Until recently, developments in satellite communications were painfully slow, but the pace of change started to quicken a few years ago and is today accelerating rapidly. There’s now a wider…
Swimming with humpback whales
“Slip into the water, don’t jump. Try not to splash, and follow me,” our guide Torea hurriedly told us as the panga-style boat slowed to a stop, only 100m away…
Best swimming goggles: 6 of the best pairs for open water
Whether you’re a regular outdoor swimmer or just love to clock up laps in your local indoor pool, a pair of good swimming goggles are an essential to keep swimmers…
How to provision a yacht for a long passage
Provisioning a yacht for a long period away from conventional shops, with limited cold store space, dry goods stowage and galley facilities, can be daunting. In a beautifully illustrated new…
Buddy Melges, 1930-2023
Harry Clemons ‘Buddy’ Melges Jr., widely considered to be one of America’s greatest competitive sailors, passed away on May 18, 2023. Born on January 26, 1930, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, Buddy…
When a sailor and a chicken took on an incredible voyage
Say what you will, but the French have got style. We Anglo-Saxons may fancy ourselves as adventurers, but then along comes an unsponsored lad from North Brittany in a 30ft…
How to trim an asymmetric sail in light airs
Francesca Clapcich has enjoyed a hugely diverse and successful racing career. Her years racing the Laser Radial at Olympic level honed her wave-riding skills where sailors steer huge arcs –…
What you need to know to sail across the Pacific
Coffee in hand, I gaze out from our cockpit across the flat lagoon of the palm-fringed coral atoll in Fakarava. We are in the Tuamotus, French Polynesia. Yesterday we swam…
Starlink at sea: all change for cruisers
Starlink, Elon Musk’s low orbit satellite network which delivers low cost high speed internet via a portable dish, has shaken up its offering for cruising sailors and other broadband users…
Double handed sailing skills: Tacking
Double handed sailing skills are increasingly important to master as the recent boom in double handed racing, both inshore and offshore, continues and boats designed for couples to cruise two-up…
World’s coolest yachts: Windward Passage
“A very modern boat for her times: very large stern (almost like today’s naval architecture) and semi-round bilge hull made her very fast in reaching – and with a flush…
The best dry bags for kayaking: for keeping kit dry during all kinds of paddling adventures
There is nothing worse than getting to a take-out point after a paddle, only to find your ‘dry’ gear, provisions or camping equipment has been soaked through while you’ve been…
GUYOT environnement – Team Europe dismasted in The Ocean Race
Early this morning, Tuesday 9 May 2023, organisers of The Ocean Race have reported that GUYOT environnement – Team Europe has dismasted as the fleet race towards the finish of…
World’s coolest yachts: The Waszp
“I’d like to be able to say the AC40 [Women’s and Youth America’s Cup foiler] because hopefully – fingers crossed! – I will be in it and it’s definitely the…
St Maarten Heineken Regatta: Kicking off the Caribbean season
The Caribbean regatta season is something of a pilgrimage to the sun, drawing competitors from across North America as well as across the Atlantic. Those coming from northern Europe or…
15,000 miles around Europe’s far north in a windsurfer camping under a sail – a fascinating tale
Most of my deepwater sailing I’ve done in conventional yachts or classics. Board sailing and windsurfers, although I tried my hand years back and enjoyed it, are a world of…
Golden Globe: Kirsten Neuschäfer becomes first woman to win solo round the world race
South African solo skipper Kirsten Neuschäfer has won the Golden Globe Race, crossing the finish line off Les Sables d’Olonne at around 2100hrs today after 235 days of racing. In…
Best kayak bilge pumps for quickly and efficiently emptying your boat
For anyone doing any sort of serious paddling in a sit-inside kayak – from going out for a few hours or the whole day along rivers and around coastlines, to…
Simon Curwen first finisher in Golden Globe Race (but can’t win overall)
British solo sailor Simon Curwen has crossed the finish line of the Golden Globe Race, the single-handed around the world ‘retro’ event, after 234 days and 22 hours of racing.…
Best designer sailing jackets: 6 top options for yacht club style
We have all been in the position where an impromptu celebratory visit to the pub/restaurant/yacht club has been sprung upon us immediately after hitting the dock. Many have also witnessed…