In the market for a racing or cruising yacht? It’s been another bumper year for the boatbuilding industry… Sam Jefferson casts his eye over the latest launches.

New Yachts: Cruising

Wauquiez 55

Wauquiez is a marque that has been much revered in cruising circles since they first started building elegant cruisers back in the 1960s. Their new 55 boat is definitely intriguing and one of the striking features is the centre cockpit with the helm offset to port under a well protected solid plexiglass sprayhood.  Another interesting feature is the option of a swing keel which gives you an almighty 4.2m of draft when lowered and 1.6m when raised. Aside from that, the boat dares to be different by supplying two Volvo D2 engines as standard.  The interior looks extremely spacious and Lombard has capitalised on full forward sections and plenty of beam to ensure that there is a huge interior space. In addition, the centre cockpit allows for a huge aft owner’s cabin.

wauquiez.com

Moody 48 DS

Moody has been under German ownership as part of the Hanse group for many years now and offers a different sort of cruiser in quality deck saloon cruisers which are designed by Judel/Vrolijk. The new 48 is the first new launch they have made since their 41 2017 and fits between the Moody 45 and 54 in their range. As you’d expect, this is a boat that is big on space and comfort, featuring a big, beamy hull with twin rudders. Performance has not been neglected, however, because she sports a generous rig to push her 21,000kg displacement through the water. 

Inspirationmarine.co.uk

Hanse 590

Hanse Yachts broke with go to designer of many years Judel/Vrolijk a couple of years back and this was the catalyst behind the launch of a new generation of Hanses designed by the French team of Berret/Racoupeau. In addition to a marked change in styling, with inverted ‘dreadnought bow and hard chines aft giving the boats a more angular look, the main drive seemed to be to up the quality of the boats down below – which was certainly achieved. The new 590 is their biggest boat yet of this new generation and offers easy sailing on a big scale. The new boat features an optional hard top bimini, a tender garage and acres of space down below. The boat will be officially unveiled at Cannes Boat show and promises to be a head turner.

Inspirationmarine.co.uk

New Cruising Yacht: Maxus 35

Maxus Yachts is a Polish company that made its name. building small trailerable yachts to sail on the Masurian lakes not far from the Russian border. Now the company has moved up a size bracket and their new 35 is bigger and aimed more at offshore sailing than previous designs. The result is a spacious yacht with striking styling and a semi deck saloon arrangement that bathes the saloon with natural light. It all points to promises decent performance and accommodation at a highly competitive price. 

northman.pl

Dufour 44

French manufacturer Dufour has really pumped up the volume with its latest generation of yachts. The new Umberto Felci designed 44 follows on from the 37 and 41 which have already drawn plaudits thanks to their remarkable ability to create internal volume without looking overly dumpy. The 44 continues in this vein boasting plentiful beam aft and full sections at the bow above the waterline. The interior is positively palatial and there is a choice of three or four cabin layouts.

dufour-yachts.com

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350

The Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350 is the successor to the 349 which was actually launched way back in 2013. At 34’1” excluding the bowsprit she is the starter boat in the range and viewed by the French manufacturer as offering a gateway into sailing for young families.

The boat is designed by Marc Lombard and Piaton Yacht design and, as you’d expect the lines are bang up to date, offering plenty of internal volume via fuller forward sections. Like its predecessor the 349, the new boat is available with a swing keel – a real boon in UK waters. The interior is really quite large and there is the option of twin doubles aft plus a double forward. 

jeanneau.com

Elan GT6 Explorer

The Elan GT6 was a very stylish fast cruiser from drawing board of rob Humphreys that has been very well received since its launch. The GT6 Explorer is, as you can imagine a variation on this theme but the manufacturers have identified rthe potential of the boat as a fast blue water cruiser and built on that. As such, the boat fuel and water tankage has been boosted as has battery power. There is also the option of an all electric version utilising Oceanvolt’s pioneering technology. 

elan-yachts.com

Xc47

It has been some years since Danish manufacturers X Yachts realised that if they offered a de tuned Xc cruising range alongside its out and out performance yachts, it would massively enlarge its customer base. The project was a huge success and the Xc range is now into its second generation with the launch of the Xc47. The new launch is one of the first since X Yachts divorce from founder and chief designer Niels Jeppesen and the result is a yacht that leans heavily towards the cruising market, featuring something not far from a deck saloon. The hull lines feature plenty of beam aft and there has obviously been a very conscious effort to up the cruising ante. That said, the boat retains a powerful rig and weight has been kept reasonably modest.

x-yachts.com

New Yachts: Racing

CF 580 Ran 8

Ran 8 is one of the latest launches from the drawing board of Shaun Carkeek and is a boat that has already cut a dash by taking overall and line honours in the RORC Channel Race. This is a boat that comes from the same mould as Oystercatcher XXXV, launched to much fanfare in 2021. The new boat boasts an uprated water ballast system which is designed to reduce the number of crew required from eight to seven. In addition to this, electric propulsion has been introduced. 

The boat is not designed to one particular set of rules and the main aim is simply to design a boat that will go as fast as possible in a range of conditions. The result is a boat optimised for offshore conditions, in which she will be somewhat quicker than a TP52. 

carkeekdesignpartners.com

Jeanneau Sun Fast 30

The Sun Fast 30 is a VPLP project who have teamed up with Multiplast to produce a strict one design yacht at what Jeanneau feels is a competitive price. The new boat features full forward sections married to light (2,700kg) displacement, twin rudders and flat aft sections to provide a boat that planes easily and early. The boat is available in two versions: One Design and Club. The one design version features a carbon mast mainsheet track and uprated electronics pack. The Club version has an aluminium mast and a bridle for the mainsheet. The aim is to make it more affordable to club racers.

jeanneau.com

Clubswan 28: Racing

The Clubswan 28 is a something of a break from tradition for Nautor Swan who have never produced a yacht this small. She rounds off their ClubSwan range and is a pure one design racer set up for four crew. At 1000kg, this Juan Kouyoumdijan design is going to be fast but she appears to be much less technical than boats higher up the range, eschewing foils and keeping things as simple as possible. There is no accommodation.

nautorswan.com

Reichel/Pugh 56 Vasara

The design house of Reichel/Pugh has produced some memorable yachts over the years and  the design brief here was for a fast, competitive yacht that was also comfortable and luxuriously appointed down below. There are a number of interesting touches. Most notably, a split backstay and square topped mainsail can be switched out for a single backstay and standard main when cruising. The keel has a substantial 4.1m depth but this can be raised to 2.4m for entering port. The interior is constructed almost exclusively out of carbon but a thin veneer of wood is placed over this to soften things up. The result is a sleek and versatile racer/cruiser.

reichel-pugh.com

New Yachts: Bluewater Cruisers

Bestavaer 36

Bestavaer Yachts is a Dutch boatbuilder specialising in steel construction. They are reputed for building handsome steel ‘go anywhere’ yachts, generally in the 50-70’ bracket. The announcement of an all new 36 footer is therefore something of a surprise and not an unwelcome one. The new boat marries a big rig with a decent displacement ot provide a boat that is both seaworthy but none too slow. As with her bigger sisters, the 36 is designed to be a very practical ctuiser and is therefore equipped with a swing keel which will allow her to take the ground when required and the draft is a mere 0.7m with the board up and a substantial 2.4m with the board down.

bestavaer.com

Boreal 70

Boreal Yachts sit in that very French cadre of utilitarian aluminium ‘go anywhere’ yachts much loved by soul sailors who idolise Moitessier and dream of communing with the albatross. Yet these soul sailors seem to have developed a taste for a spot of luxury too and the Boreal 70 is typical of the latest iteration of these hardy swing keel boats in that she is huge and surprisingly well appointed, boating such luxuries as a dishwasher should you so wish to choose that option. Sacre bleu! Nevertheless, this is a tough go anywhere cruiser which is at home in the tropics or the high latitudes. 

boreal-yachts.com

Hallberg Rassy 69

Swedish manufacturer Hallberg Rassy is an institution in the world of blue water cruising. Yet it’s an institution that isn’t afraid to evolve and many were shocked when the boatbuilder started to introduce twin rudders and broader aft sections to its designs. The 69 is another step forward, being the largest boat ever built by the Swedes and nudging towards the cadre of pocket superyacht. The boat is designed by German Frers and features a big rig and contemporary lines familiar to those who are familiar with the most recent launches from the yard. The difference with the 69 is she is just a lot bigger and more luxurious. Far not though, the trademark Hallberg Rassy armchairs are still an option.

hallberg-rassy.com

Contest 63CS

Dutch boatbuilder Contest is famed for building high quality blue water cruisers and their all new 63CS looks straight out of that playbook. Designed by their go to nabal architects Judel/Vrolijk, this is a big, luxurious cruising yacht that will boat good performance particularly for those who love a spot of tradewind sailing. This is a centre cockpit yacht with a relatively modest 31,900kg displacement and a decent sail area pointing to a very versatile long distance cruiser.

