How to rig preventers and boom brakes

Rigging a preventer or using a boom brake is just good seamanship when sailing downwind, but doing so badly is asking for trouble, says Rachael Sprot

Don't let Thames sewage kill off this lovely boat

Samuel Pepys mentions oysters in his diaries 68 times, but that was when they were as common as winkles along the banks of the Thames and when they were a source of cheap protein for the masses.

I finally found the magic of the sea

I won’t be in theatres with a notebook as much as usual this month – time for some wider, wetter horizons – but may be musing, as I often do, on how rare it is for theatre to express a convincing reality about the oceans and the trade or pursuit of seafaring.

TECHNICAL GOLDEN OLDIES

Ken Endean looks back on the boats he has owned over 50 years and explains why the hull lines of older yachts continue to offer first-class handling

HOW IT WORKS MARKING

Many cruising yacht skippers mark very little on board their boats.

TECHNICAL INSTALLING A NEW ENGINE

When a mysterious loss of coolant jeopardised his sailing, Andy Du Port knew the time had tome to replace his yacht’s:veteran Volvo Penta

NEW GEAR

Dennis O’Neill rounds up the latest marine innovations, including developments in women’s sailing jackets

MARIE TABARLY HONOURING HER FATHER

Marie Tabarly took line honours in the Ocean Globe Race, surpassing her father’s record while racing aboard his famous 73ft ketch Pen Duick VI

HEATHER THOMAS SMASHING RECORDS

In leading her all-female crew to victory in the OGR, Heather Thomas has broken records and taken women's sailing into the stratosphere

MAIDEN MAKES HISTORY AGAIN

Being the first all-female crew to win a round-the-world race is seismic in itself, but the diverse nationalities of the crew are just as significant for the future of sailing

HOME WATERS CONQUERING THE SOUTH COAST

Intrepid novice skipper Monty Halls takes his family sailing along the south coast of Devon and Cornwall to the Isles of Scilly and back

'WE GOT BATTERED BY A STORM THAT WASN'T FORECAST

When David and Sarah Smith decided to take on their first proper ocean passage, they didn’t anticipate storm Oscar, but survived unscathed and relished the experience

FIRST TEST GRAND SOLEIL 42LC

Performance pedigree and Italian panache certainly make for stylish boats, but how do they translate into a serious cruising boat? Theo Stocker tests the baby of the range

Orford Sailing Club celebrates 100 years

Situated in arguably one of Suffolk’s prettiest villages and under the watchful eye of its medieval castle and church, Orford SailingClub celebrates its centenary in 2024.

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF AIS IN THE NIGHT-TIME

When container vessels mysteriously started keeping clear of Peter Webb's yacht, it seemed odd, but the answer to their unusual behaviour didn't emerge until they were safely in harbour

A sea change in lifejacket design

Mustang Survival introduces ils new ISO approved Atlas 190

Are you brave enough to have a go?

The flexing of spring’s muscles calls for a dusting down of my jobs list.

Translated 9 retires from OGR with hull damage

Translated 9, one of the leading yachts in the Ocean Globe Race (OGR), has been forced to retire from the round-the-world race with hull damage and has diverted to Madeira.

Tributes paid to boatbuilder lain Oughtred

Tributes have flowed in for renowned boatbuilder and designer Iain Oughtred who died on the Isle of Skye in February, aged 84.

Russia suspected of 63-hour attack on GPS signals in the Baltic region

Russia is suspected of launching a 63-hour-long attack on GPS signals in the Baltic region, starting on 31 March, Easter Sunday, in a move that affected more than 1,600 passenger planes, as well as other GPS users.

TECHNICAL KETCH TO SCHOONER

Roger Hughes explains why he swapped his masts to create an impressive brigantine square-rigger

TECHNICAL CHOOSING THE RIGHT PROPELLER

A change of propeller can dramatically improve a yacht's performance while saving money on fuel. Sam Fortescue reports on the latest options

10 BEST HIDDEN SCOTTISH ANCHORAGES

The sheer beauty of the Western Isles draws many yachtsmen, but cruising on the west coast of Scotland has always been for the brave.

Affordable routes into sailing

Sailing doesn’t have to break the bank. Crewing on other people’s boats offers many low-cost sailing opportunities, says Robin Ashcroft

FIRST TEST LINJETT 39

This long-established, yet little known, Swedish yard believes it has the perfect formula for a contemporary yacht with timeless appeal. Rupert Holmes put her through her paces

TECHNICAL 'OUR BOAT WAS FULL OF WATER'

After an afternoon away, Roger Hughes had to act quickly when he found his schooner-rigged yacht sinking at its Florida marina mooring

HOW IT WORKS OPTIMISING SAIL TRIM

It is difficult to describe ‘correct’ sail shape, but the three most important things to consider are: sail draft (the fullness of the sail), draft position, and twist (controlled by the kicker /vang and leech tension).

HEBRIDEAN HIDEAWAYS

There are some incredible hidden harbours along the west coast of Scotland, many offering 360° shelter, although some may be rather challenging to enter

Mark lines to save miscommunication

This year, I spent my holidays working in the French Figaro class. My role was to be a préparateur – the French name for someone whose job it is to prepare and fix boats before and after races.

It's time for Deliveroo by canoe

Can we agree that it’s an old myth that sailors survive entirely on Fray Bentos pies and ‘pot mess’? Certainly on Skylax mealtimes are something to look forward to as both Rod and I love cooking.