, offering a sheltered position with plenty of on-site services. Constructed just in front of the old town of Mindelo, the capital of São Vicente, the Marina is able to host more than 120 boats, and offers all the facilities expected of a modern marina.

As well as using this mid-Atlantic pit-stop to refuel and repair minor breakages, the attractive market offered fresh provisions for the crews

Taking advantage of the secure moorings, many crews took one of the organised tours on offer, to discover something of São Vicente and the neighbouring mountainous island of Santo Antão.

After witnessing some truly breath-taking scenery; craggy cliff tops, tropical green valleys and impressive volcanic craters, the buses ventured deep into the heart of the island, navigating steep ridges and meandering through traditional villages clinging to the sides of mountains, before gather for a delicious barbeque on the stunning Praia Norte beach. “Now I understand why it’s called ARC+ - Wow!” said Erik Roede, of yacht Oda on his return.

24 Nov 22 Nov

21

LATITUDES

Spring / Summer 2014

A Family Affair

Aboard Privilege 495 Arkouda, with 850 nm to go, the crew seemed to really have settled into the life and sea and wrote with awe about the nature they had been so close to for so long.

The ARC has always been a family affair, with cruising families from all backgrounds coming together for this annual transatlantic migration.

Typically each year the ARC has around 20 boats sailing with children aboard, often using the rally as a launch-pad for a year or more of live-aboard cruising.

ARC 2013 maintained the tradition with 28 young sailors under 16 taking part. Each year most “family boats” are docked together before the start, helping build friendships between the families, and the special children’s programme gives parents some time-off to help prepare their boats.

One of the great things about sailing with a rally like the ARC is the opportunity to discuss the practicalities of cruising with a variety of different sailors who have overcome similar challenges themselves and share lots of advice.

There are certain logistical issues involved in taking older children and teenagers out of school to go sailing for a year or more and ARC boats cope in different ways. For example on board Starship, an Austrian boat, Florian (13) is taught by his grandmother, while his mother supervises the schooling of his younger siblings Lukas, 10 and Katharina, 9. On board each day they have 3 hours of lessons, but after working hard during the crossing they did enjoy some ‘school holidays’ when they arrived in the Caribbean!

On Swiss yacht Antares, ‘school’ also took place every day but during the preparations in Las Palmas Sarah, Muriel and Laura (9, 12, 13) were

28 Nov

more interested in understanding everything that happens on board their boat. So while their ARC Safety Equipment Inspection was taking place they sat with big eyes and even bigger ears, in order to avoid missing anything. By happy coincidence, Antares met the American yacht Edelweiss in Helgoland on their way to the start of the ARC. Mason Read (11) and Lyell Read (13), on board Edelweiss and the three girls from Antares soon became fast friends and have met up in many ports on the way to Las Palmas.

Sven Hecker from Cologne and his family on board Heckogecko have taken a year out to sail across the Atlantic. His children are 3 and 9 years old. The older son Jenne is home-schooled using the German Distance Learning Programme, which will qualify him for high school when he returns to Germany. It costs over €300per month, but Sven says: “I give so much money for the boat and repair. So it is only fair that I invest in the future of my son, so he has the opportunity to see as much as possible of the world.”

“The seas are building in size, and it is beautiful to watch them roll in, under, and away. The crests are starting to rise up and break, a little like waves the surfers ride.

The sun hits this crest just before the white water, and it glows a magnificent teal blue.

The early morning sun and the moon at night cast a metallic shadow on the water, turning it into molten silver.

It is beautiful, awe inspiring, humbling.

I feel so privileged to be allowed to watch.”

Remembering Nicholas Achy 28 November: It is with great sadness that the ARC fleet learnt about the passing of Nicholas Achy, at sea on board his boat Alayat 3, following a suspected heart attack. This news was especially poignant, as Nicholas had previously sailed in ARC 2010 with his wife and children, leaving lasting impressions with all who met them.

22

www.worldcruising.com

ARC 2013

Unusual Weather Pattern Challenges 2013 ARC Fleet

Usually boats pass well to the east and south of the low staying in tradewinds, but this year the low was so extensive that it slowed the trades making for a slow passage.

Although it was compensated for later with strong tradewinds and a full moon.”

Year to year, the dock-talk among ARC crew in Saint Lucia inevitably turns to the weather, and 2013 was certainly no different. With the range of conditions that most crews had to deal with, the 2013 ARC was one of the most challenging years for weather in recent memory.

Traditionally, the end of November marks the finish of the north Atlantic hurricane season.

By leaving Gran Canaria in late November, ARC boats are crossing at the start of the tradewind season, and arriving in time to spend Christmas in the Caribbean. But this can sometimes mean less settled Atlantic weather, as 2013 showed.

ARC weatherman Chris Tibbs briefed captains before departure about a developing low, which would be the dominant feature early on. Many of the racing skippers, especially those on fast boats, were excited by this news, since it opened the door to the longer “northern route” and the prospect of record breaking crossing times. Winds circle a depression counter-clockwise, blowing from west to south of its centre, and from east to north. If any of the racers could sail sufficiently far north, and fast enough, then they would be able to sail down the western side of the low, and take advantage of strong winds and excellent sailing angles to slingshot them towards Saint Lucia. But it would be a gamble. For Caro, the gamble paid off – the 65’ newly built racer-cruiser took line

1 Dec

honours and set a new ARC record, completing the 2800-mile course in under 11 days.

However, as the ARC is a cruising rally, most captains followed Chris Tibbs’ advice, and took a more cautious route close to the Cape Verdes, before heading west; the route jokingly referred to as “sail south until the butter melts”! With the developing low several hundred miles away disturbing the tradewinds this route looked likely to mean lots of light winds and plenty of motoring hours early on. As predicted, the westerly winds on the south side of the centre of low effectively cancelled out the usual easterly tradewinds, caused by the clockwise rotation of the Azores High.

“This pattern of low pressure mid Atlantic is not unusual and has occurred on about 50% of recent ARC crossings” explained Chris Tibbs. “What was unusual was how long it persisted for and its extent, with one low giving way to the next one.

So whilst a later departure date is likely to give more consistent tradewinds, it is not always the case. Though the ARC+ yachts departed two weeks earlier than the main ARC fleet, the ARC+ fleet enjoyed a much more typical tradewind passage after their brief stopover in the Cape Verdes.

