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    Latest articles

    best kayaking sunglasses

    Best kayaking sunglasses: Sturdy pairs for kayak, canoe and paddleboard adventures

    • Patrick Kinsella
    • June 1, 2023

    Going out for a paddle on a sunny day is a sensationally enjoyable experience, but water reflects glare and it’s…

    Pro sailors on their Southern Ocean experience

    • Helen Fretter
    • June 1, 2023

    “I’m so happy not to be alone,” an emotional Boris Herrmann said standing at the base of his 29m/95ft mast,…

    F1 star Sebastian Vettel backs new German SailGP team

    • Toby Heppell
    • May 31, 2023

    Four-time F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel and double Olympic sailing bronze medallist Erik Heil have joined forces, alongside team owner…

    Paddle sports continue uptick in watersports participation

    • Toby Heppell
    • May 31, 2023

    The increase in people participating in watersports in the UK during the Covid 19 pandemic – when restrictions on international…

    Extraordinary boats: The Sam Manuard foiling mini 6.50

    • Rupert Holmes
    • May 31, 2023

    The past few years have seen an explosion of activity in the Mini 6.50 class, with qualifying races for the…

    What to wear dinghy sailing: from bouyancy aids to boots

    • Toby Heppell
    • May 30, 2023

    If you want to make a start in sailing then often a dinghy will be your first port of call…

    best snorkelling sets

    Best snorkelling set: 5 of top options for better vision underwater

    • Sian Lewis
    • May 30, 2023

    Explore the wonders of the ocean for longer with a good mask and snorkel – who knows what creatures of…

    How (and why) wood is making a comeback in yacht building

    • Rupert Holmes
    • May 30, 2023

    Why would a naval architect and structural engineer used to working with cutting edge materials for America’s Cup teams, including…

    Two Man Overboard Incidents in cross-Channel races: British sailor dies

    • Yachting World
    • May 28, 2023

    Two separate Man Overboard incidents have occurred during different cross-Channel races this weekend, with one fatality confirmed. The first incident…

    640.9 miles in 24hrs: Holcim-PRB smashes monohull record

    • Helen Fretter
    • May 26, 2023

    Kevin Escoffier’s IMOCA Holcim-PRB, competing in the The Ocean Race, has annihilated the 24-hour monohull sailing record by covering an incredible 640.9…

    Iridium GO! exec vs Starlink Roam: Which Sat comms system does it best

    • Rupert Holmes
    • May 25, 2023

    Until recently, developments in satellite communications were painfully slow, but the pace of change started to quicken a few years…

    Swimming with humpback whales

    • Yachting World
    • May 24, 2023

    “Slip into the water, don’t jump. Try not to splash, and follow me,” our guide Torea hurriedly told us as…

    Best swimming goggles: 6 of the best pairs for open water

    • Sian Lewis
    • May 23, 2023

    Whether you’re a regular outdoor swimmer or just love to clock up laps in your local indoor pool, a pair…

    How to provision a yacht for a long passage

    • Yachting World
    • May 22, 2023

    Provisioning a yacht for a long period away from conventional shops, with limited cold store space, dry goods stowage and…

    Buddy Melges, 1930-2023

    • Helen Fretter
    • May 19, 2023

    Harry Clemons ‘Buddy’ Melges Jr., widely considered to be one of America’s greatest competitive sailors, passed away on May 18,…

    When a sailor and a chicken took on an incredible voyage

    • Tom Cunliffe
    • May 17, 2023

    Say what you will, but the French have got style. We Anglo-Saxons may fancy ourselves as adventurers, but then along…

    How to trim an asymmetric sail in light airs

    • Yachting World
    • May 16, 2023

    Francesca Clapcich has enjoyed a hugely diverse and successful racing career. Her years racing the Laser Radial at Olympic level…

    What you need to know to sail across the Pacific

    • Yachting World
    • May 15, 2023

    Coffee in hand, I gaze out from our cockpit across the flat lagoon of the palm-fringed coral atoll in Fakarava.…

    Starlink at sea: all change for cruisers 

    • Yachting World
    • May 13, 2023

    Starlink, Elon Musk’s low orbit satellite network which delivers low cost high speed internet via a portable dish, has shaken…

    Double handed sailing skills: Tacking

    • Pip Hare
    • May 11, 2023

    Double handed sailing skills are increasingly important to master as the recent boom in double handed racing, both inshore and…

