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MARCH 2013 ISSUE191
WWW.SAILINGTODAY.CO.UK 4.20
SAILIN
G TODAYW
WW
.SAILINGTODAY.CO.UK CRUISING: SPANISH RIAS
MY M
ARINA: WELLS-NEXT-THE-SEA
NEW: HANSE 345
USED: OYSTER 49PH 13 TOP TORCHES TESTED
191
MARCH 2013
NEW
BUYERS GUIDE: HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST NEW SAILS FOR YOUR BOAT
SPANISH RIAS PORT HOPPING WITH A TAPAS TWIST
POLISHED PERFORMER FASTER, EASIER, SMARTER WITH THE HANSE
345
SAFETY GEARTHE LATEST IN COMMS, AIS, PLBs AND LIFEJACKETS
CRUISING
GROUP TEST: 13 LED TORCHES MY MARINA: WELLS-NEXT-THE-SEA
OYSTER 49PHCLASSIC BLUE-WATER CRUISER FOR COUPLES
TESTEDYACHTS
YACHTING
CHELSEAMAR INE M A G A Z I N E S
CHELSEAMAR INE M A G A Z I N E S
YACHTSYACHTING
CHELSEAMAR INE M A G A Z I N E S
CHELSEAMAR INE M A G A Z I N E S
ST191 Cover Final.indd 1 21/01/2013 14:07Untitled-3 1 23/01/2013
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08 March 2013
Sailing newS from around the uK
news & views
The first ever Oyster World Rally is underway as 28 examples of
the Oyster range set sail from Antigua on 6 January. Participants
will spend the course of the next 16 months completing the
circumnavigation, almost entirely in the southern hemisphere.
Conditions at the start were said to be spectacular, with 20
knots of warm Trade Winds and brilliant sunshine. Each boat will
have their own story to tell of the fantastic voyage, including
Eddie Jordan of Formula One fame, sailing Oyster 885, Lush together
with his wife, Marie. Eddie is evidently a dab hand at the drums
and gave an impromptu gig along with a sensational guitarist on the
eve of the start.
After leaving Antigua, the rally is en-route to Panama with a
group rendezvous organised for all participants before entering the
Panama Canal to cross into the Pacific. All yachts taking part are
fitted with Yellowbrick trackers, which will remain on for the
duration of the 16-month event.
First we had the Heart of England Offshore Cruising Association
(HOEOCA), based near Coventry, now a new yacht club is opening in
the heart of the country, the Chipping Norton Yacht Club.
The new club is in the Cotswolds, famous for being one of the
highest points in Oxfordshire. So why create a yacht club on a hill
miles from the coast?
We may be on a hill miles
from the sea, lack moorings, have no dinghy park or river
frontage but in the Cotswolds there are hundreds of people with a
keen interest in boats and sailing, says Trevor Taylor, who
originally had the idea to form the new club.
CNYC members will get together to share experiences, hear
interesting speakers, find crew and enjoy social meetings and
indulge in general scuttlebutt at the bar.
Rallying TogetherPerfect Positioning?
ST191 News_TH_JF.indd 8 22/01/2013 17:04
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March 2013 09
Young MD Recognisedchatham Marines Managing Director, Philip
Marsh, has won the Scott Deverell Young Business Person of the Year
award at the Marine Trades association/Boating Business dinner.
The 32-year-old, joined the sailing footwear brand in 2008 as
Marketing Director and became Managing Director two years later.
Since then, the company has grown year on year, despite diffi cult
economic circumstances. Under his direction, the company has
expanded into new markets across Europe, as well as widened their
distribution.
I cant take all the credit, as everyone at chatham has helped
make 2012 a fantastic year for us and they too deserve a great deal
of recognition, Marsh commented.
Further A eldOpportunities to export to countries like china,
Brazil and South Korea must be grasped by the British marine
industry to help deliver growth, Business Minister Michael Fallon
has said.
Speaking at the Tullett Prebon London Boat Show, Mr Fallon made
the statement as he unveiled a joint Government and
industry-led plan to enhance the global competitiveness of
British marine business.
The UK Marine Export Strategy identifi es some of the most
promising sectors for British companies to target, including
offshore oil and gas, naval defence and leisure boats and
equipment.
The strategy features eight recommendations for growth, and also
includes analyses of emerging and mature economies across the world
that present the best opportunities for exports.
