Blogs
This is where we publish our boat related stories and articles, which range from world circumnavigation to rescue missions, humour and much, much more. So make yourself a coffee and settle yourself down to a good read.
Round the World Yacht Race Gears Up for Liverpool Homecoming
Thursday, 19 July 2018Image: Clipper Race
Péché Leads through the Doldrums
Thursday, 19 July 2018Jean-Luc Van Den Heede seeking out fresh wind in the Doldrums to keepi the pressure on race leader Philippe Péché. Photo: Christophe Favreau
Used Boat Show at Swanwick Marina
Wednesday, 18 July 2018Back for its 39th consecutive year, Premier Marinas gets set for two shows as it hosts its annual Used Boat Show at Swanwick Marina – running it concurrently with the Southampton Boat Show, 14 – 23 September 2018.
The Used Boat Show will feature extensive on and off water displays of power and sail boats from on site brokerages, Ancasta International Boat Sales, Clipper Marine, Princess Motor Yachts, Sea Ventures and Sunseeker Southampton.
Finisterre celebrate 15 Years with a Royal visit and Ocean Plastic Solutions Day
Wednesday, 18 July 2018Back in 2003, Finisterre was founded with the help of a Prince’s Trust loan. 15 years on, The Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, and The Duchess of Cornwall, commemorate the brand’s anniversary with a visit to Wheal Kitty. Meeting with Tom Kay, The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall toured Finisterre’s Head Quarters, atop a cliff in St Agnes, North Cornwall. Meeting the team behind the brand, Their Royal Highnesses showed great interest in and support for Finisterre’s path to better business. “To have Prince Charles, the Duke of Cornwall visit Finisterre to commemorate our 15th anniversary was a special moment. I founded Finisterre with the help of the Prince’s Trust loan back in 2003. More recently, I wrote to HRH thanking him for his support in the early years, inviting him to visit Wheal Kitty and see our work around sustainability and innovation first-hand. For him to join our anniversary celebrations, witnessing how the business has grown, meeting the team who’ve been fundamental in this journey, and our unwavering commitment to Product, Environment and People, was a real honour. HRH was particularly interested in our work around ocean plastic awareness and using innovation to achieve sustainability, as well as the duties we’ve committed to in order to become a B Corp certified business.” Tom Kay, founder; Finisterre The Duke of Cornwall was introduced to Finisterre’s Wetsuit Recycling Programme, while the Duchess met with the design team to hear more about their pioneering approach to sustainability through innovation. Outside the workshop, both the Duke and Duchess had the opportunity to meet Lesley Prior and our Bowmont Merino Sheep; presenting natural fibres as an alternative to synthetics, and Finisterre’s commitment to this uniquely British supply chain.Marking the occasion, as well as Finisterre’s longstanding partnership with neighbours and comrades Surfers Against Sewage, the two organisations took the opportunity to partner in hosting Ocean Plastic Solutions Day. The event brought together key business leaders, innovators, NGOs, politicians, media and other stakeholders to discuss and demonstrate the progress being made towards tackling ocean plastic pollution from source to sea. Throughout the day, delegates heard inspiring talks from the likes of Lucy Siegle from the BBC One Show, Emma Howard Boyd from the Environment Agency, Richard Walker from Iceland Supermarkets, and United Nations Patron for the Oceans, Lewis Pugh, as well as from Finisterre’s Tom Kay and Hugo Tagholm of Surfers Against Sewage, amongst others. Bringing together some of the most powerful and influential voices in the quest for cleaner, healthier seas, Ocean Plastic Solutions Day presented a positive view to better future, with the power to bring about great change. Keep an eye on Finisterre.com for more news from the day and its key note speeches, as well as further events celebrating 15 years of Finisterre.
The post Finisterre celebrate 15 Years with a Royal visit and Ocean Plastic Solutions Day appeared first on All At Sea.
Three New J/70s for the Royal Southern Yacht Club
Tuesday, 17 July 2018Royal Southern Yacht Club commodore Karen Henderson-Williams invited club members and their crews to gather after racing at the Charles Heidsieck RSrnYC July Regatta on Saturday, to celebrate three new J/70s for the club.
On a glorious sunny evening on the terrace, past commodore Colin Hall described to the small crowd how the original fleet of J/80s were the result of incredible generosity by previous members.
Cowes lifeboat joins rescue mission after yacht dismasting
Tuesday, 17 July 2018Lifeboat members from Cowes and Gurnad check over the crippled yacht.
Credit: RNLI/George Chastney
Failing self-steering systems hamper Cousot, Amra and Kopar
Monday, 16 July 2018French leader Philippe Péché and his Rustler 36 PRB is being pushed hard by Dutch rival Mark Slats (Ophen Maverick) as the Golden Globe Race fleet enjoy glorious trade wind conditions on the run south towards the Cape Verde Islands. They and third placed French veteran Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, 30 miles astern of the leading pair, and all racing identical Rustler yachts, have been touching speeds of 8knots at times under spinnakers overnight.
Are Wiig, is also doing extremely well considering that the Norwegian is sailing one of the smallest of these traditional yachts, the OE 32 double-ender Olleanne. He has now pulled 32 miles ahead of Britain’s Susie Goodall in another Rustler DHL Starlight, though both have reported problems: Wiig has blown out a spinnaker, while Goodall has found that the solar panels on her British yacht are not working and took a following wave onboard today which has flooded the cabin.
