News

The Fireball Association is planning a festival for its 50th nationals, at Penzance SC next year.

Brewin Dolphin has announced ongoing sponsorship for the Jersey Regatta, on September 7-9,2012.

Garrard, the world's oldest jewellers and creator of the America's Cup is now official jeweller to the World Match Racing Tour.

In recognition of her service to the sea, Dee Caffari MBE has been appointed by the Royal Navy as an Honorary Commander.

Topper International has launched a new loyalty card for customers, giving discounts on parts and accessories, promotions and competitions.

An Absorbing Interest, Bob Fisher's coveted history of the America's Cup from 1851-2003, is back in print, with a limited run of 500 copies.

HRH the Princess Royal named Mike Golding's boat, 'Gamesea', which he hopes will carry him to victory in next year's Vendee Globe Race.

Winds over 30 knots helped competitors execute the most extreme of stunts during the Windfest festival at Sandbanks, Poole.

Hamble boat share company Pure Latitude reports sustained year-on-year growth in membership of nearly 50 per cent.

Torvar Mirsky is the new 'King of the Mountain' after beating Pierre-Antoine Morvan in the final of the St. Moritz Match Race. A third place for Ian Williams saw him move up to lead the World Match Racing Tour overall standings.

Gold Coast Australia won the second stage of Clipper 11-12 Round the World Yacht Race, from Madeira to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Jock Wishart's team used Raymarine nav aids in their mission to be first to row to the magnetic North Pole. Wishart said the thermal imaging camera, which enabled them to see semi-submerged growlers, was of particular value.

Poole Quay Boat Haven and the new Port of Poole Marina are taking bookings for the 2012 Olympics.

The importance of yachts being able to show their precise position by GPS co-ordinates or smoke flares was highlighted when a competitor in the Royal Southern Summer Series sustained head injuries and the rescue helicopter had trouble identifying his boat.

Every crewmember in the Volvo Ocean Race will have a Kannad R10 Safety Recovery System messaging module.

Staying positive

I am naturally quite a competitive soul, but people don't always realise it as I also work very hard at enjoying my sailing. Sometimes that means accepting you're not going to do very well before an event, and other times it means accepting that things go wrong on some occasions when a result slips away from you. I had plenty of tests on my 'smile and laugh through it' this summer, most recently at Federation Week. Work commitments meant we could only do the final three days, so no discards for us. In the final race, which we had to win, we were leading by a country mile, but sailed past the correct mark and gave ourselves an extra, impossibly long beat, to catch the fleet. I took solace in our performance - we sailed very well and I could take satisfaction from, winning the start, going fast and getting the tactics right. The silverware might not have been ours, but I'd prefer the satisfaction of sailing well and losing to a silly mistake, than sailing badly and winning. Sailing in an RS200 at the RS Games with Ian Jubb [aka Jubby] was another matter. We were definitely too heavy for the boat (Jubby's two-year-old son might have been a better option!). Jubby had therefore decided that the 200 would provide a nice holiday for him at the conclusion of his nine-nationals challenge. I thought I could handle this idea no problem - after all I am 'miss positive'! Day one was okay, despite banging every corner in an effort to minimise tacks and gybes, a starting tactic that had one aim: to be first out of the gate, and a no-hiking policy, I quite enjoyed the novelty of cruising round the course. But day two taught me that I'm nowhere near as good at 'crusing round' as I'd like to be... we had a laugh - you can't do anything other with Jubby - but I spent the whole day wishing that we were in an RS400. Hats off to Jubby for his achievement, and for keeping a cheery face throughout! See page 48. Talking of achievements, it was a great coup for sailing to be the first sport to name some of its Olympic team (see page 6 and page 24). Congratulations to all 11 athletes named, although one must spare a thought for the 'oh so nearlys'. How gutting to be Penny Clark, Giles Scott or Nick Thompson... Still, just as there can only be one winner, there can only be one Olympic representative in each class, and sad as I was to see Penny miss out in the 470, I was delighted for Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark - so too was Snoop Dogg who gave Hannah his own shout of support - another nice little lift for sailing, maybe we could persuade him to be one of the round-the-island race celebrities next year! Gael Pawson, Editor Why is it such a good thing? Sailing suffers more than many sports from its reputation as an activity for the elite. But for every rich owner, there are 10-20 crew, and then there are those sailing Mirror dinghies, like the one Hannah Mills first tried sailing in. The Olympics is an opportunity to break those preconceptions down a little, and we need to grab every chance we can to keep our sport vibrant and healthy.

