Yachts & Yachting magazine March 2021

WINTER MONTHS ARE the hardiest of sailors, but this one is exceptionally bleak for all but those who truly love utter solitude and dystopia. With the whole populus back in confinement I therefore felt it was a good time to run an excellent piece by the esteemed Rod Heikell on the psychology of sailing long distance as a couple (p36). I think most of us have witnessed both the positive and negative aspects of this common arrangement. It is compelling and often actually upsetting to observe a truly dysfunctional couple trying to moor a boat alongside a windy quay. Having observed the often emotionally harrowing manoeuvre a few times in my life I am always astonished that; a) the couple ever got together in the first place and b) that they…

In a world that at times seems to be teetering on the brink of, well, something quite scary, it’s important to go to a happy place and where better than this tranquil anchorage on Loch Coriusk on the Isle of Skye. This is a freshwater loch that can be accessed from the sea via the Scavaig River. Although all looks tranquil, it can be a foreboding spot. Walter Scott, visiting in 1814 wrote: “Rarely human eye has known/A scene so stern as that dread lake/ With its dark ledge of barren stone...” All good cheerful stuff. Anyway, it provides a welcome spot of escapism for us.…

The Vendée Globe was set for an incredible photo finish in late January, with any one of nine boats capable of winning. After 65 days and 23,000 miles sailed, the race effectively restarted off Rio de Janeiro, with the top five yachts separated by just 26 miles and only 127 miles back to ninth-placed Jean Le Cam. Contesting the 4,600-mile sprint to the finish in France was Yannick Betaven (Maître Coq IV), who led the race through much of the Southern Ocean and at one stage was ahead by 435 miles (pictured rounding Cape Horn in first place, below right). Charlie Dalin (Apivia) snuck ahead off South America, but double Paralympic gold medallist Damien Seguin (Groupe APICIL), Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut), Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée 2) and Boris Herrmann (SeaExplorer – Yacht Club…

American Magic suffered a capsize and was close to sinking in a dramatic turn of events in the Prada Cup. The AC75, backed by the New York Yacht Club, was leading Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli on day three of racing in Auckland when it was caught by a sudden increase in wind speed. The crew was attempting a tack and bear away manoeuvre and was sailing at an estimated 47 knots at the time. As the leeward foil came out of the water, the boat rocketed into the air and plunged down, turning onto its side. Skipper Terry Hutchinson later told how he was pinned underwater and was cut free by a team mate. After all crew were accounted for uninjured, the boat was righted, but was clearly low in the…

OBE for Bill Northern Irish sailor Bill O’Hara was given an OBE in the New Year Honours. O’Hara, 62, competed in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics, in the Finn, was RYA Northern Ireland Youth Performance Manager and is now a highly regarded international race official. Olympic hopes As Covid cases rose in Japan, head of the Tokyo Olympic organising committee Yoshiro Mori said in January: “All I can say is that we will go ahead with our preparations. There will always be morning, even after a long night. We have to proceed as planned. There is no other way to respond.” He said it would be “absolutely impossible” to postpone the Games again. The Games are due to open on 23 July, with 15 sailors selected for TeamGB. A final decision will be…

Visitors to the virtual RYA Dinghy Show need not leave their own homes to enjoy a fantastic line-up of talks, interactive coaching sessions, kids’ treasure hunt and more, over the weekend of 27-28 February (10am - 5pm both days). Once registered for free, you can visit the show as many times as you like over the weekend. The show, presented by Suzuki and supported by Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting as media partner, will feature big names including Hannah Diamond as host. Ian Walker will be chatting to a few of his sailing heroes including Santiago Lange, Xu Lijia and a surprise special guest. We’ll hear from IlCA sailors Alison Young, Elliot Hanson and Lorenzo Chiavarini, who will be giving their top tips on how to sail faster, plus there will be…