Indice dei contenuti per May 2017 in SAIL

Solaris has been building trend-setting yachts in Italy for some 40 years now, and this recent offering falls in the middle of its range. Designed by Argentinian Javier Soto Acebal, who worked with German Frers for some 11 years before striking out on his own, the Solaris 50 certainly has stunning looks. Its sleek low-profile deck is dressed in acres of unblemished teak and recalls elegant fashion-conscious boats like those from the inimitable Wally Yachts. But the Solaris has substance as well as style. It snagged a European Yacht of the Year award in the performance-cruiser category in 2015 and more recently was chosen as Best Large Monohull in SAIL’s Best Boats competition. DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION _ e hull design features a slightly reversed dreadnought bow and hindquarters with a…

For complete AC35 coverage, visit sailmagazine.com/racing/americas-cup Bermuda’s 75-degree water makes sailing foiling catamarans pretty fantastic. Let’s be frank, San Francisco is a cold place to sail. And the fact that you’re on a boat being hosed with spray and 50 knots of apparent wind as normal operating conditions doesn’t make things any easier. Dry suits were common, wetsuits were a must. While advances in control systems and foil design have made the modern 50_ America’s Cup Class catamarans capable of sailing “dry” laps, the unavoidable splash still makes for a generally wet ride for the six-man crews. _ at said, for the four grinders on board, as soon as we start our day we’re warmed up, and a good bit of spray is a welcome relief from the balmy Bermuda…

There are few things people enjoy doing outdoors more than sailing and scuba diving. And for many, the ability to combine the two while out on a sailing adventure, so that you can just stop at a beautiful island or reef and go diving, only makes them that much more enjoyable. Most sailors might not think a sailboat makes for a good diving platform. And even more divers might not consider a sailboat the best way to get to a dive site. But it can be done, and with the right combination of equipment and skill, you might even be surprised at how easy it is. My wife, Gail, and I began sailing in 1985 as charterers in the British Virgin Islands. We had been to Puerto Rico the year…

I’ve always been less than enthusiastic about changing my genoa sheet leads on di_ erent points of sail. I know I should move the lead forward to improve its shape when I’m ree_ ng or sailing o_ the wind. However, when I’m sailing singlehanded it is a bind to release the genoa sheet, go forward, kneel on the sheet, drag the car forward, go back and then winch the sail in, only to _ nd I’ve either over-or-under adjusted the thing and need to perform the procedure all over again. _ e time lost messing around usually outweighs any performance advantage I may have gained. _ at said, I’ve spent a lot of money on my sails, so it’s only right I should at least try to get the most…

A warm breeze across the deck and an azure sea are enough for me, and it’s what I remember most when I’m not on the water. But for many sailors, a long-awaited vacation had better include more than tropical isles and quiet anchorages. _ at’s why charter companies have been experimenting with new twists on weeklong adventures to cater to a variety of guests’ other interests. Whether it’s food, wine tasting, athletic activities or sailing with the purpose of learning, you and your group can probably _ nd a tailored charter packed to the gills with stu_ to do both all day and into the night. FLOTILLAS Many companies specialize in _ otillas that combine the fun and safety of sailing with a group and the excitement of exploring new…

Always a great regatta, this year’s RORC Caribbean 600 was made all the more exciting by a true battle royal between the MOD 70 trimarans Phaedo3 and Maserati, which went at it hammer and tongs from start to _ nish. In the end, a_ er no less than four lead changes, the victor was was Lloyd _ ornburg’s Phaedo3, which also took line honors in the event. For more on the regatta, including complete results, visit caribbean600.rorc.org.…

While the World Cruising Club may be best known for the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (the origin of “ARC”) formed by Jimmy Cornell in 1986, its rallies have long since transcended those destinations limited to an Atlantic crossing. Today the WCC hosts rallies spanning the globe, including the World ARC, ARC Europe, ARC Portugal, the Caribbean 1500 and ARC Baltic. And now you can add ARC Paci_ c to that list with a rally that will leave from Los Angeles, California and take you to French Polynesia, via Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. A key factor of the Pacific rally, which launches in 2018, is that the first leg, from Los Angeles to Mexico, provides an excellent opportunity for a shake-down cruise before embarking on the “big hop,” a 2,900-mile passage…

