Meteorologically spring is an interesting time of year as the weather can be quite volatile,…
Practical cruising
Happy crew, happy boat – how to avoid crew problems and a bad atmosphere on board
Boat crews fall apart – it happens from time to time – but in Rodney…
Summer sailing in high latitudes is no guarantee of good weather – sometimes winter is better
Although we are in the business of providing uncertainty as one of the mainstays of…
How to climb a mast safely at sea – masterclass with ocean racer Pip Hare
Of all the things I have encountered over my sailing career, climbing a mast at…
Yacht shipping versus yacht delivery under sail – which method really costs more and why?
A transocean passage can be a cruising delight, but it can also represent a logistical…
Night sailing – the essential guide for offshore cruisers
With a full moon and following wind, night sailing can be one of the great…
Expert tips on understanding shipping forecasts and weather broadcasts
When ashore we get our forecasts from a variety of sources, nowadays largely through the…
Expert tips on getting your cockpit set up perfectly for short-handed sailing
The simple things we take for granted when sailing with crew can become a nightmare…
Telemedicine for cruisers beyond the reach of an airlift – how a phone call saved one sailor’s life
Anchored in a remote lagoon in the Solomon Islands last year, Tom Partridge and his…
How to reef short-handed and how to know when the time is right to reduce sail
The decision to reef is as much about boat handling as it is about wind…
How author Martin O’Scannall removed the engine from his yacht and learned to listen to the sea
For the Love of Sauntress – A Forty-year Affair published as recently as 2014 by…
Why now is the right time to buy your next boat – three owners share their stories
Upgrading to a newer or larger yacht is always an exciting prospect. It’s a gateway…
10 practical tips for perfect downwind sailing in the Tropics
Between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn lie the tradewind belts, separated by the Intertropical…
Weather expert Chris Tibbs on how to predict and cope with fog at sea
Radar and AIS help to make navigating in fog safer, but it is still an…
Night sailing: top tips and expert advice to see you safely through until dawn
Sailing through the night brings its own rewards: a contemplative stillness, phosphorescent trails through a…
What is a Spanish Plume? Thunderstorms, lightning and downdrafts explained
Earlier this summer we saw considerable thunderstorm activity over the UK and Europe, resulting in…
Weather briefing: Chris Tibbs explains the formation of a secondary low
Some years ago while racing somewhere south of the Kerguelen Islands in the Southern Ocean,…
Get out of that – heaving to in strong winds. Advice from Dee Caffari
This image should be entitled ‘Get into That’. Bernard Stamm had 120 miles to go…
Is world cruising still safe? Elaine Bunting talks to long-term cruisers
Recent attacks on sailors in the Caribbean and Indonesia have raised concerns about the safety…
Chris Tibbs weather briefing: the dangers of cold fronts or ‘squall lines’
Outside the tropics much of our sailing takes place in the disturbed westerly airflow that…