Patnerships PersistsOcean Safety, has signed a two-race contract
with clipper Ventures Ltd. to be an official supplier of the race.
Ocean Safety will supply the full range of safety equipment to each
of the 12 brand new 70ft (23m) competing yachts, which recently
arrived in the UK from the construction yard in china.
The company will also be providing training for safety and
survival and will supply a service package. Ocean Safety has
already supplied the past four clipper races over eight years. The
new clipper yachts were revealed for the first time at St Katharine
Docks in London during the Tullett Prebon London Boat Show.
Oman Sail a national initiative established in 2008 to
contribute to the development of Oman and Omanis through sailing
has welcomed the public to celebrate the offi cial opening of
Mussanah Marina and showcase the new facilities on offer for
recreational sailors and families at Mussanah Sports City.
The Marina located 85km along the coast
from Muscat has become a busy complex, complete with boatyard
and workshops, round the clock security and changing
areas for owners and visitors.The opening of the Marina
marks the start of another busy calendar for Oman Sail this
year. From hosting world championships to local community
programmes and events for the public Oman Sail plans to expand its
commercial activities and encourage the public to engage in fun
water activities along the beautiful coastline of Oman..
along the coast
officially oPEN
Send your StorieS to [email protected]
IN MARCHS yACHTS & yACHTINg FREE Offi cial RYA Dinghy Show
Guide Sail like a winner - Moth world champion shares his secrets
Ocean trials - the inside stories from the most testing moments of
the Vendee Globe Planning a campaign - learn from the organisation
of others to make 2013 your best season yet Plus new boats,
including a test of the lovely Elan 210, the latest events, news
and comment
IN MARCHS CLASSIC BoAT Colonel Whitbreads Yacht the boat which
inspired the fi rst global yacht race Rum the fi rst boat built to
beat the CIM rule, used for classic handicapping since the late
1990s Carlo Riva the legendary designer at 90 Results of our long
term varnish test Central London address Living on a barge in the
city Cruising Association: as valuable to yachtsmen today as it was
when founded in 1908
Ma
rch
2013
ww
w.ya
ch
tsan
dya
ch
ting
.co
.uk | Issu
e #1659
Vendee d
ram
a | M
atch ra
cing g
uru | Flying M
oths | Test: Ela
n 210 | Wa
rm kit
www.yachtsandyachting.co.uk9 770044 000205
0 3
The really wild side of the Vendee Globe
Ocean trials
Sail like a winnerMoth world champion shares his secrets
thingS yOu ShOuld knOw abOut Sir ben ainSlie8
4.30ISSUE N1659MARCH 2013
Make this your best year yet
hOw tOSuCCeed
in 2013
Tribute to a legendTribute to a legend
'Mr henri' lloyd
Central London address Living on a barge in the city
CATALAN CLASSICS Battle in Barcelona
Whitbreadsoriginal Yacht that inspired an ocean series
Radical new classic Built to beat the fleet
9 770950 331134
0 3
CRUISING ASSOCIATION TODAY Going online at sea
CENTRAL LONDON ADDRESS Living on a barge
Classic Boat T H E W O R L D S M O S T B E A U T I F U L B O A T
S
i
Carlo Riva at 90 A living legend
Varnish test Our long term findings
4.50 US$12.50
MARCH 2013
YACHTSYACHTING
CHELSEAMAR INE M A G A Z I N E S
CHELSEAMAR INE M A G A Z I N E S
YACHTSYACHTING
CHELSEAMAR INE M A G A Z I N E S
CHELSEAMAR INE M A G A Z I N E S
DONT MISS OUR SISTER TITLES www.chelseamagazines.com/shop
ST191 News_TH_JF.indd 9 22/01/2013 17:04
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14 MARCH 2013
HANSE 345
ST191 New Hanse345_dk_JF_CJ_TH.indd 14 22/01/2013 11:25
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New boat test
MARCH 2013 15
Hanse 345Duncan Kent sails the new Hanse 345 to see if she
performs as promised.
ST191 New Hanse345_dk_JF_CJ_TH.indd 15 22/01/2013 11:25
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24 March 2013
sPanisH Rias
ST191 SpanishRias_th_JF_CJ_TH.indd 24 21/01/2013 17:02
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March 2013 25
Crossing the Bay of Biscay is a daunting voyage for most
cruising sailors but, as Ann Rowe and Andy MacKellar discovered
last year, the reward of then being able to explore the stunning
Spanish Rias makes meeting the challenges of this passage well
worthwhile.
