Practical Boat Owner February 2022

There’s always a quote that stays with me long after an interview. This month it was from Simon Pollock, who I met at the start of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. “We sold our appreciating asset and bought a depreciating one,” he told me. “People think we’re crazy.” Imagine selling everything you own; your possessions and your home, and sailing around the world. A gap year’s one thing, but taking four children and giving up your career? That’s another entirely. This year’s ARC was poignant. There was a sense of, ‘let’s do this. Let’s go!’ Months of lockdown – in New Zealand, Germany, the UK – had prompted big decisions and epiphanies, a sense of ‘now or never’. But what I admired most about these families was their honesty. “We don’t know if…

The skipper of a yacht that sank following an RNLI rescue in rough seas, near the Isle of Man, has told PBO that prop entanglement was the cause. It was the maiden voyage for Scotsman Billy Ferguson’s Kalik 40, ALB, which he had just purchased from Liverpool and was taking to Ardrossan. Shortly after leaving the River Mersey with crew Bob and Ian on board, they received a report of wind increasing to a possible Force 8 and decided to seek shelter at Port St Mary on the Isle of Man. Former Troon Lifeboat crew Billy said they were one mile out from the harbour entrance, in Bay Ny Carrickey, early on 6 November, when ALB became entangled with a lobster pot line, 150m south-west of The Carrick Rock. Billy, 53, from Kilmarnock, said:…

There’s always a quote that stays with me long after an interview. This month it was from Simon Pollock, who I met at the start of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. “We sold our appreciating asset and bought a depreciating one,” he told me. “People think we’re crazy.” Imagine selling everything you own; your possessions and your home, and sailing around the world. A gap year’s one thing, but taking four children and giving up your career? That’s another entirely. This year’s ARC was poignant. There was a sense of, ‘let’s do this. Let’s go!’ Months of lockdown – in New Zealand, Germany, the UK – had prompted big decisions and epiphanies, a sense of ‘now or never’. But what I admired most about these families was their honesty. “We…

The skipper of a yacht that sank following an RNLI rescue in rough seas, near the Isle of Man, has told PBO that prop entanglement was the cause. It was the maiden voyage for Scotsman Billy Ferguson’s Kalik 40, ALB, which he had just purchased from Liverpool and was taking to Ardrossan. Shortly after leaving the River Mersey with crew Bob and Ian on board, they received a report of wind increasing to a possible Force 8 and decided to seek shelter at Port St Mary on the Isle of Man. Former Troon Lifeboat crew Billy said they were one mile out from the harbour entrance, in Bay Ny Carrickey, early on 6 November, when ALB became entangled with a lobster pot line, 150m south-west of The Carrick Rock. Billy,…

After a sudden, violent squall passed through the Irish Sea area, a 33ft yacht called Holyhead Coastguard for help as they were unable to maintain a course or heading. Lytham St Annes All-weather Lifeboat was launched at 1143 on 29 October, in rough sea conditions and heavy driving rain, and located the cruiser off Blackpool’s south shore. The yacht was being propelled towards the surf line. One female crew member had a bruised arm and could not leave the cabin. A man was steering and tethered in the cockpit and unable to rig a tow line. The lifeboat shoulder was manoeuvered alongside the yacht’s port side and crew Andy Hall leapt aboard. Crew Al Sleet threw him a heaving line, Andy connected the tow line then checked the pair for injuries. By…

A French sailor has died on the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) and another yacht was abandoned due to catastrophic steering failure. Max Delannoy, 73, suffered a fatal injury after being struck by the boom on Agecanonix, an X-Yachts X43, close to midnight on 27 November. He had been sailing with skipper Philippe Anglade and Jean-Philippe Anglade in the racing division of the rally from Gran Canaria to St Lucia, when they encountered Force 8 conditions and 4-5m seas north of the rhumb line. Mr Delannoy was struck by the boom, and prevented from falling overboard by Philippe, who was also injured. A Mayday call was made but sadly Mr Delannoy died before outside help arrived. German cruise ship PV Mein Schiff diverted to the scene but conditions prevented the evacuation…