Waiting for the tide
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The news from the Indian Ocean has been relentless. Two Golden Globe yachts were rolled and dismasted within 48 hours and skipper Abhilash Tomy, who I tipped as a potential winner, appears to have suffered a severe back injury. As we went to press both he and Irish skipper Gregor McGuckin had been rescued. For the full story, see page 6.
On a completely different tack, I spent the day sailing with two liveaboards during the Southampton Boat Show – an American and a Haitian, Dan and Kika – who have made themselves famous by releasing weekly videos that they devise, film, edit and post themselves on their YouTube channel Sailing Uma (Uma is the name of their boat).
The couple bought their 1972 Pearson 36 four years ago for $3,000 with no engine and a wobbly keel and have filmed themselves fitting their own electric engine, lithium batteries, fixing keelbolts and grinding fibreglass. They are down-to-earth and great company. Look out for a more in depth interview and article from me next issue.
Dan and Kika are the second YouTube sailing couple to have been invited to the UK by National Boat Shows. Their Sailing Uma presentation on the stage at Southampton Boat Show went down a storm and is definitely a step in the right direction toward attracting new, young boat owners away from all the competing interests on land and out on to the water.