taeping yacht

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

What is behind the surge in new 60ft plus yacht designs and can you sail one safely without pro crew?

• Toby Hodges
• January 13, 2017

New yacht design has taken a giant leap in average length. Toby Hodges reports on the boom in big boats

Looking along the row of new yachts berthed stern-to at Cannes Boat Show in September, it seems impossible that just a few years ago a yard might hold up its 55-footer as the flagship of its fleet. In 2016, it’s the new yachts between 55ft and 80ft from the production yards that really stand out. So what has changed? Why the sudden surge in new large yachts and is it really possible to sail them without professional crew?

The 60ft plus market represents only around 120 yachts worldwide per year, but according to Oyster CEO David Tydeman, there is a need for variety. “Where Beneteau likes the fact that we series-build €5m boats, we like the fact that Beneteau does €1m series builds,” he says. “It brings people into the industry.”

Customers range from those wanting short-term sailing holidays and second home use, to those exercising long held dreams to sail offshore in the utmost comfort. It’s a wide range of people being targeted by a wide range of brands and from the list of boats yet to be launched, it’s evident that the majority of builders have bet against this size segment being a passing fad.

Who is building new yachts over 60ft?

The volume production yards have been growing their flagship models, mostly launched in the last year or two, to fulfil demand in the 55-65ft sector. This is perhaps indicative of an increasing number of impulsive buyers on today’s new yacht market; those who don’t want to wait for a couple of years for their yacht are going to be more attracted to the volume-built boats.

Models over 65ft are typically still the domain of luxury bluewater cruising brands, such as Oyster and Contest; prestige brands, such as CNB and Euphoria; or performance semi-custom designs from the likes of Swan, Solaris, Mylius and Advanced Yachts. Highlights include X-Yachts’s 65ft X6 (see X6 on test ), the Grand Soleil 58 Performance; Mylius’ striking new 76; the Turkish Euphoria 68 (see Euphoria 68 on test ) and the luxurious new Contest 67CS ( see video review here ), not to mention the new Oysters 675 and 745.

Contest 67CS: The owner of this first 67CS started sailing in Norway in September 2009, aged 40. Since then he has owned two yachts, completed an ARC crossing and sailed with his wife in the Caribbean five times a year. “We were looking for a bigger yacht for longer stays but which we can still sail with the two of us.” They plan to sail the boat themselves, but add that for “maintenance and preparations it is smart to have professionals who know our Contest 67CS.”

At the 60ft plus size range, yards have to be flexible to be competitive. Prospective buyers expect their yachts to be semi-customised; rather than simply ticking options boxes, they want the yard to listen to their individual choices, styles and needs.

Volume producers will offer a lengthy list of layouts, fabrics and finishes, while the high-end builders will typically offer major hull variations, including different transom designs, rig options, and appendage types, with interior layouts only really constrained by watertight bulkheads. Those braving the first of a new model line may get extra privileges in this respect.

Mylius 76: In many ways, Mylius’s yachts are a total contrast to the large, luxury cruising yachts of northern European yards. The all-carbon builds are super-minimalist throughout; modern turbo-charged Italian head-turners for smoking across the Med in style and enjoying the odd regatta. Pictured right is the flush-deck version. The deck saloon model (far right interiors) is novel and niche – a fascinating combination of space, speed and style.

High volume production

Of the volume yards, Hanse arguably led the way with its 630e back in 2006, 70 of which were built. Equally impressive is that the German yard then went on to sell 175 of its 575 in the last four years. This year Hanse launched the 675, its largest volume production yacht to date.

Hanse consistently wows with its loft-style interiors – more like a luxury apartment in fact on this, its largest model yet, the new 675.

Groupe Beneteau brands all now have yachts in the 60ft plus size range. The Bordeaux 60 caused a stir when it launched in 2008 – hull number 46 is in build – bringing trappings of superyacht glamour to the production market. The follow-up CNB 76 made a striking debut at Cannes in 2013. This contemporary Briand design uses an innovative construction method to reduce build time and cost. Seventeen of the €2m 76s have now sold, leading CNB to commission designs for a new smaller sister, the 66 (see page 33). To give some indication as to the demand at this size, CNB has already sold eight of the smaller yachts despite only releasing initial designs in September, and has also just announced it will take on 100 more workers to meet demand.

CNB 76: The 76 is a powerful yet elegant yacht with a well-camouflaged deck saloon, proper crew accommodation and a practical tender garage. A modular build scheme allows CNB to construct the entire interior of the 76 outside of the hull, dramatically reducing build time (to six months) and cost. The win-win result is superyacht styling and engineering, yet with a serial production price starting at €2m.

