Can a boat designed for top-level offshore racing ever make a good cruiser? It’s a question likely to spark a lively debate in many sailing circles but, in the case…
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Charlotte Drew on growing up with one of the first Clipper skippers, Mervyn Wheatley
A small girl was curled up in the corner of the wheelhouse, sitting on the step with an arm around her even smaller brother. The tension in the wheelhouse was…
MCA tells maritime sector to plan for life without GPS
In a significant move, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) published a guidance note highlighting the increasing risk of GNSS interference and encouraging maritime stakeholders to review their operations and…
Golden Globe Race Latest: Everything you missed in the first month of the ‘Voyage of Madmen’
In the month since we saw the Golden Globe Race fleet off from the pontoons in Les Sables d’Olonne, the Atlantic has already yielded its share of frustrations, along with…
RNLI Controversy explained: Sailors speak out in support of RNLI and volunteers
‘Illegal immigration is a political issue; the RNLI exists to save lives at sea,’ Chief Executive of the RNLI Peter Sparkes said in a recent statement. The distinction follows protests…
Why I’ll always choose romantic hull lines over practical comfort – Libby Purves
This month sees the Southampton International Boat Show, that end-of-summer opportunity for the great pastime of staring at other boats. Some, of course, focus intensely on equipment, not least because…
Cruising craic on Scotland’s West Coast: Enjoying Scottish seclusion in the ‘jewel of the Highlands’
Clive, Chris and I set off in August a few years ago aboard Tintin, a comfy French aluminium 43ft cruising yacht. A yacht you could take anywhere, with her lifting…
ARC Baltic rally returns – five countries, four weeks: ‘There are delightfully quiet natural harbours everywhere’
The ARC Baltic has been reintroduced by the World Cruising Club after a seven-year hiatus. With a newly shortened and redesigned route, Saint Petersburg has been axed and is now…
In the wake of Gipsy Moth: John Passmore’s Chichester homage
Just as we stepped aboard Samsara, bobbing on the sunny waters alongside Poole Quay, my wife, Cathy, was handed a pair of tweezers by her skipper, John Passmore. Holding the…
Small upgrades, big impact: The best new gear at Southampton Boat Show
While the towering luxury yachts and sleek hulls at Mayflower Park do tend to steal the spotlight, any seasoned boat owner knows the real magic often happens in the smaller…