The Whaly - Functional, Practical and Affordable

Long time family friend Tom Wharton and his Partner the well respected yachtsman Heider Funck recently invited me to join them and TSCC’s director of sailing Brian McLennan to test their new boat being imported into Canada. On an overcast rainy day they introduced me to the Whaly and despite its different utilitarian look it’s a winner for anyone running a sailing program or requiring a functional rugged boat. I think their goal was to get this old racing sailor hooked on their new boat and to that end they have a new disciple. I wish I had one of these when I was instructing rather than the old heavy boats we had back then that tended to be more a liability than a tool.

Perfect for on water training programs this stable soft contoured hull allows for easy rescue and is perfect for a quick side along coaching where boats need to bump endlessly. Perfect to as a utility boat around any club or facility where functionality comes first.

Utilizing the latest technology the Whaly’s double hull is fabricated from a single piece f rotary moulded Polyethylene.

What’s surprising its interior space that can be customized easily through what I call the plug and play system, where central steering and storage boxes are merely snapped in and fitted allowing all the flexibility needed?

Available in three model lengths, 310 (10′ 2″) 370 (12″ 2″) and 435 (14″6″) the boat can be built in several colours including red, blue, green, grey and orange.

The boat we tested configured with a Mercury 25 hp engine flew across the flat water inside Toronto’s break wall while turning effortlessly one could easily imagine coaching or teaching from this wonderful on water platform. I could see easily how this boat would fit many programs immediately. With a price point (no engine) between $2400 and $3600 the Whaly fits many budgets. Rarely can you gain a coach boat for less than the cost of a sailing hull. The Whaly’s position in my opinion is enhanced by its wonderful payback since its acquisition cost is so low and its durability is so high so before you look to far afield check this out.

For more information Heider Funck – 905 990 1227 or Tom Wharton – 416 409 3304 e-mail whaly@ultrafurl.com

WEB SITE: http://www.ultrafurl.com/whaly/whaly.html

To see if this boat is available, go to http://www.boatcan.com to check listings!

Neptunus 650F Review

By Andy Adams

Over the years Canadian Yachting has had the pleasure of doing several boat review articles on new Neptunus models and we are familiar with the qualities that Neptunus is famous for. They have all been exceptional yachts, but this is the one I would most want to own myself. It’s a personal choice and a matter of taste as to whether you would prefer to have a sedan express model or a flybridge but in my opinion, the flybridge layout offers some wonderful attributes.

We met with Neptunus Managing Director Jan Willem De Jong this past fall to take the new Neptunus 650F out in Lake Ontario.

Destinations

The Other Virgin Islands

By Mark Stevens

I was first seduced by the United States Virgin Islands during a ferry ride from St. Thomas to Tortola to begin one of our earliest British Virgin Islands charters nearly twenty years ago.

A perfect sunset off St. John with St. Thomas views for backdrop.

Clearing Pillsbury Sound, surrounded by voluptuous emerald mountains as the ferry sliced through royal blue waters, I was struck by the unspoiled ambiance of St. John, the island gliding past our starboard beam and the irresistible charm of a village called Cruz Bay visible from our quarter stern.