Take a look at Boston Whaler’s 420 Outrage.
Take a look at Boston Whaler’s 420 Outrage.
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Monday, October 2, 2017
The tangled twists, turns and pitfalls of cruising plans
Mt. Alice is a always a sight to behold.
While driving south down two-lane Seward Highway towards Yahtzee, the sun broke through dense clouds in front of me, shooting a beam of bright light onto a blue glacier hanging high in a valley. I couldn’t help but crack a wry, happy smile.
The reason for the grin wasn’t just about the scene, though, it was about my next thought, which was, “Boy am I glad we’re here instead of California.”
Aside from family and a handful of good friends, not many people know how close we came to sailing straight from Alaska to California in early to mid August. If you’d talked with us candidly in May, June or July, California was the plan. We were set to go.
Yahtzee was ready. Our crew was ready. Then it all changed over a two or three week period in Prince William Sound. Plans have a way of doing that, which should teach us to make them less often. In that time, we wore the pros and cons of Alaska versus California and eventually Mexico. One morning we’d wake up and say, “California it is!” And then the next day it would be Alaska. We were literally teeter-tottering back and forth like never before. Eventually, the more we thought about it, the more the scales decisively tipped towards Alaska — and we’re glad they did.
Yes, a small part of the decision was financial. But in reality, we didn’t want to leave. We’d only been in Alaska for one summer, and though we’d seen and done more than most, we weren’t finished with its stunning, incomparable wilderness, secluded anchorages, towering mountains, friendly locals and pristine yet humbling waters. Not by a long shot.
For now, Yahtzee’s pin on the map at Dockside Solutions (our awesome mail service in Seattle) is staying in Alaska.
Also, the more we thought about California the less it appealed to us when compared to living in the small town of Seward and cruising Alaska. Too many people. Too many boats. Too expensive. Too little real wilderness.
That’s not to say we won’t ever sail there. It’s just that we weren’t ready to leave here yet — which surely came as a surprise to some, and even to us. When I was back in the Puget Sound area for the Wooden Boat Festival in early September, I talked to a lot of folks about our summer, our plans and cruising in Alaska. Friends and other sailors were overwhelmingly supportive and excited about our latest endeavor. But I also got a few comments and questions about why we didn’t follow the very well worn path south down the coast. In essence, what we were doing was unusual compared to most cruisers from the Pacific Northwest who literally cannot wait to make the “big left turn”. To them, our decision was utterly baffling.
“Why?” they asked. “The sun, sand and better weather are all south!”
In the grand scheme of things, our decision to stay north wasn’t that much of a surprise. What we shouldn’t have done was tried to plan so far ahead. We know that never works — for us at least.
By looking too far ahead to the future, we risk living outside the moment instead of in it. Fortunately, we caught ourselves, which comes with the experience of doing this time and again. In our years of cruising, we’ve learned that we shouldn’t get caught up in wishing away time to be somewhere else and over-planning an adventure. Because very few real adventures are planned to every detail years or months in advance. What’s the fun in that?
The reality is that every cruiser has a varied set of goals and plans, and a different way of making them work. No one set of plans is right or wrong or good or bad, they’re just different. That’s part of what makes living and cruising on a sailboat so amazing. And it doesn’t matter where in the world you are. For new or less experienced cruisers, my one piece of advice from this would be: Don’t overdo the planning. Just get out and start sailing and let the plans come later.
Cruising to us has never been a planned endeavor of, “We’re leaving for 1 year or 2 years or 5 and going along this exact route.” It’s a lifelong thing. And it’s a big old world out there. We figure, why put time and place limits on it? Instead, let’s take the time to enjoy life and the places we’re in now, and see what happens next.
Sure, staying in Alaska wasn’t “the plan” a few moths ago. But hey, who needs those plans anyway? Not us.
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Radio problems revealed mid-season? How to choose your replacement wisely
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We all know the situation: you’re in the middle of the Med and radio operations start to deplete. Upgrading and replacing the technology isn’t urgent, but you notice a lack of functionality that starts to grate. The crew are irritated, and you make a note to get it fixed as soon as you return to shore. But with so many companies flogging what they claim to be the best radio tech, it can be hard to know which to go for.
