yachts needed a crew of 30 deckhands to control those thrashing clouds of canvas. Now a single crew member can do it all with speed and safety using a hydraulic powered winch. The current trend is to make the winches less conspicuous and more automatic. The sum of such developments is to demystify the process of handling these yachts. Though some may mourn the passing of coils of rope hung on balaying pins and troops of uniformed crew, the result is a friendlier, less daunting deck.

Bow thrusters and variable pitch propellers have made handling large yachts in confined spaces much easier. While bow thrusters have been available for some time, it is only the hydraulically retractable units built by Richfield in Poole which can provide the convenience of thruster power with no detriment to the performance of the yacht in normal service. Richfield's latest unit of 75 horsepower was specifically developed for the 140 foot Cyclos III, which will be equipped with two, one at the bow and one at the stern.

With propellers, perhaps more than anything, the need for reliability is paramount. While many companies offer variable pitch units, the Hundested models, developed over many years of tough service in fishing boats and tugs have proved the best. For the new breed of super cruisers Hundested have been using special low-noise blade shapes originally developed for silent running on nuclear submarines. This is particularly appreciated when the owner's stateroom is located immediately above the propellers.

The improvement in handling of these yachts under power has not only made access to confined spaces possible with safety, but enables the modern yacht to put to sea in conditions where the traditional vessel would require tugs, or would not dare leave dock at all.