Yachtstyle issue 21 by Yachtstyle

ASIA’S AWARD WINNING BOATING LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE

issue

AMERICA'S CUP 72

Hong Kong: HK$80 Singapore: S$12 Malaysia: M$32 Thailand: B328 Rest of the World: US$12

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REGATTA KOH SAMUI SUPERYACHTS MONACO’S TOP YACHTS SEA TRIAL PERSHING 92 AND LEOPARD 44 DESTINATION LANGKAWI 15/10/2012 6:57 PM

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Enjoy every minute.

N E W M O D E L : S U N O DY S S E Y 4 4 D S

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for... Aboard a Sun Odyssey 44DS, experience elegance, comfort, peace of mind. Far from the everyday, you have just one objective: enjoy sailing.

HONG KONG · China Pacific Marine· Tel: +852 2358 0023 · www.chinapacificmarine .com THAILAND · Lee Marine· Tel: +66 76 238 803 · www.leemarine .com SINGAPORE· Premium Nautical· Tel: +65 6275 5055 · www.premiumnautical.com JAPAN· Odyssey Marine· Tel: +81 46 875 0650· www.odysseymarine .co.jp Jeanneau Asia Pacific Office· Tel: +852 3975 2994 SUN ODYSSEY 44DS new - 45DS - 50DS

www.jeanneau.com

Enjoy every minute.

N E W M O D E L : S U N O DY S S E Y 4 4 D S

It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for... Aboard a Sun Odyssey 44DS, experience elegance, comfort, peace of mind. Far from the everyday, you have just one objective: enjoy sailing.

www.jeanneau.com

Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

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YACHTSTYLE ISSUE TWENTY-one autumn

LOGBOOK 024 NEWs ROUND UP Tales of the Water Margin, Sea Bear, and a 180m megayacht

032 regattas Opening the season at Royal Hong Kong and Aberdeen Boat Club

036 BOAT SHOWs Korea International Boat Show and Match Cup, Nansha Yacht CN

040 PArties Canaletto at the RHKYC, and a Dutch Treat with Royal Huisman 044 People Jeroen de Vos, Capt Sairah MacGillivray, and Des McWilliam

FEATURES 058 M/Y van triumph A true Asian original, and the stories that surround her still

064 AC 72 ‘Catamarans on steroids’ rolled out for the America’s Cup

072 monaco magic Where the biggest, glossiest and best groomed strut their stuff

084 power of two Brothers take on a leg of the Pangaea World Challenge for Young People 092 fit for sea No personal trainer on board? Be your own, get fit, stay fit on board

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Job No.: ED019-(6)

Size: 245mm (w) x 330mm (h)

Position: Right hand side

Artwork by: Object and Image Printing Production Ltd. (Tel: 2838 5000)

Magazine: Yacht Style Asia

Date: 11 October, 2012

Title: The Macallan Advertising Artwork

Client: Edrington Hong Kong Limited

content

on board 108 PERSHING 92 A guided missile disguised as a boat. Prepare to be blown away

114 Leopard 44 The mid-size family saloon gets a makeover and it really works

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YACHTSTYLE ISSUE TWENTY-one autumn

120 NEW BOATS Astonda 76, Nauta Air 86, Hanse 575, Selene 42, Fairline Squadron 60

STYLE 130 Destination Langkawi, Jewel of Kedah and Land of Legends.

136 down the hatch High quality investment pours into liquid assets

142 about face Exclusive watches that read just as well as they keep time

144 last word Where would Hong Kong be without the sea and a coastline?

guy nowell

146 lAST SHOT Grace and Beauty vs austere efficiency. Wing vs sail

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CMY

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managing editor suzy rayment contributing editors guy nowell, Bob Fisher, Nic Boyde, Ian Lang, michael westlake, Liz Hamerton and Maria Boyde

photographers Guy Nowell, Guilain Grenier, Carlo Borlenghi, Gilles Martin-Raget and chris cameron art director JIVA production and PrintinG GEAR PRINTING LTD SALES AND MARKETING director angel wong circulation manager Lo Wai Gai SALES TRAFFIC COORDINATOR Louisa lo SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER LIZ HAMERTON international advertising sales International angel wong : enquiries@yachtstyle.com.hk china Maria Lam email: China.sales@yachtstyle.com.hk singapore and Indonesia Jo Barton email: Singapore.sales@yachtstyle.com.hk thailand and Malaysia Poon Kosolkarn e-mail: Thai.sales@yachtstyle.com.hk CANADA AND USA Manxman Publishing Inc Email: NAMERICa@yachtstyle.com.hk AUSTRALIA : One World Publications email: Australia@yachtstyle.com.hk managING DIRECTOR - HONG KONG Guy Nowell creative director Davide Butson-Fiori CHIEF FINANCIal Officer Nic Boyde Yachtstyle Asia Directors Nic Boyde, Guy Nowell, Suzy Rayment cover Photograph Superyacht AC 72 Oracle team Photograph Guilain Grenier

Published by Yachtstyle Asia Ltd 17 Tsam Chuk Wan, Sai Kung, Hong Kong Tel: (852) 2792 6234 Email: enquiries@yachtstyle.com.hk www.yachtstyleasia.com Advertisiing Enquiries Tel: (852) 9680 3511 or (852) 9680 7063 E-mail: enquiries@yachtstyle.com.hk

Printing: Gear Printing Ltd, 1/F Express Industrial Building, 43 Heung Yip Road, Wong Chuk Hang, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 2873 3803 All rights reserved © 2012 Yachtstyle Asia Ltd All materials published remain the property of Yachtstyle Asia Ltd. Manuscripts and photographs submitted to Yachtstyle magazine should be accompanied by self-addressed envelopes with return postage. While they will take reasonable care, the editors assume no responsibility for the return of unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. Single copy HK$80.

Subscribe to Yachtstyle for just HK$ 240 Hong Kong & Macau (4 issues) • US$ 70 Asia, excluding Japan (By Airmail) (4 issues) • US$ 80 Rest of World (By Airmail) (4 issues) Call (852) 9680 3511, or subscribe online at www.yachtstyleasia.com

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Welcome to the beautiful new world of Fairline

捷成遊艇誠邀您蒞臨品鑑 We cordially invite you to visit us at: 香港國際遊艇展 2012：2012年 11月30日 - 12月2日 Hong Kong International Boat Show 2012 : 30 Nov – 2 Dec 2012 菲爾蘭中國 Fairline China 上海市延安東路618號東海商業中心16樓郵政編碼 200001 16/F, East Ocean Centre, No.618 Yan An Road East, Shanghai, 200001, P.R.China 電話 Tel: +86 21 2306 4748/2306 4752 電郵 E-mail: china@fairline.com 菲爾蘭香港 Fairline Hong Kong 香港香港仔深灣道8號深灣遊艇俱樂部地下5室 Unit 5, G/F, Aberdeen Marina Tower, 8 Shum Wan Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong 電話 Tel: +852 3180 3189 電郵 E-mail: hongkong@fairline.com 特約代理 Appointed Dealers in: 中國 China 香港 Hong Kong 印度 India 印尼 Indonesia 日本 Japan 韓國 Korea 馬來西亞 Malaysia 新南威爾斯 New South Wales 新西蘭 New Zealand 菲律賓 Philippines 昆士蘭 Queensland 新加坡 Singapore 泰國 Thailand 維多利亞州 Victoria 越南 Vietnam 澳洲西部 Western Australia

fairline.com

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12 editor's letter autumn ISSUE

R suzy rayment

enjoys the top deck view from the Pershing 92

Clockwise from top left: Autumn colours in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong; cruising a Leopard 44 in Port Shelter, Hong Kong; the radar on M/Y Van Triumph; and at the helm

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ecent events in Hong Kong have brought safety at sea to the forefront of everyone’s mind. Yachtstyle sends its condolences to the families who lost loved ones on the night of the tragedy, and sends wishes of speedy recovery to those who were injured in the accident on October 1, 2012. Hong Kong journalist and experienced local sailor, Philip Bowring, commented that the tragic event is “a wake up call for Hong Kong to update the management of its waters to cater to today’s needs for leisure and commerce. The Lamma ferry tragedy should be an occasion not just for looking at maritime safety… but should also be an opportunity to improve on how our waterways are used.” Commissions and inquiries have now been sent up to investigate why the accident happened and whose fault it was. But at the end of the day no amount of legislation can prevent human error, which according to one marine professional is the reason for 80% of maritime accidents. A local marine radio instructor commented that “if both boats had had the AIS warning system installed, as is mandatory in Singapore, then the captains would have been alerted to the danger of the situation earlier.” AIS is an automatic tracking technology used by ships to identify and locate other vessels by electronically exchanging data with nearby boats and AIS base stations, and is now the primary method for collision avoidance worldwide. Fortunately such incidents at sea are rare, but – across the board - modern boats both commercial and recreational move at a faster pace than the old wooden fishing vessels, sampans and

junks that once crowded our fragrant harbour. So maybe it is time to review some of the government’s maritime policies. Bowring comments, “the accident should be a spur to better management, not [a reason to] scare the government and people from using and enjoying the seas.” Having just spent the summer out on the water enjoying the delights of our magnificent maritime environment, this issue of Yachtstyle brings you on-board experiences ranging from the sleek and stylish Pershing 92 (page 108), to the comfortable Leopard 44 cruising catamaran (page 114). Yachtstyle also talks to one of Hong Kong’s first superyacht owners, David Lieu, and his son Wayne, who explored the world in their M/Y Van Triumph, a familiar sight in Asian waters during the 80s and 90s (page 58). The crème de la crème of the superyacht world are the stars of the feature story ‘The Greatest Show on Earth’ that looks at the latest offerings that were on display at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show (page 72), and on the high tech front our America’s Cup expert Bob Fisher looks at the new breed of America’s Cup catamarans, the AC72, in ‘Racing the Beast’ (page 64). Our Last Word this issue is by environmentalist Doug Woodring, who focuses on our marine wealth and how we can make the most of it (page 144). As Philip Bowring says, “We need to keep our seas safe and open for all to enjoy,” - and we at Yachtstyle totally agree.

P.S. Enjoy the special bowman Gallery photos this month!

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14 gallery porto cervo, sardinia maxi yacht rolex cup 2012

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out on a limb The afterguard on Hetairos are a full 216’ behind the bowman, which puts good communication at an absolute premium. At 67m she is the biggest boat ever to contest the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup - and, with an air draft of 62.5m, she was built to be the biggest sailing yacht that can pass through the Panama Canal. “Please press #1 for a windward drop.” photo: rolex/carlo borlenghi

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super soaker This is not a VO70 powering through the Southern Ocean. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the foredeck of the J Class, Velsheda, racing in some very bumpy seas, in the Mediterranean. Nowhere to run to, nowhere to hide, and definitely nowhere to hold on - there are no guard rails on a J Class. Photo: rolex/carlo borlenghi

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18 gallery chicago, USA rolex farr 40 world championships 2012

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launched! One Design racing provides some of the tightest racing in the calendar. The Farr 40 is an ‘owner-driver’ class, so no professionals on the helm, please. Some breeze and a bit of chop off Chicago, and hopefully the bowman on Stuart Townsend’s Virago is wearing very sticky deck shoes - this ride is getting wild! Photo: rolex / kurt arrigo

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20 gallery saint-tropez, france les voiles de saint-tropez

Before the mast Some design features come and go, and others come round again. Once upon a time all boats had bowsprits, then they all disappeared, and now they are back in vogue. Here is one of the originals - Moonbeam III, designed and built by William Fife, and launched in 1903. A design that will never be out of vogue. photo: rolex / carlo borlenghi

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Biggest and best turn out for the maxi yacht rolex cup P.030 Des McWilliam is UK Internationalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top sailsman P.052 and Capt Sairah MacGillivray is the lady driver P.048

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Rolex/Carlo Borlenghi

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28 LOGBOOK NEWS

New Era for Ferretti

Ferruccio Rossi, Tan Xuguang, Norberto Ferretti, and Lamberto Tacoli

handong Heavy Industry Group - Weichai Group recently announced that it has reached agreement with the major creditors of the world’s largest luxury yacht maker, the Italian company Ferretti Group, and acquired a controlling interest in Ferretti by participating in Ferretti’s debt restructuring. Through a total investment of €374 million, including equity investment of €178 million and provision of debt financing of €196 million, SHIG-Weichai Group acquired a 75% interest in the yacht builder after the completion of debt restructuring procedures. Existing creditors acquired the remaining 25% interest in Ferretti through a €25 million equity injection and debt-to-equity swap. Through the acquisition, Ferretti’s capital structure will be fully restructured with equity capital increase by €100 million and total debts reduced to a reasonable level at around €120 million. The business will now be able to enjoy a strong capital base with which to drive their long-term development plans to expand in emerging markets such as Brazil and China. Mr. Tan Xuguang, Chairman of SHIG - Weichai Group, said: “Developing the yacht business is one of the Group’s strategic goals for the next five years. Ferretti, which possesses iconic international brands, state-of-the-art manufacturing technologies, products of the highest quality and an extensive sales network, is an ideal partner. Through the acquisition, the Group will cooperate closely with this world-renowned yacht maker, providing Ferretti with new channels to market and capital support as well as other resources with which it can expand more effectively into emerging markets, a key area of potential growth for Ferretti. Synergies between the Group and Ferretti can be unleashed through the sharing of resources and industrial integration. Ferretti’s overall competitive advantages in production cost, sales channels, aftersales service and financial strength will be improved, creating a win-win situation that will allow Ferretti to consolidate its leading position in the luxury yacht market”. Mr. Norberto Ferretti, Chairman and Founder of Ferretti Group, added: “We are very proud of this agreement with a prestigious partner such as SHIG - Weichai Group. We are strongly convinced that this partnership will lead to very satisfactory results and will provide Ferretti Group with a strong capital base which will allow the development of long-term growth plans. Moreover, China is one of the most rapidly developing countries for the yachting sector and has great potential for the coming 5 to 10 years”. Leveraging its ample resources, SHIG-Weichai aims to facilitate Ferretti‘s expansion in emerging markets such as Asia, with a particular focus on Greater China, which will be an important growth engine for Ferretti’s future development. In addition, the Group will provide a range of other resources including capital support to Ferretti to stimulate its rapid business development in both the traditional European and American markets as well as other emerging markets.

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Water Margin

Celebrating Hong Kong’s links to the sea ‘Water Margin celebrates Hong Hong Kong’s link to the sea’ and is a timely, insightful and visualy stunning look at the SAR’s much underappreciated marine ecosystem. Ocean Recovery Alliance, a Hong Kong registered charity, and Hong Kongbased Flynn Consulting have collaborated to publish the book featuring exquisite

photography and engaging stories about Hong Kong’s magnificently unique aquatic landscape. The 172 page English and Chinese hardback book is now available to buy from the Ocean Recovery Alliance website, and all proceeds go towards the group’s efforts on ocean protection. “Our book is an appreciation of Hong Kong’s maritime resources in all aspects ranging from heritage, culture and recreation, to the breathtaking natural geography and wildlife. It is our intention that the stories and photos in this book initiate response and commitment to creating a future for Hong Kong waters as a sustainable asset for the next generation,” says Doug Woodring, founder of Ocean Recovery Alliance. Production, publishing and printing of the book has been made possible through the generous support of Hong Kong’s maritime community including Anglo-Eastern, Clarkson Asia, Fairmont Magsaysay, KC Maritime, OOCL, Pacific Basin, TCC Group, Tiger Group and Valles. Roxy and Robert YC Ho also provided support. These companies and individuals are supporting the project as a demonstration of their stewardship of the marine environment in Hong Kong. 750 copies of the bilingual book will be distributed, free, to Hong Kong schools. It is also the intention that the book material be developed as a teaching curriculum on environmental science for local schools. www.oceanrecov.org

Majesty 125

ulf Craft recently expanded its superyacht presence on the French Riviera with the presentation of their latest Majesty 125. Semi-custom built for its owner, the new 125 features not only a bespoke interior, but also a modified exterior plan, with Jacuzzi and sun beds on the upper deck, favouring an enhanced seating arrangement on the flybridge. Sure to be a real eye-catcher along the Cote d’Azur, the superyacht’s striking exterior profile exhibits a snow-white superstructure, prairie beige hull and a sky-blue fender line, reminiscent of its sistership already active in charter in the same area since 2010. The yacht is furthermore defined by the same multitude of outdoor relaxation and entertainment areas both aft and in the forward area - that has made the Majesty 125 layout design so popular with

charter operators. The five staterooms, including the main deck owner’s suite, offer superb ocean views – even from the en suite Jacuzzi tub! – and all are bathed in a luxury of soft furnishings and woollen carpets. Six crew members and a captain serve a maximum of 10 overnight onboard guests, and the aft garage provides well-protected storage for two tenders, offering flexibility for crew and passenger movement even when the yacht remains anchored in open water. “The Majesty 125 and Majesty 135 superyacht models are two of our most iconic and successful yacht designs in recent years, and we are humbled and proud at the same time by the enthusiastic customer interest worldwide, and their confidence in our capabilities,” says Erwin Bamps, COO for Gulf Craft.

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Did you know? During the Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta, one of the stopovers gives you a chance to have ‘breakfast with the hornbills’. Really. Seaview Resort, Pulau Pangkor.

7th Vendée Globe

Hakes Marine China

udson Yacht and Hakes Marine have joined forces and formed Hakes Marine China to produce high quality racing yachts. The newly established Hakes Marine China is located in Xiamen. Paul Hakes will head the operation, along with a number of key management personnel drafted in to implement comprehensive training and quality assurance programmes. The new division allows Hakes Marine China to take full advantage of Hudson’s US$50m investment in shipbuilding facilities, which are four

years old and employ over 200 trained staff. The impressive 35,000sqm facilities include the latest in modern technologydriven boat building equipment, and the company is excited to announce the development of a new range of yachts known as HH, to stand for Hudson Hakes. The first in the range will be the HH 42, a fully optimised very high performance racing yacht designed by world renowned Judel Vrolijk Yacht Design. The HH 42 aims to be fast around the track, and will be optimised for IRC racing as well as the new developmental HPR rating system. It is designed for offshore races such as the Rolex China Sea Race, the Hong Kong-Vietnam Race and the Rolex Sydney-Hobart Race. The yachts will be fully customisable to suit the needs of the owner. Also moving to China with Hakes Marine are the Grand Prix SL33 performance racing catamarans that have been used by America’s Cup teams as training and development yachts. www.hakesmarine.com

Photo credit @ Vincent Curutchet – DPPI

1 sailors will be at the start of the 7th edition of the Vendée Globe on November 10, 2012 in Les Sables d’Olonne. The Vendée Globe is a round-the-world single-handed yacht race, sailed non-stop and without assistance. The race, founded by Philippe Jeantot in 1989, has taken place every four years since 1992. As the only single-handed non-stop round-the-world race (in contrast to the VELUX 5 Oceans Race, which is sailed in stages), the race is a serious test of individual endurance, and is regarded by many as the ultimate challenge in ocean racing. The final entry list was unveiled at the Maison de la Mutualité in Paris, by Vendée General Council President Bruno Retailleau, and includes the French superstar Michel Desjoyeaux, who won the last edition of the race, along with a strong British contingent that includes Samantha Davies, who came fourth in the last edition of the race, and Mike Golding who is attempting this race for the fourth time. Alex Thomson, who was forced to retire from the last edition of the race, has set his sights on finishing this year - and (hopefully) being the first Briton to win the converted trophy. * 20 skippers: Jérémie BEYOU (FRA/Maître CoQ), Arnaud BOISSIERES (FRA/ AKENA Vérandas), Louis BURTON (FRA/Bureau Vallée), Samantha DAVIES (GBR/Savéol), Bertrand DE BROC (FRA/Votre Nom autour du Monde avec EDM Projets), Tanguy DE LAMOTTE (FRA/Initiatives-coeur), Kito DE PAVANT (FRA/ Groupe Bel), Alessandro DI BENEDETTO (FRA-ITA, Team Plastique), Jean-Pierre DICK (FRA/Virbac-Paprec 3), François GABART (FRA/MACIF), Mike GOLDING (GBR/Gamesa), Marc GUILLEMOT (FRA/Safran), Zbigniew GUTKOWSKI (POL/ ENERGA), Jean LE CAM (FRA/SynerCiel), Armel LE CLEAC’H (FRA/Banque Populaire), Vincent RIOU (FRA/PRB), Javier SANSO (ESP/ACCIONA 100% EcoPowered), Bernard STAMM (SUI/Cheminées Poujoulat), Alex THOMSON (GBR/HUGO BOSS), Dominique WAVRE (SUI/Mirabaud). www.vendeeglobe.org

guy nowell

Raja Muda Regatta

The Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta is a challenging offshore sailing regatta that is organised every year by the Royal Selangor Yacht

Club under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Consisting of three overnight passage races, covering some 240 miles in total,

the regatta also includes three days of inshore harbour racing in Penang and Langkawi. With regatta dinners almost every night, a rickshaw race and lots of opportunities to socialise, the onshore activities can be as demanding as the sailing!  The event attracts a large variety of yachts, from top class IRC1 racers to more classic cruisers, some of which date back over 100 years. The Rajja Muda presents competitors with both meteorological and navigational challenges during a week-long event that takes participants to some of the most beautiful tropical islands in the world. As of the end of September, 28 yachts were already entered for the 2012 edition of theis Asian classic, including the highly competitive Ker 40 KukuKERchu owned by David Ross,

and Antipodes, the Smith 72 Custom being campaigned by Geoff Hill. At the Penang stopover, this year’s race will be returning to Straits Quay where the marina and surrounding bars and restaurants proved to be so popular with participants in 2011. The onshore programme will also see a new and improved course for the Trishaw Challenge, which will start and finish right outside Healy Mac’s bar, and - thanks to the generosity of E&O - the RMSIR Penang Dinner will be held in an exclusive area right in front of Straits Quay Shopping Mall. If you are a skipper looking for crew, or a keen sailor who would like to participate in the regatta but don’t have a boat, use the link on the main page of the regatta website to access the forum. www.rmsir.com

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28 LOGBOOK NEWS

Sea Bear

Victory for Oman Air

t was a tense final deciding race in Cardiff, UK, for Act 5 of the Extreme Sailing Series. Five boats were capable winning, going in to the last race , but it was Oman Air skippered by US sailor Morgan Larson who clinch victory, denying The Wave, Muscat their fourth straight win on the circuit. The Red Bull Sailing Team led for the first half of Act 5 to get back into contention, and although they are winning the series an Act win still eludes them. Nine teams were competing in Act 5, and the 35,000-strong audience were enthralled by the action and

entertainment throughout the four day event. Olympic medallist Bryony Shaw won the ladies division in the NeilPryde Racing Series. The fast and furious action continues in Nice, France, 18-21 October. Extreme Sailing Series 2012 Overall Series Results after Act 5, Cardiff Position / Team / Points 1 The Wave, Muscat 48 points 2 Oman Air 41 points 3 Red Bull Sailing Team 41 points 4 Groupe Edmond de Rothschild 36 points 5 GAC Pindar 29 points 6 SAP Extreme Sailing Team 24 points 7 Alinghi 22 points 8 ZouLou 19 points

PIMEX

or those golfers looking to take off on a luxury sea cruise, KOP Hotels & Resorts Group are now offering their newly acquired Westport 130, Sea Bear, for charter. Formerly owned by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, the superyacht was one of Nicklaus’s most cherished toys. The 40m vessel is managed by Aqua Voyage, KOP’s nautical division, and forms part of its fleet of luxury yachts. The name Sea Bear is a play on Nicklaus’s soubriquet, the ‘Golden Bear’. The museumcum-passenger ship carries 36 unique pieces of memorabilia, which have been hand picked from the Jack Nicklaus Museum. They include artwork done by Pat Morell in the main saloon, trophies from Nicklaus’s amazing golfing career, the career map, and the famous White Fang putter used for winning the 1967 US Open, World Series of Golf, and the World Cup Team Championships. In all, eight guests can be accommodated onboard in five staterooms. Other amenities include a 10-person formal dining area and a sky lounge on the upper deck which features a wet bar, a gaming table, and alfresco seating with the option to cook a barbeque and enjoy the balmy tropical evening. Powering the 40m superyacht are twin engines generating 2,735hp, giving the boat a top speed of 24 kts, which is not slow for a yacht this size. While cruising at a mere 20 kts the superyacht can cover a distance of over 3,000 nautical miles, which means there are practically no restrictions on reaching the destination of your choice. Are these the perfect specifications for the golfing wife and family who would like to escape for a relaxed ocean cruise?

