Tom Cunliffe has assessed hundreds of sailors for the RYA Yachtmaster exam. He shares a few skipper's tips with us...
sailing skills
Using an anchor in a Bahamian moor
If you're anchored next to an obstruction, you can set your bower anchor and kedge to make sure you don't swing more than two boatlengths, says Duncan Wells
An expert’s guide to stern to mooring
If you charter in the Med, you’ll find yourself mooring stern to. Theo Stocker finds out how from Barrie Neilson
How to plan and sail a passage round a headland
James Stevens stands by as Yachtmaster Coastal Laura McLachlan attempts to plan, sail and skipper her first passage round a headland
Essential reefing tips for cruisers
Reefing: how, when and why do we do it? The answers may not be as straightforward as you think, says James Jermain
Collision with a trawler
Anchored off Boulogne with a disabled engine, Richard Brown thought the worst was over. Then his yacht was in collision with a trawler…
How to plan and execute night pilotage
James Stevens stands by as Nikki Abbott tackles her first night pilotage as skipper
Are shipping containers a real risk to cruisers?
Some sink straight away, others drift for months. If you hit one, it can sink your boat. Dick Durham investigates if containers are a real risk to cruisers
How to sail an Atlantic circuit
Sam and Alexandra Fortescue share the knowledge and experience they gained on a one-year Atlantic circuit from the UK to the Caribbean, and back home via New York
How to avoid diesel bug
Diesel bug can clog filters, wreck engines, corrode fuel tanks, and leave you powerless at sea. Ben Sutcliffe explains how to keep your diesel clean