vesper racing yacht

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Team Vesper Best in St. Barth Maxi Showdown

• By Laura Muma
• April 25, 2022

While four classes mathematically had Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille locked in after the penultimate day’s racing, no one missed the chance for one last 24- to 36-mile race around beautiful Saint Barthélemy. Vesper, Pata Negra, Mach Schnell and Crybaby in Maxi, CSA 5, Offshore Multihull and Diam 24 OD, respectively, thoroughly enjoyed the day while each claiming another win and their overall class titles. In winning the Maxi class, Vesper also claimed the Richard Mille Maxi Cup Trophy.

Across the remaining classes, two distinct groups emerged on the final race as the critical opportunity to capitalize and take an overall victory in CSA classes 1, 2 and CSA Multihulls; or it presented the opportunity to further solidify their top podium standing, as was the case in CSA 3, 4 and 6.

“It’s been a joy to be back racing, and this is one of my favorite events,” said Swartz, who named his green Maxi after James Bond’s true love, Vesper. “Full credit to the competitors for a great week of racing; it’s great to be back on the water and racing again. Saint Barth can’t be beat for delivering incredible conditions that challenge teams at every level.”

The reason I love this sport and I love it at this level is the camaraderie and the teamwork. It’s what attracted me to sailing,” said the former college football player.

The Santa Barbara, Calif.-based team on board the chartered Lombard 46 Pata Negra never relinquished its grip on first place throughout CSA 5’s six-race series. “The crew did a really great job all week, they don’t need me,” joked Bernie  Girod , who sailed for the first time today after injuring his back last Sunday before practice.

“I was happy to be back today driving and we won again. It’s a great team, we all get along so well. This is our second big victory in the last six months. We won six of seven races in the Big Boat Series (in San Francisco, California); and another six races here so we feel pretty good about that. We will certainly be having multiple celebrations,” said the 80-year-old team leader.

For CSA Racing Multihulls, Brieuc Maisonneuve, of France emerged victorious with Addictive Sailing. “It was a battle all the way with Team Arawak but also with Chaud Patate who came on very strong at the end,” Maisonneuve said. “It was really very exciting.”

This edition is the first time the boat raced at Les Voiles, and it was a new team that came together at the last moment. “We had never sailed together before the start,” Masionneuve said, admitting that today, just 10 meters before the finish line they almost capsized the TS5 multihull. “We all had fun racing together and it was incredible to sail with Lionel Péan, who is a monster of experience. Thanks to him, we all learned a lot of things on board.”

In CSA 1, the two 52s traded blows with Caro, the Botin 52 owned by Maximilian Klink, holding on to its overall lead over Peter Harrison’s TP 52 Jolt 3. In CSA 2, with the Cape 31 Arabella unable to race due to the previous day’s unfortunate dismasting (the result of a starting line collision), Lazy Dog, skippered by Sergio Sagramoso emerged victorious.

For St. Thomas-based Peter Corr and his Blitz team, this year’s CSA 4 victory is extra special given a three-year break since the last time racing in Saint Barth between the two-year pandemic hiatus, and when in 2019 the Summit 40 suffered an unexpected end to its Les Voiles regatta before it even had a chance to begin. During the delivery from St. Thomas to Saint Barth, the boat ran aground and severely damaged the hull in multiple places.

 “This is really sweet,” said Corrs, the nine-time Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille veteran. “I’ve been waiting and waiting to come back. We were in a great class; everyone really raced well. We came in early to practice and I felt really good about everything coming into the event.”

The final day’s weather exceeded the light-wind forecast and delivered 18 knots from the northeast. Still, Corr said conditions varied significantly, depending upon where they were on the course. “We had big variations in the wind speed and angle. A lot of headers, and it was tough to make the calls when to take advantage of them or wait them out. Full credit to our tactician Darren Jones. I do what he says, when he says to do it,” laughed Corr.

In CSA 3, Jim Madden and the Swan 601 Stark Raving Mad VII knew they had to be “game on” today or else risk opening a window of opportunity to fellow Swan competitor, Shahid Hadid’s new Om II 58. “Kudos to Om II,” said Madden. “They absolutely deserved yesterday’s win, and sailed that boat great. We had to go out there and not make a mistake today. If we had gotten a DSQ or had broken something during the race, they would have won.”

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Vesper is a custom sailing yacht launched in 2006 by Yachting Developments.

Yachting Developments is an international award-winning builder and refitter of both performance sail and motor composite superyachts. A genuine shipbuilding leader in the South Pacific, the privately-owned company is driven by passion and perfection to create vessels tailor-made to each individual client.

Vesper measures 28.8 feet in length, with a max draft of 3.5 feet and a beam of 6.6 feet.

Her exterior design, naval architecture and interior design is by Yachting Developments.

Performance and Capabilities

Vesper has a fuel capacity of 5,860 litres, and a water capacity of 2,630 litres.

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• Interior Designer Yachting Developments No profile available

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Vesper leads maxi fleet home on Rolex Capri Sailing Week’s penultimate day

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Vesper Is Back – Les Voiles De St. Barth

• Posted At 19 December, 2019
• CSA News , Les Voiles de Saint-Barth , NEWS , Open , Regatta & Races , St. Barths

Ambassador of Les Voiles in 2013, Jim Swartz has not participated in the regatta since 2016, but the American owner will be back next year with his new boat, the Maxi 72 Vesper. This Judel/Vrolijk built by Persico Marine is the former Maxi 72 World Champion, Momo.

“We still have a lot to learn on Vesper 72, since we have only had the boat for several months,” explains Jim Swartz. “She is a proven thoroughbred but of course things move on and we are still learning what adjustments we need to make to keep her fresh and current. And St. Barth will be the first time we have sailed her in the big waves…hang on! It’s a race with a wonderful ambiance of the island, fun times on and off the water, beautiful sailing in a mixture of soft and stiff winds, big waves occasionally, challenging courses and terrific competition!”

