The sea is a beautiful but harsh environment. It requires a variety of safety equipment to keep sailors safe. This is particularly true for those lucky enough to spend time…
Yachting Monthly
How new tech could solve the end-of-life boat crisis – a five point plan
Recently in Yachting Monthly we set out the abandoned boat problem as councils, harbour and river authorities try to deal with the increasing number of end-of-life (EOL) boats being abandoned…
A Mediterranean delivery trip goes wrong: ‘I flew across the saloon and hit my nose, resulting in a severe nosebleed’
The J/105 my friend Richard had just bought was lying in a small harbour near Athens, but it wasn’t until a year later that it was time to collect the…
Sailing Meerlust: The Unexpected Early Retirement That Turned into a Honeymoon
Both Alex and Peggy laugh when sharing their dilemma. ‘We haven’t quite made the decision yet,’ they declare, despite a strong suggestion that T-shirts and shorts will sway the call.…
The abandoned boat problem: Investigating a nationwide issue
What to do with the many abandoned boats left to rot or disintegrate in creeks, rivers and estuaries up and down the country? Most are leisure craft built in the…
The terrifying and beautiful reality of yachting through the Middle East
When we departed New Zealand in May 2023, our ultimate aim was completing a circumnavigation. We have owned our 42ft yacht, Innocenti, for over 20 years, and have cruised extensively…
Sailing the Shipping Forecast: ‘A distant swell reminded us how lucky we were to have it so good’
Portland The sea area of Portland wraps around the Isle of Portland from just east of the entrance into Poole Harbour, westward across Lyme Bay to Berry Head at Brixham,…
How to deal with heat and cold at sea
Extremes of temperature whilst sailing affect not only our comfort but may have a significant effect on health and wellbeing. The scourge of hypothermia or, on the opposite end of…
‘There is no such thing as too much preparation’: Cruising the British Virgin Islands
During the spring of 2024, a friend of mine delivered my 41ft Moody sloop from Annapolis to American Yacht Harbor Marina (AYH) in Red Hook, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands…
Sailing through the Kiel Canal to the Baltic and beyond
There are not many ways into the Baltic. A yacht travelling from the west has to either go north around the tip of Denmark (Skagen), or through the beautiful Limfjord…