Three years ago a Sun Fast 3300 called Red Ruby, whose American owners come from the Pacific North West, popped up in UK double-handed races. It immediately notched up a…
Rupert Holmes
Lagoon 43 review: Will this voluminous new cat be the world’s most popular multihull?
Replacing a very successful model is a huge challenge for any boatbuilder. Is it best to take a conservative approach, opting for a similar design to the original with only…
Contest 63CS review: Superyacht-level finish
We’re sailing the Contest 63CS upwind on a glorious late autumn day in the Balearics, in supreme comfort and with minimal heel, yet maintaining 6.5-7.1 knots of boat speed in…
4 of the coolest new wooden yachts in 2025
It has now been many decades since wood was the most widely used material in yacht productions but timber is still a natural choice for some modern yacht designers and…
CNB 62 first look: Standout natural lighting for a family cruiser
The CNB 62 is the outcome of a brief to create a yacht that blends important elements of two previous popular CNB models – the ease of use of the…
Kraken 58 First Look: A cruiser with embracing central cockpit for easy handling
Over the past few years Kraken has forged an enviable reputation thanks to its contemporary take on what’s needed to create no-nonsense serious bluewater cruising yachts. The Kraken 58 is…
Dufour 44 review: More space but maintaining performance
What makes the perfect saloon for a cruising yacht? Ask anyone of a certain age and they’re likely to start with safety aspects – snug, with at least a couple…
RM 1380 review: an enticing alternative to the mainstream
I’ve admired the innovative range of fast yet comfortable cruisers from RM Yachts for many years – their combination of spacious, attractive and brightly lit interiors, planing performance and well…
Bestevaer 36 review: Start exploring closer to home
With renowned designer Gerard Dykstra approaching 80 years old, he was looking for a boat for himself that would fit a somewhat different use to his previous yachts. Yet at…
How to ensure your yacht purchase is problem-free
Couldn’t it be wonderful to believe that the experience of buying a new yacht is never problematic? But as with anything and everything – from cars to new homes –…
Shogun 43 review: High velocity cruising
How many crewmembers of high tech racing yachts have wondered whether the boat could be tweaked and tamed to create a super-fast cruising machine that’s enormous fun to sail? I…
‘Electric yacht propulsion opens doors to a completely different way of thinking about sailing’
Electric propulsion is rapidly becoming established in the mainstream yacht market. This is increasingly driven by customer demand, often by people who own electric or plug-in hybrid cars and are…
Bavaria C46 review: More accommodation and better performance?
It’s often thought that yachts with wide forward sections inevitably slam uncomfortably in head seas. But that’s not always the case as, when the boat heels, the hull’s immersed section…
Jeanneau Yachts 55 review: Thinking outside the box
Boatbuilders rarely have the courage to launch a model that represents a radically different way of thinking. Instead, most new yachts are simply variations on established themes with incremental improvements…
Sun Fast 30OD review: breaking the mould
The best racing I’ve ever done, whether inshore or offshore, has been in one-design fleets. However, in the offshore realm it’s been two decades since the last successful one-design class…
Neel 52 trimaran review
We’re beating out of the approach channel to La Rochelle in 8-10 knots of true wind, with some tacks as short as 90 seconds. The yacht is tacking cleanly and…
Ovni 430 review: new interpretation of a successful concept
The concept of rugged aluminium centreboard boats is well proven, but can a boat displacing 14 tonnes when loaded sail well in the light airs that predominate during summer in…
Best sailing jackets: From inshore to ocean-ready waterproofs
The massive choice of sailing jackets – and wildly varying price points – can be bewildering even for the most experienced sailors. This can make figuring out the best sailing…
Helly Hansen Ægir Race Jacket review
The second generation Helly Hansen Ægir Race Jacket is a top notch product made for the ultimate in comfort and protection, without compromise. It’s also noticeably lighter than the Norwegian…
Gill Verso Lite Jacket review
There’s much to be said for the advantages of a smock style top, without a full front zip, as they usually offer better protection than a jacket of similar specification.…