contestyachts.com

New Yachts: Performance Cruisers

Grand Soleil Blue

Italian manufacturer Grand Soleil seems to have been producing ever larger cruiser/racers so news of the launch of the Grand soleil Blue, a 30’ weekender is welcome. The boat is very interesting as it is the first fully recyclable production yacht built in Italy and features biodegradable resins in construction meaning that the boat ban be separated out and re used at the end of the boats life. The boat also features and electric motor and sails made of recycled materiels. The design is clearly performance oriented but there is pleasant and stylish weekend accommodation.

grandsoleil.net

Saffier SL 46

Dutch manufacturer Saffier Yachts has specialised in turning out fast, stylish weekend sailers with an emphasis on performance and ease of use. That is, until now. By launching the new SL 46 the boatbuilders has moved into an altogether new realm as this boat is unquestionably a cruiser/racer capable of offshore passages. This is an intriguing move, as it pitches Saffier against a plethora of established operators such as Grand Soleil, Italia Yachts, even Beneteau and Jeanneau. Anyway, the SL 46 looks the part, featuring modern aggressive styling couple to a big rig, light displacement and a deep, T-shaped keel. The interior looks stylish and luxurious and the boat is available with the option of a tender garage – something of an oddity in a 46 footer. 

saffieryachts.com

Tofinou 7.9

The new Tofinou 7.9 follows in the vein of other yachts in their range in that she is a performance oriented modern classic day sailer. As the name suggests, the boat is 7.9m making her the smallest boat in the range and she is available with a swing keel or fixed T shaped keel. The boat is available with an electric outboard or a diesel inboard and offers a blend of lustrous woods and light carbon laminates which gives the boat a classy air while also promising exhilarating sailing. There is also a small double berth forward if you do want to spend a night afloat.

tofinou.com

RM 1080

La Rochelle based RM Yachts has made a name for itself by being the last company standing when it comes to the mass production of epoxy/ply yachts. This is partly because it’s hideously complicated to put together an epoxy/ply yacht. The result, however, is a lightweight yacht that is stiff and strong. RM has made a name for building sporty cruiser/racers with the option of lift, fixed or bilge keels. The 1080 is a welcome mid sized addition to their range. Designed by Marc Lombard, the 1080 features plenty of beam aft, fullish forward sections and generous sail area. The looks are distinctive and the cockpit layout is innovative plus interior space is impressive.

rm-yachts.com

New Yachts on Show

• Cannes Boat Show 2024: Top Six New Boats
• Southampton Boat Show 2024: Top 6 New Boats

The post New Yachts on the Market: Latest Racing & Cruising Designs appeared first on Sailing Today.

Lagoon 60: Double the pleasure

Lagoon catamarans is without doubt the biggest cruising multihull manufacturer in the world and their yachts are ubiquitous be it in the South Seas or the South Coast of England. The manufacturer states that there are around 7,000 Lagoons bobbing around on the oceans. The secret of their success could probably best pinned on their consistency of purpose; the Bordeaux based manufacturer has never really tried to produce anything other than comfortable cruising catamarans. Sure, they have always looked to improve performance and internal volumes but they have always kept the faith with the idea that they know what they want to produce and they believe that they are in tune with the buying public. The results speak for themselves; nobody is ever going to win races in a Lagoon but they will always have a comfortable platform for cruising adventures and the fact that you find Lagoons the world over suggests that the boats are tried and tested in quite extreme conditions. 

Having said that Lagoon has always displayed a consistency of purpose is true but its also fair to say that they have diversified slightly in recent years. The introduction of the spin off Excess range of slightly more sporty cruising cats spoke of a desire to diversify slightly. Meanwhile, the launch of the Lagoon Sixty 5 and Seventy 7, big cats aimed squarely at a slightly more bling audience than smaller models, also pointed to a desire to move into a new market, one remove from their previous flagship, the Lagoon 55. The 60, which replaces their bestselling 620, is a clear attempt to bridge the gap between the 55 and the Sixty 5 and there is plenty of evidence that they have looked to take the best aspects of both these boats and fuse them in the new 60. This is a yacht that shares plenty of styling and design characteristics with the 55 and its smaller sister the 51 yet, once aboard, I definitely felt that it shared a lot with the luxurious Sixty 5 when it came to the interior space. 

So who is the boat designed for? Well, while the 55 is mainly aimed at cruising couples, Lagoon accepts that the 60 will likely need a full time crew. Sure, the set up is simple enough to sail as an energetic couple but this is a genuinely big boat and that means an awful lot of cleaning if nothing else. The boat is designed by VPLP with Nauta doing the interior. This is a classic team for Lagoon and they rarely make too many mis steps. The design is far from radical and features hulls designed for volume and also taking into consideration that this is a yacht that is likely to be loaded to the gills. Lagoon is realistic enough to know that they are not going for blinding performance with this boat so daggerboards are out of the question and the tulip shaped midship sections ensure that there is big outward flare well above the waterline to boost volume. The boat relies on stub keels which give a draught of 1.6m to give a bit of grip going to windward but she is not going to compete with the Catanas or Outremers of this world – nor is she intended to. Given that this is a yacht that weighs in at 32,000kg it is perhaps no surprise that the sail area is big, with an air draft of 100’ meaning that, even with the flybridge reducing the size of the main somewhat, this is a big rig. As with the 55, the rig is stepped further forward than on earlier models and is fitted with overlapping headsails. Naval architect VPLP says these offer more flexibility and efficiency on a boat of this type than the near ubiquitous non-overlapping jibs of today’s yachts.

Approaching the boat from the water (she was anchored off the port of Fornells in Minorca when I tested her) I was struck by the strong family resemblance with the 55. Stepping aboard though and I felt like I’d moved into an altogether different size bracket. Make no mistake, this is a big boat. Approaching from astern you have wide bathing platforms on the sponsons and two steps up take you to the cockpit. A notable feature is the dinghy/bathing platform which is a massive wood slatted platform that drops down to water level when at anchor and can be submerged to allow the dinghy to float free. At deck level there are two side flaps on both quarters that drop down to give you even more space. This feeling of space is genuinely astonishing by the way – as you can probably imaging given the boat has a beam of 32’. 

On deck

One notable feature is that the entire boat from stern to bow features no steps up or down. This was more of a challenge for the designers than you imagine and was a conscious decision based on the idea that they wanted the boat to feel as open as possible. It means you have an unobstructed walkway from the back of the aft cockpit, through the saloon to the forward cockpit. The aft cockpit area is big with an L-shaped sofa and twin tables to port. The drop leaf tables fold out to make one very large single table ideal for dining al fresco. To starboard is another sofa with a fridge at the forward end. There is storage both under the seats and under the deck plus access to the engines. There is also direct access to the owners stateroom from the starboard side of the cockpit via a fancy doorway/hatch made from toughened glass.  

Two steps up takes you onto the side decks which are wide and feature a good handhold on the coach roof. Up at the bow there is a forward cockpit area with loungers and sofas. This is also a pleasant space and there is a door that leads you straight back into the saloon, so access is excellent. The Solid foredeck does not extend right to the bow, which is reserved for two crew cabins to port and starboard of the trampoline. These feature a reasonable amount of space for crew and the port side has an ensuite with shower. 

Heading back into the cockpit and then up to the next level via well proportioned stairs is the flybridge, which is well shaded by a solid bimini. This area is huge, with a work surface, sink and fridge aft and to starboard and l shaped seating area with table to port. The stairs up to this deck are to starboard and the helm is also offset to starboard. Forward of the helm station is a large seating/lounging area with a coffee table in the middle. The solid Bimini has a detachable ladder up to it which gives access to the main and has solar panels on it. There are four giant harken winches with 14 jammers – seven each side – which handle all the running rigging. In addition the buttons for the furling code 0, staysail and Genoa are to port And starboard The helm station is comfortable with a broad seat. 

Inside

The saloon is huge and loosely divided into three areas with the galley aft and to port and a small nav station aft to starboard. In fact this galley area is a sink, wine cooler and fridge plus storage space because the actual galley is just aft of this, completely separate, with it’s own entrance in the cockpit. Down here you have a good space for cooking with a huge full height fridge four ring hob and oven plus ample workspace and a small crew dining area. There is an option to expand the galley in the main living area, dispense with the large ‘crew’ galley to starboard and turn this into an extra cabin. This marginally reduces the feeling of space in the saloon but might work better if you had plans to charter the boat out a lot. Staying in the saloon and forward on the port side is a huge seating area with a coffee table in the middle and then a dining area to starboard. It’s all very open with sliding patio doors into the cockpit and a large door leading to the forward cockpit.

Descend to starboard and you are in the owner’s suite. This is huge and very light and spacious. The double bed is athwartships and there is more than enough space to walk either side of the bed and also a desk area forward of this. After is the bathroom which has a totally separate heads and steps aft which, as already mentioned, lead directly onto the aft section of the cockpit. The smoked glass ensures privacy while also letting in masses of natural light. It’s an extraordinary place to take a shower. Staying in the starboard hull and forward of the stateroom –  and completely separate – is a large guest double with ensuite. There’s plentiful room and a good feeling of space.  

