Why we're doing the ARC
Practical Boat Owner|February 2020
Ali Wood meets four boat crews at different stages in their lives as they get ready to embark on a transatlantic voyage
Why we're doing the ARC

LITTLE ISLAND – THE NEWLYWEDS

“When we got the news from home it put everything in perspective”

Three days to go until the start of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers and the smallest boat in the fleet, the 34ft Moody Little Island, is the busiest. Up the mast is a rigger, while in the cabin a safety check is in progress.

Martin Platts passes down buckets with newly attached lanyards whilst his wife Catherine ticks off a checklist with safety officer, Vicky. They’ve a lot to be dealing with right now. Earlier in the week they received the devastating news that Catherine’s sister has cancer, so her mother Mandy – their third crewmember – will be flying home.

“We were meant to do the ARC together, but I couldn’t do it, not now,” Mandy says, tearfully. “I’ve bought them an autopilot instead. It’s a Christmas and birthday present in one.”

Catherine and Martin hand-steered all the way from the Isle of Wight, so an autopilot is a luxury for the experienced sailors. Even so, their insurers, Admiral Marine, were concerned about the crew situation. “We don’t normally insure double-handers for the crossing,” says Robert Holbrook. “If anything goes wrong – gear failure or illness – you end up in a single-handed situation where the chance of an insurance claim is high.”

However, Robert and colleague Richard Chitty were reassured after visiting the couple. “Catherine had spent six weeks with a rigger getting the boat ready, and that gave us peace of mind. It’s their safety we were concerned about, but we’re confident they’ll get across.”

There are shoes lined on the pontoon (Catherine’s terrified of bringing cockroach eggs onboard), and the young couple, married in July this year, are putting on a brave face.

Bu hikaye Practical Boat Owner dergisinin February 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Practical Boat Owner dergisinin February 2020 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

PRACTICAL BOAT OWNER DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
Orca sink yacht in Strait of Gibraltar
Practical Boat Owner

Orca sink yacht in Strait of Gibraltar

Spain's maritime rescue service, Salvamento Maritimo, has reported that a 15m (49ft) yacht sank in Moroccan waters in the Strait of Gibraltar following interaction with a pod of orca.

time-read
1 min  |
Summer 2024
No kill cord or lifejackets were worn during fatal powerboat crash
Practical Boat Owner

No kill cord or lifejackets were worn during fatal powerboat crash

A kill cord and lifejacket are useless unless worn-that's the warning from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), following its investigation into a powerboat crash that killed a 32-year-old woman and five-year-old girl on 2 October 2022.

time-read
2 dak  |
Summer 2024
Multihull sail work
Practical Boat Owner

Multihull sail work

Brush up on multihull sailing skills before heading off on charter with Gavin Le Sueur's guide to spinnaker handling, tacking and gybing

time-read
4 dak  |
Summer 2024
Five top causes of engine failure and how to prevent them
Practical Boat Owner

Five top causes of engine failure and how to prevent them

Jake Kavanagh talks to Sea Start marine engineer Nick Eales about how to avoid the five major causes of an engine breakdown at sea

time-read
10+ dak  |
Summer 2024
Sail the Atlantic with strangers
Practical Boat Owner

Sail the Atlantic with strangers

Would you sail across the Atlantic with someone you've just met? Ali Wood meets the cruising crews who've done just that

time-read
10 dak  |
Summer 2024
IZIBoat: simple sailing
Practical Boat Owner

IZIBoat: simple sailing

Rupert Holmes sails an innovative catamaran design intended to widen participation in sailing among those with little time to get on the water in more conventional craft

time-read
7 dak  |
Summer 2024
30 WAYS TO GET AFLOAT
Practical Boat Owner

30 WAYS TO GET AFLOAT

From tall ships to small dinghies, you needn't own a boat to sail. Ali Wood looks at the options, and how skippers can also find crew

time-read
10+ dak  |
Summer 2024
Boats for restoring under £20,000
Practical Boat Owner

Boats for restoring under £20,000

Duncan Kent picks the best sub-35ft sail and power boats to look for when aiming to undertake a restoration on a budget

time-read
10+ dak  |
Summer 2024
Seaworthy dinghies for less than £500
Practical Boat Owner

Seaworthy dinghies for less than £500

For low cost traditionally-styled GRP trailer-sailers, consider the Foreland and the Otter available at bargain basement prices

time-read
5 dak  |
Summer 2024
Playing with coloured sails
Practical Boat Owner

Playing with coloured sails

Maintaining an hourglass-shaped balloon and ratcheting up the log numbers

time-read
3 dak  |
Summer 2024