Tom Cunliffe

What a pong! Funny smells on board your boat can be dangerous. Two seasons ago I thought my holding tank was leaking. Up forward, where it lives, a distinct pong…

Back to front is right for ventilation Ventilation is critical to the life expectancy of a wooden boat, particularly when left on a mooring. No GRP yacht ever sank through…

This photo is a rather exaggerated case of wind-against-tide. The water’s easy to read because you’d expect things to be rough and they were. In lesser situations you can still…

The ideal sea berth is a single settee-style affair wide enough to turn over in. If you’re anything like me and find the deep and dreamless hard to come by…

Keep up the skills

Practical advice for all sailors. Tom Cunliffe has sailed tens of thousands of miles all over the world and has been a Yachtmaster Examiner since 1978

Dump the jammer

Practical advice for all sailors. Tom Cunliffe has sailed tens of thousands of miles all over the world and has been a Yachtmaster Examiner since 1978

Clash of spreaders

Practical advice for all sailors. Tom Cunliffe has sailed tens of thousands of miles all over the world and has been a Yachtmaster Examiner since 1978

Heave her clear

Practical advice for all sailors. Tom Cunliffe has sailed tens of thousands of miles all over the world and has been a Yachtmaster Examiner since 1978