Every so often an invention comes along that is so original and useful you are amazed it was never thought of before. The JOY self-tailing cleat is that: a brilliant…
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World’s coolest yachts: Rassker
“In 1983, at 16 years old, I dreamed of building my own keelboat. An IOR Half Tonner was the top of my list, but I soon realised this was far…
New Gear: Exocet Gold flight controller
Inside the Exocet Gold flight controller, a modest but swaggeringly-named box of tricks, is the brain that can keep a foiling yacht in flight. Stable flight requires ultra fast computation…
How to keep calm under pressure
After sailing a brilliant qualifying series during the Tokyo Olympic Games earlier this summer, a moment of indecision put Anne-Marie Rindom’s grip on the gold medal in jeopardy. But the…
New Gear: Garmin Surround View
Leaving and coming back to a marina berth can be some of the trickiest parts of boating, and more than a few family dreams have foundered on high-stress manoeuvres. The…
Video: test sailing the Allures 51.9
Allures builds alloy centreboard cruisers with fibreglass decks and superstructures, which many contend is the the ideal combination for cruising. With that in mind, we picked the right boat to…
A race for real sailors: giant schooners go head to head
America’s Cup yachts had become so extreme by 1920 that they didn’t race in anything more serious than a moderate breeze, but the racing designs of the day were not…
Autopilot modes: how to make the most of your pilot
I view my autopilot in the same way I view sail plan and weight distribution – a variable that must be adjusted and monitored constantly. Human beings change our steering…
20 weird and wonderful facts about the famous Rolex Sydney Hobart Race
10 Key facts from the 69 year history of the Sydney Hobart Race
Masterclass: crossing the Bay of Biscay
It’s that time of year when yachts and crews from northern Europe flock south, migrating to warmer climes. But like all good migration routes there’s an obstacle in the way:…
JPK 39FC review: new sporty 40 cruiser
I have long held that bluewater cruising yachts, especially those under 40ft, have much to gain from the way today’s smaller short-handed offshore raceboats are designed and set up and…
Spirit 35 Foiler first look: electric speedboat boasting America’s Cup technology
What happens when you combine cutting-edge America’s Cup foiling technology, the fabulously retro styling of modern classic yacht builders Spirit Yachts, and the visionaries behind the jaw dropping super-sloop Geist? Well, you…
Post-Brexit VAT relief for UK yacht owners
The three-year time limit for ‘Returned Goods Relief’ (RGR), which saw UK yacht owners potentially facing large VAT bills when they brought their yachts back to the UK after cruising…
Cruising Maine: a coast of mist and isles
Nathan picked up our anchor in Roque Harbour in a light breeze, with a plan to sail to nowhere in particular. We were to spend time cruising Maine and discovering…
Petrol vs electric outboards: 6 of the best on test
Choosing an outboard engine for your tender used to be as simple as going to your nearest dealer and picking up whatever 2.5hp engine they had in stock. Now, however,…
The ultimate foiling machine? Onboard SVR-Lazartigue
Launched in July after 150,000 hours of work, SVR-Lazartigue is the latest addition to the burgeoning Ultim 32/23 fleet. In addition to the complexity that’s inherent to these giant foilers,…
Alinghi teams up with Red Bull Racing F1 for 37th America’s Cup
Swiss sailing team Alinghi has confirmed that it is entering the 37th America’s Cup, in a new team partnership as Alinghi Red Bull Racing. Team founder Ernesto Bertarelli introduced the…
Best bluewater multihulls: ITA 14.99
A combination of sharp design from François Perus, whose Yacht Design Collective has worked with brands such as Catana and North Wind on their multihulls, and high build quality brings…
Diesel bug: the causes and cures
Nearly two years of lockdown have left increasing numbers of yachts laid up and unattended around the world. The scramble to return home before travel restrictions started in 2020 meant…
Second hand boats: is a 10-year-old yacht the best age?
With new build waiting lists growing at an unprecedented rate, buyers are turning to the second hand boat market to get on the water without the wait. But if you’re…