The Club Yacht
Excellent all round sailing on the Club's own Sigma 38!

Introducing our Yacht - a Sigma 38

Rationale

In Spring 2008 the CUY Committee discussed whether activity levels and financial stability were sufficient to warrant the purchase of a club yacht for the dedicated use of members. The Committee voted to purchase a Sigma 38 yacht which will come into action commencing 1st June, ready for the Summer Programme 2008!

A Club Yacht will give the following key benefits to members:

• Cheaper trips - a cost reduction of around 25%
• RYA practical training courses - predominantly Day Skipper & Coastal Skipper courses
• Other smaller benefits such as flexibility of trip timings/lengths and complete freedom in itinerary
• An awesome sound system...

Overview of Sigma 38

Designed by David Thomas as a result of a competition commissioned by the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the Royal Thames Yacht Club, with the brief to create an Offshore One Design fleet, the Sigma 38 has become one of the most popular one design fleets ever produced. Over 170 yachts were built and the Sigma 38 fleet remains one of the largest one design fleets at all the major racing events. They are exceptional all round yachts, being easy to handle both under sail and power, whilst still offering fast spritely performance and excellent ability under sail that always leave a smile on your face and puts all the Bavarias, Jeanneaus, Beneteaus and other crap on the charter market solidly into perspective! They may not be the absolute fastest boat out there, but their strength and forgiving handling engender confidence, allowing you to push them right to the edge, define it, and then go past it! (And it doesn't cost too much if it all breaks!) Whether it be for fast cruising or training, they have all the technical hardware to enable fine sail tuning, making them excellent boats to learn on. Unlike more modern designs, they keep going when the weather gets tough, refraining from slamming, instead riding the waves with consummate ease and a seakindly motion that differentiates them from the more modern "vomit-comets" that may go faster but leave the crew wondering why they chose to go rollercoastering for the whole weekend.

Down below she has a large chart table, which will be supplemented on our yacht by all the latest navigation aids, including a Raymarine chartplotter, radar, and advanced vessel identification system (AIS). There are ten berths in total, 2 double aft cabins, 4 main saloon berths, and a double forecabin, with heating outlets in all cabins from the onboard diesel heater (useful in winter!). They are comfortable boats, with a cosy feel somewhat akin to a traditional pub with woodwork as opposed to more modern boats which feel like swanky bars and have the same sort of "ikea" feel to them.

Above all a Sigma 38 is a seaworthy boat that looks after her crew whilst at sea and whilst in port. She has a seasoned personality of a yacht that has done everything and does it in a relaxed style without needing to show off, rather than a brash growling modern yacht that, like always with youth, lacks experience and can only cope with some weather conditions.

More specific information can be found by clicking the links at the top of this page.

Overview of Planned Usage

During term time and the Christmas vacation the Club Yacht will be used for most of the regular cruising and adventurous trips as well as for an increased amount of training, both informal training and the RYA Practical courses, such as Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper. The yacht will not be used for racing in the first year, so that we can make the most use out of it for cruising and training and avoid expensive damages. (Racing trips will still be happening on charter yachts - see below.) After the first year, the CUY Committee will consider whether to start racing it in addition to continuing to use it for training and cruising. During Mich and Lent term the yacht will most likely be based in Swanick marina on the River Hamble - perfectly centrally located in the Solent, as well as being right next to a 24hr Tesco, a massive chanderly, and walking distance from a railway station (Burseldon). The River Hamble is an excellent location, allowing entry and exit in all conditions, either just for a play in the Solent, or for cross channel trips or coastal trips in either direction.

During the Easter vacation and term time, as the weather warms up, the yacht will likely be based at Ipswich Yacht Haven on the East Coast, and will be able to explore the Thames Estuary as well as going further afield to the culture rich ports of Belgium, Holland and France.

Most importantly, each Summer we will have an extended period of cruising with continuous back to back trips allowing extensive itineraries. The year we plan to go to Norway and Scotland and further details can be found both on the Summer Programme page and individual trips can be found on the main Programme (when they've been finalised).

In later years we will be considering these other cruise itineraries, but of course if you have a suggestion then do let us know, or better yet join the CUY Committee and help make it happen!

• Cruise into the Baltic to sail around archipelagoes of Sweden and Finland as well as visiting Estonia and the Danish islands!
• Cruise to the Atlantic coast of France & Spain with possible inclusion of an offshore passage to the Azores.
• Cruise to Cornwall, the Sciliy Ils, Wales and South West Ireland, with possible inclusion of the Fastnet Race and/or Cork Week regatta!
• Anything else people want to do!

...And We'll Still be Chartering Other Yachts - the Best of Both Worlds!

Owning our own yacht will significantly reduce the cost of trips as well as directing trips fees towards investment in a club asset rather than continuing to give it to charter companies. However, getting a Club Yacht doesn't mean we will completely stop charting other yachts as we recognise that this is important both in order that people experience a variety of types of yacht and also to allow multi-boat trips to continue to run. Therefore, expect to see trips on different yachts, including the continuation of all racing trips and the continuation of the annual Med trip. Equally, where demand for a particular sailing trip/location is high we will investigate chartering a commercial yacht to increase the capacity of the trip and add the extra "two boat" comradery that adds an extra twist to the trip.

Feedback

Yacht ownership is a novel project for the club and there are many variables that are not possible to predict from the outset. Therefore, we will always be very keen to hear comments and feedback about anything to do with the Club Yacht, be it specific feedback on technical things that can be improved about the yacht, or more subjective thoughts about how trips are running or how the Club Yacht "feels".

In the first instance just e-mail theyacht@cuy.org.uk or commodore@cuy.org.uk.