Unlike CNB, which is originally a builder of large custom yachts, the other volume production yards and Groupe Beneteau brands are upsizing. Superyacht designers Philippe Briand and Andrew Winch collaborated to produce one of the most successful of these – the Jeanneau 64 launched in 2014. It marries the worlds of big boat design, luxury and comfort with production boat pricing – its base price was kept below €1m – offering 10ft more yacht than an equivalent-priced semi-custom model.

Sister brand Beneteau has now followed suit with its Oceanis Yachts 62 this year. This is the first of a new luxury range from 53-73ft for which Beneteau went to a motorboat designer to find new styling solutions. The result is a bold look and a host of new comfort solutions throughout. Also, the goal with the pricing was even more ambitious than Jeanneau – its €650,000 base price shows how competitive pricing has become, even at this size level.

Oceanis Yachts 62: Beneteau is arguably the most innovative production yacht brand. Here it’s taken ideas and styling from its motorboat side to create this first of an entirely new line. The 62 brings a commendable feeling of luxury both on deck and below, plus has a proper tender launching solution for a Williams Jet Rib. The crunch part? Its base price starts at just €650,000.

Dufour will have a new 63ft flagship as of January, which, like the Oceanis Yachts, is the first of a new premium-end ‘Exclusive’ range.

All of which leaves Bavaria as the last big volume yard without a 60-footer. This is mainly down to its in-line production method, which has, to date, limited the maximum length of yacht it can build. However this summer Bavaria changed the set-up of one of its production lines to address this limitation, so we can presume that it’s only a question of time before the largest sailing Bavaria model yet is announced.

The practicalities

Large yachts are getting ever easier to handle. Push-button electrics and hydraulics that allow loads to be managed reliably have created new possibilities for managing sizable yachts short-handed. Thrusters – both bow and stern – are the norm at this size and can alleviate concerns with mooring, while advances in deck-gear technology have made sail-handling much easier.

As in the car industry, space has become king. Added length in yachts can bring increased comfort, elegance and speed, but there are downsides. With extra volume and weight comes a linear increase in the size and cost of each bit of deck gear and rigging needed to bear the extra loads.

Sailing a push-button power-assisted yacht might be a one-person affair, but managing and maintaining it is a different prospect altogether. Large yachts increase the crew’s dependence on powered systems and machinery, from gensets, watermakers, air con and thrusters to the hydraulics needed to operate winches, sail systems, garage doors etc. Keeping such a yacht shipshape is likely to involve a great deal of time afloat servicing machinery, or regular shore periods and pit stops. The less mechanically minded owners will probably need to employ a skipper or paid hand for this purpose.

Solaris: Once a custom yacht builder, Solaris has become a serial manufacturer of premium performance cruisers. Its range now spans from 37-72ft, with an Acebal-designed 55 and 68 in the pipeline.

Need for crew?

Up until 2011, when Hallberg-Rassy brought out its HR64, a yacht that was designed specifically for two people to sail and manage, I would have said that 57ft was the transition point from owner-operated yacht to crewed yacht. But yachts have continued to grow since then.

Skip Novak, who runs two expedition yachts – one 54ft and the other 74ft – says: “We can do things with [the 54ft] Pelagic that we wouldn’t dare do with Pelagic Australis . Pelagic is ‘man-handleable’, while the big boat at 74ft and 55 tonnes displacement is not. The systems on the smaller boat are by nature simpler, and the cruises usually are more trouble-free technically.”

Most new yachts over the 55ft mark have the option for a crew cabin of some sort. The big question is, are you happy sharing your yacht with paid hands? For temporary quarters, during a short charter for example, the forepeak-style box that is self-contained away from the rest of the accommodation may be all that is required in terms of accommodation. But for any owners seeking a longer-term crew – and wishing to retain reliable crew for any period of time – a more comfortable arrangement within the interior, like the use of a Pullman cabin, is necessary.

The current Oyster range spans the crossover between owner-operated yachts and crewed yachts, which helps to illustrate where the actual dividing line between the two might lie. For example, none of the 20 Oyster 625 owners uses a skipper full-time, although three of the 20 use skippers for when the boat is in charter mode. The new 675, which has been developed as a larger version of the 625, is also designed to be a yacht that can be owner-run. The new 745 on the other hand, which also launched this September, is designed to be run with two professional crew.

I sailed with Tim and Sybilla Beebe six years ago on a passage test of an Oyster 575 from Palma to Spain. They have since run an Oyster 68, a 72 and Tim is currently skippering Eddie Jordan’s Oyster 885, Lush. We discussed at what size level an owner should be thinking about employing a full-time crew.

