What to do with the many abandoned boats left to rot or disintegrate in creeks, rivers and estuaries up and down the country? Most are leisure craft built in the…
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Sadler 32 used boat review: A lot like a Contessa… but different
Nonchalant. That’s the word my kids use to describe someone who’s effortlessly cool and stays above the fray. It’s also the word that sprang to mind as I watched Rob…
Essential tips to survive a sudden emergency: How to free a boat’s propeller from rope or fishing gear
Whether snagged suddenly in the middle of a channel, or a drifting target for shipping, or close to a lee shore, it’s a stressful situation and one that requires a…
The terrifying and beautiful reality of yachting through the Middle East
When we departed New Zealand in May 2023, our ultimate aim was completing a circumnavigation. We have owned our 42ft yacht, Innocenti, for over 20 years, and have cruised extensively…
Sailing the Shipping Forecast: ‘A distant swell reminded us how lucky we were to have it so good’
Portland The sea area of Portland wraps around the Isle of Portland from just east of the entrance into Poole Harbour, westward across Lyme Bay to Berry Head at Brixham,…
Does your boat represent freedom or a is it a floating prison? Libby Purves
While listening to a programme on BBC Radio 4, I heard a historian quoting a medieval mystery play. These 14th- century spectacles always had a bit of low comedy alongside…
How to deal with heat and cold at sea
Extremes of temperature whilst sailing affect not only our comfort but may have a significant effect on health and wellbeing. The scourge of hypothermia or, on the opposite end of…
‘There is no such thing as too much preparation’: Cruising the British Virgin Islands
During the spring of 2024, a friend of mine delivered my 41ft Moody sloop from Annapolis to American Yacht Harbor Marina (AYH) in Red Hook, St Thomas, US Virgin Islands…
‘Astral was rolled and lost her mast as the wind increased to 80 knots’ – Dick Durham
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the world’s second worst yacht-racing disaster, and yet most sailors have never heard of it. It has gone unremarked for all these years…
What to do if someone anchors too close to your boat?
Clara, Fi and Ahmed are cruising north Brittany on Clara’s Rival 34, Grace. Clara is a recently-qualified Coastal Skipper, and Fi and Ahmed, who are both more experienced sailors, are…