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The Mediterranean Sea:

Les possibilités sont multiples, de très nombreux loueurs vous proposeront leurs locations de monocoques ou catamarans,
la qualité est très disparate, et il convient d'etre très prudent afin d'éviter les mauvaises surprises.

Nous n'avons sélectionné qu'un nombre très réduit de loueurs de voiliers, avec lesquels nous travaillons en confiance depuis des années. Nous avons par exemple recemment exclu de nos offres 3 loueurs en Corse.

Dans le sud de la France: Louer un voilier est le moyen d'éviter la foule

La majorité des bateaux sélectionnés est à St Mandrier, pres de Toulon, ainsi qu'à St Raphael (catamarans) et Golfe Juan.
Au total seulement une cinquantaine de monocoques, et une dizaine de catamarans, de tous les modèles.

En Corse: la location d'un voilier en Corse reste une expérience unique

En ce qui concerne la locations de voiliers et catamarans, nos choix se sont portés sur 3 bases:
Propriano et Solenzara (idéales pour le Sud Corse), et Macinaggio (au Cap Corse).

Si vous souhaitez un catamaran en Juillet et Aout, il convient de le reserver avant Février, les demandes dépassent l'offre.

A Ajaccio, nous n'avons selectionné que les croisieres avec équipage, sur des catamarans luxueux:
- Croisiere à la cabine (idéal pour un ou deux couples), de 7 jours, avec 2 itinéraires au choix (vers le sud ou vers le nord).
- Affrètement privé avec équipage et pension (ideal pour 6 à 8 personnes)

En Croatie , Turquie, Sicile, et en Grèce: trop de choix !

Il convient de s'adresser à des loueurs reconnus et établis depuis plusieurs années, si possible appartenant à un groupe international multi bases.
Nous avons sélectionné seulement 3 loueurs en ce qui concerne les locations bareboat (sans équipage).
Un permis "voile" est obligatoire (de meme qu'un permis VHF en Croatie), or ce permis "voile" n'existe pas en France.
Consultez nous pour plus d'informations et les procédures ou dérogations en cours.

Les différentes bases de départ possibles (selon le planning ou options)

Croatie: Bases à Pula, Sibenik, Split, et Murter.

Grèce: Athènes, Lavrion, Lefkas et Corfou (Ioniennes), Kos et Rhodes (Dodecanese), Syros (Cyclades), Skiathos.

Turquie: Base principale à Marmaris, départs possibles de Bodrum et Gocek.

Mahé, Praslin, et La Digue:

3 possible departure bases
one way recommended !

Water of Seychelles will offer a really rich aquatic life to you, you will swim with multicoloured tortoises, rays and fish.

Giant centenaries turtles, unique and luxuriant vegetation, all this with the friendly attitude of local people.

2 opposite seasons, with the opposed winds, which will influence the choice of your anchorages.

Some islands of Seychelles are of private management, it  will be asked a tax of visit.

Sail from Martinica to the Grenadines:

Sail from Martinica to the Grenadines:

We have been working and sailing this area for 11 years, our agency is located right on the marina Le Marin in Martinica, you can trust our unique services, advices and offers !
Any other broker based in Europe will not be there to assist you in the occurence of any issue with the base or with the boat, and will have no other choice than to trust what the local charter company says.
We will come to meet you, check the problem with you, then save your interests with the charter company.
Alternative bases to sail the Grenadines: St Vincent, Grenada, or St Lucia.
We offer a small number of sailing yachts and catamarans from there.

Guadeloupe Islands:

 5 charter days only allow you to sail there: from Pointe à Pitre: Guadeloupe, Les Saintes, Marie Galante, La Dominique, Antigua and Barbuda.
We also offer a few sailing boats and catamarans in Antigua.

St Martin and St Barthélémy: Ideal departure base for 3 destinations,  7-10 days required: - To the Virgin Islands (mainly BVI). - To Antigua, Barbuda, St Barthélemy, Anguilla, Nevis, St Kitts, - Around St Martin, St Barth, Tintamarre, etc.
Virgin Islands: From Tortola, we offer only what we think is the best base and boats (a narrow selection of 30 recent sailing yachts and catamarans).