Some members of the Vesper 72 crew have already sailed in St Barth… Notable sailors on the crew include former America’s Cup champion Gavin Brady at the helm of the boat, as well as Jamie Gale and Ken Keefe. Swartz has sailed with them for at least 15 years: “Without question, the crew and our fun together are the reason we do this year in and year out!” he explains.

Sevenstar Yacht Racing

For the third consecutive year, Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille is working with transporter Sevenstar Yacht Racing Logistics to provide all of the participants with professional assistance to transport their boats from the United States, Europe, Australia, or Asia to Caribbean. Sevenstar also proposes personalized solutions to obtain replacement parts, sea containers, or ship packages via air cargo.

For the past 25 years Sevenstar also offers a complete service for regattas such as Les Voiles, with a staff available to solve all problems!

List of confirmed shipping dates:

– Southampton (UK) / Caribbean – January 5-20 Genoa to Palma, Mallorca – Genoa to Palma, Mallorca – March 5-25 Loading in Palm Beach for St Thomas – Caribbean / Newport – May 5-25 St Thomas and Antigua to Newport – Caribbean / North-West Europe – May 5-25 St Thomas and Antigua to Southampton – Caribbean / Mediterranean – May 5-25 St Thomas to Palma and Genoa

Contact: [email protected]

Competition In Every Class

As in prior years, Les Voiles de St. Barth Richard Mille expects a very international, high-level roster, with a mix of professionals and amateurs who will meet on the magnificent turquoise waters surrounding St. Barthélemy.

As in 2019, there will be rating rules for all classes. The Maxis will race under the IRC rating rule, in order to standardize their circuit. For multi-hulls, last year Les Voiles de St Barth Richard Mille adapted the CSA Multi and ORC Multi ratings, to please as many boats as possible…

And finally, the Spinnaker classes will compete under the CSA rating rule.

Registration is already open for every class!

To participate in the 11th edition, click here

Free Concierge Service

We encourage you to take advantage of our free concierge service for everything from transportation to onsite logistics and accommodations. You can also enjoy preferred rates for car rentals via our partners Budget, Avis, and Top Loc.

For additional information: [email protected]

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Even Racing Yachts Have Pit Crews

It takes sailmakers, carbon specialists, hydraulics experts and workers “who can do anything” to keep these boats in racing shape. And don’t forget the chef.

By Kimball Livingston

It takes a small army, not a navy, to keep Maxi yachts performing, race after race. More precisely, it takes an army corps of engineers.

The team behind the American yacht Bella Mente intends to start the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup, which begins on Monday, with two carbon-specialist boat builders standing by. Each is capable of repairing major damage. One is a full-time employee; the other is recruited for practice and for the races at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo, Sardinia.

For shore support, add a sailmaker. Add a hydraulics expert. Add multiple “utilitarian guys who can do anything,” as described by the project manager and team director, Rob Ouellette.

Add a driver for the sizable and fast chase boat that will accompany the yacht around the course each day. Add a coach who will ride along to video maneuvers for review in the daily debrief, while also keeping an eye out for insights into how other boats are performing. Also riding along: a repair kit, engine spares, first aid, oxygen and a defibrillator.

Ashore there is a chef, and there are chef’s helpers. They will work long hours in the rented crew houses. Between sailors and the shore team, there are 30 mouths to feed three times a day, Ouellette said: “We go through a lot of calories.” He might have mentioned that the average size of a person on a Maxi crew is big, very big.

Include also the sailing crew themselves. Each brings expertise. Sail trimmers will consult the sailmaker after each race day regarding adjustments or repairs. The 10 grinders, who spin winch handles at the behest of the trimmers, will break the winches apart after races and inspect and repair the gears, Ouellette said: “The grinders ‘own’ everything mechanical.

“The shore crew has long days, but there is so much to go through, they would never get it done on their own,” he said. “There is no line where responsibility ends or begins. Anything you trashed today is yours to make ready for tomorrow.”

Even if it takes working until tomorrow. The ethic is no different from what you find in the pit crews of high-end auto racing, but more members of a sailing team get time on the course.

Bella Mente, 74 feet, is the fourth boat of that name for the businessman Hap Fauth, who is also a principal backer of the New York Yacht Club’s challenge for the America’s Cup, American Magic .

About leading the team to Porto Cervo, Ouellette said, “It’s a lovely place to sail, but there are not a lot of services. We will have three 40-foot containers, and with them all the resources to do anything we need. One container is for sail repair and sail storage. One is a composites shop, and one is a machine shop. You need that to race at this level.”

Vesper, last year’s winner of the Mini Maxi division, travels with two 40-foot containers. According to the project manager Ken Keefe, one container is devoted to sail storage and repair, with two heavy-duty sewing machines, and is occupied by a dedicated sailmaker.

That role supplements the sailmakers who participate in races.

“Our other container has a full mechanical workshop, including a lathe, drill press and a stock of spares for the parts most likely to fail,” Keefe said. “Most of the guys who sail on the boat can also work on the boat, but we bring in a hydraulics engineer to manage a winch system that is complicated — no more than it needs to be — but not robust. It needs constant attention and upgrading.”

Vesper will skip this regatta in favor of Caribbean races, but the many returning boats include Proteus in the Mini Maxi group. The man in charge of Proteus, Reggie Cole, described the program as being “as lean as they come in our fleet.” That translates to relying heavily on the sailing crew for maintenance, while bringing only two of the team’s three containers.

Proteus will have one boat builder standing by to repair, for example, a hole in the carbon hull in event of that collision that everyone fears.

“He’ll work through the night if need be,” Cole said, backed, of course, by members of the sail team. Cole added that the chase-boat driver does more than follow the races. The driver performs a critical role between races. With Proteus moored in the harbor and the containers on a pier, there is continual shuttling back and forth.