    World’s coolest yachts: Windward Passage

    • Toby Heppell
    • May 10, 2023

    “A very modern boat for her times: very large stern (almost like today’s naval architecture) and semi-round bilge hull made…

    The best dry bags for kayaking: for keeping kit dry during all kinds of paddling adventures

    • Patrick Kinsella
    • May 9, 2023

    There is nothing worse than getting to a take-out point after a paddle, only to find your ‘dry’ gear, provisions…

    GUYOT environnement – Team Europe dismasted in The Ocean Race

    • Toby Heppell
    • May 9, 2023

    Early this morning, Tuesday 9 May 2023, organisers of The Ocean Race have reported that GUYOT environnement – Team Europe…

    World’s coolest yachts: The Waszp

    • Yachting World
    • May 4, 2023

    “I’d like to be able to say the AC40 [Women’s and Youth America’s Cup foiler] because hopefully – fingers crossed!…

    St Maarten Heineken Regatta: Kicking off the Caribbean season

    • David Harding
    • May 2, 2023

    The Caribbean regatta season is something of a pilgrimage to the sun, drawing competitors from across North America as well…

    15,000 miles around Europe’s far north in a windsurfer camping under a sail – a fascinating tale

    • Tom Cunliffe
    • April 28, 2023

    Most of my deepwater sailing I’ve done in conventional yachts or classics. Board sailing and windsurfers, although I tried my…

    Golden Globe: Kirsten Neuschäfer becomes first woman to win solo round the world race

    • Helen Fretter
    • April 27, 2023

    South African solo skipper Kirsten Neuschäfer has won the Golden Globe Race, crossing the finish line off Les Sables d’Olonne…

    best-kayak-bilge-pumps

    Best kayak bilge pumps for quickly and efficiently emptying your boat

    • Patrick Kinsella
    • April 27, 2023

    For anyone doing any sort of serious paddling in a sit-inside kayak – from going out for a few hours…

    Simon Curwen first finisher in Golden Globe Race (but can’t win overall)

    • Helen Fretter
    • April 27, 2023

    British solo sailor Simon Curwen has crossed the finish line of the Golden Globe Race, the single-handed around the world…

    best-designer-sailing-jackets

    Best designer sailing jackets: 6 top options for yacht club style

    • Guy Salter
    • April 27, 2023

    We have all been in the position where an impromptu celebratory visit to the pub/restaurant/yacht club has been sprung upon…

    best-floating-sunglasses

    Best floating sunglasses: 6 floatable sunnies for active sailors

    • Olivia Michel
    • April 27, 2023

    Protecting your eyes at sea is necessary for sailors, who are exposed to bright glare and harmful UVA and UVB…

    What to wear sailing: Everything you need to know

    • Toby Heppell
    • April 26, 2023

    Are you are heading out on the water sailing for the first time, or perhaps you’re just curious to see…

    The coolest record breaking boats

    • Toby Heppell
    • April 26, 2023

    While hyper-luxury superyachts are clearly cool to look at (and would be very cool to own) there’s no denying that…

    Best sailing gloves: 10 top pairs to protect your hands and keep them warm

    • Rupert Holmes
    • April 24, 2023

    For much of the year thermal insulation is an important attribute for the best sailing gloves, and is especially true…

    How to live aboard a yacht for years at a time

    • Helen Fretter
    • April 24, 2023

    “I probably wouldn’t even recognise the person that I was when I first started,” admits Brian Trautman, skipper of the…

    best marine binoculars buyers guide

    Best marine binoculars: 9 of the best pairs for keeping a good lookout on board

    • Fox Morgan
    • April 21, 2023

    Whether for identifying a tricky harbour entrance, taking a closer look at an approaching ship or even looking for the…

    Crew changes aplenty as teams prepare for The Ocean Race leg 4

    • Toby Heppell
    • April 21, 2023

    Crew rotation is proving to be a big feature in this edition of The Ocean Race and once again the…

    Cruising Costa Rica: discovering an unspoilt paradise by boat

    • Yachting World
    • April 21, 2023

    The sea curls with distant groundswells as the fragmented skyline of Panama City dips into the horizon. A neat queue…

    Adrift in the Pacific: One sailor’s incredible story of survival

    • Yachting World
    • April 20, 2023

    Staring down from the cockpit into the cabin of my vintage sloop I tried to imagine watching her fill with…

    Clarisse Crémer confirms new Vendée Globe sponsor, Alex Thomson heads team

    • Toby Heppell
    • April 19, 2023

    It has been confirmed that Clarisse Crémer’s Vendée Globe campaign is back on with L’Occitane en Provence stepping in as…

