Boat owners, future boat owners, dreamer boat owners – the most common question they ask me is: ‘What’s going to make me and my boat safer?’ They want to know…
Nikki Henderson
A skipper’s hardest job? Managing crew expectations – Nikki Henderson
Most people agree: skippers are responsible for the safety of the crew and the boat. But the job far exceeds keeping everyone alive and afloat. A good skipper also has…
10 essential multihull sailing skills you need to know
The plan is simple: buy a boat and seek out your best life. You’ve decided you want a multihull, for the space and stability that offers. Your other key requirements…
‘The crash was a reminder for us all’ – Nikki Henderson
You probably saw the collision between the Allagrande Mapei Racing and Team Holcim PRB IMOCAs just moments after the start of the Ocean Race Europe. In the way spectacular disasters…
Why you should always aim to share all roles onboard… both above and below decks
Yet another wave slammed into our topsides. The carbon drum hull of the yacht we were racing echoed with a thunderous hum as we accelerated, surfing a wave. We were…
‘Why is anchoring still such a misunderstood skill?’ – Nikki Henderson
As the sun slipped below the horizon, so did the noise of the day. The thermal wind softened, the engine fan stopped whirring, and the last of the tourist boats…
‘Has ‘social media influencer’ sailing gone too far?’ – Nikki Henderson
Our defences have run out: social media has well and truly infiltrated our precious, antiquated sailing world. It’s terrifying to think that our secret passage to escapism and isolation at…
‘Does anything ever go completely to plan at sea?’ – Nikki Henderson
Back in December I reminded myself what ‘too close for comfort’ feels like. After 18 days at sea, my crew and I finished an Atlantic crossing and parked up in…
Most of our life on land we spend hiding from ourselves. But at sea there is no escape – Nikki Henderson
Ahoy there, from halfway to the Caribbean! This is my third attempt at writing this column. The first go was interrupted by a squall. We underestimated its strength, surfed down…
‘Boat ownership is a wildly impractical love affair, and gets complicated when you’re smitten’ – Nikki Henderson
Being a professional sailor, I realise how stupid this is, and I really should know better. From working for owners and using their credit cards to pay the bills, I…
‘What stops sailors flying the right sails?’ – Nikki Henderson on the power driving your boat
Why we haven’t been matching the factory polars for our new boat? I just can’t work it out! That’s something almost every new boat owner has asked themselves at some…
‘Seamanship isn’t about sailing slowly’ – Nikki Henderson
The sailing world is small. But of the 350 or so passengers on board the Boeing 777 I took recently from Heathrow to Seattle, my seat neighbour turned out to…
What is a handy billy? The answer depends on where you come from
Close reaching at a fast 60° TWA I was working out how far forward the outboard jib lead needed to move before setting up something more permanent. “Where is a…
Want to be a better skipper? Think like an instructor says Nikki Henderson
Recently I was fortunate enough to find myself on the bow during a race. Well, I thought it was fortunate but appreciate that sentiment could be up for debate… I…
‘What is it that makes parking a boat so tense?’ – Nikki Henderson
I distinctly remember the first time I parked a yacht with an inboard engine, badly. It was in Cowes marina and I was 18 years old. One moment I was…
‘Even for the most monkey-like riggers, going up the mast at sea is no fun’
What do you do if a halyard lock gets stuck? What if your spinnaker is wrapped? What if your mast track gets damaged and the mainsail won’t come down? I’ve…
‘Should we identify more with our youthful selves to drive motivation?’ – Nikki Henderson
As a team that is much younger than the rest of the competition, what superpower does that give you? That’s the question I asked of a group of teenagers this…
Nikki Henderson’s advice on nurturing a high performing team
The first thing I do when I meet a new crew is gather everyone together and get each member to introduce themselves. It’s a pretty common thing for team leaders…
‘Why it’s tough being the only woman on board’ – Nikki Henderson
For Leg 3 of the Ocean Globe Race, L’Esprit d’équipe (FR) and Neptune (FR) were granted dispensation to sail with an all-male crew. The Notice of Race stipulates that every…
‘Nothing is set in stone until the finish gun’ – Nikki Henderson
Gripped by the nail-biting battle at the finish for line honours of the Sydney Hobart race, as the leaders were heading up the Derwent River, I was 455 miles east…