The Kiel Canal provides a convenient shortcut between the North Sea and the Baltic, or as the Germans call it, the Nordsee and the Ostsee. We Europeans call it the…
Yachting Monthly
‘Rod had single-handedly raised the price of shellfish in the San Blas by about 300%’ – Lu Heikell
Can we agree that it’s an old myth that sailors survive entirely on Fray Bentos pies and ‘pot mess’? Certainly on Skylax mealtimes are something to look forward to as…
Sail more with J-Boats
The moment the engine is turned off is a magical time in any voyage – it’s only then that you can feel the boat’s true motion and appreciate the sound…
Sailing to Scotland: flitting north to a new home
Flitting is a traditional Scottish expression for moving house so our decision to move from Gosport to the island of Arran meant we needed a plan to ‘flit’ our Hanse…
A guide to cruising England’s East Coast rivers
The East Coast is an acquired taste for sailing and, after fossicking about the creeks and swatchways of the estuaries over the past 65 years, I have acquired it. My…
A magical cruising ground just a stone’s throw from France
The islands, now British Crown Dependencies, were once under the provenance of the Duchy of Normandy. The residents have retained their own identity, part French and part English and a…
Saffier SL 46 first look: a daysailer ready for fun sailing
Dutch yard Saffier has a reputation for stylish, quick daysailers. While their origins lie in their smaller 6.5m and 8m cabin boats, the yard has seen real growth in its…
Lungi Mchunu: The first African woman to sail the Arctic on choosing the ‘right path’
When Lungi Mchunu sailed off on a voluntary expedition to the North Pole in 2018, she made history as the first African woman to sail to the Arctic. Raised in…
‘£10,000 and two broken engines in to my yacht purchase, I realised I may have made a mistake…’
Just about every middle-aged man dreams of buying a boat and going on a sailing adventure. The sense of freedom, the wind blowing across your balding pate without a care…
Hanse 410 first look: Another mid-size cruiser slots into this competitive market
While 32ft might have been a big boat a few decades ago, 40-42ft is the new normal and the Hanse 410 is another 40 footer coming to market this year…