    The coolest catamarans and multihulls of all time

    • Toby Heppell
    • April 19, 2023

    As with beauty, coolness is in the eye of the beholder. While for some, speed is secondary to function or…

    The best semi-custom superyachts

    • Toby Hodges
    • April 18, 2023

    A bubble has appeared, the rise of a buoyant large yacht market sector that’s proving difficult to label. It typically…

    Second hand boats: How to finance a yacht

    • Sam Fortescue
    • April 14, 2023

    If you are one of the many boat owners who buys with cash, then great – you can saunter on…

    Double handed sailing skills: Furling sails

    • Pip Hare
    • April 13, 2023

    Double-handed sailing is gaining in popularity across many disciplines – we now regularly see crews of two managing all sizes…

    The future of chartplotters

    • Rupert Holmes
    • April 12, 2023

    Multifunction displays for navigation, instrument data, radar, AIS, and even watching Netflix, continue to evolve, especially at the high end…

    UPDATE: IAN HERBERT-JONES RESCUED British solo skipper dismasted in violent South Atlantic storm

    • Helen Fretter
    • April 11, 2023

    British solo sailor Ian Herbert-Jones has been successfully rescued by a Taiwanese fishing vessel after being rolled, dismasted and injured in…

    BREAKING: Golden Globe Race skipper activates EPIRB in 80-knot storm

    • Helen Fretter
    • April 10, 2023

    UPDATED: Golden Globe Race organisers have issued a ‘Code Red’ update after British solo skipper Ian Herbert-Jones activated his EPIRB while…

    what-to-wear-kayaking-GettyImages-1126535930

    What to wear kayaking: Get fully kitted out for a paddling adventure

    • Patrick Kinsella
    • April 6, 2023

    Regular kayakers, especially those who venture out all year round, generally have an ensemble of kit sorted for each season,…

    How to run a yacht’s watch system

    • Yachting World
    • April 6, 2023

    Bouwe Bekking has been around long enough to remember the ‘bad old days’ of non-stop hiking on the rail on…

    Round the World racing to start from Southampton once again

    • Yachting World
    • April 5, 2023

    Round the world ocean racing will once again start from Southampton, UK, with the announcement that the Ocean Globe Race (OGR)…

    Best EPIRB: 5 emergency beacons for leisure sailors

    • Fox Morgan
    • April 4, 2023

    If you regularly cruise or race out of sight of land then an Epirb is an absolutely essential bit of…

    Superyacht saves 16 in harrowing Caribbean migrant rescue

    • Helen Fretter
    • April 3, 2023

    The captain and crew of a 121ft/37m sailing superyacht were central to a search and rescue last week which saw…

    World’s coolest yachts: Cookson 50

    • Yachting World
    • April 3, 2023

    “I think the Cookson 50 is one of the coolest yachts on earth for several reasons. First, it’s designed by…

    Team Malizia wins longest ever Ocean Race leg

    • Helen Fretter
    • April 2, 2023

    Boris Herrmann‘s Team Malizia has won Leg 3 of The Ocean Race from Cape Town to Itajai, the longest ever…

    Best catamaran: Our pick of the best yachts on two hulls

    • Toby Hodges
    • March 31, 2023

    There are many categories in the European Yacht of the Year awards, from the best luxury yachts and performance yachts to…

    best-swimming-wetsuits

    Best swimming wetsuits: 6 top options for year-round swims

    • Sian Lewis
    • March 30, 2023

    Ready for a season of open water swimming? Swimming outdoors for fitness has rocketed in popularity in the UK, and…

    best-plus-sized-womens-wetsuits

    Best plus size women’s wetsuits for cold water swimming

    • Sian Lewis
    • March 30, 2023

    Whether you’re a newbie wild swimmer or are thinking of signing up for your first triathlon, a good swimming wetsuit…

    Best paddle board: Top SUPs for beginners and seasoned experts

    • Toby Heppell
    • March 30, 2023

    Given its huge surge in popularity over recent years, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) will need little introduction to anyone that…

    The ‘easy’ way to sail across the Atlantic?

