Rupert Holmes

In recent years there’s been a dearth of new performance cruisers of this size, so this Grand Soleil 40 Performance is a welcome addition to the market. It’s intended to…

Another model to launch from the Italian yard this year, the Grand Soleil 72 LC (LC standing for Long Cruise) is a new variant of the already launched Grand Soleil…

This Swedish yard’s new flagship, the Arcona 50, represents more than just a step up in size – it’s also the outcome of a different philosophy. This is especially apparent…

The rapidly growing double-handed and shorthanded racing scene has attracted a flurry of recently launched models specifically optimised for this type of competition. But a cost-effective way of competing can…

Shaun Carkeek’s recent raceboats – including Niklas Zennström’s Fast 40 Ran, Richard Matthews’ CF520 Oystercatcher XXXV and the fully foiling Carkeek Persico F70 – are some of the stand-out designs…

It’s easy to assume that all rugged metal yachts are very heavy. While that was the case at one time for steel designs, it’s a different matter for aluminium which,…

The Owen Clarke 15m is an aluminium lifting keel expedition yacht, which builds on the success of the Owen Clarke-designed 20m (66ft) Qilak, one of the most notable vessels of…

Instead of a pilot house, these rugged semi-custom lift keel aluminium yachts have a full deck saloon, along with a number of interesting features including hybrid propulsion. The prototype Viator…

We’re close-hauled, sailing the new J/45 at 7.5 knots and catching up with a modern 55-footer, but slowly falling into her lee. Winding on a little mainsheet tightens the leech,…

The aluminium Bill Dixon designed JFA Adventure 68 adds a new dimension to this renowned Breton yard’s range of semi-custom performance cruising yachts. It’s a vessel that’s designed to go…

Large cruising yachts are enormously appealing, but it’s imperative that they’re easy to tame in deteriorating weather. Yet if this is achieved through making the boat underpowered it will be…

No other yard has been as consistently successful in producing iconic models as Nautor – historically Swans are invariably the very best yachts of their era and subsequently become design…

Two boats achieved stunning victories in the latest edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre, establishing leads before the halfway mark that they extended to the finish: the 30-metre Ultim trimaran…