Closehauled under Costa Verde sunshine.
We began our second year as full-time liveaboards by day sailing
from our winter berth in Brittany to La Rochelle. Our original plan
was to make our
Biscay crossing in early June from La Rochelle to Bilbao. This
decision was based on the fact that it would involve only one
overnight, avoid the Landes Firing Range and the shallow port
entrances on the inshore route, enable us to see the Guggenheim and
experience Basque food and culture.
Over three weeks later and still waiting for a suitable
forecast, we changed our planned landfall port from Bilbao to Gijon
to allow us to claw back lost time and linger longer in the rias.
It meant two nights at sea, but after all the preparation wed done,
we werent fazed by this prospect.
setting sail foR sPainWe bid a melancholic and apprehensive
goodbye to our friends Tim and Karen, dropped our lines and set off
from La Rochelle after morning coffee.
The swell was greater than forecast but we were making good
progress and began our pattern of lone two-hour night watches at
2300.
There is something special about night sailing, particularly in
pleasant conditions. Being on watch on your own allows time to
contemplate life, the universe (quite literally) and why the gas
bottle only ever runs out when you are using it, usually at night.
Watching in awe as the moon rises on the horizon, a mysterious and
luminous amber spinnaker, is another marvel.
The next day we had numerous visits from schools of common
dolphins and, on one occasion, a pod of pilot whales. As the second
evening at sea progressed the wind freshened and an unpleasant
quartering sea developed. We repeated the pattern of night watches,
but found sleep difficult due to the continual rolling and noise.
Fortunately, we had both got sufficient rest the previous day when
conditions had been much calmer.
As dawn broke, we caught our first glimpse of
RiasThe rewarding
We had travelled nearly as far south in one passage as we did in
the whole of the previous year.
ST191 SpanishRias_th_JF_CJ_TH.indd 25 21/01/2013 17:02
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30 March 2013
Oyster 49PH
Could this be the perfect cruiser for couples? Toby Heppell gets
to grips with this rare Pilot House Oyster.
Oyster yachts around the 50ft mark are often hailed as some of
the finest bluewater cruisers on the market, particularly for
couples. Typically, they are solidly built providing a stable
platform for ocean passages and long distance cruises.
The size of just such a boat tends to mean they perform at their
best in conditions associated with ocean crossings
at least 10-15kn breezes. It was then, a slight disappointment
to step aboard Oyster 49 Blue Elixir II on a sunny Friday morning
and discover the lightest of zephyrs tickling the rigging.
Undeterred we had a look round the boat and managed to find
enough wind in patches of Southampton water to get a reasonable
idea of what she was like to sail.
The Holman and Pye designed Oyster 49 Pilot House may be a boat
unfamiliar to many in large part due to its relative rarity. The
boat is actually the hull of the popular Oyster 46, extended
somewhat and re-decked with the Pilot House layout, to allow
cruising from indoors, making them a more attractive motorsailing
style option. This set-up also allows for two large double berths
fore and aft.
Oyster49 Pilot House
AbOut tHe OwnerDick Long is an engineer by trade and has sailed
for most of his adult life. Previous boats have included dinghies,
sportsboats and cruiser/racers. He and his wife bought Blue Elixir
II with an aim to cruise across oceans with the boat providing a
happy compromise between sailing and luxury. The Oyster has been
extensively re-fitted under their stewardship after the previous
owners left her on the market for three years with little work.Blue
Elixir II is for sale and can be found
at:www.oysteryachts.com/brokerage
ST191 USED_Oyster49PH_th_jf_JF_CJ_TH.indd 30 22/01/2013
12:54
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March 2013 31
used boat test
ST191 USED_Oyster49PH_th_jf_JF_CJ_TH.indd 31 21/01/2013
17:22
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38 March 2013
the Port of Wells was sparkling and beautiful in the weak
mid-winter sunlight, but by God was it cold. If you sail out of
Wells and continue due north you will not make landfall
until you hit the Arctic! It was clear from the light breeze I
could feel on my face exactly where this weather had come from.
