Challenging conditions as VOR reaches Cape Town

BY ADMIN • DECEMBER 27, 2017 • NEWS, OLDER, RACING • COMMENTS OFF • 115

Team Brunel powering downwind on Day one of Leg 2. Photo: Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race

The latest edition of the Volvo Ocean Race has proved to be potentially the most controversial in its 44-year history. Only a few weeks before the race started, the recently appointed CEO, Mark Turner, quit his role. He’s a towering figure in the industry who commands huge respect and whose accomplishments include helping establish Ellen MacArthur onto the world stage and setting up the Extreme Sailing Series from scratch.

Then the day before the first in port race Simeon Tienpont, skipper of AzkoNobel, the longest established and best funded team in this edition, quit his job over a contracts dispute, taking half the crew with him. The story then took another unexpected twist, when a court in the Netherlands took Tienpont’s side, ordering his reinstatement, which precipitated a further shuffle of crew names before the start of the first leg proper.

Sunset on board Dongfeng on the fourth day of Leg 2, from Lisbon to Cape Town. Photo by Jeremie Lecaudey/Volvo Ocean Race

While the one design boats have again proved very closely matched, this hasn’t stopped a lot of nail biting place changing, especially in the second leg from Lisbon to Cape Town. After two weeks at sea – and with some 5,000 miles covered – the fleet was separated by only 74 miles in terms of the distance to the finish. However, this figure didn’t convey the difference in strategy between the teams, with some favouring a shorter course to the east and others a longer route to the west and the south. Which would play out the best?

Before we knew the answer to that Richard Brisius and Johan Salén were appointed as President and co-President, to replace Turner. Both have a long history in the yacht racing world, having founded Atlant Ocean Racing together and worked with seven Volvo Ocean Race campaigns over the past 28 years, having started as sailors in the 1989-90 race.

Richard Brisius and Johan Salén are the new President and co-President of the Volvo Ocean Race. Credit: Ainhoa Sanchez/Volvo Ocean Race

Despite big differences in the experience levels on each boat, and the teams’ levels of financial backing, more than half the fleet has topped the leaderboard at some point during the leg.

As the boats approached Cape Town after a 7,000-mile sail, they did so on the back of the South Atlantic trades with wind speeds up to 30 knots in icy temperatures, huge seas and freezing water. After a tight battle with Vestas 11th Hour Racing, Dongfeng Race Team and Team Brunel, MAPFRE arrived in Cape Town in first place after 19 days at sea.

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Interesting weather makes 2017 ARC extra challenging

BY ADMIN • DECEMBER 27, 2017 • OLDER, RACING, REGATTAS • COMMENTS OFF • 267

First across the line, Guyader Gastronomie

The 186 yachts taking part in this year’s Atlantic Rally for Cruisers left from the port of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria on November 18. They left on a stunning day – a ridge of high pressure provided plenty of warm sun and delivered an east north easterly breeze of 8-12 knots winds for the start.

However, an intense low-pressure system forming towards the west of the Canary Islands, before moving east, created an unusual challenge and interesting routing options. As a result, only 20 hours after the start the fleet’s north-south spread extended more than 120 miles, with courses varying between 187 degrees and 320 degrees.

Guyader Gastronomie crew

Some participants started out heading directly south, clearly aiming to get away from the low and reach the steady tradewind belt as early as possible, at the expense of extra distance. Some in the racing division set out on a west-north-westerly track, hoping to get into strong favourable winds to the north of the centre of the low to give them a fast sling-shot in the early stages of the race. However, there was little certainty in exactly where the centre of the depression would track and for those that didn’t get above it they faced strong headwinds and a lot of rain.

This year there was an unusually wide range of entries from just 30ft up to almost 100ft, plus 27 boats in a racing division. Among them were participants that have come full circle, following in their parents’, or grandparents’ footsteps by sailing in the rally with their own families, in some cases on board the same boats.

ARC at sail

Most boats were expected to take 18-21 days to complete the 2,700-mile voyage. Whatever time they eventually made landfall at St Lucia’s Rodney Bay Marina, every boat was met at the dock by Saint Lucia Tourist Authority and World Cruising Club staff bearing rum punch to welcome them ashore.

Rodney Bay Marina, Saint Lucia welcomed the first arrival of the 2017 ARC fleet on Sunday December 3 when Guyader Gastronomie crossed the finishing line after fourteen days at sea. Close on her heels just six hours behind was the largest multihull in the fleet, Saudade who had battled all the way with the eventual winner. The changing weather patterns, a mixture of fierce headwinds and light airs made for some interesting tactical calls as the two battled for top honours.

