Category: Latest News

The adventure of a lifetime kicked off in grand style. 28 beautiful Oyster’s lined up in the perfect 20kt breeze off the start line in Antigua. 

Over the next 16 months we will keep you up to date on their progress. We will share their experiences of sail choice and what what covers they are finding most useful. We will bring you details of the Karver Top Down furler systems, twin headsail systems, storm sails and the wide variety of awnings and covers that the boats have chosen to protect themselves and enhance their circumnaigation.

First stop will be Panama where the fleet will gather before transiting the canal in convoy. 

 

 

World Cruising Club 2012

The 2012 ARC will be starting on Sunday 25th November from Las Palmas, preparations for the 2700 mile crossing are nearly complete. Over 230 boats are expected on the start line and we are pleased to say a lot will be powered by Dolphin sails. Dolphin has supplied sails and covers to the majority of the 24 Oysters who are crossing, plus the 12 that set off earlier this month independently. In addition to all the Oysters there will be ‘Heartbeat IV’ (Dufour 45e) and ‘Sirius’  a 55′ ketch taking part. 

As always there has been much discussion regarding downwind sail settings. For the Oysters there has been a good mixture of twin headsail systems and asymmetrics chosen. The Karver top down furler has also proven to be very popular. It is very reliable and easy to deploy from the safety of the cockpit. 

We wish all the crews a fun and safe trip – we look forward to following their progress via the trackers and various blogs!

 

Contact Jon Sturmer for further details. 

 

 

 

Palma – Another Classic Regatta

26 Oysters flying the flags of 9 nations gathered in Palma for the 30th Oyster Regatta and the 8th to be hosted by Real Club Nautico.

Sponsored by our friends at Lewmar, Race One saw the fleet set off in the rain and gusty conditions for the 20 mile race around to the picturesque town of Andraitx. 

After a short windward leg, most boats set asymmetrics and headed for the finish. Racing was tight and a number of gybing duals took place. 

Rounding the top mark was simple for the Oyster 66 Goodwins. At the beginning of the summer she took delivery of her new Dolphin asymmetric sail and Karver Top Down furling system. Having practised earlier in the summer and learnt the few tricks necessary she quickly hoisted the furled sail and unfurled it. In a blink of an eye Goodwins had a filled sail and was taking time out of her competitors. She went on to claim second in Class One just behind the very well sailed 72, AlbertOne3. 

The Oyster fleet have been at the forefront of taking advantage of the benefits that the Top Down furlers offers. Owners and crews are seeing the benefits of a system that is simple to store, easier to deploy, reliable and easy to use as the furling can all be done from the saftey of the cockpit.

In Class Two a gybing dual ensued between Sarabande and Light Lana – two 54’s. It was very close all the way with Light Lana finishing just 11 seconds behind Sarabande.

After the wet start to the day the sun finally came out and the fleet enjoyed a private wine tasting at the nearby Santa Catarina Bodegues Cellar.

The return trip to Palma was a lively affair. In lumpy conditions the wind built to 30+ knots at times. The testing conditions were no match for the Oyster fleet and apart from a few minor issues the boats revelled in the conditions.

In Class One Billy Budd got off to a flier, she hit the line at a full speed and didn’t look back. Her Italian crew worked her hard and this paid off to claim well deserved line honours. Billy Budd is one of the most widely travelled Oysters with adventures around the globe recorded in a fabulous book that includes many stunning photos.

3rd in Class One and sailing a very good race were the German team on board the 655, Anabasis. 

Class Two was again won by Sarabande, however she was pushed very hard by the 53 from Sweden, Lisanne and Light Lana.

Race Three was sponsored by Dolphin Sails, the course was set around the bay in the shadow of the magnificent Cathedral. With more wind than forecast the Race Officer was busy trying to keep track of each boats down wind sail declarations. Initially the fleet were opting for ‘coloured’ sails but as the breeze developed to a steady 20+kts the VHF was conjested with boats urgently changing options.

With cruiisng chutes now stowed, the fleet got off to a cracking start. Satika was first away but was soon under pressure from the larger 72’s and 82’s. Sadly gear failure prevented Satika from competing for an overall victory. The custom 82 Starry Night sailed on to take line honours and the win on handicap. 

It was the usual battle in Class Two between Light Lana and Sarabande, but on this occassion they were joined by the 56 Magic Spirit. In a close finish Sarabande scored her 3rd win, followed by Light Lana and then the Swiss team of Magic Spirit.

With just enough time for one more race, a box course was set up in the bay for the end of regatta pursuit race. With a projected 2 hour time limit the staggered start got underway. The slower boats fought hard to keep the big boys behind them. With clean air the early starters got away and despite a masive wind shift in the final 20 minutes that favoured the bigger boats Gaia held onto to win the much prized Pursuit Trophy and in fact she led a British 123!

Overall the windy conditions served as a good test for the boats embarking on the Oyster World Rally. From everyone at Dolphin we would like to wish them well on what is going to be a great adventure. 

Next stop is Antigua in early January for the start of the World Rally and then it will be back in the Caribbean for Regatta number 31 in the fantastic setting of Grenada. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Burnham Week got off to a great start with 20 of the remaining 22 Royal Burnham One Designs making the start line. It is ceratinly the class to be in for hot racing and great parties as they celebrate being 80 years young.

The racing was very tight on the first Saturday. In a good breeze Onyx won the race shortly followed by Blue Jacket and Annette filling the other top spots.