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The 2013 Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX) will showcase leading marine and lifestyle businesses, products and services from 21–24 March at the Royal Phuket Marina, Phuket, with a large in-water boat display, 2,500 sqm indoor exhibition space and marina-side activities on the boardwalk. The 10th Anniversary PIMEX will be the biggest and best yet, with up to 60 boats in the water, a packed Exhibition Hall and a new ‘Marine Market’. This year, organisers moved the show from the traditional January slot to March, to accommodate a larger in-

water display of quality boats. The calendar move was well-received, and for 2013 the inwater area has been expanded still further. Strategically positioned at the start of the Asian boat show season which runs from March through to May, PIMEX is set to attract more top international boat and marine product brands, and will host a number of regional product launches as companies from around the world come to PIMEX to show their latest products for the 2012/13 Asian season. New for this year is the Marine Market – an outdoor waterside exhibition space catering to trailer boats, marine products and all manner of smaller products. “We have noted a growing demand for trailer boats – both from exhibitors requiring display space, and from interested buyers. We have created an open space near the Town Square at Royal Phuket Marina which will allow sellers to display small boats on trailers, together with a display areas for products and gadgets. The aim is to attract exhibitors who don’t display in the Exhibition Hall or on-the-water, and give them the chance to be a part of PIMEX,” said Show Director Andy Dowden. www.phuketboatshow.com

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This year the 6th China (Shenzhen) International Boat Show (SIBEX 2012) will be held at the Shenzhen Marina Club in Dameisha, on the east coast of Shenzhen, China, from October 18-22, 2012. Known for its in-water exhibition space, SIBEX has become popular with both international and local boat brands who value the opportunity to display

their models first hand to a rapidly growing boating market in China, which also captures the Hong Kong consumer market. This year international brands in attendance will include Azimut, Sunseeker, Ferretti, Riva, Beneteau, Jeanneau, Brunswick and Princess Yachts. Joining them will be wellknown local boat builders such as Sunbird, Heysea and Seastella. Marine brokers Simpson Marine and Jebsen, and Shenzhen-based Speedo Marine, will have boats on display where visitors can experience, first hand, the delights of yachting. Over 95 luxury yachts will be on display, and local superyacht builder IAG will be showcasing its flagship – the Electra 100. www.sibex.net.cn

Nautor’s Swan Success

or Nautor’s Swan, 2012 has proven to be one of the company’s most successful years of late. With a full order book from the last 12 months, the yard is busy with new builds and a number of extensive re-fit projects, and the highly skilled team in Pietarsaari, Finland have delivered a significant increase on turnover under the leadership of Managing Director, Enrico Chieffi. 2012 has seen the launch of the newest addition to the Swan line, the Swan 80S. With her performance oriented hull and clean deck layout masking comfortable internal volume, and a wealth of technical features that combine to offer outstanding long range cruising capabilities, she is a modern sailing yacht built to be fast, yet remain perfectly in keeping with the company’s traditional core values - elegant lines, luxurious interiors, ease of handling, and reliability. Above deck, commitment to comfort is a priority, with the aesthetically elegant sweeping top of the raised saloon flowing easily into the entertainment cockpit amidships, and providing a protected area with access to the main companionway which also benefits from a stylish integrated in-deck bimini that is unique to the new Swan models. The superyacht range continues to grow at Nautor’s Swan. Earlier in 2012, the Swan 105 was introduced. The moulds were completed this summer, and the first hulls are now in construction. The first Swan 105 will be ready to launch in 2014. The design team is also well advanced with plans for an even larger model to complete the Swan line, which currently ranges from the Club Swan 42 to the Swan 105. For the race course, Nautor’s Swan has created a new one-design class with support from Club Swan partner, Gazprom. The Gazprom Swan 60 Class comprises eight yachts racing under the country flags of five nations, spanning two continents. Four Swan 60s competed in the Rolex Swan Cup, and the next event on the calendar is the Nord Stream Race in late October, 2012. Regional operations continue to expand into undeveloped markets for Nautor’s Swan. The Far East remains a key target, and to drive this forward Jimmy Cheung has been appointed Area Manager for this region. www.nautorswan.com

Asia Superyacht Rendezvous

guy nowell

SIBEX

eld annually on the tropical island of Phuket, Thailand, the Asia Superyacht Rendezvous is an invitation-only event for superyachts cruising or based in the Asian region. Now in its 12th year, the event has been sponsored from its inception by the renowned Dutch superyacht shipyard Feadship, and coming onboard this year as an Official CoSponsor is another Dutch shipyard, Royal Huisman. The Rendezvous also has a new host sponsor stunning and exclusive Angsana Laguna Phuket and Xana Beach Club. Organisers Gordon Fernandes, General Manager of Asia Pacific Superyachts, and Charlie Dwyer, skipper of Yanneke Too say, “ We are very proud to have such an elite group of sponsors. We believe this invitation-only event in Asia will continue to attract superyacht owners, captains and crew of yachts that are cruising in Asian region.” “This year the fleet will see the 57.50m sailing superyacht Twizzle joining the sailing division,” says Dwyer. The other yachts include Yanneke Too (36m), along with Si Datu Bua (35m), Samoun (33m) and Silolona (50m) a traditional Indonesian phinisi whose unique black sails have been seen at previous Rendezvous’. On the power side Maverick (46m) and Samax (55m) have already confirmed their attendance, and they are expected to be joined by other superyachts cruising in the region. The well-tested and successful Rendezvous programme starts with welcome cocktail drinks on board one

or more of the superyachts moored overnight in the picturesque Bang Tao Bay. The following day starts with a ‘friendly but competitive’ sailing competition on the water, and then moves on land in the evening for the famous and entertaining Feadship Challenge. This is when teams from each superyacht compete by building model yachts, and then race them. ‘Puff’ is an essential ingredient of success! “Everyone looks forward to the racing, both on and off the water,” says Dwyer. “It gives crews an opportunity to display their sailing prowess, and an excuse for some light hearted banter at the bar later in the evening.” The ‘Rendezvous Booty’ is a new addition to the Rendezvous, and has definitely proved a hit with all age groups as the teams search for a Pirate Treasure Chest chock full of prizes. The Rendezvous concludes with a spectacular Gala Dinner sponsored by Boat International Media and held in the luxurious 5-Star setting of the Angsana Laguna Phuket and Xana Beach Club where guests dance the night away under the stars. The Asia Superyacht Rendezvous is considered to be more than just an exclusive social gathering: it is a opportunity for superyacht owners, captains and crew to relax and mingle in an environment that is as stylish and luxurious as their own boats. The Asia Superyacht Rendezvous welcomes vessels over 100ft to apply for registration for the 2012 event which will be held from the 16-18 December, 2012. www.asia-superyacht-rendezvous.com

Did you know? The China Cup International Regatta starts in Hong Kong, and the first race is a passage race to Longcheer Marina. Ys | Autumn 2012 | 27

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28 LOGBOOK NEWS

Mount Gay Rum Neptune Regatta 2013

Singapore Yacht Show

trip to zero for both power and sail. After only two events, the Neptune Regatta has already established itself as a major ‘happening’ on the Asian regatta calendar. This is the event that was dreamed up by a handful of enthusiastic friends over a couple of drinks in a Singapore bar – and just grew. The regatta, which calls itself “As Much an Adventure, as a Race” involves racing through the delightful scenery of Riau Archipelago from Nongsa Point Marina to Pulau Sikeling (aka ‘Neptune Island’), crossing the Equator, spending four days camping on an otherwise uninhabited and entirely amenity-free island, and racing back again. It’s not as much of an out-of-the way proposition as it sounds, since Nongsa is only a 45 minute ferry ride south across the Singapore Strait. Unusually for a sailing regatta, motor yachts are more than welcome. Of course, they don’t ‘race’, they ‘rally’, but it doesn’t seem to make any difference to the participatory side of things. One motor

yacht owner was heard to enthuse, “It’s really great fun to be able to participate in a boating event of this scale – motor yachts tend to do things by themselves…” And never let it be said that the organisers don’t appreciate a helping hand from a few ‘deluxe ferries’ when it comes to transporting vital supplies – the sailing boats are much too weight-conscious to get involved there! The next Neptune Regatta leaves Nongsa Point on February 10, 2013, returning February 16. Mount Gay Rum are the title sponsors, so here’s a chance for motor boat owners to score a Little Red Hat! There has already been an NOR Party and an SI Party, and there is sure to be more ‘entertainment’ before the fleet heads south. Fleet numbers are capped at 40 sailing boats and 10 motor boats in order to limit the strain on logistics (which are huge anyway), so if you haven’t signed on yet, do so now! Having ‘been there’ and got the t-shirts from both events so far, we absolutely promise you won’t regret it. www.neptune-regatta.com

Did you know? If you cross the equator on the Greenwich Meridien, you become a Diamond Shellback!

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Leaping Lizards! LLOYD IMAGE

guy nowell

ingapore Yacht Show believes that the Asia Pacific region has the potential to become a preferred chartering destination. SYS organisers fully expect the Asia Pacific to become a luxury yachting hot spot, as global charterers shift their focus from traditional cruising grounds towards a search for more exotic cruising destinations. Private charters are becoming more popular in this region, according to SYS, especially among potential buyers thinking seriously about becoming a superyacht owner. More than that, it is the latest in unique holiday experiences. Chartering a superyacht is becoming increasingly popular in this region for several reasons. In the first place, it is a great way to explore the fascinating world of yachting, and is frequently used as stepping stone by potential buyers before they decide to invest in a superyacht of their own. But more than that, you get to be a superyacht owner for a few weeks – stay on a beautiful boat with a full crew looking after you, explore remote bays and coves. And if you are serious about superyacht ownership, you can see how the lifestyle works for you and the family,” explains Singapore Yacht Show Event Manager, Clare Wray. The Singapore Yacht Show is delighted to host some of the world’s most influential yachting brands, including Westport and Sanlorenzo. It is significant that these brands are taking part in this year’s edition of SYS as global focus shifts from Europe and the US to this fast-growing region. For those wishing to explore the many chartering opportunities in Asia, the Singapore Yacht Show is the ideal platform to meet the experts including Burgess, Northrop & Johnson, Ocean Independence, Yacht Support Group, Superyacht Singapore Association, the Asia Pacific Superyacht Association and Aqua Voyage. Other heavyweight brands joining Westport and Sanlorenzo in this year’s SYS line-up include Palmer Johnson, Feadship, Curvelle, Azimut, J Craft, Aycer Yachts and Gulf Craft as well as local brokers SG Boating, Luxury Yachts and Simpson Marine. Ahead of this year’s event will be the 4th Asia Pacific Superyacht Conference running from 25 – 26 April. The conference sees yachting professionals from around the world debate and explore the key issues surrounding the superyacht industry in Asia Pacific.

We ran the the image of Alex Thomson standing on the keel last issue. Here’s the next frame...

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Tel: +86 156 2502 6185 | Web: www.leopardcatamarans.com | Email: asia@leopardcatamarans.com

8 58 Leopard 48

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30 LOGBOOK NEWS Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup TEXT By Suzy Rayment and Guy NOwell Photographs By Rolex / Kurt Arrigo and Carlo Borlengi

rresting, challenging, engaging and propelled by constant evolutions in design and technology, the 23rd edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, held in Porto Cervo, Sardinia from 2 - 8 September 2012, provided a timely confirmation of the regatta’s status as one of the forefront events of the yachting world. The 2012 edition will be remembered as both vintage and challenging, marked by tight competition and ever-changing wind conditions. Inaugurated in 1980 and the jewel in Rolex’s international yachting portfolio since 1985, the event, organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) and the International Maxi Association (IMA), attracted 34 international Maxi yachts – measuring upwards of 18.29 metres (60 feet) – for a week of top quality racing. Three of this year’s 34 entries were new launches, heralding some significant shifts in the Maxi yacht world. Bella Mente and Alessandro Rombelli’s Stig (ITA) bolstered an evolving and competitive Mini Maxi fleet, competing in the third running of the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship. The largest superyacht ever to compete in this event was Hetairos at 66 metres. Two forefront yacht designers, Jim Pugh of San Diego-based Reichel/Pugh and Rolf Vrolijk from German studio Judel/Vrolijk,were at this year’s Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup watching, at first hand, a number of their creations in action.  Judel/Vrolijk designs include four of the week’s Mini Maxi fleet (typically measuring 60-72ft) - Niklas Zennström’s Rán 2 (GBR), Sir Peter Ogden’s Jethou (GBR) and the newly launched Bella Mente (USA) and Stig (ITA). In addition, Judel/ Vrolijk worked behind the concept and launch of the first Wally Cento – Charles Dunstone’s 100-ft Hamilton (GBR).  Reichel/Pugh have provided the vision behind several renowned Maxis including the 100-ft Esimit Europa 2 (SLO), which recently smashed the race record at the Giraglia Rolex Cup. The week-long competition witnessed four days of racing, with two days wiped out because of the weather – day 2 was lost to thunderstorms and torrential rain, and the final day fell victim to overly benign conditions. It was a constant challenge for the crews. Winning on the waters off Porto Cervo is complex and requires nerve, solid tactics, first class teamwork, dedication and – sometimes - extreme patience. The shifting elements were embraced by some crews more than others. Tom Whidden, tactical advisor on Magic Carpet 2, explained that being able to adapt to constant changes in weather and course is essential: “When racing around the islands it is very important to know what is coming next, because the boat performs with any given sail in a given [wind] range and at a given angle - and if you pick the wrong sail the boat is so big that to make a sail change is very difficult for the crew.” This year’s class winners were: Bella Mente (USA) winner of the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship, Esimit Europa 2 (SLO) in Maxi Racing, Aegir (GBR) in Maxi Racing/Cruising and Magic Carpet 2 (GBR) in the Wally class. Nilaya (GBR) completely dominated the Supermaxi class. Each class winner was awarded Rolex timepieces, and Bella Mente the Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship Trophy, at the final prizegiving held on Piazza Azzurra in front of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.

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DID YOU KNOW? The megayacht Hetairos (66m) is the largest yacht ever to compete in the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup - and she recently became the tallest vessel to navigate the Panama Canal. Ys | autumn 2012 | 31

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32 LOGBOOK Calendar asian regattas

Samui Regatta 2012

samui regatta

by Duncan Worthington

DID YOU KNOW? The Phuket King's Cup 2011 anticipated the 2016 Olympics by introducing a kite surfing division. A repeat performance this year is under consideration

November

asian racing/sailing calendar

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hink sailing in the tropics, think Samui, Thailand. Think top-level racing, think Samui Regatta. Under new ownership, the Samui Regatta 2012 rose from the ashes to become arguably the best yet. With just two months for Regattas Asia to put it all together, there was a strong turnout from Asia’s top keelboat and multihull racers, who were up against a good local showing, which made for five days of high calibre racing in all the conditions the gods could muster. The regatta started in sun and finished in sun, and there was plenty

of it in between, but it was the ‘other weather’ that made Samui 2012 the best yet – storms and squalls up to 40kts made for some great apres-racing stories at the Regatta Tavern. Australian entry Hooligan ran away with the IRC Zero title, taking six wins from ten races, while Geoff Hill’s 90ft supermaxi Genuine Risk couldn’t compete on handicap with the 52-footers. In IRC 1, ten closelymatched 40-footers from around the region went head-to-head, and it was the consistency of EFG Bank Mandrake that secured the title.

Selangor Yacht Club and continues up the coastline taking in some of Malaysia’s most popular tourist destinations – Pangkor, Penang and Langkawi. www.rmir.com Tommy Bahama

A tight tussle between El Coyote and Moonblue 2 in IRC Premier finished with Moonblue 2 winning the last race and the title on countback. In IRC 2/Bareboat the Australian entry Reef Knot took the title by one point, and the family crew on Fantasia walked away with the win in the Multihull Class. Participants gathered on the lawns of the Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui for the final Gala Dinner to celebrate the winners. As the event returns to its roots as “the Regatta run on the beach, for sailors, by sailors” many declared it the best yet.

is open to all Hong Kong sailors and all classes of boat including keelboats, catamarans and dinghies. In recent years, outrigger canoes and coastal rowing boats have also taken part. This year’s event is on November 11, 2012. www.rhkyc.org.hk

Around THE

NOVEMBER Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta Malaysia - Port klang

This annual island-hopping regatta for racing classes,

cruisers, multihulls and classics is held along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The event is scheduled for November 16 - 24, starts at the Royal

ISLAND RACE

Monsoon Cup

HONG KONG

Malaysia

This classic race "Around Hong Kong Island" starts outside the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s Kellett Island clubhouse. The Race

The Monsoon Cup is part of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour. Racing takes place in Foundation 36s , between December 3-8, 2012.

This prestigious international regatta was first run in 2005 and its aim is to position Pulau Duyong as a maritime hub for pleasure boating in the Asian region. www.monsooncup.com.my

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15th Western Circuit Sailing Regatta

western circuit

by Guy Nowell

DECEMBER Phuket King’s Cup Thailand

The Phuket King’s Cup Regatta is Asia’s biggest regatta and is now in

after seven hotly contested races. Shoon Fung Too, helmed by Western Circuit veteran Gordon Maxted, clinched the IRC B class ahead of SMU boats, SMU Mad and SMUve. The regatta saw some inspired sailing and almost all the classes went right down to the wire. The prestigious SMU President’s Cup, which features a distance race among all the IRC rated boats, was won by Foxy Lady IV, a unique double trophy haul for the team at this year’s Western Circuit. The event also raised more than US$6,500 for Sailability Singapore. This was through the effort of the students in raising funds through a charity car

its 25th year. Over 100 yachts participate in the regatta, with many coming from overseas. A strong charter fleet makes the event unique in Asia. With the patronage of HM King Bhumipol Adulyadej, the regatta is organized by the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta Organizing Committee under the auspices of the Royal Varuna Yacht Club, in conjunction with the Yacht Racing Association of

wash, and from competitors’ generous donations. The regatta featured racing in the Access 1.3 class which gave an opportunity for the sailors from Sailability Singapore to show their mettle. And on the last day of racing the Neil Pryde Racing Series on Windsurfers got in on the act, running their races within the precinct of the marina. The closing Gala Dinner wrapped up the event with a night to remember, featuring spectacular performances from the performers mixed with the boisterous energy from the sailing fraternity, ensuring that the spirit of merry making did not become a fragment of history.