As we approach Re-fit season, here’s what to look for when choosing this year’s two-way-radio provider.
Testimonials and Case studies
TOP HINT: Sometimes good testimonials can become white noise if you are reviewing a lot of them. In this case, it can be helpful to look for those who have similar sounding projects to your own to evaluate whether they might be a good fit for you.
This is the first thing we advise looking at when considering working with any two-way radio company. What experience do they have, do they come recommended from sources you trust, and are they willing for you to contact testimonial authors if you wish? The small and tight-knit nature of the superyacht industry can be beneficial here – most of the time you will recognise a name or boat that you can contact to get a better feel of the company.
For example, DCRS is open to sharing its work they carried out with M.Y. Pelorus, a 115m custom-built motor yacht. In 2017 the company was tasked with re-assessing the superyacht’s radio communication solution. To reach all areas both inside and outside/on and off shore, they chose a 3 Repeater Motorola Solutions MOTOTRBO™ Capacity Plus System. On the DCRS website this is all explained clearly, along with how the system worked to suit the crew. “The system works through the waterproof MOTOTRBO™ DP3441e IP68 hand portables whilst the MOTOTRBO™ DP4401Ex IP67 Atex hand portables support the teams who work in the Engine Rooms,” it says.
Accreditation
This also provides good insight into what the company’s strengths and values are, from which you can judge if they match your needs. Look closely at the accreditations & certifications they have received. Are they still relevant today? Do they cover areas which are a priority for you?
Check if they are partners of any of the major radio producers; if so, to what level? Motorola is a good example. Companies can only become Motorola Platinum Channel Partners if they have met the stringent goals which Motorola sets, such as training of staff, understanding of the products and demonstrating a high level of engineering and support capability. So, accredited radio suppliers should be able to provide you with an in-depth knowledge of all the products the brand has to offer, and easily identify the best product/s for your needs.
When looking for radios to use in shipyards where there may be a higher risk of danger, health and safety certification is extremely valuable. The SSIP SafeContractor accreditation demonstrates a company’s commitment to achieving excellence in company procedures focusing mainly on health and safety. SafeContractor-approved dealers should prioritise safe and reliable communication.
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Whitsunday Clipper Race Carnival
The Whitsunday Clipper Race Carnival received a welcome injection of cash this week when it was announced the event would receive $200,000 in Federal Government ‘matched’ funding.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by Federal Member for Dawson George Christensen and Whitsunday Mayor Andrew Willcox at Abell Point Marina, which will host the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in January 2018. The Whitsunday Clipper Race Carnival is being staged to celebrate the region being a host port for the race, an epic adventure that sees more than 700 amateur crew members and experienced skippers sail in a 40,000 nautical mile race around the globe.
When the 12 yachts pull into Abell Point Marina on January 13 they will bring with them not only the attention of the world’s media but also friends, family and supporters, attracting more than 4,000 visitors in total and injecting around $3 million into the local economy. The Whitsunday Clipper Race Carnival will run from January 13 to 29 and is a region-wide celebration for everyone – the race participants, their followers, the local community and visitors from around Australia.
There will be plenty of events and activities throughout the 17-day extravaganza including an official Welcome Event in Airlie Beach, a ‘White on Whitehaven’ Long Lunch, a ‘Coast to Cane’ golf day, a ‘Rodeo by the Reef’ and a progressive lunch sailing from restaurant to restaurant!
Tourism Whitsundays’ Sales & Marketing Manager Tash Wheeler said hosting the Clipper fleet would further enhance the Whitsundays’ reputation as a world-class sailing venue. “The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is a unique event that attracts worldwide publicity and we are extremely proud to have been chosen as an official host port,” she said.
Clipper Race 17-18 © Tourism Whitsundays
“It will reinforce our standing as a world-class sailing destination and it also gives us the opportunity to promote the whole region and showcase how much beauty there is from the north to the south. We would encourage everyone to get out and enjoy the carnival activities and events, many of which are free, and make our visiting sailors feel truly welcome. Invite your friends and family to visit and make the most of this exciting time.”
The Whitsunday Clipper Race Carnival was secured through a partnership between Tourism and Events Queensland, Tourism Whitsundays, Whitsunday Regional Council and Abell Point Marina. Mayor Willcox welcomed the announcement and said hosting the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in the Whitsundays was a massive coup for the region.
