The Oru Bay ST folding kayak turned many heads at this year’s Southampton Boat show. As a keen kayaker, canoeist and sea rower, I was keen to test it out…
Best night vision binoculars for sailors – 6 scopes
Are you looking for the best night vision binoculars for sailors or a night scope? Have a look at our handy buyers guide bringing you a neat selection of some…
Best waterproof hand warmers – 7 of the best rechargeable options
If you are looking to sail all year round – or if you are looking to spend any length of time outdoors in winter – then finding the best waterproof…
Extraordinary boats: Scow-bowed Ace 30
Scow bow designs are still very rare in the UK and mostly elsewhere in northern Europe. The exception is France, especially on the Atlantic coast, where their distinctive spatula-shaped forward…
Wave forecasting: software to help your routing
Many years ago on a dark March in the Atlantic we were hit by a large wave on the beam – all went quiet as the yacht was rolled; luckily,…
Southern Ocean sailing: Lessons from Cape Horners
“The closest I’ve ever been to mortality was the capsize at Cape Horn. That was just a horrific experience,” says American sailor Rich Wilson of his Southern Ocean sailing experiences.…
How to follow the Rolex Sydney Hobart Race
Sydney sailors are counting down the days – not until December 25, but the 26, for the much-anticipated Rolex Sydney Hobart Race. The blue riband offshore classic was cancelled for…
Dream of the West Indies: four schoolboys on a transatlantic adventure
In the summer of 1983, a group of very young Norwegians set out on a round trip to the Caribbean in Jeanette VI, a 35ft Vindø yacht they chartered from…
How Jasmine Harrison became the first woman to swim the length of the UK
Last month Jasmine Harrison, 23, became the first woman to swim the length of the UK from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Harrison lived aboard her Bavaria 38 support yacht…
Second hand boats: Buying a family yacht
Buying a family yacht with room to accommodate young and old means looking for some very specific characteristics. Having enough space for living, studying and – increasingly commonly – office…
Emirates Team New Zealand set land speed record pace
Emirates Team New Zealand and Land speed pilot Glenn Ashby have sailed their land yacht Horonuku, faster than any previous records, clocking in at 222.4kph on Monday 12 December and…
How to prepare for an Atlantic crossing
In the spring of 2021, Laura Blom-Sipkens and her husband were chatting in their car when a thought suddenly struck her: we should take a break from work and take…
Best chartplotter: 6 great options from marine MFDs to tablets
Not sure where to start looking for a chartplotter or MFD? The terms ‘chartplotter’ and ‘MFD’ are broadly used interchangeably, but typically an MFD works as a chartplotter but also…
Best drones for sailing: take your onboard videos to the next level
Drones are now must-have items for many cruising sailors. Sailing Instagram feeds and YouTube vlogs are full of stunning overhead anchorage shots – and, for the brave, footage taken underway.…
Best boating flashlights: 7 LED torches for sailors
A good boating flashlight a true essential item. Every boat should carry at least one, and every crew member should consider packing their own if sailing overnight or in poor…
Best reef-safe sunscreen: Eco-friendly sun lotion for sailors
For sailors who spend their time on the water under the glare of the sun, keeping your skin safe from harmful UV rays is vital. But protecting the oceans is…
Double handed sailing skills: Spinnaker hoists
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…
5 tips on strategic starting for sailors
Getting a good start is not just about being fast off the line in clear air. Sometimes the better start can be to wait in the second row near the…
New electric furler for code 0 use
Furling systems for reaching sails have transformed the ease with which these sails can be handled, with the result that many more cruising yachts now have Code 0s and furling…
Offshore sailing clothes review
After winning the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race aboard JPK 1010 Jangada Rupert Homes provides this full offshore sailing clothes review. Rupert Holmes has some 85,000 miles of offshore…