David Smith of Easy Rider, sympathized with the main ARC fleet. “Having heard some stories, I feel very lucky to have had some of the weather we had from the Cape Verdes.”

“It was a very difficult passage,” said skipper Samuel Brenko of Hanse 575 Lady Mila, after they arrived at Rodney Bay following a 17-day ARC voyage. They took a more standard southerly route, but still never quite found the tradewinds.

Thankfully, the pattern did finally break. The Azores High, the generator of the tradewinds, reestablished itself to the north of the rhumb line, allowing return of winds from the ENE in the 20’s right the way across the Atlantic.

3 Dec

23

LATITUDES

Spring / Summer 2014

ARC 2013 Wraps up in Rodney Bay The ARC 2013 wrapped up with the final Prizegiving Ceremony held at the Gaiety nightclub in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia. Whilst, it was the end of a special transatlantic adventure, it also marked the beginning of new adventures, exploring the Caribbean and further afield.

What sets the ARC apart from other sailing events is the combination of sailing competition and those playful special prizes that make it a rally for cruisers. With 213 ARC boats having finished and another five yet to arrive, the Prizegiving saw plenty of trophies awarded. For the first time ever, the ARC awarded prizes for 10th place and 5th place in each class, a way to diffuse the competitive part of the ARC and award what essentially are fun, random prizes.

“You can’t really try to get 10th place,” explained World Cruising Club’s Andrew Bishop from the podium, to a cheerful applause from the audience.

Another playful prize that happened completely by accident, was the prize awarded to the yacht Magic, which was the 130th yacht to cross the finish line.

Their local finishing time was December 15, at 15 hours, 15 minutes and 15 seconds, and they were recognized for the feat on stage.

Every year the Arch Marez Trophy is awarded to the yacht that best displays the partying spirit that Rodney Bay Marina founder Arch Marez embodied. This year the Norwegian yacht Liberté received the award, appropriately enough dressed in Christmas regalia and smiling all the while.

As always, the Spirit of the ARC award, the highlight of the evening, was saved for the end. Each year it is awarded to the yacht or crew that best displays the general spirit of goodwill and enthusiasm that the rally strives to create amongst the fleet.

“We’d like to honour tonight, someone who year after year has supported the ARC with their enthusiasm,” said Andrew Bishop. “This year he selflessly racked up a sizable, sat-phone bill passing weather information on to the fleet, and was on the docks greeting boats long after his own boat arrived.”

A stunned and humbled Ross Applebey of Scarlet Oyster was called on stage to accept the award.

“I don’t know what to say,” Ross offered. “I’m completely humbled by this experience. Thank you so much.” It was all Ross could do to keep from breaking down as he shook Andrew’s hand to large applause.

Full results and lists of prize winners are available on the rally website at www.worldcruising.com/arc

Caro breaks the ARC course record Crossing the finish line in Rodney Bay Saint Lucia on 5 December at 10:10:10 UTC Max Klink’s Knierim 65 Caro earned her place in the history of the ARC, breaking the course record by 08 hours 07 minutes and 20 seconds.

Sailing across the Atlantic from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria to Rodney bay, Saint Lucia in 10 days, 21 hours, 25 minutes and 10 seconds, the eight man crew were delighted to have beaten the ARC record which previously stood at 11 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes and 30 seconds, set by Italian Maxi Capricorno in 2006. Opting for a longer route north of the rhumb line, Caro covered approximately 2985NM, but benefitted from stronger winds produced by a midAtlantic low pressure system, to drive them south. Their average speed 11.45kts, with a top speed of around 25kts.

5 Dec 13 Dec

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14 Dec

www.worldcruising.com

ARC 2013

The last ARC boat on Christmas Day

Ocean Crew Link – connecting sailors

The last ARC boat to arrive in Saint Lucia after 31 days at sea made its way into Rodney Bay Marina on Christmas Day to a warm welcome on the docks. Over 100 ARC crews came away from their Christmas festivities to join the ARC yellowshirts and greet the double-handed crew from Beagle, Uli and Alice Zenneck.

“We thought we would quietly slip into Rodney Bay unnoticed whilst everyone was enjoying their Christmas lunch” said Uli, quite moved by the welcome they received. “We couldn’t have been more wrong, this has been overwhelming” he explained.

Speaking later, Uli expressed how he and Alice had enjoyed their passage and were happy with the boat and how it all went in general. They had provisioned for 30 days and had plenty of water on board so were not concerned by their long passage time. They were becalmed for nearly 4 days at one point unable to find wind, but kept positive and eventually found the breeze that propelled them to the Caribbean.

Serious Seamanship Arguably the worst damage to any boat in the ARC occurred to Pollux, and Chloe Gautier and Antoine Gloanec, the double-handed crew displayed great determination as seamanship in the way they handled the situation. When just 140 nm miles away from landfall in Saint Lucia, the Pogo 8.50 was dismasted in a heavy squall. The top half of the mast, above the single-spreaders, had given way and went over the side. But the bottom section remained. Chloe and Antoine ingeniously rigged a windsurfing sail as a jury jib, and fashioned a makeshift mainsail by hoisting the clew of the sail and using what used to be the foot as the luff, sheeting it as best they could to the end of the boom.

Remarkably, they made over six knots under jury rig and crossed the finish line on the morning of December 14, not far behind their original ETA!

Since the ARC began, sailing enthusiasts from all walks of life and from all over the world have made their way to the Canary Islands in search of a yacht which will sail them some 3,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean to the warm waters of the Caribbean and each year, captains often need a reliable extra pair of hands to help them make the crossing more comfortable and share duties on board.

Previously, prospective crew needed to physically walk the docks in search of that spare bunk, and owners were faced with the last minute rush introduce a new crew member to the boat.

OceanCrewLink.com, developed by World Cruising Club, has been designed to offer a simple online networking service connecting boat owners looking for crew, and crew looking for boats. It specialises in opportunities for ocean sailing, asking key questions about experience and abilities along with the expectations of duties and roles on board. Since its launch, over 4,000 users have signed up to the service and around 40 new ocean sailing opportunities are advertised each month.

Marsail is a Hallberg-Rassy 41 owned

by Italian Massimo Marrone. This was Massimo’s first ARC, having wanted to sail it on his own boat for many years.

