“Are we in on this gybe?” is often a tricky question to answer when you are far from the leeward mark with a fluctuating breeze and dirty air from behind.…
Bluewater Sailing Techniques Part 8: man overboard recovery
A man overboard on an ocean passage is probably one of the most terrifying emergencies for the skipper. This is because of the speed with which you can lose control…
Catamaran Sailing Techniques Part 8: the future of catamaran cruising – with Nigel Irens
Most of the features in our Catamaran Sailing Techniques series have been aimed at aspiring newcomers to catamaran cruising looking for a bit of help in getting going – even…
Chicago announced as new America’s Cup World Series venue
As momentum for the 35th America’s Cup gathers pace and the ACWS events start to draw in spectators and TV, it was considered by some in the Cup loop to…
What downwind sails should you have for an Atlantic crossing?
What downwind sails should you buy for an Atlantic crossing or cruising beyond the Caribbean? This is one of the biggest questions skippers face when equipping a yacht for bluewater…
Bluewater Sailing Techniques Part 9: night watches and routines offshore
Expert skipper Dan Bower explains how should you plan it, what should you take into account, and what are the best ways of preparing for and running night watches
Gallery: Stunning images from the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo
Scroll down for video Take a look at these superb pictures from Carlo Borlenghi, taken at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Sardinia last week. The Costa Smeralda provides a…
Bluewater Sailing Techniques Part 10: the care and use of the ship’s dinghy
A major part of your cruising life will be spent using your tender. In many areas in the tropics marinas are few and far between, so you will be reliant…
Hot new boats to be seen at boat shows this year
Jeanneau 54 We tested the new Jeanneau 64 a year ago from Marseille during a Mistral. It proved a revelation. Her looks, build and finish quality gave a bona fide…
Newport Bucket regatta to continue as ‘Candy Store Cup’ in July 2016
From its casual beginning in Nantucket in 1987, where only seven competitors competed, to its most recent iteration in St. Barths where over 35 yachts took to the race course,…
Gallery: What is it really like to sail across the Atlantic?
First: The experience of a family who crossed the Atlantic in a Hunter 410 with two young children… Yacht: Morning Haze – Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42i Skippers: Dave Hayes & Isabelle…
First British Olympic sailing team members announced but what else does it tell us?
After the long and detailed selection process that is normal for Olympic selection and following the test event in Rio, six British teams (eight people in total) have been confirmed…
Thought you’d left the paperwork behind when going off cruising? How to cut the paper trail
For those who choose to escape the confines of conventional life and spend a few months, years or even the rest of our lives at sea there are many challenges…
SAIL FASTER SAIL SAFER advanced techniques series Part 8: Downwind sailing
Downwind sailing doesn’t have to be about screaming off waves under full spinnaker, and those of us who have crossed oceans in boats that are also our homes will know…
Formula Whisper, the exciting new boat that anyone can learn to foil
As I stepped off the Formula Whisper, our cameraman and photographer Richard Langdon was full of praise for my first attempt at flying. “How polite,” I thought. I had been…
Clipper yacht race crew decide to resume racing after fatality
The crew of the Clipper 70 Ichorcoal, competing in the 2015/15 Clipper Rround the World Race, have decided to continue their race after the death of one of their crew…
Bluewater Sailing Techniques Part 11: snorkelling and diving on reefs
When cruising in the tropics – or indeed sailing round the world – the time spent actually sailing is surprisingly insignificant and, apart from the ongoing task of yacht maintenance,…
Fatality aboard Clipper Race yacht as crewmember struck while taking in a reef
Andrew Ashman (49), a paramedic from Orpington, Kent, is reported to have been struck by the mainsheet or boom as the team were taking in a reef. The accident is…
Drogues and sea anchors: we test a Jordan Series drogue and a ParaAnchor
Drogues and sea anchors are designed to slow a boat or allow it to hold station in extreme weather conditions. They can prevent a possible capsize, roll or broach by…
Why multihulls are becoming ever more popular for cruising
“Actually, there’s an awful lot of space on offer, isn’t there?” you might say after a quick look aboard a modern cruising catamaran at the boat show. “How nice to…