“Firstly it’s dependent on experience,” says Beebe. “Can the owner sail the boat safely and do they want the responsibility? I agree that after 60ft, the time spent on upkeep starts to outweigh the enjoyment of it… unless you are living on it full-time.

“There are companies that will look after a 60ft boat and have it ready for owners when they arrive,” Beebe continued. “The amount of time needs to flexible. You can allot time for cleaning – inside and out – but maintenance must be flexible. There are always surprises.”

So where might a potential new owner be caught out? “The basic maintenance to keep the boat running is not too bad on a 60-footer but it’s the little bits that might get overlooked, which can quickly add up. You have to stay on top of everything. Winch maintenance, for example, might surprise the average new owner: to properly service all the winches takes a good deal of time – and is a once-a-season job.”

What advice would Beebe give owners of 60-70-footers looking to employ and keep a good crew? “Maintaining good relations is key. You all have to get on in a small space. From my experience, forward planning is nice to have, plus adequate time with guests off the boat for maintenance. Of course the occasional day off doesn’t go amiss either.”

Case study: Oyster 745 for bluewater cruising with family and friends

Henrik Nyman has sailed all his life on a variety of different sized boats, including owning and chartering various yachts and is now upgrading from an Oyster 625 to a 745 for bluewater cruising with friends and family. Why move to a yacht that needs crew? “Size alone is not a factor. For me, quality, engineering and function were my drivers… I thought 60ft was the maximum I could handle without crew, but in fact I feel that the 745 should be no trouble mainly due to very well thought-out functions and engineering. Handling is one part, but also you want crew for comfort, to go to the supermarket, some meals, formalities etc… I can sail basically alone but I want a good deckhand, mainly for safety purposes and for maintenance as well. “My biggest concern is that the equipment installed does not meet the same quality as the yacht itself. My experience from the 625 is that the majority if not all warranty issues are caused by third party installations.”

Case study: Discovery 67 – trading up for extra space

Simon Phillips is a highly experienced cruising and racing sailor, who has gradually scaled up in size from a Sonata, a Sadler 29, a Hanse 47e and a Discovery 55. He bought his 67ft Sapphire 2 of London this June and his main reason for trading up was to gain space. “ Sapphire is 40 per cent larger inside which makes a big difference if you’re planning to spend 18 to 24 months on board. My wife and I are actively planning for the World ARC.” Phillips hasn’t used a professional crew before, but has employed delivery companies to do short deliveries due to time pressures. He normally sails with friends and contacts. “Sapphire is much more technical than the Discovery 55. Her size requires more planning and thought on where you can go etc. While it is possible to sail the yacht single-handed you really need one crew on the helm and three on lines to come alongside in any sort of windy and tidal conditions.”

Showcase boats: Recent and upcoming launches in the 60ft plus category

Vismara 62: Vismara is a custom carbon yacht builder that has now introduced some semi-custom series. The V62 is based on the success of the Mark Mills designed racer-cruiser SuperNikka . A mould was taken from her hull and adapted to make it more cruiser friendly.

Hallberg-Rassy 64: “Push button controls are the only way you could handle a boat of this size without a big crew and our owners absolutely don’t want that,” said Magnus Rassy at the time of our HR64 test. “A huge amount of care has gone into making a boat that will be easy to sail long-distance, to maintain and to continue to use when things stop working.”

Dufour 63 Exclusive: Due to launch at the Düsseldorf Boat Show in 2017, Dufour’s new flagship is a response to those from Beneteau, Jeanneau and Hanse and is the first of its new Exclusive range. The 63 is a yacht that maximises exterior comfort with a 5m long cockpit and exterior galley option alongside a tender garage.

CNB 66: The Bordeaux 60 and CNB 76 have both been true success stories. This 66 is very much the smaller sister to the 76 and looks set to replace the 60. “With the 66 the idea was to be able to sail without crew,” says CNB’s Thomas Gailly. “So we wanted it to be very simple, with no lift keel option or retracting anchor arm – easy to maintain and use.”

Baltic 67: Over the past few years, Baltic Yachts has launched some of the finest new carbon superyachts, but its recent announcement of a new serially produced model marks a return to the more moderate-sized fast cruisers it was known for in the past.

Advanced Yachts 62: Advanced Yachts uses some of the leading design firms to represent Italian luxury performance at its best, with models from 44-100ft. And this new A62 looks simply sensational.

Amel 64: This is one of the first 60+ footers truly designed for a couple only for bluewater cruising.

Find out more here – or in the videos below.

Below is the video of our two day liveaboard test aboard the smaller sister Amel 55, a model which launched at a similar time to the 64 and shares her updated design features.