Needing crew, Massimo turned to OceanCrewLink.com where he found Lauryn, Javier, Julie, Gerard and Larissa.

Massimo said “Thanks to OceanCrewLink. com, I was able to not only find suitable crew but get to know them through Skype calls and emails back and forth before finally meeting in Las Palmas. I feel I know my crew very well already. It is a reassuring feeling.”

21 Dec 17 Dec

Inviting new crew onto your boat, or joining a new boat as crew is exciting and can lead to long and fruitful friendships but, as with all preparations for an ocean crossing, planning crew early is often key to finding harmony on board. For tips about taking on crew, or joining a boat, plus links to a network of sailors and boats visit www.oceancrewlink.com, where ocean sailors connect.

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LATITUDES Overall and category winner of Other Boats

by Andreas Zimmerman from Dragonfly

Spring / Summer 2014

1st

Runner up for Other Boats by Michaela Parker from Shenanigan

2nd

3rd Category:

Other Boats

ARC Photo Competition Third place Other Boats

by Chris Binks on Indra

Winner of Life on Board by Susie Plume from Adina

1st

2nd

Runner up for Life On Board by Chris Parker from Shenanigan

Category:

Life on Board

3rd Third place Life on Board

by Susie Plume from Adina

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www.worldcruising.com

ARC PHOTO COMPETITION

1st

Category:

Runner up for Moods of the Sea by Chis Binks on Indra

2nd

Moods of the Sea

3rd Winner of Moods of the Sea by Michaela Parker from Shenanigan

1st

Third place Mood of the Sea

by Mason King from George

2nd

3rd

Category:

Sighting Land Winner of Sighting Land by Vicky Whibley from Indra

Runner up for Sighting Land by Michaela Parker from Shenanigan

Third place Sighting Land

by Peter Finnigan on Hebe

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LATITUDES

Spring / Summer 2014

Shipping Your Boat

a Guide for transportation

Transporting a boat to a new cruising destination can be a complicated and daunting operation. Shipment specialists Peters & May have prepared some advice for yacht owners transporting their vessel home after a rally or to new cruising grounds.

Arranging a shipment Tell them about your boat - where is it now and where do you want it to be!

Peters and May have agents in Las Palmas before the ARC, and are happy to assist owners with advice for shipping and to provide quotes back to Europe or further afield depending on your cruising plans. Quotes are based on the origin, destination, transport dates, and measurements of your boat. Following your initial enquiry, the most suitable collection and delivery points will be considered and cradling requirements will be discussed with your agent. A quote will be supplied along with approximate loading and lifting dates.

Once the quote and dates are agreed, provisions for shipping your boat will begin. Your agent will assist you with completing all the paperwork, and is likely require copies of sales invoices/bill of sale, a registration document (such as SSR) and proof of VAT. A Booking Note outlining the contract details between the transport agents and you will be provided, and Bill of Lading which outlines contract details between the agents and the shipping line is drawn up.

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Yachts secured and ready for transport

www.worldcruising.com LATITUDES

Customs clearance and documentation can be complex and will vary from boat to boat/country to country.

On arrival at destination

The implications of getting it wrong can be serious and expensive, but with thorough preparation, the correct documentation and proper handling is a simple process. Your shipping agents will be able to assist you with advice.

If you have asked your shipping company to arrange collection from the ship, they liaise with the appointed skipper/haulier to ensure smooth and secure off-load as well as checking the boat for any damage. If you are receiving the boat yourself, you or your representative would take on these duties including the disposal and removal of the cover and cradle, if used.

Marine Cargo Insurance is required to cover shipment and not included in most annual Hull Insurance policies. Your shipping agent will be able to offer you a policy, so ask for a quote or recommendation and when requesting rates consider replacement value, shipping costs and accessories on board the boat. Remember to advise your current hull insurer of your planned move to ensure you have cover in your new cruising grounds too.

Pre-loading Preparation of the Boat The basic principle is to prepare your boat as if you were going to sea (which it is - but you’re not going with it). Make it as light and as secure as possible.

Remember - Remove, Secure and Lock...

• Remove personal items and furnishings for separate shipment.

• Secure any loose items in or on the boat that could come loose during transit and cause damage.

• Close and Lock hatches, lockers, port lights and doors. Either take the keys with you, or if preagreed leave with the loadmaster or captain

What happens on the day of loading?

These strains will be no more than those similarly strained during normal use of your boat when moored or anchored. However, it is worth you checking that the fittings are sturdy prior to shipment.

Collection of your boat

It is wise, and may be required as part of the Marine Cargo Insurance policy for high value items, to have an independent loading and/or discharge survey carried for the lifting/loading of your boat. This provides a full and comprehensive chronological description of the processes undertaken.

Handing over the boat Once the boat is settled and secured to the cradle ensure fenders and warps are taken aboard and secured. If there have been any incidents during the loading operation, please ensure this is reported and photographed accordingly. Do not leave your keys on the boat – either leave them with the Captain or P&M loadmaster, or if you are collecting the boat at destination port take them with you.

Once the ship has departed an estimated arrival time (ETA) will be given. However, due to unforeseen and uncontrollable events such as the weather, the shipment may be delayed. Your agent will keep you updated as often as possible to minimise disruption.

If you require a quotation or more information or simply want to chat through the possibilities, call or email Peters and May. Tel: 023 8048 0500 Email: marine@petersandmay.com Please remember that all the information is for guidance only as every shipment will vary. www.petersandmay.com

Lifting, Cradling and Lashing According to your booking either you or your representative will be required to deliver the boat to a pre-agreed destination for lifting. If arriving by water, contact the loadmaster or assigned contact to confirm location of the berth on arrival and which side to berth to.

Experienced load masters will prepare the yacht

Once alongside the quay or ship, lifting gear will be positioned over the boat, the loadmaster will board the boat and the diver will enter the water.

Between them they will co-ordinate the correct positioning and slinging of the boat.

When everyone is satisfied with the security of the boat she will be lifted from the water and offered up to the cradle. Final adjustments are made to the cradle before settling and releasing the boat from the crane.

The boat will then be lashed to the cradle using lashing points such as cleats, winches, windlasses etc.

31

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LATITUDES

World ARC The fourth edition of World ARC, World Cruising Club’s annual circumnavigation of the globe, set sail from Saint Lucia in spectacular conditions in January to begin another around the world adventure.