In the same Mini Maxi group, Sir Peter Ogden skins the cat differently by keeping things tight with his Jethou team and man for all seasons Stuart Branson, who said he had been with Sir Peter for 22 years. Branson manages logistics, arranges flights and hires the chefs.

Branson said his sailing crew was “self-sufficient.” “We come with two containers equipped with tools and parts and carbon resin,” he said. “Sail repair is us. We’re a tight group of 16, and we can fix just about anything.”

One might expect to find the biggest shore teams working for the biggest boats, the classic and classic-replica giants of the J Class. However, they are more like the tight Jethou squad.

Peter Holmberg , an Olympic silver medalist and the helmsman for the 140-foot Topaz, said that while Js have their container villages, “The permanent crew is essentially the shore team. There will be a captain, first mate, bosun, chef and stew working on the boat year-round and contracting outside work as needed. Once racing starts, the entire crew of sailors becomes the shore team because they are, in their full-time professions, riggers, sailmakers, carbonologists. They are there to exercise all their skills before the race, in the race and after. Whatever it takes.”

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Svea, Shamanna, and Highland Fling XI win at Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup

The 32nd edition of the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup drew to a close on Saturday after four days of close racing out of Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo. 

The final classification remained unchanged from the penultimate day of competition after the last day of racing was cancelled due to the incoming mistral with gusts in excess of 30 knots. The race committee took the decision to send the 50-strong fleet (the event’s second-largest fleet on record) back to port for prize giving.

The 43.6 metre Vitters sailing yacht Svea was crowned winner of the J Class fleet after securing the win on all but one day where Velsheda came out on top. Taking second place was the 41.55 metre Ranger on its Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup debut under new ownership, followed by Velsheda and Topaz respectively.

Bouwe Bekking, tactician on the J Class Svea said : “We had a fantastic week, we did a lot of training, we sailed well, had good starts and that helped a lot. The crew work was excellent, the boat was well prepared, no breakages which is a big thing with these J Class boats which weigh 185 tonnes.”

In the Supermaxi division, the 35.2 metre Swan 115 Shamanna triumphed over the Spirit Yachts 111 Geist while fellow Swan 115 sistership Moat 1 finished in third place following a retirement on day four of racing due to outhaul issues. Christopher Brand, captain of Shamanna said: "We're delighted with the result, the boat goes brilliantly and the crew was perfect. We thank the organisation for setting up a Supermaxi class separate from the J Class yachts, which improved the competition."

The Maxi class was the largest division with 13 entries. Lord Irvine Laidlaw's 25.5 metre Reichel/Pugh Highland Fling XI took the win ahead of the Wallycento Galateia and the Wally 93 Bullitt . Speaking at the event, Laidlaw said: “The boat is 13 years old this year and we’re delighted that we can still compete and compete well against all these other boats that are significantly younger. We’ll be back next year with a new 80-foot cat and we’re looking forward to that very much, it’s the best place in the world to go sailing and hopefully we’ll have the fastest catamaran in the world.”

Also competing in the Maxi category was Pier Luigi Loro Piana's brand new canting keel ClubSwan 80 My Song which finished in a respectable fifth.

In the Mini Maxi 1 group of thoroughbred racing yachts, the 22 metre JV72 Vesper claimed victory ahead of Proteus and Bella Mente, marking another win for skipper Jim Swartz after coming first overall at Les Voiles de St Barths Richard Mille earlier this year. The scores were incredibly tight at the top of the Mini Maxi 2 class, where RP78 Capricorno got the better of the Mylius 80 Twin Soul B by just one point, with the Wally 78 Rose taking third place.

As a mark of respect for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on the penultimate day of racing,  Peter Dubens’ North Star and Sir Peter Ogden’s Jethou , raced for 96 seconds before they dropped sails. Their crews stood to attention, heads bowed, for a minute of silence before returning to port.

YCCS Commodore Michael Illbruck reflected on the week during the closing prize-giving ceremony: “The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is a special event, unique I would say, which we are proud to organise. Some of the best sailors in the world come to Porto Cervo to sail on J Class boats, designed in the 1930s, as well as maxi yachts at the cutting edge of naval technology. We will continue to raise the bar and follow a path of innovation and excellence."

The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is organised by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with the IMA (International Maxi Association) and with the support of long-standing title sponsor Rolex. The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup is also the penultimate event of the IMA’s Mediterranean Maxi Inshore Challenge (MMIC)

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Rolex Maxi Yacht Cup: A feast for the eyes

• November 3, 2022

Porto Cervo is one of the most spectacular venues in the world, and this year’s Rolex Maxi Yacht Cup was a feast for the eyes. Andi Robertson reports

Walk the hallowed docks of Sardinia’s Yacht Club Costa Smeralda during the Rolex Maxi Yacht Cup and it was impossible to get anywhere fast. The collection of maxi yachts this year was truly mesmerising, each meriting more than a passing glance. Correspondingly, the army of top professional sailors assembled was literally a who’s who of generations of America’s Cup , Ocean Race and Olympic sailing stars.

To leave the real world and immerse yourself in the Porto Cervo bubble is something special. Even the grizzled, white-haired pros who recall the formative years of the ‘Maxi Worlds’ and who come year in, year out, show no complacency. They love it and always will because it is the pinnacle event of maxi racing.

Post-pandemic, more than ever, there is a renewed appreciation for this spectacular event. Here there are no distractions beyond the wind blown rugged granite scenery, the turquoise waters and the rocky network of islands forming the La Maddalena archipelago.

The 32nd Rolex Maxi Yacht Cup was not the biggest ever, mustering 46 racing maxis in six classes, but it was almost certainly the most competitive event for many years, with quality in depth through each of the divisions.

The fleet was also more diverse than ever. For the first time since 2014 there were four J Class yachts competing under their own JCA handicap – an elegant step back in time contrasting sharply with the debuting foiler Flying Nikka , which raced in its own class, and the just launched powerful ClubSwan 80 My Song which lined up in the 13-boat maxi fleet.