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the foremost international magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors.  Every month we have practical features to help you plan and prepare to realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge month by month with a subscription delivered to your door – and at a discount to the cover price.  S ee our latest offers now.

• MarketPlace
• Digital Archives
• Order A Copy

The Great Tea Race

F rom 1700 to 1834, the British East India Company held a monopoly in the colonization of Asia, competing only with the Dutch East India Company. It was founded in 1600 to trade in the Indian Ocean region, India, Southeast Asia, and China.  

The East India Company controlled basic commodities: silk, cotton, India dye, sugar, salt, tea, and opium. The tea monopoly was nullified by the king in 1834, opening up the China tea market. It was obvious that the faster ships could arrive in London from China, the higher the price of tea.  

This realization, along with the development of clipper ships in the US in the 1840s, pushed British designers into lofting more and more radical clipper ships with finer lines. There was a great economic advantage as well as bragging rights to the company whose tea ship that arrived first.  

It was only natural that these new ships would find themselves in each other’s company sailing with a cargo of tea from China to the London docks. In the long history of the tea trade, the Great Tea Race of 1866 stands out as the most memorable event.  

Five ships loaded cargo in Foochow they were Taeping , Sedrica , Ariel , Fiery Cross and Taitsing . Tea was usually lightered out to the ship and stowed in bamboo chests.  

Fiery Cross , Taitsing and Serica departed Foochow on May 29th and Ariel , and Taeping sailed on the 30th. A little more than three months later on September 6 th — after racing nearly 16,000 nautical miles — Taeping docked 28 minutes ahead of Ariel and two hours ahead of Serica . Fiery Cross arrived 28 hours later and Taitsing , the following day.

The route from the tea ports in China to England were long and dangerous. Ships sailed through the South China Sea, across the Indian Ocean, doubled the Cape of Good Hope, headed north and west to the Azores, then sailed up the English Channel before turning into the Thames estuary and heading upriver to London.  

And after all that distance the ships were sailing within sight of each other the full length of the English Channel. It was only because Taeping drew less water and was able to cut a few corners that it was able to tie up at the London docks 28 minutes ahead of Ariel . These were the golden days of clipper ships. With the completion of the Suez Canal the tea trade was taken over by steamships. Clippers were relegated to sailing to Australia returning with cargoes of wool.

Let’s join Taeping as she races through the Indian Ocean. The captain is going to do a noon sight to get his latitude as he is racing along at 15 knots while still a few days out from the Cape of Good Hope.

We are doing a lower limb sight of the sun. The height of eye is 15 feet. The day is June 10. We will use the 2022 Nautical Almanac . The DR position is at 15° 20’ south by 75° 10’ east. The Hs is 51° 28’. 

A. Find GMT of LAN at 75° 10’ B. Find Ho C. Find latitude

Answers: A. GMT of LAN is 06:58:20 B. Ho is 51° 39.4’ C. Latitude is 15° 19.7’ south

Ocean Sailing Scotland

Looking for a true sailing adventure?  Taeping is the first 60ft ocean racing yacht designed and built to compete in the Clipper Ventures round the world yacht race. Sailed by amateurs she has circumnavigated the globe 4 times completing a 40,000 mile route in each race.

“Our aim is to make the Clipper ocean racing experience available to all.”

Now berthed on the Clyde estuary, Taeping has a home in Scotland and sails frequently on the world renowned West of Scotland coastal waters.  Also sailing to destinations like Iceland, Europe and America we have something to suit everyone.  She is available for corporate and private charters, milebuilder trips, charter by charity groups and we offer a public schedule and range of training opportunities for those who want to take the challenge of sailing at full kilter!

Our strong team of volunteers and seasoned sea staff will show you what Taeping can do and there are lots of ways to join us on board!  Find out more by following the link to our website.

Unit 4 Reception , Kip Marina , Inverkip , Renfrewshire, PA16 0AW

Quick Links

Latest offer, latest news.

Programme released for Scotland’s Tourism Marine Conference

We are delighted to announce that we have a new guest speaker for the ...

Useful Information

What to expect, activities offered, contact us now, more details, closest airport, sponsored ad.

Welcome Anchorages!

© Sail Scotland 2021 Website by We Do Fruition | All Rights Reserved | Term of Use | Privacy | Site Map

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Taeping wins HSBC Premier Coastal Classic

Related Articles

Clipper 60 Sailboat

At desperatesailors.com , we love to blog about unique boat designs. Today, we’d like to post brief information on Clipper 60 sailboats. There have only been 11 Clipper 60’s built, so it’s a rare jewel to find these days. But as far as we know, at least some are still in the use (mostly privately, or by charter companies).

