How many luxuries would you be willing to give up for a cracking sailing boat? Graham Snook tests the RM 970 in La Rochelle to find out
What sort of boat would a Vendée Globe Race winner buy? Well, if you’re François Gabart, the Vendée’s youngest winner, it’s an RM970. If that doesn’t convince you that this quirky plywood boat is worth the once over, she's also the 2017 European Yacht of the Year in the family cruiser category. Whether she’ll suit your family is a question only you can answer.
Performance
The last RM I tested, the smaller 890, reached over 9 knots in 20 knots of apparent wind and I was really hoping for a nice breeze on this test, too. Sadly we set off in a true wind topping out at 0.7 knots. Luckily the sky was clear and the sun was hot so we soon had a light sea breeze filling in. When the breeze did arrive it became apparent that the wind angle sensor wasn’t calibrated, so all apparent wind angle readings are approximate.
In the light conditions I was impressed with how responsive and light she was the helm. She had Goïot steering, which worked like a dream – the only dampener on the experience was the Raymarine autopilot ram squeaking annoyingly when the arm came out of its housing, but there was just one R-spring clip to disconnect the arm from the steering system and silence it. The steering was well balanced, smooth and felt great; nicely manoeuvrable without being twitchy. It was easy to sail her to make the most of the wake of passing ships.
She cruises along nicely with the standard Volvo D1-20 engine, doing 4.5 knots at 2,100rpm.
At the helm
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
I WAS THE ONLY SAILOR ON OUR FAMILY CHARTER AND IT HAD TO GO WELL
Crystal waters, cliff tombs and sunken outboards lain Willis wanted to ensure plain sailing for his family’s first charter around Turkey's Lycian Coast
HOW IT WORKS SEAWATER PUMP
The water and oil seals on a water pump shaft will eventually wear with time, leading to pump-shaft corrosion or loss of engine oil.
THOUSANDS OF MILES ACROSS THE INDIAN OCEAN
Floris and Ivar battled severe weather and cross swell to sail from Australia to South Africa, but there were beautiful islands on the way
The secret of yachts with enduring appeal
Fashions come and go, but J-Boats remain a safe choice for great sailing boats, whether you want to own it for ever or sell it
Tragic sinking of Bayesian; Italian prosecutors investigate
The sinking of the Bayesian superyacht in reportedly only 16 minutes and the tragic loss of seven lives has sent a shudder through the sailing community and beyond.
THE ADVENT OF MARINE AI TECHNOLOGY
Fonathon Savill reports on the revolutionary impact artificial intelligence is about to have on all areas of life at sea
IMPROVING SINGLE-LINE REEFING
Martin Watts explains how to reduce the friction on the reefing lines of newer yachts
The secrets of skippering a successful cruise
Setting off on a cruise is easy, but planning a route that keeps your options open and ensures the enjoyment of all on board is more of an art
CRUISING THE KINGDOM OF THE ISLES
Joanna Martin and her husband Mark sail across the Irish Sea to the legendary sea kingdom and to draw the wonderful wildlife there
MOODY DS48
Can a boat built for long-term, long-distance cruising and offering one-level living still deliver an enjoyable sailing experience? Theo Stocker sets sail across the English Channel to find out