Thailand and the Royal Thai Navy. The regatta starts on December 5, 2010, which is the King's birthday. www.kingscup.com Asia SUPERYACHT RENDEZVOUS PHUKET THAILAND

This exclusive annual Superyacht Rendezvous is sponsored by Feadship and will be hosted this year by the stunning Angsana Laguna Phuket and & Xana Beach Club in

Phuket, Thailand. The event runs from December, 16-18, 2012. Regular features of the rendezvous are the Feadship Challenge, fun

sailing races, a treasure hunt, cocktail parties aboard the participating yachts and a gala dinner party. www.phuket-invitational.com

DID YOU KNOW? The Royal Langkawi Yacht Club is the only yacht club in Asia to have real Royal Flag Officers

asian racing/sailing calendar

robably now the main feature on the Singapore ‘big boat’ calendar, and raced over two consecutive weekends in August, the 2012 edition of Western Circuit was once again organised by Raffles Marina and students of Singapore Management University. The event boasted more than 300 participants from around the region, and included seven divisions from multihulls to 40-footers. Certainly the Western Circuit eclipses any other big boat regatta in Singapore when it comes to the numbers. Bill Bremner’s Foxy Lady IV held off some stiff competition from Windsikher and Walawala 2 to win the IRC A class

December

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34 LOGBOOK Calendar asian regattas

ABC Opening Regatta 2012

philippe de manny

by Bruce Perkins and Kevin Lewis

DID YOU KNOW? The Top of the Gulf Regatta also incorporated the first round of the NeilPryde RS:X Racing Series

December

asian racing/sailing calendar

YS21_Asian Regattas Autumn.indd 34

30 boats, split between the cruiser, multihull and dinghy divisions, was a good way to start the season. The first day’s racing began in waters southeast of Lamma and in 12-14 kts of breeze from the NE. The wind strength and direction held throughout the first race, and all fleets made excellent progress around their courses, with most boats crossing the finish line a little over an hour after the start. The second race of the day was disrupted part way through by a vicious squall packing wind speeds gusting up to 30kts. The challenging conditions forced some of the smaller boats to retire, whilst some of the larger boats enjoyed

themselves enormously. Island courses for day two: With a forecast steady 10 to 12kts northeasterly, RO Jerry Rollin sent the bigger boats off on a 28nm course around Po Toi, Waglan and One Foot Rock and back to Middle Island. For the smaller boats, reduced courses of 20nm and 16nm were set around Shek O Rock and the Furies. All divisions finished in good breeze at the Committee Boat stationed just off Round Island. There was a near-record turnout of dinghies, with 83 entrants making this the second biggest ABC dinghy event of the year. The increased number of boats

finish at Hobart. The race is known as one of the toughest offshore races in the world. www.rolexsydneyhobart.

JANUARY 2013 ROYAL LANGKAWI INTERNATIONAL REGATTA MALAYSIA

ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART RACE AUSTRALIA

To many sailors in Australia, Christmas Day is known as “the day

before the Hobart”. The fleet sets out from Sydney Harbour and races across the Bass Strait, into Storm Bay and then up the Derwent River to the

This event is organized by the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club and is scheduled for January 07-12, 2013. The racing takes place in the beautiful scenery of the Langkawi archipelago. www.langkawiregatta.com

reflects the expansion and success of dinghy training at all Hong Kong clubs. Saturday saw racing on a trapezoid course in outer Stanley Bay, where the breeze was steady - until interrupted by ‘that’ rainstorm. Reduced visibility and ferocious gusts prompted the RO to abandon the second race, even though the top sailors were having a great time in the blustery conditions! For the 36 young Optimist sailors it was certainly a prudent decision, as many boats capsized. Sunday produced blue skies and more constant wind, and competitors agreed that the day’s racing was a great deal more rewarding.

ABC FOUR PEAkS RACE HONG KONG

The Four Peaks Race this year will be on the weekend of January 2627, 2013. The race is a gruelling overnight affair, first sailing from Deep Water Bay to Sai Kung, where runners from each boat go ashore by canoe or dinghy, climb Ma On Shan mountain and return to their boat. They then sail to Lantau to climb Lantau Peak; then to Lamma to run up Mount Stenhouse. The last run is an ascent

of Violet Hill from the landing area in Repulse Bay, and finally a sail to the finishing line back in Deep Water Bay. www.abclubhk.com

15/10/2012 1:11 PM

RHKYC Autumn Regatta

rhkyc / /guy nowell

by Guy Nowell

then came back twice more. The wind backed 180°, and in less than 30 minutes everything went from stairrods to glass-out. The storm passed, but the wind never recovered. By way of recompense, on Sunday the sun came out with not only a hat on, but wearing white spats as well, and bringing his best chum, the breeze, along for the ride. Victoria Harbour looked as good as it ever does, with a 10-12kts easterly blowing straight down Victoria Harbour from Lei Yue Mun Gap. Racing started bang on schedule, with the slower fleets following a windward leeward loop to Tai Koo

Point Marina, Indonesia, and is organized (in rotation) by Republic of Singapore Yacht Club, Raffles Marina, Changi Sailing Club and SAF Yacht Club Changi. www.straitsregatta.com the neptune regatta,

Shing and the faster boats to Shau Kei Wan, with all boats (bar the Pandoras) completing two laps of their course before being shortened at Dock Buoy. Keen to make the most of the prevailing 11kts, the RO stayed at anchor, put out an ODM and started the last race immediately. Perhaps as compensation for Saturday, the breeze held all afternoon and sailors were treated to a rare clear, hot, sunny, windy day two. The traditionally ‘vocal’ prizegiving was ably supported by Laurent Perrier Champagne, Bacardi Black and Carlsberg.

for the racing. The event is also notable for welcoming motor boats as well as sailing yachts. Starting February 10 and running until February 16, 2013, to and from Nongsa Point Marina, Batam, Indonesia. www.neptune-regatta.com

riau archipelago, SINGAPORE STRAITS REGATTA, SINGAPORE

This regatta is scheduled for January 29 to February 2, 2013, and will be held in Indonesian waters. The event starts and finishes at Nongsa

indonesia

subic-Boracay Race,

Now three years old, this regatta is making its name on the Asian sailing scene. The Neptune Regatta is unique in that it races to the Equator, and has its own private island as a base

Philippines

The Subic Bay-Boracay Race is a 200 nautical mile race organised by SAGS (Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen's Sailing), Subic Bay. The race starts on

February 15, 2013. www. subicsailing.com Boracay cup, Philippines

Four days of guaranteed

blue skies and sunshine, 20kt breezes, blinding white sand and exceptionally cold beer. Racing takes place February 28 to March 3, 2013. www. subicsailing.com

DID YOU KNOW Sailing doesn't actually 'stop' for the summer in Hong Kong. The RHKYC, HHYC and ABC all run summer series, and everyone is welcome to join in at all venues

asian racing/sailing calendar

he Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s sailing season started officially on the weekend 08-09 September with the Club’s Autumn Regatta, sponsored by McLaren, SHK Private and Canaletto. It was all smiles and sunshine on Victoria Harbour at midday on the Saturday, with a steady 6.5 to 8kts from the east. RO Marty Kaye elected to start the fleet at the Hung Hom mark and send them eastwards to Shau Kei Wan and Tai Koo Shing. However, part way through the starting sequence a squall of substantial proportions ‘hosed down’ the start area – and

January

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36 LOGBOOK boatshow Review Korean iNTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW

09 -13.06.11 Korea International Boat Show and Match Cup 2012

DID YOU KNOW? Korea International Boat Show was admitted to the International Federation of Boat Show owners in 2011 after only four years' operations

YS21 Logbook Boatshows Final.indd 36

he Korea International Boat Show 2012 marked five years of doing things “a little differently.” Since 2008, KIBS has been the shop window of a concerted attempt at both regional and national government levels to seed and then foster a marine leisure industry sector in Korea. Only five years ago the Korean workforce stepped back from a six-day working week, and it was widely assumed that after decades of saving, the population would be “looking for something to do.” Promoting a marine leisure industry got the nod. Five years later and the reality is that Koreans have rushed to become sailors and boaters substantially less quickly than was anticipated; the plan to build 43 marinas around the Korean peninsula is only partly complete, the building of a proposed marine industry and technology park at Jeong-gok hasn’t actually started, and the ambitious plans for whole new cities wedded to the sea by their cruise terminals and other aquatic activities have yet to get further than the drawing board. This year’s Korea International Boat Show was opened by the Governor of Gyeong-gi Province, Kim Moon-Soo, acccompanied by Minister for Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs Kwon Do-Youp who stated that “my Ministry is supporting the development of marinas and infrastructure to support the domestic demand for leisure boat users. The Ministry of Knowledge and Industry is working to ensure that we have sufficient capability to produce high quality and technologically advanced leisure boats”. As in previous years, KIBS 2012 had a strong ‘B2B’ feel about it, with local companies actively courting overseas manufacturers for dealerships. Locally manufactured boats and marine equipment have some way to go before they are able to compete with the more familiar

brands from Europe and the USA. Last year KIBS became a member of the International Federation of Boat Show Owners, a significant ‘coming of age.’ This year the show attracted leisure marine industry representatives and Marine Industry Association heads from Australia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, USA, Singapore and the UK, including Tony Rice, Secretary General of the International Council of Marine Industry Associations. Side visits to the Gyeong-gi ARA waterway and Gimpo Marina, the Seoul City Marina and (at the other end of the country) Busan Marina provided an interesting insight into the current state of development of Korea’s leisure marine industry, but also raised some questions – the main one being whether investment might not better be directed towards the south of Korea where the coastal scenery is beautiful, the cruising grounds extensive and the tidal range ‘normal’, instead of the west coast where boating activities are constrained by a huge tidal range (8-10m) and all the scenery associated with miles and miles of mud flats. Back at Jindo Harbour, Gyeong-gi, KIBS included the Korea Match Cup, one of the events on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour, which this year was won by Bjorn Hansen after an exceptionally close-fought final against Ian Williams who twice in five races ‘snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.’ Evidently the development of the leisure boating industry in Korea is not happening quite as quickly as was anticipated just five years ago. The Koreans are not yet flocking to the water to buy superyachts and grand prix racing boats, but there are huge numbers of trailer boats and ‘tinnies’ in evidence. Build more public slipways, and they will come. Leave the big ticket marinas for later.

12/10/2012 9:49 PM

OPPOSITE PAGE: KIBS 2012 opened with a bang, and a lot of white gloves THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Governor Kim MoonSoo; 'participation' was heavily stressed at the show; Bjorn Hansen wins AWMRT Korea Match Cup 2012; naval vessels open to visitors; match racing at Tando Harbour; Bellingham Marine at KIBS; shiny boats on display

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38 LOGBOOK boatshow nansha bay international boat show

12-14.10.12 Yacht CN 2012

acht CN 2012 is a new marine conference and boatshow organised by and hosted at the newly opened Nansha Marina. It is intended that Yacht CN will become an annual event on the China marine leisure industry calendar, and Nansha aim to make this the biggest boat show in southern China. Yacht CN took place 10-11 October 2012, and is already shaping up to be an event that no marina operator or developer in China will want to miss

in the future. Speakers at the event included Yang Xinfa (China Boat Industry and Trade Association), Li Quanhai (China Yachting Association) and Zheng Weihang (China Yacht Club Alliance). William Green (Camper & Nicholson Marinas) and John Spragg (Bellingham Marinas) were among the international speakers on the programme. Zheng Weihang, Chairman of the CYCA, said “yachting culture has just come into existence in China, and is still at early

stages of its development. By participating in the China Marina Conference, I’ll have had an opportunity to popularize and promote contemporary yachting culture.” Julian Goldie of The Yacht Harbour Association spoke about ‘How marinas benefit from Quality Assurance Programmes,’ making reference to the fact that Nansha Marina was the first marina in China to be awarded TYHA’s highest status – 5 Gold Anchors – before it was even open for business. The Nansha Bay International Boat Show followed on (12-14 October) immediately after Yacht CN. “Nansha Marina… provided an ideal platform for boaters,” says the event website (www. yachtcn.net). The boat show is supported by the Guangzhou Government. Yacht CN included a number of social occasions, entertainments and parties to maximize B2B and B2C networking opportunities. Mick Bettesworth (Global Marina Institute) said, “It was a great opportunity to meet as many people as possible and learn about the development of the leisure marine industry in China.”

Boat Show Calendar 2012-2013 Oct.18-22

Oct.25-29

Nov.02-05

Nov.13-15

China (Shenzhen) International Boat Show

Ft Lauderdale International Boat Show

China (Xiamen) International Boat Show

METS

VENUE:

Shenzhen, China www.boatshow-china.com

VENUE:

Ft Lauderdale, USA www.showmanagement.com

VENUE:

VENUE: Amsterdam www.metstrade.com

Nov.16-18

Nov.30-Dec 02

Dec.14-16

Macau Yacht Show Import & Export Fair

9th Goa International Boat Show 2012

Hong Kong International Boat Show

Vietnam Saigon Boating, Fishing & Water Sports Expo

VENUE: Venetian Macau Resort Hotel www.chinaexhibition.com

VENUE: Goa, India www.goaboatshow.biz

VENUE: Sai Kung, Hong Kong www.clubmarinacove.com

VENUE: SECC, HCM City, Vietnam www.cpexhibition.com/vnboat

Mar.05-09, 2013

Mar.21-24

Apr.11-14

Apr.18-21

Dubai International Boat Show

Phuket International Boat Show (PIMEX)

China (Shanghai) International Boat Show

Boat Asia

VENUE: Phuket, Thailand www.phuketboatshow.com

VENUE:

Dubai, UAE www.boatshowdubai.com VENUE:

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Wu Yuan Bay, Xiamen, PRC www.xmboatshow.com

Shanghai, China www.boatshowchina.com

Marina at Keppel Bay, Singapore www.boat-asia.com

VENUE:

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40 logbook PARTIES royal huisman

Dutch Treat Royal Huisman, the Dutch custom yacht builder, together with Dykstra Naval Architects, hosted an exclusive Gala Dinner at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. The event was jointly supported by Northrop & Johnson and YachtStyle magazine. Jeroen de Vos, Naval Architect, delighted the audience with a talk on J-Class yachts and their participation in the America’s Cup in the 1930s and 1940s. Evert van Dishoeck from Royal Huisman spoke on the shipyard’s ‘Spirit of Individuality’.

Clockwise from above: Jeroen de Vos presents at the Royal Huisman Gala DInner; Jeroen de Vos, Harald van Heel and Leon Chan; Dr K H Lee and Amy Zhang, Royal Huisman flys the flag at the Gala Dinner held at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club

Photos: Guy Nowell

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Clockwise from top left: Anthony Root, Mark Whitehead and Marty Kaye; Sytske Kimman, Peter Churchouse and Suzy Rayment; Bart Kimman, David Lieu and Wayne Lieu; Raymond Lee and Evert van Dishoeck; Jurjen van’t Verlaat, Roger and Diana Liang; Ambrose Lo signs the visitor’s book

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42 logbook PARTIES Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Regatta Gala DInner

Sailing Season An exclusive Gala dinner event was co-hosted by CANALETTO, a new luxury property development in London, UK and SHK Private Wealth Management, to celebrate the Autumn Regatta which signals the start of the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club’s sailing season. Guests were treated to Laurent Perrier champagne and a lively musical performance by Welsh singer Sally Martin. In addition the new McLaren MP4-12C automobile was on display and guests signed up for test drives the following day.

Clockwise from above: The exclusive Gala Dinner in the Compass Room; Oliver Cully, Grace and Don Chow; Lauren Mead and Gil & Noel Blum; Russ Parker, RHKYC Rear Commodore (Sailing).

Photos : JEFFREY LAI

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Clockwise from top left: Mr. and Mrs. Pi Leung and Jowin Fung; Mak Ka Lok, Yuki Tao and Jowin Fung; Christina and Oliver Cully; Guy Nowell and Mimi Capas; Alana Sorokin, Victor Li, Britta Harper and Sherry Tsang; Victor Li, Jessamine Ihrcke-Dorsey, Juliana Fong, Angel Lam and Neil Batty.

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44 logbook pEOPLE jeroen de vos

design rules Every sailor knows the J Class yachts – the absolute epitome of grace and power afloat. Jeroen de Vos knows more about them than most.

portrait by Guy Nowell above: Hanuman, a new J Class from the lines of Endeavour II, designed by Dykstra Naval Architects and built by Royal Huisman Shipyards OPPOSITE: Jeroen de Vos is never far from a boat. These ones are just a little smaller than usual

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“

s a designer, I’d like to believe that the J Class yachts were designed to be beautiful, but in fact their characteristic shape is purely the outcome of the class rating formula. Unfortunately, IMS and IRC ratings don’t steer naval architects toward the same sort of beauty today.” Oh dear, and I always thought that the likes of Nathanael Herreshoff and Olin Stephens were a breed apart, whose genius elevated craft into art, transcending mere function into a form sublime. I was wrong – well, sort of. De Vos is a working designer with Dykstra Naval Architects, the Dutch firm founded by Gerry Dykstra more than 40 years ago, and responsible for a portfolio of stunningly beautiful yachts such as Athena (80m), the awe-inspiring

89m dyna-rigged Maltese Falcon, and the Stadt Amsterdam, a traditional square rigger commissioned by the City of Amsterdam to be a peripatetic promotion scheme for the City. (And to think that my local council spent all its cash repairing potholes, instead). “We do design smaller boats as well,” de Vos is quick to point out, “in the 44’-70’ range.” Many of these, it turns out, are designed with thoroughly traditional looks on top of a thoroughly modern hull shape. I am beginning to suspect that Dykstra (and de Vos) have read Arthur Beiser’s book ‘The Proper Yacht’, in which he asserts that “of all the elements that go into a proper yacht, the one that should never be compromised is beauty.” Which brings us back to J Class yachts in which, Jeroen explains, there has been a huge resurgence of interest in the last 20 years. The J Class was just one of the classes derived from Nathanael Herreshoff’s ‘Universal Rule’, but it was the one used by the America’s Cup between 1934 and 1937, thus

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46 logbook pEOPLE jeroen de vos The Universal Rule

Until 1917, sailing boats were ‘rated’ under the Seawanhaka Rule, a system that measured only hull length and sail area, and encouraged designers to create substantially unseaworthy boats in order to obtain an advantageous rating. The legendary Nathanael Herreshoff devised the Universal Rule, the formula for which included the displacement of the boat, changing matters considerably and leading to the now-familiar J Class racing yachts. The 12m Class which was used to contest the America’s Cup from 1958 until 1987 was also a derivative of the Universal Rule.

above: Ranger, winner of two Maxi Yacht Rolex Cups

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securing its place in history and the survival of the name. de Vos goes on to explain exactly how the Universal Rule ‘steered’ the great yacht designers towards long, graceful overhangs, prettily curved tumblehome and improbably low freeboard of the glorious J Class yachts. Remarkably, only ten racing yachts were ever built to J Class, and only three of them survived beyond the 1930s, ingloriously lodged in mud berths in the south of England. But come the 1980s and in particular a young lady named Elizabeth Meyer, and the J Class was back in town. “Elizabeth Meyer became famous for resurrecting first Endeavour, and then, by association so to speak, the Class itself. There are now seven J Class boats actively racing, of which three are restored originals, and four are new-builds. There are three more Js on the drawing board, as well as one under construction. Which is where Jeroen de Vos and Dijkstra Naval Architects come in – designing new J Class yachts. “In 2000 the J Class Association was formed, to promote fair racing. All the boats are a little different, and they are all heavier than the original Js (they have interiors now!) and they certainly don’t measure under the Universal Rule any longer!” Class rules were drawn up, among them: no composites allowed in hulls, and any new boats to be built from original lines plans. Lifelines are always removed for racing – which is why each boat is shadowed by a tender when racing. ‘Man overboard!’ calls are not uncommon! The Association also adopted a new Triple Point Rating system under which every boat uses a different handicap number depending upon the prevailing conditions – light, medium, or heavy. Results from recent regattas show that the system works extremely well, and produces close racing. “And J Class boats do very well when racing under IRC – Ranger has twice won the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup at Porto Cervo, so the 1930s designs are still competitive today - under handicap!” “The J Class boats really were cutting edge stuff when

they were launched – just as much as wing sails, carbon fibre and Velocity Prediction Programmes are at the forefront of America’s Cup design today. What has been interesting is applying ‘tweaks’ to the existing designs (remember, new boats have to be built to original lines plans). Boats are now permitted an additional 10cm of freeboard – to allow for the fact that they sit lower in the water, and to preserve the ‘classic’ look. And an aperture for a propeller is now permitted – the original Js had no engines. But that’s about all for the hull, meaning that all the performance gains are in the rig and the sails.” And, believe it, those gains are enormous. The 1930s boats had either wood or aluminium masts and spars, cotton sails, and precious little by way of sail handling machinery. “Today’s Js race with carbon rigs, fibre standing rigging, 3DL or DI sails, and powered winches. They are lighter above deck, which makes them stiffer, which makes them faster. Sailing them today is a totally different experience from the all-manual days of 75odd years ago!” Today’s designers are able to put today’s generation of boats into wind tunnels, and find out far more about their aerodynamics than Nat Herreshoff or Charles Nicholson could ever have imagined. “We can trim all the sails remotely, and read out the results on a computer. We can test the airfoil section of the rig’s spreaders, and we can measure the driving force, the heeling force, and the heeling moment of the rig. The rig on a J Class boat is so huge that the improvements in performance that can be generated are absolutely enormous.” One of the few things that Jeroen de Vos can’t make a serious difference to is the overall look of a J – and he, like the rest of us, wouldn’t have it any other way. “It is both a pleasure and a privilege to be working with the continued development of the J Class,” he says. “I am always amazed that these boats continue to command so much admiration and respect from sailors, more than 70 years after their hey-day. But who knows, perhaps the best years are yet to come...”

