Cruisers, Yachts and Dinghy Reviews from WhatBoat?

Below are a list of recent reviews on boats, dinghys, cruisers etc as provided by WhatBoat? Click on the headlines to review the full article.

WhatBoat? Magazine News Win a Gola Watch 3 Watches to win New Gola Watches to go. Win a watch with Gola We have 3 Gola branded watches to give away to UK residents. The watches are from Gola bring who have a wide spectrum of unisex watches. Each one is applied with their signature branding for the summer season ahead! All you need to be eligible to win one of these great watches is to ensure you follow us on Twitter @WhatBoat and post us a picture of you on any boat via Twitter. First ensure that you follow @WhatBoat on your twitter account. Second Send Tweet of a picture of you boating and add the hashtag #whatboatpics at the end Example Here is a picture of me competing in the Round the Island Race... #whatboatpics This competition is limited to UK residents only. We have 3 Gola watches to give away so get sending us those pictures via twitter just by adding #whatboatpics at the end of your tweet. Depending on the numbeer of entries our first winner will be announced July 4th... The Gola brand was born on 22nd May 1905, s June 17th, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Judgment clarifies mooring rights dating back to King Robert III of Scotland in1400 The Court of Session in Scotland has upheld The Crown Estate’s right to license and charge for moorings in Kames Bay on the Isle of Bute and the wider Firth of Clyde area. The Crown Estate owns the seabed to 12 nautical miles and has the lead role for moorings management in Scotland. The Opinion, presented by Lord Uist on June 4, means that The Crown Estate can now address the unlicensed moorings in Kames Bay and continue managing the limited mooring resource for the benefit of all marine users. The Judge stated: “It seems to me that this dispute about ownership of the seabed in Kames Bay has arisen because of the uninformed opinion of certain individuals that the royal charters granted property in the seabed to the Burgh. This view was based on a misconception, which I trust will now be dispelled.” Paul Bancks, Coastal Manager for The Crown Estate welcomed the judgment: “We took the case to ensure the issues surrounding the Charters were fully investigated and to confirm the princ June 16th, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Escape with Keen sandals One sandal that fits every occasion, the Escape H2 from Keen. The Escape H2 sandals from Keen have been in my possession for some time now... They have been from walking on Bondi Beach, kayaking in Sydney, and sailing in Sydney Harbour to welcome in Jessica Watson, and are perfect to wear on a long plane flight as well. The sandals from Keen I found very light, but because they have a central supportive plastic core, they never have that normal feeling as it they are about to drop off. This might not be welcome to those who want that loose feeling, but as footwear that can be equally used in the office as to on the beach which is great in the summer. No more thinking about what to put on my feet. I definitely like them for several reasons:- They feel very and not as if they are falling off all the time. They are made from material that can get wet and salty and no need to worry about care. You can commit the ultimate fashion sin and wear socks ( black one ONLY with the June 10th, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Take a break in Menorca Menorca Tourist Board has started a concerted promotional campaign aimed at attracting more yachting, boating and water sport lovers to its beautiful island shores. As well as boasting the world’s second largest natural harbour in Mahon, the island offers many pastimes from bathing in any of the many coves to windsurfing, sailing, waterskiing, scuba diving, fishing, or boating between the innumerable leisure ports along the coast. The northernmost of the Balearic Islands, water sports have played an integral role in its history and is offered in clubs across the island, many of which are concentrated in the capital of Mahón plus Addaia, Fornells, Ciutadella and Cala’n Bosch. On the land there is an emphasis on the Camí de Cavalls (Horses’ Path), a historical route that was used during the period of British domination and that follows the whole of the coast of Menorca. This is due to officially open in one month’s time after a restoration programme. The island cites over 5,000 June 3rd, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Romanian Boat Show Each year, Bucharest hosts the largest nautical event of Romania. Between the 5th and the 9th of May, in Baneasa Commercial Area, Romanian Boat Show expects all those who are passionate about sailing, yachting and, generally, water sports. 40 exhibitors will display 350 brands and 150 watercraft. The event, organized by Set Events, has already reached its fifth edition and is considered a true barometer of the nautical industry in Romania, setting the trends in yachting and boating and offering a clear perspective upon the sales dealers can expect throughout the year. Within the exhibition, the visitors can expect to find small, medium and large size motor boats, sail boats, yachts, manufactures, sailing and water sports accessories, as well as offers from related fields, associated with this kind of lifestyle: financial, fine drinks, cars and many others. Those who are not very familiar with the nautical field yet crave for the freedom and independence a boat can offer, will rece April 12th, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ America's Cup Defender submits 'constructed in country' opposition papers and a counter motion Société Nautique de Genève (SNG), the 33rd America's Cup defending yacht club, today presented its opposition arguments to the New York Supreme Court in response to Golden Gate Yacht Club's (GGYC) ninth lawsuit; a misguided interpretation of the ‘constructed in country' (CIC) requirement of the Deed of Gift, the event's governing document. SNG's comprehensive set of papers reaffirms its interpretation that only the ‘yacht or vessel' has to be constructed in the country of the club holding the Cup, and that sails do not. SNG's affirmations are supported by historical precedent, as reflected in the expert declaration of John Rousmaniere, a leading America's Cup historian, ‘the donors of the original Deed of Gift never contemplated limits on foreign sails or foreign sail technology. Those donors, in fact, hoisted British sails in first winning the Cup with the schooner America. In fact, in adding the CIC clause to the Deed in 1882, George