The lockdown of spring 2020 prompted all kinds of unusual purchases. People bought puppies, bikes,…
Practical cruising
Selling a yacht: The best ways to sell your boat
Sooner or later, most boat owners will find it’s time to change their yacht for…
Everything you need to know to set up an emergency steering system
Around 5% of the ARC fleet reported steering issues over the 2017-2019 rallies, that’s about…
How (not) to set up a wind vane: An extract from Tom Fisher’s Arctic Smoke blog
Like me, you may have followed with interest the stories about failed self-steering wind vanes…
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…
Learning the ropes: An extract from Shakedown Cruise by Nigel Calder
Nigel Calder’s works on the technicalities of boat systems are accepted worldwide as Bibles, but…
Sailing from South Africa to Europe: Chris Tibbs’ top tips for a smooth passage
There are a number of advantages to doing this, as well as saving around 3,000…
How to sail across the Indian Ocean: Everything you need to know
“It’s still a long way to get home,” Carina Hammarlund muses. My partner Weitze van…
Pip Hare explains when to check and replace your standing rigging
This was a ‘no brainer’ decision as my rigging has been around the world once…
Celestial navigation: Why sailing by following the stars is enjoying a resurgence
Sailor and navigation expert Stokey Woodall, who has made a living teaching celestial navigation for…
Family adventure: How we home-schooled our kids while sailing across the Pacific
Sailing the paradise of the Pacific Ocean with my own boat had been my dream…
Sailing to the Canary Islands: Everything you need to know
Our focus tends to be on the crossing to the Caribbean of around 3,000 miles.…
Home schooling at sea: Top tips for tutoring your kids from 6 liveaboard sailors
For many, the opportunity to trade a bricks and mortar school for classes on deck…
Countdown to adventure: 5 skippers explain how to prepare for bluewater sailing
For most sailors, preparing for an Atlantic or round the world voyage typically takes between…
Hurricane season: Cruising and mooring options from Maine to Grenada
The hurricane zone extends from Cape Hatteras or the Florida/Georgia border to Grenada, so cruisers…
Sonar and sounders: 4 new models that are good for more than just fishing
Sonar and forward-looking depth sounders are often seen as the preserve of those whose primary…
How to prepare your yacht for anything: Preempting chafe, rig and crew problems
This is Part 2 of Vicky Ellis’ guide to preparing your yacht for any eventuality.…
Family sailing: America’s Cup sailor turned cruiser explains his big change
“Morning Daddy!”“Hey, morning Hazza. Did you have a good sleep?” It’s dawn, I’m finishing the…
Mediterranean sailing: Lessons learned from 2 years exploring Europe’s great sea
With plenty of airports located along the most common cruising routes and cheap flights within…