Stepping into the port hull and moving forward of the galley which we have already discusse, there is a twin bedroom with fore and aft berths plus  ensuite. Ahead of this there is a double cabin with the bed set athwartships forward of this with the ensuite at the bow. The boat therefore sleeps eight comfortably plus the crew up forward. The overall ambience is very pleasant and the quality of the fit out was impressive. Trite as it may be to say, this is far more spacious and comfortable than many mid sized apartments. 

Under sail

One thing you can’t do with a mid sized apartment is take it sailing. Something you definitely can do with the Lagoon 60. Conditions in Minorca were somewhat tricky for a boat weighing in at 32 tonnes. The wind was between 5 and 10kn, although the water was relatively flat. Under sail the 60 proved a powerful performer in very light winds and with the Code 0 unfurled we were largely able to match the wind speed up to 7kn. Sail handling was simple but the hydraulic steering was a touch on the notchy side and lacking in feel. I’d just come from a week sailing a tiller steered Jeanneau Selection 37 so this was a hard contrast. Although it’s fair to say that the contrast in comfort aboard was similarly striking. Things have improved a lot in a short time when it comes to hydraulic steering but even so, it lacks a bit of feel and on any long passage you’ll be sticking it on autopilot and simply enjoying the ride. The boat is medium displacement and is designed to sail heavily loaded down so that powerful sail plan is a must and it works well. She’s not massively close winded but she does truck along thanks to that big sail plan. Under power she was very responsive and the addition of bow thrusters meant it was supremely easy to manoeuvre. The Raymarine dock assist system further helped ensure that mooring was truly effortless with six cameras allowing you to see clearly all sides of the boat and their distance relative to the quay. 

Sam’s verdict on the Lagoon 60

At the mid point of the test, we anchored up for a couple of hours and enjoyed lunch and a swim. For all the Lagoon 60’s fine sailing I felt it was this that truly showcased the potential of this yacht; its supremely comfortable and large enough to be both a sociable space but also allow you the space to unwind in a quiet corner. As with all Lagoons, you’re not going to win a Transatlantic race, but you’ll get there without any fuss and once you arrive, you’ll have the most comfortable yacht in the anchorage. 

Looks: 3/5

Comfort: 5/5

Performance: 4/5

Lagoon 60 Specifications

Hull length: 18.27m (59’11”)

Length overall: 19.77m (64’10”)

Beam overall: 9.87m (32’5”)

Naval architect: VPLP Design

Exterior design: Patrick le Quément

Interior design: Nauta Design

Water draft: 1.65 m (5’55”)

Air draft: 30m (98’5”)

Light displacement: 34.6 T (76,293 Lbs)

Sails area upwind: 222 m² (2,389 sq ft)

Genoa: 87 m² (936 sq ft)

Contact: catamarans-lagoon.com

Alternative boats

Fountaine Pajot Samana 59

This Berret Racoupeau design is narrower and lighter than the Lagoon 60 but is clearly designed with comfort in mind – boating the biggest flybridge in her class according to the manufacturers.

catamarans-fountaine-pajot.com

Sunreef 60

A catamaran that places luxury squarely above performance. This is a big, spacious and very comfortable cat that can easily be optimised for skippered charter. Intriguingly, the 60 is available with electric motors as standard, which is a real revolutionary touch.

sunreef-catamrans.com

Privilege Signature 580

Privilege edges closer to the performance market, offering an interesting compromise between luxury and speed. This Marc Lombard design is lighter and marginally narrower than the 60. 

privilege-marine.com

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• The WORLDSTAR 2026 Race: Circumnavigate in your Own Boat
• Ben Ainslie’s Team Update: America’s Cup Countdown
• South Atlantic Cruising: Sailing Cape Town to Brazil

The post Boat Test: New Luxurious Multihull Lagoon 60 appeared first on Sailing Today.

The Southampton International Boat Show 2024 is right around the corner and the excitement is building, even more so now that we’ve heard about the new boats on display… Here’s some top picks from our Editor Sam Jefferson. 

New Boats: Our Editor’s 6 Top Picks

Moody DS48

Moody has been under German ownership as part of the Hanse group for many years now and offers a different sort of cruiser in quality deck saloon cruisers which are designed by Bill Dixon. The new 48 is the first new launch they have made since their 41 2020 and fits between the Moody 45 and 54 in their range. As you’d expect, this is a boat that is big on space and comfort, featuring a big, beamy hull with a single rudder. Performance has not been neglected, however, because she sports a generous rig to push her 21,000kg displacement through the water. 

Inspirationmarine.co.uk

Dufour 44

French manufacturer Dufour has really pumped up the volume with its latest generation of yachts. The new Umberto Felci designed 44 follows on from the 37 and 41 which have already drawn plaudits thanks to their remarkable ability to create internal volume without looking overly dumpy. The 44 continues in this vein boasting plentiful beam aft and full sections at the bow above the waterline. The interior is positively palatial and there is a choice of three or four cabin layouts.

dufour-yachts.com

New Boats: Xc47

It has been some years since Danish manufacturers X Yachts realised that if they offered a de tuned Xc cruising range alongside its out and out performance yachts, it would massively enlarge its customer base. The project was a huge success and the Xc range is now into its second generation with the launch of the Xc47. The new launch is one of the first since X Yachts divorce from founder and chief designer Niels Jeppesen and the result is a yacht that leans heavily towards the cruising market, featuring something not far from a deck saloon. The hull lines feature plenty of beam aft and there has obviously been a very conscious effort to up the cruising ante. That said, the boat retains a powerful rig and weight has been kept reasonably modest.

x-yachts.com

Hanse 360

Hanse Yachts broke with go to designer of many years Judel/Vrolijk a couple of years back and this was the catalyst behind the launch of a new generation of Hanses designed by the French team of Berret/Racoupeau. In addition to a marked change in styling, with inverted ‘dreadnought bow and hard chines aft giving the boats a more angular look, the main drive seemed to be to up the quality of the boats down below – which was certainly achieved. The new Hanse 360 distils their recent models’ key design features and sleek profile into a yacht under 38′ in length.

Inspirationmarine.co.uk

New Boats: Saffier SE24 Lite

Netherlands based boatbuilder Saffier has made a point of producing fast, stylish dayboats/weekenders that are easy to handle but provide masses of thrills. THe SE24 Lite is one of the smaller boats in its range and features a Torqeedo 3.5 kW electric motor with the battery reservoirs boosted by solar panels. The true joy of the boat though is the sailing  With a single handed and the boat includes a large, ergonomic cockpit with a sundeck, two berthing places and enough storage space for your complete wardrobe. 

saffieryachts.com

Nautitech 48 Open

Nautitech was one of the first boatbuilders to bridge the gap between pure cruising catamarans and more sophisticated performance cruisers. They did this by giving their boats better feel on the helm, with the wheels situated outboard, and designing a hull form that had decent upwind performance while eschewing the costly addition of daggerboards. It has been a successful formula and the company has now launched its new flagship, the 48 which looks to continue in the same vein as older models, just on a slightly larger scale.

nautitechcatamarans.com

Visiting the Show

We’ve got everything you need to know to plan your visit…

But first, make sure you put 13th-22nd September in the diary.

Opening dates and times:

• 13 – 21 September 2024 – 10:00-18:00
• 22 September 2024 – 10:00-17:00

Shipyard Only: Music, food, sport & entertainment

• 14th & 21st September 2024 – 10:00-21:00

Show Postcode: S015 1BA

• The show entrance is located by WestQuay Shopping Centre.

What to Expect at Southampton Boat Show 2024

Whether you’re on the hunt for new sailing gear, a serious boat buyer, a watersports enthusiast, a foodie and live music fan, or just looking for a brilliant family day out, here’s everything you need to know for visiting Southampton Boat Show 2024.

Grab a Ticket Now… with our Discount Code!

To keep the good news coming… With our Sailing Today with Yachts and Yachting discount code you can grab an any-day adult general admission ticket to the show for just £19.99.

Simply go to the ticket website, select your tickets and enter this promo code at the bottom: STYY2024

And… up to 2 kids go free with every adult ticket.

Grab Your Tickets Now!

Show Me More:

• The WORLDSTAR 2026 Race: Circumnavigate in your Own Boat
• Southampton Boat Show 2024: What to Expect
• TeamGB Interview: Olympic Sailing Coach Stevie Morrison

The post Southampton Boat Show 2024: Top 6 New Boats appeared first on Sailing Today.

The Windermere 17 ft class celebrated 120 years with a sail past, race and party on Saturday, July 20.

These beautiful yachts enjoy a fascinating history dating back to the inauguration of the class in 1904 when the Royal Windermere Yacht Club set up the class as a more accessible alternative to some bigger boats racing on the lake.

