Yachts & Yachting magazine July 2021

BEFORE GOING ANY FURTHER I think it's very important to say a fond farewell to ex editor of Sailing Today, John Goode. John was not the founding editor of the magazine but he was the man who put the magazine on the map thanks to his larger than life character, superb seamanship and willingness to challenge the status quo - most notably through his anchoring campaign. Turn to p6 for a more fulsome tribute to the man. My own memories come from the period after he had quit Sailing Today but the magazine was still based in Swanwick, just down the hill from where John lived at the time. Every now and again he would turn up unannounced in the office and pace around, pipe in mouth, muttering incomprehensible stories…

Tributes have poured in from across the marine industry after the former editor of Sailing Today, John Goode, died on 15 May, aged 71, following a short illness. John was editor for much of Sailing Today’s first decade, from 2001 to 2007, the magazine having been founded in 1997, and from the outset he imbued the title with his energy and knowledge. He had gone to sea aged 14 with the merchant navy and was possessed of a level of seamanship matched by few in the sailing world. More than that, he was first-class educator and he took genuine enjoyment in helping people become better sailors. His step-by-step articles in the Sailing Todays of his era became widely known for their practical, real-world advice. Thousands of people still use the “John Goode’s Cockpit Plotter” which…

The news that British Vendée Globe followers were hoping for was confirmed in May, with the announcement that Pip Hare and sponsor Medallia will continue their partnership for the next Vendée Globe in 2023/24. Hare and Medallia have bought the VPLPdesigned IMOCA that was known as Bureau Vallée II, sailed by Louis Burton to third place overall in the last race. Before that the boat was the winner of the 2016/17 edition when it was sailed by Armel Le Cléac’h as Banque Populaire VIII. It is fantastic news for Poole sailor Hare, who in this last Vendée Globe (2020/21) was widely praised for her performance in one of the race’s oldest boats, finishing 19th overall. Now she will take on a foiling IMOCA that boasts impeccable pedigree and she has time to work it…

The organisers of the Eddystone Charity Sailing Pursuit are calling skippers to enter the annual event to help raise funds for charities. The Pursuit is one of the sailing community’s biggest charity events and in the past has attracted up to eighty yachts to sail the 26-mile course from Plymouth Sound around the Eddystone Lighthouse. This year, after a cancellation last year, the Pursuit takes place on Saturday 24 July. In its 19-year history, the Pursuit has raised almost £820,000 for charities and, by making a concerted effort to attract entries this year, the organisers are hoping to pass the £1 million mark in 2021. Yacht skippers pick their own charity to support and more than 130 local and national causes have benefited from previous Pursuits. The only requirement is that nominated charities must ‘benefit…

The RYA has been awarded a further £150,000 of National Lottery funding from Sport England’s Tackling Inequalities Fund, which aims to help reduce the negative impact of COVID-19 and the widening of the inequalities in sport and physical activity. Non-profit organisations and RYA OnBoard and Sailability venues in England are invited to apply for grants of up to £10,000 that will be used for projects which engage with: lower socio-economic groups; black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities; disabled people; people with long term health conditions. “In the last round we awarded 19 venues and we’re hugely grateful to Sport England for making this funding available to sailing projects once again. It’s been another very tough six months for grassroots sport but we’re now beginning to see the impact that this funding can…

The French government has announced a process to allow entry to cruising yachts at any French port, in a significant step forward for sailors post-Brexit. The rules after the UK left the EU had been that sailing yachts would have to check in at specific ports of arrival, vastly hampering cruising freedom and coming with a possible safety risk as well. But now the Cruising Association has announced: “Now, as a direct result of the Cruising Association’s efforts, the French government has announced a process to allow entry at any French port. “A form is now available from web sites which can be downloaded, completed and submitted by email to the local administrative Port of Entry prior to arrival. “Providing all is acceptable, boats may then enter another port. This is already underway for…