The Inside Passage is one of North America’s great cruising grounds – an intricate, fjord-lined waterway stretching from Vancouver Island to Alaska. It’s a route known for its remote anchorages,…
Cruising
Saint Lucia: not just a transatlantic stopover
At the end of a long transatlantic crossing, the island of Saint Lucia is a dreamlike landfall. Its hills and Atlantic-facing cliffs emerge slowly over the horizon, taking shape in…
Online sailing communities and apps: Speaking to Sailing La Vagabonde stars
Fleeting acquaintance has always been part of sailing, particularly for bluewater cruisers. A friendship struck up over a rum cocktail or a kids’ playdate in one anchorage might be rekindled…
Cruising around Japan: ‘Small fishing ports on far flung islands became potential cruising destinations’
Far ahead on the horizon we saw the sweep of a lighthouse and the pin pricks of street lamps along the coast. We did some quick maths – the number…
Island-hopping across the vast Indian Ocean
There’s a saying among sailors that plans are only ever made in the sand at low tide. Sailing the world requires meticulous planning and preparation – but also the ability…
Sailing to the remote islands of Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea
For a month, the boys had been hidden in the mountains with their uncles. They had their noses pierced with bamboo and stayed in the ceremonial hut for three nights,…
Croatia is a yacht charter destination that is chock-full of surprises
Why charter? To have a deserved break afloat; to sail somewhere different; to try before you buy, especially if deciding between monohull and multihull; to see if it’s something your…
Let’s Go Offroad… Sailing? Cruising the Gulf of Bothnia
The massive structure of Svartklubben lighthouse looms on the horizon. Standing on the small Swedish island of Singö, it guards the entrance to the Gulf of Bothnia. Passing it feels…
Jimmy Cornell: ‘Some of my most memorable sailing was due to unforseen detours’
When it comes to regrets, I have none. But on all my voyages the golden rule has been to know what NOT to do. I learned that valuable lesson on…
‘We had not really planned to go to Vanuatu, but had no other choice’
I’m looking up at an almost naked young man 60 feet in the air. He’s balancing on a platform built of sticks and branches, raised on a mountain top in…
How to go cruising in the Baltic this winter
Sailing in the Baltic is increasingly popular, and for all the right reasons: beautiful cruising grounds, lovely weather, interesting history and hospitable countries. But the 90-day limit for non-Schengen passport…
Cruising the coast of Taiwan: A culture rich in seafaring history
We were still five miles from port when we realised that clearing into Taiwan might not be as simple as we’d hoped. Our VHF radio crackled into life and a…
Skip Novak’s sailing adventure to survey endangered albatross: ‘We threaded through a wall of crystalline icebergs’
The mood on the Vinson of Antarctica was a wee bit on edge. Justino was staring into the radar in the pilothouse and Dion was all eyes on deck in…
Cruising in Corsica and Sardinia: gelato, marine reserves, and medieval history
Thinking of cruising in Corsica and Sardinia? Given its strategic position in the heart of the western Mediterranean, it’s hardly surprising that Corsica has been invaded, conquered and colonised many…
The sailing trip of a lifetime where the Australian Outback meets the sea
“That sea sure is mean,” our kind driver observes as my salty trio climbs into his truck, fresh off a rough-and-tumble crossing of the Gulf of Carpentaria. After 48 hours…
WATCH: Orca yacht sinking – Sailor shares details of two-hour orca encounter which sank his yacht off Spain
Robert Powell and his crew were five miles off the Spanish coast in 40m of water when orcas disabled the yacht's rudder before ramming the hull, causing it to crack;…
‘Lava explodes way up into the sky above us’ – sailing among active volcanoes
Our hulls cut through the translucent waters of the lagoon around Fiji’s largest island, Viti Levu. As we make our way towards the pass, the wind is a perfect 10…
Sailing the Isles of Scilly: Stunning – but challenging – cruising
Often referred to as the sunshine isles, the Isles of Scilly enjoy more hours of sun than the rest of the United Kingdom. The archipelago is outstandingly beautiful, uncrowded and…
Exploring Guyana’s mighty Essequibo River by boat
You don’t see Guyana as you approach it from the ocean, its low-lying coastline perfectly camouflaged against the hazy tropical horizon as the sun rises. And yet you sense it…
Canal shortcuts to paradise: “You could sail through the fjord in two days, but why hurry?”
Canal shortcuts through Scotland Scotland’s famous Caledonian Canal cuts through the Great Glen from Inverness to Fort William and offers cruisers an unforgettable experience. The 50-mile canal first opened in…