The diversity of the fleet of 39 yachts was as broad as previous years with crews representing 15 nationalities including families, couples and sailing friends and a huge mix of ages on board. These were the ingredients for a trip of a lifetime.

34

Spring / Summer 2014

Ready for the World ARC adventure

The Kleiburg family on Saphir

WORLD ARC Setting sail from Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia

As predicted, following a great programme and send off from World Cruising Club’s supporters in Saint Lucia, those ingredients were ‘well mixed’ in some challenging weather conditions as the fleet crossed the Caribbean sea to Panama.

The journey, of just over 1,000 nautical miles, was a sleigh ride of strong winds and following seas.

But for the last time, Leg 1 ended in the idyllic San Blas islands. In future editions the first leg will be from Saint Lucia to Santa Marta in Colombia; making 18 countries visited on the World ARC route from 2015.

After a true shake-down passage across the Caribbean Sea, the San Blas islands never fail to deliver a very welcome rest in peaceful surroundings. For many who have worked to free themselves from business or family life to set off on their adventure, this environment is a great reward and makes a step change for crews needing to adapt to their new cruising lifestyles.

The low-lying islands and anchorages also make it easy for crews to meet one another and start to get to know their new extended family.

However preparing for and transiting through this engineering miracle is always a highlight for crews in their circumnavigation. It is a fascinating feat of physics and almost marks a point of no return for circumnavigators – the adventure has begun and there is no turning back! The World ARC fleet

prepared for the transit at Shelter Bay Marina, a well-equipped facility, perfect for preparing for the Canal transit.

There is an impressive expansion plan taking place to increase the capacity of the ship locks to larger than ‘Panamax’ size. The construction is underway, but its unlikely yachts will transit through these chambers in the near future. World ARC crews did however get to learn about the plan and see the original locks in operation from the Gatun Lock Visitor Centre before their own transits. The crews need not have been experts though because, as always, the Panama Canal provided a team of friendly advisors to guide yachts through their transit.

Boats at anchor in Chichime, San Blas

The beauty of San Blas is in contrast to the hard functionality of the Panama Canal.

35

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Nexus Log: Panama Canal

Clementina and Celebrate approaching Gatun Lock

“A restful but short night in the big lake in Panama, after completing our first half passage through the Panama Canal. The Canal is AWESOME, and it was really fun to watch it work, and especially to drive through it with two 40’ boats rafted to our sides! The adviser was excellent and really fun to work with, and the World ARC staff did a superb job preparing us for the journey, there were no surprises other than the beauty of the area and impressive engineering and clockwork precision of the locks.

We went through with 11 World ARC boats, and in the middle lock, someone in the group played the bagpipes, which gave a wonderful ambiance to the trip and solicited a salute from the horn of the freighter in the other lock.”

As the locks gates cracked open in the final lock chamber, crews motored out into the Pacific and headed for the La Playita anchorage on the doorstep of Panama City. The city is an interesting one to visit and is a useful place to stock up on provisions before heading out across the Pacific.

Once fully stocked the Las Perlas islands are just a day sail away and anchoring amongst these islands is far more interesting than being on the mainland as crews enjoyed their first taste of the Pacific. The tides make some of the anchorages tricky but they also provide some interesting possibilities to dinghy up little estuaries and rivers to explore inland. Some are quite shallow, but one can float up and down on the tide.

Restarting from the small island of Contadora in the Las Perlas islands was memorable as the fleet left in downwind conditions with several yachts flying their spinnakers. Not long after the start the radio sparked to life with reports of crews catching fish in these marine rich waters and seeing dolphins accompanying their boats.

The fleet headed across the equatorial doldrum belt, but the winds for most were better than expected and crews made quicker crossing than in previous years. There were several ceremonies to toast Neptune as the uninitiated sailed across the Equator for the first time.

As sailors come ashore in Puerto Baquerizo in the Galapagos islands, they are always surprised to see the abundance of wildlife on the landing steps and as they walk ashore. Sea lions and marine iguanas circle the docks and sunbathe ashore, and in the evening light the rays glide in the lights of the town piers. Galapagos is a special place and the richness of wildlife seen here challenges anywhere else visited on the World ARC route.

However, where Galapagos also challenges and surpasses all others stopovers, is the level of bureaucracy, dishonesty and the implementation of its laws and rules. For many, this was near-total distraction from all the positive aspects offered by the islands’ wildlife and landscape. On arrival 18 yachts of the fleet were found to have organisms on their hulls which were deemed a threat to the environment. These yachts were mandated to put to sea to be professionally cleaned if they wanted to stay in the islands – a frustrating experience for all those affected. And before departure it took the hourly supervision of Rally Control to ensure that a US gallon of diesel was equal to the “Galapagos gallon”. Following these episodes, it was a shame to leave such a place of promise, with such a feeling of unfulfilling.

The fleet in Las Perlas

Into the Pacific, the fleet fly downwind to the Galapagos

37

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WORLD ARC Green turtle seen whilst diving in Isabela, Galapagos

Brizo Log: Species of the Bureaucrat “Aside from the blue footed booby and a host of other unique wildlife in Galapagos, it has a very unique species of Bureaucrat. Isolated out here, they have developed an exquisite blend of characteristics that sets them apart from Bureaucrats elsewhere in the world. Their prey is almost uniquely on Eco-tourists such as ourselves, seeking them out at the earliest opportunity.

Hunting in packs of sometimes as many as 12 at a time they swoop in on incoming yachtsman before they even have time to set foot on land. Attracted by the Yellow Q flag that visiting yachtsman are internationally obliged to fly as they enter a new country, they are on-board before the victim knows it. Their prey tries in vain to fend them off, handing out money for this and that but they don’t let up and continue to raid the fridge and the bins, attacking anything that potentially may have lived a past life elsewhere on the planet. The blue shirted uniform version carries a weapon, presumably to show he is leader of this dispirit band of brothers,

Exporing under water

but all have one thing in common, black soled clumpy shoes that they refuse to remove when boarding the vessel, this in particular raises the hackles of its prey.

After the visiting yachtsman has started to succumb to this initial ‘top side’ onslaught, there is an unseen and a potentially much more serious version of the Galapagos Bureaucrat. Attacking only the underbelly of its now reeling prey, this one takes pictures of its chosen victims bottom, which will in time be sent many miles away. This more subtle attack can in a few days be potentially lethal, forcing its prey to have to exit the National Park and remove foreign bodies at their own expense before returning when yet another attack will take place.