It is testament to the beauty of the small fishing town that I
remember it so fondly, when the cold was so fierce and the drive
such a dire experience. Wells is only two-hours from the M25 but it
feels so much further. The second half of the trip
down single lane roads, through villages and behind a selection
of tractors sees the mind wander to the myth of Sisyphus, rolling
his boulder uphill for all eternity.
Wells is a huge summer tourist destination and holiday home town
the winter population of 2,300 swells to something approaching
13,000 in the
Beautiful coastline, surrounded by history makes
Wells-next-the-Sea an ideal spot to visit. But can it be practical?
Toby Heppell investigates.
Historic Harbour and convenient staging post
mYMARINA
The new outer harbour where the wind-farm
boats are kept.
summer, apparently. This makes it a slightly odd place to wander
during the winter. The pretty streets abound with fancy delis and
organic butchers providing all sorts
of posh nosh. However, during our visit they were all but
deserted. I imagine in the summer Wells buzzes with middle class
chatter but on this day it was all but silent.
ST191 MyMarina_Wells_th_JF_TH.indd 38 22/01/2013 11:07
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MARCH 2013 39
Bernie Philpot and his wife have held a berth in the Port of
Wells for a number of years. They do not live locally - their home
is actually near Cambridge. However, many factors contribute to
this being the chosen home for their boat.
A major factor in their selection of Wells is the strong
community spirit exhibited by most of the other berth holders and
sailors. I dont like some of the bigger marinas where it always
seems so many people have a boat there but rarely go out sailing,
Bernie explained. In Wells there is a strong sense of community.
For the Queens Jubilee we had a procession of boats on the water
and tables out along the edge of the harbour.
A recent addition to Wells Harbour has been an artificial
deep-water, outer harbour for work boats, working on a nearby
wind
LOCAL BERTH HOLDERS BERNIE PHILPOTT COLVIC WATSON 34
LEISURE MOORINGS: Running mooring 62 per yearDrascombe type 79
per yearFore and Aft Swing 134 per yearPontoon Berth 358 per
year
HARBOUR DUESAll vessels over 4.57m 26 p/m per yearVisiting
Vessels Pontoons or Quay Wall6.09 - 7.62m (20 to 25ft) per night
187.92 - 9.14m (26 to 30ft) per night 209.45 - 10.66m (31 to 35ft)
per night 22On mooring buoy 50% of rates above
On own anchor per night (max 1 week) FreeVisiting vessels over
10.66m (35ft) at the Harbour Masters discretion.
One acre of outdoor winter storage area - winter storage only
(October to May)15 metres of quayside for craning/hard
standingSlipway for launching and recoveryTractor for trailer
launchingBoat hoist (7.5 tonnes) plans to have a 50 tonne hoist by
the end of 2013Security lightingElectricity and waterRegular
surveillance
BERTHING AND FACILITIES
Have any Norfolk travel tips? Let us know on Twitter
@SailingTodayMag
farm. Initially we imagined this would be seen as an
inconvenience by berth holders. But this is not entirely the case.
Since the wind farm boats have been here, the harbour has seen a
significant rise in visitors, confides Philpott. They dredge the
channel regularly giving us a more even depth and extending the
times we can head out to sea by up to an hour either side of low
tide and have improved the buoys marking the channel
significantly.
Finally, in addition to the community spirit, Bernie is quick to
praise the welcoming and helpful nature of all the harbour staff.
It is clear as we chat he is going to be content here for a long
time.
PORT OF WELLS
ST191 MyMarina_Wells_th_JF_TH.indd 39 22/01/2013 14:25
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44 MARCH 2013
Duncan Kent looks back over the past year to see what equipment
improvements have been introduced to make our lives safer at
sea.
The last year has seen the introduction of a large number of
both personal and boat mounted safety items, which could help make
offshore sailing safer. Although no replacement for common sense
and experience, some of the devices could help save a life or a
yacht in distress, or maybe prevent the incident from happening
altogether.
in this feature we present some of the latest safety devices to
be launched, explain what they offer in terms of improved safety on
board and tell you from where they can be obtained and at what
cost.
SAFETY GEARSAFETY GEARSAFETY GEARSAFETY GEARSAFETY GEARSAFETY
GEAREmERgENcY cOmmS
HAND-HELD DSc/vHF RADIO: A significant improvement to marine
safety equipment came in 2012 with the introduction of Standard
Horizons hand-held VHF with integral DSC functions clearly an ideal
addition to anyones emergency grab bag to take on board a
liferaft.
