Ever since James and I first met, we have fantasised about going on some kind of boat-based adventure. Every time we go on holiday, we lament the fact we can’t…
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Yachting Monthly Celtic Triangle Race 2025: The entry-level offshore race
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to push yourself and your boat a bit harder than you normally would? What does it feel like to sail offshore,…
Holidaying in Europe on a yacht: What you need to know
Things have changed considerably over the last few years when it comes to freedom of movement to sail and travel within the European Union, and many of the freedoms British…
‘When I made the change to lithium batteries on my yacht I saved space and money’
We bought our boat, Cassini, a Beneteau Oceanis 50, in 2022 intending to live aboard for long periods from the summer of 2023. After a winter overhaul and a few…
Modern (and more sustainable) alternatives to teak decking
The material, colour, and condition of a yacht’s deck can dramatically transform its overall look and feel. Over the years, marine decking materials have evolved, moving from natural, traditional hardwoods…
How it works: Taking a noon sight
To take a sextant noon sight you first have to figure out when the sun will pass over your meridian. It is good enough to work it out to the…
Zhik Spirit of Adventure: ‘It’s a little bit of heaven – two miles of sand backed by dunes held together by ancient and gnarled juniper trees’
Good luck going round the Peloponnese,’ smiled the seasoned sailor as I told him our plans. He stood at the dock on the Greek Island of Lefkada, looking critically at…
‘Our dinghy outboard was being smashed to pieces by the swell’
Our dinghy is the equivalent of everyone’s car at home; it’s how we get from our boat at anchor, to anywhere in the harbour. Used most days, it has to…
Zhik Spirit of Adventure: ‘Wonderful opportunities for whale watching as these gracious creatures head north’
Sailing a yacht down to Antarctica can be an incredible adventure. Get it right and it will earn its ‘voyage of a lifetime’ reputation. Taking a small yacht into the…
Day sailing to the Isles of Scilly: Dodging a 35,000-tonne cargo ship
Quaker Girl is waiting patiently at the end of steep granite steps for her third skipper. Not that she needs three, or even one for that matter. But as I…