The Baltic 175 Pink Gin may have captured most of the headlines for her sheer size and cleverly engineered topside balconies, but below decks a collection of Cuban art and…
Inside a legendary Whitbread: Extract from Maiden by Tracy Edwards and Tim Madge
Tracy raises the funds, finds the boat of the same name and skippers the first all-female crew around the globe in the world’s greatest fully-crewed yacht race. The years 1989/90…
Hallberg-Rassy 50: New model continues the Swedish yard’s twin-rudder revolution
The Hallberg-Rassy 50 is the fifth new generation twin-rudder model from the Swedish yard. As with its immediate predecessors – the 340, 40C, 44 and 57 – the new boat…
5 tips: Vendee Globe veteran explains how to face the fear and do it anyway
Facing your fears is something that challenges every sailor, but none more so than those taking on single-handed offshore racing. Nick Moloney is a social animal and thrives on being…
McConaghy 105 first look: Luxurious concept promises a wicked turn of speed
With its all-carbon build, the McConaghy 105 is capable of matching true wind speed under sail, topping out at around 20 knots. So it speaks volumes that this Jason Ker-designed…
Hylas 60 first look: Virtual tour brings this stunning new model to life
COVID-19 lockdown saw a bonanza of virtual boat shows and there’s every chance they are here to stay. A well executed virtual experience can give potential buyers a good feel…
Yacht lightning strikes: Why they cause so much damage and how to protect against them
According to US insurance claims (from BoatUS Marine Insurance) the odds of a boat being struck by lightning in any year are about 1 per 1,000, increasing to 3.3 per…
Navigation briefing: How to use weather observations to improve your forecasts
I have some tips for maximising the real-time information you can see, both online and using the naked eye. For instance, if sailing west across the Solent you can utilise…
Aquarius: Modern classic masterpiece makes for a surprisingly sensible superyacht
A demanding brief for Aquarius from experienced sailors has produced a masterpiece from some of the most experienced and talented brains in the superyacht world. Within five months of handover…
Shogun 50 first look: New Swedish brand looks to balance performance and comfort
Mats Bergryd approached father and son team Håken and Oscar Södergren for the design. “The commission from Mats was to make a competitive 50ft racer suitable for our archipelago with…
Flax 27: Cork decks and electric propulsion make this the most eco-friendly yacht
In the face of it there was nothing unusual about the Flax 27. Set in a corner of one of the 17 halls at Boot Düsseldorf at the beginning of…
Is in-boom furling the next big thing in sail handling technology?
Even though this remains an expensive option, in-boom furling is one that a growing number of boat owners are adopting. Key advantages include one person being able to handle the…
The best 4G and WiFi boosters that mean you can work from your yacht
After the COVID-19 pandemic has made remote working so widely accepted, could working from your yacht be part of the future? It’s no longer an expensive option: in the past…
Black Cat 30: Daring catamaran concept promises superyacht luxury at 32 knots
There’s the sleek curve of the glass superstructure, the powerful rig and the all-carbon build. The huge aft deck, main saloon and foredeck are all on the same level, offering…
Sailing Hong Kong: So much more than just a glittering Asian metropolis
We had just dropped the anchor in a small bay, and I was standing on the deck of our Hallberg-Rassy, surveying the turquoise water and shore that rose steep and…
How two architects refitted a cheap old lifeboat into this Arctic liveaboard cruiser
Stødig is the brainchild of friends Guylee Simmonds and David Schnabel, both 28. Looking at the beautiful spaces they have created in this unassuming 35ft tub, it comes as no…
ARC 2019 skippers’ survey results reveal the art of easy transatlantic sailing
Tradewind sailing is hard to beat. Every yacht is different, however, and each skipper likes to sail their boat their way. They’ll establish a recipe that works for them, whether…
INEOS Team UK grinder David Carr explains what it’s really like to sail an AC75
“When you push off the dock, your life is in the hands of computers – and the guy piloting the boat out of the water, of course. All the systems…
Leonardo Ferragamo: The fashion magnate behind Nautor’s Swan’s remarkable rise
If there is one yacht marque that every sailor knows, and can probably recognise even at a distance, it’s Nautor’s Swan. This famous Finnish yard has been owned for more…
Ice Kite superyacht project to harness latest kite sail technology
Designed to fly a large 160m2 kite from a foredeck mast, a daggerboard allows Ice Kite to sail efficiently to windward, while its long and slender hull form makes it…