For video of the Fareast 23R, visit sailmagazine.com/videos Fareast 23R SPECIFICATIONS LOA 23ft 10in LWL 22ft 10in BEAM 8ft 4in DRAFT 4ft 7in DISPLACEMENT 1,764lb BALLAST 776lb SAIL AREA 334ft² (main and jib) BALLAST RATIO 44 SA/D RATIO 37 D/L RATIO 66 What do these ratios mean? Visit sailmagazine.com/ratios DESIGNER Simonis-Voogd BUILDER Fareast Yachts, Shanghai, China, fareastboatsusa.com US DISTRIBUTOR Sturgis Boat Works, W. Yarmouth, MA, 508-778-9187, sturgisboatworks.com PRICE $34,995 (sailaway) This new sportboat is a smaller sister to the Fareast 28R, which proved a breakthrough design for Chinese builder Fareast Yachts. Fareast honed its chops for years producing small dinghies like the Optimist and 420 to ISAF specs, but the 28R was a proprietary design that quickly built brand recognition in Western markets. _ e fast, a_ ordable, simple sportboat…

For more info on the latest sailing equipment go to sailbuyersguide.com A LONG LOOK No cruising boat is complete without a good pair of binoculars and a hand-bearing compass. West Marine’s Offshore 3000C binoculars combine both in one sturdy, waterproof package that will give you a lifetime of use. The 7 x 50 specification offers good magnification combined with excellent light-gathering ability; the lenses are made by Germany’s renowned Steiner company, so high-quality optics are guaranteed. Rubber armor protects the Makrolon body. $579.99. West Marine, westmarine.com CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? “Okay, let go. Depth is fifteen feet.” “I can’t hear you.” “I SAID LET GO!” “What? Speak up!” If that sounds familiar, you’re the typical husband-andwife crew trying to anchor on a windy afternoon. Trying to make yourself heard…

Much of an ACC catamaran is virtually one-design in the interest of keeping costs down, including the wing design parameters and basic hull(s) forms. Even the soft headsails, made by North Sails, are standardized across the fleet. Nonetheless, considerable design freedom remains in what are considered the greatest performance-enhancing components of the boats: the hydrofoils that li_ the boats clear of the sea; the interior mechanical components that allow trimmers to adjust a wing’s camber, twist and angle of attack; and the hydraulic systems that make it possible to execute these all-important adjustments. In recent months, each team has been using a “turbo” version of its foiling AC45s to test out various different components, and the results of these tests, often between competing teams on the actual Cup course in…

During spring commissioning we often lavish far more attention on our engine and electrics than we do on the rig, even though the latter presents a much greater risk to both the boat and crew. Because standing rigging has so many possible weak points, it’s virtually impossible to work out when any part is about to fail. Therefore, close inspection should be a mandatory element of your preseason preps and checks. It will rarely take more than a couple of hours to complete a detailed rig check, and in doing so there are a number of telltale signs you should look for. While you’re at it, there are several maintenance tasks you can carry out to prolong the life of your shrouds, spar and fittings. When you’re inspecting your rig,…

I am both embarrassed and a little proud that I’ve had to abandon two boats in my life. To save face, I must add that neither vessel belonged to me, nor was under my command; still, the emotions involved are strong. _ e embarrassment, of course, is easy to understand. Any time you abandon ship there is a feeling that you have failed. Whatever mishap has occurred, you will always wish you had mastered it and brought your vessel safely through it. My _ rst lost boat was rather grand and antique, a classic 78_ Alden schooner—once a queen of the Navy’s WWII Corsair _ eet—that was 60 years old when I sailed on her. All of our voyage from Florida to Spain was a slowly unraveling catastrophe, and I…