By now the reeling visiting yachtsman is seriously wounded and considering moving on to other more simpler habitats like the Marquises, where they hope the species of Bureaucrat is less aggressive.”

That said, all crews did manage some great tours on and around the islands, either for one day on a small speed boat or several days on a live-aboard boat. The scenery and the wildlife are both amazing and whether you are walking, snorkelling or diving, it is everywhere, and close.

The habitat is not tamed, there are no ‘shows’, but because everything is so numerous, it is as though the species are trained to be around each visiting tourist. There were several wonderful comments about tours and particularly about time whilst anchored in Isabella - a spectacular island.

Firefly Log: Peter’s tour update “After a high adrenalin entry into the lagoon through breaking surf and avoiding volcanic rocky outcrops we entered an area that was out of this world. An aquamarine lagoon with numerous volcanic rock islets, all reasonably evenly spaced so that the boat could motor between them at slow speed. Several of the outcrops were joined by bridges of rock, hence the name ‘tunelles’. Growing on the rocks were numerous cacti, giving the place a ‘wild west’ appearance. On the land and in the air we saw numerous blue footed booby’s. Having tied up to one of the rocky islets at an improvised jetty we ventured ashore and managed to get very close to Booby’s doing their courtship dances - the male whistling, then lifting its feet in turn, sticking up its tail and flapping its wings. The female was clearly impressed as she allowed the male to get closer and responded with a wing flap and they touched their beaks together. Our guide explained that males with the bluest feet are the most successful with the females. We then stood on top of the volcanic rock bridges and watched as literally 50 to 100 turtles entered the inner area of the lagoon in a ongoing convoy. Finally as the light was fading we had our final snorkelling session. In the very clear water it was interesting to dive through the tunnels and especially due to the time we were expecting to see white tip sharks. The sharks did not show but our guide had promised us that he would find seahorses, having seen them several days before. He sent us away for a while during his searching and eventually we were called back over to dive closely to the most bizarre looking creature - at about 10cm long it was about twice as big as we had expected!”

Meeting the Galapagos locals during the Kicker Rock Tour

39

LATITUDES

Spring / Summer 2014 There is plenty to see and the sharks can be quite inquisitive too adding a real thrill!

The fleet bid farewell to French Polynesia

We leave the fleet in Tahiti.

Much work is been done on repairs and spares and several crews have taken the chance to change or fly back home for a week or two. Before the fleet leave French Polynesia, the Society Islands of Moorea, Raiatea and Bora Bora are left to be discovered and a handful of boats will join the Tahiti Pearl Regatta for some light-hearted racing around the Leeward Islands.

Life is good!

The winds for the beginning of the long-haul trip to the Marquesas were looking light, with the promise of more to come but, as it turned out, most of the fleet kept the wind from the start line for several days. Some kept north on the promise of a favourable current but those taking a moderate route south west from the islands did best. For many it was a great sail across from Galapagos, to make landfall in Hiva Oa, and the miles clicked over at a reasonable rhythm for the majority of the fleet. In fact several boats, especially in the first two-thirds of the fleet arrivals commented how they’d be content to sail on westwards for several days.

Welcome festival for the crew arrival in Nuku Hiva

At the end of the first quarter of the Rally, crews complete a survey which invites a comment on their favourite place so far. The Marquesas, Hiva Oa or Nuku Hiva combined were the most frequent response. They are many great places on the route (including San Blas) but this reply is understandable - the scenery is stunning, the people are friendly and welcoming and life is, well, uncomplicated. It’s also a place unaffected by mass tourism and ‘yachties’ represent a significant proportion of those visiting. The Marquesas mark the start of two months for the World ARC in French Polynesia and the welcome the fleet received in Hiva Oa and during the Welcome Party in Nuku Hiva, was second to none.

The beauty of Nuku Hiva

The area of French Polynesia is huge and covers the same imprint on the globe as most of Europe. And even with two months there, one could easily feel the need for more time to get to know it better.

The Tuamotos islands are geographically distinct from the green and mountainous Marquesas but the people are friendly and there’s also so much to do. Diving in Rangiroa sets a standard for all other places, and truth be known, divers and snorkelers in Rangiroa are unlikely to see anything comparable along the World ARC route.

Laurie, Tim , Tracey, Lucy & Brian

40

www.worldcruising.com LATITUDES

World Cruising Club Programme 2014 - 2015 2014

2015

1 June

11 July

10 January

Marking the 20th edition of this cruise in company from Plymouth, UK across Biscay then day sailing down the Portuguese coast to Marina de Lagos. www.worldcruising.com/arc_portugal

Whisky-themed cruising around the islands and lochs of western Scotland www.worldcruising.com/Malts_Cruise

Start of 15 months circumnavigation rally via Panama Canal, Australia and South Africa www.worldcruising.com/world_arc

13 September

10 January

ARC Portugal

Malts Cruise

7-8 June

Ocean Sailing Forum, UK

A unique weekend rendezvous at Berthon’s Lymington UK base for sailors who are aiming at going offshore cruising and want to know what to look for when choosing a bluewater cruising boat. www.worldcruising.com/training

An introduction to ocean sailing held at the Southampton Boat Show. The two hour moderated panel discussion will cover topics like preparing your boat, selecting equipment, sails and sail handling, life onboard, crew management, route and weather. www.worldcruising.com/training

8 June

11 October

ARC DelMarVa

Ocean Sailing Forum, USA

A week-long cruising rally around the DelMarVa peninsula, East Coast USA. www.worldcruising.com/ARCDelMarVa

Learn from the cruising experts at our interactive panel discussion held at the United States Sailboat Show in Annapolis, MD. www.worldcruising.com/training

Bluewater Open Boat Weekend

21-22 June

ARC Langtur Camp Oslo, Norway Held in Norway in association with the Kongelig Norsk Seilforening, ARC Langtur Camp is for sailors who are aiming at going offshore cruising and throughout the weekend there will be opportunities to mix with industry experts and other cruising sailors. www.worldcruising.com/training

7 July

ARC Baltic Cruising around the Baltic Sea, stopping in 6 capitals over 6 weeks. Starts from Kiel, Germany www.worldcruising.com/ARC_Baltic