Rambler off Isola delle Bisce lighthouse north of Porto Cervo. Photo: Luca Butto

A different league

“For sure after the pandemic there seems to be more people wanting to sail big boats than ever before and being able to afford to do so. And this regatta was in a different league to previous events in terms of quality,” noted the International Maxi Association’s secretary general Andrew McIrvine.

“One interesting development is now having absorbed the Wally class – which had a bunch of 80-footers and a bunch of 100-footers racing together – and getting them into performance, rather than size related classes, we have a good 13-boat maxi class. That is definitely better.

The foiling Flying Nikka raced in a class of its own

“And we have a more race orientated fleet, there used to be cruising maxis, and we have more professionals, whether or not you consider that a good thing. We are still very strict on the owner-driver rule, except in the Super Maxi fleet where in fact the two top owners are young and steer their boats anyway.”

In a typical September week at Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup there will be days of light winds and very often days lost to the Mistral. A fixed Thursday layday may seem like an anomaly but many owners – and their crews – start to feel their age mid week. This edition was no different, early starts made the best of the building Mistral on Friday, but Saturday proved unsailable.

Without question the standard of boat and sail handling gets higher every year. To see the J Class rivals tacking up ‘Bomb Alley’, as the rock-strewn passage north of Porto Cervo through the La Maddalena and Caprera archipelago is known, in 18 knots of breeze and flat water – seemingly within touching distance of the shore – is incredible.

Lord Irvine Laidlaw’s Highland Fling XI. Photo: Carlo Borlenghi

Running downwind America’s Cup rival helms Peter Holmberg and Ed Baird showed a precision in their boat placement akin to sailing a Laser, all while choreographing nearly 30 crew. Are there elements of brinksmanship or bravado? Maybe, but the truth is many of the afterguard crew will have raced on these waters dozens of times, and laying one corner when others can’t will reap a dividend of several boatlengths.

The Super Maxi division victory was the biggest win yet for a ‘young’ (at just turned 50) Swedish owner on his Swan 115 Shamanna .

He also owns the well known Spirit 100 Gaia and Gerdney , a classic Swedish Skerries 95ft cruiser. He races Shamanna with eight of his long time friends – among them a cardiac anaesthetist, a pal who was ‘The Bachelor’ on the Swedish reality show of the same name – and a posse of good pros managed by British former Volvo/Whitbread, America’s Cup ace Guy Barron.

The 82ft custom Wally Highland Fling XI. Photo: Luca Butto

Raising the standards

Barron has sought to keep raising the standards of the ‘amateurs’ so they are fully integrated and respected by the pros, rather than allowing a ‘them and us’ scenario develop. Barron sailed with the owner and his friends originally in Sweden and was able to impart his knowledge and involve them in a way which has become important on the big Swan. “We sat down and said let’s make sure your guys get trained up and are part of it. So between Shamanna and Gaia we share the same pros, the same group and we’re all used to sailing with each other.”

Barron reckons – after some counting – that he has now raced from Sardinia 34 times, the first time being at the 12 Metre Worlds in 1987. “It is one of the best venues in the world and I never ever tire of racing around through Bomb Alley. It is breathtaking. I remember I was on Boomerang and we had THE crash.

Close fleet action. Photo: Luca Butto

“We hit a rock going 9.5 knots, having just got full speed on we stopped dead. We pulled the engine off the mount, cracked every frame in the boat, blew the terminals off the top of the batteries, flattened the wheel, the pedestals, seized the mainsheet and the runner winch. I ended up in an ambulance with George Coumantaros the owner. He’d fallen over and inverted his cheek. I slid forward, hit the solid stainless reaching stanchion and very luckily did not break my leg. I sail past there and still hear the noises in my head. It is a truly wonderful place to sail!”

Mini maxi rivalry

The six boat Mini Maxi 1 division is the domain of what were previously the Maxi 72 class. Now only Jim Swartz’s Vesper and George Sakellaris hull sister Proteus are close to Maxi 72 trim, all of the other four boats have had extensive modifications. Ironically the top two overall were Vesper , with Gavin Brady as tactician, and Proteus .

The changes across the rest of the fleet have been various: Peter Dubens’ North Star is the first boat to now use stored power for running rigging and sails with seven fewer crew – which at the Maxi Worlds gives a four-point rating credit. Spirit of Jethou (23.5m), Cannonball (22.86m) and Bella Mente (22.55m) have all been lengthened and have deeper keels. Bella Mente has a taller rig, as has Cannonball which can also now carry 1,000kg of water ballast per side.

Despite their differences, this was a very competitive class of boats which were conceived as the last word in maxi racing and richly laden with talent.

Rolex Maxi Yacht Cup fleet racing in Sardinia’s La Maddalena Archipelago. Photo: Carlo Borlenghi

“We were fortunate to be consistent. We did not screw up,” smiled Gavin Brady after racing. “In fact the boat is arguably the same as when it won the World Championships five years ago (as Momo ). It is cool, I think, for Vesper to win the World Championship with the same keel, the same mast, the same sails.

“Our sport needs to see some sustainability and it is a good message that if you have something that works and you just go and sail well you don’t need to change the mast and the keel. That is something special for Jim as he does not want to go down the ‘arms race’ route. He wants to go and race, and may the best team win.

“This fleet of seven boats have evolved. It’s clear the owners want to develop their boats in the way they want and not be told what to do by a box rule. You have Jethou at one end and North Star at the other and we all went round the top mark within 30 seconds of each other. It’s not the Maxi 72 box rule of old but it is working and we have happy owners.”

Crew on the rail of the iconic J Class Velsheda. Photo: Carlo Borlenghi

Water ballast, and how it is treated under rating systems, is one factor many grand prix teams are watching carefully, in readiness to adapt their boats. “The water ballast is the elephant in the room right now,” Brady explains.

