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Fancy a bigger boat? Get wealthier friends...

- Dave Selby

There’s nothing more magical, mystical and romantic than sailing down your moon beam and steering by a star as you contemplate the immensity of the cosmos and your own place within it while trying to figure out if the light on the horizon is an Ocado delivery van or a bloody great container ship heading your way.

So much for the spirituality. Now for the practical. For night sailing, or indeed sailing of any kind, I would recommend a Najad 50, which for the benefit of PBO readers I should explain is a boat. You probably think a Najad 50 beyond the means of a Sailfish 18 owner. Not so.

In the spirit of thrift and practicality, which is the very ethos of PBO, I acquired one by dumping my old best chum, who only has a Westerly Centaur, and upgrading to Dave and Kate. I know that may sound fickle, but you really couldn’t meet a more delightful and charming couple, and it’s purely incidental that their Najad 50 has two bathrooms, a washing machine and tumble dryer.

What’s more, over the years they seem to have developed a truly heartwarming affection for me, which at times even borders on contempt. In other words they let me sail with them, on account of my special talent; that I don’t get seasick.