No two water ballast systems seem to be the same, but the principles for use and troubleshooting remain the same. Here are some guidelines for success. Filling ballast The ballast…
Marc van Peteghem interview: Up close and personal with the king of cats
With Lagoon catamarans at one end of the spectrum and world-girdling Ultime class trimarans at the other, there’s not much in the multihull world that design studio VPLP has not…
Sailing England’s East Coast: Extract from On and Offhore by Dick Durham
Dick Durham knows the East Coast of England better than most. He has sailed it, both deep water and shoal, since putting to sea in the 1960s as mate aboard…
ArmorKite 650: Kite-surfing yacht pushes the boundaries of sailing
It’s a grey and wet February day on the pontoons at Port la Forêt, the Mecca of French single-handed ocean racing. Olivier de Kersauson, a man never stuck for finding…
How the crew of SV Delos created the ultimate self-sustainable yacht
When Brian Trautman bought a 53ft Amel Super Maramu in 2008 he had little intention of living aboard for ten years. But after putting 70,000 miles under the keel, visiting…
Vendée Globe 2020: Pip Hare on preparing for the world’s toughest race
It would be easy to assume the toughest challenge of the Vendée Globe Race is racing a 60ft IMOCA alone, battling the elements, sleep deprived and exhausted. But for me,…
The future of yachting: Smart technology for your next yacht
It’s becoming abundantly clear that to meet greenhouse gas emissions targets set out in the 2016 Paris Agreement, we’ll need to adopt some radical changes in all lifestyles. Thankfully sailing…
The Yachting World hall of fame: 50 yachts that changed the way we sail
1. Mariquita Built: 1911 Design: William Fife III Mariquita is a living link between the ‘Big Class’ behemoths, such as Britannia, the J Class and all that went after, including…
North East Passage ice rescue: Extract from Northabout by Jarlath Cunnane
Jarlath Cunnane’s book Northabout is a must for anyone dreaming of ice navigation or who is fascinated by the history of the extraordinary people who have voyaged to the high…
Cynara: Classic sailing superyacht undergoing thorough restoration in Japan
Cynara is a 96ft (29m) gaff-rigged ketch, designed by Charles E Nicholson and built by Camper & Nicholsons in 1927 – the same yard and year as the famous three-masted…
Teak alternatives: 4 options for decking that doesn’t cost the earth
Everyone loves an immaculate teak deck. They look great at boat shows and at chic Mediterranean quays, as well as providing excellent non-slip properties in the most demanding of conditions.…
Mini Globe Race: 19ft boats to take on Don MacIntyre’s new round-the-world challenge
The Mini Globe Race is a multi-stage solo around the world race scheduled for 2024. The fleet is planned to leave Europe via the Canary Islands on a transatlantic leg…
Buster De Guingand on racing classic yacht Thalassa: An extract from The Yachtsman magazine
The name of E P De Guingand will be well known to crews on the RORC circuit. The race for the trophy known as the De Guingand Bowl is run…
Transatlantic sailing clothes: Pip Hare explains how to pack light
In November last year I completed my 18th transatlantic so my kit bag is now fairly trimmed down. Here’s a rundown of the sailing clothes I pack when crossing the…
Why sargassum weed is posing increasing problems for Transatlantic sailors
Sargassum’s yellowish-brown straggles in the water have traditionally been considered a sign that boats are nearing the tropics, but record blooms of the weed in recent years have created a…
Family sailing to Hawaii in a 34ft classic boat: Vixen’s great Pacific voyage
In September 2004, Bruce Halabisky and Tiffany Loney sailed from Victoria BC bound for Hilo, Hawaii, in their 1952 Atkin-designed 34ft gaff cutter Vixen. Eleven years later they have two…
Hidden talents: Inside the traditional boatbuilding yards of British Columbia
At first glance, Gabriola Island does not seem to be much a haven for sailors. Sails appear on the water for just a few months of the year, as the…
Ken Read interview: The rise and rise of an all-American sailing hero
There are many successful sailors and many more successful businessmen, but it’s rare to find someone who has achieved great things in both spheres. Ken Read is one of them.…
5 expert racing tips: How to run the pit like a Volvo Ocean Race sailor
While running the pit is all about establishing repeatable systems and processes that run like clockwork, Justin Slattery prides himself on being open to all possibilities. “The more organised I…
4 eco-friendly improvements to upgrade your yacht
1. Ditch the teak Teak is no longer universally popular. The price has gone up dramatically, supply is dwindling, and the ethics of the supply chain are difficult to trace.…