SAILING Mag RSA August 2016 issue 385 to ZINIO

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Record Breaking Nautical Feats It’s that time again when the news is awash with over-achievers in peak physical condition getting accolades, trinkets of gold and their names written down in history books. It’s the Olympics and there will invariably be records, hearts, limbs and betting odds broken at the event. Unfortunately for sailing enthusiasts the Olympics is not really the place for records because of the nature of the races and the conditions. So if it’s the fastest, furthest, longest, biggest or whatever superlative you’re into you probably need to look elsewhere. Luckily there’s a host of records out there, official and unofficial, that will either make you humble or make you thank your lucky stars you are not that mad nor that unlucky. The fastest around the world yacht voyage was completed by Banque Populaire V in a mere 45 days, 13 hours, 42 minutes and 53 seconds in the prestigious 2012 Jules Verne race. (Way faster than it has taken Telkom to come and fix my telephone line.) The speedy 130 foot maxi-trimaran averaged a speed of 26.51 knots over the 29 000 miles. The yacht which has beaten a host of other records including transatlantic crossings has also recorded speeds in excess of 40 knots at other trials. Again, way faster than my Telkom internet, which is 0 to 0 on a good day. Sailing has definitely come a long way since the three-years it took Joshua Slocum to complete the first recorded solo circumnavigation in the 1890s. And just to emphasise that sailing can be more exhilarating and efficient than speeding tell tales by Sue Kintyre about with an engine, it is interesting to note that the fastest powered boat took 60 days, 23 hours and 49 minutes to circumnavigate the globe. Thanks to new technology in alternative power, Earthrace, a 78 foot trimaran which cost 1.5 million pounds to build, took just a few hours more at 61 days in 2008. Which is amazing considering it did this using 100 percent biodiesel fuel and with zero carbon footprint. The longest recorded single sea voyage was undertaken by American, Reid Stowe, 58, who spent 1152 days at sea aboard his 70 foot schooner without stopping and without being re-supplied with food or fuel. A GPS tracking system was used to prove that he had not approached land until he tied up in New York in 2010 where he met his toddler son who was born when he was away on his three year jaunt. The longest time at sea record is apparently held by octogenarian cruisers Bill and Laurel Cooper from the UK who hung up their wellies in 2012 after 36 years of cruising. Following their epic 100 000 nautical mile trip which took them around the world four times they now live on a 50 footer specially designed for their geriatric years. If you were wondering if you could also afford to do this they advise that it has been a very ‘cheap life’. Others have taken to the seas for epic voyages in all sorts of vessels from barrels to deck chairs; including the longest stand up paddle board (SUP) journey of 420 miles by 27 year-old Justin de Bree, an American surfer in 2008 off the Florida coast. But even using a boat can’t be seen as an easy way out as two brothers in their fifties, Ralph and Robert Brown, set out to prove. They hold the record for the smallest power boat to cross the Atlantic when they journeyed over 7000 miles from Florida to London via Canada, Greenland, Iceland and Scotland. The former US marines were exposed to the elements in their 21-foot flat-boat (no keel, no cabin). This is quite incredible considering they had to carry their own fuel and fished for supplies while dodging icebergs in the northern Atlantic. It’s also quite remarkable that siblings could spend that long together without someone ending up overboard. So long with one person could definitely make you go crazy. In 2014 an El Salvadorian fisherman was rescued after a record breaking 438 days lost at sea drifting 6700 miles in a 25-foot open fishing boat from Mexico to the Marshall Islands in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. He claims his young crewmate died during the journey after eating a dead bird, but the dead fisherman’s family are now suing the survivor for $1million claiming that he ate him. If it’s true (although he has passed a polygraph test) this might have been one of the most expensive meals ever, in more ways than one. The only ‘record’ that really makes