Since then, this elegant restricted class has gone from strength to strength and is one of the few where modern designs compete against bona fide classics. Windermere 17 designers over the years include Alfred Mylne, Arthur Robb, Olin Stephens and Ian Howlett – plus local designer Percy Crossley. This is one of the few classes in the country where modern and classic designs race side by side to the same rule. There are special trophies for some of the older ‘classic’ boats in the fleet but, new or old, racing remains close, with the ability to read the tricky and often unpredictable wind shifts on the lake very important if you are going to gain the upper hand on the race course.

The 120th anniversary celebrations included a race, plus a sail past the club house by a big fleet decked in flags that included Merlin, the oldest surviving Windermere 17 which dates back to 1908. The celebration of sail was rounded off in the evening by a hog roast accompanied by a classic Lakeland downpour.

Here’s a video from the 120th celebration day…

About the Royal Windermere Club

Founded in 1860, the Royal Windermere Yacht Club was set up to promote sailing on Windermere, England’s largest lake. This RYA recognised training centre runs course for all ages and abilities, and fleet racing in the warmer months.

The four racing fleets are:

• Windermere 17 ft (restricted class unique to the club, the first of which was built in 1904 and about 30 are still regularly sailed)
• Flying Fifteen
• Dinghy fleet comprising GP14s, RS400s, RS100s, Lasers and Solos.
• Cruisers of which they have an increasing number

Show Me More:

• Southampton Boat Show 2024: What to Expect
• Gear Test: Shore2Sea Dry Bag
• Med Mooring Masterclass: How to Moor with Perfect Technique

The post Windermere 17 ft Celebrate 120 Years: Fleet’s Anniversary Race appeared first on Sailing Today.

Designing an environmentally friendly offshore one design class is a big ask – but Jeanneau’s Sun Fast 30 OD may have it cracked as Sam Jefferson discovers.

Jeanneau Yachts

Jeanneau Yachts has a proud history of racing going back to 1976 when a Jeanneau Melody battled against the Atlantic greybeards to complete the OSTAR. Since then the company has been one of the leading forces in making racing more accessible by mass producing genuinely rapid mass produced racing yachts. Models such as the Rush Royale, Selection 37 and the JOD 35 when they came out in the 80s and 90s, while the latest iterations of the SunFast range have been at the forefront of the offshore racing scene. 

The Jeanneau Sun Fast 30

It was therefore welcome news when the French manufacturer announced that it as going to bolster its Sun Fast range – already represented by the excellent and successful Sun Fast 3300 – with a smaller 30’ offshore racer. Just to add a bit of extra spice into the mix, they also stated it would be the first recyclable composite production yacht. This is big news because Jeanneau, being part of the Beneteau Group, is the biggest yacht manufacturer in the world and when they lead, others follow. If they can demonstrate that a production yacht can be made cost effectively using recyclable materiels, it opens the doors to other smaller manufacturers. By the same token, by mass producing an affordable, fun offshore racer they can also do much to broaden the appeal of the sport. Because be in no doubt, that is the aim of the boat which was born out of the desire of RORC, the Trysail Club in the US and the Yacht Club de France to produce an affordable small offshore racer that wasn’t too complicated or technical to sail. VPLP won the commission for this project with Multiplast but it soon became clear that in order to produce the yacht in big numbers, they needed the muscle of a big yard – this was where Jeanneau stepped in and the Sun Fast 30 OD was born. 

There’s therefore a lot to like about the Sun Fast 30 OD even before you step on the boat and eyeing her from the dockside she certainly looks the part. She’s clearly a fairly serious racer and VPLP has drawn up a purposeful looking boat that features a moderate scow bow, twin rudders, a single shine that runs from the stern almost to the bow, a big cockpit that extends a long way forward and a rig that carries almost as much sail area as the Sun Fast 3300 OD. Weight is modest at 2,500kg making this a light though not ultra light displacement boat. Despite the radical look of the boat the design is sensible with beam aft being kept modest – not least to ensure the boat is trailerable. The scow bow is defined but not nearly as extreme as many modern Mini Transats or Class 40s while the hull features plenty of rocker and also flares out considerably above the waterline. The rockered hull makes for a sea kindly motion but also hints towards the fact that VPLP clearly wanted a boat the performed well in light airs and this distinct rocker keeps the ends of the boat out of the water in light winds, thus reducing wetted surface area and drag. When the breeze kicks in, the fuller bow and flat upper aft sections point to much fun to be had off the wind, while the twin rudders and chine should give her good grip. 

The Jeanneau Sun Fast 30 is a strict one design and the hull is constructed using 100% recycled materiels and is of foam cored sandwich construction with recycled PET foam used on the deck. Both deck and hull vacuum infused using Elium resin. This is a biodegradable epoxy resin which means that at the end of the boat’s working life, the boat can be broken down and the raw materials recycled – this is a big advance away from standard GRP construction which must go to landfill. 

In terms of rig, the boat is fitted with a deck stepped carbon fibre mast from Sparcraft. The rig carries a pair of heavily aft swept spreaders and the shrouds set outboard. There is no backstay – a  surprising configuration for this size of boat and one which requires a very strong and stiff mast profile. There are running backstays but these are for tweaking sail shape and are not vital to keep the rig up. A powerful mainsail with square top and a relatively wide overlapping genoa can be set and, as noted, the upwind sail area is only marginally less than the larger Sun Fast 3300 and downwind she sets a big masthead gennaker which means offwind sail area is only 5% smaller than her big sister. Shrouds made of Dyform with little stretch. There is a retractable sprit which slides back into a moulded recess in the deck which is far better than having a hole in the hull. When extended, it protrudes some 4’ from the stem when extended. The boat comes with a suit of seven sails and membrane fabrics have been banned to keep costs down.

The keel is a relatively narrow chord width L Shaped cast iron and lead bulbed affair and the twin rudders are transom hung and connected by tye bars which can be fine tued to perfect the rudder angle. The rudders are steered by a single tiller with an extension. The hull shape and sail plan point to a yacht that will perform well in light airs – somewhat surprising given that this is clearly a purpose built offshore racer – but it does ad another string to the yacht’s bow and also sticks to the tradition of light wind fliers like the iconic Selection 37. The boat has not been designed for IRC but the projected rating is 1.040 so it sounds like this will be a contender in mixed fleet racing too.

On Deck 

Step onboard the Jeanneau Sun Fast 30 and, although the hull lines feature modest beam, the Cockpit feels broad and spacious with a moulded groove down the middle that works as a foot brace. The traveller is situated right aft and thus within easy reach of the helm. There is space enough for a crew of four – even five at a push but by that point you are starting to penalise yourself in terms of weight onboard. 

The deck has been thoughtfully put together with mouldings for a bottle holder forward and a liferaft valise aft. The companionway is offset to port with all the lines for the running rigging set to starboard and run through a bank of ten jammers. Thre are two winches just forward of the helm for the genoa or gennaker and a third on the coachroof for the halyards. The chart plotter is well placed, being set into aft the end of the coachroof. Aside from that there are some nice foot braces to keep you secure when sitting out on the coamings. 

In terms of sail controls, the main sheet is on the centreline within easy reach of the helm or a dedicated trimmer just in front of the helm and the fine adjustment is just aft of this with both lines on cleat jammers. The headsails use Jeanneau’s tried and tested 3D car system using thimbles as opposed to fixed cars which allows for lateral adjustment in addition to longitudinal movement. This system is becoming the norm on most racing boats of a certain size in the Beneteau Group fleet and it works very well.  

In terms of electrical equipment, this is standardised to conform with one design rules and consists of B&G’s H5000 autopilot, the very popular Raymarine Type 1 ram in a watertight compartment accessible from both the deck and inside. The motor is a Nanni 10hp two cylinder inboard affair which has plenty enough power to push along such a small yacht.

The foredeck is understandably nice and wide which is great for working on deck and the non skid is excellent plus there are nice foot chocks moulded into the deck which is great. There is no anchor locker, just a pair of deck cleats and an open pulpit.

Down Below

As mentioned, the companionway is offset to port and there is a shallow descent down below into a surprisingly roomy interior with full standing headroom aft. The boat has been kept incredibly spartan though and contrasts with the Dehler 30OD where there has been a bit more of a concession to creature comforts. This is truly stripped out and spartan with the bare minimum of wood finish and only the smallest concession to comfort. This is fair enough because this is after all a racing yacht and it speaks of the manufacturer’s recognition that they do not want to even try to be all things to all people which is fair enough. 

Despite this, there is quite a bit of space down below as the full bow sections forward create a fair amount of space. Back aft tucked underneath the cockpit are twin cot berths then bench seats. Ultimately you can sleep four without any great fuss. There is a big chart table to starboard with the instrument panel set on the bulkhead forward of this. There is also a small sink aft of this with a manual pump and water tank just below. You could add a small stove for longer passages. Forward there is a huge sail storage area with the bare stringers exposed and access to a watertight crash bulkhead forward of this. The heads to is just aft of this to starboard which is just a sea toilet with a canvas ‘door’ and slightly aft of this. It does feature a holding tank. The interior is all in white and feels surprisingly light but – let’s be honest here – it’s a very stripped out racing machine. 