Anyway, here’s what we’ve been able to find when scouring the internet looking for any information on those boats.

Meet The Clipper 60 Sailboat

Clipper 60 Taeping and Clipper 60 Serica were two of the entrants in the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race race. The format was conceived in 1995 by the famous round the world yachtsman Sir Robin Knox-Johnson and on 16 October 1996 eight, Clipper 60s left Plymouth to race around the World.

The race offered paying amateur crew members the chance to sail around the world, aboard a fleet of identical yachts. The route is based on that of the traditional Tea Clippers, following the prevailing wind and currents. Both Taeping and Serica also completed the race in 1998, 2000, and 2002.

The fleet of eight Clipper 60s was built by Colvic Craft in Essex using the design of the proven Camper and Nicholson Bluewater 58, a prestigious cruising yacht designed by the American designer David Pedrick. Modifications were made to the cruising version and included a new deck layout better suited to Ocean Racing and an enlarged rig.

Clipper 60 – Technical Data

Here’s the key technical specification of the Clipper 60 sailboat:

For full details, please see go to https://sailboatdata.com/sailboat/clipper-60

Relevant blog posts found:

• How Should Firearms Be Transported in a Boat
• What Color are Safe Water Markers
• Boat Rooster Tail – How To Make One?

Amazon Disclosure

DesperateSailors.com  is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc., or its affiliates.

Please refer to our  Privacy & Affiliate policy  for more details.

All Alan Buchanan Boats For Sale

The celebrated naval architect Alan Buchanan, credited with designing the first glass fibre yacht in Europe, sadly died peacefully at home in Jersey on Monday, 26 January 2015.

Born in 1922, Alan Buchanan first trained as an aircraft engineer. He started working as a young draughtsman at De Havilland aircraft factory in Stag Lane Aerodrome Edgware London before setting up as a boat designer.

Originally based in Burnham-on-Crouch, Alan Buchanan moved his office to Jersey in the 1960s. Here Alan enjoyed a long and distinguished career in yacht design. This design included his own very successful racing yacht, the Taeping, a 31ft Bermudan sloop. Entering the East Anglian Offshore Individual Championship, the Taeping she wone in her first season.

From early in 1970, Buchanan continued to work from his home in Jersey and is credited with having designed more than 2,400 boats in his long career. In 1979 and recognition of his outstanding achievements, Alan Buchanan was awarded a medal from the Small Craft Group of the Royal Institution of Naval Architects.

Manufacturer information provided by Network Yacht Brokers Barcelona

Alan Buchanan boats previously for sale

Alan Bucha... 37' 1"

• Croatia North
• Milford Haven

• Sell My Boat
• NYB Group Offices
• Become A Yacht Broker
• Manufacturers
• Privacy Policy

© 2004-24 Network Yacht Brokers

• International edition
• Australia edition
• Europe edition

Sixty days on a ledge in the Atlantic: teacher aims to break Rockall record

Chris ‘Cam’ Cameron ready to set sail for barren rock 230 miles from nearest permanently inhabited place

A science teacher has found an unusual way of exorcising the loneliness and isolation of the repeated lockdowns during the Covid crisis. He plans to spend two months living alone on Rockall, a barren islet deep in the Atlantic.

Chris “Cam” Cameron, 53, will set sail for Rockall this week in an attempt to break the record for occupying the sheer-sided chunk of granite. He plans to spend at least 60 days perched on a ledge measuring barely 4 metres by 1.5 metres, to raise money for charity.

Rockall, 31 metres long and 17 metres tall, sits 230 miles (370km) west of North Uist in the Hebrides, the nearest permanently inhabited place. During the winter months it is pounded by storms so intense that the entire rock will vibrate with the impact of the waves.

Annexed by the UK in 1955, the islet sits in rich fishing grounds and has been at the centre of sporadic territorial disputes with Ireland, which disputes British ownership, as well as protests over its potential role in deep sea oil drilling.

Several years ago an Irish trawler provoked a diplomatic incident by fishing within the UK’s 12-mile territorial waters around Rockall. In 1997 the rock was occupied for 42 days by three Greenpeace campaigners objecting to oil surveys in the surrounding seas; they rechristened it as the micronation of “Waveland”.

Cameron’s goal is more modest. He hopes to beat the longest occupation record, of 45 days, set by Nick Hancock, a surveyor from Ratho near Edinburgh, in 2014. Hancock had hoped to subsist on the rock for 60 days but was forced to cut his expedition short after losing rations and supplies in a storm.

Cameron has been fascinated by Rockall since Tom McClean, a former SAS member, set the first occupation record of 40 days in 1985. “It’s just an amazing place – the remotest place in the UK,” he said.

