For most of World War II recreational sailing was banned in coastal areas and in many estuaries and rivers. After the Dunkirk evacuation, when the threat of invasion became very…
Yachting World
Wally founder Luca Bassani: The man at the cutting edge of yacht design
Try a game of word association with any superyacht industry professional and I’d be surprised if the word innovation didn’t bring the response Wally. Since 1994, Wally Yachts has –…
Mainsail handling: Advanced sailing techniques for catamarans and multihulls
A mainsail cannot know whether it is hoisted on a monohull, a catamaran or a trimaran. The principles of sail trim are universal. On all types of yacht the traveller,…
Speed sailing record holder Paul Larsen explains how to get your boat up to pace
Not only is Paul Larsen clued in to what makes a boat go fast, he’s just as passionate about getting the best out of every crew. Boatspeed comes down to…
Ngoni: This stunning sailing superyacht is Ed Dubois’ last masterpiece
The owner’s brief for Ngoni would be challenging for any size of yacht: “Build me a beast. Don’t build me a sheep in wolf’s clothing. This has to be an…
Pogo Foiler: This little racing machine will take the Mini Transat to another level
Since the Pogo 1 was launched in 1997, the Pogo Structures yard in Brittany has won ten out of the last 12 Mini Transat 6.50 races (the single-handed transatlantic race…
Downwind developments: The latest offwind sails for faster tradewind crossings
These can transform cruising yachts, giving them sufficient power to sail in light airs when previously crews would have been likely to resort to the engine. However, as we can…
Family adventure: How we home-schooled our kids while sailing across the Pacific
Sailing the paradise of the Pacific Ocean with my own boat had been my dream since forever. The first big question was when would be the right time for the…
Cruising New Caledonia: Spectacular sailing in the French corner of the Pacific
“OK, this time you’ll do it, right?” Wietze asks, full of hope that this time I’ll grab the mooring buoy without a hitch. I’m totally focussed on the white buoy…
From the archives: How the early years of the Fastnet Race shaped its legend
In 1931, a Yachting World correspondent who went by the name of Solent opined: “615 miles seemed to me too long for any yacht race by some 500-odd miles.” But…
October 2020
The October 2020 edition of Yachting World features a test of the spectacular Spirit 111 superyacht, plus our boat testers share their tips for finding the perfect yacht. News Crewed…
Video: See inside 9 of the most amazing modern sailing superyachts
1. Aquarius The brief for Aquarius included that she should be, ‘an elegant, muscular sailing yacht with a classic profile for family enjoyment.’ But that barely scratches the surface of…
Pink Gin VI: The inside story of Baltic Yachts’ all-carbon super sloop
The Baltic 175 Pink Gin may have captured most of the headlines for her sheer size and cleverly engineered topside balconies, but below decks a collection of Cuban art and…
Hallberg-Rassy 50: New model continues the Swedish yard’s twin-rudder revolution
The Hallberg-Rassy 50 is the fifth new generation twin-rudder model from the Swedish yard. As with its immediate predecessors – the 340, 40C, 44 and 57 – the new boat…
5 tips: Vendee Globe veteran explains how to face the fear and do it anyway
Facing your fears is something that challenges every sailor, but none more so than those taking on single-handed offshore racing. Nick Moloney is a social animal and thrives on being…
McConaghy 105 first look: Luxurious concept promises a wicked turn of speed
With its all-carbon build, the McConaghy 105 is capable of matching true wind speed under sail, topping out at around 20 knots. So it speaks volumes that this Jason Ker-designed…
Hylas 60 first look: Virtual tour brings this stunning new model to life
COVID-19 lockdown saw a bonanza of virtual boat shows and there’s every chance they are here to stay. A well executed virtual experience can give potential buyers a good feel…
Hallberg-Rassy 40C review: Is this really the Swedish yard’s best boat yet?
“This is the best sailing boat we’ve ever built,” enthuses Magnus Rassy about the new Hallberg-Rassy 40C. The company CEO is bound to be biased, but that’s a big claim…
Yacht lightning strikes: Why they cause so much damage and how to protect against them
According to US insurance claims (from BoatUS Marine Insurance) the odds of a boat being struck by lightning in any year are about 1 per 1,000, increasing to 3.3 per…
Navigation briefing: How to use weather observations to improve your forecasts
I have some tips for maximising the real-time information you can see, both online and using the naked eye. For instance, if sailing west across the Solent you can utilise…