Under Sail

I sailed the Jeanneau Sun Fast 30 on a moderate in the Bay of Cannes with a modest 10-12kn breeze blowing. There was a bit of chop as we plugged upwind and the trial was made more interesting in that we were following in the wake of the larger and heavier new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 350. I rather assumed that we would leave this cruidsing yacht for dust but things didn’t completely pan out this way. First things first, as previously mentioned, Jeanneau has designed this boat to perform strongly in light airs and inmorning I was able to observe from the dockside as the little racer sailed in 4-5kn of wind and she did notably well in conditions where other heavier yachts were simply not moving. By the time I got on the water the breeze had filled in somewhat. We had five onboard and that probably tipped the balance against the boat as acceleration was good but not blistering as we headed upwind. As mentioned, we followed in the wake of a brand new Sun Odyssey 350 and hard on the wind with the J3 set we very, very slowly gained on her, making about 5.5kn at a true wind angle of of 40-42°. The steering was light, sensitive, well balanced and felt perhaps a touch too neutral. This is in part because Jeanneau wanted to have a helm that consumed the minimum amount of power when under autopilot. Anyway, the boat sat comfortably in her chine and was quick without being blistering – although I suspect if we’d have had one less crewmember onboard that would have made a big difference given how light the boat is. 

Easing off the wind and unfurling the gennaker, the difference was immediate and we stormed past the Sun Odyssey 350 with the greatest of ease. With 12kn of breeze, there wasn’t quite enough wind to get the boat planing, although with some friendly waves, it probably would have been possible to get the boat to lift off. As it was, I suspect that breezes of 15-20kn would see the 30 lift up her skirts and take flight. As it was, the full bow sections and twin rudders made the boat feel incredibly stable and balanced with masses of grip, allowing us to sail very high in the moderate conditions without even a hint of a broach. All of this pointed to much fun to be had with just a touch more wind. Sail handling was all very simple and the running rigging set up seemed to be very well thought out although the need to use the same set of winches for the running backstays and the headsails was a minor inconvenience although, of course, you use the lee winch for the jib sheets and the windward for the running backstay so perhaps the weight saving makes it worth not bothering with a second pair. On the other hand, in the even of gear failure, it’s good to have more than three winches.

Sam’s Verdict

The Jeanneau Sun Fast 30 is a fun, forward thinking boat that promises to broaden the appeal of offshore racing. It’s a versatile yacht that can be put on a trailer and sails fast in a range of conditions. It’s not some carbon fibre ultra light displacement flier but it is still light and very fast and also affordable. The design also strikes a balance between upwind and offwind with that moderate scow bow while the big sail area and low wetted surface area in light airs makes for a versatile boat. 

Specifications

LOA (sprit extended):10.4m (34’1”)

Hull length: 8.99m (29’6”)

LWL:8.4m (27’6”)

Beam:2.99m (9’10”)

Draught:2.0m (6’7”)

Displacement:2,700kg (5,952lb)

Ballast:1,000kg (2,205lb)

Mainsail:32m2 (344ft2)

Headsail:27m2 (290ft2)

A2 spinnaker:105m2 (1130ft2)

Ready to race price:€200,000 inc VAT

Builder: jeanneau.com

Alternative Boats

Dehler 30 OD

This is a boat that shares most with the Jeanneau in terms of concept and is of similar dimensions and weight. Conceived as a double handed offshore racer, this Judel/Vrolijk design has been a slow burn but has built up a loyal following.

dehler.co.uk

Beneteau Figaro 3

A more sophisticated – and expensive – alternative to the Jeanneau. This is a foiling pocket rocket that, after a relatively slow start, has become a big hit. This is a more technical boat to sail and the foils put it in a different price bracket.

beneteau.com

Farr X2

Constructed in Portugal, this Bruce Farr designed offshore racer is a bit lighter than the Sun Fast and features water ballasting and bigger beam carried aft. She is optimised for single and double handed racing. 

sea-ventures.co.uk

beneteau.com

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The post Boat Test: Jeanneau Sun Fast 30 appeared first on Sailing Today.

Boisterous conditions during the 2024 Round The Island Race made for a thrilling race which provided challenges for both competitors and race organisers…

Some years the annual Round the Island Race is a gentle stroll around the Isle of Wight in gentle summer sunshine. 2024 was anything but…

This is the UK’s biggest mixed fleet race on the calendar but Saturday’s race saw strong winds, with gusts of up to lash the south coast meaning that a number of smaller classes were withdrawn before the race and many others retired.

The most extreme conditions were experienced in the pinch point that is the Needles Channel. Gusts of 50kn were recorded and wind over tide conditions at times made for truly intimidating conditions. In the end just 153 yachts completed the course with a remarkable 418 retiring.

In such conditions it was no surprise that big boats came to the fore and it was to be Irvine Laidlaw’s 80’ Gunboat Highland Fling that took line honours, making the circuit in an impressive 3h 39m.

Meanwhile the TP52 Notorious, owned and skippered by Peter Morton took monohull line honours and won IRC on corrected time, scooping the much coveted Gold Roman Bowl in the process.

Peter Morton, owner and skipper of Notorious said: “This is one of the world’s greatest races and every year I look forward to it. I’ve not had the boat that long but I’ve competed in Round the Island Race many times over the last 50 years in various boats I’ve owned.

“Yesterday was special and the toughest one I’ve done. It’s 40 years ago since I won the Gold Roman Bowl on a little 25ft boat called ‘Odd Job’ which was the smallest boat in the fleet, so this year was very special for me.”

An unsettled early summer in the British Isles provided a real headache for the organisers of the annual Round the Island Race, who woke up to the reality on Saturday of extreme conditions, Race Director, Dave Atkinson said: “This race was a challenge for both the competitors and the Race Team at the Island Sailing Club, with the safety and well-being of the crews being the main priority.

“We would like to thank the RNLI, independent lifeboats and coastguard teams for their assistance and co-operation before and during the race on Saturday. Despite the challenging conditions we only had nine incidents connected to the race which is less than previous years, this shows the seamanship of the crews and the correct decision making that went into undertaking of the race.”

For more information and full results, visit the official Round The Island Race website.

The post Round The Island Race 2024 results: Notorious wins amid wet and wild conditions appeared first on Sailing Today.

It is two centuries since the Royal National Lifeboat Institute was founded. There has never been a better moment to celebrate its work…

As a sailor in UK waters it is sometimes easy to forget just what an extraordinary institution the RNLI is. The fact that this massive network of lifeboats and lifesavers are on hand 24/7 is somehow easy to take for granted.

It is only when we are confronted with disaster that their true worth is shown. In the 1979 Fastnet Race, for example, yachtsmen and women were reminded in the most shocking fashion just what a vital role they play in ensuring that help it at hand when the very worst happens.

As the oldest lifesaving charity in the world still in existence, the RNLI has a rich and storied history, taking in triumph heroism and tragedy along the way. It is worth remembering that all the crews are volunteers who give up their own time to put themselves in the position to save lives – often demonstrating extraordinary seamanship along the way.

This is also a charity funded entirely by the donations from the general public. Thus, the RNLI is an institution we should all be proud of as a nation and it is for that reason that we chose the charity to be our Charity of the Year for 2024.

Founded in a London tavern on 4 March 1824 following an appeal from Sir William Hillary, who lived on the Isle of Man and witnessed many shipwrecks, the RNLI has continued saving lives at sea throughout the tests of its history, including tragic disasters, funding challenges and two World Wars.

Two centuries have seen vast developments in the lifeboats and kit used by the charity’s lifesavers – from the early oar-powered vessels to today’s technology-packed boats, which are now built in-house by the charity; and from the rudimentary cork lifejackets of the 1850s to the full protective kit each crew member is now issued with.

200 years of the RNLI: A brief timeline

1785: The first lifeboats

Lionel Lukin paved the way for the first purpose-built lifeboat when he designed the world’s first unsinkable boat and patented it in 1785.

1824: Foundation of the RNLI

Sir William Hillary’s vision for a service dedicated to saving lives at sea became a reality in Bishopsgate’s trendy London Tavern on 4 March 1824.

1824: First RNLI Gold Medal

In 1824, Charles Fremantle was awarded the first RNLI Gold Medal for bravery when he swam out to a Swedish brig stranded off the coast of Christchurch.

1838: Grace Darling

Grace Darling became a national heroine after risking her life to save the stranded survivors of the wrecked steamship Forfarshire in 1838.

1854: First lifejackets

RNLI Inspector, Captain Ward, broke new ground in lifesaving in 1854 with his new design of cork lifejacket.

1861: Whitby lifeboat disaster

During a huge storm on 9 February 1861, a Whitby lifeboat capsized, throwing the crew overboard. Only one member of the crew, Henry Freeman, survived.