My husband and I both love sailing, whether it’s a simple day sail or dreaming of future voyages. And when things get a little dull, or our fantasy life needs a little boost, there’s nothing like shopping for a new boat to stir things up again. Many sailors like to shop for new boats, and they aren’t exactly notorious for downsizing; in fact it’s quite the opposite. We followed the customary pattern of continuing to buy boats, except downsizing wasn’t our issue. We don’t seem to be able to get rid of the old boats. They just keep accumulating. Last summer we were up to seven, ranging from 8ft to 32ft. I suppose some people might say we have a problem. While we’re not exactly poor, by yacht owner standards…

For video of the Seascape 18, visit sailmagazine.com/videos Seascape 18 SPECIFICATIONS LOA 18ft LWL 18ft BEAM 7ft 9in DRAFT 4ft 11in (keel down); 1ft (keel up) DISPLACEMENT 1,100lb BALLAST 275lb SAIL AREA 248ft² (main and jib) BALLAST RATIO 25 SA/D RATIO 37 (main and jib) D/L RATIO 84 What do these ratios mean? Visit sailmagazine.com/ratios DESIGNER Samuel Manuard BUILDER Seascape, Ljubljana, Slovenia US DISTRIBUTOR Seascape USA, Kittery, ME, 2077030307, seascapeusa.net PRICE $31,400 (sailaway) How’s this for convenience? I got the word from SAIL HQ that I should test-sail the Seascape 18 from Slovenia, recently introduced to these shores, and it turns out the new U.S. rep is based in Kittery, Maine, mere footsteps from my home in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Even better, on arriving at the town dock in…

_ e last America’s Cup was fascinating in large part because of how far it went o_ script. Hydrofoiling Cup boats—the biggest technological game-changer of that cycle—were supposed to have been made impossible by the rulemakers. Artemis crewman Andrew “Bart” Simpson” tragically died when his team’s _ rst AC72 capsized and folded in two during a training session. And then, of course, there was “the comeback,” with Oracle Team USA peaking in its development cycle just in time to rebound from an 8-1 de_ cit against Emirates Team New Zealand to capture a win for the record books. Four years later, the term “foiling” is _ rmly lodged into the sailing lexicon, with classes and professional series taking to the air around the world. Beyond that, a_ er progressively shrinking…

For complete AC35 coverage, visit sailmagazine.com/racing/americas-cup ORACLE TEAM USA It would be hard to overestimate the strengths of the Defender, Oracle Team USA. A team comprised of some of the best sailing talent in the world, including such veterans as tactician Tom Slingsby and wing-trimmer Kyle Langford—both critical elements in the team’s 2013 win? Check. Oodles of design experience with full-foiling catamarans? Check. An essentially limitless budget thanks to the financial backing of owner Larry Ellison, one of the richest men on the planet? Check. An America’s Cup protocol that makes it possible to compete during much of the qualifier series, thereby allowing it to further hone its skills and systems? Check. Then there is what is perhaps the team’s single greatest strength, its Australian-born skipper, Jimmy Spithill. Lest we…

Although there are few experiences as peaceful as gliding weightless through the water in full scuba gear, the grace and beauty of the sport belie the fact that diving has inherent risks. Fortunately, these are well understood and with proper training, there is little danger, so long as you follow the proper protocols and ensure beforehand that you are in adequate physical condition to take part in scuba diving in the first place. Indeed, children as young as 10 regularly receive scuba training. In terms of training, thousands of different certified dive centers can be found throughout the world.Tying many of these centers together is PADI (padi.com), with regional headquarters in Rancho Santa Margarita, California; Sydney, Australia and Bristol, England. Since its founding in 1966, PADI has created standards and…

For many years I hated drilling stainless steel. It’s hard, it requires expensive cobalt or carbide bits and it takes a long time to drill. In other words, I had many good reasons for feeling this way. However, as it turns out, all of them were based on incorrect information. First and foremost was the belief that stainless is a “hard” material. Because I thought stainless was hard, I would run my drill at high speed, thinking it would otherwise take forever to complete a single hole. I could not have been more wrong. _ anks to the advice of an exceptional metal worker, I learned the right way to drill stainless with standard High Speed Steel (HSS) drill bits. Stainless is actually a relatively so_ metal, at least in…