Weguelin and Ainsworth aiming for World Championships peak after European bronze
Sunday, 15 July 2018Sophie Ainsworth/Sophie Weguelin.
Image: Drew Malcolm
The Cruising Association & Royal Harwich YC host cruising guru Jimmy Cornell
Thursday, 12 July 2018The Suffolk Section of the Cruising Association (CA) is delighted to welcome back cruising guru Jimmy Cornell to the Royal Harwich Yacht Club in Woolverstone, near Ipswich, on Saturday 3rd November. In a jointly hosted one-day seminar, the packed itinerary will also introduce Jimmy’s daughter Doina Cornell who is sharing her family cruising experiences with the attendees. Jimmy and Doina Cornell A broad spectrum of topics are on the agenda, starting with ‘World cruising today’, an overview of today’s global situation covering the effects of climate change, safety, piracy, favourite destinations, and followed by ‘Embarking on a journey’ to the Med, Madeira, Canaries, Caribbean and return voyage home with illustrated highlights. The post-lunchtime sessions cover ‘Main factors that can influence the successful completion of a voyage’ e.g.: choice of boat, equipment, crew, finances and self-sufficiency, and ‘Sailing as a family’, presented by Doina. There is also ample time built in for an open forum to discuss individual voyage plans and ask questions. The day is rounded off with Jimmy’s highlights of his own sailing life, covering the period from 1974 – 2017. Jimmy Cornell – a name synonymous with sailboat cruising An accomplished sailor and successful author, Jimmy Cornell has sailed over 200,000 miles in all oceans of the world including three circumnavigations as well as voyages to Antarctica, Patagonia, Alaska, Greenland, Arctic Canada and Spitsbergen. Thousands of sailors have fulfilled their dream of blue water cruising with the help of Jimmy Cornell’s books. As the founder of the highly successful ARC transatlantic rally, Jimmy is credited with having devised the offshore cruising rally concept. In the last three decades, he has organised 32 transatlantic rallies, five round the world rallies and one round the world race, with over 3,000 boats and 15,000 sailors having participated in his sailing events. His latest series of rallies aimed at cruising sailors, the Atlantic and Blue Planet Odysseys,span the world. The Blue Planet Odyssey 2014-17 round the world event aimed at raising awareness of the global effects of climate change. Reflecting the growing concern for the state of the oceans, participants carried the message “The ocean, our future”. During their voyage, they engaged in oceanographic and meteorological research programs under the auspices of UNESCO-IOC and NOAA. Jimmy Cornell’s voyages! Nowhere are the consequences of climate change more noticeable than in the Northwest Passage. After an unsuccessful attempt to transit the Northwest Passage in 2014, in 2015 Jimmy made a successful transit from west to east on his new Aventura. Conceived by him as an ideal cruising boat for both high latitude and tropical sailing, the Garcia Exploration 45 design won the SAIL 2015 Best Boat award.
Aventura, is a 13.50m aluminium yacht incorporating some unique features never seen in a yacht of this type before, pictured here in the Northwest Passage
GET AFLOAT FOR FREE AT SOUTHAMPTON WATER ACTIVITIES CENTRE THIS WEEKEND
Thursday, 12 July 2018Families and anyone wanting to have a go at sailing are invited to get on the water for FREE as Southampton Water Activities Centre welcomes you to Try Sailing and Windsurfing on 15 July.
The centre is opening its doors from 10am to 4.30pm and everyone is welcome to come along and get afloat on a wide range of sailing dinghies and windsurfers with the centre’s top instructors.
St George’s flag the size of a football pitch hung at Isle of Wight shipyard
Wednesday, 11 July 2018The Isle of Wight based Wight Shipyard Company and its sister company SMS are proudly backing England in their world cup bid by making a truly exceptional public statement.
The Columbine Building in Cowes currently sports the largest Union Jack image in the world. This Union Jack motif has today proudly been replaced with England’s famous St George’s cross and the iconic words “It’s Coming Home”.
Princess Yachts On Track for Groundbreaking 2018
Tuesday, 10 July 2018Princess Yachts has taken the unprecedented step in announcing six ground-breaking new models to join their range as they continue on 2017’s positive trajectory.
These new models follow the S78, V50, V60, V65 and F70 models already launched in 2018.
Swiss clean sweep in Extreme Sailing Series™ Cascais showdown
Tuesday, 10 July 2018British INEOS Rebels UK finished day four with a foot on the podium for the first time this year. Image: Lloyd Images
Teamwork rewarded with 2018 Round the Island Race Young Sailor Trophy
Monday, 09 July 2018Hattie Rogers (left) and Paige Flide (right) from Hampshire Collegiate School receiving the Raymarine Young Sailor Trophy after this year’s Round the Island Race
Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust supports 25 young people at this year’s Round the Island Race
Monday, 09 July 2018Jack and Ellen with the crew on board Waita during Round the Island Race. Image: Sportography
Philippe Péché extends lead in GGR
Monday, 09 July 2018Philippe Péché has opened up a 45 mile lead and his Rustler 36 PRB, making most of NNE winds carrying the fleet down towards the first ‘gate’ in the course of Marina Rubicon, Lanzarote. Image: Event Media
YOUNGEST EVER CLIPPER RACE SKIPPER LEADS SEATTLE TEAM TO VICTORY IN PENULTIMATE RACE
Monday, 09 July 2018Image: OnEdition
