Elling E6 launched in Holland

I have just returned form IJmuiden in Holland on a job photographing the latest E6 model from Elling for Motor Boat & Yachting magazine. It is a beautiful looking boat quite individual in appearance. Owners have various options: to cruise at the displacement speed of 8.5 knots, increase speed moderately to 12 to 15 knots, or to motor flat out at around twenty knots. At 8.5 knots a full tank of fuel of 5500 litres gives a range of 3500nm, and it was so quiet both inside and out on the aft deck that you could hear the Seakeeper gyro humming, pretty impressive. This is a big step up from the boatyard's previous model the E4. We have waited along time (the previous model was in 2004) to see a new boat from this yard.

Cetewayo - Classic Yacht Seatrials

A recent job for Classic Boat magazine was to spend the day with David Murrin, Commodore of the British Classic Yacht Club, aboard his gleaming yacht Cetewayo. This was my first chance to get up close to this boat, one that I have admired and photographed many times on the Solent. The yacht's richly chromed and highly polished stainless steel fittings highlighted with fresh dark lustrous varnish imitate the skin of a Zulu warrior. The new rig is 2.5metres taller than its predecessor, and I have never seen anyone pay so much attention to back stay tension. David deserves to win races with this superb boat, and I am sure he will in the right wind conditions. Watch out for this vessel on the Solent this summer.

HH bloggers

I had an exciting day photographing Helly Hansen Race Training Bloggers who were learning to sail a Beneteau First 40 to complete in the Helly Hansen Spring Series. This fine sail boat was skippered by Mason from www.sailinglogic.co.uk , Port Hamble