The HX851E VHF is a 6W, fully submersible, floating portable
marine VHF transceiver with a built-in 12-channel GPS and full
Class-D DSC facilities enabling it to be used for distress calling
via the IMOs SOLAS GMDSS system.
In addition to emergency position indication, the integral GPS
also enables the unit to be used for simple navigation, with
storage for 100 alpha-tagged waypoints.
The radio also boasts some clever new visibility features such
as a luminescent gasket strip around the casing for easy location
at night, together with a high-power LED strobe light that can be
programmed to flash in an SOS configuration greatly improving a
MOBs chances of being rescued quickly.
REScUE LOcATIONPERSONAL AIS REScUE BEAcONS: Two new personal AIS
beacons were launched last year by the same manufacturing group,
Oralia. The McMurdo Smartfind S10 and the Kannad Safelink R10 are
both manually activated (although the R10 can be attached to
certain selected lifejackets in such a way as to be activated on
inflation) and incorporate an AIS/GPS transmitter that will place
an AIS MOB target icon on any nearby (up to 4nm approx) AIS
receiver display, pinpointing the MOBs actual position in the
water. Both are fully submersible and therefore ideal for
lifejacket attachment or grab-bag use.
LIFE gUARD: Digital Yacht also launched a potentially
life-saving product last year called AIS Life Guard, which works in
conjunction with both the devices mentioned above, and any other
AIS rescue beacon. All it requires is connection to an AIS receiver
and you have a fully operational AIS-based MOB retrieval
system.
In the event of an AIS beacon being activated
McMurdo Smart nd S10 c. 199
Standard Horizons hand-held DSC VHF
ST191 Safety Gear_dk_TH_JF.indd 44 22/01/2013 17:02
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Safety SpecialSafety Special
within range the AIS Life Guard detects the transmitted distress
message, sounding an internal 95db alarm and displaying a red
warning light to help alert those on board to the MOB. When used in
addition to a visual AIS display or AIS-enabled chart plotter, this
will not only give you audio-visual warning, but also show you the
precise location of the victim in the water.
mOB LOcATION vIA vHF: Ideal for busy sailing areas, Mobilarms
Crewsafe V100 is a water-activated Maritime Survivor Locating
Device (MSLD) that transmits accurate and regular GPS coordinates
of a man overboard directly to rescuers via VHF radio.
This palm-sized radio distress beacon can be integrated with a
lifejacket or PFD, clipped to webbing or harness, or carried in a
pocket and secured with a lanyard.
When its water sensors detect the wearer has gone overboard, the
Crewsafe V100 automatically transmits a Mayday, man overboard
distress alert using VHF DSC on channel 70. It can also be manually
activated.
It quickly acquires a GPS lock and then transmits its GPS
coordinates to all DSC VHF receivers in range. The distress alert
is also broadcast on the VHF marine radio emergency channel 16 in a
synthesized voice to maximise the number of people who can
receive
the alert and respond to the emergency. Distress messages are
repeated at regular intervals for up to 12 hours and the device
also has a strobe light to assist with visual homing.
PERSONAL LOcATOR BEAcONS (PLB): McMurdo has also extended its
range of emergency PLBs with the launch of its Fast Find 220 a
stylish and versatile 406MHz emergency beacon with built-in GPS
enabling a typical positional accuracy of 60m. The Fast Find 220
also benefits from retro-reflective detailing for improved
visibility in low light, a six-year battery storage life and a
floating pouch as standard.