An electronics lecturer and former science teacher who lives in Wiltshire, Cameron is setting sail from Inverkip, a port on the Clyde coast, with two companions – a radio expert and a mountaineer – who will live with him for the first week to 10 days of his expedition .

Adrian “Nobby” Styles, the radio operator, will share Cameron’s small survival pod; Emil Bergmann, a Bulgarian mountaineer and radio ham, plans to sleep outside on a hanging platform known as a portaledge, used by mountaineers to sleep dangling off cliffs. If a storm hits, all three will squeeze into Cameron’s pod. “It’s comfy for two people; very, very crowded for three,” he said.

A former soldier with the Gordon Highlanders originally from Buckie in Moray, Cameron’s goal is to raise £50,000 for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity and ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. He said the expedition was intended to honour all the seafarers, soldiers and submariners who spent long periods overseas.

The Covid lockdowns, he said, “made me feel remote, isolated and alone. It just got me thinking: can I challenge myself further and do some good. Rockall popped up. It’s the most isolated, loneliest place in the world. I’m going to challenge myself to do something uncomfortable and really difficult – which is why only five people have ever stayed there for any length of time.”

Styles and Bergmann will play a key role in the fundraising by broadcasting to amateur radio enthusiasts around the world, working in shifts 24 hours a day for the first week. Radio hams will be sold QSL cards, a postcard-based certificate with Rockall’s unique location code, which confirms they have had radio contact with the islet.

Cameron likened the collection of these cards to finding a very scarce Panini football sticker, or a trainspotter seeing a rare locomotive. Since Rockall is so infrequently occupied, the islet’s QSL cards are among the rarest.

Their chartered yacht, an 18-metre (60ft) boat called Taeping, will remain in the vicinity for the first week before returning Styles and Bergmann to the mainland. Cameron will then be alone, left for two months with supplies, a laptop, a VHF radio and an Iridium satellite terminal, which will act like a wifi router, and a small solar panel to ensure his battery packs remain fully charged.

Hancock has offered Cameron advice about technical and logistical issues. He said the greatest challenge in 2014 was the “mental games” needed to survive 40 days of complete isolation. “Which is why I had planned to do so much: learn to play the harmonica, which didn’t happen, and to speak Italian, and do scientific research. Being busy is probably the best way to combat that.”

Hancock admits he will be disappointed if he loses his record. “I always knew it would probably be broken at some point, but I would’ve hoped it would last longer than a decade,” he said. “But then if Cam does break it: well done.”

• World records

More on this story

High waves foil Rockall adventurer’s effort to retrieve survival gear

Man hoping to break record for living on Rockall rescued by coastguard

Adventurers reach Rockall in bid to live on north Atlantic islet for 60 days

Seafaring strangeness: Mark Power’s ​enigmatic ​shipping forecast photographs

‘A link across time’: how shipping forecast will outlast Radio 4 long wave

Don’t mess with the Scots or we’ll send in the patrol boats

Scientists fear impact of deep-sea mining on search for new medicines

Driving Scotland’s new South West Coastal 300 route

Most viewed.

• RYA Courses Explained
• Local Services
• RYA Start Yachting
• RYA Competent Crew
• RYA Day Skipper
• RYA Coastal Skipper
• RYA Yachtmaster Prep
• ICC Assessment
• RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster
• RYA Yachtmaster Ocean
• RYA Marine Radio (SCR VHF)
• RYA First Aid
• RYA Diesel Engine
• Duke of Edinburgh
• Practical Calendar
• Classroom Calendar
• Online Calendar
• Practical Booking
• Classroom Booking
• Online Booking
• Practical Services Booking
• Theory Services Booking
• Gift Vouchers
• Cruising Club
• You and Sea
• Home   
• Our Partners   
• Ocean Sailing Scotland   
• Race   

The Scottish Islands Peaks Race 2021 dates TBC

The annual sailing and running race takes place off Scotland's stunning west coast. Starting at Oban runners are then sailed to the isle of Mull before scaling Ben More. It’s then off to Jura to ascend the famous paps of Jura before rounding the Mull of Kintyre and heading for Goat Fell on Arran before finishing in Troon. Taeping achieved the fasted youth sailing time in 2019 and will again be entering the youth category in 2020 . Our campaign will see a professional race skipper join us for the event for the first time. With pre-race strategy and training included it’s going to be a great campaign.

The Scottish Series  2021 dates TBC

Join us as we compete in one of Scotland’s premier sailing events, the Scottish Series. This year we will be operating in full race mode for the event. So it will be out with the generator and watermaker, leaving emergency stew tins ashore and definitely packing “above the keel” as we aim for great finishing positions in the 2020 races. After just missing out on line honours in the 2019 event we are heading in with an extra determination, oh and a professional race skipper! With race training provided alongside passage racing and a day of cruising this trip has something for everyone.

