Big Boats - Falmouth/English Harbour (pics)

Faster · #1 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010

It's always an eye opener to stroll the docks in Falmouth and English harbours to see how the other half (quarter? tenth?) lives. The neat thing is that these docks are open to the public, not behind fences and locked gates like so many in North America. It's a rare opportunity to get a glimpse of this world.

This year the 2nd running of the RORC Caribbean 600 was also on, adding some pretty cool race boats to the mix. Unfortunately the strangely light/calm conditions trapped racers this year, in a race that had no time limit in the race instructions. (who would ever thing such a thing was needed here??) But though conditions weren't as "promised by the posters" when we attended the after party the mood was high (though one boat was still doggedly trying to complete the course)

There are some beauties here, but I have to say that I find Mirabella V to be a bit of a monstrous white elephant. Other than the technological achievement it represents, I don't see the point.

Enjoy!

I thought this a clever solution to the stern gangway requirement:

Some of the Racers:

Winner Beau Geste

Swan 90 DSK

Open 40s

Bella Pita

And now for the other end of the spectrum... also on-going (still) is the Atlantic rowing race.. this boat arrived while we were there - a single rower, finishing 400 nm ahead of all other competitors including the doubles!

klem · #2 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010

It is always scary to see how many of these boats exist. I believe that the low freeboard blue boat in your first picture is Rebeca which is a very impressive boat. We see her up in Maine from time to time and she is really quite elegant for the type of boat that she is. The owner didn't want to have an exposed anchoring setup so there is a hydraulic door beneath the waterline which opens to allow her to anchor. She is one boat where an anchor ball really is necessary.

Nice photos.

xort · #3 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010

do I see correctly..."40 Degrees" is a tiller steer boat?

jrd22 · #4 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010

Nice pics Fast. For some reason I find myself thinking about how much time it would take me to wash and then wax one of those. Probably explains why I don't have one, and never will

.

Faster · #5 (**permalink**) 03-03-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by xort

do I see correctly..."40 Degrees" is a tiller steer boat?

I believe that both Open 40s were tiller steered, yes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrd22

Nice pics Fast. For some reason I find myself thinking about how much time it would take me to wash and then wax one of those. Probably explains why I don't have one, and never will

.

That's it, John.... same for me

- but a crew of a half dozen Kiwi or Aussie chicklets could do the job for us!

Zanshin · #6 (**permalink**) 03-04-2010

Nice Pictures! From the last time I was there, here is the Maltese Falcon docked in Falmouth, making her neighbour, Nero, look small and tawdry in comparison:

JohnRPollard · #7 (**permalink**) 03-04-2010

Drool. Slobber.

That hinged aft cockpit seat that became a curved passerelle on Bena is very clever. But I think I prefer the recessed passerelles on the other boats, that tucked away like an MOB pole.

PCP · #8 (**permalink**) 03-04-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by xort

do I see correctly..."40 Degrees" is a tiller steer boat?

40 degrees is a Class40 boat, an inexpensive and very popular European ocean racing class, for solo or duo crews. I believe all 40class boats have tillers. They are more sensitive, more simple and give you a better feeling.

40 Degrees - Class 40 Yacht

One of the races is a duo world circumnavigation: "Global Ocean Race". Next one: 2011

The first one had only six competitors, this one has already 13 entries. At 555 days from starting, it is a very good indicator for a great race. Among the inscriptions, one American, two South-Africans and two New Zealand, among Italians, French and German teams.

Global Ocean Race 2011-12 : Home

Many boats from the Open60 class (a lot bigger) also use tillers.

Regards

Paulo

PCP · #9 (**permalink**) 03-04-2010

Faster, take a look at this picture:

Last summer I have been at the same port at one of the boats that you have posted, a Farr designed boat (Portoferraio, on Elba Island).

The owner is a sailor

. It is not one of those guys that keeps the boat in a Marina. I have seen it sailing several times on the Med. It is a very fast boat, for a cruising boat.

Faster · #10 (**permalink**) 03-04-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCP

Faster, take a look at this picture:

Last summer I have been at the same port at one of the boats that you have posted, a Farr designed boat (Portoferraio, on Elba Island).

The owner is a sailor

. It is not one of those guys that keeps the boat in a Marina. I have seen it sailing several times on the Med. It is a very fast boat, for a cruising boat.

Yes, she is "Sojourner" and was still in Antigua because she broke her mizzen boom in the Superyacht regatta a few weeks previous. We shared a cab with two Brits sent down to repair the boom, it was reinstalled the day we left.

A very interesting boat, and by all accounts very swift too.

Here's a shot of her cockpit, with the mizzen and missing boom to the right.