Sailing in the tropics, as you get to within about 30° of the equator the barometer will start to exhibit a twice daily rise and fall, on top of the…
The 50 knot problem: Why sailing’s magic number has been beaten but not defeated
The trouble with round numbers is they always feel a bit artificial, especially when we’re talking about limits. Sailing’s so-called ‘sound barrier’ at 50 knots is a perfect example. Surely…
The wallyrocket phenomenon: a stellar debut for the new pocket fleet
The emergence of the new wallyrocket fleet has sparked ‘wallyrocket Mania’ – a phenomenon driven not by marketing hype, but by performance on the racecourse. In a remarkably short period…
Expert tips for leeward gate roundings
The leeward gate, or leeward mark, is the biggest pinch-point on the race course. There’s a huge opportunity to climb up a big ladder if you execute a solid strategy…
World’s coolest yachts: Grainger 075
“Boat ‘cool’ has gone up a notch recently with foilers doing some serious speeds. The 49er has a special place in my sailing history, while the Moth and Switch are…
Has technology reduced sailing’s spirit of adventure? – Nikki Henderson
Now that we’ve entered a new chapter in sailing with the proliferation of affordable, high speed internet at sea, is sailing still actually an adventure? Or has the age of…
Sailing around the world the ‘wrong’ way round: ‘The direct route is 22,000 miles. I’ve done 37,000!’
Sailing around the world solo, through the Southern Oceans, remains one of the sport’s purest challenges. Doing so the ‘wrong way’ round – westabout, against the prevailing weather systems –…
How does owning a charter yacht actually work? Dream Yacht demystifies the process:
Owning a yacht is the dream for any sailor, but the upfront costs, – not to mention maintenance and logistics – can make traditional ownership feel out of reach. Yacht…
How to find the right berth for your yacht: what to look for in a marina
Finding the right berth can be one of the more challenging parts of boat ownership. Availability, location, support and cost rarely line up neatly to deliver as perfect a solution…
Demystifying the tropics: An expert guide to the wind, the weather, and why it really rains
What actually constitutes ‘the tropics’? Navigationally it’s easy to define: the tropics lie between the Tropic of Cancer at 23° 26’N and the Tropic of Capricorn at 23° 26’S, which…
Weaving through the crowded skerries of Norway and Sweden by boat
After many years of cruising in Scandinavia it never ceases to amaze us how many beautiful places beg to be explored along the island-strewn coastlines. It would take a lifetime…
Four of the latest scow cruisers that are rewriting the rules
The blunt-bowed scow revolution is no longer confined to the frantic starting lines of the Mini Transat or Class 40s. This year, a new wave of innovative yacht designers and…
Rallies provide safety, but they don’t replace independent thinking – Nikki Henderson
Fifteen days ago, as I write this from the paradisical shores of French Polynesia, we weighed anchor in the Galapagos aboard Awen, an Outremer 52 and set sail on a…
Sailing from Fiji to New Zealand without an autopilot: ‘The Bay of Islands is a sailing paradise’
In the past five years I’ve done 13 ocean passages. Each has been wildly different, and yet I’m struck with a sense of déja vu as we dock Jacqeau, our…
How to find the real Greece on a sailing charter holiday
A faint purling of waves against the hull had eased us all into sleep, until I realised that another sound was nudging into my dreams. Swelling choral music echoed through…
5 expert tips: How to be a world-beating tactician
For Zajac, tactics start long before the starting gun. His first step in any campaign is always to research key venues in as much detail as possible. But you also…
Charlie Dalin, record-breaking Vendée Globe winning sailor, has died aged 42
Charlie Dalin, the extraordinary winner of the last Vendée Globe singlehanded around the world race, has died aged 42. His family announced today that the legendary French yachtsman has died,…
Is this the breakthrough that solves marine battery fire risks? – Matt Sheahan
Unlike the motoring world, one of the biggest barriers to marine electrification has not been range, charging infrastructure or perhaps even cost. It has been fear. And it’s not difficult…
Cruising with pets: Your guide to sailing with your furry friend
Each year, the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers welcomes crews of all ages, backgrounds, and nationalities. But there was one crewmember who attracted more attention than any other in the 2024/25…
Connected or consumed? The realities of Starlink for bluewater cruisers
In our homes and in our hands, we’ve become used to using high-speed internet for everyday tasks as well as for non-stop entertainment. But now the threads of the worldwide…