14 September 2007 ~ Does the idea of sailing off into the sunset, discovering new and exciting adventures whilst living aboard your yacht sound too good to be true? One couple who have been living this dream for many years are Canadian sailors Paul and Sheryl Shard, who will be sharing their experiences and offering advice to 'would be' explorers at Raymarine’s stand GO88 on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16 September from 2pm – 3pm.
Living aboard their 37 Classic sloop 'Two Step' for 17 years, the Shards have travelled more than 45,000 miles and visited over 40 countries and colonies in North and South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Mediterranean, and the Middle East.
However the couple will soon be facing further exciting voyages onboard their new luxurious Southerly 42 – aptly named 'Distant Shores', as voted for by fans of the award winning TV series, which follows the couple’s many sailing adventures. With a much larger boat, the Shards will finally be able to take people on their escapades; allowing guests to join the crew and learn about the cruising life.
Spending their summers travelling aboard the boat and the winter back in Canada, the couple produce documentaries, videos, books, magazine articles, websites and podcasts about their experiences, and are acclaimed as lively and entertaining speakers.
Paul and Sheryl will be on the Raymarine stand to talk to visitors about their life and adventures, as well as to provide useful, practical and knowledgeable information about what equipment to have on board, how to kit out a boat for living aboard, and advising on the best areas to visit.
'Distant Shores' will be fully equipped with Raymarine communication, navigation and electronic equipment – including the Raymarine LifeTag System; a wireless personal man overboard device. “Having the latest modern electronics and communication equipment on board is vital”, says Paul Shard.
He explains; "The installation of modern marine electronics on board, especially chartplotters, have made sailing safer and easier – allowing long-distance cursing to become a reality for many short-handed crews.
“The Raymarine equipment aboard 'Distant Shores', including the SmartPilot with wireless controller, is truly fantastic. All the devices are built for high performance, however the ease of use makes them accessible for even novice sailors.”
With a comprehensive stand at the Southampton Boat Show, Raymarine offers the ideal place for visitors to learn about the challenges and adventures experienced by the Shards. Take the opportunity to pick up practical hints and tips about modern electronics and how to choose the best systems for your use – whether day or weekend sailing, racing, living aboard or blue water cruising.
For further information contact Chloe Bartle, UK Marketing Coordinator, +44 (0)23 9269 3611 Ext. 1395, email: chloe.bartle@raymarine.com or Alice Driscoll at ADPR, Tel +44 (0)1935 826451, Fax +44 (0)1935 826551 or by email: alice.driscoll@adpr.co.uk.
This text can be downloaded from http://www.adpr.co.uk/. For high res images please email: info@raymarine.com.
September 2007 (RM445)
