Sailing the English Channel for the first time can be a daunting prospect, especially if your sailing experience so far has been in local waters, mostly remaining within a few…
Sailing skills
Expert advice: improvements below decks
For all that owning a cruising yacht brings up ideas of cruising under blue skies over azure waters on deck in full sunshine, in truth, a significant amount of time…
Expert advice: mooring a boat
Mooring a boat can be difficult for even the most experienced yacht owner, and for those who are just starting out on their boating journey it can be a, frankly,…
Surviving a storm in harbour: lessons learned
After surviving a storm in harbour while moored in Sicily, Trevor McIlwaine asks himself - do I really like to be beside the seaside?
Yacht Radar: How to find your way in any weather
To the uninitiated, radar can seem like a dark art. The splurge of blobs would look more at home in the Tate Modern than the nav station. Recent advances in…
Saving fuel when under engine for greater efficiency
Slower isn’t necessarily more efficient when motoring. Christopher Smith explains why
Offshore sailing skills: All you need to know
Will Bruton finds out what coastal cruisers should consider before taking their small yacht on an offshore adventure
Should you set off with no electrics?
With no electrics, would you sail towards a tidal headland in poor visibility? James Stevens answers your Questions of Seamanship
Dismasted in a tidal race. What would you do?
What steps would you take if your yacht dismasted in a tidal race? James Stevens answers your questions of seamanship
Marine protected areas: how the rules benefit sailors
Should sailors welcome or be worried by the expanding network of marine protected areas? asks Elaine Bunting