Tide Race is an 11m production GRP yacht with a fin keel and a fixed three-bladed prop. While giving plenty of power, the prop also gives a substantial kick to…
How to
How to stop a marine diesel engine properly
When you stop a marine diesel engine it is by cutting off the fuel at, or in, the fuel injection pump – not before it. This is achieved in two…
How to sail across the Atlantic with a family
Modern life makes connecting digitally between people easy, but it can also isolate us from friends and family, and the natural world around us. While the negative effects of social…
Would you set off in fog in your yacht?
Ben is skipper of Leading Light, an 11-metre yacht currently moored in a marina in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. He has two crew. It is early morning in…
12-point spring checklist for your yacht
Now the days are getting longer and the weather warmer, it is clear, a new season is just round the corner. Don’t be tempted, however, to scrimp on a sensible…
What you need to know about a yacht’s black water waste tank
Prior to the new millennium, little thought was given to waste disposal from a vessel. Anything you didn’t want on board invariably went straight over the side, including human waste.…
The 10 golden rules of boat handling updated for modern times
Mind your bows,’ said my mother in an increasingly high-pitched voice, ‘bit more to port…don’t clip the stern!’ I was 17 and we were in Tesco’s car park in our…
How to cold start a marine diesel engine
Starting a diesel engine from cold can be a tricky business. Many direct-injection engines use extra fuel for cold starting. On some, such as small Yanmars, this extra fuel is…
Push on or divert with seasick crew onboard?
Should you divert or push on when you have a seasick crew onboard? Mike owns Petrel, a modern 12m yacht and is on a passage across Cardigan Bay from Fishguard…
Rebuilding a yacht’s navigation system using Raspberry Pi
Back in May 2021, my wife Lydia and I purchased our first boat, a 1994 Dehler 34 called Troppo Bella, and spent the summer exploring the beautiful waters around Conwy.…