Foiling has been the latest buzzword in the sailing and motorboat world for the last decade or so. Of course the history of hyrofoiling is far longer than that with…
Dinghy sailing: why it’s great for beginners and keelboat sailors
Dinghy sailing – whether racing or as a leisure activity – is one of the best ways to improve your skill level whether you’ve no experience of sailing, race 50ft…
J-Class yachts kick off Superyacht Cup Palma in style
Superyacht Cup Palma 2022 got off to a flying start Wednesday 29 June with a quartet of J Class yachts competing in some stunning conditions out on the Bay of…
Learn to sail: What to expect from the RYA Dinghy Level 1 Start Sailing course
There can be few more forgiving places to learn to sail than Horseshoe Lake Activity Centre in Berkshire. This inland watersports centre is home to paddleboards, kayaks, wild swimming and…
Through the Panama Canal in a yacht
Romeo hops over the guardrail at sunset. Our young Panamanian advisor, here to guide us through the first three ascending locks of the Panama Canal, politely turns down a Coca…
Diving from a boat – advice from the experts
As cruisers, we can find ourselves in some of the most beautiful places this world has to offer. But more often than not, the real magic lies just below the…
Expert tips: How to win the start
Robert Scheidt always used to start out of the middle of the line. That was in the days when he was the stand-out talent in the Laser single-handed dinghy, winning…
Collision as new double-handed Globe40 race starts from Morocco
The inaugural Globe40 Race got underway on Sunday, June 26, with seven Class 40 teams starting from the Moroccan city of Tangier on a 30,000-mile circumnavigation. The new double-handed Globe40…
Citizen science on a yacht – how you can help effect change
The notion of conducting scientific research or citizen science on a yacht can sound intimidating. It conjures up images of experts in white coats, working in clinical laboratories. The idea…
We pushed this budget paddleboard right up to its weight limit: Bestway SUP review
I recently wanted to try an inflatable stand up paddleboard (SUP) for use as a tender to get to my boat when she’s out on the mooring. I’ve done this…
SuMoth: The eco-friendly foiling design challenge for students
Lake Garda, Italy is about to welcome its annual meeting of speed-focussed sailors and designers at Foiling Week, which combines on the water racing with the chance to showcase and…
Extraordinary boats: Stormvogel, the original Maxi yacht
Last year’s Rolex Fastnet Race got off to a dramatic start, with over 30 knots of wind blasting through the fleet of 330 yachts lined up on the Solent. Not…
Penelope Down East – essays in singlehanded sailing
I was involved in a discussion the other day about the essence of seamanship. A number of folk were taking part and we had much of what you’d expect; tales…
Australia win SailGP Chicago, but Canadians surprise
‘A box office show’ is how Ben Ainslie described the US SailGP venue at Navy Pier Chicago, this weekend. It’s hard to imagine a better venue for Larry Ellison and…
Is fresh water or salt water faster to sail in? SailGP teams find out in Chicago
Do you sail faster in fresh water or salt water? It’s a question you’ve probably never had to ask yourself, but it’s one the SailGP teams in Chicago this weekend…
Vendée Arctique: whole fleet forced to stop, will not restart
The second edition of the Vendée Arctique has been brought to a stop by race organisers halfway through the course as a dangerous low pressure system has been deemed too…
Cuba by boat: discover an unspoilt paradise by boat
After a month cruising in Jamaica aboard Distant Drummer, our Liberty 458 cutter-rigged sloop, we were in Montego Bay and waiting for a fair wind to carry us north across…
Superyacht Cup Palma: stunning fleet assemble
While it may have been a slightly subdued 25th anniversary last year for the Superyacht Cup Palma, held during socially distanced times, organisers are confident the Mediterranean’s longest running superyacht…
Newport Bermuda Race 2022: Everything you need to know
Tomorrow, Friday 17th June 2022 will see the start of the 52nd Newport Bermuda Race. The biennial race will, this year, see over 190 yachts competing in the race which…
Speed sailing record: A global battle for dominance
Speed sailing records are a relatively new concept. Although the motor car is a newer invention than the sailboat (by many thousands of years!) it was not until 1972 that…