Earlier this year I was lucky enough to join the French crew of the IMOCA 60 Bureau Vallée 3 for the Ocean Race Europe. Their new boat had been launched…
Cruising
How this couple escaped the city to work from their yacht
Seven years ago, as a pair of empty-nesters living in London, Sheila and I embarked on an impulsive sailing adventure. I was working at a frenetic pace, flying all over…
Eco-friendly anchoring: how to preserve the seabed
When my toes get cold, I know the wind has piped up. The dorade over the foot of our bed only seems to move air when it’s blowing over 20…
How to cross the Atlantic in short hops
An Atlantic crossing is – rightly – considered a bit of an epic. An east-bound crossing, often even more so. But by following the seafarers of old, on what is…
How to create a pilotage plan
Creating a pilotage plan has long been a key navigational skill and most of us will have encountered various examples through our sailing lives. The plan is a simplified recreation…
Cape Town to the Azores: The end of an 8-year voyage
“That’s it,” Wietze says, “Not an ounce more of anything is added to the boat. No food, no fuel and no water.” I pause, because I had just grabbed my…
Watch: Experts share advice for bluewater sailing
Pete Goss, Nikki Henderson and Knut Frostad are among the speakers in a new six-part series of webinars on key cruising topics, hosted by bluewater sailing group Grand Large Yachting…
How to make a living on your yacht
In late 2018 my wife, Roxy, and I took a few suitcases of belongings and moved aboard our 47ft Cheoy Lee monohull to start the cruise of a lifetime. So…
Caribbean warmth: Cruising the Grenadines in a restored Swan 37
We glide down the eastern side of El Hierro and leap into the vastness of the ocean as we begin our Atlantic crossing. The island shrinks behind us as the…
Sailing Pellew, the biggest Falmouth pilot cutter in 150 years
The upper reaches of the River Truro are not an obvious source of sailing innovation. No foiling cats fly over its shallows as at nearby Carrick Roads. The high-tech superyachts…
Vessel transfer: A how to guide from Pip Hare
Whether it’s a medical emergency that requires a single crewmember to be evacuated, or a yacht suffers damage that means it’s impossible to navigate safely to the shore and the…
How to deal with problems at sea
Liz Wardley, by her own admission, hated school. “I was a very bad student, but if I can learn a skill that’s going to help me make the boat go…
Cruising Brittany: highlights of a final sail
The sun lingered low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the sandy island of Höedic. The small south Brittany harbour is home to three large mooring balls, around…
Cruising in Europe: How to cope with Covid and Brexit issues
Cruising in Europe was once the comparatively simple option, negotiating weather systems in Biscay and overcrowded anchorages being the major concerns for anyone planning to cruise Atlantic or Mediterranean shores…
Seasickness cure: Could VR be the future?
A true seasickness cure has long been hoped for as the debilitating problem has followed sailors for centuries. Charles Darwin gave a warning to any of his readers tempted to…
Sailing the Azores: A destination in their own right
“Run, young lady! You shouldn’t be there!” a voice screamed behind me. I didn’t understand; I had no idea why the crowd had gathered in one spot in between jagged…
Swedish sailing: Exploring archipelagos in a classic Norlin 34
My first real memories — tangible memories that I know to be my own and not false memories born of old photos and stories — were formed as a nine-year-old…
How to prepare a boat for the season ahead
Abby Ehler has competed in three Volvo Ocean Races and run top race boats including Farr 40s, TP52s and the 76ft mini-maxi Nokia Enigma. She has also been a key…
Join Toby Hodges for expert advice in ‘Bluewater cockpit conversations’ this May
ARC rally organisers World Cruising Club are running a unique series of events from 25-28 May, which should be essential watching for any aspiring bluewater cruisers looking to buy a…
John John Florence: The surfing sailor
Some folk seem to have it all. At 28, John John Florence has already enjoyed a career as one of the world’s most talented professional surfers. He lives on the…