1880: The Zetland’s final launch

Built in 1802, the Zetland is the oldest surviving lifeboat in the world and saved over 500 lives during her service.

1884: Design of the RNLI flag

In 1884, Leonora Preston designed the RNLI flag after her brother was rescued by Ramsgate lifeboat volunteers.

1886: Southport and St Annes lifeboats disaster

On 10 December 1886, 27 lifeboatmen lost their lives whilst attempting to rescue the crew from the German barque Mexico.

1890: First steam-driven lifeboat

Between them, the RNLI’s three hydraulic steam-driven lifeboats were in service for over 40 years and saved 570 lives.

1891: First street collection

After the Mexico disaster and the loss of 27 lifeboatmen, a small team organised an event in Manchester that changed the face of fundraising forever.

1899: Launch from Porlock Weir

During a severe gale, Lynmouth volunteers dragged their lifeboat for 13 miles to launch in aid of a vessel in distress.

1905: First motor lifeboat

The evolution from sail to petrol, and later petrol to diesel, revolutionised the RNLI’s lifesaving capacity.

1907: The Suevic rescue

The Suevic rescue in 1907 set the record for the largest number of people saved in a single operation in RNLI history – 456 – a record that still stands today.

1914-1918: The Great War

During the First World War (1914–1918), lifeboats launched 1,808 times and saved 5,332 lives.

1922: Foundation of the Irish Free State

When the Irish Free State was established in 1922, RNLI volunteers at lifeboat stations all around the island continued to save lives at sea.

1930: First fast motor-powered lifeboat

The first fast motor lifeboat to arrive at the newly reopened Dover Lifeboat Station in 1930 was one of a kind.

1936: Last horse-powered launch

The arrival of the motor lifeboat Royal Silver Jubilee at Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk marked the end of the iconic sight of horses pulling lifeboats.

1936: Daunt Rock rescue

On 7 February 1936, Ballycotton lifeboat volunteers endured 49 hours at sea in a gale and bitter cold to save the crew of the Daunt Rock lightship.

1939-1945: Second World War

Despite having to contend with extremely dangerous conditions, RNLI lifeboat crews saved 6,376 lives between 1939 and 1945.

1940: Dunkirk little ships

On 30 May 1940, two RNLI crews joined an armada of little ships for one of the Second World War’s greatest rescues: Operation Dynamo at Dunkirk.

1963: Inflatable lifeboats

Inflatable lifeboats were introduced to our fleet to help crews reach areas close to shore, cliffs and caves and remain the workhorse of the RNLI today.

1969: First trained woman on the crew

Eighteen-year-old Elizabeth Hostvedt became the first woman qualified to command an inshore lifeboat.

1972: Rigid inflatable lifeboats

Research in the 1960s produced the RNLI’s first rigid inflatable lifeboat, the B class Atlantic 21, allowing more agile rescues closer to shore.

1981: Penlee lifeboat disaster

On 19 December 1981, the crew of the Penlee lifeboat Solomon Browne were lost attempting to rescue the crew and passengers onboard a stricken coaster.

1982: The Tyne class lifeboat

Twice as fast as the motor lifeboats she was designed to replace, the first fast slipway boat – the Tyne class lifeboat – launched in 1982.

2000: Formation of the RNLI Flood Rescue Team

After helping in the Mozambique floods of 2000, the RNLI formed its own Flood Rescue Team to respond to emergencies in the UK, Ireland and beyond.

2002: Hovercraft joins the RNLI fleet

Introduced in 2002, the RNLI inshore rescue hovercraft has enabled vital rescue work in areas inaccessible to conventional lifeboats.

2004: RNLI College opens

RNLI College is the home of RNLI training and was opened by Her Majesty The Queen on 28 July 2004, when it was known as the Lifeboat College.

2012: RNLI international programme starts

In 2012, the RNLI stepped up its international work to help tackle the worldwide drowning epidemic, partnering with global leaders and public health organisations to support communities most at risk of drowning.

2021: United Nations adopts Resolution on Global Drowning Prevention

In 2021, the United Nations (UN) adopted the first-ever Resolution on Global Drowning Prevention, setting out the actions that every country should take to prevent drowning. The Resolution also called for a coordinated UN approach to drowning prevention and established World Drowning Prevention Day, which is marked annually on 25 July.

2024: 200 years and counting

A historic milestone in our lifesaving story, 4 March 2024 marks 200 years since Sir William Hillary founded the RNLI.

An RNLI crewmember’s perspective on the 1979 Fastnet disaster

“My name is Kieran Cotter. I’m 67 years old, joined the Lifeboat when I was about 19 years old and was a crew for almost 46 years, crew member. I was coxswain from 1989 to December 2020, which is 31 years, and now I’m one of the DLA’s.

“So Baltimore is on the southwest corner of Ireland. We have a famous landmark 11 miles from the village called the Fastnet Rock.

“I was born on Cape Clear Island, and we moved to Baltimore in 1970. My father would have been into sailing and fishing, and he joined the crew when he arrived. At that stage, 1970, I was 15 years old. I joined the RNLI on the 1st of January, 1975. And the Fastnet Race was mid August, 1979.

“So on that particular night, I remember meeting Richard Bush, who was the secretary at the time. And I said to Richard, you know, the Fastnet race is on – it had started in Cowes on Saturday morning. Boats were due around the Fastnet that night.

“And I said, the weather is deteriorating and we might get a call or a shout out to this. At that particular time, we didn’t have beepers and of course, mobile phones didn’t exist.

“And I said, look, I’ll be in the office in the shop there for an hour or two and you can give me a ring if there’s a call. So I was maybe half nine, the phone rang and it was Richard. Not sure of the time, but I think it was around half nine.

“It was just getting on dark, probably just gone just dark. And he said that there, he explained that there was a call because one of the race boats going out to the Fastnet was reported over to the next village, which is Skull. And so we proceeded, launched the boat, proceeded to see, done a search around the Fastnet, made calls on the VHF.

“And so we were really looking for a needle in the haystack because the Fastnet rock is about 11, 10 or 11 miles from Skull. We received a call to say that the boat had arrived safely back in Skull with everyone on board. And soon after that, we received a call from the Coast Radio Station or the Coast Guard to say that a yacht, regardless, was in difficulty four miles southeast of the Fastnet.

“And when we got there, there were boats everywhere and there were lights everywhere. And one of the Irish Navy ships, Deirdre, was in the vicinity. And at that particular time, we didn’t have a VHF direction finder, but she did and she was able to locate an exact position southeast of the Fastnet.

“When we went out first, the weather was relatively calm. The wind was southerly or southeasterly, but it was freshening and by the time we got to the Fastnet at maybe probably one half, one can’t exactly remember the time, the wind had freshened up to maybe four, seven or eight. And she had a broken rudder, so they couldn’t steer her. So we took her on tow.

“And at the time, our lifeboat, an old Watson, was only capable of doing about eight and a half, nine knots. And when we took her on tow, the wind about that time went into the west and started to strengthen up to about maybe Force 10, 11. And there was a big swell started to roll and the next thing is she was passing us out ahead and parting the tow.

“We proceeded to tow her back, I think maybe losing the tow three or four times and we got her back into Baltimore, maybe half seven in the morning. And at that time, there was the wind was very, very strong, definitely gusting 10, 11.

“It took us an hour to get her onto a mooring where we moored her up near the lifeboat station. Baltimore doesn’t have leisure facilities like a marina. And so we put her on a swinging buoy.

“We were only just back at the pier and we were told that there was another yacht in difficulty south of the galley, which maybe is 25 miles to 30 miles southeast of us. We left Baltimore, proceeded out to the area, had difficulty in finding her there again.

“We weren’t able to pick her up on VHF. She had given us a position which didn’t seem to be very correct, but there was an RAF reconnaissance Nimrod in the area and she was able to locate the boat, the yacht, Marionette.

“We proceeded to the position and took her in tow. And as it was probably four o’clock in the afternoon, by the time we got her in tow, and then we proceeded to tow her back to Baltimore. She had the same problem, the rudder had broken.

“When we got back to Baltimore that evening, about seven thirty maybe, the wind had calmed, the sun had come out into the beautiful evening. So we had been at sea for about maybe 22 hours, 22 and a half hours, I can’t really remember exactly. But that was kind of the time span.”

Extract taken from the RNLI’s 200 voices podcast

RNLI by the numbers

200: The number of years the RNLI has been operating
146,277: The number of lives the charity had saved on the day it turned 200
380,328: The number of times that the RNLI has launched since 1824
238: The number of lifeboat stations around the UK

Throughout its bicentenary year, the charity is running events and activities to remember its important history and celebrate the modern lifesaving service it is today, while hoping to inspire generations of future lifesavers and supporters.

For further information about the RNLI’s 200th anniversary, visit RNLI.org/200

The post RNLI at 200: Two centuries of saving lives at sea appeared first on Sailing Today.

