Fox’s Yacht Sales handed over “Stardust”, a new Oceanis 31, to her owner this week. With 2 more Oceanis 31’s due to be delivered later this month there is plenty of opportunity to come and have a look onboard.

Great Fun in aid of the RNLI
Organised and funded by Fox’s Yacht Sales, the event is free to Beneteau owners, we ask only that a donation is made to the R.N.L.I. This year we are delighted to have raised approx’ £3,000.00 for this worthwhile cause, approx’ £15,000.00 since we started 10 years ago.Based off the Suffolk coast on the weekend of 7th & 8th June 2008, the Beneteau Owners Weekend comprises of a rally/race for sailboats and a water bourne Treasure Hunt for motorboats on the Saturday, an overnight stop at Fox’s Marina for a prize giving party in one of the big workshops with food, bar and a band, then a pursuit race for the sailboats on the Sunday morning. With the weather forecasts for the weekend becoming progressively worse, we thought the committee boat was going to be the only boat on the water for the Saturday handicap race. However, along with the driving rain, 32 Beneteau’s appeared for the 11.30 start off Harwich Breakwater on Saturday morning, sailing in two classes, white sail and three sail.

Ranging in size from 21ft to 50ft the course was set: out to sea, round Stone Banks and Outer Ridge, back into the harbour, up and down the River Stour and then up the Orwell finishing up river of Levington.
Four boats were late for the start including the First 21.7 “Scorpio” – attempting to start at the finish line was not ideal - causing them to start 30 minutes late! The whole fleet completed the course with the majestic FIRST 50 “Spirit of Max” taking line honours.
The Treasure Hunt was definitely affected by the weather with only two boats completing the task of photographing the 20 “clues”, the Flyer Open sportsboats sensibly didn’t fancy spending 4 – 5 hours whizzing around in the wind and rain. There’s always next year!

Saturday evening saw a rather tired and wet fleet moored up in Fox’s Marina. Things soon warmed up at 7.30pm when the bar opened and the 250 guests assembled for the meal and prize giving.

Sunday morning saw blue skies and sunshine for the pursuit race. Start times had been given to those competing based on the actual sailing times on the Saturday, with the slowest boats starting first at 10.00am. The winner was the boat leading at 1.00pm The 10 boats with the fewest hangovers from the night before entered. Mike Delph in the Oceanis 311 “Chelmarin” held the lead right up to the last minute when Team Eggett in Oceanis 361 “Sealeggs” slid past them with seconds to go.

Download White Sail Results

Download Three Sail Results

Treasure Hunt
1st Tim Dearing Oceanis 393 “Serena”
2nd Tony & Cherril Powell Antares 7 FYS

Spirit of the Event
Andrew Clarke First 21.7 “Scorpio” – Determination - For starting late on their own and completing the course.

Pursuit Race
1st Team Eggett Oceanis 361 “Sealeggs”
2nd Mike Delph Oceanis 311 “Chelmarin”
3rd John Harding First 36.7 “BigWig II”
4th Colin Thomas First 50 “Spirit of Max”

Confirmation that Fox’s 10th annual Beneteau Owners Regatta will be held on the weekend of Saturday & Sunday 7th/8th June 2008.In aid of the R.N.L.I.. and organised by the Fox’s Yacht Sales team the event is open to Beneteau Yacht & Powerboat owners. With over 40 sailboat entries at each of the last two events, the weekend rivals even the largest keel boat regattas on the East Coast. The weekend is run from Fox’s Marina, Ipswich on the East Coast, with sailing off the Port of Felixstowe.

In stock for early delivery:
Beneteau FIRST 31.7
Beneteau OCEANIS 323
Part-exchange possible.

TYPE: BENETEAU OCEANIS 31 LAUNCH AT PARIS BOAT SHOW DEC 08
NAME: “OCEANIS 31”
BUILT BY: Beneteau
LENGTH: 9.66m
BEAM: 3.39m
DRAFT: 1.8m

ENGINE: Yanmar 3YM20 21hp diesel engine.

KEY FEATURES:
• FAST, WELL-BALANCED HULL
• SAIL PLAN DESIGNED FOR EASY HANDLING, WITH SMALL-OVERLAP GENOA (8%)
• WHEEL STEERING AS STANDARD
• ERGONOMICALLY-DESIGNED COCKPIT & SPACIOUS TRANSOM SKIRT
• EASY-TO-USE LIFERAFT LOCKER OPENING DIRECTLY TO THE SEA & PATENTED COMPANIONWAY SYSTEM.
• VERY LARGE & WELL-EQUIPPED GALLEY, WITH TWO STAINLESS STEEL SINKS.
• TWO EQUIPMENT LEVELS: STANDARD & EXCLUSIVE.
• ONE LAYOUT: 2 CABINS/ 1 HEAD COMPARTMENT

As in previous years, the Grand Pavois de La Rochelle boat show culminated in the traditional announcement by Voile Magazine of its Yacht of the Year.
Over a two-day period, 20 yachts of all types and sizes were put under the microscope by a judging panel of sailing professional and the magazine’s editorial team. Readers were also invited to come and try the boats.
This year saw two Bénéteau boats in the running: the Océanis 43, launched last December and designed by Berret-Racoupeau with an interior by Nauta Design, and the Océanis 37, developed by Bénéteau in collaboration with Finot Conq et Associés and Nauta Design, and unveiled for the first time at the Grand-Pavois show.
The boat’s contemporary design, ergonomic deck plan, performance under sail and many innovations (patented companionway door, clever liferaft locker, innovative galley, etc.), combined with the way it fulfils the stated brief of being the ultimate family cruiser, clearly excited the judging panel, which voted it their Yacht of the Year. The mathematical points system used to rank the boats put the Océanis 37 way ahead of its competitors.
The Voile Magazine test of the Océanis 37 is published in its November issue, and the Yacht of the Year title will be officially awarded on the Editions Larivière stand during the Paris Boat Show.

Second BENETEAU FIRST 50 arrives at Ipswich after the Southampton Boat Show. Will be commissioned in the spring for her owner and will set off for the Med’.

Launch of BENETEAU OCEANIS 37 hailed a success at Southampton.
The latest model in new the Oceanis range has a beautiful light interior with a choice of layouts, on deck a large cockpit will make cruising a joy whilst the sailors will love her balance and performance.