13/10/2012 3:45 PM

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48 logbook pEOPLE Sairah Macgillivray

Lady Driver

Sairah MacGillivray has a steady hand on the helm of Onyx, a 40m superyacht, as she explores Asia’s cruising grounds.

text and portrait by Guy Nowell above: Broad horizons. The bridge and foredeck of m/y Onyx OPPOSITE: Sairah MacGillivray ‘at the office’

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“

don’t think I can remember a time when I lived somewhere that wasn’t rocking a little – it’s not normal!” So says Sairah MacGillivray, Captain of the Sanlorenzo 40, Onyx. There aren’t a great many lady captains in the superyacht world; Sairah estimates “20 or 30” among a global fleet of maybe 5,000 boats. So how does a petite and attractive female seafarer end up in charge of a few tens of millions of dollars of luxury maritime hardware? It’s not a complicated story. “I grew up surrounded by boats. My parents bought a boat when I was just two years old, and we moved on board when I was nine. We lived at Hamble, on the south coast of England, just across the water from Cowes and next door to Southampton. We lived in a world of boats – everything from dinghies and weekend cruisers

to the comings-and-goings of the big boats in the big events, the Whitbread Round the World Race and so on.” So, pretty much the epicenter of sailing and boating in England. “There was never a time when I decided that I ‘liked’ boats – it was just something I was brought up with… and absorbed by a sort of osmosis. I sailed on dozens of deliveries, and passed my Ocean Yachtmaster exam when I was 15. The first boat I owned was a Contessa 26. As the delivery miles racked up, so the boats got bigger. I had sailed across the Atlantic twice before I was 18.” Sairah’s current command is her biggest to date – but she believes that in many ways size doesn’t really matter. “The job of a Captain stays the same. It’s all based in the seamanship that a sailor gains from a very young age. Today, crewing (or captaining) a superyacht is a great deal more professional than it was, say, 20 years ago. Not that the captains were any less professional back then, but now there are more formal

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50 logbook pEOPLE Sairah Macgillivray

above: Ready to go almost anywhere. m/y Onyx is just starting to explore Asian waters

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qualifications to step through, and the industry is very much geared towards promoting safety.” Add in the increased complexity of the onboard systems that boats carry nowadays – electronics, navigational aids, and just about everything driven by computers from engine monitoring to entertainment suites – and professionalism is even more in demand. But Sairah happily acknowledges that people skills are just as important a part of a captain’s job as understanding the nuts, bolts, and wires. So what skills does a skipper need? “I think the principal requirement must be fairness – towards the owner, to the boat, and of course to the crew. Naturally there is a certain amount of discipline called for – you can’t run a boat with seven captains! – and it goes without saying that a willingness to work hard is important for everyone on board. Onyx carries six crew including her captain, and everyone has to pull their weight. We are technical operators in a service industry, and an engineer has to polish a rail when required, just as much as a steward may be needed to scrub a deck!” Physical strength? “It used to be necessary, and that may have kept women away from boats in the past, but I think that is an illusion now that boats have become so big – we have mechanical systems to help us cope with the ‘heavy lifting’ that didn’t exist previously. There’s a new attitude growing among women in the upper end of the yachting industry – our numbers are growing, and there is less self-limitation. I don’t think there is any inherent prejudice against women from the boys’ point of view… good crew are

professional at heart, and anyone who is capable of getting the job done is welcome in any crew, any time.” m/y Onyx entertains both her owners, and charter parties. “There’s a huge difference. Owners you get to know – and when you know them you can anticipate what they want. That inevitably leads to a higher level of service. Charterers you have to work out very fast – in just a matter of hours – and then get everything running, quite literally, just like the brochure.” Charter guests come from all over the globe – in Onyx’s case from Russia, France, Switzerland, Belgium and Saudi Arabia. What’s next for Onyx’s lady captain? “Asia is a new and exciting destination, and I’d like to see more of it. I have worked on superyachts in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and along the east coast of North America. I’ve sailed across the Pacific and enjoyed the arrival of the new millennium in New Zealand, and visited Papua New Guinea. Asia is a marvellous and almost untouched cruising destination – wonderful coastlines, wonderful scenery, pristine beaches and, everywhere, smiling and welcoming people. It needs exploring.” Sarah admits that information for cruising superyachts is sometimes hard to come by in this part of the world, but “you can find out almost everything if you dig enough. Captains, agents, books – the answers are there, you just have to do the research, and that’s both challenging and fun. I am intrigued by the possibilities that Asia has for the immediate future.”

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PAMA

YA C H T S

PAMA 62FT X 17’6” Twin 705hp Caterpillar electronic diesels Onan 17.5Kw genset Bow thruster and 2 station controls Stidd Helm chairs as standard

Pilothouse Pama Bay Flybridge M/Y

54 62 26 38 48 56 52 63 73 85

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52 logbook pEOPLE des mcwilliam

Sailsman

There’s a new name at the top of UK Sailmakers International. Guy Nowell meets Des McWilliam, and learns about Mermaids, open leeches and the delights of corporate diversity.

text and portrait by Guy Nowell

conversation with Des McWilliam was never going to be a boring prospect. It was meant to be a serious discussion about sailmakers, design, and business development, but in a distinctly Irish way the new President of one of the biggest sailmaking groups in the world is just as inclined to include cows, geology, and the Pope in the conversation. Making sails and making sailing boats go faster is serious stuff, but one thing that Des McWilliam doesn’t take too seriously is himself. UK Sailmakers International is a global group that boasts 41 lofts in 24 countries around the world. Founded by Charles ‘Buster’ Ulmer in 1946 on City Island, New York, and run by his son Charles ‘Butch’ Ulmer since 1970, the company became Ulmer/Kolius when John Kolius was a partner from 1983 to 1986, and subsequently styled itself UK Sailmakers. In the early 1970s UK were the first sailmakers to perfect radial-head spinnaker construction techniques, and the sailing

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world beat a path to their door. Unable to produce spinnakers fast enough, UK branched out with independently-owned franchises. 2005 brought a merger with Halsey-Lidgard Sails, creating one of the most comprehensive sailmaking organizations in the world. Des McWilliam started in the sailmaking business, mostly by accident and partly by choice, in Ireland. “I was lecturing at the Oxford Polytechnic - in Geology to Engineering students, and in Engineering to Geologists – meaning that I was peripheral to both courses, a great spot to be in. And I was writing a PhD. But each summer I would go home and work in my brother’s sail loft in Cork, Ireland, and that seemed to be much more fun. In the end I was enticed back home by a promise of a lovely beach-side house to live in and the chance to bring up our 1-year old son in Ireland. My wife and I jumped at it. That was 32 years ago.” The McWilliam brothers were sailing at Key West Raceweek, in Florida, in 1980 when “we saw a set of sails that just took the breath away. Beautifully engineered, you could see how they worked, and why they had to be wonderful sails.”

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They were ‘NuClear’ load path sails, made by a couple of young visionaries in Tampa. “We got permission from Sobstad Sails, the co-owners of the design patent, to make some ourselves, and there we were, sticking tape onto sails – and that year back on our side of the Atlantic we won everything. Cowes Week, the Scottish Series, I mean everything. But the Sobstad people in England didn’t like that much, so we ended up talking to the co-owner of the patent, Butch Ulmer at UK. And that’s how McWilliam Sailmakers became UK Sailmakers, Ireland.” And that’s how Des McWilliam ended up being invited by Butch Ulmer to take over the reins as President of UK Sailmakers International at the beginning of 2012. “I asked my wife if I ought to do this, and she said ‘if you don’t you’ll only get under my feet, so I think you’d better.’” So what is on the new boss’s agenda? “The immediate task ahead is to make a virtue out of the difficulty that comes with UK’s being a group of strong-minded independent operators. Which is also its greatest strength. It wouldn’t be a good thing to stifle that diversity, because there is an enormous depth of specific talent spread through the whole group that any

member of the group can call upon – communications being what they are these days. Any UK loft can pick and choose a particular designer for a given task, and every one of those designers is a sail maker in their own right - not some gifted amateur who knows how to get a sailing boat around a course quickly, and who takes orders from Head Office. I believe that there’s a great deal of over-reliance on computers these days. “The computer design says…” so it must be right. Computers are great, but the last 1% of the performance of a sail comes down to experience, and that comes from a sailmaker, not necessarily a sailor. The man who knows what to do with a piece of paper, a stick and a length of string, who can look up at a sail and see that it wants to be ¾% deeper in the lower third and needs 40mm on the luff curve.” “And another thing about computers… they will only generate a fixed shape for a sail. But sails move all the time, and it is almost (but not quite) impossible to draw a dynamic sail shape by numbers. What shape will this thing be when it is actually flying? How does the performance of the fibres in the material affect the shape? What happens when the boat moves

above left: Des McWilliam at the helm during the Middle Sea Race in 2007, with wind gusts of 50-70kts! above right: Des McWilliam is as comfortable on the factory floor as he is on a sailing yacht

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above: UK sailmaker stiches the luff of a new sail

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through a choppy sea? You’re not drawing a bridge here, where all the ‘fibres’ are axially stressed and locked in concrete.” “A good sailmaker needs to have an open mind, and we have lots of those at UK. A good sailmaker listens. If I take a photo of a sail and tell the designer that I don’t like it, that the leech looks too tight, he should come back with ‘I see your point…’ not ‘but the computer says…’. After a certain point, sailmaking is an art, not merely number crunching.” UK Sailmakers pride themselves on the breadth of their network and the availability of their personnel. It states very boldly on the company website that if you ‘Ask your UK sailmaker, and he’ll take all the time necessary to make sure you have the right sails, the right service and the right sail maintenance.’ It’s no idle boast. “A suit of sails is not unlike the suit you have made at a Hong Kong tailor – made to measure. And also made to perform. There’s a huge difference between a mainsail we’d build for a Corby 33 owner who expects to extract 97% or the performance out of the sail, concentrating all the time, sailing to the shape of the luff – and the sail we’d build for the Moody 33 owner who is trimming with one hand while holding a can in the other, and happily getting 90% of the sail’s performance on a Sunday afternoon. The performances of the two boats demand different sails, and so does the skill of the helmsman. They demand different set-ups, one needs to be more forgiving than the other, and a computer can’t automatically understand that.” Did we mention Mermaids? Yes, UK Sailmakers enjoy a great relationship with almost 30 One Design classes ranging from Optimists to Sydney 38s, and including Etchells and Flying15s. The Dublin Bay Mermaid, a 17ft wooden clinkerbuilt dinghy sailed on the east coast of Ireland, is one of McWilliam’s favourites. “They have timber masts, which means every one is different. So I ask the owner to measure the deflection of his mast when he buys a new sail – and then, yes,

we can go back to the computer and build a sail with the correct luff curve to suit the mast, spot on. I love being able to do that!” 80% of UK Sailmakers Ireland’s production comes out of the Hong Kong loft. “The quality of build from the Hong Kong loft is absolutely exemplary, both in engineering terms as well as aesthetics. And Hong Kong is the biggest producer of UK’s new MatriX Titanium® continuous yarn membrane sails, the last word in high performance racing sails. Titanium is a design/build programme that is very close to McWilliam’s heart. “Instead of applying the load path structural members to a pre-made sail membrane, we fabricate the sail skin and load path structure as one integral product. Right here in Hong Kong. If you were buying racing sails tomorrow, why would you be getting them from an overseas manufacturer? When there is 100% back up and service right here – and the Hong Kong loft provides full service all over Asia?” Of course, McWilliam is also a sailor, and he rues the fact that many people see sailing as both exclusive (socially) and excluding (technically). “I sail on maybe 40 or 50 boats in any year, and there are probably only half a dozen that I’d want to go sailing with again the next weekend! Shouting doesn’t make the boat go faster, you know, but good communication does. I sometimes think that the people who ought to be winning prizes are the ones who take novices sailing, welcome them, and treat them properly – not necessarily the ones fuelled by testosterone and winning races. After all, get a new crew member and get him (or her) into your yacht club, and they start sharing the expense of running the establishment!” We remembered to mention Mermaids and geology, but the cows and the Pope will have to wait for another article. “Have I done too much talking?” asks McWilliam. Not at all, let’s continue the conversation in a (non-exclusive) bar somewhere. There are sure to be more stories!

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Van Triumph is a superyacht and also a super craft P.058 New AC72 cats on the prowl in racing the beast P.064 Monaco is the place to watch the greatest show on earth P.072

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guilain grenier

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super craft The superyacht Van Triumph was a familiar sight in Asian waters in the 70s and 80s. Guy Nowell talks to her owner, David Lieu, about the boat, their voyages and the need to protect the oceans. text and photos by guy nowell

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Van Triumph is the superyacht that graced Asian waters before superyachts were even thought of in this part of the world, and before the term â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;expedition yachtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; had been coined.

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D David Tseng Van Lieu has a most devilish twinkle in his eye. It is abundantly clear that here is a man who very much enjoys whatever it is that he is doing. Older boating enthusiasts in Hong Kong – from both the power and sail lobbies - will remember him from the 70s and 80s. He has a whole wardrobe full of five-star memories, chief among them being his many expeditions around Asia on the Van Triumph. “Scarborough Reef used to be my favourite spot. It’s just a pinnacle that comes up from 3,500m (11,500 ft), and there’s nothing there but fish. We used to trawl for tuna – it was better than good, it was excellent.” Van Triumph is the superyacht that graced Asian waters before superyachts were even thought of in this part of the world, and before the term ‘expedition yacht’ had been coined. Built entirely in steel at the Supercraft yard on Tsing Yi to Lieu’s own designs, and launched in 1984, she is 212 ft overall, and has accommodation for 16 guests. The wheelhouse and owner’s accommodation are “quite literally bullet proof, having been built

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for areas in the world where piracy was and occasionally remains a real threat.” A range of 15,000nm at 12kts means that she really can go anywhere. “Actually, she was designed just like a warship”, says Lieu, who qualified as a Naval Architect from the University of Newcastle, in England. Even a cursory glance at her lines confirms this. “But not only the look of the boat,” he continues. There are three things which define the design of the Van Triumph. First, stability – “if you know that your vessel is properly stable, then the worst thing you need worry about in heavy weather is a little discomfort.” Secondly, there is strength. A 212ft boat with a deep trough underneath her, or caught on the top of a crest with her ends relatively unsupported, needs strength. Last, watertight integrity. Doors, windows, ports, absolutely everything. The Van Triumph substantially exceeds Lloyds 100+ A1 requirements. “She has a double hull, and is designed to the ‘three-compartment’ standard, meaning she will stay afloat even with three compartments flooded. But that will never happen,” says Lieu confidently.

clockwise, from opposite, top: Main saloon bar big enough for a small hotel; bridge deck; Capt Kwok at the helm; Van Triumph, framed, ‘Sparks’ Mr Wan in the radio shack; essential bridge equipment - coffee machine!; day lounge in the owner’s suite

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Van Triumph’s first sea trials took place when there was a No 8 typhoon signal raised. “I thought ‘that’s a good time to try my yacht’!” In the years that Lieu cruised, fished and dived the waters of Asia, there were many adventures. “We once sat out a cyclone near the Great Barrier Reef – we preferred to stay at sea, it was much too dangerous to be in a harbour. Winds reached 110 kph but I never felt anything less than perfectly safe.” And then there was the diving and fishing trip to Pratas Reef, some 170nm southeast of Hong Kong: “There was a typhoon on the way, and we decided to run for San Fernando, about 300nm away. That was really rough – and we had to push on at a minimum of 12kts to get there before the Immigration Office closed at 1200 noon on the Saturday – we made it, but there were plenty of times that I was airborne in my cabin, completely weightless, just like an astronaut! But I never had to worry about the Van Triumph – she was built to cope with weather like that.” Lieu is deeply saddened by the degradation of the marine environment that he has witnessed over the last 30 years. “There was time when the sea was more full of life than you can imagine. The destruction of the ecosystem has taken place at an exponential rate. If you go to the waters around Hainan today, it’s as if the sea has been vacuum cleaned. I’ve seen explosives fishing taking place that looked like antisubmarine operations - great columns of water thrown up by huge explosions, and then (a few) stunned fish on the surface of the water. Coral souvenirs in Hainan don’t come from Hainan – they are imported, because all the coral died long ago from cyanide poisoning.” Cyanide fishing is even worse than dynamite fishing because the poison washes back and forth with the tide, killing ever greater areas of coral – while explosives ‘only’ destroy more localized patches. “The Chinese, particularly, are smashing their own rice bowl with their demand for live fish from the tanks of the fancy seafood restaurants.” says Lieu. He goes on, “In Hong Kong it

would be easy to stop the trade – just batch test each boat load of fish landed. Any signs of cyanide – destroy the whole cargo. The trade would soon stop if you hit the traders in the pocket. I’ve been saying it for years, but…” In the 1970s Lieu built racing yachts. “At the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club, anything resembling a power boat was very much a second class citizen. I knew nothing about sailing boats,” he admits, “but I figured that it couldn’t be that hard. I told them, “I can build the best racing boat in Hong Kong – just find me a designer.’ A consortium of sailing luminaries, led by Bill Turnbull, were looking for a new boat with which to challenge for a place on the Hong Kong Admiral’s Cup team for 1977. The designer was Ed Dubois, and the boat was the 44ft ‘Vanguard’, and Hong Kong scored third overall in what was then known informally as the World Championships of big boat racing. Two years later, Vanguard acquired a sistership for the 1979 Admiral’s Cup Hector Ross’s Uin na Mara. It was the year that saw 15 sailors die in the great storm that hit the Fastnet Race – but Lieu’s wellconstructed Supercrafts weathered the storm. “No problem,” he says. “They were built for weather like that.” I’ve never spent more than 10 minutes on a racing yacht,” reflects Lieu, ”I don’t really like them – there’s nothing inside! You can’t sail on a nice sunny day, with a calm sea, because there’s no wind… and when the sailing is ‘good’, the boat is heeled over, and you can’t even make a cup of coffee. I don’t get it, but plenty of people do.” Van Triumph doesn’t go to sea as often as once upon a time. “We used to make a trip out of Hong Kong almost once a week, but now the engines are started up for a couple of hours once a month just to keep things running.” Hong Kong’s original ‘expedition yacht’ is for sale, a magnificent ship looking for an imaginative owner with an appreciation of what is really a very significant piece of Hong Kong’s maritime history.

OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: The bridge, with a switch or a dial for every function; weatherfax; guest twin cabin; the galley; radar; bridge controls detail; Chief Engineer Mr Wong; engine control room above: David Lieu (right) and his son Wayne, with a photograph of Vanguard; Supercraft, TYTL 14&15, Tsing Yi Island

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the boats are big, bad, and brutal. bob fisher takes a look at the new breed of america's cup 72-ft catamarans, and is almost lost for words

racing th photographs by guilain grenier and chris cameron

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Whatever has happened during the past year pales into insignificance with the launching of the AC-72 catamarans. These are the real thing – the AC-45s were merely training boats, albeit highly sophisticated and expensive, but simply a taster for the sensational racing that is about to occur. Not this week, or the next, but when any two of the teams feel sufficiently practiced with their new craft to be able to match another. There have been gasps of disbelief from those who are new to the AC-45s, but they are nothing to the silences of disbelief that have greeted the appearance of those AC-72s that have seen the light of day already. They are, simply, astonishing. Very soon, we hear, the suppliers are going to run out of the highest specification carbon-fibre laminates, as these speed machines use nothing else in their construction. No one can fail to be moved by the size, complexity of design, and finish of this new breed of America’s Cuppers. There is, and never has been, anything to match these racing multihulls. Unique is overused, but these are in a league of their own. Imagine two of these giants approaching one another at the start, reaching in 20 knots of wind. Each of them could be doing in excess of 40 knots – the closing speed – well over 90 mph!

These craft have wing sails that are 131ft high and an all-up weight of 13,000lbs. They are 85ft overall from the tip of the fixed bowsprit on the centreline to the transom with a 46ft beam – manoeuvrability may not be the easiest, and decision making is prudent to avoid a major accident. Hard hats are mandatory and some form of body protection for every one of the 11-man crew will be essential. What is more is that those eleven men will be heavily overworked and there will be no let up throughout the racing. Their fitness will not be in question; each will multi-task with heavy loads on all control lines, and the overall maximum weight limit for the crew of 2,222lbs total could be a problem for them to meet as there are no powered winches to trim the massive off-wind sails and jibs – even the hoisting of a gennaker will be an adrenalin fuelled rush. Despite the protestations that America’s Cup 34 will be cheaper than previously, it will still require a budget in excess of US$30million to finance a challenge, and this has proved a sticking point for several potential challengers in the current period of economic stricture. The result is that only the defender and four potential challengers have paid the entry fee for the Cup, and one

PREVIOUS PAGE: Crewman Richard Meacham inspects the wing sail on Emirates Team New Zealand’s AC72 OPPOSITE: Emirates Team New Zealand clear out of the water on her foils ABOVE: Oracle Team USA wing step test. Does it fit?