The St. Kilda Challenge  2021 dates TBC Kip, Rathlin Island, St. Kilda, Lochmaddy, Dublin

Join us from our home base at Kip on the Clyde Estuary in 2020, Scotland’s year of coasts and waters as we participate in the Bi-Annual St. Kilda passage race.  Heading out from our home base your trip will begin with safety briefs and ocean training. Next our focus will turn to race training, tactics and preparation for the St. Kilda race. After a few days of training, cruising and familiarisation it will be time to join the rest of the race fleet at Rathlin Island on the north coast of N. Ireland as we gather for the event start. With a constant watch on the weather to decide on the best race tactics it won’t be long before the start line is crossed. As both line honours and overall winner in 2018 event we will be defending our crown in a race suited to the Clipper 60 offshore design. Upon reaching the finish line at the stunning archipelago of St. Kilda we will hopefully have some time ashore before heading to the outer Hebrides and Lochmaddy on North Uist for a programme of onshore festivities and prizegiving.

The Round Ireland Race 2021 dates TBC

In 2020 we will be increasing Taeping’s offshore racing schedule. After our success in winning line honours and first overall in the 2018 St. Kilda Challenge we are taking our ocean racer to the Biennial Round Ireland race in 2020. With a full programme of qualifying events and race training included in our Round Ireland 2020 package we can’t think of a better way to tick this sailing box!

Atlantic Rally For Cruisers 2021 Pre-release

Typically starting in late November the Ocean Sailing Scotland ARC package will include pre event training and crew activities. Our aim is to ensure you can get the most from this amazing trade winds sailing experience and enjoy, not only the sailing, but the festival atmosphere.

learn to sail

© 2022 Stavordale West Limited (trading as 'britsail') is a Private Limited Company Registered in Scotland. Company No:SC387703

• New Inventory
• Brokerage Inventory
• Used Inventory
• Home Appointments
• Concierge Service
• Platinum Concierge
• Yacht Management
• Our History
• Our Reviews
• Our Magazine🔗
• Experiences
• Sun Country Yachts

Sun Country Coastal

Sun country inland, of excellence in boating & customer care.

Sun Country Coastal in Newport Beach , Dana Point , San Diego and Jacksonville Beach, FL represent four premium boat and sport yacht brands – Prestige Yachts , Riviera , Boston Whaler , Sea Ray and certified pre-owned brokerage inventory.

Sun Country Inland in Irvine , San Jose-Campbell and in Lake Havasu City, AZ represent the category leading lines of Cobalt Boats , Nautique Boats and Bennington Pontoons .

The best Selection, Sales & Service of boats and yachts in the West. 9 convenient locations. 8 world-class brands. 35 years helping families enjoy time on the water.

Featured Models

Pacific Land Yachts

Review Highlights

“ Our driver was polite and easy to communicate with, especially considering we were a bunch of very excited teenagers. ” in 14 reviews

“ The land yacht itself was very cool with nice seats, a great sound system , and some really fun laser lights. ” in 5 reviews

“ They will provide ice and cups on the 32 person bus , which saved me time when planning what to bring on-board 3. ” in 2 reviews

Location & Hours

Suggest an edit

977 Warburton Ave

Santa Clara, CA 95050

Serving Santa Clara Area

Amenities and More

About the business.

Business owner information

Business Owner

Let Pacific Land Yachts make your event one you'll always remember! Pacific Land Yachts provides luxury chauffeured limousine bus service throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Just give us your itinerary and we'll make it happen. Need a little help finding just the right club, restaurant or winery? Our chauffeurs are carefully selected so that you'll receive the utmost in professional service. Each is intimately familiar with the Bay Area-its hotels, restaurants, theaters, nightclubs, wineries, roadways and traffic patterns-so you and your guests can relax and enjoy yourselves. Standard chauffeur attire is black tuxedo (black suit and tie for business charters) unless you request otherwise. All charters include a variety of complimentary beverages, as well as red carpet service upon request. Other requested items, such as wine, beer, coffee and snacks are provided for a nominal fee. Our services: Anniversaries Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties Bar/Bat Mitzvahs Birthday Parties Casino Trips Concerts Corporate Events Holiday Parties Nights on the Town Proms and Graduation Quinceaneras Sight Seeing Sporting Events Weddings Wine Tours …

Ask the Community

Ask a question

Yelp users haven’t asked any questions yet about Pacific Land Yachts .

