We tested the new Jeanneau 64 a year ago from Marseille during a mistral. It proved a revelation. Her looks and finish quality give a bonafide feel of luxury throughout.…
Toby Hodges
Pontos four-speed winch
How frustrating it would be to have a car with just two gears! Yet most sailors still rely on standard two-speed self-tailing winches for all winching applications. The self-tailing winch…
A custom 60-footer? How far would you go to have the boat of your dreams?
Imagine all of us wanting the same boats! How dull. But how far would you go to have the boat of your dreams? Once you get into 55ft plus territory…
Solaris 50 video – showing our Adriatic test of this trendsetting new Italian performance cruiser
Production yachts are rarely referred to as trendsetters. Like a mainstream saloon car, their primary goal is to offer maximum potential value, rather than seek admiring glances. Solaris may change…
Lady in Red: Baltic Yachts launches Doryan, a sizzling, scarlet 116ft carbon bluewater superyacht
Doryan is the arresting new scarlet Baltic, 116ft of pure performance in comfort, designed by Nauta and judel / vrolijk & co The design brief was for “a timeless and…
Flipbelt
Although designed as a comfortable place for runners to hold their iPod or phone, the Flipbelt is also a useful way to carry money, keys or phone securely in warmer…
The best Volvo Ocean Race video yet? A gripping movie showing how heroic yacht racing can be
Using voiceovers from each of the skippers and stylish photography throughout, the Volvo Ocean Race team has done a great job at both distilling its nine month race into a…
Gunboat 55 boat test: is this the coolest boat in the Caribbean
It was a poignant moment, an epiphany even. As Toccata swung to her anchor off Anse Heureuse, a tranquil cove on St Maarten’s north-west coast, and the evening sun reflected…
Video – the timeless elegance of the J Class. Velsheda, Ranger and Lionheart dance on Falmouth waters
We will put more photos and video up as the regatta draws to a close this Saturday. Here is the official report from today’s racing (Thursday June 25): The dream…
A Velsheda masterclass – pictures and highlights from the second day of J Class racing in Falmouth
Velsheda proved how age is by no means restrictive on a racecourse, with a demonstration of near perfect sailing during today’s two-hour coastal race. Their start was spot on, the…
Three J Class yachts are racing in Falmouth – see the pictures and highlights from the first race here
The sight of a J Class yacht sailing never fails to take your breath away. But time can dull even the grandest impressions. It has been three years since the…
Drones – how new flying robots can benefit sailors, from unique photography to MOB and rescue aids
Drones. Love them, hate them or fear them, these unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) are becoming mainstream. Outside the military, a drone’s primary benefit – aerial photography – has meant their…
Mylius 76, a carbon bullet with an interior that looks as if it’s been designed at NASA
Mylius produces the pin-ups of the production yacht world. Since its acquisition by packaging company Group Twinpack three years ago, the Italian brand has been quietly turning out a range…
The Gunboat 55 Video – full footage of our test aboard the coolest new fast cat available
The Gunboat 55 takes cool to a whole new level. She is a curvaceous yet fiery, muscular yet elegant design, drawn by the godfather of lightweight multihulls, Nigel Irens. And…
Two multi-million pound classic Ferraris will be auctioned off in aid of the RNLI
The legacy was left to the RNLI by the late Northamptonshire businessman Richard Colton, who requested that money raised from the sale of these two collectors’ cars be used to…
Brenta 80DC – this new 80ft carbon cruiser is a clever concept by the former owner of Hanse Yachts
Big names may draw the crowds to the red carpets, but they don’t always guarantee success. The fact that Italian style icon Brenta Design is behind this new carbon cruiser,…
Video – Australian skipper surfs a 46ft catamaran on a huge wave to make it into port
This incredible catamaran surfing video shows the moment Australian skipper Ian Sloan decides to take on the notorious waves of Australia’s Gold Coast to try to make it into harbour.…
Waterproof your mobile: we test new coatings based on nanotechnology
Like it or not, the use of mobile devices in cockpits is commonplace today, yet our prized smartphones and tablets are very vulnerable to water damage. It’s reportedly the number…
Is sailing in Colombia a viable option? Toby Hodges meets the World ARC in Santa Marta
Colombia has an air of mystique about it. Of all the places I’ve been lucky enough to visit, sailing in Colombia certainly aroused the most interest among family, friends and…
Astra Esa smartwatch, a wrist-mounted watch/smartphone/display for those on the move
This is the first smartwatch I have seen that is designed for sailing – and it’s as neat to use as it looks, fusing the sailor’s thirst for gadgetry with…