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of those was in doubt at the eleventh hour. Nevertheless, San Francisco Bay will play host to the most spectacular America’s Cup ever. Close inspection of an AC-72 will reveal that no space is wasted and there is nothing that isn’t absolutely essential to produce speed. Lean and spare, they invite comparison with a greyhound or a Formula 1 racing car. But the strength of the structure is also massively important - stiff catamarans are faster, and that simple premise is taken together with weightsaving to ensure that nothing is lost in the search for speed. Sailing programmes are considerably restricted. None of the teams was able to launch an AC-72 until July 1st this year and are limited to 30 days sailing for training and testing until January 31st. Each team may launch a second boat after February 1st 2013. That may appear restrictive, but Emirates Team New Zealand, the first to launch, had only nine days up to September 20th. Artemis Racing by-passed this rule for its first rig by stepping it on a 60ft trimaran. This team learned that the rig was faulty and saved rig development time days with their AC-72. ETNZ has one boat in the water and a second under construction. Luna Rossa, sharing some of the Kiwi technology, built its hulls in Italy and these were shipped to New Zealand for the boat to be completed – this fully satisfies the requirements of the all-governing Deed of Gift. As and when Team Korea makes an appearance, it is probable that only its hulls will be built in the country of origin of its challenge and the rest, maybe, in New Zealand where the technology and price are right. The Kiwis have already wound their boat up to 40 knots during early trials, and their performances have fully silenced their critics (even the expert television commentators who stood in awe). Some small problems have emerged – the L-shaped foils among them – but all have been quickly corrected – so far. Oracle Racing Team USA was the second boat to launch, immediately after the first of the second season AC World Series, in San Francisco. There is some of the 2010 Cupwinning trimaran about this one – a fairing to the underside of the rigging structure in mid-line gives a three-hull appearance – and its clear-lacquered finish produces the ‘Darth Vader’ effect. It returned to the shed after the second day on the water with breakages to one of the main foils. These appear to have been greater than originally perceived as the boat was out longer than when similar damage occurred to ETNZ. The first Artemis boat (hulls built in Sweden and the structure completed in Valencia) has been in the water, but solely to be towed from the ship in San Francisco to her base in

ALL IMAGES: Oracle Team USA begin the testing programme on their first AC72 catamaran

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AC-72 Length Overall 85ft Hull length overall 72ft Beam 46ft Draft (max) 14ft Wing height 131ft 11 persons Crew (max)

TEAMS ENTERED Oracle Team USA – the Defender. Russell Coutts CEO, Jimmy Spithill helmsman, John Kostecki tactician Emirates Team New Zealand Grant Dalton CEO, Dean Barker helmsman, Ray Davies tactician Artemis Racing Paul Cayard CEO, Terry Hutchinson and Nathan Outteridge helmsmen, Iain Percy tactician Luna Rossa Patrizio Bertelli CEO, Chris Draper and Paul Campbell-James helmsmen Team Korea Young Kim Dong CEO, Peter Burling helmsman

Alameda. There, the Juan Kouyoumdjian design awaits her rebuilt rig (each team is allowed two rigs and the one that dropped from the trimaran counts as one for Artemis). It is expected that this bright red boat, with the noticeable knuckle forward above the waterline, will begin sailing after the second ACWS regatta in San Francisco, in October. That regatta for AC-45s will have to go a long way to better the one held in August. It proved that San Francisco is the ideal location for the America’s Cup, and attracted huge crowds along the foreshore, along which the boats passed close. The breeze was good and the racing extremely close with new teams emerging. Artemis added a second boat, but the one that attracted the most attention was J P Morgan/Ben Ainslie Racing, a British team that is hugely supported by the Oracle Team, which provided key members of the crew and for which, in turn, it will provide support for the upcoming defence of the Cup. Ben Ainslie arrived fresh from his gold medal-winning performance at Weymouth and took little time to acclimatise himself to a very different boat from ‘Rita’, his Finn for the past three Olympic Games. For many years it has been his avowed intention “to win the America’s Cup for Britain.” Not this time perhaps, but Russell Coutts, the Oracle Team CEO, said before the regatta: “I can’t wait to see young Benjamin go up against Jimmy”. There is no doubt therefore that Ainslie’s talents will be utilised to the full. Ben too wants to get his hands on an AC-72, although he was somewhat reserved, saying that he requires a great deal more catamaran experience before he tackles one of these “beasts.” That too is the general consensus of many of the sailors. The pressure is on for all, and the journey into the unknown will provide excitement for sailors and spectators alike .

CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE TOP LEFT: Emirates Team New Zealand naming ceremony for ‘New Zealand’; Oracle Team USA out on the water; Ben Ainslie; skipper line-up; an ETNZ crewman works ‘up the wing’ in Auckland; Oracle Team USA; Ngati Whatua blessing at the naming ceremony for ‘New Zealand’

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Yachtstyles guide to the very best on Display at the Monaco Yacht Show

t a e e s r t g eh

TEXT BY suzy Rayment Photo by Rick tomlinson

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world of super power

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The Monaco Yacht show is the crème de la crème of the yachting world, and features the latest and most luxurious superyachts on the planet. These big boats are probably the highest-value single item that an individual will ever buy and owning one requires real wealth simply to cover the running costs and the upkeep that these vessels incur. Despite the economic woes facing Europe, the docks were a hive of activity with over 30,000 visitors attending the four-day show. All the big names of the yachting world were showing off their latest wares, and over 100 superyachts lined the marina in Port Hercules, and even more yachts were at anchor further out to sea.The yachts have grown in size each year, and the 2012 show was no exception, with six megayachts of more than 70m on display. The world’s best shipyards were courting those in the market for a new build, and the brokerage companies were busy selling yachts that were a ‘good buy’. Yachtstyle looks at some of the yachts that stood out from the crowd and created the buzz at this year’s show.

lady petra

ShIPYard: Heesen Yachts Built for the founder of Heesen, Frans Heesen, the yacht is unusual because at the forward end of the main deck there is a media/family room, instead of the conventional owner’s cabin. Bannenberg & Rowell design studio were responsible for the yacht’s interior.

Key data

LOA: 46.70m Top speed: 15kts naval Architect: Heesen Yachts exterior: Omega Architects Interiors: Bannenberg & Rowell Design Guest/cabins: 12/6 Launched: 2011

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Azimut Grande 100 Shipyard: Azimut Grande 100 Boasting sleek lines and a top speed of 26kts the Azimut Grande 100 is a splendid vessel. The exterior is the work of renowned Italian designer Stefano Righini and the interior is by Carlo Galeazzi. Guests are accommodated in style and comfort and only minimal crew are needed to operate the yacht.

Key data

LOA: 31.04m Top speed: 26kts Exterior: Stefano Righini Interior: Carlo Galeazzi Design Guest/cabins: 8/4 Crew: 3 Launched: 2011

Imperial Princess Shipyard: Princess Yachts The first of the Princess Yachts 40m series has made an impressive debut. The longest production vessel ever made in Britain and the largest infused hull ever moulded show that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;the productionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; builder has entered the semi-custom big boat market with a bang. The interiors were designed by the in-house Princess Design team, in partnership with Bannerberg & Rowell.

Key data

LOA: 40m Top speed: 23kts Exterior: Bernard Olesinski/Princess Yachts Interior: Bannenberg & Rowell /Princess Yachts Guests/Cabins: 12/5 Crew: 8 Launched: 2012 Ys | autumn 2012 | 75

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Nirvana Shipyard: oceanco Modern lines and contemporary style are the features of this elegant and exclusive megayacht. Designed by Sam Sorgiovanni she features six decks and offers an impressive 150sqm ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suite, five guest cabins, 3D cinema, a fully-equiped gym, a 7.5m oval pool and whirlpools with panoramic views.

Key data

LOA: 88.50m Top speed: 14kts Exterior: Sam Sorgiovanni Designs interior: Sam Sorgiovanni Designs Guest/cabins: 12/6 Launched: 2012

LADY LINDA Builder: Trinity Yachts Lady Linda is a recently-launched 187ft superyacht that is up for sale. The semi-displacement vessel with an aluminium hull is designed for luxury cruising in the shallow waters of Florida and the Bahamas. The yacht can cruise at 18kts, and has a range of 3,000 nautical miles at 12kts, and comes equipped with a helipad. The six equallystylish suites and a master suite mean that there is plenty of room for you and all your friends.

Key data

LOA: 56.9m Top speed: 20kts Exterior: Trinity yachts Interior: Evan Marshall Guest/cabins: 12/6 Crew: 13 Launched: 2012

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Yacht brokers

Ocean Independence The latest launch from Jade Yachts is the ExpeditionOriented Smiling T. She is designed for both private cruises and charter and is designed by Espinosa Design Studio.

Edmiston & company Roma is cool classic chic European style. Two huge open plan saloons link with external dining areas to provide expansive entertaining space. Other features include a gymnasium, glass-edged sun deck, swimming jet pool, cinema and elevator to all interior decks.

HAMPSHIRE II Shipyard: Feadship The yacht features a foredeck helicopter platform that can be transformed into a playing area for basketball, tennis, baseball, badminton or football for her sports-loving owner. The superyacht was launched in April, 2012 and the interiors were designed by the world-renowned studio Redman, Whiteley and Dixon. The Yacht also features a beach club designed to facilitate the ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passion for windsurfing and sailing.

Key data

LOA: 78.5m Top speed: 16kts Naval Architect: Feadship De Voogt Naval Interior Design: Redman, Whiteley AND DIXON Guest/cabins: 14/7 Crew: 23 launched: 2012

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Yacht Brokers and Charters

Camper & Nicholsons Lazy Z charters in the Mediterranean in the summer months and the Caribbean and South Pacific in winter. Jump on board this award-winning yacht for some exceptional cuisine, and outstanding family fun.

Burgess Smeralda is a ground-breaking eco fuel-efficient superyacht which marries unprecedented levels of speed and performance with impressive long-range cruising capabilities. Super-sleek, she boasts the highest levels of European craftsmanship and outfitting.

DARLING DANAMA Shipyard: CRN (Ferretti Group) Built by CRN (part of the Ferretti Group) and designed by Zuccon International Project studio - in collaboration with CRNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in-house design studio - the yacht is a resounding success. Boasting a winning combination of vast open areas and light airy interiors, she is the ultimate entertainment yacht.

Key data

LOA: 60m Top speed: 14kts Exterior: Zuccon Interior: CRN Design Stuido Guest/cabins: 12/6 Crew: 16 Launched: 2011

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DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER Shipyard: benetti The superyacht owner John Staluppi is no stranger to big boats, having built some 17 superyachts to date, which include the current world record holder for the fastest superyacht â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The World Is Not Enough. His latest yacht, Diamonds Are Forever, is a yacht that certainly lives up to her name, The glitsy interior by Evan K Marshall featuring lots of mirrors and art deco flourishes, diamante studs and crystals.

Key data

LOA: 60.9m Top speed: 16kts Naval Architect: Benetti Interior: Evan K Marshall Guest/cabins: 12/6 Crew: 15 Launched: 2011

CANDYSCAPE II Shipyard: Viareggio Superyachts Brought by Candy & Candy to showcase their glamorous interiors, this is a floating display of the very best nautical technology, combined with the most luxurious interior design ever put to sea.

Key data

LOA: 61.8m Top speed: 17kts Exterior: Espen Oeino Interior: Candy & Candy Guests/cabins: 12/6 Crew: 17 launched: 2009

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world of super sail

ALMAGORES II

Shipyard: Southern Wind

Almagores II is the first of the 102DS series to be released from the shipyard. Her hull shape and construction materials have been carefully built to combine light weight and volume together with durability, seaworthiness and comfort.

Key data

LOA: 31.42m Naval architect: Farr Yacht Design Interior architect: Nauta Yacht Design Guest/cabins: 8/4 Crew: 4 launched: 2012

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vertigo Builder: Alloy Yachts The winner of the 2012 MYS design award this outstanding sailing yacht was designed by French naval architects Philippe Briand and Christian Liagre. At 220ft she is the largest private superyacht to be built by Alloy, taking over 800,000 man hours to build. Launched in 2011, the ketchrigged superyacht is expected to be able to reach 20kts, in 20 kts of true wind.

Key data

LOA: 67.2m Exterior: Philippe Briand I nterior: Christian Liagre guests/cabins: 10/5 Sail Area: 5330mÂ˛ Launched: 2010

Mariposa 3A Shipyard: Vitters Shipyard BV Refitted in 2012, MARIPOSA 3a is indeed a unique classic, in a style reminiscent of the great racing yachts and romance of the 1920s and 1930s. Dutch workmanship, attention to detail, and a blonde teak interior with sculpted detailing and exquisitely designed curves throughout, ensure that the MARIPOSA 3a stands out in both style and quality. A truly romantic and sensual yacht.

Key data

LOA: 30m Exterior: Dubois Naval Architects Ltd GuestS: 6 BUILT: 1994 REFITTED: 2010

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Athena Shipyard: Royal Huisman The biggest sailing yacht at the Monaco Yacht Show, the 90m three masted schooner created a stunning impact with her graceful lines, panamax masts and immaculate build. Athena’s sheer size could literally overwhelm, but the interior designer cleverly divided the accommodation and living areas into human sized proportions thus creating a feeling of warmth and old world charm.

Key data

LOA: 90m Top speed: 18.9 kts Naval Architects: Pieter Beeldsnijder Design and Dykstra Naval Architects Exterior: Pieter Beeldsnijder Design Interior: Rebecca Bradley Interior Design Guest/cabins: 10/5 Crew: 18 Launched: 2004 Refit: 2008

HAMILTON Brand/Design: Wally The WallyCento is the latest evolution in high-tech racing performance married to spacious and comfortable interiors. The 100-foot ‘box rule’ class was designed in response to the demands of some of the world’s most experienced and competitive yachtsmen. Using new generation lightweight carbon composite hull design the yacht will exceed 25kts downwind.

Key data

LOA: 30.48m Top speed: 25kts Constructed by: Green Marine (UK) naval architecture by: Design Unlimited Interior: Design Unlimited Guests: 8 Launched: 2012

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patrick swirc

2012 seakeepers Award

Winner : Agnes B The SeaKeepers Award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to marine conservation. This year’s winner is agnès b., who has been at the forefront of reshaping environmental advocacy based on sound science through her support of the Tara Expeditions. The yacht used by Tara Expeditions for its ocean marine scientific research and advocacy missions was formerly owned by legendary yachtsman Sir Peter Blake (a 2002 SeaKeepers Award recipient). The International SeaKeepers Society is an organisation dedicated to the preservation of the world’s oceans. agnès b. joins an illusttrious list of names to have received the award down the years for their work in ensuring the sustainability of the world’s oceans, including H.S.H. Prince Albert II, Mikhail Gorbachev, H.R.H. Khalid bin Sultan, Ted Danson, James Cameron, Dr. Sylvia Earle, H.S.H. Prince Rainier III, and Jean-Michel Cousteau.

RAINBOW Shipyard: Holland Jachtbouw Rainbow is the world’s first hybrid-powered j-class superyacht. A replica of her 1934 namesake, she is the latest sloop in a glorious J Class revival. The yacht combines new technology with classic style. The owner welcomed the way the shipyard combined a flexible no nonsense approach with an innovative spirit to offer superlative quality for a fair price.

Key data

LOA: 40m Exterior: Dykstra Naval Architects interior: Dykstra Naval Architects Guests: 10 Crew: 7 Launched: 2012

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Power The Pangaea African expedition has been an experience of a lifetime for two teenagers from Hong Kong. TEXT by suzy rayment photographs by Dmitri Sharomov

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The Young Explorers Programme consisted of 12 expeditions which covered the globe over a four-year period.

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Fraternal twins Oliver (Oli) and Sebastian Engelhart (Seb) are Hong Kong born and bred. “We first heard about the Pangaea Young Explorers Project (YEP) though our mother,” says Oli. “She has always encouraged us to go out and do adventurous things.” When Mike Horn visited Hong Kong in 2009, on his yacht Pangaea, Jun Li Lee, a university student from Shenzhen, had just completed the New Zealand expedition and was here with Horn to promote the on-going project and inspire other young people to join future expeditions. Oli and Seb were too young at that time to participate, but the seeds of interest were sown. When they were, finally, old enough they sent in their application for the last expedition, to Africa. The Young Explorers Programme consisted of 12 expeditions which covered the globe over a four-year period. Young people between the ages of 15-20 years came from every continent, and went to every continent visiting such unique and exciting places and habitats as Antarctica, the South Island of New Zealand, the Malaysia archipelago, India and the Himalayas, the Gobi Desert in Mongolia, the tundra in Kamchatka, the North Pole, Arctic Canada, the Everglades (USA), the Amazon rainforest, and finally the deserts and savannah of southern Africa. “When we applied, we were told that it would be very unlikely

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that we would both be accepted, as it was the policy was to take only one individual from each country. But we were determined that this was something that we wanted to do this together, and so that was the theme of our application, the ‘Power of Two’.” The twins’ first challenge once they made the selection cut was to make the final cut from the 18 candidates who went to the selection camp in Switzerland. “It was like nothing we had ever experienced before,” says Seb. “It was a gruelling 10-day schedule of physical and mental challenges, along with survival skills.” During the selection trials Seb’s finger was crushed and he was briefly hospitalised, but that didn’t stop him, and with true grit and determination and support for each other, both boys went on to be selected for the expedition which took place over the summer. “Our African adventure started on the Skeleton Coast, Namibia,” says Oli. “The first two words out of Mike’s mouth when we landed at Walvis Bay were ‘Let’s go!’ We packed up our 50L Wenger backpacks, and early the very next morning we headed off into the Namib desert.” Their first challenge was a 150k hike along Namibia’s Skeleton Coast. Shipwrecks along the way were a constant reminder of how the coastline earned its name. “It was four days of monotonous

OPPOSITE page, from TOP: Mike Horn and the Young Explorers on the Skeleton Coast; climbing the highest dune in the world ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Scientific field studies; a bracing dip to collect water samples; camping en route; seals at Cape Cross

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trudging through loose sand, chilling winds and arid conditions,” said Seb, “but the desert is a fascinating place and amazing to experience… for the first day at least! Then it is as much a test of mental endurance, as it is about pushing your own physical limits.” “But there were interesting things to find in the desert,” adds Oli. “We started at Cape Cross to visit the seal colony living there. Over 15,000 noisy and smelly seals crowed onto the beach as we took photos. Then along the way we saw flamingos, and even a springbok. It was amazing to see how the vegetation in this harsh environment has has adapted, as it receives only about 10mm of rainfall a year.” “There is some water,” says Seb. “We went swimming in Namibia’s ‘Dead Sea’, where the salt concentration in the water is so high that your buoyancy almost makes you float on top of the water.” At the end of the hike through the desert, the team climbed up Sossusvlei Dune 7, one of the highest dunes in the world, and saw the desert that they had been walking through for the last four days from a different perspective. After their ‘little’ hike the boys finally got to see Pangaea, Mike’s 32m double-masted eco-sailboat. “For both of us this was

something very special, and the reason why we had applied for the programme in the first place. Now we had finally made it on board after all these years!” Setting sail that night, the yacht headed straight into a huge storm. “Six meter waves and 40kts winds flung us back and forth for two days and everyone, including us, to our shame (the experienced sailors of the group), clung on for dear life with vomit bags in hand. Then the sun came out and we all finally enjoyed sailing on Pangaea.” Next challenge on the programme was the Orange River, the longest river in southern Africa. “ We had two days of rafting through rapids and gorges, with an occasional portage over cliffs. When we weren’t yelling at our partners ‘hard left ’ or ‘hard right’ or ‘backpaddle quickly’,” said Oli, “it was a perfect place to enjoy the tranquility and serenity of nature.” Back on the yacht the group enjoyed another few days of sailing, before heading off to the Cederberg Mountains for the ultimate biking challenge. “Our sailing experience was a little less painful this time,” says Seb, “and our night watch system was reinstated. We actually managed to hoist a few sails and that is

opposite: Pangaea waits for the shore party to return ABOVE, clockwise from top: Swimming in the ‘Dead Sea’ waterhole; portage on the Orange River; white water canoeing; environmental data collection

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Mike Horn

Mike was elected a member of the exclusive Laureus World Sports Academy in 2007 in recognition of his ground-breaking achievements.  He is undoubtedly one of a kind. His unrivalled years of hands-on experience with oceans, rivers and mountains, swamplands, tundra and ice or jungles and deserts, makes him one of the greatest modern day explorers.   The Pangaea Young Explorers Programme was a way to share and impart his knowledge to the younger generation, helping to educate and inform them about the beauty and significance of what is now ‘their’ planet, and to help preserve its magnificence for generations to come. The Pangaea Project was supported by Mercedes Benz, Officine Panerai and Geberit.

when we experienced the ‘Captain Bligh’ side of Mike’s character. He made us hoist the main sail several times, until we did it quickly enough for his liking, but then he proved to us that he could winch faster alone than five average men can together!” “The Cederbergs were a whole new league of cycling for us,” says Oli. “Coming from Hong Kong we’d never really had any experience mountain biking, and this was one hell of a christening! The 250km bike ride in four degree Celsius temperatures and freezing cold wind and rain brought us to a state of exhaustion, and that was just the first day! I experienced such extreme cramping, and was so saddle sore that I don’t think I sat on my seat for the first hour of each subsequent morning. But the landscape was amazing, the sandstone sculptures breathtaking. It was a great privilege to experience this amazing environment.” Sailing into Cape Town, Mike’s home port, was a special moment for the whole group. This was the official welcome back home for Mike and the Pangaea project, and was where the project started some four years before. “Mike says that the only way to understand Africa is to understand the people, and there is no better way to meet the people than by going to a township,” says Oli. “Our last week of

the expedition passed in a blur of activities, as we visited a number of townships and community projects. One day we were handing out first aid kits, and the next we were planting trees in a primary school.” The group took some time off from the community activities, to experience Cape Town’s iconic tourist attractions. “We scaled Table Mountain, and the view was spectacular. We went shark diving with great white sharks, and both experiences were a strong reminder as to why it is important to protect the environment. The last two days were spent donating the bikes we used in the Cederbergs to the Tsonga Project, which promotes mountain bike riding to township kids. The programme is a real success, with some of the kids already participating in international races. We also participated in a surfing programme for township kids called ‘Waves for Change’. This is supported by the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, and promotes the use of sport as a life changer. In summing up their trip, Oli and Seb are now strong believers in a motto that is one of Mike’s favourites: “It is better to try and fail, then to fail to try’, and trying to save some of the unique environments and wildlife is the next thing on their agenda. By working together, they just might succeed.

opposite, clockwise from top: Spectacular scenery in the Cerderberg Mountains; water testing; township fun; community tree planting project; rock climbing on Table Mountain; a hard day in the saddle above, clockwise from top: Pangaea’s press outing in Cape Town; shark watching; press conference

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f it at sea Hoist Those Muscles: Staying Fit While Sailing By Davide Butson-Fiori

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trx SQUAT

You may be helming or raising sails, but that doesn’t give you a full body workout, strength or cardio.

