Boatbuilding as we know it is not a sustainable process. The dawn of mass production GRP boats from the 1960s onwards fuelled an explosion in sailing participation and boat ownership.…
Specials
9 impressive new yachts coming to a marina near you in 2024
Mid-winter on the banks of the Rhine might seem like an incongruous time and place for a boat show, but boot Düsseldorf, held for 10 days every January, remains the…
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…
‘Who the hell is Stokey Woodall?’ Meet the inimitable adventurer, free-spirit, raconteur and guru of astro navigation
Despite growing up in the landlocked town of Dudley with no desire to sail, Peter ‘Stokey’ Woodall has become one of the most experienced, renowned and admired celestial navigators in…
The true carbon cost of sailing – and why going electric could be less green than you think
A white sail on a blue sea. What could be cleaner than that?’ Sailing nerds might recognise this quote from the all-time greatest sailing film, Wind. Or maybe that’s just…
The history of the RYA Yachtmaster scheme as it turns 50
The RYA started examining Yachtmaster candidates in 1973 but in fact the very first Yachtmaster certificates were awarded much earlier. In 1938 at the request of the Admiralty, the Board…
Brian Black Memorial Award winner 2023: adventure on thin ice
What do you think of whaling?’ I paused to consider my response as the ageing fisherman chomped down on his cheese sandwich. I had recently begun work as a skipper…
Brian Black Memorial Award video winner 2023
In 2017, we embarked on a circumnavigation onboard our sailboat Mothership. Our mission was to immerse our three kids in a life of culture, exploration, and adventure. Our video is…
Documenting climate change from a yacht in Greenland
The north face of our planet is literally changing colour. As the Arctic Ocean loses sea ice, it turns large areas from white to dark blue. At the same time,…
How yachts are disposed of – and why it’s so environmentally toxic
The annual volume of composite waste generated by the marine industry each year is a staggering 55,000 tonnes – and it’s predicted to increase by 10% every year in the…