“Everyone is trying to be secretive but we all know what is going on. Everyone has drawings to put water in everything from a TP52 to a maxi but we just don’t know what the rule is going to do. I think it is a good way, a clean way to make boats go faster. Salt water is in abundance and if we want to pump water into the boat to make it faster and more fun it is a lot more sustainable than carbon fibre and sails that will go to landfill.”

Lord Irvine Laidlaw bade farewell to his faithful Reichel Pugh 82ft custom Wally Highland Fling XI with a swansong win in the 13-boat maxi class. Cameron Appleton calls tactics alongside navigator Andrew Cape: “Porto Cervo is a unique place usually offering a real range of conditions, inshore racing and navigational type courses, and you have to be good at every part of it,” Appleton recalled.

“You get to know the tricks of the place and where the wind bends are but it is how you get there to use them that is the skill.”

With co-owner Niklas Zennström driving his first regatta on Svea , flying the flag for his native Sweden, the J Class title was never really in doubt, though the racing was always close.

Svea seems to have a speed edge and has a great crew marshalled by Bouwe Bekking. The J Class are looking towards a World Championship in Barcelona during the 37th America’s Cup with potentially seven or eight boats. Next to return to the fold will be Rainbow , bought by Kiwi owner Neville Crichton, who is refitting the boat in Palma to be ready for the later part of next season.

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32nd Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup concludes in Porto Cervo

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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Tested: Vesper Cortex VHF radio, AIS and remote monitoring

• Theo Stocker
• August 11, 2021

Promising to revolutionise how sailors communicate on board, the Vesper Cortex integrates VHF radio, Class B AIS, remote vessel monitoring and more

Combining AIS with VHF is a game-changer

The modern sailor has an array of navigation systems at their fingertips providing information and certainty unimaginable to previous generations.

As radio , GPS , radar and AIS have proliferated, so to have the electronic gizmos at the chart table and on deck.

Getting them to talk to each other can still be a challenge, even in the days of NMEA 2000 .

Problems can arise when you try to integrate different transmitting devices, such as DSC radio, AIS, WiFi and cellular gateways, and all the radio frequency processing that goes with that, which is where the Vesper Cortex comes in.

Vesper Cortex VHF, AIS and Monitoring is easy to install

A neat black box, hidden away, and an intuitive user interface for the smartphone world, integrates all of those functions so that they work seamlessly together.

So what does it do?

Cortex is a DSC handheld VHF radio with up to ten tethered or wireless handsets.

It is a Class B+ SOTDMA AIS transceiver sharing the VHF antenna to avoid splitter issues, although it includes a splitter for a standalone VHF radio to run through the same antenna.

The smartAIS also calculates collision risks and necessary avoiding action. It is an anchor watch and MOB alarm system.

It is a remote monitoring and control system when you’re off the boat. It is a wifi gateway between your smart devices and boat network.

It is a verbal alarm system that tells you what an alarm is for without needing to look at the screen.

Because the system is built around its software, rather than separate hardware for each function, it can do all of these things at once, and has the capacity to have new functionality added over time, avoiding the need to replace it, hopefully for some time.

Intercom between the handsets, multi-channel VHF scanning, and radio transmission rewind to listen back to conversations you missed are all in the pipeline. 

Installation of the Vesper Cortex

Installation is pretty straightforward, and you can install it alongside your existing setup, or instead of, and get rid of a number of bulky boxes.

It requires power, a network cable, antenna cable and a GPS cable, and each handset needs a power supply (all data is wireless), either to the wired tether, or to the charging cradle for the wireless handset, though this doesn’t need to be near where you are going to use it.

It has its own wifi antenna as well as built-in sensors including battery voltage, barometer, 9-axis motion and heading sensor, five ports for NMEA 0183 or NMEA 2000 inputs and two outputs so you can monitor any information on your network and add a speaker.

In normal listening mode with AIS on, it uses just 0.8A (12V). Transmitting on VHF low power that goes up to 0.9A and on high power 3.4A. 

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Audio is provided by a 10W, 85dB speaker in each handset, and both the hub and the handsets are IPX7 waterproof (submersion for 30 minutes).

The very high resolution, sunlight visible touch screens are made with toughened Gorilla glass, and can be used when wet or with gloved hands, though all controls are replicated with physical buttons (menu, back, VHF, Ch 16, MOB and Call) and paddlewheel.

The handsets have rubber edges and back for antislip and protection.

The microphone is central on the front, with a push-to-talk button on the left side and volume control and power button on the right, and a DSC distress button under a hinged flap on the back, so it feels like a standard VHF handset to use. 

Operating the system

For a system that does so much, operation is surprisingly intuitive and simple. There are seven main screens, accessible from the main menu giving: VHF radio, Vessel directory, AIS plotter, Instruments, Collision avoidance , Anchor watch and MOB.

Every page has a status bar across the top showing VHF channel and power, and the status of battery, GPS and wifi.

The VHF radio page shows your call sign and MMSI number, transmission power, channel and its intended purpose – selected by swiping the screen or rotating the paddlewheel, saved favourite channels and dual watch.

Squelch is set automatically to your preferred sensitivity (though exact control would be nice and volume can be set for the hub, or for individual handsets. At the bottom of the screen any watched vessels or collision risks are displayed.

The AIS vessel directory page displays priority/collision risk vessels, then saved favourites, then other alphabetically, with the option to call, find on the plotter screen, or avoid.

The plotter screen doesn’t have any cartography, but has a clear range display, with head up or north up options, zoomable from 0.5 miles to 60 miles.

Collision risks or saved vessels are highlighted and you can filter out vessels such as those that aren’t moving.

The icons show whether it is a ship, power or sail and how fast it is going. You can see all of the same data displayed on your chartplotter screen.