Schuyler, the last surviving donor, sought to ens January 22nd, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2010 Extreme Sailing Series Europe Open for Official Entries The Notice of Race for the 2010 Extreme Sailing Series Europe has been issued, effectively opening the official entry period for the European series - closing date for entries is midnight on 15th March. The award-winning circuit, which saw over 200,000 spectators entertained by the ten international skippers and their crews on the dynamic Extreme 40s in 2009, once again promises to deliver a top-level sailing series, across six European destinations, an experiential VIP corporate hospitality experience and an ever-growing entertainment package on water and land for the general public. The closing date for entries to the 2010 series is 15 March 2010. "We continue negotiations with various potential main partners to support our long term plans for both the European and Asian series," commented Mark Turner, CEO of OC Group. "However, securing new partners before the European season kicks off is not absolutely necessary and won't affect our plans for 2010 - this year will be another spe January 20th, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Golden Gate Yacht Club vs Societe Nautique de Geneve The Golden Gate letter in full. The war of words starts to get nasty. Here for the full Golden Gate Yacht Club letter (http://www.whatboat.com/images/stories/2010/GGYC_Final_Signed.pdf) In reply to the letter from the Golden Gate Yacht Club above the Societe Nautique de Geneve writes:- Dear Commodore, This responds to your letter dated January 15, 2009. None of us were in Singapore and we both have to rely on the reports we received from our teams. Your accusation against a highly respected sailor is without grounds and very unfair. GGYC's representatives clearly bear the substantial responsibility of the negotiations' failure. While Alinghi representatives were acting in good faith in Singapore, GGYC lawyers filed a factually and legally baseless motion with the New York Supreme Court on a topic (Constructed in Country) that was a subject of those negotiations. This GGYC court filing was the cause of the failure of the negotiation and is further evidence of GGYC's bad faith condu January 18th, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ BMW Oracle seeks to disqualify Alinghi and to win the America's Cup in court Strong statements coming from Alinghi press. The press release in full reads While Brad Butterworth, Alinghi skipper and Société Nautique de Genève representative, was in Singapore engaged in good faith discussions to resolve remaining issues ahead of the 8 February America's Cup Deed of Gift Match in the presence of David Tillett, the chairman of the ISAF America's Cup Jury, and David Kellett, the ISAF representative, BMW Oracle unilaterally aborted talks by filing their ninth lawsuit against the Société Nautique de Genève at the New York Supreme Court seeking to disqualify the Defender from the upcoming Match. “BMW Oracle has already successfully disqualified 18 teams through the US courts to gain access to the Match, now they are seeking to win the Cup without ever racing for it,” said Brad Butterworth. “This latest lawsuit has come as a shock given we were planning a further meeting to finalise discussions today, it demonstrates extreme bad faith. Clearly they are not ready to January 13th, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alinghi publishes Notice of Race draft The Société Nautique de Genève, the 33rd America's Cup defending yacht club, today published a draft version of the Sailing Instructions for the 33rd America's Cup Deed of Gift Match due to start on the 8 February. This draft document has been sent to the challenger and may be discussed at the meeting between the two teams in the presence of the ISAF AC Jury Chairman, David Tillett, in Singapore on 12 January Draft Notice of Race (http://www.alinghi.com/multimedia/docs/2010/01/100108_33rd_AC_Sailing_Instructions_draft.pdf) Also published, draft amended 33rd America's Cup Notice of Race SNG also published a draft of the amended 33rd America's Cup Notice of Race incorporating the New York Supreme Court's recent decisions and following discussions with GGYC/BMW Oracle Racing representatives in Sydney on 15 December 2009 January 8th, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Alinghi arrives in Valencia for the 33rd America's Cup The 33rd America's Cup defending team, Alinghi, arrived in Valencia, Spain today and will transfer to its existing base in the Dársena (the inner harbour of Valencia) over the next couple of days to begin its final preparations towards the Deed of Gift Match that starts on 8 February. What is now largely seen as a slightly farcical race plagued by litigation it is good to have some progress to at least get ot the point of the water. The team's catamaran Alinghi 5, the masts and 20 support containers reached their final destination aboard the Cassandra B container ship on Monday afternoon after a 14 day voyage from the team's previous base in Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. “We hope that the people of Valencia will be excited to witness the arrival and preparation of our catamaran. We understand the American challenger has also arrived to Valencia and hopefully both boats will be moored in the Dársena and will provide a great spectacle. Since these new yachts are so fast a January 4th, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ben Ainslie to be present at the London International Boat Show to sign copies of his autobiography Ben Ainslie to be present at the London International Boat Show to sign copies of his Autobiography: Close to the Wind Britain’s most successful Olympic Sailor Ben Ainslie will be present on Saturday 9th January at the Tullett Prebon London International Boat Show located at Excel to sign copies his Autobiography "Close to the Wind". Knife-edge decisions, adrenalin rushes, extreme weather, bitter rivalries and heart-stopping races. They are all in a day's work for three-time Olympic gold and silver medallist sailor Ben Ainslie. And now you can experience the exhilarating whirlwind of Ben's life first hand in his autobiography Close to the Wind. From his proudest moment representing Team GB to one tough decision that almost risked destroying his career - this is a unique insight into the man who cannot let himself be second best. For your chance to purchase this unique book and to meet Ben, please visit: Henri Lloyd stand - N043J 12.30 – 2pm Mail Speed Marine - N064J 4- 5pm January 4th, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~