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GUEST COLUMN – Enrico Zanella –
Enrico Zanella is an airplane pilot and avid sailor
from Italy who has lived in Asia, including Hainan
and Hong Kong, since 1999. After working in the
corporate business jet industry, he’s been involved
in the yachting industry in Asia since 2002 with a
focus on China. Zanella has represented shipyards
such as Wally Yachts and Perini Navi, and currently represents Solaris
Yachts in Asia.
[email protected]
http://www.solarisyachts.comOVER THE LONG course of human history,
sailing has played an integral part in our
development. Needless to say, the ability to sail
seems to exist in our DNA.
Practically speaking, as a matter of exercise
sailing has been difficult and even complicated
for most of the participants. A certain amount
of knowledge and physical fitness are essential
in the requirements to sail. However, nowadays
sailing has adapted to become quite easy
thanks to the new materials and sophisticated
technologies being developed.
In fact, sailing has become easier than ever.
Needless to say, the sheer pleasure and
enjoyment of contemporary leisure sailing
often comes with the feelings of navigating
in wind, no matter if it goes in a statement
of silence or loving music. It has also been
expressed in the most glamorous way that
appreciating the power of the sea and the
values that spending quality time with our
beloved families, friends and business partners.
Primarily, sailing simply is not about fierce racing against other boats
and crew anymore. There’s no more purely pulling ropes by hand and
struggling on winches like a coffee grinder as done in the old times.
Such a scenario has been avoided in a big way with modern technologies
that have been transferred successfully from superyachts.
Furling boom, furling jib, self-tacking jib and electric or hydraulic
sail trim systems have been developed in order to reduce the workload
and also the number of crew on big sailing boats.
These technologies and experiences are becoming available on
smaller boats as well. With the development of easy concept yachts,
sailing is becoming a more and more relaxing activity that anyone
can enjoy without the concerns of the heavy workload required in the
traditional way.
One such example is the Solaris Yachts One 48 Everblu, which is
based at Gold Coast Yacht Club in Hong Kong. She is equipped with
hydraulic furling boom, self-tacking jib and electric winches that are
oriented for one-person sailing. This single-handed yacht is the only one
of this kind throughout all Asia.
Quite sensibly, safety levels have been increased in a substantial way
by enabling one person to reduce the main sail in 15 seconds without
any risk while working safely in the cockpit.
In a traditional yacht of 48ft, three or four experienced people are
needed to manage the reefing procedure. Furthermore, it would take 10
or 15 minutes to roll up the sail while working in a dangerous area near
the mast and boom on the open deck.
Reducing the main sail while the wind is increasing beyond certain
limits is the most difficult and dangerous operation, especially in high
seas at nighttime.
Let’s look at hoisting the main sail. Two crew are needed to open
the sail bag. While the skipper stays at the helm, the same two crew
stay at the mast to pull down the halyard. One crew is at the winch to
pull and maybe another is needed to work the handle. That’s a total of
five people.
In an easy concept sailing yacht you need only yourself: bow
upwind, engage the autopilot, pull two little ropes to open the foldingTHE ART OF SAILING
TECHNOLOGY IS MAKING IT EASIER, SAFER AND MORE FUN
main sail cover, push the main furler release button and the winch
activation button.
It’s the same when opening the jib by simply activating the electric
winch, versus the two or even three crew needed in the traditional way.
Furling the jib is one of the two moments when you touch a rope to
manage by hand the jib sheet and push the winch activation button. For
the mainsail, upwind, autopilot on, mainsail halyard stopper opened,
halyard controlled by hand, push the furling boom button and release
the halyard. Mainsail down, pull the two little ropes and the folding
cover is closed.
With the traditional way, you need one crew to release the mainsail
halyard, two crew to pull down the sail and fold it the proper way, and
closing the mainsail bag takes two crew.
If the systems fail, you still have a full back up working with handles
in the traditional way. However, all of these situations can be handled by
one person.
A self-tacking system keeps the cockpit free for your family, friends
and partners when sailing for relaxation and leisure. The traditional way
needs two or three crew and the cockpit is busy when performing the
manoeuvres.
This modern technology will let you discover and fall in love with
sailing – truly one of the best ways to increase your quality of life, which is
what matters the most as time goes by.