Back in the 1960s when the last Thames sailing barges were coming out of trading, a few were taken by bold individuals as yachts or houseboats. The best of them…
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C. Sherman Hoyt memoirs: A typically frank extract from Yankee Yachtsman
Born in 1878, C Sherman Hoyt sailed in every racing yacht imaginable for the best part of 60 years. Tireless, highly skilled, with an almost uncanny ability to spot a…
Why stand-up paddleboards have become the must-have boating accessory
The advent of high-strength PVC inflatables and high-pressure pumps has transformed the world of marine toys. The variety of inflatable stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and windsurfers is getting all ages afloat…
Sailing with humpback whales: An amazing extract from Orca by John A Pennington
It’s far too easy for a retired ocean sailor like me who served his time 40 years ago in a freer, simpler world, to imagine that the age of high…
Extract from Sailing through Russia: From the Arctic to the Black Sea
When the Great Seamanship series was planned back in 2004 it was about giant waves, dismastings, amazing rescues and the like. Research, however, led me into a wonderland of nautical…
ResQlink View PLB review: Visual display provides welcome reassurance
As far as we know this is the first Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) to incorporate an LCD screen to improve the interface, which fundamentally changes the user experience. In particular…
Nixon Base Tide Pro review: Rugged watch gives local tides at a glance
I live in a tidal area, where the height and times of the tides are crucial to deciding whether we can get afloat. Tide tables and sailing apps help most…
Globalstar Spot X review: Stay in touch for less with this satellite comms system
Satellite trackers have improved enormously recently. Instead of simply pinging your position, plus potentially a small range of predetermined text messages, the Spot X is a full-function two-way messaging system,…
Kids lifejackets group test: 6 models take the plunge to find the best
Inflatable kids lifejackets have come onto the market over the last few years. With their slimline and grown-up designs, they are a far cry from the rigid and bulky items…
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 as a way of achieving really impressive and professional-looking photographs and video. I speak from…
Best boat dehumidifier: Which is the right damp buster for your yacht?
In the colder months, thoughts invariably turn to damp: one of the constant enemies yacht all owners face. It seeps in everywhere, can find every bit of clothing and equipment…
Tested: 5 of the best drones for filming your yacht
Drones have really advanced over the past few years, with anyone now able to try their hand at piloting a device. Mini-drones are a great first dip in the water,…
6 of the best action cameras for capturing your sailing adventures
Action cameras can go where your average camera or smartphone wouldn’t even dream. And thanks to rugged and waterproof designs they can endure the rigours and extremes of any sailing…
Best sailing boots tested: Can waterproof boots be flexible, comfortable, breathable and dry?
Your feet can be warm, your feet can be dry, or your feet can smell (vaguely) acceptable when you pull your boots off after a hard watch on deck battling…
How to climb a mast safely at sea – masterclass with ocean racer Pip Hare
Of all the things I have encountered over my sailing career, climbing a mast at sea is one of the top five to get my heart racing. Any motion felt…
4 of the best waterproof winter sailing gloves on test
Sailing gloves come in a wide variety of styles. Buying the best sailing gloves for you can be a difficult task and will depend on the conditions in which you…
Gill Helmsman winter sailing gloves
Adventure charter skippers Bruce Jacobs and Rachael Sprot of Rubicon3 tested these waterproof, windproof and breathable glove with webbing and drawcord wrist adjustment for a season in a variety of…
12 yacht trackers compared to help you choose the right unit for your voyage
This article was originally published Nov 2016. It was last product and price checked 28 Feb 2023. Some of the products in this article are no longer available but this…
Tested: AIS MOB devices – help your crew to save your life if you should go overboard
In a safety briefing for the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre race, a French search and rescue pilot told us just how hard it is for a spotter plane to see…
Pip Hare’s choice of EPIRBs, PLBs and other man overboard aids that could just save your life
EPIRBs When activated, an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) transmits its details on 406MHZ and, if GPS-enabled, the vessel’s position to within 100m. This signal is relayed by satellite…