We couldn’t have picked a more miserable day to go out for our first sail…
Features
Pro navigator Mike Broughton explains why paper charts are still irreplaceable
We now have sailing apps that help with navigation planning, that explain rules, apps that…
Aiming for the impossible: The inside story of the 2020 Jules Verne contenders
Forty days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds: that is the time that is…
How a sperm whale collision sank our yacht and sparked a mid-Pacific rescue
It’s noon on Sunday, 23 August, and just another day in the life of our…
Eddie Warden Owen interview: The offshore boss who changed the RORC’s fortunes
Whether at the windswept finish of the Rolex Fastnet Race, or in the wood-panelled rooms…
Growing food on your yacht: Everything you need to know to become self-sufficient
With limited space and the obvious challenges of salt, wind and motion, many would never…
Boat hitchhiking: How to sail around the world without owning a yacht
As a boy, Darroch Tait always had his head in a book. He was fascinated…
Jimmy Cornell: Why aluminium centreboarders are ideal for serious explorers
Both Aventura III, an Ovni 43, and Aventura IV, a Garcia Exploration 45, were aluminium…
2020 Vendée Globe: Pip Hare explains how it feels to be on the starting line
The Vendée Globe is the longest continuous racecourse in sport. Like some of the world’s…
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…
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…
Taking control: How modern autopilot systems can be your best helmsman
It’s hardly surprising. At speeds that are regularly in the high 20s with sustained bursts…
Aquarius: Modern classic masterpiece makes for a surprisingly sensible superyacht
A demanding brief for Aquarius from experienced sailors has produced a masterpiece from some of…
Leonardo Ferragamo: The fashion magnate behind Nautor’s Swan’s remarkable rise
If there is one yacht marque that every sailor knows, and can probably recognise even…
Helena: The homebuilt labour of love that was 15 years in the making
It was a picture postcard spring sailing scene as Helena heeled into the gentle breeze…
Locked out and locked in: World cruisers share their COVID-19 sailing dilemmas
When the world abruptly locked down in March, many cruisers were caught out, and soon…
A world beneath: Freediving in Northern Norway from a 37ft production boat
It’s below freezing, the wind is blowing 25 knots and we’re in a 2m swell.…
Figaro Series: The hardest sailing race on the planet where money means nothing
“This is the hardest race – not to win, just to do. Winning is something…
Dream daysailers: 13 of the best boats for a great day out on the water
Modern daysailers 1. Saffier Se 33 UD Saffier Yachts now has eight designs between 21ft…
How new-age sailing autopilot systems are putting computers at the helm
A couple of decades ago I’d have recommended anyone planning an ocean crossing without a…