me a little envious is the one cracked by two middle aged friends who sailed around the UK in a 5m Wayfarer dinghy in 33 days. Yes, it might have been cold and rough at times, but this intrepid pair warmed themselves up with stops for local beers and pub lunches along the way. Surely that was more fun than spinning across the ocean at lightning speed? Unfortunately, the feat has apparently too many variables to be considered an official record. If it’s an official record you are after you have to go through the famous Guinness Book of Records which will record all manner of wacky, big and superlative things. One of my favourites in terms of sheer imagery is the largest sailing regatta of a single class when 1055 kids aged from 9-14 and representing 27 countries took to their optimists in Riva Del Garda, Italy, in 2012. What a way to promote sailing to the youth. If it’s a serious official sailing record you are after, the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSRC) which was established in 1972 in the UK is the place to go. They also publish a list of recognised routes around the world and all the current speed records. So you can take your pick and make a challenge. If all these records have given you the urge to reach for a stiff nautical drink – I would suggest a visit to Smugglers Cove at Liverpool’s famous Albert Dock which has a record breaking 151 rums to choose from. That’s more than enough to keep your average sailor happy in record breaking fashion. • 26 August 2016 SAILING | www.sailing.co.za
APP REVIEW PredictWind - Stunning New Forecast Map “When developing the Offshore App, we had to rethink maps for offshore sailors, so we rebuilt the mapping technology from the ground up to be faster, have smaller downloads and be able to smoothly animate PredictWind’s advanced forecasts” is what their announcement said. Following the success of the Offshore App, they have released this unique display technology across all other platforms, including the forecast website for Android and iOS Apps. Previous interactive maps have been replaced with the new mapping technology, as well as other maps that used to be static, such as isobar, swell, cloud and rain maps. Better Graphics The new mapping technology does a great job of highlighting wind speed variations, and smoothly animating between the time periods. This coupled with the new wind display formats makes reading and interpreting the PredictWind forecast easier than ever. Wind forecasts are now available in 3 different formats; • Arrows colour coded by wind speed • Wind barbs with wind speed gradients • Black arrows with wind speed gradients Better Control You can now fully zoom and pan all forecast maps - wind, swell, rain, cloud, isobar, air and sea temperature maps to see your exact area of interest. Use pinch zoom on your trackpad, or your mouse wheel, or the + - buttons on your keyboard. The new maps allow you to really see the power of high resolution forecasts like never before. Check it out now at: PredictWind.com now. • www.sailing.co.za/gybeset | SAILING August 2016 27
Page 1 and 2: I ncorporating SA Yachting AUGUST 2
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS 2 East Greenland. Icy Unta
Page 5 and 6: EDITORIAL, ADVERTISING & SUBSCRIPTI
Page 7 and 8: Freezing water and barren icy mount
Page 10 and 11: SAILOR OF THE MONTH SAILING, in con
Page 12: development of blisters, major stru
Page 15 and 16: Book Reviews Available from SAILING
Page 17 and 18: NOW IN PRODUCTION M60 Full Carbon H
Page 19 and 20: OLYMPIC SAILING By Daniel Smith Che
Page 21 and 22: BOATING WORLD AND JEANNEAU ARE NOW
Page 23 and 24: BOATING WORLD AND FOUNTAINE PAJOT A
Page 25 and 26: onto port on the pin boat, but was
Page 30: AMERICA’S CUP WORLD SERIES - CHIC
Page 33 and 34: NEW RELEASE TRUE-MARINE ENTERTAINME
Page 35 and 36: A PIECE OF PARADISE to call your ow
Page 37 and 38: Sailing Yachts LOA: 11.80m 1180 IRC
Page 39 and 40: Exhibit at the 2016 Boat Show. The
Page 41 and 42: Fisher at Large BY BOB FISHER The f
Page 43 and 44: FOUNTAINE PAJOT - NEW 47 ANNOUNCED
Page 45 and 46: LETTER TO THE EDITOR Have something
Page 47 and 48: Strategy in Shifts UPWIND: Tack Whe
Page 49 and 50: REGIONAL, REGATTA, CLUB AND CLASS N
Page 55 and 56: Raymarine: New i70s Multifunction I
Page 57 and 58: ADVERTISERS’ INDEX 43 2 Oceans Ma
Page 59: +27 21 200 1825 www.leopardcatamara

SAILING Mag RSA August 2016 issue 385 to ZINIO

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