Pleasure sailing means you can surrender to the soaring winds, warm or chill waters and welcoming fresh air. But it doesn’t mean you can just let yourself go and not remain – or get – fit. You may be helming or raising sails, but that doesn’t give you a full body workout, strength or cardio. And there are days when there is no wind and you’re just sitting around, probably eating things you shouldn’t be. Even though you may be exercising your mind (take the opportunity to meditate!), you’re letting your body go by just letting yourself sit idle. It’s time to get out of the doldrums and get fit. Exercising is essential for the body. It stimulates the body’s own natural maintenance and repair system. Your bones, joints, muscles (especially your heart) need to be exercised to stay healthy. And while you’re at sea, who knows what can happen? There’s a lot of maintenance to keep the boat going, and it’s important to be a good swimmer. Being in good shape and mentally alert is key to making sure things go smoothly on the waters. If something were to go wrong, not having any strength to maneuver through any rough patches could have dire consequences. Of course, no one wants to think about that but

TRX BALANCE LUNGE

realistically, there’s always a risk while being out at sea, from storms to leaky boats to big waves to even falling into the cold water. Plus, on a superficial front, how horrible would it be to go off to sea on a relaxing vacation, only to return bloated from drinking and eating too much? All of this can be relieved by keeping fit. The key to exercising in a confined space like a boat is to do exercises that offer resistance and increase heart and breathing rates. Commit to 25 minutes a day (Circuit25 offers the perfect workout for that, as you will read below) and you’re set. And the main area to focus on is your core. With everything you have to do to keep the boat going, having a strong core will get you through the most difficult of sails. Plus, it’ll keep your back in good shape so that you can life and hoist sails, and so on. A strong core equals a strong back…which equals a strong sailor. One great way to get an entire body workout is by using the TRX. As a personal trainer, this is my equipment of choice. It’s a portable, suspension training system that uses your body weight as

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SUN ODYSSEY 44DS

Jeanneau’s latest offering is a top class cruiser specifically designed for short-handed sailing. This boat will take you anywhere - from an overnight coastal weekend to a voyage across oceans. Add in a clean and stylish visual design, Jeanneau’s well deserved reputation for build quality, and it’s hard to resist. So what are you waiting for? Come aboard!

TRX BALANCE LUNGE with knee raise

resistance. It takes up very little space, is lightweight, fits in a bag, and can be used on land or at sea. Tie the adjustable handles to the mast and you’ll be able to do countless strength, flexibility and balance exercises. The TRX is all about giving you a strong core. So if you have the money to spend on one piece of exercise equipment that will get you in the best shape possible, spend it on the TRX.

It’s easy to commit to 25 minutes of strength and resistance every day. And when it comes to eating, it’s just as easy. Save treats for four of your meals a week. This is what I call the 80/20 rule, where you eat clean 80% of the time and then treat yourself 20% of the time. It works out to 4 meals a week, based on three meals a day. This should sustain you if you feel like they can’t commit to a 100% clean diet (which is very hard for most people).

But getting back to sea… let’s go over some general pointers on how to keep yourself healthy and fit. Ideally, do the below at least 3 times a week.

Of course, work at your own pace and fitness level. There’s no need to overexert yourself when instead, you can build up slowly to a stronger, fitter body.

The Workout

For those that have a TRX, here is a full body workout you can easily do onboard any vessel:

First, it’s good to give your body a warm up in preparation for the exercise. Do ten minutes in place, butt kicks, high knees, jumping jacks, lunges, squats and jump rope. Perform each one for 25 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds before going on to the next exercise. Do three sets, but for no more than 10 minutes.

Start with at least a five to ten minute warm up, doing squats and balance lunges (see first two exercises below). Alternate the exercises, using 25 seconds on, 10 second rests, repeat and alternate for the full five or ten minutes. After your warm up, do the rest of the exercises listed below. Perform each one of them by doing three to four sets for 25 seconds on, 10 second rest, then repeat. You should be able to finish the entire workout within 25 minutes (this includes your warm up).

The circuit is only 25 minutes. Here, we focus on strength and resistance, hitting all the major muscle groups. Some ideas for working out are (if you don’t have a TRX): pull-ups, push-ups, lunges, crunches, squats, burpees, tricep dips. This will give you a full body workout do 3 sets of each exercise 25 seconds on and then rest for 10 seconds or more, all within 25 minutes!

trx SQUAT

Cool down by doing some planks and crunches, which will focus on that core. Stretch out by using simple yoga moves, such as child pose, dog and cat poses. Finish off with sun salutations. This will help you become more flexible. And remember, always focus on your core (squeeze and hold in your abs), even during this final stage.

Grasp the handles and lean back to about a 45 degree angle. You’re actually bending at the hips and sitting back into an imaginary chair. Let quads be parallel to the floor, keeping your back straight, and keeping a light grip on the handles. Move yourself with your mid foot and heel to promote engaging the posterior chain (hamstrings, glutes). Squeeze your glutes and abs at the top of the movement and repeat.

TRX

TRX defined is “Total body Resistance eXercise. This type of training was developed by a company called Fitness Anywhere® and was initially used by the U.S. Navy Seals. TRX is basically a suspension training tool, a specially designed set of straps and handles that allow for portable, body-weight based training that can help in building strength, balance, flexibility, core and joint stability, all while preventing injuries for people working within a wide spectrum of fitness levels. Purchase your very own TRX at www.circuit25.com

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1. Eat well, stay away from marina clubs and hit the local seaside eateries. 2. Stay hydrated by making sure you have plenty of fresh drinking water on board. 3. Catch your own food (fish!) and cook it! 4. Go for a swim. It’s not a race, so take a long, relaxing swim to give that heart a workout.

TRX chest press

While at sea, do the following to stay fit and make your sail more enjoyable:

TRX shoulder rollouts/iron cross

Top ten ways to stay fit at sea

6. Stock up on protein bars and make yourself a delicious protein shake with fresh, local fruits. 7. Run on the beach when you hit the shore. 8.Take it easy on the booze (and remember that sun plus working-out causes dehydration).

TRX back row

5. Kayak, skim board, surf or make use of whatever other water toys you’ve got laying around.

9 . Get a little Vitamin D (but don’t overdo it and always wear sunscreen!).

TRX bicep curls

10. Shake that booty and dance on the boat (no one’s watching anyway!).

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TRX suspended crunch crunch w/ push up TRX BALANCE LUNGE Face the TRX, holding handles with a light grip. Lift one leg off the floor to keep straight. Drop the knee of the free leg back and reach back until it almost touches the floor. Keep the front heel touching the floor and press your body back up to the start position.

hands together. Pull yourself to where you want to be by using your shoulders. Keep your arms at 90 degrees the entire time.

TRX BICEPS CURL

Try to limit your arm movement when you’re pulling the body back to standing position. Try to add a jump with a high knee at the end of the lunge to progress this exercise.

Lean back with arms straight at shoulder height. Keep elbows high, tighten your core and keep entire body straight. Pull body toward handles. When you reach the handles, they should be in line with forehead. Don’t move upper arms or body throughout the exercise.

trx CHEST PRESS

TRX TRICEPS PRESS (NOT SHOWN)

Keep body straight and stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Lower chest toward hands, similar to a push-up. Don’t lower chest below handles; if the straps rub against your arms, position your hands higher. If it’s hard to stabilize without the straps, lower your body so that it has less resistance.

Grip handles overhand, keep arms straight and push handles till they are shoulder height. Keep feet shoulder width apart (for a more difficulty, keep feet together). Keep upper arms straight as you bend at the elbows, lowering your body till your elbows are at 90 degrees. Slowly press body back up to start position by straightening your arms.

TRX ROLLOUTS AND IRON CROSS (SHOULDERS) Start with chest press position (arms extended), with the core as tight as possible. Slowly raise the arms overhead, and don’t allow the core to ‘sag.’ This exercise is like the Ab-Wheel-type exercises, but in a standing position. Another advanced workout: take your hands out to Iron-Cross, then return to starting position with arms extended overhead.

TRX SUSPENDED CRUNCH (WITH PUSH UP) Get into a basic plank position, with elbows in front of chest or on hands (for more advanced, see as shown), where the tailbone is the highest point and elbows are in line with chest. Don’t let hips to sag. Keep head straight and hips high. Lift hips and pull knees toward chest in a reverse crunch motion. Stretch legs back to start position. (Add a push up and open legs into a scissor position for a more advanced workout.)

TRX BACK ROW This is a pull-up exercise. Extend arms at chest height, holding handles at 45 degrees. Keep chest high and body aligned. Squeeze shoulder blades to handles. Then move elbows out to the side, creating a 45 degree angle at shoulder. Keep body straight and wrists relaxed. Don’t move hips up to help with exercise.

SHOULDERS Straighten your arms and incline body slightly. Keep elbows locked and tighten your core as you slowly lower your body by bringing

photos: Azimut 116 Courtesy of Simpson Marine Ltd.

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IN CONCLUSION: Stay fit, while at sea – or while you’re not! Most sailors take up other physical activities while on land in order to keep up their fitness levels so that they’re prepared for the next sea-venture. You should do the same. And the easiest way to do that is to get into Circuit25. Circuit25 offers the perfect 25 minute workout that you can do anywhere, and it rivals Cross Fit and PX90. Take a class (where we often have Dragon Boater Sailors participating), have one of our trainers join you at the gym or at home, or do our 25 minute workout on your own time, at your own place. By land, by sea, by Circuit25: get fit!

DAVIDE BUTSONFIORI Founder of Circuit25, Davide Butson-Fiori is an American designer, photographer and tri-athlete who lives in Hong Kong. He started off his career as a graphic designer, photographer and creative director However, all of this hard work had him leading an unhealthy lifestyle. But that soon changed when he met fitness expert and coach Dr. Phil Maffetone. Davide was inspired to quit smoking, train and soon was participating in triathlons worldwide. In 2009, Davide took advantage of Hong Kong’s urban landscape and market for “unplugged” social networking by starting a group workout with friends, which quickly grew. Davide, who’s in his late 40s, knew he had an instant winner with C25, especially when he realized he had reduced his own biological age by more than 15 years. By applying his talents to design a fitness program that works, Davide has incorporated everything he has learned from his various professions in order inspire and motivate others to live a life of fitness and good health.

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98 lifeSTYLE John Walker & Sons Voyager

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John Walker & Sons Voyager Tracing its nautical and game-changing heritage, the world’s leading luxury whisky house is embarking on a journey of discovery with John Walker & Sons Voyager. photographs by Guy Nowell and Ed Bean

o celebrate the launch of John Walker & Sons ODYSSEY, a new blend of whisky Inspired by the vision and entrepreneurial spirit of Sir Alexander Walker, John Walker & Sons have chartered a remarkable super yacht. Over the next six months from Autumn 2012 to Spring 2013, the “John Walker & Sons Voyager” will travel from China to Taiwan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore and India on a journey which was inspired by the original trade routes pioneered when the Walker family whiskies left the corner store in Scotland and journeyed across the world. As the boat journeys through Asia, leading authors, photographers and illustrators from around the region will capture the progress of each port-of-call from the Golden Era of the 1920s until the present day, recreating the luxury travel guide created by the Walker family – Around the World. First commissioned by John Walker & Sons almost 100 years ago, the guide was developed with the assistance of the company’s in-market distributors and agents who each contributed a chapter on their country.

At each port, Voyager will be the setting for a series of iconic events through which the most progressive individuals and gamechangers in Asia Pacific will be invited aboard to experience the pinnacle of luxury craftsmanship and to celebrate the launch of John Walker & Sons ODYSSEY whisky. The new blend commemorates the 80th anniversary of one of Sir Alexander’s most remarkable innovations – a whisky decanter that could move to match the motion of the sea. Mr Jim Beveridge, John Walker & Sons Master Blender says “I searched a number of distilleries in Scotland for the perfect three whiskies to blend for John Walker & Sons ODYSSEY. They needed to have the right provenance and pedigree to create the aromas, tastes, flavours and sensations that Sir Alexander was looking for when he created the original blend almost 100 years ago,” James Thompson, Chief Marketing Officer, Diageo Asia Pacific further comments on the reason for using a super yacht to attract the attention of the Asian consumer; “In our highly social and connected world, consumers are becoming increasingly dis-

Opposite page: Setting sail on the John Walker & Sons Voyager

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The Beginning of a New ODYSSEY

ODYSSEY, John Walker & Sons new whisky, is the product and inspiration of nearly 200 years of experience from the House of Walker – from the days of John Walker importing teas from the Orient, travelling across the high seas to his corner store in Scotland, to Alexander Walker’s unwavering drive to take Johnnie Walker whiskies to the four corners of the modern world and then finally Sir Alexander Walker’s visionary spirit which saw him create a spectacular decanter which could move to match the motion of the waves and travelled the world aboard luxury cruise liners.

cerning about the brands they engage with and it’s more important than ever for us to find ways to communicate with people in relevant ways. Our goal is for John Walker & Sons Voyager to be the ultimate luxury experience for premium spirit connoisseurs in this region – if not the world. To ensure we deliver on this, we also have partnered with global leaders and innovators in beverage service, culinary creation, design and entertainment to develop a highly customised programme that spans large-scale parties to intimate conversation opportunities”. On board as partners on the project are luxury design house Alfred Dunhill and Hilton Honours. Still easily recognised by both its slanted label and colour-coded blends, the world’s leading whisky house continues to develop with an ethos of constant dedication to exceptional blends and designorientated products. From the distinctive squared bottle originally

developed in 1860, to the instantly recognizable “striding man” logo that adorns it, Johnnie Walker stays ahead of its competitors by drawing on its time-tested heritage. The same dedication to detail has gone into the refurbishment of the super yacht. The expansive sun deck has been transformed into a beautiful entertainment area with a bar created from travel trunks, while the reception area centres around a grand chandelier designed with a nautical twist and pays homage to the John Walker & Sons Odyssey casing. Most impressive is the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Game-changers Lounge, created in partnership with Alfred Dunhill as a contemporary space which exudes luxury. As the John Walker & Sons Voyager crosses the South China Sea and ventures into the exotic and challenging waters of South East Asia, consumer marketing in Asia is truly reaching new levels of sophistication.

OPPOSITE PAGE, clockwise from top: The yacht prepares to sail, tranquil moments onboard; spreading sails, at anchor, polished ensign staff, strong rigging, the book that inspired the odyssey

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marketing feature

WATCH CONTROL

â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is your Captain speaking. We will shortly be beginning our descent into Chek Lap Kok. Local time is 5:15 in the afternoon. Please adjust your watchesâ&#x20AC;?.

he time announced will be an approximation at best, and if you do adjust your watch, your officially-certified chronometer will be officially wrong until you can reset your watch against an accurate time-piece. Meanwhile, what time is it in the place you have just left? What you need is an automatic wristwatch that you can wear anywhere; that remains accurate after adjusting for time zone changes; that tells you what time it is in the city you have just left; that is quick and simple to adjust.

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Sky-Dweller The Sky-Dweller from Rolex is a completely-new Oyster Perpetual self-winding mechanical wristwatch with no less than five new patents among the 14 incorporated in the design. The Saros annual calendar requires only one date adjustment a year, and displays the month by means of discreet apertures around the dial. It has dual time zones: local time is read via centre hands and a reference time in 24 hour format is displayed via an offset rotating disc. Made possible by a new calibre, the 9001, an

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officially-certified Swiss chronometer, developed and manufactured by Rolex, the Sky-Dweller is as simple to use as it is intuitive to read. Local time, reference time and the date are rapidly set using the highly innovative Ring Command fluted bezel, which is turned to set the function of the winding crown. Global travellers can read the reference time home or last place of work - independently of local time and can clearly distinguish daytime from night-time hours. No more waking up the household at 3am! Local time is indicated by the conventional hour, minutes and seconds hands. It can be set very quickly and accurately by a mechanism that allows the hour hand to be adjusted independently in onehour increments both forwards and backwards, without affecting either the reference time or the setting of the minute and second hands. You’ve landed and you are still accurate!

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The date change is not only linked to local time, it occurs within a few milliseconds of midnight - the date displayed is always the current date in the wearer’s local time zone. Thanks to its innovative and simple operation, the Sky-Dweller allows the multi-time-zone traveller to adjust the watch to different time zones during a journey while benefitting from a constant clear display of reference time. The Sky-Dweller is designed for those who desire useful function, intuitive adjustment, constant accuracy and the precision, robustness and reliability for which Rolex watches are renowned, a brand that continues to innovate at the service of the wearer. Available in 18ct white, yellow or everose gold, in classic Rolex style, the stately 42mm Oyster case provides a triumph of function married with form: the Sky-Dweller perpetuates the Oyster’s legendary excellence.

Opposite Page: The Oyster Perpetual SKY-DWELLER presented at BASELWORLD 2012 is the latest addition to the OYSTER collection Above: (Left) OYSTER Perpetual SKY-DWELLER (monobloc middle case, screw-down case back and winding crown), 42 mm,v18 ct yellow gold, polished and (left) EVEROSE gold, polished finish (right)

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marketing feature

Yacht-Master The essential sailing watch since 1992, the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master has undergone an extensive update: ergonomics; comfort; reliability. All have been improved in design changes informed by Rolexâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s privileged links with the world of sailing. A yachtsman needs robustness, reliability, water-proofness, accuracy and to be able to read the watch-dial in adverse lighting conditions. The Yacht-Master fulfills all these requirements. The bi-directional bezel, made entirely of platinum, can be set to 120 positions and to time an interval of up to 60 minutes. The large Chromalight hour markers and blue-glow luminescent hands offer excep-

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tional legibility in the dark. The 40mm Oyster case, waterproof to 100m, is crafted from a solid block of a platinum/steel superalloy, providing optimal protection for the 3135 calibre chronometer self-winding automatic mechanical movement. A true chronometer, certified by official Swiss tests, the movement is insensitive to magnetic fields and temperature variations. The bracelet, fitted with an adjustable-length solid-link Oyster bracelet in stainless steel with a new generation Oysterlock safety clasp, is both easy to open and has a system to prevent accidental opening. Sleek, sporty and distinguished, the Oyster

Perpetual Yacht-Master continues to lead the yachting world. The Yacht-Master II is the first Professional watch in the Oyster collection to be available in a combination of 904L stainless steel superalloy and 18ct everose gold. Designed for the racing yachtsman, this is a chronometer combined with a regatta chronograph, built to brave the oceans. The racing skipper and his crew need to synchronise their watches with the official regatta countdown sequence, without disturbing the normal time display, if they are to cross the line at the very moment the horn sounds. The 44mm Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II,

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with its unique interaction between the rotating Ring Command bezel and the self-winding automatic movement, allows the wearer to initialise and lock the countdown programming of the 10 minute chronograph. Like all Oysters, the monobloc case is waterproof to 100m, with a screw-down Triplock waterproof winding crown similar in concept to the hatch of a submarine. The face is scratch-resistant sapphire, and the dial beneath is Chromalight with longlasting luminesence. Being able to synchronise the seconds hand on-the-fly with the count-down chronograph, and using the small additional seconds-hand with the

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ability to read off the stop-seconds, means that the precise countdown time can be set. The red countdown minute and seconds hands provide instant readability against the graduations of the dial and the bezel. The combined rose gold and steel superalloy adjustable bracelet strap has been redesigned for improved comfort, and incorporates the Oysterlock clasp with a safety catch to prevent accidental release. The horn has sounded; the line was crossed; the course is set. The Yacht-Master II forges onwards to the finishing line and the next preciselytimed start.

Opposite Page: The YACHT-MASTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 40 mm OYSTER case, guaranteed waterproof to a depth of 100 metres (330 feet), is a paragon of robustness. Above: The Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master II is the first Professional watch in the Oyster collection to be available in EVEROSE ROLESOR.