Exciting Designers and New Boats

Here’s some of the latest yacht designs from Grand Soleil, Boreal, IDB Marine, Nautor Swan, and Hanse Yachts – take a look at the new boats arriving on the market…

Grand Soleil 52

Italian manufacturer Grand Soleil has been producing cruiser/racers for many years now and the company states that this new 52 is the spiritual heir to the legendary Grand Soleil 52 designed by German Frers back in 1987. I’m not sure if that legend has endured in the UK but the new 52 certainly looks the part and the arrival of renowned designer Matteo Polli, who has achieved masses of success with italia Yachts – particularly in the IRC class – certainly augurs well. The boat comes in two versions; Performance and Race. Both look extremely alluring and capable of cutting a dash on the racecourse. 

grandsoleil.net

Sailing the Boreal 70

Boreal Yachts sit in that very French cadre of utilitarian aluminium ‘go anywhere’ yachts much loved by soul sailors who idolise Moitessier and dream of communing with the albatross. Yes these soul sailors seem to have developed a taste for a spot of luxury too and the Boreal 70 is typical of the latest iteration of these hardy swing keel boats in that she is huge and surprisingly well appointed, boating such luxuries as a dishwasher should you so wish to choose that option. Sacre bleu! Nevertheless, this is a tough go anywhere cruiser which is at home in the tropics or the high latitudes. 

boreal-yachts.com

New Boats: Mojito 30

French manufacturer IDB Marine has made a name for itself by thinking outside the box when it comes to yacht design and it is fair to say that their new Mojito 30 has stuck with that tradition, producing something of a head turner with this design that takes a lot from the developments in the First 40 and Mini Transat classes boasting the unmistakeable ‘scow bow’, featuring very full forward sections. Of the new boats, this is designed as a fast cruiser that could potentially be raced in longer offshore formats and features a swing keel, big sail area and decent accommodation.

Idbmarine.fr

Clubswan 28

The Clubswan 28 is a something of a break from tradition for Nautor Swan who have never produced a yacht this small. She rounds off their ClubSwan range and is a pure one design racer set up for four crew. At 1000kg, this Juan Kouyoumdijan design is going to be fast but she appears to be much less technical than boats higher up the range, eschewing foils and keeping things as simple as possible. There is no accommodation.

nautorswan.com

New Boats: Hanse 590

Hanse Yachts broke with go to designer of many years Judel/Vrolijk a couple of years back and this was the catalyst behind the launch of a new generation of Hanses designed by the French team of Berret/Racoupeau. In addition to a marked change in styling, with inverted ‘dreadnought bow and hard chines aft giving the boats a more angular look, the main drive seemed to be to up the quality of the boats down below – which was certainly achieved. The new 590 is their biggest boat yet of this new generation and offers easy sailing on a big scale. The new boat features an optional hard top bimini, a tender garage and acres of space down below. The boat will be officially unveiled at Cannes Boat show and promises to be a head turner.

Inspirationmarine.co.uk

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The post New Boats: The Latest Yacht Designs Heading to the Market appeared first on Sailing Today.

One of the most colourful sailors around has passed away at the ripe old age of 93. We chart his extraordinary life under sail.

The Life of Don Street

Street was a fixture of the yacht cruising scene from the 1950s up until he passed away. He had countless books published and his Imray/Iolaire charts are still the industry standard in much of the Caribbean. Indeed, Street’s name is synonymous with the Caribbean and his claim to have made bareboat cruising possible out there is only half said in jest.

Back when he started cruising the Caribbean, it was a mysterious place full of forbidden shores and unmarked reefs. Street was part of a wave of sailors who bust down the door and opened up this cruising ground – for better or worse. To add to his mythical status, he did it all in Iolaire, his beautiful classic engineless yawl. So who is Don Street? Was he ever something other than the barnacle-encrusted mariner I see before me? It’s hard to imagine but yes, yes he was.

One way Street

Street cut his teeth sailing dinghies in Manhasset Bay, Long Island and he retained the distinctive accent and lively restlessness – not to mention extreme verbosity – of New Yorkers until he passed. Once you got him started, it was hard to stop him. Throughout it all, his love of sailing shone through. 

He joined the US Navy where he went into submarines – no joke in the Cold War era, where you never knew when you were going to be called into action. He still wears his Dolphins with pride. From here, he was sent on an Navy Reserves Officers Training Course. A bust up with his commanding officer, a resignation and Street was back on the street. 

At this point, he wisely decided to go sailing and signed up as a hand on Huey Long’s Ondine, a classic yawl. After a couple of weeks, the sudden dismissal of the skipper meant that he took his place and, following a transatlantic crossing, skippered her in the inaugural Round Gotland race. After that, he fell out with Huey and ended up doing a pierhead jump onto the Lutine one hour before the Fastnet Race started. They liked his sailing ability so he raced the rest of the season on Lutine, wandered Europe for eight months then sailed back across the Atlantic on Arabella, a 46’, Starling Burgess designed ketch. Adventures over, it was back to New York, where he was urged to take up a profession and signed up with an insurance company. “They made me shave my beard off!” Street recalled: “The weekend before I started, I went out sailing clean shaven on a cold day. I came back in with the worst chapped face of my life and I thought ‘this isn’t for me’. So he ran away. “I shipped straight out of NewYork bound for San Juan [in Puerto Rico]on a plane everyone referred to as the ‘vomit comet’. I had plenty of whisky and slept like a baby, but at one point I do recall the plane hit an air pocket and dropped like a stone; everyone on board was screaming and hollering!”

Unchartered territory

This was in 1956 and the Caribbean was a very different place. Street was initially based in St Croix in the US Virgin Islands, before moving to St Thomas. Starting out, he got a job as a surveyor. “I didn’t have the first clue what I was doing,” he confides. Yet the experience doubtless helped him with his charting work. He acquired Iolaire in 1957 and put her in the charter trade which was in its infancy at this point. The acquisition of Iolaire was the beginning of a romance that was to last 53 years.

She had been built in the UK back in 1905 as a gaff cutter, but under Street, she was yawl rigged. “A perfectly balanced boat,” Street reflects. Throughout the 1950s and 60s Street explored the Caribbean, methodically charting it as he went. Between times he wrote articles for various publications. Street was long noted as the scourge of the subeditor due to his deeply informative but occasionally over-wordy epistles. The story behind how he got into journalism is therefore illuminating. According to Street, he was on charter when he anchored in Caneel Bay, St John. That night he happened to dine with the novelist John Steinbeck and soon got to spinning one of his legendary yarns. Street says that at some point, Steinbeck interrupted: “Kid you tell a good story. Why don’t you try writing?” Street continues: “I replied, ‘But Mr Steinbeck…’ – he said to call him John instead – ‘John, I can’t spell or punctuate.’ To which Mr Steinbeck replied, ‘What the hell do you think secretaries and editors are for? ‘The hell with talent, to become a writer you must put you ass on a hard wooden chair six days a week six hours a day and pound the typewriter. ‘Try writing. Go get me a drink.’ The rest is history. 

It wasn’t until 1969 that Street met with Tom Wilson, of Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson and the pair agreed to collaborate on the Imray-Iolaire charts of the Caribbean. Prior to this, sailors were obliged to rely on the Admiralty’s old charts that dated back to when the area was initially surveyed in Napoleonic times. Understandably, many of these charts were somewhat out of date and frequently not very user friendly. Street’s updated versions remain the industry standard and have been adopted by all the big manufacturers of electronic charts. 

Street’s varied life was not without tragedy. His first wife was murdered in Grenada in the 1960s, leaving him with a very young child to care for on his own. He later remarried and had another family, settiling in Glandore, in the Republic of Ireland. In 2010 he made the ultimate sacrifice and sold Iolaire: “Every year the mast got taller, the sails got bigger and the winches got smaller,” he reflects. “It was time to move on. I sold her to a guy over in the UK and sailed her across the Atlantic with him, we averaged 7 1/2 knots. It was such a beautiful trip that I don’t want to ever sail her again, it’s a perfect memory.

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The post In Memory of Don Street: 26 July 1930 – 1 May 2024 appeared first on Sailing Today.

A Teutonic treat: German boatbuilder Bavaria has long had a firm grasp on what its public is after and its new C46 is no exception as Sam Jefferson discovers.

About Bavaria

Some years back I was invited by the West Sweden Tourist Board to take a press trip to that area which would involve cruising around the area in a Swedish built Maxi yacht, sampling raw herrings, sweltering in saunas, whacking other journalists with bits of birch, eating Ryvita and generally discovering what a wonderful country Sweden was – especially if you aren’t paying. On the eve of the trip, our hosts came to us with a look of extreme anguish and announced in funereal tones that, due to financial turmoil at the Najad factory, Najad Yachts could no longer supply a boat and it was to be substituted with – a Bavaria.

