The estuaries and rivers that probe into the green hills of Devon and Cornwall’s south coast feature anchorages with a natural charm that is hard to match. Most of these…
Video: Alex Thomson kitesurfs over the top of his IMOCA 60 race boat
Scroll down for video First came the keel walk in 2012, then came the mast walk in 2014, and now, after much preview hype, Alex Thomson’s Skywalk video was released…
5 tips: why spring weather should be treated differently from summer
The boat is sorted, the sails back on board and the crew lists are taking shape, but how much thought have you put into early season spring weather? Why should…
Mayday, we’re sinking – crew rescued from the ARC yacht Magritte as she goes down
Early evening on 3 December Steve Arnold was awoken by his friend and crewmate Andy Mills, who had noticed water in the bilges. The boat, Magritte, a 44ft Moody Grenadier…
Sail repairs on the fly – how to make essential fixes while at sea
During last year’s ARC I was to be found at one point on the pulpit restitching the foot tape of our headsail. I was clipped on a short tether with…
The irreplaceable boats lost in the 2016 Cowes fire – ‘the greatest single loss of classic yachts’
The Medina Village site where the Cowes fire occurred comprises several industrial units off Bridge Road. The main unit affected, originally a machine shop, was used for boat storage by…
Skip Novak: why a catamaran wins out if destination is more important than sailing
Even if you don’t believe your own eyes, there is no doubt – if the statistics are to be trusted – that catamarans are taking the sailing world by storm…
Video of how a wooden Spirit Yachts is built – the new 47CR cruiser in construction
[Above: The masterpiece of workmanship within Spirit Yacht’s 100ft superyacht Gaia – pic by Anthony Morris] The CR stands for ‘Cruising Range’ – a new line that takes Spirit Yachts’ renowned…
Discovery 48 – a smaller version of the impressive bluewater Discovery 55
It was the Discovery 55 that launched Discovery Yachts 15 years ago. The Marchwood-based yard specialises in bluewater cruisers for couples and, although this 55 was considered a large yacht…
SAIL FASTER SAIL SAFER advanced techniques series Part 2: Broaching
Most of us will be familiar with that final pull on the helm that cannot be overcome as the boat rounds up to windward in a massive broach. The ensuing…
Get out of that! – Ian Walker on avoiding the crash gybe
On the edge and living dangerously, the crew in this photo are, to their credit, still racing hard and just about in control, managing to hold off a crash gybe.…
RORC Caribbean 600 2016: the highlights, who won what and all the best pictures from the race
George Sakellaris’ Maxi72, Proteus (USA) has been declared the overall winner of the 2016 RORC Caribbean 600. Whilst several yachts are still racing, the remaining teams will be unable to…
Video: Hear from the crew on the fastest yachts in the RORC Caribbean 600
For a full breakdown of this year’s results, visit the RORC Caribbean 600 results page.
5 tips: calibration. It’s crucial to keep your readouts giving the true picture
We are quick to believe the readouts from our instruments, but how can we be sure they are telling us the truth? Calibrating your system is crucial. Professional navigator and…
Video: Thrilling start to the RORC 600 as the three-masted schooner Adix takes on super-maxi Comanche
Scroll down for video: The 8th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 started in spectacular style on Monday with the record 70 yacht fleet gathering in the starting area outside…
Cruising guru Jimmy Cornell transits the North West Passage in Aventura IV
The North West Passage has been described as the Everest of sailing. Since Roald Amundsen’s successful transit in 1903-1906, a total of only 94 sailing boats have been able to…
Wreck found after drifting for 9 years and 10,000 miles in the Southern Ocean is Alex Thomson’s Hugo Boss
These photos of the shipwrecked hull of Alex Thomson’s Hugo Boss were taken in February in Patagonia during a kayak expedition by Chilean adventurer Cristian Donoso. Donoso discovered the yacht nine…
Great Seamanship: dramatic account by Mike Golding of rescuing Alex Thomson in the Southern Ocean
Mike Golding OBE, ex-firefighter and twice winner of the IMOCA (Open 60) World Championship against the assembled might of France is so well known in ocean racing circles that to…
How to follow the RORC Caribbean 600 race- an easy spectator guide
Start: Antigua, West Indies – Monday 22 February 2016- 1050 local time (First warning signal) Course: Approx. 600nm non-stop around 11 Caribbean Islands (click here to walk the course with…
Chris Tibbs weather briefing: what’s the difference between gusts and squalls?
Rarely do we have a day when the wind is steady in both direction and strength; we are even seeing warnings on forecasts that gusts may be 40 per cent,…