“What’s my speed? What’s the speed? What’s the boatspeed now?!” Alex Thomson hollers into a…
Features
Fastnet 79: Could sailing’s biggest disaster ever happen again?
Back in 1979, Ted Turner’s Tenacious won the Fastnet Race, with a corrected time of…
Fastnet 2019: The inside story of an unforgettable race to the rock
They say you should never meet your heroes, lest they be found to be merely…
Liferaft storage and preparation: Top tips from pro sailor Pip Hare
When was the last time you gave your liferaft a second thought? Once bought and…
Amokura: The classic yacht celebrating her 80th anniversary on the racing circuit
There’s no shortage of stunning boats moored at Port Pendennis in Falmouth when I visit…
Donald Crowhurst: The fake round-the-world sailing story behind The Mercy
It was while I was researching my book about madness at sea in 2015 that…
Sardinia charter: Living the high life on a crewed Lagoon 620
Beam. Or beam and volume. Those are the dominant characteristics that spring to mind about…
Fujin: The inside story of this carbon catamaran’s Caribbean refit
After Fujin capsized during the 2018 RORC Caribbean 600 race it would have been understandable…
Kraken Cup: The most extreme sailing race you’ve never heard of
“This is probably the most extreme and uncomfortable sailing I’ve ever done,” says Simon Walker.…
Eagle Class 53: The foiling cruiser inspired by the America’s Cup
Not everything that flies is destined to scorch around an America’s Cup course. The future…
David Witt: The controversial character who shook up the Volvo Ocean Race
“I am a dinosaur,” David Witt tells me. It’s a gift of a quote from…
Running aground: Lessons learned from a nightmare scenario
We hit the sandspit at something over five knots and went hard aground. A moment…
How to fly a drone like a pro and land it safely back onboard your yacht
With the advent of small, affordable and user-friendly drones, many cruising sailors have adopted them…
Fastnet Race 1979: Why was the storm so devastating?
There was nothing in the forecast at the start of the 1979 Fastnet Race to…
Fastnet Race 1979: Life and death decision – Matthew Sheahan’s story
At 0830 Tuesday 14 August 1979, aged 17, five minutes changed my life. Five minutes…
Andrew Bishop profile: Meeting the man behind the ARC rallies
Do you know this man? Some will barely recognise Andrew Bishop, though his name may…
The Round the Island Race – the history of Britain’s favourite race
When Major Cyril Windeler suggested to the Island Sailing Club that it should run a…
Alex Thomson profile: Understanding the man behind the suit
Everyone knows Alex Thomson. He’s not only one of the most immediately recognisable IMOCA 60…
Unfinished business: Sailing back across the Atlantic in a 22ft sloop
This is part two of Max Campbell’s account of sailing solo across the Atlantic –…
Life-changing voyage: Sailing solo across the Atlantic in a 22ft sloop
On a cloudy midsummer afternoon, my best friend, Harry Scott, and I waved goodbye to…