Small cruising boats are not fast enough to sail away from bad weather. Tony Curphey shares how a series drogue was vital while sailing the Southern Ocean in a Nicholson
Practical seamanship
Towing a boat: how to tow and be towed
When a boat needs towing, cruising yachts are often among the first on the scene. James Stevens explains how to help
How to stay warm on a boat all the year round
Summer nights or winter moorings, keeping cold at bay is aways a hot topic. Toby Heppell shows you how to stay snug whether you are sailing in spring, summer, autumn…
Atlantic Rally for Cruisers: Ocean crossing lessons
From sail plans to nav software, rig failure and SSB, there's plenty you can learn from the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, as Ali Wood discovers
Get ready for your yacht charter holiday
Getting to grips with a few skills and checking your boat carefully will give you a more enjoyable yacht charter holiday, says Toby Heppell
Migrants at sea: the dos and don’ts of helping those in distress
How can you help those in distress without endangering your vessel or breaking the law? Elaine Bunting investigates
Eyeball pilotage skills for coast crawling
Getting close in to the coast to explore a tidal channel or find a snug anchorage is rewarding but close attention must be paid to the visual clues, says Ken…
Heavy weather sailing: preparing for extreme conditions
Alastair Buchan and other expert ocean cruisers explain how best to prepare when you’ve been ‘caught out’ and end up heavy weather sailing
Day Skipper: What you need to know to get through
With her husband Theo out of the way, Georgie Stocker shows on her Day Skipper course that she is more than capable of taking charge
Skippering a boat for the first time: steps to success
Skippering a boat for the first time needn't be daunting, as long as you prepare. Matthew Diggle reveals how to make a success of taking charge