Dinghies and tenders might be small, but good seamanship is just as vital in these diminutive craft as it is in much larger boats, as Rachael Sprot explains
Rachael Sprot
How to use a dinghy outboard
All sailors who use dinghies come across challenges such as the contortions required to get a dinghy outboard onto the transom. Rachael Sprot shares her advice and top tips
Anchoring skills: expert advice to improve your knowledge
Anchoring is one of the greatest joys of sailing, yet for many people the sound of the chain rattling over the bow-roller is the start of an anxious night. Will…
Island Packet 380: The best liveaboard cruiser out there?
When it comes to liveaboard credentials, is the Island Packet the cream of the crop? Rachael Sprot went to find out...
Najad 390: A pedigree cruiser for serious sailing
Thirty-nine feet is often thought of as the golden size for short-handed cruising. Rachael Sprot tests the Najad 390 to find out if it hits the mark
Yacht Radar: How to find your way in any weather
To the uninitiated, radar can seem like a dark art. The splurge of blobs would look more at home in the Tate Modern than the nav station. Recent advances in…
Offshore sailing skills: All you need to know
Will Bruton finds out what coastal cruisers should consider before taking their small yacht on an offshore adventure
Malo 46: A head-turner with blue-water promise
The Malo 46 generally turns heads wherever she goes but does she live up to her blue-water promise? Rachael Sprot went to find out
Best man overboard ladders
For a fully conscious casualty, climbing back on board is one solution. We trialled two man overboard ladders and the swimming ladder on the transom. The swimming ladder was by…
Best man overboard lifting device
After you’ve used a throwing line or a life-sling to bring a casualty alongside in a man overboard situation, you need to lift them out, ideally horizontally. A horizontal life…