“The AC40 is the coolest boat in the world because it’s like a little go-cart, super responsive. You can really rip it around the turns. You feel the Gs, but…
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How to extend your summer cruising season in the Med
The eastern Mediterranean is a treasure trove of beautiful cruising grounds, spectacular natural beauty, ancient cities and amazing food. Many sailors would love to linger there for at least a…
No fridge, no shower, no engine: How we sailed around the World on £450 a month
“We made it!” said Christophe, “L’Envol has crossed her own wake, we have just completed a circumnavigation.” I looked around. We were still more than 100 miles from the Brazilian…
Fixing rig failure mid-Pacific: ‘The mast groaned with every roll. It was physically and emotionally extremely stressful’
We were adrift, 2,800 miles into our 4,100-mile Pacific crossing, with only enough fuel to take us another 450 miles. After that, it was anyone’s guess. A month previously we’d…
Inside the Transatlantic sailing experiments stripping celebs (and filmmakers) of control
Should you be invited to be one of a group of 12 strangers sailing across the Atlantic ocean on a small yacht – and you’d all be filmed during the…
We lived our own Odyssey in the Greek Islands
In the lee of the island of Oxia and the low-lying mainland, we altered course and sheeted in, the wind pulsing across the deck of our Voyager 38, Namika. We’d…
The tropical weather signals every offshore sailor must know
Sailing in the tropics, as you get to within about 30° of the equator the barometer will start to exhibit a twice daily rise and fall, on top of the…
World’s coolest yachts: Grainger 075
“Boat ‘cool’ has gone up a notch recently with foilers doing some serious speeds. The 49er has a special place in my sailing history, while the Moth and Switch are…
Sailing around the world the ‘wrong’ way round: ‘The direct route is 22,000 miles. I’ve done 37,000!’
Sailing around the world solo, through the Southern Oceans, remains one of the sport’s purest challenges. Doing so the ‘wrong way’ round – westabout, against the prevailing weather systems –…
Demystifying the tropics: An expert guide to the wind, the weather, and why it really rains
What actually constitutes ‘the tropics’? Navigationally it’s easy to define: the tropics lie between the Tropic of Cancer at 23° 26’N and the Tropic of Capricorn at 23° 26’S, which…
Weaving through the crowded skerries of Norway and Sweden by boat
After many years of cruising in Scandinavia it never ceases to amaze us how many beautiful places beg to be explored along the island-strewn coastlines. It would take a lifetime…
Sailing from Fiji to New Zealand without an autopilot: ‘The Bay of Islands is a sailing paradise’
In the past five years I’ve done 13 ocean passages. Each has been wildly different, and yet I’m struck with a sense of déja vu as we dock Jacqeau, our…
JPK 1050 review: Absolute top-performing offshore monohull
There are not many production shipyards that specify the weight difference of individual options compared to that of the standard equipment. Fewer still would list single-digit deviations with accounting precision…
Cruising with pets: Your guide to sailing with your furry friend
Each year, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers welcomes crews of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities. But there was one crewmember who attracted more attention than any other in the 2024/25…
Connected or consumed? The realities of Starlink for bluewater cruisers
In our homes and in our hands, we’ve become used to using high-speed internet for everyday tasks as well as for non-stop entertainment. But now the threads of the worldwide…
World’s Coolest Yachts: Pangaea
Ocean racer and adventurer Guirec Soudée nominates South African explorer Mike Horn’s custom-built expedition vessel Pangaea. “One of my dreams is to build an expedition boat. I spent a bit…
Finding the perfect balance of paradise and sporty sailing in St Vincent and the Grenadines
How many places in the world can truly claim to be an iconic sailing destination? St Vincent and The Grenadines (SVG), a scattered chain of 32 idyllic Caribbean islands, certainly…
How to use a barometer to understand weather (and why you should NEVER tap it!)
Most yachts have a mechanical barometer on board, either a brass or a stainless one screwed to the bulkhead somewhere convenient – ideally close to the navigation desk so it…
Extraordinary boats: Ha’Penny 20 Risvold – the little junk rig that could
When RW Henson envisioned the ideal boat for his global circumnavigation he knew it needed two basic features – reliability and simplicity. He wanted a vessel that was bulletproof and…
Half the boat had flooded. We were side-on to the sea and rolling dangerously. We abandoned ship
About one hour before abandoning Magic Bus in a raging North Atlantic Ocean, skipper Buster Pike attempted to initiate a Pan-Pan call with the US Coast Guard via VHF radio.…