ARC route map

The first monohull, Enigma VIII arrived around lunchtime on Monday December 4 together with a gaggle of quick catamarans. The flow of arrivals increased over the ensuing days until on December 10 the crews of over 100 yachts were in town to enjoy the festivities. The party vibe is an important element of the rally and there were plenty of organised social activities in the two weeks leading up to the start, in addition to a series of organised seminars and safety briefings. Similarly, at the finish there was a full schedule of events in Rodney Bay for all crews and friends and families and an abundance of rum punch.

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Setting new standards in elegance and comfort

BY ADMIN • JANUARY 29, 2018 • BREAKING NEWS, HOMEMOSAIC, YACHTS • COMMENTS (0) • 83

Following the launch of the Bavaria C57 at the 2017 Dusseldorf Boat Show, and the approaching premieres of the company’s C65 and C45 models, a fourth yacht in the new C-line, has been announced: the Bavaria C50. Like its sisterships, the emphasis is on elegance relaxation and good living, along with styling elements such as large hull windows and flush hatches that were first seen in the superyacht world.

The C50 will be available in three specifications: Holiday, Style or Ambition. Even in the basic version the boat is supplied with the most essential equipment for coastal sailing, while the Style model adds additional features, plus a wide selection of interior décor options. The Ambition version includes a black bowsprit which integrates anchor handling with a sprit for asymmetric spinnakers and gennakers. A black anodised mast and boom, plus steering wheels in a carbon design add a sporty hint to this model’s appearance.

Below decks a variety of layouts are possible, ranging from a classic three-cabin version, each with en suite facilities, to a five-cabin option. All can be fitted with an additional self-contained skipper’s cabin in the bow. The large port-side galley has numerous work spaces and stowage areas, with an impressive 250 litre fridge/freezer, plus a wine cooler that has space for 20 bottles. The forward owner’s cabin in three-cabin boats has a queen size bed, dressing table, a separate shower and bath, plus lots of stowage room for personal effects

On deck, the forward part of the cockpit is separated from the sailing action and has a table each side, allowing for easy movement forward from the after sailing cockpit. This has a pair of winches next to the helm position on each side, from which all basic sail handling operations can be carried out. A self-tacking jib makes manoeuvring as simple as possible.

Right aft is a large bathing platform that reveals a capacious dinghy garage with sufficient stowage space for everything needed for snorkelling, or for diving with compact gear. There’s also an outdoor barbeque grill, with wet bar, plus further sun bathing areas on the coach roof and foredeck.

Length overall 15.35m

Hull length 14.99m

Beam 5.05m

Light displacement 15,490kg

Draught (standard keel) 2.30m

Upwind sail area 135 or 147sq m

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Atlantic crossing season: ARC and RORC Transat race

BY ADMIN • JANUARY 29, 2018 • BREAKING NEWS, HOMEMOSAIC, RACING, REGATTAS • COMMENTS (0) • 53

Ludde Ingvall’s 100ft CQS was the first of the record-sized fleet to finish the fourth RORC Transatlantic Race © RORC/Arthur Daniel

The weather confounded navigators planning their route across the Atlantic from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean for the 186 yachts taking part in the 2017 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. Around half the fleet was tempted by easy sailing on the rhumb line early on, only to be stopped at the end of their first week at sea thanks to a low pressure system that produced head winds and pushed the early north-easterly trades away. Those who headed south had to cope with lighter breezes for 700 miles to the latitude of Cape Verde, before plunging into reliable north easterlies all the way across to Saint Lucia. Most of the boats in the north subsequently opted to opted to dive south, crossing a void with little wind, to join the trades in lower latitudes.

Teasing Machine arriving in Grenada © RORC/Arthur Daniel

The first boat to reach St Lucia, after 2,900 miles and just over 14 days at sea, was Christian Guyader’s French TS42 catamaran Guyader Gastronomie. Subsequent arrivals were quick to compare tales, triumphs and testing times during their passages. Each welcome was followed by much talk of how each boat coped with navigational choices and the weather encountered along the way. Jubilation of reaching land after a tougher, or longer, crossing than anticipated helped to create an exceptional atmosphere at the finish.

A similar weather pattern was evident a week after the ARC start, for the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s Trans-Atlantic Race from Lanzarote to Grenada, which started on November 25. With the race course specifying that yachts must pass to the north of the islands of Tenerife and Gran Canaria, despite an unusual southerly wind, the first hurdle was negotiating the 60-mile long wind shadow in the lee of Tenerife.

The larger Class 0 yachts, along with the leaders in Class 1, got through before a shut down that saw many of their smaller competitors languishing in a confused swell, but very little wind, for nearly 24 hours. As a result, the big boats got cleanly away and were never challenged on corrected time by the smaller Class 2 yachts.

Participants in a celebratory mood at the ARC prize giving in St Lucia. Photo: WCC / Clare Pengelly

However, the leaders on the water had very different views as to which route would be most beneficial. Roman Guerra’s Volvo 70 Monster Project headed far north, hoping to get into the easterly winds above a series of low-pressure systems, while Ludde Ingvall’s 100ft Supermaxi CQS was the first to dive south, sacrificing distance made good in order to maximise her time in the still relatively fickle tradewinds.

