‘I was blown in a huge circle around the Ionian'

Alexander Shaw was sailing his 29ft Westerly GK-29 yacht 150 miles from land when he encountered the record-breaking Storm Janus

TECHNICAL COMPOSITE RIGGING

It’s no longer a simple choice between steel wire or rod for standing rigging. Even middle-of-the-road cruising boats can and do benefit from upgrading to synthetic cables

SAND ACRE BAY, SALTASH

Ken Endean finds a quiet place to drop the hook in the usually busy waters of the Tamar Estuary on the border between Devon and Cornwall

AROUND THE LAND OF THE LONG WHITE CLOUD

Mike Delamore faced heavy weather, equipment failure and a knockdown during his 34-day circumnavigation of New Zealand, writes Alex Stone

A FAMILY AFFAIR

Quadriplegic cerebral palsy has never held Natasha Lambert back and with the help of her family, she has now conquered the Atlantic

Adventure An Italian Summer

Cruising Italy is spectacular, yet in summer it can be crowded, hot and expensive. Floris van Hees and Ivar Smits went looking for solutions

10 Best Cruising Destinations For Wildlife Watching

One of the great pleasures of cruising the waters of the British Isles is wildlife encounters. The diversity of species around the coastline means there is a plethora of flora and fauna to see.

Essential Upgrades To Get Your New Boat Up To Scratch

However good and well maintained the boat you have bought is, there will always be jobs that need doing and upgrades you’ll want to make, says Miranda Delmar-Morgan

Northern Ireland sailors face red diesel ban

From 30 June 2021, recreational boat owners in Northern Ireland will be banned from using red diesel for the propulsion of their vessels.

Expanded Southampton Boat Show

The 2021 Southampton Boat Show will be the biggest edition to date with a new entrance and festival area located outside the city’s Westgate shopping centre.

Cheaper Hamble moorings saved for now

Council mooring holders on the River Hamble say they’re relieved the Crown Estate has rejected plans by Universal Marina to extend its finger pontoons and take over the lease of the J Pontoon run.

FIRST TEST BAVARIA C38

Competition is hot for high-volume cruisers, but have Bavaria built a boat that is fun to sail as well as spacious and affordable? Theo Stocker took her for a spin to find out

‘A wave just flipped me over the rail'

Solo yachtsman Nigel Fox's life was saved by a ‘matchbox sized’ personal locator beacon when he was knocked overboard by stormy seas off the north coast of Australia

HOME WATERS: HOME TO SCOTLAND

Having cruised the Med for four years, Graham and Kate Walker return to Scotland and rediscover the joys of sailing in UK waters

Changes to ship radio licence likely

UK ship radio licence holders will soon be expected to carry proof that their licensable radio equipment, including Class A AIS, radar and DSC VHF complies with electromagnetic field (EMF) emission exposure limits and doesn’t pose a risk to the public.

Shake Down Your Skills

After a long break the skipper may need to knock the rust off a few skills, as well as getting the boat working, says James Stevens

Technical: What's The Future For Derelict Boats?

With 9,000 fibreglass boats abandoned in Europe each year, finding disposal solutions isn’t easy. Could new technologies be the answer? Nic Compton finds out

Adventure Shakedown In Winter

Amanda Hourston and Daniel Wakeham learn about their new 27ft yacht on a four-month cruise from Oslo into the Arctic Circle

Home Waters Fair Flows The Tide

Jonty Pearce tries to get his timings right as he crosses the lower Bristol Channel from South Wales to North Devon

Why Sailing Isn't As Green As We Think

Having safe, reliable sailing equipment is essential, but making informed decisions about the environmental impact of our choices is vital, says Dee Caffari

TECHNICAL: THE ELECTRIC DEBATE

Would you switch to electric propulsion? We asked two sailors who have looked at how the real-world numbers stack up but have reached different conclusions

‘Towing risks damage, so plan the process carefully'

Ken Endean advises ‘Consider, Communicate and Connect’ when towing, particularly when under sail, and reflects on lessons learned from six incidents

The dirty truth about teak

Teak is beloved by boat owners and shipyards for decking and yacht building, but any claims that it is sustainably or even legally sourced are questionable, says Jessie Rogers

TECHNICAL: NOVEL GREEN POWER

Sam Fortescue looks at the latest technology for renewable energy afloat

ADVENTURE: BACK TO BASICS

Simon van Dam relies on celestial navigation to sail to the remote South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha

‘We could no longer produce fresh water'

Bill and Kate Gover set off to see the world on a well-planned voyage to New Zealand, only to find themselves confined for three months aboard their 35ft boat, overlooking an island paradise

Understanding the night sky

You don’t need complicated maths or even a sextant to enjoy the night sky and use it for navigation, says William Thomson

How to sail an Atlantic circuit

Confined to quarters during the pandemic, many sailors are itching to slip their lines and sail for the sun. Elaine Bunting explains exactly how to break free and sail an Atlantic circuit

FIRST TEST MOODY 41DS

Adopting a fresh approach to deck-saloon design, the Moody 41DS is an exceptionally roomy cruiser that pushes a lot of boundaries

Small-boat family cruising

Richard Bradshaw enjoys a cruise with his wife, daughter, baby son and dog aboard their Sadler 29