Tap one to bring up vessel details, including current range and bearing, CPA and TCPA, and call it on DSC, or to view it in Collision avoidance, where you can see the impact of any course adjustments on your CPA before you make them. 

When you come to anchor, hit the anchor down button to record it’s precise location, and then set your desired guard zone.

The page displays depth, calculates the scope chain you have laid, and other vessels on AIS. You can alter exact anchor location and swinging circle parameters.

It will voice an alert if you drag, the wind changes, or you hit a water depth parameter.

If you have the Vortex Cortex Onboard app, you will get a phone notification for any alarms set, both for anchoring and any on board systems selected, with a full view of the same information and display as if you were on board. 

Verdict on the Vesper Cortex

What this does is bring almost every electronic function other than navigation into one place, designed to function seamlessly together.

Having installed the unit, connected the handsets and entered my boat’s details, there was no setup – it all just worked.

Using the Vesper Cortex as an AIS to find, contact and avoid other vessels, and as a plain VHF radio, all while standing at the helm with a handheld device, was so intuitive that I quickly forgot how revolutionary this actually is.

There are other DSC radios with integrated Class B AIS just coming on to the market as well, but the fact that it does so much more – not least anchor watch and remote monitoring – makes this a genuinely game-changing piece of equipment. 

Quality and functionality were all top notch.

It felt solid and rugged, worked well when wet and not at all vulnerable.

On small boats, the tethered handset supplied would be sufficient, with a socket at the chart table or on deck allowing you to use it in both places.

On larger vessels, the ability to keep the handset on you at the helm, on deck or by your bunk is invaluable.

The thought of losing one overboard, especially if it’s your only handset, doesn’t bear thinking about, so clipping on a lanyard and float would be the first thing I would do.

The only slight gripes I had was that the screen wasn’t quite as bright in direct sunlight as my B&G Triton 2 instrument display, though it was still perfectly legible

Unsurprisingly, it comes with an eye-watering price tag, at least compared to other radios, though this quickly evens out if you also add in the cost of AIS, antennas, splitters and remote monitoring systems.

This is more likely, therefore, to be installed on new boats or those having a complete electronics upgrade so your setup can be designed around it.

While there are some shortcomings to the system – intercom, channel scanning and transmission rewind aren’t yet available – the reassuring thing about this system is that it is designed for functions to be added via free software upgrades as functions are imagined and added, making it a pretty future-proof investment.

Price of Vesper Cortex

V1 – Cortex Hub and tethered handset: £1,929.95

H1P – Portable handset : £649.95

M1 – Cortex Hub only: £1399.95

www.vespermarine.com

Also on the market

ICOM IC-M94DE

Handheld DSC radio with AIS receiver

This is not a AIS transmitter, but if you want cheap and easy AIS and DSC radio on your boat, this is the way to do it – an impressive bit of kit for the price.

Bering handheld range of both VHF and AIS will be limited.

Price: £349.95

www.icomuk.co.uk

ICOM IC-M605EURO 

Multi-Station VHF/DSC Radio with Class B AIS Transponder

The AIS transponder in this radio is installed separately, but it is one of only a handful of VHF radios offering Class B AIS (receive and transmit).

Price: £1,559.99

B&G V100-B 

VHF Marine Radio, DSC, with Class B AIS

A fully integrated DSC radio with Class B AIS receive and transmit with a black box unit and up to eight wired or wireless handsets, and up to 60 seconds audio rewind.

Price: £1,287

www.bandg.com

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The Infinity Pool on This New 213-Foot Superyacht Connects to a Secret Sunken Bar

The enormous glass hatch on the aft deck brings the two areas together., rachel cormack.

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Golden Yachts and Phathom Studio want to help seafarers better connect with their surroundings while on the waves.

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The designers say Vesper’s layout is “more akin to an architectural residence than a typical 213-foot superyacht.” The vessel features five guest cabins on the lower deck and one large VIP suite on the upper deck. The owner has a separate two-level suite—kind of like the parent’s wing in a regular house—with two en suites, a wardrobe, a lounge, and an adjoining study. The owner’s suite leads to a private balcony with an infinity spa, a water feature, and an outdoor lounge.

The sundeck is outfitted for those in need of a little R&R, with a sauna, a steam room, and a second infinity spa. There is also an enclosed wellness area on this deck that can be used as a gym, a day galley, or even a juice bar.

Downstairs, the main deck is split into multiple zones that can be used independently by small groups or simultaneously by bigger parties. In this way, guests can come together for full-scale soirees or separate for more intimate gatherings.

Similarly, the aft deck is equipped with a glass hatch that can be opened up to connect the infinity pool with the pool bar. (You could also close the hatch if you wanted two independent spaces.)

Designed for a new generation of yacht owners, Vesper showcases an array of innovative technologies. The human-centric lighting, for instance, automatically adjusts itself to mirror the outdoor rays.

As you might expect, Vesper also comes with a full arsenal of water toys, including four tenders and two three-seater Waverunners. This makes it even easier to immerse yourself in your surroundings.

Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…

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• 10 Kelly Drive Philadelphia PA 19130
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Mission Statement

The mission of Vesper Boat Club is to perpetuate its legacy of developing highly skilled and competitive rowers at all levels by providing its diverse community of members with premier rowing programs and first-class facilities and equipment.

The club motto, ‘ALL TOGETHER’ symbolizes an organization open to all people who want to row, and promotes character development and physical fitness through the challenge of the sport.

Vesper — A Brief History

The Vesper Boat Club had its beginning on Feb. 22, 1865– a decade into the flourishing of rowing clubs on Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River– with the founding of the Washington Barge Club. Five years later, on Jan 1, 1870, it changed its name to Vesper Boat Club and quickly became one of the most celebrated rowing clubs in the United States and the world. It has always been central to the Philadelphia rowing story.