Pocket-sized and waterproof down to 10m, the FF220 can operate
in temperatures as low as -20, alerting the search and rescue
authorities using the COSPAS SARSAT satellite rescue system. With
its 5W power output, once activated it transmits continuously on
406MHz and 121.5MHz simultaneously for a minimum of 24 hours, as
well as
Mobilarm Crewsafe V100 From 499
Digital Yacht AiS Life Guard 239.95
McMurdo Fast Find 220 pLB c. 270
MARCH 2013 45
ST191 Safety Gear_dk_TH_JF.indd 45 22/01/2013 17:02
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50 March 2013
SPECIFICATIONMAKE MODEL PRICE WGT* SIZE MATERIAL VOLTS BATTERIES
MIN DURATION** BATT IND MAX RANGE LEVELS LEDS SOS STROBE BEAM ADJ
LANYARD WPROOF WRTY
G L X DIA MM BODY/LENS V HRS LUMENS MBUsHnELL 1 100400C HD 53.00
278 234 X 32 aL/GL 6.0 2 X CR123a 1.5 Y 165 155 1 1 n Y n Y Y
2YRsCLULItE 2 Fan-1 99.60 460 140 X 125 aL/PL 4.8 1 X nIMH 3 CHG
onLY 300 500 2 1 X CREE 3W n Y n Y Y 1YRCLULItE 3 ML7 31.20 136 130
X 26 aL/PL 3.7 1 X 18650 LI-Ion 3 n 125 150 2 1 X CREE 3W n n n Y Y
1YRCLULItE 4 ML8 78.00 236 160 X 25 aL/PL 3.7 1 X 18650 LI-Ion 3.5
n 250 250 2 1 X CREE 3W n n n Y Y 1YRCoast 5 HP7 54.95 220 141 X 32
aL/PL 6.0 4 X aaa 5.75 n 251 196 2 1 X CREE 3W n n Y Y REs
5YRsCoast 6 HP14 64.95 365 213 X 35 aL/PL 6.0 4 X aa 4.75 n 339 175
2 1 X CREE 3W n n Y Y REs 5YRsEXPosURE 7 X2 199.99 124 128 X 37
aL/PL 3.7 1 X LI-Ion 1 Y 700 n/a 3 2 WH/1 RD CREE Y Y n Y Y
LIFEEXPosURE 8 MaRInE PRo3 199.99 120 134 X 37 aL/PL 3.7 1 X LI-Ion
1 Y 975 n/a 2 3 Y Y n Y Y LIFEGERBER 9 tX4.0 44.99 295 200 X 27
aL/PL 4.5 3 X aa 9 n 75 78 1 1 n n n Y REs LIFEnEXtoRCH 10 MYtoRCH
RC 99.95 212 156 X 26 aL/PL 3.7 1 X 18650 LI-Ion 1.25 CHG onLY 550
168 20 1 X CREE 3W Y Y n n sUB LIFEnItECoRE 11 PIonEER Ea4 59.95
260 117 X 40 aL/GL 6.0 4 X aa 1.75 Y 860 283 5 1 X CREE XM-L U2 Y Y
n Y sUB 10YRsnItECoRE 12 Mt2C 39.95 120 125 X 25 aL/GL 6.0 2 X
CR123a LI 3 n 360 155 3 1 X CREE XP-G R5 Y Y n Y sUB 10YRsUnILItE
13 HV-FL8 65.99 168 136 X 32 aL/PL 6.0 2 X CR123a LI 2 n 560 185 2
1 X CREE XM-L n Y n n sUB 2YRs*InCL Batts ** HIGH BEaM
GROUP TESTGear & equipment
ST191 GroupTorches_dk_TH_JF.indd 50 22/01/2013 15:35
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March 2013 51
waterproof led torchesDuncan Kent tests a range of the latest
LED torches to see just how much they have improved since their
introduction.
as a young pre-teenager two things got me really excited
penknives and torches and obviously I wasnt the only one. When a
batch of torches arrived in our office for testing everyone wanted
a go.
To be honest, had I had anything vaguely resembling one of these
modern, high-power LED devices in my youth I would have been king
of the jungle or woods as was my patch in those days.