2 November

ARC Caribbean 1500 ARC Bahamas

World ARC 2015-16

Bluewater Cruisers Question Time, UK An introduction to ocean sailing held at the London Boat Show www.worldcruising.com/training

17-25 January

Boot Düsseldorf Meed the World Cruising Club team at the international boat show at Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre, Germany www.boot.de

6-8 March

Ocean Cruising Seminar, UK Three day ocean cruising seminar delivered by industry experts, held in Guildford, UK www.worldcruising.com/training

Cruising rally from Portsmouth VA to Tortola BVI, or Green Turtle Cay, Bahamas. www.worldcruising.com/Carib1500

9 November ARC+ 2014

Cruising Rally, from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia, however with an added stopover in the Cape Verdes www.worldcruising.com/arc

23 November

ARC 2014

29th edition of the world’s most popular cruising rally from Gran Canaria to Saint Lucia. www.worldcruising.com/arc

41

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www.worldcruising.com LATITUDES

TeamSurv

Mapping the World’s Coastal Waters

World Cruising Club boat owners invited to join an ambitious project and help map the world’s coastal waters with a simple data-logger on board.

Using an onboard data-logger, TeamSurv are harnessing the power of crowd-sourcing to add vital data to the map of the world’s oceans. Leisure boat users are invited to join-in with this fascinating initiative to help collect millions of sea bed depth measurements in coastal waters around the world. The aggregated data, corrected for things like transducer depth, tides and variations in the speed of sound in water, is then combined to produce a grid of depths, which can then be converted into a chart by contouring, shading and adding spot depths. All participants have free access to these charts, and TeamSurv also make them available to hydrographic offices and other chart publishers, oceanographers, environmentalists and all the other people who need better depth data for the seas. Whilst not as good as a professional hydrographic survey, the data is useful for most purposes and significantly will cover areas ignored by national surveys.

Having good depth data is important for many reasons – not just to make sure you don’t run aground.

It is used in tide models and in modelling coastal erosion. Offshore engineers use it to plan offshore structures and to route pipelines and cables, and then to monitor for changes in the sea bed. Environmentalists use it for habitat mapping, and to ensure that fishing is done in a sustainable way. Climate modellers use it in modelling ocean currents, and how they move hot and cold waters around the world.

The Smart Log installed

Taking part is simple. Teamsurv either supply you with a free data logger that connects to your instruments, or if you have a suitable plotter they can get data from that.

Find out more at www.teamsurv.eu

43

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LATITUDES

Idyllic sailing in the BVIs

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You folks are incredible - you make this easy, fun and safe.”

Summer 2014

Owning a yacht with Horizon Yacht Charters Horizon Yacht Charters was established in the British Virgin Islands in 1998 and since then has been built a strong reputation as a world class provider of sailing vacations at their bases in the Caribbean and USA.

Charter Customer, Bavaria Vision 46 Kibo, Jan 2014.

YOUR YACHT, YOUR WAY www.horizonyachtcharters.com info@horizonyachtcharters.com phone: +1.284.494.8787 toll free: 1.877.494.8787

Authorized Dealers for:

• Purchase a tax free yacht in the Caribbean, sail worldwide through our global sailing programme • Choose the right income program to suit your needs • Try Before You Buy and get your charter fee refunded on purchase (conditions apply) • Optional summers in the US and winters in the Caribbean In association with Sound Yachting

Providing yacht owners with a superior ownership experience since 1998 46

www.worldcruising.com LATITUDES

Horizon offers bareboat, crewed and learn to sail at our Caribbean bases in the British Virgin Islands, Antigua & Barbuda, St Maarten and Grenada.

Horizon’s Yacht Sales Division sells yachts (from Bavaria Yachts) and catamarans (from FountainePajot and Lagoon) into their Charter Yacht Ownership Programme. This is a fantastic way of harnessing your new yacht to pay for its keep and to earn you revenue. If you prefer you can of course purchase your yacht from Horizon for private use and Horizon can manage and maintain it for you.

Why do people choose Horizon for their yacht purchase? Here are a few of the many reasons: • Private or charter purchase options • Meticulous yacht maintenance regime – your prized yacht will be well cared for • “try before you buy” – If you buy a yacht within three months of chartering it Horizon refund you for the charter vacation!

• Choice of ownership programmes • Tax-free purchase in the Caribbean This combination continues to prove to be a compelling offering for Horizon’s clients, some of whom are now on their third or fourth yacht with the company.

Advice to purchasers Thanks to their experience and expertise in the yacht industry, Horizon offers first-class advice to prospective yacht purchasers. They recognize that buying a yacht is a major decision, and work with clients to ensure they will make the best possible purchase decision.

Horizon help purchasers answer questions such as: • Should I purchase a monohull or catamaran?

Answer - it very much depends on your budget and what you plan to do with the yacht when she comes out of charter.

• What cabin layout should I choose? Well, more cabins = more charters as a general rule. Some clients prefer to reduce the number of cabins so they have a larger stateroom. Some yachts, for example the Bavaria Cruiser 46, have a conversion available which transforms the state room into two double cabins in no time at all.

Offering the best of both worlds!

• What income can I expect from my yacht?

Horizon offer accurate projections based on your chosen yacht, including sensitivity analyses for three scenarios of charter bookings.

• How often can I use my yacht myself?

Answer: as often as you wish!

Income programmes Horizon provide two charter ownership income programmes - maximum income and guaranteed income.

Under the maximum income programme, charter yacht owners benefit from: •8 0% of net charter income •U nlimited yacht usage •M onthly maintenance reports •C osts applied to income to minimize administration Clients who choose the guaranteed income programmes enjoy: • F ixed monthly income •A nnual maintenance costs, dockage and insurance covered by Horizon •M onthly maintenance reports Whichever programme Horizon’s owners choose, they can rest assured that their yacht will be in good hands. The yachts are inspected – above deck, below deck and below the waterline – after every charter. During hurricane season the yachts are hauled or safely secured in hurricane holes.

Summary If you are considering purchasing a yacht for use in the Caribbean, Horizon’s reputation and capabilities should ensure they are top of your list for your purchase and management company.

As Horizon say - It’s Your Yacht, Your Way. www.horizonyachtcharters.com Tel: +1 284 494 8787

“

We bought our Fountaine Pajot Helia 44 from Horizon in Tortola after a huge amount of research. The team there has been extremely professional and helpful.

