Practical Boat Owner March 2023

Comings and goings Often I hear the complaint that when you’ve enough money to own a boat you’ve no time to sail it, and when you’ve time to sail it, you don’t have enough money to own it. Those of you who subscribe to PBO will know that two summers ago I became a boat owner. What you might not know is that I’ve only managed to sail Maximus a handful of times, despite my many visits to the boat to fit her out. That said, taking David Harding out to test our Maxi 84 was a real high point. I looked at the 45-year-old cruiser, with her beautiful new sails, and took great pride in knowing that I’d returned her to her rightful place; the water. You can find out…

SEND US YOUR STORIES Share your news and diary dates: email Laura Hodgetts at pbo@futurenet.com Worrying times for UK’s seabirds The UK is currently experiencing its worst ever outbreak of avian flu, commonly known as bird flu. Avian flu is an infectious type of influenza that spreads among birds, including water fowl and gulls. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has published guidance for clubs and centres, but it may be that the local response to avian flu is led by landlords and the exact detail of this will vary from location to location, depending on the level of risk identified by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). However, there is no legal requirement for local authorities to limit access to public areas or close rights of way, and DEFRA has stated that…

Comings and goings Often I hear the complaint that when you’ve enough money to own a boat you’ve no time to sail it, and when you’ve time to sail it, you don’t have enough money to own it. Those of you who subscribe to PBO will know that two summers ago I became a boat owner. What you might not know is that I’ve only managed to sail Maximus a handful of times, despite my many visits to the boat to fit her out. That said, taking David Harding out to test our Maxi 84 was a real high point. I looked at the 45-year-old cruiser, with her beautiful new sails, and took great pride in knowing that I’d returned her to her rightful place; the water. You can find…

SEND US YOUR STORIES Share your news and diary dates: email Laura Hodgetts at pbo@futurenet.com Worrying times for UK’s seabirds The UK is currently experiencing its worst ever outbreak of avian flu, commonly known as bird flu. Avian flu is an infectious type of influenza that spreads among birds, including water fowl and gulls. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has published guidance for clubs and centres, but it may be that the local response to avian flu is led by landlords and the exact detail of this will vary from location to location, depending on the level of risk identified by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). However, there is no legal requirement for local authorities to limit access to public areas or close rights of way,…

A transatlantic sailor has told of her ordeal after a gust knocked her off the mast, jamming her harness, and swinging her repeatedly into the rigging. Karen and Chris Parker were sailing their Oyster 56, Mistral of Portsmouth, with two crew, when their Code 0 head-sail, designed for light winds, jammed. With squalls forecast, they feared becoming overpowered. After four hours of struggling to free the sail, and daylight fading, Karen decided to go up the mast. “We wondered if we should cut the sail free at the bottom, but we had no idea if that would free it at the top. If it didn’t, we’d have made the boat unstable,” said Karen. “Chris and I had practised with me going up the mast and him winching so we went with what we…

A transatlantic sailor has told of her ordeal after a gust knocked her off the mast, jamming her harness, and swinging her repeatedly into the rigging. Karen and Chris Parker were sailing their Oyster 56, Mistral of Portsmouth, with two crew, when their Code 0 head-sail, designed for light winds, jammed. With squalls forecast, they feared becoming overpowered. After four hours of struggling to free the sail, and daylight fading, Karen decided to go up the mast. “We wondered if we should cut the sail free at the bottom, but we had no idea if that would free it at the top. If it didn’t, we’d have made the boat unstable,” said Karen. “Chris and I had practised with me going up the mast and him winching so we went…