Race Two had the fleet starting upwind in a westerly direction. Amanda was just around the first mark ahead of Onyx and she managed to hold on to win but she was pushed all the way by Annette, Blue Jacket and Quartz. Onyx only dropped down the fleet after it was thought she might have touched a mark, she took the penalty just to be sure it didnt result in a protest.

Race Three was another tight battle. Red Jacket sailed clear to win the day and was followed on to the podium by Blue Jacket and Quartz.

Blue Jacket sailed fast all weekend and her consistancy gave her the overall victory for the weekend. The top four boats were all 100% Dolphin!

In perfect conditions the latest Oyster 82 started her sea trials.

She is fitted with a full suit of Dolphin DYS Dyneema laminate upwind sails and a stunning asymmetric.

For more details contact Matthew Vincent or Jon Sturmer

Asymmetric artwork by OceanArt!

A wet and windy Solent was the setting for the 29th Oyster Regatta. 20 boats gathered in Cowes Yacht Haven for the latest series of racing and fun, which also had the magnificent backdrop of the classic yacht regatta.

The windy conditions helped add to the excitement and quality of racing. Oysters are at their best in a good blow and when the boats are powered up you can see the crews really enjoy themselves.

Race 1, sponsored by Dolphin Sails, got off to an excellent start in a good breeze. In Class 1 the larger boats slogged it out. Starry Night with her experience of racing in the Solent came out on top in front of the well sailed 56 Asante. The new 575 ISIS, sporting her full suit of Dolphin sails was a very credible 3rd followed closely by Sotto Vento. Class 2 was very tactical, with eventually Spirit of Epsilon, still using her original Dolphin sails, working the tides the best to take the race win.

Race 2 saw the fleet work their way from Cowes to Portsmouth. Again the wind was good but the rain was ‘of biblical’ proportions. With the race being predominately downwind many of the fleet choose their offwind sail rating. Using her new Dolphin fully battened mainsail Kite Runner claimed first in Class 2 ahead of the Oyster 46 Astraeus de Luz and Tenens Spirit. Class 1 had some very tight on the water action. The 655 Sotto Vento lead the fleet around the course only to lose line hours to Starry Night (Oyster 82) in the last few meters, but at least Sotto could be pleased with her 3rd place finish on handicap. The race winner, ISIS, was greatly helped by her new asymmetric set from the Karver Top Down furler. Big boats mean big sails and the introduction of furling systems that allow much easier setting of off wind sails is a huge bonus. The sail is set between a head and drum furling unit that is connected by a custom made anti torsional stay. The tack is lashed on to an independent swivel so that when the continuous furling line is pulled the sail furls from the head down. Once furled, in moderate conditions, the sail can be left in situ whilst rounding the mark or heading into a marina. This safe and easy system is becoming increasingly popular alternative to the traditional ‘squeezer’.

Race 3 returned the yachts to Cowes, thankfully in much drier conditions. The lighter breeze and upwind course suited Prince De Petarcq the Oyster SJ41 from Belgium. In Class 1 Asante sailed very well to take the honours just in front of ISIS and then Starry Night.

Going into the final race anyone of a number of boats could have won their Class. A good wind was blowing from the SW and the fleet were initially sent west before zig zagging back to the east. With plenty to play for the fleet were away from the Squadron line promptly. Class 1 had now been joined by Bare Necessities who had a great tussle with Starry Night, the latter coming out triumphant. Class 2 produced a surprise winner, with the smallest cruising Oyster, Sundance of Chichester, a 42 popped up to take victory in the last race. She was closely followed by the consistently well sailed Astraeus da Luz and Kite Runner.

With a bottle of Champagne on offer to the first boat to cross the start line in each race special mentions must go to the starting helms on Little Morton and Boysterous of Inverness, both boats kept the refrigerators full!.

ISIS is the latest Oyster 575 to be launched and the Regatta was her first major event. She has been fitted with Dolphin DYS Dyneema laminate upwind sails and an Asymmetric set on a Karver Top Down furler.

For more details on the Karver furlers and our services contact Jon Sturmer or Matthew Vincent. 01255 243366

The 2012 SailEast series got off to a cracking start, in perfect conditions 26 boats came to the start line. In Class One Holding Pattern came out the blocks very quickly securing two bullets on Saturday and she was followed closely by Inn Spirit and Booty!. Inn Spirit was sporting her two new Dolphin headsails, she had opted for the D4 Aramid membrane for the No 1 and the XTech tri radial for the No 3.   On Sunday with the winds slightly lighter Inn Spirit reigned supreme, with Holding Pattern and Booty again filling the other podium positions. 

 

Holding Patterns great set of results gave her the overall victory for the weekend.

 

The fleet now have a long break until the 15^th July when they will meet again for round 2 during the Felixstowe Regatta.  

Congratulation to ‘Resting Goose’ a Jeanneau 49 DS for winning 5 out of 6 races in her class during Antigua Sailing Week. This great series of results won her the distinction of being the top British boat. ‘Resting Goose’ is fitted with a full inventory of Dolphin sails. 

Also having great week was ‘Zig Zag’, an Oyster 82, she is sailing with a suit of DYS Dyneema radial designed sail. She comfortably held off competition from ‘Starry Night’ a custom Oyster 82. 

With the British weather being so unpredictable it is important to get the right protection from the rain and sun. We have just fitted this great all in one stackpack and boom awning to a J120. It takes just a few minutes to set the awning up, which when not in use is neatly stowed in the side of the stackpack. The cover has been made using the great new fabric WeatherMax80