Vesper’s eight-oared shell took the gold medal in Paris in 1900 at the first Olympics rowing regatta. The Vesper eight repeated its victory at the 1904 games in St. Louis. And at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, Vesper eight won again, making it the only rowing club in the United States to win the title three times.

Perhaps the best known names associated with the Vesper Club, are John B. Kelly Sr ., an Irish brickworks owner who became influential in city politics and his son, John B. Kelly Jr., a city councilman and brother to Princess Grace of Monaco.

Kelly Sr. won Olympic Gold in the single scull in 1920. He also won gold medals in the double scull in 1920 and in 1924, both times with his cousin Paul Costello. But, as a laborer Kelly was barred from entering the Diamond Sculls at the Royal Henley Regatta. It was two decades later, that John B. Kelly Jr. would win that event, in 1947 and 1949. Kelly Jr. won the national singles championship eight times. At the time of his death in 1985, he. was president of the United States Olympic Committee.

Under the coaching of such greats as Jim Manning, Dr. Charles W. Riggall, Allan Rosenberg and Dietrich Rose, many other Vesper members have gone on to cumulatively win more national and international races than any club in the United States.

Vesper's Clubhouse

The present clubhouse was constructed in combination with neighboring Malta, with the Vesper cornerstone dated 1865. The first building was completed in 1865, and the second boat bay addition in 1898.  The John B. Kelly Addition was built in 1964, and in the late 1990's replaced when the club underwent a major renovation, being completed in 1998.

The boathouse was designed by noted Philadelphia architect, G.H.Hewitt. The architecture, semi-attached ornamental Victorian Gothic, is typical of that period and members who were tradesmen constructed the original building with local building materials.

Women's Rowing

After a century of accomplishments for the men, Vesper in 1970 became the first men’s club to organize a women’s rowing team (Philadelphia Girls Rowing Club, in 1938, pioneered women’s rowing in the United States). Vesper women have consistently won national championships and have regularly represented the United States in international competition. At the Montreal Olympics in 1976, six Vesper members were on the USA Olympic Rowing Team.

More Vesper Legends

John DuGene and William Nelson rowed for Vesper on the 1978 Men’s Lightweight team that went to Copenhagen for the FISA Lightweight Championships. They were the Team Alternates/”Spare Pair” for the 4- which also came from Vesper (Gribbin, Bater, Bohlin, Lewis). 6 of the 9 team members that year came from Vesper. The 1x was Bill Beldon and the 2x was Stan Depman and Fred Duling. They were not from Vesper. The coach that year, John Bannan, also was from Vesper.

Paul Costello, winner of the double sculls in 1920-1924 and 1928 and numerous national and Canadian championships. (Also rowed for Penn AC)

Joe Toland, Vince Deeney and cox, Joe MacIntyre, represented US in the coxed pair in the 1948 Olympic games. Toland later coached at St. Josephs and both won many championships. Toland rowed behind Knecht in the Pan American Gold 8 in Mexico City

Bill Knecht won many championships as a sculler and sweep including Tokyo 8 (in No.7). Sculled in Rome with Jack Kelly Jr. in the double and many other noteworthy achievements.

Jim Manning — coach in 1953-1961. Coached the Navy plebes at the academy. They later won 52 consecutive races including the 52 Olympic Gold. Coached Kelly in the single from 1952 on. Took the Brown and Nichols schoolboy 8 to Henley to win the ladies plate as the first American school boy crew to do that.

Vesper 8 (1958) won Canadian Henley in record time and placed 2nd in European championships in Poland: Kelly, Knecht, Hermann, Coleman, Ignas, Heffernan Halloran, Wilmerding, cox Rosenberg.

Frank Muller— coach of the 1900 Paris 8 and later at Yale. Coached from a single riding off the bow.

Harry Parker-Pan American and Olympic sculler (bronze 1960) — later coach at Harvard.

Bob Zimonyi, cox of the Tokyo 8 and winner of bronze in coxed pair in London Olympics 1948.

Dickie Mahan, lightweight sculler from East Falls section of Philadelphia, and one of the best in the US for many years. Rowed quadruples and doubles winning many races.

The 1900 Paris eight. These were the best scullers in Philadelphia including Harry De Baecke, Jim Juvenal, Lockwood and others.

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VESPER YACHT CHARTER

40m  /  131'3   alloy yachts   2009 / 2022.

• Previous Yacht

Cabin Configuration

Special Features:

• Impressive 2,400nm range
• Recent refit in 2022
• Award winning
• Sleeps 10 guests
• Chase Tender

Superyacht Vesper is a thrilling yacht charter vessel for those looking to cruise the open seas in large numbers in the utmost comfort

The award winning 39.9m/130'11" motor yacht 'Vesper' by the New Zealander shipyard Alloy Yachts offers flexible accommodation for up to 10 guests in 5 cabins and features interior styling by Donald Starkey.

The superbly executed Donald Starkey Design interior features macassar ebony and sycamore joinery on the main deck with stained zebrano and European olive for the guest level. The doors all feature mother of pearl inlays and judicious use of leather and fabrics provides pleasing texture.

The formal dining area features a 10-seater custom dining table, with a custom dresser separating the main salon.

The owner’s stateroom is situated forward of the saloon on the main deck and includes a separate office, walk-in wardrobe, extensive bookshelves and his and hers marble bathrooms.

Guest accommodation is amidships on the lower deck and is arranged in four staterooms. Two double staterooms side by side extend across the full beam of the hull. A third stateroom has twin single beds, plus a well-concealed Pullman berth.

All the suites have distinctive marble bathrooms, climate control, television sets, entertainment systems and telephones. The fourth stateroom is equipped as a gymnasium, but can be converted for accommodation later, if required.

Comfortable accommodation for five crew is divided into three cabins on the lower deck, including a captain’s double cabin, all with ensuites.

The flybridge has an outside helming station, dining table and chairs, bar, BBQ, spa pool and expansive sun-lounging area.Access to the aft cockpit, which is on the same level as the saloon and dining area, is through automatic custom glass doors. The aft cockpit features a bar on the port side with a 10-seat dining table for alfresco entertaining.