They had endless patience with us and gave us invaluable advice on configuring the final specification.

Having visited with each of the charter companies in the British Virgin Islands and looked at how they operate, I felt that Horizon were doing the best job of maintaining their charter fleet and also had excellent customer service, so we placed it into their fleet for them to manage.”

Owners Helia 44, October 2013 Fountaine Pajot Helia 44

47

Our website has all the sailing gear you’ll ever need.

At Gill there are over a thousand items in our range. From sunglasses to full ocean gear. And as you’d expect, everything is tried and tested.

Login to worldcruising.com/membersarea and click on the Gill logo to receive your exclusive 15% members discount and free UK delivery.

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www.worldcruising.com LATITUDES

Sailors encouraged to join project to track effects of climate change on the world’s oceans Cruising sailors are being encouraged to take part in a unique global study, using a mobile phone app to record the effects of climate change.

The Secchi Disc

The Secchi Disc science project will measure the amount of phytoplankton, minute organisms at the very start of the marine food chain, currently residing in the world’s oceans. Scientists fear the population of the microscopic beings is in decline due to rising sea temperatures and, if true, that could have consequences for every aspect of marine life. The aim is to build a map of the oceans that charts the seasonal and annual changes of phytoplankton from now and into the future.

Dr Richard Kirby

Because the phytoplankton exist at the sea’s surface, mariners can carry out a simple experiment using an easy to make ‘Secchi Disk’. Attached to a measuring tape, the Secchi Disk is lowered over the side of a boat and the depth at which it disappears from sight estimates the amount of phytoplankton in the sea. This depth can then be uploaded to a database using the Secchi mobile phone app. The Secchi app is designed to be used in places where the phone has no internet connection, and stores readings on the phone to be uploaded later when an internet connection is available. The user’s location is taken from the phone’s GPS, eliminating transcription errors and the user interface has been designed to be easy to use on a boat at sea. Small and fussy layouts are not used, and the “depth disk” uses a logarithmic scale to enable shallow depths to be entered quickly and accurately.

Biologist Dr Richard Kirby, who is leading the study, explained the scientific background to the initiative:

“As the phytoplankton live at the surface of the sea they are being affected by rising sea temperatures due to climate change. A scientific paper published last year suggested the ocean’s plankton population had declined by as much as 40 per cent since 1950 as sea temperatures had warmed due to climate change. The scientists suggested that a warming of the ocean surface may have reduced vertical mixing of the water column thereby reducing the supply of nutrients from deeper waters – in effect the input of fertiliser to the surface had lessened with effects upon phytoplankton growth.

Their results provoked debate among marine scientists however, some who thought they saw no change, or even an increase in phytoplankton in some places. Since the phytoplankton begin the marine food chain, we need to know more about if, how, and why they are changing in order to understand the effects on the ocean’s biology.”

Find out more at www.secchidisk.org

51

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The app provides a fully functioning chart navigation package using award winning quality raster charts.

For the catalogue of Imray books and charts visit our web site www.imray.com s

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A regular position report from your yacht (e.g. once per hour) Your own web link, showing current position, historic track, plus blog entries, photos, videos and more. e.g. http://my.yb.tl/sorlandet 5-Button keypad plus specific ‘alert’ button

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Keep a record of historic tracks for the events you take part in

Starting from £399 / €469 / $629 plus tax For more information and to purchase now visit: www.yellowbrick-tracking.com

www.worldcruising.com

LATITUDES

Childhood games and fantasies and early family experiences fostered a passion for the water from boating ponds to rivers, seas and oceans.

2

Books & Gear 1: To Sea Oar Knot to Sea As a novice crew member invited to sail the Atlantic with his brother this humorous report about ARC 2013 has brilliantly captured the whole essence of the rally.

Cleverly structured to cover all aspects of the planning, the crossing and the arrival in just the right proportions the tale touches on many important considerations and moments throughout the experience.

Humour lightens the tone throughout and will ease any would be Atlantic sailors apprehension. It has taken a novice sailor (by his own admission) to see the ARC from a totally different and refreshing angle; a must read for any crew considering the Atlantic crossing.

By Andrew Diggins ISBN 978-0-7522-1639-0 £7.99 (Amazon)

2: Fight for Sight on Theo’s Future: A Voyage of Hope & Endeavour Colonel Mike Brooke has published an account of his voyage around Great Britain in a 19-foot cutter to raise money for Moorfields Hospital and the UCL Institute of Opthalmology to research gene therapy to combat congenital blindness, which has affected his godson among thousands of others. The proceeds from the book will go to the charities Fight for Sight and the Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit, dedicated to the welfare, conservation and protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises, a charity dear to his late son, Simon. The book can be ordered directly from Mike www.theosfuture.org for £12.95 plus £3.95 postage and packaging.

By Mike Brooke ISBN 9780903530408

3

This is a true story of how one early dream evolved and was turned eventually into a set of considered practical plans and then a real life experience.

It covers some of the practicalities and insights of a group of people with different experience and personalities who worked and sailed together for over 4000 miles in total.

It looks at the mission and vision and considers the leadership and team work that everyone needed to demonstrate in order to ensure a safe, happy and successful journey, a virginal ocean crossing.

Fulfilling the Dream

1

Team Excellence

A story of a dream that became reality and in turn has spawned more dreams.

Team Excellence Fulfilling the Dream

4

5

6

7

an ocean crossing

3: Imray Chart Navigator App 2014 editions Download the free Marine Imray Charts app from the iTunes App Store. Version 3.0 of the Marine Imray Charts app for iPad, iPhone and iPod is now available as a free upgrade.

It contains many improvements and is fully optimised for IOS7 as well as giving access to the 2014 editions of the chart sets. These contain new editions published during the last year. For existing users upgrades of chart sets are available at a discounted price.

4: Team Excellence – Fulfilling the dream A story of a dream that became reality and in turn has spawned more dreams.

This is a true story of how one early dream evolved and was turned eventually into a set of considered practical plans and then a real life experience. It covers some of the practicalities and insights of a group of people with different experience and personalities who worked and sailed together for over 4000 miles in total. It looks at the mission and vision and considers the leadership and team work that everyone needed to demonstrate in order to ensure a safe, happy and successful journey, a virginal ocean crossing. Available through Amazon.

