The influence of modern offshore racing on cruising design has never been clearer. Today’s short-handed ocean racers (such as Class 40s and IMOCAs) have proven that powerful hull forms, wide…
Rupert Holmes
I raced 35,000 miles around the world to bring you this ULTIMATE sailing equipment test
There are some key ‘big ticket’ items that any ocean-going or bluewater yacht will rely on. Water, power, connectivity, steering: the things you need to just work to keep the…
Racing around the world via the great capes: ‘The feel-good factor you get from mastering complex skills is a big driver’
Four days from the Cape of Good Hope it’s still proving impossible to identify a safe route past the cape and the infamous west-going Agulhas current. At this point we’re…
What it’s like racing double-handed around the world in a 40-footer
We are deep in the South Atlantic on a screaming reach, riding the leading edge of the semi-permanent cold front that extends thousands of miles south east from Brazil’s Cabo…
Dufour 48 review: How does this latest big cruiser perform in strong winds?
Today’s cruising monohulls tend to have full forward sections and rather bluff bows that markedly increase interior volumes forward. But how do these new hull shapes handle stronger winds? We…
Forget ChatGPT: Here’s how AI is used in everything from racing yachts to weather routing
The use of AI in sailing is distinctly different to the tools based on large language models such as ChatGTP and DeepSeek that became available in the last three years…
Everything you need to know about high performance autopilots
It’s 0230 in the morning and we’re sailing close-hauled mid-Channel with the breeze gusting to 30 knots. In the strongest puffs our heading feathers up a little into the wind…
Double catamaran review: Fountaine Pajot 41 and Fountaine Pajot 44 tested
Continued development and refinement are key drivers behind the ever-increasing popularity of cruising catamarans. The scale of the rate of change in these boats was brought home to me when…
Pogo RC Review: Planing performance for shorthanded sailors
Having raced tens of thousands of miles on 33-36ft yachts optimised for IRC racing, I’ve long been frustrated by the perception that only relatively heavy designs can be competitive offshore.…
JOOOL Hybrid energy and propulsion system
Anyone who has visited La Rochelle over the past 25 years will have seen the electric ferries with huge solar arrays that transport locals and visitors alike between the town…
The secret to double-handed offshore racing success
Three years ago a Sun Fast 3300 called Red Ruby, whose American owners come from the Pacific North West, popped up in UK double-handed races. It immediately notched up a…
Lagoon 43 review: Will this voluminous new cat be the world’s most popular multihull?
Replacing a very successful model is a huge challenge for any boatbuilder. Is it best to take a conservative approach, opting for a similar design to the original with only…
Contest 63CS review: Superyacht-level finish
We’re sailing the Contest 63CS upwind on a glorious late autumn day in the Balearics, in supreme comfort and with minimal heel, yet maintaining 6.5-7.1 knots of boat speed in…
4 of the coolest new wooden yachts in 2025
It has now been many decades since wood was the most widely used material in yacht productions but timber is still a natural choice for some modern yacht designers and…
CNB 62 first look: Standout natural lighting for a family cruiser
The CNB 62 is the outcome of a brief to create a yacht that blends important elements of two previous popular CNB models – the ease of use of the…
Kraken 58 First Look: A cruiser with embracing central cockpit for easy handling
Over the past few years Kraken has forged an enviable reputation thanks to its contemporary take on what’s needed to create no-nonsense serious bluewater cruising yachts. The Kraken 58 is…
Dufour 44 review: More space but maintaining performance
What makes the perfect saloon for a cruising yacht? Ask anyone of a certain age and they’re likely to start with safety aspects – snug, with at least a couple…
RM 1380 review: an enticing alternative to the mainstream
I’ve admired the innovative range of fast yet comfortable cruisers from RM Yachts for many years – their combination of spacious, attractive and brightly lit interiors, planing performance and well…
Bestevaer 36 review: Start exploring closer to home
With renowned designer Gerard Dykstra approaching 80 years old, he was looking for a boat for himself that would fit a somewhat different use to his previous yachts. Yet at…
How to ensure your yacht purchase is problem-free
Couldn’t it be wonderful to believe that the experience of buying a new yacht is never problematic? But as with anything and everything – from cars to new homes –…