Peter flew to the other side of the world to buy the boat of his dreams but got more than he bargained for when he cruised home on another, strangely familiar yacht.
When I was asked to write about why I was building my FPB 78 Grey Wolf II to replace my FPB 64 Grey Wolf, I smiled, as the purchase of my small FPB fleet actually came about almost the other way around! Let me explain…
I have always been a mad keen yachtsman and I love to go places. I live in the Channel Islands, and my original trusty Botnia Targa has taken me to Norway and many places in between. She is still in the fleet and is definitely a keeper, as she is great for the treacherous waters of the Channel Islands and for excursions to France for lunch or our holiday house, and for trips back to the UK as well.
During the planning for the sale of my business, I looked hard at the market to see what we might buy as a family to take us further afield. My non-boating wife Judith is game to join in but the Targa lacks anything more than the basics below decks, and maritime camping is quite sensibly not her thing. We also wanted space for friends and a yacht on which I could cross oceans. I had looked at all the usual suspects and then came across the FPB Programme, built in New Zealand by Circa Marine, and designed by the legend of blue-water sail and power cruising, Steve Dashew.
A FLYING START
I was keen to know more, and after many conversations with Sue Grant at FPB’s global marketing agent Berthon, and Steve Dashew himself, it became clear to me that an FPB could offer me the ability to cross oceans, experience high-latitude cruising and to do so quickly, safely and economically in comfort. The more that I talked and read, the more it looked as if this could be the yacht for Judith and I.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2017 من Motor Boat & Yachting.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 2017 من Motor Boat & Yachting.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Lofoten or Bust- Part 4- Grandezza owner Per Harrtoft heads back to Sweden after an epic 3500nm adventure deep into the Arctic Circle to visit the mythical Lofoten islands
After ten memorable days in the Lofoten Islands in the far north of Norway, we are on our way back south towards Sweden. We have already made it as far as Trondheim, a charming place even if it was raining so hard we had to cycle round the city centre clutching umbrellas. But now we are back on board Deamare, our Grandezza 40 Fly, eating up the miles at a steady 31 knots.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YACHT TRANSPORT
As the name suggests it's a means of having your boat moved professionally from one location to another. It might be as simple as hiring someone to tow your RIB a few miles down the road or as complex as shipping a superyacht halfway around the world.
HANDLE A SINGLE SHAFTDRIVE BOAT PART 1
Single shaftdrive boats are relatively rare these days but the reduced costs of buying, servicing and fuelling such a simple but reliable drivetrain does mean they are making a bit of a comeback.
COCKWELLS MOTOR LAUNCH
There can be very few boats that have appeared three times at the Southampton Boat Show and been sold off the stand each time.
INSTALLING AN AUTOPILOT
Rick Channon makes solo boating simple with a Raymarine Evolution Autopilot
GOOD AS NEW
Why fit a brand new engine when Volvo Penta's remanufacturing service can rebuild you an old one to the same standard for a fraction of the price?
BENETEAU SWIFT TRAWLER 54
Alex Smith heads to France's Beneteau HQ for a UK exclusive on what might just be the best Swift Trawler yet
ΧΟ EXPLR 44
Can XO's all-new aluminium flagship really make it big in the Med?
BUYING OUR FIRST CLASSIC
Instead of whiling away their retirement playing bowls, Rob and Shona Adams decided to invest their time and money in a classic Silver gentleman's yacht. Would the gamble pay off?
PRINCESS S65
Torn between the V and F Class flagships? The new S65 might be the boat you've been waiting for...