1 2 3 4 5
MAKE MODEL PRICE WGT* SIZE MATERIAL VOLTS BATTERIES MIN
DURATION** BATT IND MAX RANGE LEVELS LEDS SOS STROBE BEAM ADJ
LANYARD WPROOF WRTY G L X DIA MM BODY/LENS V HRS LUMENS M
BUsHnELL 1 100400C HD 53.00 278 234 X 32 aL/GL 6.0 2 X CR123a
1.5 Y 165 155 1 1 n Y n Y Y 2YRsCLULItE 2 Fan-1 99.60 460 140 X 125
aL/PL 4.8 1 X nIMH 3 CHG onLY 300 500 2 1 X CREE 3W n Y n Y Y
1YRCLULItE 3 ML7 31.20 136 130 X 26 aL/PL 3.7 1 X 18650 LI-Ion 3 n
125 150 2 1 X CREE 3W n n n Y Y 1YRCLULItE 4 ML8 78.00 236 160 X 25
aL/PL 3.7 1 X 18650 LI-Ion 3.5 n 250 250 2 1 X CREE 3W n n n Y Y
1YRCoast 5 HP7 54.95 220 141 X 32 aL/PL 6.0 4 X aaa 5.75 n 251 196
2 1 X CREE 3W n n Y Y REs 5YRsCoast 6 HP14 64.95 365 213 X 35 aL/PL
6.0 4 X aa 4.75 n 339 175 2 1 X CREE 3W n n Y Y REs 5YRsEXPosURE 7
X2 199.99 124 128 X 37 aL/PL 3.7 1 X LI-Ion 1 Y 700 n/a 3 2 WH/1 RD
CREE Y Y n Y Y LIFEEXPosURE 8 MaRInE PRo3 199.99 120 134 X 37 aL/PL
3.7 1 X LI-Ion 1 Y 975 n/a 2 3 Y Y n Y Y LIFEGERBER 9 tX4.0 44.99
295 200 X 27 aL/PL 4.5 3 X aa 9 n 75 78 1 1 n n n Y REs
LIFEnEXtoRCH 10 MYtoRCH RC 99.95 212 156 X 26 aL/PL 3.7 1 X 18650
LI-Ion 1.25 CHG onLY 550 168 20 1 X CREE 3W Y Y n n sUB
LIFEnItECoRE 11 PIonEER Ea4 59.95 260 117 X 40 aL/GL 6.0 4 X aa
1.75 Y 860 283 5 1 X CREE XM-L U2 Y Y n Y sUB 10YRsnItECoRE 12 Mt2C
39.95 120 125 X 25 aL/GL 6.0 2 X CR123a LI 3 n 360 155 3 1 X CREE
XP-G R5 Y Y n Y sUB 10YRsUnILItE 13 HV-FL8 65.99 168 136 X 32 aL/PL
6.0 2 X CR123a LI 2 n 560 185 2 1 X CREE XM-L n Y n n sUB 2YRs*InCL
Batts ** HIGH BEaM
PRODUCTS1. Bushnell hd torch 53
a rugged torch manufactured from anodised aircraft-grade
aluminium with O-rings to ensure watertightness.
This torch has two buttons one on the tail end and another on
the body. The former switches it on/off and also has a simple
green/red glow to indicate battery level. The second cycles through
the two simple light modes on or flashing.
in the box: Torch 2 x cr123a cells
accessories: Lanyard
Verdict Where this torch really differs from any other we tested
is that it has a square beam. at first this feels really weird,
but after a while you start to see the advantages. The torch has
one brightness level only, of 165 lumens, but it appears
considerably brighter. This is thanks to a clever acceleration
reflector tube which allows light to fill the square beam it
projects at the same intensity no tapering off or soft edges. This
makes it an excellent choice for tracking distant channel marks and
buoys.
2. clulite fan-1 99.60The largest torch on test and confusing at
first. In the box is a mains charger with
a jack plug that fits into the back of the torch. Ditto the
cigar lighter 12V lead. however, also supplied is a universal power
supply/regulator. It isnt clear in the instructions (all plugs are
the same type) that you must plug the charger into the regulator
first, then the latter into the torch. It has a 2.2ah NiMh
rechargeable battery, which should last 600 cycles minimum.
The body is plastic, but with a rubberised ring around the head
and a handle above. It also has a leaning stand.
This torch only has Low/high/Strobe modes, which are selected
using a switch on the back. The torch is then turned on or off by a
push button on the handle.
in the box: Torch 240V charger 12V charger Shoulder strap.
accessories: Spare battery.
Verdict More miniature spotlight than small torch, but light and
small enough to fit in the cargo pocket of a sailing jacket. Its
easy to use and we liked having the two separate switches so you
can select mode separately to on or off.
The main beam is very narrow and concentrated, which is part of
the reason it has such impressive range. at close range the
brightly lit area is too small and the flood beam not very
bright.
Great for spotting buoys a long way off, but not so good for
deck work.
6
might sound a lot of money for a torch, but many of the more
expensive models are so good they can double up as
searchlights.
It is astounding the brightness, range and complexity of these
torches today - Sometimes to the detriment of the designs. after
all, a yachtsman probably needs a torch in a hurry and when he/she
grabs it and hits the switch they expect it to come on preferably
at full tilt, right away.
We chose a fairly wide range of LED torches to look at, all of
which are available for under 200 and most below 100. That
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