1
4 www.yachtingmonthly.com MARCH 2015 MARCH 2015 www.yachtingmonthly.com 5 Sir Ben Ainslie and his new wife Georgie were rescued recently by a shining Knight of the Realm, Sir Richard Branson, when their yacht Rita got into trouble during their honeymoon cruise. The newlyweds were sailing passed Necker, the Virgin boss’s private Caribbean island, when the mainsail in-mast furling system broke and the sail couldn’t be furled away. The boat was in danger of being pushed on to Moskito Reef, so Sir Richard sent his watersports team to lend a hand. NEWS If you have a news story to share, contact News Editor Theo Stocker EMAIL [email protected] TEL 020 3148 4866 NEWS Like us on Facebook facebook.com/yachtingmonthlymag Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/yachtingmonthly You couldn’t make it up! Sir Ben and Georgie Ainslie had a spot of bother off Necker Island Vector charts ‘not to blame’ for shipwreck YACHTING MONTHLY ARTIST LANDS TOP JOB Vector charts are not solely to blame for shipwreck of Team Vestas Wind in the Volvo Ocean Race, according to experts. Whilst the electronic charting system contributed to the grounding during Leg 2 of the race, several other factors were also critical. On the 29 November 2014, Team Vestas Wind was sailing at 19 knots at night whenshe hit a reef in the Cargados Carajos Shoals in the Indian Ocean. Afterwards, navigator Wouter Verbraak made a statement on Facebook, claiming responsibility: ‘I did check the area on the electronic chart and what I saw was depths of 42m and 80m indicated. Our planned route [had] changed just before we left. I erroneously thought I would have enough information with me to look at the changes in our route as we went along. I was wrong.’ PHOTO: JACK BROADWAY The incident adds weight to concerns that vector charts, made of ‘layers’ of information, leave vessels vulnerable to this type of mistake. ‘A seven-inch screen does not give situational awareness,’ says RYA Cruising Manager Stuart Carruthers. ‘It is necessary to zoom out to see familiar reference points, but you then lose detail.’ YM contributor Tom Cunliffe agrees: ‘My work as an Expert Witness has thrown up examples of this shortfall in pure vector-chart navigation. In all cases, had the passage-planning phase included proper perusal of a suitable paper chart or its raster equivalent, the incidents would not have occurred.’ But paper and raster charts still have flaws, says David Conway, UK leisure sales manager at Furuno: ‘Both raster and paper charts depend on using the correct scale chart and correct reading of the symbols. You must still zoom in for detail.’ Zoom is not, however, the only issue affecting charts’ usefulness, says Carruthers. ‘Electronic charts of any kind depend on the accuracy of the data they contain. In some places data is missing, old or simply wrong, and many people don’t keep their charts up-to-date.’ In fact, electronic vector charts may be more accurate than paper or raster charts as Nigel Craine, marine OEM sales manager at Garmin points out: ‘Garmin cartography is continuously updated and new worldwide charts are released every six months.’ There may not be consensus on the best charting system, but experts agree that no single source of navigational information can be trusted in isolation. ‘The rules of prudent navigation say that one should never rely on a single source of information,’ says Giuseppe Carnevali, president of Navionics. ‘Unfortunately some have the wrong impression that an electronic chart, just because it is electronic, must be so perfect that one can rely on it blindly.’ An investigation into the grounding was ongoing when we went to press. We will cover vector chart navigation in more detail in a forthcoming issue of YM. IN BRIEF Holyhead Coastguard joins national network Holyhead Coastguard Operations Centre (CGOC) became part of the new Coastguard national network in January. It is now integrated with the National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) in Hampshire, with ‘no reduction in rescue resources’. Yachtsman of the Year Sir Robin Knox-Johnston was voted Yachtsman of the Year by the Yachting Journalists’ Association for an unprecedented fourth time. Racing his Open 60 Grey Power, Sir Robin, 75, finished third in class in the 2014 singlehanded Route du Rhum race. New marina planned for Edinburgh Plans have been submitted for a new marina at Granton Harbour on the Firth of Forth. Berths for 400 boats, a larger community boatyard and improved facilities for local yacht clubs, as well as homes, a hotel, shops and offices will be built. Work will commence this year. Newcastle City wins Marina of the Year The Yacht Harbour Association has crowned Newcastle City Marina as the best small marina under 250 berths in 2015. Situated on Newcastle’s quayside between the Tyne and Millennium bridges, it can accommodate up to 30 vessels, including yachts up to 85ft. RYA Yachtmaster of the Year 2014 HRH The Princess Royal presented the RYA Yachtmaster of the Year 2014 award to 18-year-old George Gillingham from Poole at the London Boat Show. The award recognised his exceptional demonstration of sailing skills, having successfully passed his RYA Yachtmaster certificate of competence exam just after his 18th birthday. ‘Some have the wrong impression that an electronic chart must be so perfect that one can rely on it blindly’ A panel has voted the Bavaria Cruiser 46 as European Yacht of the Year in the Family Cruiser category, beating the Dufour 310GL, Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349, Nautitech 40 and RM890. Bavaria took the hull of the Cruiser 45, drawn by Farr Yacht Design, and redesigned the deck. The interior was also revamped, by Fareham-based Design Unlimited. Vanni Galgani, of Italian sailing magazine Fare Vela, said: ‘She maybe the best Bavaria ever. She puts together excellent performance, upwind and down, with outstanding interior spaces. She may not be very pretty, but A Yachting Monthly illustrator has been appointed official artist to the world’s most prestigious yacht club in the year that it celebrates its bicentenary. Martyn Mackrill, 53, whose original paintings have graced our Book At Bunktime series over the last year was made the Royal Yacht Squadron’s artist on 1 January 2015. The post, at the famous castle on Cowes waterfront, lasts for five years. Martyn, who paints from life and is based in Freshwater, Isle of Wight, has given painting lessons to members of the Squadron, founded in 1815, as well as capturing the famous club’s HQ in oils from an unusual angle on shore behind the club. He owns Nightfall, a 31 ft gaff cutter built in 1910, which was once owned by the legendary Yachting Monthly editor Maurice Griffiths. Martyn and his wife Bryony restored the boat over 12 years and now cruise her out of Yarmouth with their daughters Olivia and Georgina and son Charlie. In 2000, Martyn was appointed honorary painter of the Royal Thames Yacht Club following in the brush-strokes of Condy, Norman Wilkinson and WL Wylie. PHOTO: BRYONY MACKRILL Martyn often works outdoors to capture wind and sea in paint Bavaria reused the hull of the Cruiser 45 for the prize- winning Cruiser 46 Bavaria 46 voted Yacht of the Year she’s is far better than the 45. The biggest improvements are hidden, with general quality the best of her class. All this, don’t forget, at a very, very good price.’ Other judges’ comments include: ‘The Cruiser 45 scores in almost any respect, most notably in build quality and rigidity. Not an easy benchmark to set in a market where price is a major factor.’ (Yacht, Germany); ‘Hats off to the Bavaria team. They started with the Bavaria 45 and turned the ugly duckling into a wonderful swan.’ (Voile, France). PHOTO: BAVARIA PHOTO: BRIAN CARLIN/TEAM VESTAS WIND/VOLVO OCEAN RACE Team Vestas Wind hit a reef whilst sailing from Cape Town to Abu Dhabi Gunfleet windfarm off the River Blackwater is a major hazard... but it disappears when zoomed out on both vector and raster charts IMAGES COURTESY OF FURUNO