By Peter Coxon ISBN 978-1907048203

5: Shooting Stars and Flying Fish A light-hearted but inspirational memoir about a remarkable couple who left behind the corporate rat-race and their previous life as racing sailors to follow their dream of sailing around the world - a story that demonstrates the rewards of taking risks to follow one’s star. The book is available from Allen & Unwin online, or from Amazon, and is available world-wide on Kindle.

By Nancy Knudsen ISBN: 9781742376653

6: Hasta Bananas Retired after thirty years of flying as a commercial pilot for Swissair, Otti Schmid bought an ocean going sailing yacht. With little experience on the open sea, he set sail to circumnavigate the earth. He crossed the Atlantic Ocean with the ARC and arrived at the entrance to the Panama Canal where his first book, Hasta Bananas begins. Follow Otti’s adventure to Galapagos, Polynesia and Melanesia, New Zealand and Australia. Hasta Bananas is available in English and German through the Kindle store on Amazon, along with his second book, Hasta Luego www.hastabananas.ch

By Otti Schmid Ebook English & German

7: Gill Watches The new range of sailing watches from Gill are specifically designed with all the features that you are looking for on the water.

For the racing environment the countdown timer can be adjusted to any start sequence, and the highlighted synchro function means that the start time will always be spot-on.

The displays feature large clear easy to read numerals that increase in size and clarity for the final minute before the start.

Both watches are packed with useful well thought-out features such as a key lock function to make sure that buttons are not pressed accidentally, a really loud alarm beep to make sure that you hear it even when it is really breezy and an electro luminescent back light for night use. A sleep function preserves battery life when not in use.

The Regatta Master Watch has the additional feature of dual time function for different time zones and a stopwatch.

It is protected by a smart Stainless Steel and reinforced ABS plastic construction creating a tough, impact resistant shell which is water resistant to 50m. The Race Watch uses a carbon reinforced ABS plastic construction with a stainless steel case back and is water resistant to 30m. Both styles use a flexible and hardwearing Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) strap. www.gillmarine.com

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Perfect Galley                     

   

   

www.worldcruising.com

LATITUDES

Cruising notes from noonsite.com A round-up of recent news and information for cruising sailors from Noonsite.com, the global directory for cruising sailors.

Noonsite.com aims to provide a one-stop website featuring essential information on all matters of interest to sailors planning an offshore voyage anywhere in the world, whether already underway or still in the preparatory stages. All cruising destinations are covered (currently 193 countries and 1845 ports) with information on clearance formalities, visa requirements, fees, weather, special events and other facts needed by visiting sailors. Also featured are details of repair facilities as well as marine and shore services for every major port visited by cruising boats.

Solomon Islands: Where to cruise in the Solomon Island Top-tips on “must see” places in one of the less frequented cruising areas of the pacific. www.noonsite.com/Countries/SolomonIslands/ solomon-islands-our-advice-following-a-cruisethere-in-2013

Russia: following the Viking route south In 2012 the Russian Prime Minister decreed that restrictions on entry of foreign vessels into Russia’s inland waterways were to be eased. Now, those yachts seeking a novel route south from Svalbard and Norway to the Mediterranean can consider the Volga River route. www.noonsite.com/Countries/Russia/ exploring-russia-s-inland-waterways-norwayto-the-med-via-the-volga-river-2013

Philippines: The Hinatuan Passage - East to West The passage from Palau to the Philippines is sailed by many boats each year. When heading to Cebu or passing through the Philippines to Malaysia, the shortest route goes through the Hinatuan

Passage. This report from Jim and Katie Thomsen, S/Y Tenaya, who transited the passage in February 2014. www.noonsite.com/Countries/ Philippines/philippines-the-hinatuan-passageeast-to-west

South Pacific, Niue: Arrive with correct paperwork or face fines Lying on the direct route from French Polynesia to Vava’u in Tonga, Niue is a favourite stop for westbound yachts. With the first arrivals this season clearing into Niue, the authorities are keen to try and highlight the need for the correct “clearance” requirements before yachts arrive in Niue.

French Polynesia: Good News for Visiting Yachts From 22nd April 2014, the length of time a yacht may remain in French Polynesia has been extended to 36 months with no minimum period outside the country before returning. www. noonsite.com/Countries/FrenchPolynesia/ french-polynesia-good-news-for-visiting-yachts

Australia: Customs move to make pleasure craft reporting and clearance totally electronic

Very special and worth the trouble says Colleen Wilson of S/V Mokisha. www.noonsite.com/Countries/India/a-visit-tothe-andaman-islands-march-2014-very-specialand-worth-the-trouble

Australian Customs and Border Protection are going to introduce a system of Electronic Reporting for international yacht arrivals and departures beginning in September of this year.

Currently the proposed reporting forms are in trial phase and the ACBPS want your feedback. www.noonsite.com/Countries/Australia/ australia-customs-move-to-make-pleasurecraft-reporting-and-clearance-totallyelectronic

Greece: New Cruising Tax Latest updates

Algeria: we were met with goodwill and generosity

Cruising sailors in Greece now face increased costs as the Government impose a new tax on all leisure and commercial tourist craft. The Cruising Association (CA) are following this new “proposed tax” very closely and are in direct contact with the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and the Aegean who are responsible for implementing this tax. The CA have been seeking a number of concessions and the latest situation can be seen at their website.

For detailed information about this tax, as well as a translation of the new law, see www.cruising. org.uk/news/greektax

The crew of yacht Adina visited Algeria in August 2013. An excellent account of their travels there, with photos, can be found at www.yachtadina. co.uk/algeria. Here they have sent noonsite a summary of what to expect and an outline of the main ports you can visit safely. www.noonsite.com/Countries/Algeria/ welcome-to-algeria-we-were-met-withgoodwill-and-generosity

India: A visit to the Andaman Islands

For the latest cruising news, follow @noonsiteeditor on twitter 55

Saint Lucia welcomes all ARC participants to its simply beautiful shores

E-mail: information@stlucia.org Saint Lucia: 758 452 4094 www.stlucianow.com

USA: 1800 456 3984 www.stlucianow.com

Canada: 1800 869 0377 www.stlucianow.ca France: 33 1 45 32 0254 www.stlucianow.com

UK: 44 207 341 7000 www.stlucianow.co.uk

Germany: 49 69 89 00 9081 www.jetzt-saintlucia.de