    • Elaine Bunting
    • March 30, 2023

    It’s the dream that never fades. The desire to cross the Atlantic by boat seemingly doesn’t wane, no matter what…

    Climbing a square rigger mast in the heart of a storm

    • Tom Cunliffe
    • March 28, 2023

    The world of square riggers is obscure to the vast majority of sailors today. Yet nautical literature is rich in…

    best-kayak-pumps

    Best kayak pumps for inflating your boat or board before a paddling adventure

    • Patrick Kinsella
    • March 27, 2023

    Some of the best collapsible kayaks on the market are inflatable craft, and if you have one of these models,…

    best-fixed-compasses

    Best fixed compasses: 6 options for binnacle and bulkhead mounted units

    • Andrew Dare
    • March 27, 2023

    Fixed compasses are an essential piece of kit that every yacht needs. They are especially good in this day and…

    5 top tips: Conrad Humphreys on how to keep up crew morale

    • Yachting World
    • March 27, 2023

    Leading a crew of amateur sailors around the world in an event like the BT Global Challenge, or its modern…

    The best specialist yachts: new and interesting designs

    • Toby Hodges
    • March 24, 2023

    Often one of the most interesting categories in the European Yacht of the Year Awards, the specialist yachts category once…

    Who is Jim Ratcliffe billionaire sports team investor?

    • Toby Heppell
    • March 23, 2023

    Sir Jim Ratcliffe is a huge backer of major sports teams, inducing the British bid for the America’s Cup, INEOS…

    Coolest yachts: MOD 70

    • Yachting World
    • March 23, 2023

    “In terms of complexity for speed, there isn’t anything else which has such a good ratio as a MOD 70.…

    Alex Thomson buys Banque Populaire IMOCA, but skipper still to be confirmed

    • Toby Heppell
    • March 22, 2023

    British four-time Vendée Globe competitor Alex Thomson has announced that his team has agreed to purchase the IMOCA 60 which Clarisse Cremer was…

    The story of Cass: a yacht that was 20 years in the making

    • Yachting World
    • March 21, 2023

    I used to do a lot of skydiving,” Simon Mitchell told me. “While you’re still in the aircraft you have…

    Best family yacht: our pick of the best yachts for sailing with the family

    • Toby Hodges
    • March 20, 2023

    There are many categories in the European Yacht of the Year awards, from the best luxury yachts to performance yachts. But some of…

    America’s Cup: preliminary regatta announced for 2023

    • Toby Heppell
    • March 17, 2023

    The Catalonian port of Vilanova i la Geltrú, has today, Friday 17 March 2023, been announced as the Host Venue…

    Best luxury yacht: Our pick of the top options

    • Toby Hodges
    • March 17, 2023

    There are many categories in the European Yacht of the Year awards, from the best family cruisers to performance yachts. But some of…

    World’s coolest yacht: America True

    • Yachting World
    • March 16, 2023

    America True was a ground-breaking campaign for the 2000 America’s Cup. Created by Dawn Riley, it was the first America’s…

    best-kayak-paddles

    Best kayak paddles for touring and exploring coastlines, rivers and lakes

    • Patrick Kinsella
    • March 15, 2023

    After choosing the best kayak for your on-water adventures and escapades, the next biggest decision is what kayak paddle to…

    Best handheld VHF marine radio: 11 feature-rich options for your boat

    • Fox Morgan
    • March 15, 2023

    This article was first published July 2022 and was price and fact checked by Fox Morgan  for accuracy om 15th…

    The new wingsail concept that could revolutionise shipping

    • Matthew Sheahan
    • March 15, 2023

    The words ‘muscles’ and ‘sails’ are often included in the same sentence, such is the physical nature of our sport.…

    Taking bluewater cruising to a new level

    • In partnership with Yachting World
    • March 14, 2023

    Buying a boat is a big decision. You’ve got a dream in mind – perhaps exploring the far corners of…

    The Ocean Race: is racing under autopilot ‘cheating’?

    • Matthew Sheahan
    • March 13, 2023

    That’s not racing. It’s cheating. If you’re going to use the autopilot to sail around the world you might as…

    Fastest IMOCA record: 595 miles in 24 hours for The Ocean Race leaders

    • Helen Fretter
    • March 12, 2023

    Kevin Escoffier’s Holcim-PRB, the dominant leader of The Ocean Race, has set a new 24-hour IMOCA record by covering a…

    Best performance yachts: Our pick of the top options

    • Toby Hodges
    • March 10, 2023

    The European Yacht of the Year awards is the most thorough and impartial awards programme – the winners here are…

    best-inflatable-boats

    Best inflatable boats: 6 affordable options for getting on the water

    • Drew Maglio
    • March 9, 2023

    As a result, it is necessary to offer the following caveat and disclaimer: the term ‘inflatable boat’ can be confusing…

