If you’re in the yacht charter business, there’s not much you won’t do to earn a crust. It’s a time to pull your finger out and adapt before the falling tide of marina fees, crew salaries, insurances and various expenses to keep things afloat pull you down to meet Davy Jones.
I love these projects that are so out of the ordinary I immediately buy into them without much logical thought, sorting out the details downstream. The RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds), got wind that Pelagic Australis was stuck in Cape Town, which was fortuitous for both parties. Last March the RSPB had to abort their project to eradicate mice on Gough Island, a tiny volcanic outlier in the Tristan da Cunha group in the South Atlantic, when COVID locked things down.
The mice, having arrived 150 years ago with the sealers, have turned aggressively carnivorous and are devastating the sea bird population.
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WHAT'S NEW
SUPERYACHT DESIGN IS AS BOLDLY IMAGINATIVE AS EVER, REPORTS SAM FORTESCUE
NOTHING TO STOP YOU
WHEN PLANNING AN OCEAN PASSAGE, HOW DO YOU ENSURE YOU CAN KEEP GOING NO MATTER WHAT? RUPERT HOLMES FINDS OUT WHAT VENDÉE GLOBE SKIPPERS CAN TEACH US ABOUT MID-OCEAN REPAIRS
MATT SHEAHAN
WAS AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ‘BOT’ THE SECRET TO EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND’S AMERICA’S CUP SUCCESS?
Gender equity drive in racing
As part of a remix for the coming season of the foiling SailGP series, each of the eight teams are to add one female athlete per team. Teams will be incentivised to include female athletes in rotation for ‘active roles’ and to include women in the sixth position, progressing to ‘practice and/or training in key roles’.
Resurgence in round the world races
A clutch of ‘budget friendly’ new round the world races for sailor-owners has tapped into renewed enthusiasm for adventure and endurance sailing. All three new events are set to take off in 2023.
Grenada to host ARC+ rally
A new destination is being introduced for the ARC+ rally in November that could bring the total number of yachts sailing across the Atlantic in rallies this winter to a record-breaking number of almost 400.
Science while you sail
Cruisers can help improve scientific knowledge about the health of our oceans while going sailing.
SKIP NOVAK
GETTING INVOLVED IN THE HELICOPTER BOMBARDMENT OF A REMOTE ISLAND… ALL IN THE NAME OF A WAR AGAINST MICE
DREAM MAKER
WHEN SURFING SUPERSTAR JOHN JOHN FLORENCE TOOK HIS GUNBOAT 48 ON A 2,500 MILE CRUISE TO REMOTE PACIFIC ISLANDS HE FOUND A THRIVING ECOSYSTEM THAT MAY GIVE US ALL CAUSE FOR HOPE.TOBY HODGES REPORTS
THE DISRUPTORS
AFTER AN UNPREDICTABLE MATCH, EMIRATES TEAM NEW ZEALAND DEFENDED THE 36TH AMERICA’S CUP – AND COULD ALREADY BE SHAKING THINGS UP FOR THE 37TH. MATTHEW SHEAHAN REPORTS FROM AUCKLAND
Will the curlew cease to call?
This delightful wader, now a red-listed species, is disappearing from our shores. What must be done to halt this decline?
Sick as a parrot
Lord Botham is prepared to ruffle the RSPB’s feathers over its approach to the countryside. Good, says Robin Scott, who has his own beef with the charity about the culling of parakeets
Give birds a BOOST
From shy wrens to curious robins, be sure to welcome birds into your garden
How does the public perceive our sport?
With the future of fieldsports under the spotlight, Alasdair Mitchell examines how attitudes to shooting have changed in recent decades
RSPB gives mixed message on shooting
Having recently attended the RSPB’s virtual AGM, Conor O’Gorman discusses the outcome of the charity’s year-long review of game bird shooting
Looking for aliens on Orkney
In the decade since its arrival, the stoat has wreaked havoc on the islands. Huge expense is now being incurred to remove it
Leader of the pack
Fancy exploring the hidden hills of the Lake District while also helping save the endangered fell pony population? Then get your walking boots on...
RSPB Survey Results Vastly In Favour Of Game Shooting
Recent review finds 86% of RSPB members are against a ban on shooting with conservation benefits the overriding factor
A bird bonanza!
August is one of the best months for stacking up your species list
Hen harriers able to thrive on keepered moorland
An important study undertaken by the GWCT and RSPB shows that nesting attempts are more successful on managed grouse moors