“This support from the Federal Government will allow Airlie Beach to host the final Australian leg of the race and give skippers, international crews and supporters the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful Whitsunday region,” he said. ‘The Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival will highlight the whole region with signature events such as a long lunch on iconic Whitehaven Beach, a rodeo on the coastal beaches of Bowen, a golf day in Proserpine and a large scale community welcome event.”
The Clipper Round the World Yacht Race was founded in 1995 and is a biennial event. This year the fleet set sail from the UK on Sunday, August 20, on their 11-month voyage with the Whitsundays the official host port for the final stop of the race’s Australian leg.
more info whitsundayclipperrace.com.au.
by Tourism Whitsundays
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Sunday, October 1, 2017
Régates Royales ~ Trophée Panerai
After five days of racing with typical the Cote d’Azur early autumn conditions, sunny skies and light winds, the 39th edition of the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai came to an end in grand style.
The 15 Metre Mariska got gold in the Big Boat series with a clear score of five wins out of five races, while the One Tonner Ganbare succeeded in snatching the title to Italy’s Il Moro di Venezia by just one point. “Serial winner” Rowdy added yet another victory to her long list, with Argentina’s Cippino at her heels, the 8 Metre Carron II and Linnet skippered by Torben Grael, particularly at ease in light winds, were crowner winners in the gaff cutters classes. Save the date for September 2018, for the 40th edition.
The 39th edition of the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai was marked by a sweet sea-breeze, a light south-easterly building in the early afternoon and later, decreasing and dying towards sunset, by close racing at sea and lively social events ashore. This year several new entries debuted in Cannes, to the likes of the two P-Class Olympian and Chips skippered by Marc Audineau and Bruno Troublé respectively, that duelled all week to get gold in the gaff cutters’ class, or Stéphane Richer’s tiny Ellad , a gorgeous Fife-designed canoe-stern from 1937 and the fast Fjord III by Argentinean German Frers Senior; from François Ramoger’s 6 Metre Azaïs designed by François Camatte and totally restored by his grandson, to Italy’s Ardi (ex-Kerkyra II), a 1968 One Tonner by the famous American firm Sparkman and Stephens.
A light south-easterly was on the menu for the last race, crucial to define the podium positions in several classes. First boat to cross the finish line in real time was, Mariska, that showed excellent speed in light air as did Fabien Després’ Viola, Cholita skippered by Italian Bruno Catalan, and Daniel Sielecki’s Cippino from Argentina.
Brazilian star Torben Grael drove NYYC 30 Linnet, owned by Italian Patrizio Bertelli, to the highest step of the podium, with P Class Olympian in second and Viola in third.
In the Classic Racers’ class Don Wood’s One Tonner Ganbare reshuffled the cards on the very last day, snatching victory from the Italian Maxi Il Moro di Venezia skippered by Massimiliano Ferruzzi by just one tiny point. Gold also went to French Jean-Pierre Sauvan’s Maria Giovanna II in the Vintage Marconi class whilst Karl Lion’s Tabasco 5 dominated in the Spirit of Tradition division with four wins.
“We had very good racing for the Dragons, the 5.5 and the Tofinou, despite light wind conditions, thanks to the good work from the Race Committees we could launch at least a race every day. I wish to thank all those who worked so hard this week. And everything went very well for the classics too, with an ideal setup for such gorgeous boats. See you next year in Cannes for the 40th edition!” Declared Jacques Flori, President of Yacht Club de Cannes.
“On a sports level everything worked out well, no matter the light wind. Ashore, the social events were also a success, especially the Birthdays’ Night. The media coverage has been good, and the volunteers did a great job. We hope to be able to offer even more opportunities to enjoy fully the Régates Royales-Trophée Panerai for the locals and the tourist next year.” Said Pascal Gard, COO Régates Royales de Cannes.
by Soazig Gueho
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The Blackstone Hotel's amazing art collection is better than a museum
The Blackstone Hotel’s amazing art collection is better than a museum
Chicago’s Blackstone Hotel has an art collection to rival its neighboring museums.
Lois Alter Mark
Monday, October 2nd, 2017
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