Despite damage sustained later in the race during a broach in a 40-knot squall, CQS took line honours in a fraction over 11 days. However, it was Eric de Turckheim’s Nmydd 54 Teasing Machine that took the overall win on corrected time. Among the smaller boats, Richard Palmer and Rupert Holmes on the 33ft JPK1010 Jangada took victory in Class 2 by more than two days and won the two-handed division by an even larger margin.

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Latest launch from Dufour – 360 Grand Large

BY ADMIN • JANUARY 29, 2018 • BREAKING NEWS, HOMEMOSAIC, YACHTS • COMMENTS (0) • 194

The latest addition to this French boat builder’s range features significant design changes, particularly to the deck and cockpit areas, with the intention of improving both the sailing experience and enhancing on board living. Dufour’s customary hull chines have also been extended further forward for added stability and reduced heeling. As well as providing more comfortable sailing, the wider transom creates more volume both in the cockpit and the accommodation spaces below deck.

A new coach roof design includes concealed halyards running back from the mast, plus a recessed coaming for the spray hood that offers neater stowage when the hood is not in use. The overall effect is a cleaner and tidier appearance. An elegant swing door that integrates into the coach roof design has replaced the traditional companionway washboards.ç

Below decks the boat is available with the option of a two or three cabin layout, both with a combined shower and heads. The saloon sofa berths can offer additional bunk space, with the chart table dropping down to extend the sofa berth. A well-appointed L-shaped galley offers excellent stowage and cupboard space. A new front window is recessed into the coach roof to maximise natural light in the owner’s forward cabin.

The helm station has also had a complete redesign, with angled steering columns and instrument consoles in front of each wheel for compass and control panels. The primary winches are on the side deck, within easy reach of the helm seats. The aft end of the cockpit has been enclosed to provide additional seating and storage, while Dufour’s now trademark external galley, barbeque and outdoor sink can be fitted as an option concealed under the aft seats. A generous bathing platform also doubles as additional socialising and head chef’s space when at anchor.

The boat has a base price of €96,144 ex VAT and was unveiled at the Paris Boat Show in December 2017.

LOA 10.73m

Hull length 9.99m

Waterline length 9.04m

Beam 3.53m

Light displacement 5,674kg

Draught 1.9m

Ballast 1,550kg

Fuel 160 litres

Water 200 litres

Sail area 55sq m

Self tacking jib 20.5sq m

Genoa 25.5 sq m

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Round the world record smashed

BY ADMIN • JANUARY 29, 2018 • BREAKING NEWS, HOMEMOSAIC, RACING • COMMENTS (0) • 138

When the Jules Verne Trophy was first announced in 1990 it was not known whether it would be possible for a yacht to sail around the globe in less than 80 days. All we knew then was that the time for a non-stop circumnavigation was getting shorter than the 312 days set by solo sailor Sir Robin Knox-Johnston in 1969.

Nevertheless, that time has been whittled away, with notable voyages including Banque Populaire Vll’s incredible 45 days in 2012, achieved with a crew of 14 people. Single-handed sailor Thomas Coville notched up a significant milestone in 2016, reducing the solo record time to a seemingly incredible, 49 days. Last season, Francis Joyon’s crew of six completed a circumnavigation in a shade under 41 days.

These feats give context to Francois Gabart’s achievement in November and December 2017. The 34-year-old Frenchman completed a solo circumnavigation on the giant 30-metre trimaran Macif in just 42 days. His average speed was 27.2 knots – faster than many motor yachts – while peak speeds exceeded 47 knots.

Before leaving his home port of Port la Foret on the Atlantic coast of France Gabart said: “Thomas (Coville) sailed with some magic – he set a record almost impossible to beat. I’ll try to get close to what he did and I’ll do anything to do better.” Five days later, Gabart was more than three and a half hours behind Coville’s time at the equator, but with the promise of more favourable conditions in the South Atlantic.

In that section, he broke a record for the fastest 24-hour run by a single-handed sailor, covering 851 miles at a mind-blowing average speed of 35.4 knots. This performance helped propel him to an advantage of more than two days on Coville by the time he passed South Africa on the outward leg of the voyage. His finish time of 42 days 16 hours 40 minutes and 35 seconds would have been faster – it might even have rivalled that of Joyon’s crew – had a high pressure system in the Bay of Biscay not slowed his progress in the final few days.

“I would never have dreamed of [completing the voyage in] this time. On paper, with the weather, with what I was able to do with this boat, it was clearly possible to break the record, but even in the best scenarios only by one or two days. This is amazing…” said Gabart after crossing the finish line between the Lizard peninsula in Cornwall, UK and the north-western French island of Ouessant.

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