The Forth sea area runs from just north of Stonehaven on the East Aberdeenshire coast southwards to Holy Island off the Northumberland coast, including the approaches to the River Tay…
Yachting Monthly
The Scottish Islands Peaks Race: No wind, no sleep, and a whole lot of effort
The clue is in the name. The Scottish Islands Peaks Race is from Oban to Troon via three islands – Mull, Jura and Arran, 160 nautical miles. And the peaks?…
Rig check: How to inspect and tune your standing rigging for maximum safety
There are many ways a boat’s rigging can fail, but there will also, usually, be important telltale signs indicating that a problem is developing. A good regular check, therefore, will…
How to find the perfect sailing crew match (and avoid know-it-alls)
We’re all different. We have diverse aims, agendas and ways of getting there. All of them are right. So, what holds people back? A large number get their Day Skipper…
Zhik Spirit of Adventure: How We Sailed the Greek Coast’s Hard Route
From Lefkada, on the west coast of Greece, it’s 150 miles to Aegina, on the other side of the Peloponnese, via the Corinth Canal. You pass through the Gulf of…
Sailing the Shipping Forecast: ‘It became a sun-sparkling day as we approached Kinnaird Head’
Cromarty Sea area Cromarty encompasses the east coast of Scotland from just north of Wick to just south of Aberdeen, including the entire coastline of the Moray Firth and the…
Stop using ‘automotive wire’ on your boat: The critical wiring mistake that makes remaking joints impossible
Electrical wire used on boats should be tinned (covered in solder) along its whole length. However, this is an expensive process, so most production boats have ‘automotive-type’ wire, which allows…
How a Hurricane-Wrecked Dufour Classic 41 Won Line Honours in Her First Race During Tobago Sailing Week
Our boat Alexa – a Dufour Classic 41 – had been wrecked in the September 2004 Category Five Hurricane Ivan and had been part of the boat ‘alphabet soup’ in…
Used Sweden Yachts 390 Review: This Swedish Classic Still Turns Heads
The forecast did not look promising as we headed out of Dartmouth. A bit of sun, a bit of cloud, and a southeasterly Force 2-3. Not an ideal day for…
Marine toilet maintenance: How to keep your heads smelling sweet
All marine toilets have a functional similarity about them. The traditional method is to pump the waste directly into the sea. It’s only acceptable to pump out sewage into the…