Robert Scheidt always used to start out of the middle of the line. That was…
5 tips – Essential yacht racing skills
5 expert tips for going fast while reaching
Years of short-course racing in small keelboats in fleet race and match race competitions had…
Second-hand boats: Buying a shorthanded racing yacht
The rapidly growing double-handed and shorthanded racing scene has attracted a flurry of recently launched…
Upwind headsail trimming: Top tips from a pro
The challenge of headsail trimming, according to Stir Fry, is understanding at any given moment…
5 expert sailing tips: Night helming
Chris Nicholson’s prowess in 18ft Skiffs and three World Championship titles in the early days…
Spinnaker drop techniques: top tips for ‘string drops’
Dinghies like the 505 have been using chutes to ‘string drop’ their spinnakers into the…
How to keep calm under pressure
After sailing a brilliant qualifying series during the Tokyo Olympic Games earlier this summer, a…
Autopilot modes: how to make the most of your pilot
I view my autopilot in the same way I view sail plan and weight distribution…
How to put together a winning crew
Despite only having come to offshore racing six years ago, Tom Kneen has proven a…
How to run the pit: Top tips from a pro sailor
Running the pit is more than pulling the right ropes at the right time, according…
How to sail in light winds and tide
The lighter the breeze, the more significant the effects of any current or tidal flow.…
How to deal with problems at sea
Liz Wardley, by her own admission, hated school. “I was a very bad student, but…
Solent sea breeze: Understanding typical Solent summer winds
Clear skies at dawn and a hint of wispy cumulus rising above the mainland shore…
Upwind in survival conditions: How to take on heavy weather
Stu Bannatyne has learned the hard way that sailing upwind in survival conditions changes your…
How to prepare a boat for the season ahead
Abby Ehler has competed in three Volvo Ocean Races and run top race boats including…
Match racing tactics: Ian Williams on America’s Cup moves
There’s no question: the final Prada Cup Round Robin race between INEOS Team UK and…
Sailing downwind: Expert tips to improve your helming
Carolijn Brouwer is a top talent, having been to the Olympic Games in three different…
Mainsail trim: Secrets of a professional sailor
Good mainsail trim has always been an art. Increasingly it’s becoming a science too, with…
Masterclass: How to set a storm trysail
We were running before a deep depression en-route from Ponta Delgada in the Azores to…
How to improve spinnaker trim: Pro sailor Simon Fry shares his secrets
According to ‘Stir Fry’, as he is widely known, a good trimmer is defined by…