According to US insurance claims (from BoatUS Marine Insurance) the odds of a boat being struck by lightning in any year are about 1 per 1,000, increasing to 3.3 per…
Safety
Pip Hare reveals the 15 essential items she packs in her grab bag
The kit packed inside a liferaft will vary hugely across different brands and models and there is no way of checking that the liferaft’s contents are serviceable outside of its…
Man overboard: How to react and safely recover your crewmate
Turning a yacht around after a person goes overboard (MOB) and heading back in the right direction to retrieve them isn’t always easy when you’re taken by surprise, particularly at…
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 installed most of us don’t consider this life-saving piece of equipment again until the service…
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…
Widow of yachtsman who died in Clipper Race demands changes
The family of Simon Speirs, a sailor in the 2017-08 Clipper Round the World Race who died after being swept overboard in November 2017, has urged race organisers to urgently…
How to train your crew for an emergency: Everything you need to know
I tried a more proactive approach to making sure both skipper and crew are equipped to deal with worst-case scenarios on board. While waiting to start a new emergency training…
Clipper Round the World Race required to include qualified mates
Following feedback from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), the Clipper Race has appointed a qualified mate on board each of its teams currently racing. The addition of a second…
Sail across the Atlantic safely – how to avoid the most common gear failures
Does wind matter? It might seem an off-hand remark perhaps when it comes to breakages; of course, when the tradewinds are strong we must expect to break more gear, but…
A good head torch for sailors may cost more than you expect. We put three on test
In the dead of night and as the wind gets up, there’s always work to be done on deck. Far out to sea the darkness can be like a blanket…
Widow of murdered yachtsman fears her husband’s killers may not face trial
Three years after the death of British yachtsman Roger Pratt in St Lucia following a savage attack aboard his yacht, the men accused of murdering him remain in custody. His…
Keeping safe for ocean cruising – it’s an attitude of mind, says Chris Tibbs
Safety is as much a state of mind as it is the equipment we have on board; it does not take us long to identify which is a safely-run yacht…
Safety investigation as Prince Casiraghi of Monaco and photographer’s RIB collide during GC32 Tour in Lake Garda
A high speed crash on Lake Garda this weekend between a GC32 foiling catamaran and a photographer’s RIB left both boats damaged but fortunately no-one injured. The catamaran Malizia Yacht…
VIDEO: Yachting World shows you how to anchor safely in coral waters
In the latest Bluewater Sailing Techniques video, our experts explain how to anchor safely in coral waters
How to lay up a yacht abroad: cruisers find they can fly home and still save money
A high percentage of cruisers we meet plan to lay up a yacht in a safe place to fly home, often once a year. Since international air travel has never…
A rich history: 500 years of Trinity House, set up to safeguard lives at sea
Every year at Trinitytide a procession of Brethren emerges from Trinity House to be sworn in for another year of keeping ships safe around our shores.