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Leopard 44 is a cat for all seasons P.114 The Pershing 92 reaches escape velocity P.108 and we are spoiled for NEW boats IN ASIA P.120

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guy nowell

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ESCAPE VELOCITY Packing in the style, loading up the luxury, and pouring on the power. Guy Nowell catches his breath after a brush with Pershing’s latest heart stopper. text and photos By guy nowell

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The trick is to make the inside of the boat light and airy so that it seems to be bigger than it really is

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f you name your boats after a solid-fuelled two-stage ballistic missile, then you are probably talking about something pointy and fast, that snarls. Now say hello to Pershing, the boats that were the brainchild of Tilli Antonelli, back in the 1980s. Pershings were originally intended to have the look of a classic motoryacht and the performance of a speedboat – they still do, but they have grown up a whole lot since the first 45’ model of 1981. The latest incarnation of this august marque is the Pershing 92. It’s a class act, a piece of floating bloodstock that has ‘pedigree’ stamped all over it, and which is just as comfortable presented as an elegant entertainment venue as it is tearing up the sea lanes at a knee-trembling 41 kts. With this model, Pershing have excelled themselves – presenting an all-new look in a new and racy model, building in the absolute maximum comfort on board, and creating a free-flow continuity between interior space and deck space. Let’s take a closer look. The Pershing 92 is the product of the design flair of Fulvio de Simoni (who has been drawing the lines of these boats ever since the company was floated), special technical input from the Pershing technical staff, and particular collaboration with the Advanced Yacht Technology division of the Ferretti Group. Between them they have come up with an elegant beast, “characterised by a slim and aggressive external profile, with tight lines that permit the enlargement of the internal volume.” That’s right, it’s a Tardis. How-

ever, the trick with all boat design – motor yachts and sailing yachts alike – is to get as much space and as many amenities as possible into a given volume, without compromising the appearance and performance of the hull shape. And that’s exactly what Pershing have achieved. To extend the explanation a little further – the rest of the trick is to make the inside of the boat light and airy so that it seems to be bigger than it really is – “bringing the outdoors, indoors,” so to speak, which is not a bad idea when the whole purpose of a fast luxury motor yacht is to be able to leave the dock behind and get away from it all to somewhere more pleasant. ‘Light and airy’ ticks all the boxes. The Pershing 92 boasts huge windows, wide glass walls, and even a retractable glass door that disappears downwards to make the saloon and cockpit a straight line walk-through. Truly, the outdoors comes indoors. And at the same time, the outdoors has been made even more welcoming - up above, and an all-new design sundeck gives over enormous space to the art of relaxation, whilst preserving privacy. Access to the sundeck is via an extra-wide stairway that allows exceptionally easy access to the flybridge – all but invisible from the exterior, and therefore never spoiling the line of the superstructure. Still on the flybridge, a semicircular modular sofa and table quickly convert to ‘flat’, providing sun-lounging space that can be protected by a shade sail supported on elegant carbon fibre poles.

previous page: Pershing 92 on patrol in Hong Kong harbour. At least, that’s the way it feels opposite, clockwise from top: Full beam owner’s stateroom; quality woodwork looks and feels good; en suite fits neatly into the angle of the hull; VIP suite making the most of space in the bow; a place for everything (and everything in its place Above: Saloon, dining area and helm station all in one grand sweep

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“You can’t go far wrong with a boat that looks as good as this one does, made in Italy with all the luxury and comfort you could wish for, and additional lashings of style”

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››DATAFILE pershing 92 Length:

27.96 m

Beam:

6.23 m

Engines:

2 x MTU 16V 2000 M94

Cruising speed:

38kts, 385nm range

Max speed:

41 kts

Fuel tank capacity:

9,000 litres

Water tank capacity:

1,200 litres

Displacement (half load):

75,200 kgs

On the foredeck, and in front of the main bridge and saloon, an area often dismissed with a simple sunpad and not much else, Pershing have provided a proper seating area and table – and a sunpad too. Wide side decks and plenty of handholds make moving fore and aft on this boat both pleasant and easy. So, aft we go to the main cockpit, furnished with two sofas facing each other, a generously-proportioned table and a mobile bar. It is a very comfortable outdoor living area, connected directly to the saloon by virtue of the drop-down window/door. This is a game-changer, a transforming detail that in a moment turns the whole length of the main deck from helm station to cockpit into one glorious visual space, a space in which to entertain, to relax, or to plan another adventure. Pershing themselves describe this as “an idea that changed into a solution.” Below decks, and the Pershing 92 offers accommodation in the form of four cabins, starting with a full-beam owner’s suite situated right in the middle of the boat and filled with light from two enormous hull windows. In the bow, the spacious VIP cabin sports a double bed and ensuite bathroom, and the two remaining twin cabins also claim ensuites. The layout is semi-custom – the owner’s suite can be modelled with or without a study, a nice design twist for anyone planning to stay on board for a substantial length of time – from here you could log into the boat’s electronics and communications suite and run an ‘onboard boardroom’ with no trouble at all. And don’t forget to notice the finish. Everywhere. Indoors, where the detailing comes courtesy of Poltrona Frau and ErnestoMeda, and outdoors where the impeccable mouldings and curves are as kind to the eye as they are to the touch. This boat is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. For the technically minded, the oomph that flings this elegant

vessel across the sea at a cruising speed of 38kts comes in the form of two MTU engines producing 2,638hp and delivering it into the water via Rolla surface propellers and an Arneson transmission. The propulsion system is monitored by a Mastertrim unit which continuously controls performance and consumption of the boat at any speed, and with any load. Pershing is part of the Ferretti Group, headed up by Norberto Ferretti, who firmly declares that “the Pershing 92 is faithful to the philosophy of the brand, and has once again shown a perfect mix of technical innovation and avant-garde design.” Brand Manager Nada Serafina believes that the real hallmarks of this new design are “versatility, intelligent use of space, and a new concept of ‘open’.” As of January 2012, the Ferretti Group is owned by the stateowned parent of China’s biggest bulldozer-maker, Shandong Heavy Industry - Weichai Group. Ferretti has retained its existing management as well as its headquarters and production facilities in Forli, Italy, but will obviously be expanding activities in China. Plans are under way for a construction facility in Qingdao, Shandong province, “customising vessels for the local market,” says Tan Xuguang, Chairman of Weichai. We believe that you can’t go far wrong with a boat that looks as good as this one does, made in Italy, both inside and out, which provides all the luxury and comfort you could wish for with additional lashings of style, and which can get you from Aberdeen to Tai Long Wan in under 30 minutes (although you may have to hold on to the gin and tonic). Let’s go!

Opposite Page, clockwise: The large galley area; entry to the lower deck storage and utility room; the helming station on the upper deck has controls and functions identical to those on the main deck Above: The large swimming and boarding platform – the shore power cable at the stern reels in at the touch of a button

noble brand investments ltd www.pershing-yacht.com E-mail: info@noble-brand.com

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A Cat for All Seasons Somewhere in the mid-40s something magical happens to well-bred cats. Big enough to swallow real world cruising loads without sacrificing sailing performance, a 44-footer is just the right size to still be comfortably helmed by a short-handed owner when well meaning guests turn into hardened fridge pirates. text by Ian Lang Photographs by guy nowell

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For the goldstandard balance of style with comfort, speed with seaworthiness, and retained value for money the Leopard 44 makes a compelling case.

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o wonder then the mid-range cruising cat niche is one of the industry’s most contested market segments, with similarly-specified production boats from France, Australia and the US providing wide consumer choice and spirited debate amongst prospective purchasers. There are no real ‘lemons’ in this category, with major manufacturers continuously incorporating owner feedback in order to improve their offerings, yet there are subtle but important differences between boats. Fountaine Pajot and Lagoon for example, excel in producing comfortable craft especially suited to one or two families holidaying together in temperate coastal conditions. Catana has a stronger focus on blue-water live aboard cruisers. Australia’s Seawind, now with a factory in Vietnam, produces increasingly stylish craft that are almost bulletproof. But some cats are more equal than others, and it’s notable that some of the world’s biggest charter fleet buyers at Sunsail and The Moorings have come to the same conclusion as an increasing number of experienced private buyers, and turned to a South African builder with a reputation for innovation. For the gold-standard balance of style with comfort, speed with sea-worthiness, and retained value for money, the Leopard 44 makes a compelling case. At first glimpse, the hull and superstructure present a unified, almost athletic, look. Contemporary yet purposeful, the boat has

a commanding pontoon presence. Because it seems so natural under an extended hard-top roof, the 44’s revolutionary front cockpit looks as if it has always been a standard feature, and like all good ideas, probably will be soon on other boats. But for the moment, the front cockpit makes an irresistible offer to Leopard guests only who want to feel the wind on their face in a shaded nook away from the hustle of the rear cockpit and saloon. For skipper and crew too, it provides a safe and unobstructed forward observation point, and a quick route to the anchor or mast if required. The sheltering hardtop is set low to follow the saloon roofline, and according to the designer, provides little wind trapping. The front cockpit has a sizeable drain, and storm canvas if required to limit inundation in extreme conditions. However, with all Leopards delivered on their own bottoms around the world, delivery skippers have reported no issues or need for canvas. At anchor or a swing mooring the front door can be left open to allow previously unobtainable levels of ventilation through the boat. For serious buyers, this cooling effect needs to be felt to be believed before the generator option is ticked to run air conditioners. For airless summer days at dock with shore power though, Leopard offers double 16BYU Cruiseair units as an option worth taking as the ducting is not easily retrofitted. Like all on-board systems, the air conditioners will benefit from occasional use to ensure seals are tight and gas intact. Moving forward, the electrically powered anchoring system

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also shows family-friendly design. The anchor drops from aft of the trampoline rather than from the leading edge, lending the boat an enviable stability and operator safety when lowering and retrieving the hook. In addition, this leaves a child-friendly onepiece trampoline, uninterrupted by the usual anchoring hardware and central gangway. Moving around, moulded indentations on steps and ample handholds provide an immediate and intuitive connection between body and boat – a mark of refined ergonomic design. A step to the raised helm falls naturally underfoot, promoting the helmsman to an ideal height for command, yet retaining excellent communication with cockpit and saloon. It really is possible to operate all the major sailing systems singlehanded from the helm, with some important caveats. While all sheets and halyards return to this position with ample clutches and two powered winches, lifting any 44 foot boat’s main by hand or sheeting in a genoa by muscle power alone is not a job for the faint hearted. Electrical assistance for both primary winches, and for the autopilot, is what makes this boat so workable. The caveat is simple. Make sure the batteries are up to spec, and if in doubt, replace rather than fiddle. Electrical systems on a boat this size are necessarily complex, but remarkably reliable if owners follow the manufacturer’s advice on maintenance. With Raymarine instruments on the dash, and optional 39HP Yanmars upgraded from the standard 29s, the skipper has three

powerful methods of controlling the vessel at all times, with lots of back up built in for peace of mind. The engines are run in carefully by the delivery skippers to Yanmar’s specifications, preparing the machinery for years of good service for the new owner. Provided they are fed clean fuel, these sturdy engines will relish hard work with enormous dependability. The thoughtful skipper should have no hesitation in using them if it makes the journey more enjoyable for all. For charter in the four cabin version, fixed props with ropecutters are a sensible no-fuss solution, but for owners favouring the three cabin version, the folding Gorri propeller options may be well worth a potential speed increase of half a knot or so, and especially useful in the seasonal light wind conditions so often found in the sub-tropics that so many of these boats call home. The 44 tested pointed well in a gusty 16 knot breeze to an expected 40 degrees, but like all cats, was faster with a little easing-off to a tight reach. In only 12 knots of wind with full genoa and main, the 44 developed an impressive 8 knots of boat speed. Theoretical modelling of performance suggests that in ideal conditions, the hull shape should fetch up to 12 knots on a broad reach in a 20-knot wind before first reefs would be needed. This is fast sailing for fourteen tonnes of boat. Very fast, provided you do not overload the boat with huge amounts of extras. The Leopard’s superior performance is due to both its aero design of rig and sails, and hydro design of hulls and drag-inducing

Previous page: Leopard 44 goes sightseeing in Port Shelter, Sai Kung opposite page: Leopard 44 makes a stable platform for exploring the oceans Above: The front cockpit is a revolutionary concept that doubles the outdoor entertaining area

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The sailing rig is simplicity itself, but remarkably effective in presenting efficient sail surfaces to the wind without racing levels of operator fiddling.

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Tech Specs Length Overall

42ft 7in

12.98m

Waterline length

41ft 8in

12.70m

Beam

23ft 9in

7.25m

Draft

4ft 2in

1.27m

Engines

2 x 39HP Yanmar (option)

Fuel

185USG

700l

Sail Area

1270sq ft

118sqm

Basic boat US$449,000 As tested in Hong Kong US$611,000 Compare with… Contact

Lagoon 440, Catana 42, Seawind 1260

yvan.eymieu@leopardcatamarans.com www.leopardcatamarans.com

fittings underwater. The 44’s thin canoe-like hulls slice through the water, opening up above the waterline with a hard chine or ‘angle out’, that allows more living space inside from there on up – again, provided the boat is not overloaded, but with a waterline of almost 42 feet, the boat’s natural ‘hull-speed’ is well able to be maintained carrying weights like water, fuel, and multiple guests that would stall a 36-footer by comparison. The sailing rig is simplicity itself, but remarkably effective in presenting efficient sail surfaces to the wind without racing-levels of operator fiddling. The powerful square-headed main raises easily on low-friction cars on a 3-to-1 purchase halyard, and drops just as simply and neatly into a stack-pack on the boom. Unlike some cats the Leopard 44 employs a simple but strong solid vang between boom and mast base, that holds sail shape effectively. All sheets run on the top of the boat’s roof, with no intrusion on cockpit spaces. The 120% overlapping genoa drives the boat swiftly, but like all big sails up front, can block the helms’s view (perhaps one day really clear and durable ‘clear’ panels can be sewn in), on the starboard tack in this case. This is not a problem when use of autohelm allows the skipper to move around the cockpit for observations under sail, but otherwise visibility is excellent, and especially under motor when mooring. The raised helm avoids the space-hogging issues that a doublewheel cockpit solution would entail. The Leopard’s own cockpit instead forms an inviting indoor/outdoor space, with easy access to the water for swimming, and comfortable dining for eight people, free of ropes or sharp equipment edges that can turn a holiday into a first-aid course. Entry to the saloon is via a secure and lockable three-piece sliding safety-glass door. The galley-up design has advantages for keeping the cook involved – and perhaps even encouraging guests to wash-up! The twin stainless steel fridges to starboard of the saloon entry may be a stretch from the three-burner gas stove and deep double sinks set into Corian counters, but are in an excellent position for crew and guests to pick up their own drinks on the move. This almost removes the need for a separate outside drinks cooler – however, built-in floor mouldings do allow for a large cold chest to be held

securely in the cockpit. Fisherman will value this, along with an optional icemaker. Inside the surfaces are cherry veneers, with an oak-style cabin sole. Fabrics and upholstery are neutral, comfortable, and will wear well – a vital point for both charter companies and private owners. Downstairs, the starboard owner’s hull in three-cabin layout, is spacious and light. Large windows illuminate the aft double beds. A usefully-sized desk occupies the owner’s mid hull cabin with a sizable couch inviting retreat and lazy reading, whilst a forward bathroom provides luxurious private space. Guests in the port hull enjoy a choice of two double berths and a forward single, with their own bathroom. With generous storage under bunks, this boat will stay as ship-shape returning to port as it does leaving. For visitors arriving by water, just getting aboard some boats can be a trial – especially if heavy bags of supplies and luggage need to be ferried in. The Leopard’s innovative electrically winched solid davit frame makes sure that guests’ first impressions of the boat are welcoming and seamless. The lowered solid frame gives arriving dinghy passengers something firm to grasp, with an easy step aboard the 44’s landing pods that are accessible from three sides rather than one – ensuring a safe crossing. And there’s no need to carry luggage at the same time. With the tender quickly attached to the davit by its bridles, the electric winch painlessly brings the mother Leopard’s ‘cub’ up to stern height, where supplies can be easily and safely transferred aboard. The davit is capable of carrying up to 500 lbs – more than enough for a healthy sized tender and 10HP outboard – however, the rig has not been designed to carry speedboats with large water-skiing sized outboards or jet-skis, as sometimes risked in the British Virgin Islands. Used as it was meant to, the beauty of Leopard’s solution puts the dinghy’s load onto the 44’s strong transom, minimising sway under way, and making guest transfers a breeze at anchor. In 2012, the Leopard 44 makes a unique claim for innovation and quality in cruising catamaram design for owners who love to sail and entertain without stress. Options included on the test boat include generator, solar cells, air-conditioning, water maker, and gennaker with bowsprit.

Opposite page,clockwise from top: The aft deck entertaining area comfortably seats 10-12 guests; the helm station; hide away anchor system; easy access around the yacht Above: The Leopard 44 goes cruising around Port Shelter, Hong Kong

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Huge windows on the main deck emphasize the light and airy feel of the main saloon and dining area

ASTONDOA 76 Excellence without excess T he name of the game in luxury boating is space and the clever use of it, and the sleek, fast Astondoa 76 exemplifies this trait. But it’s more than just open areas enclosing simple furnishings: Italian designer Christiano Gatto’s goal for this Spanish-built wonder was to create spaces that are pleasant to live in. Huge windows on the main deck emphasize the light and airy feel of the main saloon and dining area. Dining can be al fresco in the aft cockpit area, while the flybridge has a roll bar with a canopy if shade is needed. The combination of Italian and Spanish styles from Astondoa’s yard near Alicante produces a fast (up to 34kts) vessel intended for families and friends to enjoy in understated but luxurious surroundings. The dining area on the main deck is forward of an elegant, open lounge area, and aft of the galley, which in turn is aft of the main helming station, forward of which in turn are a seating area and a sunbathing space. On the lower deck is a massive suite for the owner with a double bed, as well as a main guest cabin aft with a double bed and twin-bunk cabins between. Crew accommodation is aft of the remarkably large engine space that is a boon to the engineers. Throughout the boat, clever use of storage space has given the interior a feel of width that is much greater than its true

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dimensions would normally allow, while everywhere the feeling of space is underscored by the use of light. As would be expected of a boat of this size and luxurious nature, the equipment is top of the range all around, from engines to electronics and from furnishings to fit-out. The boat can accommodate up to 14 passengers and a crew of three. Displacement is a modest (for the boat’s size) 55 tonnes. Cruising speed is given as 28kts, with a range at that speed of 400nm. www.asia-boating.com

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Nauta Air 86 Dream maker T

he Nauta Air 86 has stylish lines making her refined and elegant-looking while remaining a true, blue water cruiser. With the new, all aluminium Nauta Air 86â&#x20AC;&#x2122;, Cantiere delle Marche, in collaboration with Nauta Yacht Design, has established its name as a byword for evolution in the conception of the perfect blend of luxury and style in super yachts. The light, spacious design and wide exterior space combine with enduring substance, sea going performance and low fuel consumption to meet every need of the owner. The panoramic fly bridge is designed for outdoor living with a sun area connecting to a spacious al fresco lounge. All-round sofa seating, sun beds, dining table, barbeque and fridge make this an ideal spot for daytime entertainment whether in port or cruising. The foredeck features sofa seating and a small table. On the main deck, the kitchen is fully equipped with cooking hob, oven and microwave, fridge/freezer, double sink, counter-top working space and hanging cupboards. The open-plan main saloon, positioned in the centre of the main deck, features upholstered sofa seating, coffee table and bar providing an airy, contemporary space for conversation and relaxation. A dining table adjacent to the saloon comfortably seats eight guests. Accommodation comprises four luxurious ensuite cabins and

A new forward cockpit adds seating, storage and a stowable table - access is via a watertight door in the saloon two day heads. Three of the cabins are accessed from the general entrance to the lower deck, while a private escalier leads directly to the wide ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suite, giving it total privacy. The helm station is located on the upper deck with large windows for good visibility. All instrumentation is well laid out and within easy reach of the single helm seat. Abaft the helm station is a comfortable lounge area for day-time entertaining in inclement weather. Up to four crew can be accommodated on the lower deck. www.leemarine.com

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With their solid construction and technology, Selene vessels are exceptionally comfortable and fully equipped for pleasant long stays on board

SELENE 42 EURODECK Best of both worlds T here’s a style of cruising that’s very popular in the United States, using offshore fishing trawlers converted into luxury live-aboards or long-range de luxe cruising vessels. Built in China, the prizewinning Selene range is in effect a topranking development of this, producing brand new beautiful boats that will give the owner and guests the best of both worlds – luxury offshore and inshore cruising. With their solid construction and technology, Selene vessels are exceptionally comfortable and fully equipped for pleasant long stays on board. The Selene 42 was specifically developed for inland cruising on both coastal waters and larger inland waters. Now the new Selene 42 Eurodeck offers the best of both worlds, combining the comfort and safety of the larger Selene trawlers with optimal ease of operation and the ability to explore inland waters, rivers and channels as well. The Selene 42 has a spacious aft deck and large saloon that includes a comfortable seating area as well as a galley and steering position. The galley, with either a corner or a single-line layout, comes with a sizeable worktop and can be equipped with various appliances. Adjacent to the galley on the starboard side is a steering position that offers a 360-degree view for optimal safety. Various navigation displays can be installed. On the lower deck and forward is the owner’s cabin with a free-standing double bed. The guest cabin on

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the starboard side has two single beds and is situated across from a separate bathroom with shower. A solid stainless steel staircase leads from the aft deck to the spacious top deck. In addition to a comfortable steering position, the flybridge includes a large L-shaped sofa, a table, a sink and the option to install an electric grill and fridge. The flybridge also has space for a tender of around 3m, which can be easily lifted into the water to port or starboard using the antenna mast and electric winches on the boom. www.selene-asia.com

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Decadent spaces, luxuriously appointed interiors and exceptional cruising abilities are the epitome of luxury

Fairline Squadron 60 True style icon T

he new Squadron 60 is a real head turner with its strong but elegant avant-garde design and impeccable interiors which offer a truly home-from-home luxury experience. The huge flybridge provides a perfect area for day-time or evening entertainment and is equipped with a griddle, fridge, sink and optional icemaker. When not being used for al-fresco dining, the table retracts to the level of the sofa seating and transforms into a large sunbed area where guests can relax and enjoy the view. The second helm station, which duplicates the controls and instrumentation of the main helm station, gives ‘wind in the hair’ driving pleasure. On the main deck, the large open cockpit gives access through sliding glass doors to the incredibly spacious living area which is flooded by natural light from full length side windows. A low level coffee table is encompassed on three sides by sofa seating and on the fourth side by a drinks cabinet, TV and sound system. Two steps lead up to the galley and dining area. The galley is fully equipped with cooking hob, combination oven/microwave/ grill, fridge, sink, work tops and lots of under-counter and overhead stowage. The main helm station, located forward of the dining area, features an adjustable tilt steering wheel and full instrumentation, all within easy reach of the twin helm seats.

