The Fountaine Pajot 59 integrates many of the new design features of the 2019-launched Elba 45, which boasted a longer, wider hull that nevertheless showed 10% less drag. Chief among…
Sailing from South Africa to Europe: Chris Tibbs’ top tips for a smooth passage
There are a number of advantages to doing this, as well as saving around 3,000 miles of sailing, but the passage from the doldrums is predominantly upwind against the trade…
How to sea trial a boat: Professional boat testers share their top tips
Yacht brokers don’t really sell boats, they sell dreams. To buy any sailing yacht requires a leap of faith: a conviction that the winds will blow in our favour, and…
Outremer 55 first look: Efficient catamaran promises more sailing and less motoring
Plugging the gap between Outremer’s longstanding 5X and 51 models, the Outremer 55 will exhibit the brand’s typical balance of performance and comfort. When the design was unveiled at the…
Why these extreme multihull concepts could be the future of catamaran design
As boats become ever more like homes on water, something else is changing: designers and builders have been turning their attention to the market for floating buildings. New concepts to…
How to sail across the Indian Ocean: Everything you need to know
“It’s still a long way to get home,” Carina Hammarlund muses. My partner Weitze van der Laan and I nod. Between us and our home ports in northern Europe it…
Vendée Globe 2020 contenders: Who will win the world’s toughest sailing race?
Alex Thomson Age: 46 Boat: Hugo Boss Launched: 2019 Is this the year that Alex Thomson finally wins the Vendée Globe? Second in the last edition, third in the one…
Pelagic 77: Construction update on Skip Novak’s new expedition yacht
Yet another consequence of the lockdown which, as I write, is very much still in force in South Africa, is that I cannot follow the construction of the new Pelagic…
Pogo 44 first look: This Finot-Conq designed cruiser should punch above its weight
This Breton yard has long punched well above its weight with both its raceboats, including a foiling Mini 650, and cruising models. Over time, the company has increased its focus…
Solo Caribbean sailing: Trevor Robertson on 38ft Diva’s memorable maiden voyage
“In 2017-18, sailed from New Zealand to the Antarctic Peninsula by way of Cape Horn (60 days). Spent three weeks pottering around old haunts in the Peninsula then north to…
From the archives: How recreational sailing continued during the WWII lockdown
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…
Pip Hare explains when to check and replace your standing rigging
This was a ‘no brainer’ decision as my rigging has been around the world once already and I would never take it into the Southern Ocean for a second time.…
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,…
Spirit 111: This sailing art gallery is one of the most sensational yachts ever built
Powering upwind with green water rushing over the leeward rail, an enormous mahogany-clad wheel in hand and a view of the cleanest flush decks ahead, I couldn’t help but feel…
Celestial navigation: Why sailing by following the stars is enjoying a resurgence
Sailor and navigation expert Stokey Woodall, who has made a living teaching celestial navigation for several decades, has seen interest rise steadily over the past five years. “People want to…
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…