Mike and two crew are sailing north up the east coast of England towards Sunderland. They are on board Amelia, a 15-metre gaff cutter and finding the trip hard work.…
Sailing skills
Swellies quandary: Go at low or high water?
Nick and Judy own a 9m bilge keel yacht with a draught of 1.2m. They are on a voyage up the west coast of Britain and are now in the…
How to become an experienced all-round sailor
Don’t worry, I’ve got a wetsuit you can borrow,’ reads the text from Rafa’s mum. ‘No thanks,’ I reply, ‘I have no intention of getting wet… and anyway, I don’t…
What to wear for sailing during winter
There is something really quite special about finding yourself out on the water and having most of it to yourself. Being the solitary boat in an anchorage or being able…
How to pick up a tricky mooring solo?
John has been sailing with friends for many years but has finally decided to buy his own yacht. It is a 10m cruiser racer which he reckons will be light…
How to use a sextant for navigation
Before using the sextant you must note the index error. All sextants have an index error, especially plastic instruments which have to be checked regularly. When you have achieved an…
‘I spent hours in the water in hurricane conditions’
When we saw the race briefing it was a little bit fuzzy,’ John Quinn told me, recalling events that had happened over three decades earlier, before the start of the…
How to moor your yacht (and how not to)
Sailing itself is not that difficult, with a few basic techniques and rules to keep you and your boat safe, whether you’re on a 50-footer or a dinghy. Since Covid…
What to do with difficult crew mid Atlantic?
Jim is regretting taking on Ed as crew on a transatlantic voyage. Bellatrix is a sturdy 13m production GRP yacht in good condition with all the recommended safety gear for…
How these mainsail modifications revolutionised my yacht’s performance
Our 1980s Yamazaki Yachts 34, Zen Again, is an IOR (International Offshore Rule) 3/4 tonner masthead cutter, with a fin keel and a skeg-hung rudder, displacing 6,000kg loaded for blue-water…