Falmouth, Cornwall, 1955: a legend is born along Customs House Quay. A smartly dressed young man with wild, curly hair has launched a 23ft catamaran, built in just a few…
Yachting World
Ever dreamed of setting off on a solo sailing voyage?
I awoke to the violent motion that comes with an angry squall in the night. Jumping out of my passage berth I rushed into the darkness and pulled on my…
Some of the world’s biggest, coolest catamarans go racing
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda is one of the most prestigious yacht clubs in the world, its marble atrium and exclusive pool deck usually welcoming owners and crews of superyachts,…
World’s coolest yachts: Rambler 88
Rambler 88 was designed as a giant slayer. After the loss of his Rambler 100, owner George David asked designer Juan Kouyoumdjian to create a boat that was capable of…
Sailing the northwest passage in a traditional cutter
Integrity set sail from Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, on 1 June bound for Alaska via Greenland and Arctic Canada. It was a Thursday. With naval superstitions rife among the crew and…
World’s coolest yachts: RC44
“For sure one of the coolest yachts is none other than the RC44 class created by Russell Coutts,” nominates Cameron Appleton. A strict one-design, the RC44 was co-designed by five-time…
How to deal with a tight windward mark rounding
While there may be many factors that feed into a successful windward mark rounding, Charlie Cumbley boils it down to one overriding aim: “Ultimately you’re trying to get to the…
Rolex Sydney Hobart: How to win the legendary race
The Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race stands as a pinnacle of offshore yacht racing. Its reputation as the hardest of the classic offshore races is well deserved. Compared to the…
Should you ship a yacht to a destination rather than sail it?
At some point, perhaps in an anchorage far from home, every bluewater cruiser is faced with a choice – do you sail on, or turn back and recross your wake?…
SwellPro Spry+ Drone review
We’ve always enjoyed photography and video-making as we’ve cruised Maunie of Ardwall, our Vancouver 38 Pilot. And ever since we first met some American sailors in Vanuatu who flew a…
Sailing to the most remote islands in the world amid ice and snow
It’s five years since our first voyage to Antarctica and we need a break from chartering to the Antarctic Peninsula. We love Southern Patagonia and the Antarctic but it’s time…
What’s it like to sail to the most remote of the South Sandwich Islands?
We dropped anchor in 12m of water, a long stone’s throw from an unfriendly rocky cliff face and immediately the reality of our position set in as Vinson of Antarctica…
Extraordinary boats: Maluka – restoration of a 1932 classic
One thing you should do is take your watch off. If you start looking at your watch you’re going to do your head in!” said Sean Langman, owner and skipper…
A complete guide to high latitude sailing (and avoiding icebergs)
I’ve just returned home from skippering 59º North’s Farr 65 Falken from Annapolis, Maryland, to Isafjordur in north-west Iceland. We covered over 3,000 miles, sailing via the stupendous Prince Christian…
Coolest yachts: the dhow
“I always have been impressed by the dhow, the traditional racing boats sailed in the United Arab Emirates,” says Bruno Dubois. “The 60ft yachts are particularly impressive.” The original dhow…
Expert tips: how to sail downwind in windy weather
Pushing a boat close to the edge downwind is exhilarating and sometimes exhausting. Sailing hard downwind in waves requires 100% focus from the helmsman and trimmers, not to mention the…
How to weather forecast on passage
While it’s essential to monitor the conditions when choosing the best weather window for departure, equally important is being well-versed in obtaining and interpreting weather data while offshore – keeping…
Pursuing the pacific dream to French Polynesia
Beside the quiet, sun-bleached Mexican town of La Cruz de Huanacaxtle lies a busy anchorage on the north side of Bahía de Banderas. Humpback whales cruise nonchalantly through the bay,…
How to win the Rolex Middle Sea Race
This year marks the 44th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race, which has now earned its place alongside the Fastnet Race and Sydney Hobart as one of the classic…
5 reasons to follow the 30th anniversary Transat Jacques Vabre
The Transat Jacques Vabre is one of the ultimate tests of short-handed racing, a double-handed dash from France that sees many of the world’s top racing machines take on the…