The cockpit seating area is protected by the overhang of the flybridge, which can be further extended with a retractable hard awning.

Guest Accommodation

Vesper offers guest accommodation for up to 10 guests in 5 suites comprising a master suite, two double cabins and two twin cabins. She is also capable of carrying up to 8 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht charter experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

You and your guests can enjoy a variety of experiences on Vesper, notably a deck jacuzzi, perfect to enjoy the scenery with your favourite drink in hand.

Vesper benefits from some excellent features to improve your charter, notably Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to stay connected at all times, should you wish. Guests will experience complete comfort while chartering thanks to air conditioning.

Performance & Range

Built with a aluminium hull and aluminium superstructure, she benefits from a semi-displacement hull to provide exceptional seakeeping and impressive speeds. Powered by twin Caterpillar engines, she comfortably cruises at 14 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 16 knots with a range of up to 2,400 nautical miles from her 34,630 litre fuel tanks at 10 knots. Vesper features at-anchor stabilizers providing exceptional comfort levels.

Vesper has a good selection of water toys and accessories to entertain you and your guests whilst on charter. Take to the sea on a Jet Ski offering you power and control on the water. Guests can experience the thrill and adventure of riding one of the two WaveRunners. Another excellent feature are waterskis that are hugely entertaining whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro. If that isn't enough Vesper also features a seabob, wakeboards, fishing equipment, paddleboards and snorkelling equipment. Vesper features two tenders, but leading the pack is a Chase Tender to transport you in style.

A charter on motor yacht Vesper will offer you a week of unforgettable family memories

TESTIMONIALS

There are currently no testimonials for Vesper, please provide .

Vesper Photos

Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment Vesper has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

Vesper is reported to be available to Charter with the following recreation facilities:

• 1 x Chase Tender

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

Vesper Awards & Nominations

• International Superyacht Society Awards 2009 Best Power 24m-40m Winner
• The World Superyacht Awards 2010 Best Displacement Motor yacht of below 500GT (30m to approximately 49.9m) Finalist
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2010 Exterior Design & Styling Award: Displacement Motor Yachts 100′-199′ Finalist
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2010 Naval Architecture Award: Motor Yachts Finalist
• + shortlist

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

'Vesper' Charter Rates & Destinations

Please contact your charter broker for a quote or check availability .

Charter Vesper

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The boat race 2024: st peter’s students selected to cox the oxford women’s blue and oxford women’s reserve boats.

On Wednesday, 13 March, The Boat Race Company Limited, in partnership with Oxford University Boat Club (OUBC), Oxford University Women’s Boat Club (OUWBC) and Cambridge University Boat Club, hosted The Gemini Boat Race 2024 Crew Announcement in London at Battersea Power Station. St Peter’s College students will cox the Oxford Women’s Blue and Oxford Women’s Reserve Boats.

Joe Gellet is a first-year postgraduate medical student at St Peter’s College. Joe will cox the Oxford Women’s Blue Boat at the 2024 race. A graduate of St Anne’s, Joe is no stranger to the Boat Race, having been selected for OUWBC crews in 2021 and 2022.

Joe said, ‘I am very excited to have made the Blue Boat for the second time this year. Although this is my first year at St Peter’s, I have felt very welcomed and supported by the community, and I am appreciative that the College has contributed to my rowing subs. I look forward to representing St Peter’s at the race this year!’

Postgraduate medical student Tara Slade , who coxed the Oxford Women’s Blue Boat in 2023, was selected to cox the Oxford Women’s Reserve Boat in 2024.

Tara said, ‘I’m extremely proud to be racing alongside such strong, dedicated women. The best part of rowing is the people, and I'm fortunate to be surrounded by this supportive and driven community, from past boat clubs, to St Peter’s facilitating my aspirations to stroke a boat in Summer Eights last year, to Oxford University Boat Club women’s squad.  

'I have immense respect for every member of our squad, for physical strength, mental resilience, academic prowess, and overall outstanding commitment to each other. We look forward to an excellent race, and treasure our gains both on and off the water, carrying our signature “with you” call into the sporting, professional and wider aspects of our lives.’

The Boat Race will take place on Saturday 30 March 2024. To learn more about the Boat Race, click here .

Images by Benedict Tufnell/Row360 and Nikola Boysova

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When is The Boat Race 2024? Start time, date and schedule

Your guide to The Boat Race 2024 including date, start time and TV coverage details.

• Michael Potts
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The Boat Race is approaching, signalling spring is here - and there's plenty at stake in the men's and women's events.

Cambridge enjoyed a clean sweep last year with victory in each of the two major races.

The Cambridge men's team has won four of the last five outings against Oxford to swing the balance of power in their favour with an overall total of 86-81.

In the women's race, Cambridge have won all six of their most recent duels with Oxford, leaving them comfortably ahead with 47 victories to 30.

Fans will line the Thames to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy some of the finest young rowers in the nation pitted against one another.

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RadioTimes.com brings you all the details we know about The Boat Race including date and start time.

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When is The Boat Race 2024?

The Boat Race 2024 between Oxford and Cambridge will take place on Saturday 30th March 2024 .

This year marks 195 years since the inaugural showdown between these historic rivals.

The Boat Race 2024 start time

The Boat Race start time has been confirmed, with the men's race taking place at 3:46pm UK time.

Check out the full schedule of events on the day:

2:46pm – Women's Boat Race

3:01pm – Women's Reserve Boat Race

3:16pm – Men's Reserve Boat Race

3:46pm – Men's Boat Race

How to watch The Boat Race 2024 on TV and live stream

Coverage of The Boat Race will be shown across BBC platforms.

BBC One and BBC iPlayer will boast the coverage throughout the events.

It all begins on BBC One at 2pm .

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