Recommended Reviews

• 1 star rating Not good
• 2 star rating Could’ve been better
• 3 star rating OK
• 4 star rating Good
• 5 star rating Great

Select your rating

Overall rating

The sweetest driver and the most amazing relaxing time. We didn't have to worry about anything. Really throughly enjoyed our time. We drove to San Francisco to a wedding, my aunts and uncles are older and it's hard for them to see in long drives outside of our city. This was a treat! It was around 30+ of us. Super friendly customer service, everything was easy and smooth. The bus was clean as a whistle and we were able to play our own music. Bluetooth connected, waters and a TV! We brought our own snacks and a little bit of wine, we had a blast.

We rented a party bus for my husband and I's 30th and it was incredible! Mark was awesome and made sure we all got there and back safely, and we got sooo many compliments from our friends that came. Plenty of space, super clean ride and overall just a great time! Definitely recommend!

Mark was a great help and made sure the day went smoothly for us. I would recommend him and his services. Thank you!

I had my senior ball on 5/5 and Mark was amazing! I found him on yelp and had messaged him starting from February because I knew how crazy prom season would be. I copied part of the message he sent me for the quote I asked for: "The following land yacht is available for your 6 hour (5:45p-11:45p) event on the date you've requested.  30-36 passenger - $1,695.00 Our prices INCLUDE ALL FEES AND CHAUFFEUR'S GRATUITY, as well as complimentary ice and bottled water." I had 32 people on my bus and we all had enough space! The water was definitely awesome for the end of the night but Mark was so responsible and got us to SF city hall on time and safely. He was so quick at replying to my messages and I have had looked into many other places and this was the most accommodating and reasonably priced. Highly recommend !!

Our group had an amazing time! Mark arrived on time to pick us up and the bus was clean and spacious. The bathroom on board was an added plus. The pricing is very favorable to other companies and the bus has everything you need. I wish I had taken pictures of the interior because the other photos on here don't do it justice. There's also a TV that you can stream to. We ended up extending our reservation an hour because we didn't want it to end. We will definitely be using Mark again in the future.

First class experience from pickup, journey, to drop off. Our chauffeur Kelvin provided us with a safe and wonderful experience to make for a good time. Will definitely be hiring this company for future corporate events and celebrations. Keep up your good work. Thank you.

I had my 40th birthday bash and Mark was amazing. Bus was very clean and roomy with a bathroom which was a plus. Hands down, book with Pacific Land Yachts if you are looking for a party bus. Would definitely do business again!

I rented a bus for my brothers 30th birthday and it was an unforgettable night! The bus was in great condition and so much bigger than I imagined. It even had a restroom which was helpful because we had it reserved for 5 hours. The driver was fantastic and let us blast our music and dance the whole time. I would highly recommend this company to anyone looking for a good time!!

Mark is pretty darn awesome! We chartered his land yacht for a work event. Everyone had an amazing time, and everyone said that they would definitely want to work with Mark again for both future and personal events that require group transportation. FIVE STARS ALL THE WAY!

Great driver. Smooth sailing for a large group of 30+! Very nice clean bus (with a bathroom!!) We had such a great time. I can't wait to do it again.

1 other review that is not currently recommended

Collections Including Pacific Land Yachts

By Aimee H.

People Also Viewed

Primo Transportation

CLS Global Transportation

Lux Limo San Francisco

Genesis Transportation

GoPro Limo Transport

Cloud 9 Limousine & Transportation

Sal’s Airport & Limousine Service

eCharter Bus

Noble Limousines

Royal Diamond Bay Area Limousine

Browse Nearby

Personal Chefs

Escape Games

Restaurants With Private Rooms

Photo Booth

Party Bus Rentals in Santa Clara

Get free quotes on Yelp now

Other Party Bus Rentals Nearby

Find more Party Bus Rentals near Pacific Land Yachts

People found Pacific Land Yachts by searching for…

40th Birthday Party Santa Clara

Bachelor Party Santa Clara

Fun Bachelorette Party Restaurants Santa Clara

Best Party Club in Santa Clara

Best Surprise Birthday Party in Santa Clara

30th Birthday Party Venues in Santa Clara

Charter Bus in Santa Clara

Limo And Party Bus Rentals in Santa Clara

Wedding Buses in Santa Clara

Hotel For Bachelor's Party in Santa Clara

Kids Party Bus in Santa Clara

Party Bus Rental in Santa Clara

Party Bus Rentals Cost Guide

Party Bus Rentals Near Me

Related Cost Guides

Party Bike Rentals

Party Bus Rentals

Photo Booth Rentals

Valet Services

• 5 More Cost Guides

Pacific Land Yachts is a Yelp advertiser.