Yachting Monthly – May 2018

Jonathan Fox

Spirit Yachts has rolled over the hull

of its flagship Spirit 111’.

The 34m superyacht is one of the

largest single-masted wooden yachts

to be built in the UK since the first

J Class, Shamrock V, launched in

1930. Multiple cranes were used
      to remove Spirit 111’s wood epoxy
      composite and stainless-steel frame
      from its strongback and move
      it outside at Spirit’s Ipswich yard
      where it was rolled over. Work will
      now begin on the vessel’s interior.

Spirit 111’ has been designed

to be sailed in race mode with

a crew of 14, or shorthanded with

four people. The deck design

incorporates a fully automated

in-boom furling sail, backwinding

primary winches and push-button

traveller and mainsheet sails.

The yacht is also eco friendly, with

a 160kW Torqeedo electric propulsion

motor supported by four BMW i

lithium batteries and two backup

generators, among other features.

A major salvage and clean-up

operation is underway at Holyhead

Marina in north Wales after Storm

Emma left 85 boats sunk or damaged.

Polystyrene from the marina’s

pontoons was washed up and booms

were brought in to contain diesel and

other debris. A significant amount of

fuel was pumped out of some of the

larger vessels aground.

The Holyhead port authority Stena

Line Ports deployed a tanker to remove

the polystyrene pollution from the

marina. It said it was working with

all the relevant external agencies

to ensure the clean-up ‘progresses

as quickly and efficiently as possible.’

Volunteers from the community and

Holyhead Sailing Club initially helped

with the clean-up before being asked

to stop by the Coastguard because of

health and safety concerns.

Jonathan Fox’s Fiskars Finnfire

33, Mikki Finn, was one of the many

casualties. He described the initial

response to the devastation as ‘slow

and confused.’ He said: ‘I have not

been contacted directly by the marina

staff which I feel is very poor.’ Fox

added that there had been looting

from some of the wrecked boats.

North Wales Police are investigating.

YM tried to speak to Holyhead

Marina but was told no one was

available as staff were concentrating

on the clean-up operation.

‘Despite our best efforts, the

weather conditions were too severe

and we were unable to do anymore

to save the marina without risking

the lives of our staff,’ stated a post

on the marina’s Facebook page.

Sailors have until 31 May to sign up to

take part in the 2018 Yachting Monthly

Triangle Race. Hosted by the Royal

Torbay Yacht Club, the doublehanded

challenge is open to yachts over 25ft.

So far, 12 teams have confirmed, with

another 12 expressing an interest.

The 620-mile race starts and ends

in Torquay, with stops at Kinsale

in southern Ireland and Tréguier in

Brittany. A gin distillery tour in Kinsale

and a pétanque match against the

Club Nautique de Tréguier are also

planned. Organised by John and

Vivienne Thorn, the race runs from

17-29 June. http://www.trianglerace.co.uk.

Race around the YM Triangle

Storm Emma batters Holyhead Marina

100 , 000

Pantaenius Yacht Insurance

has signed up its 100,000th

customer, who received free

insurance cover for a year.

02

Doublehanded

racing debuts

at Cowes

Week for the

first time in

August, with

entries for

boats with

IRC ratings

between

0.900-1.085.

03

Sail Aid UK has

given out its

first three

grants to the

Anguilla Sailing

Association,

Adopt a Roof

and the Virgin

Islands Sloop

Foundation.

NEWS IN NUMBERS

Morning

Cloud Talks

return

Three speakers – paralympian

Helena Lucas, solo sailor and

writer Paul Heiney and solo

around-the-world speed record

hopeful Alex Alley – will be

taking part in the first Morning

Cloud Sailing Talks of 2018 on

12 April. Tickets cost £30 and

are available by emailing

arundellssailingtalks

@gmail.com.

MULTIHULLS RETURN

For the first time since 2003,

multihulls will be able to compete

in the Azores and Back race (AZAB).

LIGHTHOUSE UPGRADE

Work to modernise Sark Lighthouse

has been completed, bringing it into

line with navigational requirements.

BURRY PORT MARINA SOLD

The 450-berth Burry Port Marina

in south Wales has been bought

by Marine & Property Group Ltd.

Milestone for Spirit Yachts

Spirit 111’ is due to be launched in the summer of 2019

Holyhead Marina

has described

the damage as

‘catastrophic’

So far, 12 yachts

are confirmed

NEWS