Yes, it was clear that the word Bavaria itself left a bad taste. But why? Perhaps because there seems little sense in the incontrovertible fact that Bavaria Yachts, a company based in a particularly landlocked corner of the Black Forest, has become one of the biggest yacht manufacturers in the world. Think of all those proud craftsmen in Sweden with centuries of tradition in boatbuilding being usurped by this upstart company? The same applies to the UK; not so long ago one of the biggest manufacturers in the world and now… 

So what has been the secret to their success? Part of it has definitely their ability to give the public what they want at a reasonable price. Let’s not forget that the choppiest financial waters Bavaria navigated came about a decade ago when the company seemed to get distracted by the idea of building big, luxury yachts like the Bavaria C65 – many miles from its core values – and got its fingers burnt in the process. Since then, the company has gone back to its roots and examined what it does best. 

Introducing the Bavaria C46

All of which brings me to the Bavaria C46; a boat that is designed to carry a family and friends on a comfortable cruise with minimum fuss. This is the successor to the Bavaria C45 and, like her predecessor she is designed by Cossutti, who knows a thing or two about designing a stylish yacht that performs well. This is just as well because the other side of Bavaria’s brief is to absolutely maximise volume.

The boat is not strikingly different in style to her predecessor, the C45, the boat has a tad more beam and slightly less ballast – something meted by the greater form stability of her hull. The C46 follows the recent trend of boosting interior volume by giving the boat much fuller forward sections above the waterline which narrow markedly at waterline level. This keeps wetted surface area low in light airs but provides power and extra buoyancy when the boat is hard pressed and also means that you benefit from a really big forward cabin.

The styling is distinctive and very much of a piece with other yachts in the Bavaria ‘C’ range. Given the boats have relatively high freeboard, this can make the boats appear quite boxy – particularly the shorter yachts in the range such as the C38. Thankfully the increased waterline length of the C46 metes this considerably. The test boat was also dark blue which further ameliorated things and gave the C46 a sporty, purposeful look. In fact, the rig really is quite sporty as the boat boasts a generous sail area married to a deep spade rudder and L shaped keel. Ease of handling is obviously hey but Bavaria clearly saw the value of a big rig to get this 13,000kg displacement boat moving. Price wise, the boat is available at a base price of 315,000 Euros exc VAT but this test boat had a number of upgrades which took the price to 546,000 Euros exc VAT. 

On deck

Step aboard and you find yourself in a big cockpit with twin tables and a corridor down the middle this runs all the way from the bathing platform to the companionway and makes for good ease of movement through the boat. The Bavaria is one of the new generation that leads all running rigging aft to the helm via channels in the coaming, The coachroof is therefore uncluttered by lines and winches and there is a nice separation between the working area of the boat aft of the helm and the seating area forward.

This seating area on the Bavaria C46 is very comfortable – particularly with the cushions in place as there is a nice curvature to the coamings. Aft, there are two pairs of winches by the helms and third pair further forward which seemed a bit superfluous but can be used for the Code 0 if necessary.

There was storage under the cockpit seats plus under the cockpit sole, where there was also an excellent access point to the cables for the steering gear and autopilot. The storage for the liferaft valise is tucked into the transom behind a well proportioned bathing platform which is raised and lowered electrically.

The seats for the helm had a plancha to starboard and a sink to port. There were good rope bins by the helm which were very effective at keeping everything neat and tidy. One minor criticism was that the electronic throttle situated on the starboard binnacle was positioned in such a manner that it was easy to nudge it or even grab it as you exited the cockpit – with alarming consequences. This is hull number one so it’s highly possible this will be resolved on later models.

Out on the side decks of the Bavaria C46, there was plenty of width and you felt nicely enclosed by the raised toe rail. The coachroof extends well forward and was uncluttered aside from a bridle for the mainsheet set just in front of the sprayhood. Aside from that, there is the traveller for the self tacking jib and the tracks for the genoa which are recessed into the coachroof. This means that the rest of the space can be used for lounging and sunbathing at anchor and there is a decent space forward of the mast for this purpose. Ahead of that is a really generous lazarette which can swallow up numerous sails, fenders or even a deflated dinghy. You also access the anchor locker from here via a hatch leading forward. The anchor roller is integrated into the fixed sprit which is used for setting the Code 0.

Down below on the Bavaria C46

The standard layout on the Bavaria C46 features a large u galley set to well forward and to port The galley was roomy and well laid out featuring all the luxuries you’d expect including a large drawer fridge – freezer plus a  dishwasher and an extractor fan which I thought was a nice detail on a boat of this size – particularly with the galley set forward away from the ventilation of the companionway.

Set just aft of the galley on the same side was a decent sized chart table which was raised up somewhat and overlooked the galley. It was an arrangement that worked well and placed the galley at the heart of both this ‘office’ space and also the lounge area and dining table which was just to starboard. This is a huge seating area with a table that can be raised and lowered electrically so that it can be converted into a very large double berth if required.

Aft and to port is a storage cupboard which can accommodate a washing machine if you wish. To starboard is a large heads with separate shower stall. This is very spacious and has two doors to enable it to be a private ensuite for the starboard aft berth which on this boat was a spacious twin. With a decent amount of storage plus good extra access to the motor the port aft berth was a large double. 

Up forward is a huge master cabin with equally huge heads compartment to starboard and separate shower to port. There was plentiful storage and also the possibility to walk around both sides of the bed in order to get into it. The overall feel down below on the Bavaria C46 was very pleasant with a good feeling of light and space. As with so many of these recent launches that utilise fuller lines forward to boost internal volume, this boat felt far larger than 46’. It’s worth mentioning that there are a number of other layout options available – all retain the basic saloon layout but offer more cabins with the option of splitting the huge fore cabin into two more modest doubles- both with their own en suites.

Meanwhile aft, you can convert the large heads area to starboard into a bunk room while the storage room to port then becomes the day heads. More cabins obviously works best for charter but I felt the standard set up of three cabins was probably the most sane. 

Under sail

The weather on test day was unusual. The test was carried out in Marseille and the Rade de Marseille dished up conditions that varied from 5kn to 15kn max. The breeze was shifty and unreliable making for a good measure of performance although the sea was flat. We motored out of Marseille Vieux Port and then floored the throttle as the as the broker understandably wanted to let the engine breath. The test boat had the upgraded 85hp motor as opposed to the 55hp standard and the result of flooring the throttle was intriguing as the boat rapidly hit hull speed and there was still power to spare. Setting the sails was genuinely a breeze thanks to the in mast furling main and we unrolled the 100% overlapping genoa to give us more power in the initially fickle breezes. The boat responded well and in a manner that belied its 13,000kg displacement. On the wind we were able to pinch up to 32 degrees apparent but the boat was in a happier groove at around 38 degrees. At all times the steering was light and poised. As the wind built, the boat started to show an impressive pace.

Hard on the wind we were hitting 7.5-8.5kn and bearing away we peaked at 9kn which I felt was good going for a well equipped cruising yacht in about 12kn of breeze. Flat water always helps but even so, it was impressive and we rapidly overhauled an older yacht of similar size. 

Sam’s verdict on the Bavaria C46

The Bavaria C46 is typical of the new wave of high volume cruisers that have taken full advantage of fuller lines forward to boost volume. There seems to be little trade off in terms of performance, which was impressive throughout although I would love to give the boat a go in a short, steep chop to see how it behaves. In terms of the interior volume, this was most impressive and I was also impressed by the style and feel of the boat inside. The quality felt good and the boat felt a cut above your standard cruising yacht. When it comes to mass production yachts, there are often only fine margins that make one boat better than another but this Bavaria seemed to have very few faults that I could pinpoint. 

Bavaria C46 Specifications

LOA: 14.50m (47’6”)
Hull length: 13.95m (45’8”)
LWL: 13.32m (43’7”)
Beam: 4.70m (15’4”)
Draught: 2.30m (7’2”)
Draught (shoal): 1.75m (5’7”)
Sail area: 115m2
Ballast: 2,575kg (5,677 lbs)
Displacement: 12,730kg (28,065 lbs)

Price: Base: 315,000 Euros exc VAT, as tested: 546,000 Euros exc VAT
Builder: bavariayachts.com

UK Broker: Clippermarine.co.uk

Alternative boats:

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490

The Sun Odyssey 490 has been around for a few years now but this Philippe Briand design remains a stalwart and flagship of the French manufacturer’s Sun Odyssey range. Despite being a 490, this boat is actually a shade shorter than the Bavaria. 

jeanneau.com

Beneteau Oceanis 46.1

The Beneteau Oceanis was one of the trailblazers of the full forward section models, boasting a chine at the bow. The 46.1 scooped European Yacht of the Year back in 2019. The boat remains strikingly modern inside and out. 

beneteau.com

Dufour 470

Launched in 2021 and probably the yacht that shares the most with the Bavaria in terms of styling and interior volume. The Dufour 470 is designed by Umberto Felci and boasts very full forward sections which absolutely maximise volume. 

universalyachting.com

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The post Boat Test: New Bavaria C46 appeared first on Sailing Today.