Yachts & Yachting magazine November 2020

SURELY THE MOST SURREAL SAILING SEASON recorded for many a year has just closed and in quite extraordinary style. I'm not prone to ranting in this column but I have to say that the handling of the cancellation of both British Marine's Boats2020 and MDL's Ocean Village Boat Show - with mere hours to go before the shows opened - beggars belief. Of course, public safety has to come first but, even in our fast moving, rapidly changing, pandemic wracked country things aren't moving that quickly. I thought when Cannes Boat Show was cancelled with two weeks to go that it was a bit rough, but it turns out that was a picnic compared to Southampton's strife. Plus, Cannes should have come as a warning sign. Of course, in these…

The 2020 Wetsuit Outlet Moth Nationals saw 70 International Moths compete at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, in a pared down version of the event that had originally been been scheduled as a world championship. An early call by organisers enabled things to proceed under the necessary Covid restrictions, with glamour conditions prevailing on four of the five days of racing. Amateur and professional sailors alike enjoyed some fantastic foilborne competition, which showcased the depth of talent in the UK fleet. A clean sweep once again by defending champion Dylan Fletcher left USA’s Brad Funk and home-town competitor Alex Adams to take the two remaining podium spots, with just one point separating them.…

British Marine is “considering all options available” after the Secretaries of State for Public Health and Digital, Culture, Media and Sport rejected its appeal against the forced cancellation of Boats2020. A directive imposed by Southampton City Council on the eve of the event, due to run 11-20 September, barred it from taking place due to public health concerns. The shock decision left visitors fuming and exhibitors for Boats2020 and the concurrent Ocean Village Boat Show significantly out of pocket (see panel). British Marine CEO Lesley Robinson (pictured right) said: “The cancellation of the show will have a considerable financial impact on the marine industry, and also on the city of Southampton. We are now considering all options available and what we can do for British Marine members and all show exhibitors.” British Marine said…

“I really can’t understand why Southampton City Council have cancelled the show when effectively the new Government legislation [banning gatherings of more than six people] does not come in until Monday. We could have had Friday, Saturday and Sunday, three good selling days, to help mitigate the costs of the show. There are questions to be answered. “In terms of investment in being here, we’re well into double figures, but on top of that, it’s the inconvenience of it all and the lost opportunity at a time when we do need every opportunity possible.” Colin Watts, MD of Boat Showrooms “I only heard about it this morning when I checked my email in bed. Our hotel is paid for and they’ve told us today there are no refunds. We had two staff booked…

Planning for Cowes Week 2021 is “well advanced” and regatta director Laurence Mead said “it is our intention to run boat racing if we possibly can, even if we are living in a Covid-affected world at the time”. The exact format of the regatta, which had to be cancelled this year for the first time since World War II, will remain flexible until nearer the time but planning is going ahead based on the full Cowes Week experience being able to take place. Mead said: “We didn’t get a chance to see how our new Performance Cruiser Division and our new Club Cruiser Division would work on the water, but we remain convinced that this is the way to go. “We may also run separate results (at least in the Performance Cruiser Division)…

The RYA Dinghy Show will be held virtually next year. The popular event was due to take place over the weekend of 27-28 February at Farnborough Exhibition Centre, but RYA director of sport development Alistair Dickson said: “Over the past few months the show’s team have been hopeful and working hard to offer visitors a safe and successful Dinghy Show, but due to the fast-changing situation with the virus we can no longer achieve this in the traditional way. “105 companies had registered their interest to exhibit at the show in Farnborough, which we are extremely grateful for. We recently held a webinar consulting them, with a substantial majority preferring to postpone until 2022 to due to the high levels of uncertainty around what restrictions may still be in place in…