Trees, shrubs and seedlings
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-WorldCruising.com 19 Sep 2018 22:00 UTC
The first Bavaria C45 Ambition undergoing sail testing in Europe © Bavaria Yachts
After looking at the whole marketplace in Time to do some landscaping last week, some more elements have subsequently fallen into place. So we'll borrow the theme, and go off to have a look at some of the plants that will form borders, be highlights in a centrepiece, be spectacular floral tributes, and also those that will yield wonderful fruit.
Now firstly to Bavaria, who made the announcement towards the end of the Cannes Yachting Festival, that the good ship Bavaria Yachtbau would steam on with all models and employees there for the voyage. This is simply fantastic news, for despite losing €150k by not showing up with a display, it means that the craft the team worked on before the Summer break can now be finished and delivered. This new, solid backing from a German venture capital outfit means that the huge array of new models displayed at Düsseldorf that did so well, can now go forth and conquer the world.
Speaking of delivery, the C45 Style that showed up into Australia just before the Sydney International Boat Show was actually sold there. Such was the desire to get into some of the new innovations the craft held, a lot of which were tied into the great Cossutti hull form. There is a C45 Ambition due very soon, as well, and we look forward to getting into have a look at the differences a taller stick and deeper keel allow for.
Jeanneau, another of the three great innovators in the production monohull market, got the new Sun Odyssey 410 out for some serious airtime at Cannes. It is hard not to be somewhat taken with this vessel, purely from the outside. That she will continue with many of the themes displayed so well in the award-winning 440, and super-looking 490, is assured.
Yet it is almost that she is trying desperately to not let too much of the cat (feline) out of the proverbial bag. I may have to wait until May 2019 to get my hands on one, but all who have seen her in the flesh do comment about what a statement she makes, even at rest. Now of course it is not jester hull form. There are the walk-around decks, German mainsheet system, and aft control lines to factor in to the whole package, but remember the 440 won all the awards for so many of these and more, and they are all present on the latest member of the armada!
Another award winner is Fountaine-Pajot's Astréa 42, so it was no surprise that the new 45 shares some of those very elements like the Dreadnought bows, and adds a flying bridge. It is light, spacious, offers abundant storage, is sumptuous and comfortable, with offshore performance and large living spaces her distinguishing features.
Fountaine-Pajot also used Cannes as the launch pad for the new Alegria 67. On a boat as large as this, space was always going to be a big element, and you can choose to relax in a variety of locales on board, including an optional spa if you so wish. Sharing the experience with large numbers of people, safety and comfort are cornerstones of the mix.
At another anchorage altogether now, and a few weeks ago we looked at old race boats becoming the express cruisers. Thank you for all the comment and discussion it started. Always very much appreciated. One can never cover a subject as complex and diverse as this in just the one editorial. So I dare say we are going to have the odd mention over the next few weeks, as we look into it some more.
Suffice to say for now, that trying to get a cruiser with all her gear on board around a windward/leeward course is always going to be difficult. Accelerating out of all those tacks, especially in the light, is going to become cumbersome and tiresome very quickly. However, something around fixed marks, or a passage race will offer more potential. Power to weight and hull form now become the serious part of the discussion, and we won't even attempt to start now, because we will run out of room.
Suffice to say, we will be back. As I write that, I can remember a passage race some time ago now where we were on a light displacement 47-footer, and after a long, beam reach leg, the heavy, old school 67 we had passed ages ago showed up at the mark not too long after us, and we had flown an A-Bag for a good part of it. Clearly she had done well!
OK. Today you will find that we have information for you from the ARC, plastics and turtles, new X46 from X-Yachts, Wayfarer Rally, Portugal, Orcas, J/122E from J-Boats, up in the Northwest Passage, Viking Ship Museum, Boat Show season in North America, and a sincere set of best wishes for those in the Carolinas after Florence, and anyone in the way of Mangkhut, as well as much more.
So you see, there are stories, lessons, inspirations and history to regale yourself with. Please do savour... We're really enjoying bringing you the best stories from all over the globe. If you want to add to that, then please make contact with us via email.
Remember too, if you want to see what is happening in the other Hemisphere, go to the top of the www.sail-worldcruising.com home page and the drag down menu on the right, select the other half of the globe and, voila, it's all there for you.
In the meantime, do you love being on the ocean? Well remember to love them back too. They need our help. Now more than ever! Until next time...
John Curnow
Editor, Sail-WorldCruising.com