Situated to the north-west of Europe, the UK is blessed with mild weather with few…
Weather
Weather forecast accuracy – how much can you really trust a forecast?
Weather forecast accuracy will always be a hot topic of debate. As a forecaster I’ve…
Masterclass: crossing the Bay of Biscay
It’s that time of year when yachts and crews from northern Europe flock south, migrating…
Atlantic crossing: When’s the best time to go?
An Atlantic crossing or Atlantic circuit has often been seen as a year-long adventure, crossing…
Mediterranean sailing: Weather tips from Gibraltar to Turkey
Distances in the Mediterranean can be deceptive, with the distance from Gibraltar to Turkey being…
North Sea weather: Chris Tibbs give his advice
Dogger, Fisher, German Bight. Even the names of the North Sea weather forecasts are evocative,…
Eastbound Atlantic crossing: All the weather info you need
Atlantic crossings are usually spoken of in terms of days of running west before the…
Sailing in fog: Pro navigator Mike Broughton shares his top tips
At sea, fog can be summed up as condensed water vapour or just thick cloud…
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…
Yacht lightning strikes: Why they cause so much damage and how to protect against them
According to US insurance claims (from BoatUS Marine Insurance) the odds of a boat being…
Navigation briefing: How to use weather observations to improve your forecasts
I have some tips for maximising the real-time information you can see, both online and…
2020 Olympics: Extreme heat and humidity will pose a huge sailing challenge
This year’s pre-Olympics in Enoshima, Japan, starkly illustrated for me the reality of being on…
Sailing Biscay: Top tips for a safe and smooth crossing of the notorious bay
Biscay has a fearsome reputation and for many sailors, it is their first taste of…
Tradewinds explained: Everything you need to know before sailing across the Atlantic
A transatlantic tradewind crossing from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean is on many a…
Southern hemisphere cyclones: Everything you need to know
Although New Zealand is not in the tropical cyclone (hurricane) belt, the remains of Tropical…
Volvo Ocean Race: How Vestas used supercomputer forecasting to gain an advantage
Vestas 11th Hour Racing is unique in that our sponsor Vestas shared the race team’s…
Agulhas Current explained: What it is and how it affects Indian Ocean sailors
On any round-the-world cruise by the sunny route, there is the dilemma of how to…
Jet stream: Everything you need to know about its effect on sailing
What is the jet stream? The jet stream is a ‘river’ of strong wind high…
Expert sailing advice: How to handle a lightning strike on board
Lightning is the thing that scares me the most at sea. Having never experienced a…
Surviving the OSTAR’s perfect storm – the full story of the racers rescued in Force 11 summer gale
Solo sailor Mervyn Wheatley set out from Plymouth for Newport, Rhode Island on 29 May…