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Below deck accommodation comprises three beautiful cabins – a full-beam master stateroom with en-suite, a forward VIP suite and a starboard twin guest cabin, all featuring full length berths. The guest cabins share a shower room. An aft crew cabin with twin berths is optional. A few steps down from the rear cockpit, a hydraulic hi-lo bathing platform gives ease of access to the water, and is fitted with a concealed overhead shower and swim ladder. www.jebsenmarine.com

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Hanse 575 Setting trends T

he New Hanse 575 is not only a completion of the new Hanse XX5 range, but a total implementation of a new trend in her class with a very bold attitude of pushing the limits in every aspect of the design, functionality, performance, luxury and safety. The rig offers standard or furling mainsail options teamed with Hanse’s exclusive self-tacking jib system. All halyards, sheets, trimming and reefing lines run below the deck to powerful winches positioned by the helm positions to ensure ease of handling when maneuvering under sail. The innovative cockpit design with comfortable backrest angles, sturdy tables, a fridge and lots of space for the whole crew offers the pleasure of being at one with nature and an ideal area to relax in. The cockpit tables retract and transform into a large sunbathing pad and there is easy access to a bathing platform and electric dinghy garage at the stern. Modern deck lines give the owner and guests increased space below where the generous linear galley conforms to the ‘loft style’ concept of interior design, and the traditional dining format has been upgraded to an area for pleasure and entertainment. The dining table transforms into a vast couch with integrated

Boldly pushing the limits in every aspect of design, functionality, performance, luxury and safety – the world’s nicest 57 footer armrests where guests can enjoy reading or simply relaxing or the family can play computer games on the large TV set. Different configurations can accommodate from three to six cabins in combinations of an owner’s suite or two double cabins forward, two twin cabins in the stern, a single cabin adjacent to the companionway and a crew cabin in the forepeak. The cabins have been designed with comfort in mind to cater for the owner and his guests, or a large family onboard. www.jebsenmarine.com

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The 55S revolutionises the the traditional use of space with a new layout that sees three cabins dedicated to the owner and guests located amidships

AZIMUT 55S Revolution on water T

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he word “luxury” has long been associated with the Azimut range of powerboats, but the 55S revolutionizes the traditional use of space with a new layout that sees the three cabins dedicated to the owner and guests located amidships, offering comfort and larger volumes, and with the crew cabin positioned in the bows. There are also new spaces above deck: towards the bows with a sofa looking forward, separated from the large sundeck, and aft with the introduction of a pivoting bathing platform that doubles as a garage door. The revolution starts from below the waterline, in the engine room that houses a triple Volvo IPS-1 system: three 435 hp engines with pod and double counter-rotating propellers placed at the front. The pods’ vertical installation shortens the overall engine space needed, making room to garage a tender. Top speed with this set-up is over 36kts, and the choice of three engines rather than two at comparable horsepower saves weight, uses less fuel and produces fewer emissions. Three turbo-charged engines respond more quickly than two, and their spacing allows for increased effectiveness in manoeuvring, especially in mooring. Stefano Righini, Azimut’s long-standing designer, has taken the opportunity offered by the new layout to optimize all the spaces aboard. The main deck is a single uninterrupted level. The

lack of steps has enabled inclusion of a forward-facing sofa in front of the windscreen. The crew’s cabin is located in the bow, with access from the main deck through a hatch. As a result of the move, the VIP cabin, third cabin for guests and master cabin can be moved aft to amidships where they benefit from greater volumes at the widest point of the vessel, and greatest stability. A new design for the windows in the hull provides a generous amount of daylight in master, VIP and guest cabins. www.simpsonmarine.com

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Take a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;legendaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; trip to langkawi perdana kedah P.130 and discover watches that are all about face P.142

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Magical Langkawi

Langkawi, Jewel of Kedah, Land of Legends. No, it’s not a nickname – it’s official: Langkawi Permata Kedah. And enough legends to fill a book. TEXT by SUZY RAYMENT AND GUY NOWELL PHOTOGRAPHY by GUY NOWELL

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n archipelago of 99 islands and islets draped in brilliant tropical greenery and surrounded by turquoise waters, just 15nm from the mainland of Peninsular Malaysia. Sailors and boaters know Langkawi as the home of the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club and its first class marina, venue of the equally excellent Royal Langkawi International Regatta, and end point of the peripatetic Raja Muda Selangor International Regatta – two of the high water marks of the Asian regatta circuit. The first time I arrived in Langkawi it was by sea, at dawn. After a long sail up from Singapore, sailing in between the towering cliffs of Pulau Singa Besar and Pulau Daya Bunting in the early morning light was a revelation. It made an impression that has never waned, and has drawn me back to Langkawi time and time again. If you don’t like water, you’re in the wrong place - you’ll be surrounded by it! But while the gin-clear tropical waters and white sugar sand beaches are the principal attractions of this beautiful destination, there’s a great deal more to Langkawi that needs to be explored – but the sea is always close at hand - sailors are only familiar with the ‘bits around the edges.’ Langkawi boasts some of the most spectacular geological scenery in southeast Asia, and in 2007 the island group was declared a UNESCO World Geopark. If you can ‘read’ the rocks, they will tell you that Langkawi rose from the shallow seas of the Cambrian era, half a billion years ago. The story is all laid out for visitors to see at

the visitors’ centre in Oriental Village. Today, the ‘uplift’ is a little quicker, as a vertiginous cable car whisks you 680m upwards to the top of Mt Machincang where it will be 5° cooler than down at the coast, and you can be inspired by the spectacular craggy limestone scenery and marvel at the Langkawi Skybridge. There are walking trails, too, around the summit of the mountain, so don’t hesitate to dive into the forest and enjoy some of the grandest views on the island. Back down the mountain, and nearby Seven Wells waterfall (Telaga Tujuh) drops 90m down the mountainside in a series of connected pools, where fairies are said to inhabit the falls. Langkawi is full of legends – here they involve a Prince who fell in love with one of the fairies, and the waters are said to bring fertility to barren women. In any case, it’s a beautiful place to stop for a cooling dip, curative powers or no. If you are in a more ‘cultural shopping’ mood, then a visit to the Langkawi Craft Complex will introduce you to every traditional handicraft that Malaysia has to offer. It’s not a five-minute stop – there’s a great deal to see, from glass blowing to batik making, and many of the weaving and dyeing crafts are being demonstrated all the time. There’s a huge temptation to load up with beautiful fabrics and intricate basketwork, and why should you resist? In the northeast corner of the island, just beyond the long and peaceful beaches at Tanjung Rhu, it is geology time again. River es-

previous page: Sit at Charlie’s Place and watch the sun go down over the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club opposite: A giddy view from the skybridge atop Mt Machincang ABOVE: The Raja Muda fleet racing in Bass Harbour, Langkawi

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Langkawi Top Picks Langkawi is a tropical paradise where nature is around every corner, but there are hidden retreats and luxurious escapes • the cable car ride at Mt Machincang • lunch at Bon Ton with the cats • sundowners at Charlie’s Place, Royal Langkawi Yacht Club • golf at Datai Bay Golf Club • seafood lunch at the Hole in the wall • shopping at Cenang Beach • a visit to the Kraf Kompleks • the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden • sailing in the Royal Langkawi International Regatta

tuaries winding through the mangroves of the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park lead to such wonders as the Pirate Lagoon, the Bat Cave, and the Cave of Legends. Just a trip through the river system is wonder enough – slipping quietly along beneath the towering limestone crags, and keeping an eye open for sea otters, kingfishers and monitor lizards. If it’s time for lunch, take a boat to the Hole in the Wall, a well-known eatery offering the freshest seafood from the waters around Langkawi. You’ll definitely need a boat to get to the third part of the Langkawi Geopark – the Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest is a cluster and a sprinkle of islands in the southwest corner of the archipelago, sprinkled across the edge of the chart. On Pulau Dayang Bunting itself, the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden is the main attraction, just a short scramble up from a sugar-sand beach… where another of those Langkawi legends tells of a young girl (or maybe it was a Princess, or a fairy) whose baby died and she cast it into the lake by way of a burial. The waters are now said to be a cure for barrenness, and there’s even a white crocodile to look out for, although he’s very shy. For the best sunset view in Langkawi you’ll need a car to drive to the top of Gunung Raya, where the view over Bass Harbour and into the eternal west is nothing short of magnificent - don’t forget to watch for the hornbills and the monkeys along the way – or else simply repair to Charlie’s Place at the Royal Langkawi Yacht Club, where the sundown is served on a platter. Your choice. After sunset, a trip into Kuah might be needed, to stock the lockers with duty free (Langkawi is an entirely duty-free island) and then enjoy the colours, the sounds, the sights and the fabulous aromas of the street night markets. Boats come and go. Superyachts, charter boats, cruising boats, racing boats. Regattas happen, and are gone. Sailors arrive at the airport, sail, and fly out again. Everyone who knows the west coast of Malaysia has made a port call at Langkawi. But not so many have taken the time to go inland, away from the hectic nightspots of Pantai Cenang or the cloistered resorts of the north coast, and explore the Land of Legends. Start doing that, and you will be drawn back to Langkawi time and time again.

opposite, clockwise from top: Cruising in the Dayang Bunting Marble Geoforest Park; the sea eagle, symbol of Langkawi; Mediterranean ambience at Telaga Harbour; boat station at Kilim Karst Geoforest Park; diving in glass; handicrafts in action at the Kompleks Kraf Langkawi; rejuvenated kampong houses at the Bon Ton Resort This page, from top: The Captain’s Deck, RLYC; Tunku Soraya Dakhlah and members of the RLYC; traditional dance performance

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136 STYLE Luxury Living investing in red wine

Grape Investments

Collecting wine is not like collecting stamps, or first editions. You don’t destroy a stamp when you examine it closely. A first edition doesn’t disappear when you bring it out and show it to your friends. Wine gets drunk. TEXT by Nic Boyde

here is something about sharing a superbly-conditioned aged wine that no other experience can match. This is it. You get one shot at this, and you’ll never have another chance to enjoy this uniqueness, this rarity of pleasure, this moment of camaraderie, of togetherness of experience. Unless you are a collector and you bought a case. Why collect wine? Some collectors are out-and-out investors, drawn by the appreciation in value of rare goods that over time become rarer as stocks are consumed, or as more demand comes on stream. Others are wine-lovers that want to secure and hold stocks of their favourites. Many wines mature and improve with age providing opportunities for aficionados and investors alike. Whatever the motives, there are some considerations in com-

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mon. What to collect, how to buy the wines, and where to store the collection? When it comes to deciding what to collect, no matter what the objective is - possession, investment or deferred consumption, or all three, there is one over-riding consideration. How long will the wine survive in a drinkable condition? There is little point in collecting wine that must be drunk within months, just as there is not much point in buying wines like Penfolds Grange and drinking it in the same year as its release. Some would call this murder. No, wine collectors naturally gravitate towards the kind of wine that not only will last a very long time in bottle, but even should be kept a very long time, just to reach full maturity. And of course to wines that will be worth the wait.

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138 STYLE Luxury Living investing in red wine

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wine records • World Record set in Hong Kong, by Sotheby’s for a single bottle of wine: HKD1.8m for a Chateau Lafite dated 1869. • World Record by Christies in September 2012 when they sold wine worth HKD42.3m in a single day.

There is a surprisingly short list of wines that time has proved to be suitable for long-term collecting, and it is no surprise that these wines are highly sought-after (and have been for hundreds of years), and expensive. Australia is worth a brief look before turning our attention to Europe. Penfolds Grange and Henschke’s Hill of Grace, both from the heat of South Australia, command premium prices for their quality and consistency. Both have strong support in the secondary market in Australia and overseas. Overall, world-wide, it is wines from Bordeaux in France that are the most collected. In France, and increasingly in Asia, the discerning palate will sometimes favour the varied subtleties of Burgundy, but the generally-stronger and more robust wines, and the greatest wines in the world, are from Bordeaux. Thousands of books have been written about the 120,000 hectares of poor quality soil that line the banks of the two great rivers that meet near Bordeaux, so get reading. Until recently ignored by Asian collectors, the big name Burgundies like Romanee Conti have leapt into the limelight alongside the classic names from Bordeaux like Lafite and Petrus, and some fabulous prices have been paid. Burgundy is a notoriously difficult region to master, as there is a plethora of minuscule producers and bottlers involved, and historically the wine did not travel as well as did the clarets and sweet whites of Bordeaux. Inevitably attention will turn to other famous wine areas of France. Is it Champagne’s turn again? Champagne keeps well for a very long time - the slight natural carbonation acting as a preservative - and the very prolonged maturation can produce some simply stellar wine in due course - worth it if a collector is collecting for the next generation perhaps. Wine likes to be kept cool and in the dark, but above all it likes to be kept at the same temperature always. In the crowded realities of the Far East most people’s homes do not run to cool, stable-temperature basements. For that matter, neither do ordinary homes in Europe. As in Europe, so in Asia: the bulk of the collection is kept in a professionally-managed storage facility, with a small amount kept in the house, ready for drinking. Both Hong Kong and Singapore have well-established firms that offer wine-storage for the individual, with prices charged by the bottle or case as appropriate. Some rent out discrete cellar-spaces. All will arrange to deliver your wine to you for a fee. Collectors will usually not buy their wine from retail shops. Whatever the motives for starting and maintaining a collection, a collector will usually be buying by the case rather than by the bottle. Cases make storage simpler, and unit prices lower, and allow, in the future, some bottles to be sold to defray the cost of keeping

Previous page: Château Cantemerle vineyards; red wine resting in the cellar; tommorow’s investment on the vine; the cellar master at work

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140 STYLE Luxury Living red wine

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and drinking the rest. Yes, you can drink the world’s finest for free. There, I’ve said it. You have my motive. Buying by the case allows the buyer to buy higher up the distribution chain. The highest point of which is called en primeur. This is wine that is still held at the vineyard, not yet bottled. It is essentially a future. You will be buying from one of the handful of brokers and merchants who have been allocated portions of the annual production for that year, and who have tasted a representative sample. Any of the large London wine-merchants like Justerini and Brooks will sell you wine en primeur and most of them offer a storage/cellaring service to hold the wine until you can make arrangements to have it shipped to you in the Far East. The wine will be kept in bond so no UK duty is charged. If you use a merchant in Hong Kong or Singapore, you will be paying a premium: they will be working through one of the big names in the UK or France. Berry Brothers and Rudd have a Hong Kong sales office. The next best way to buy wine is at auction. Sotheby’s and Christie’s both conduct wine auctions in Hong Kong. Sotheby’s have conducted 15 consecutive 100% sold-out auctions, and in the process set a single-bottle world record of HKD1.8m for an 1869 Chateau Lafite. Auctions allow collectors to acquire wines that have already been established. Buying en primeur carries the risk that the vin-

tage may not in fact be all that it first appears. On the other hand, buying from a shop or small merchant you run the risk of fraud: inferior wine being passed-off as a classic by clever re-labelling. Buying at auction from one of the great houses gives the buyer the comfort that the wine will have had its provenance and storage history checked by experts, backed up by the strongest names in the business. Auctions also provide opportunities to buy wines just never available in shops. Where to start? Keep in mind the issue of storage, and decide if your interest is primarily investment or other reasons. Set yourself a budget and buy what you like. Should the bottom fall out of your investment, you will still have the consolation of drinking something you enjoy. Find and cultivate a good winemerchant. Or two. You want someone who can get you en primeur wines, who can arrange for you to taste wine before you buy, and can look out for those hard-to-find cases for you. Size and arrange your storage before you start. Employing a professional cellaring firm will mean your storage costs will only ever be as big as your collection. The collector who is hoping to drink his collection one day will hope that what he is paying 500 Euros a bottle for today will be worth 500 Euros a glass when he drinks it. If that isn’t hedonism, what is? Yam sing!

Above: Some Bordeaux Greats await tasting

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142 STYLE Watches designer dials

About Face Being able to read a watch accurately, instantly and clearly is important. Here we present a selection of top drawer timepieces whose makers agree with us: it’s all about ‘face’. text by Nic Boyde

1. IWC In the Year of the Dragon, a classically beautiful timepiece from IWC makes a glittering entry. The Portuguese Automatic Edition Dragon Year captures dynamism and good fortune with a dragon engraving on the rotor. The strongly symbolic design of this timelessly elegant watch is paired with an outstanding movement that includes Pellaton winding, a 7-day power reserve and date display. Only 888 watches of this design will be produced worldwide.

2. Girard Perregaux Although one of Girard-Perregaux’s great classics, the chronograph ww.tc keeps up with the times. The main feature of the dial is contrast, an approach that highlights the watch’s strength of character and complexity while at the same time offering perfect legibility. The world time function provides a simultaneous display of all time zones as well as date and small second, a chronograph function and a day/night indicator.

3. Vacheron Constantin The Overseas Chronograph has a deep blue dial, its famous bezel inspired by the Maltese Cross. The watch incorporates a soft iron cage

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that protects the mechanical movement from magnetic fields of up to 25,000 A/m, and a case that is water-resistant to 15 bar. The particularly supple and comfortable steel bracelet is inseparable from any genuinely sporting watch.

4. Panerai Officine Panerai has created the Luminor Marina 1950 3 days Automatic in the completely new size of 42mm. The new case, in red gold, “Oro Rosso”, has a power reserve of three days. The new size of the case has not changed the classic proportions of this model faithfully inspired by the watches created by Panerai in the 1940s for the commandos of the Italian Navy. The dial ensures maximum clarity and legibility.

5. Chronoswiss With its “Lunar” model, Chronoswiss once again brings to life the long tradition of a moon phase display. Available in solid gold, steel and gold or all steel, a date display enhances the clear watch face that is protected by a scratch resistant sapphire crystal. The familiar case is water resistant to 100 feet. A precise and carefully adjusted automatic movement ensures the accuracy of the Lunar Chronograph.

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144 the last word

WATER WORRIES

By Doug Woodring

Doug Woodring is Director of Ocean Recovery Alliance and a co-author of Water Margin, Hong Kong’s Link to the Sea: An appreciation of Hong Kong Maritime resources in all aspects ranging from heritage, culture and recreation, to the breathtaking natural geography and wildlife.

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hat is needed today is a commitment to creating a future for Hong Kong waters, which will then be a sustainable asset for the next generation. Hong Kong emerged and grew because of its location on the southern coast of China, dotted with beautiful islands and natural deep water bays. Without this geography and the ocean linking it, none of us would be here today. Sadly we have not exercised a responsible stewardship over Hong Kong waters during many decades of intense development. Hong Kong waters have been treated as a dumping ground and a solution for sewage; the waters have been over-fished, and much of the harbour has been reclaimed. Today however we are at an exciting crossroads – a critical period where serious rejuvenation and rebirth of our ocean resources can be accomplished due to long awaited improvements in sewage treatment and the end of destructive trawling practices by fishermen in our waters. These are not the only steps that need to be taken to bring our ocean assets back to life, but they are an excellent start. We now need to include more marine reserve areas, in big percentages of our ocean, which are truly protected from fishing and exploitation. Today, that still does not exist. Ocean Recovery Alliance creates projects related to the protection of the ocean which are inspired by the time spent on, in, and next to the waters in Hong Kong. These include global projects which address plastic pollution in a variety of ways, yet do so without needing legislation, bans or taxes, and they can work across borders. One such is for the business community, called the Plastic Disclosure Project (www.plasticdisclosure.org), and another is Global Alert, which is being built, and will allow the global community to report on trash hotspots on their coasts, rivers and waterways, via photos and videos, on a global map. Locally we brought the Hong Kong - San Francisco Ocean Film Festival to Hong Kong, which was the first ocean film festival in Asia. We expect to host this again in April, 2013. Our book, Water Margin, is bilingual and will be given to over 700 schools to raise awareness about the importance of our waters. We are

also working on new projects related to children, schools and awareness- building. We even have an iPhone game, called Ocean Quests, which has had over 18,000 downloads in just six months, without any PR or give-away prizes. The model here is to work with a brand, in any country, to spread the word on this game. Our goal is to then have these ideas and programs replicated throughout Asia, but this all requires resources, sponsorship and support from the community. Plastic is slowly choking the earth’s waters, but this is only just becoming known, and there is no focus on an integrated solution. This is why we are focusing on prevention, but are also looking at new ways that can create larger scale changes, as opposed to just suggesting a tax on something like a plastic bag. Sadly the levels of plastic waste in our waters are far above those levels seen in other modern cities, partly due to us, and partly due to what is swept onto our shores from our neighbours. Broadening our understanding of how we use and abuse our ocean is the main way to bring about long term health improvements for the sea, from which we derive all aspects of life. Dead oceans mean a tough future for all humanity, as the ocean is not only the lung of the planet for oxygen production, but also the main source of protein for over one billion people. Hong Kong was built around the ocean and now it is time to reclaim Hong Kong waters instead of reclaiming land as we have done for over 170 years.. The reclamation that needs to happen now is to give the ocean the much needed breathing space it needs so that it can replenish itself. The ban on bottom trawling by the fishing industry will be a huge step forward in this regard. Now is the time for Hong Kong to create a new relationship with the waters around us. There is a growing amount of recreation in our waters, and this needs to be fostered with the appropriate infrastructure, access and conservation. We can do more to improve the management of our beaches, and how they are used, both on land, and from the water. The more people use the sea, the more they will appreciate it, and today, many grow up with a fear of the water because they see a shark net, and assume that outside this area is dangerous. We all know this is not the case, as most countries in the world do not have shark nets, and yet water use and recreation thrive. Some estimates show that we have depleted 80% of the large fish from our ocean, and in Hong Kong waters, that number is closer to 95%. So, now is the time to give back to the waters that we have taken from for so long. It is critical to the betterment of our community, and the generations that follow.

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146 the last shot the Gstaad Yacht Club Centenary Trophy

spreading sails take a look at the cover of this magazine. yes, the wing does the job, but does it do it as beautifully as the gaff main and tops’l, above? feminine wiles versus robotic efficiency? curves are, after all, important. this is marigold, a cutter designed by charles nicholson in 1892, winner of the gstaad yacht club centenary trophy during this year’s voiles de st tropez and looking just as beautiful as she did 120 years ago. Bless you, Ma’am.

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