    Double handed sailing skills: Spinnaker drops

    • Pip Hare
    • March 9, 2023

    Taking a spinnaker down without the aid of the snuffer or furler is when double handed sailing is a challenging…

    The Best Cold Water Swimming Wetsuit For Women

    • Sian Lewis
    • March 8, 2023

    Looking for the best cold water swimming wetsuit for women and need a little pointer in the right direction, then…

    Pip Hare looking out to sea

    Vendée Globe: Meet the British skippers due to compete in 2024

    • Toby Heppell
    • March 8, 2023

    As the 2024 Vendée Globe draws ever closer it looks like British fans will have plenty to shout about in…

    Caribbean sailing: BVIs are back and as beautiful as ever

    • Yachting World
    • March 7, 2023

    As the 30-seater inter-Caribbean turboprop aircraft banked to starboard, through my small window I caught a first glimpse of Tortola…

    Catamaran sailing: can you fast track multihull skills?

    • Helen Fretter
    • March 6, 2023

    Can one week change your life? That’s a whole lot of pressure to put on a holiday. But for a…

    Sailing winch deals – Buy one get one free

    • Fox Morgan
    • March 3, 2023

    Sailing winch deals are rare, so when we see something exciting then we want to share it with you! West…

    Jessica Watson: the true story of True Spirit star’s voyage

    • Helen Fretter
    • March 3, 2023

    In the late Noughties and early 2010s, sailing garnered astonishing levels of attention due to a series of teenagers bidding…

    Best sailing films on Netflix, Prime and more

    • Yachting World
    • March 3, 2023

    Recent years have seen a proliferation of sailing films arriving on streaming platforms, with Netflix taking the lead on producing…

    ‘Demolition Derby’ begins in Leg 3 of The Ocean Race

    • Yachting World
    • March 2, 2023

    Leg 3 of The Ocean Race was always expected to be an punishing test for the five IMOCAs and their…

    best-heated-jackets

    Best heated jackets for sailors: The top self-heating electric jackets to wear in cold weather

    • Olivia Michel
    • March 2, 2023

    A decent sailing jacket is a must-have wardrobe item for any sailor. But for those sailing in extreme weather, sometimes…

    Why have Orcas been attacking yachts? A puzzling mystery

    • Elaine Bunting
    • March 2, 2023

    Late in November last year, Sir Robin Knox-Johnston’s Farr 65 pilothouse cutter, Sanjula, was being sailed 10 miles west of…

    The hen that sailed around the world: a farewell to Monique

    • Helen Fretter
    • March 1, 2023

    Monique, a Rhode Island Red hen who joined solo sailor Guirec Soudée on multiple sailing adventures, even including 130 days…

    Everything you need to know about Southern Ocean storms

    • Yachting World
    • March 1, 2023

    Any colour you want as long as it’s grey! That’s my overriding memory of life in the Southern Ocean –…

    Best satellite messenger and tracker for sailing and boating

    • Fox Morgan
    • February 28, 2023

    The best satellite messenger and trackers have come a long way in just a few years since we last looked…

    Sydney Hobart Race Hotels and accommodation

    • Lisa Curtiss
    • February 28, 2023

    We have selected some fabulous Sydney Hobart Race Hotels and take in the race atmosphere and a bit of the…

    America’s Cup: Barcelona Hotels and Accommodation

    • Lisa Curtiss
    • February 28, 2023

    Barcelona is a stunning city to host the next America’s Cup. We’ve selected a range of Hotels to get you…

    Emergency VHF antenna – buyers’ guide

    • Fox Morgan
    • February 28, 2023

    Carrying an emergency VHF antenna is a sensible thing to do. We may get a loss of signal to our…

    Case study: Coppercoat proven to withstand the world’s oceans

    • In partnership with Coppercoat
    • February 28, 2023

    One of the toughest tests for both crew and the Clipper 70 racing yachts, each Clipper Race sees yachts cover…

    Sailing a junk rigged schooner in Greenland

    • Tom Cunliffe
    • February 28, 2023

    Dave Leet’s Nomad is a junk-rigged schooner which he sails mostly single-handed. He certainly puts the miles in, because although…

    best satellite phone

    Best satellite phone: 9 devices for adventurous sailors

    • Fox Morgan
    • February 27, 2023

    The best satellite phone for you is the one that does the job you need it to do. If you…

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