I can still feel the pain of my first really bad single-handed spinnaker wrap. I was in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, took my eye off the sail for…
Pip Hare
Pip Hare’s 10 top tips on how to look after your yacht on passage
Stay clean and dry Keeping immaculate bilges and lockers will not only make your living environment more pleasant but will help identify leaks early. Start with a dry, salt-free bilge…
Underwater snags: How to escape when your yacht is caught in debris
Whether it’s a fishing pot, long tendrils of Sargasso weed or your own spinnaker sheets, getting stuff wrapped around keels, rudders and propellers is an occurrence every sailor will have…
Mongrel drop: Pip Hare’s guide to unorthodox kite drops
Emergency drop, small crew For hurried drops of asymmetric spinnakers, particularly with a small crew, I consider the gybe drop – otherwise known as a ‘Kiwi’ drop – to be…
Beam seas: Pip Hare’s top tips on dealing with the most challenging conditions
Big beam seas can be the most challenging, unpleasant and dangerous of all conditions to sail in. Exposing the entire length of your vessel broadside to oncoming waves allows the…
Wild anchoring: Pip Hare explains how to secure your boat in remote spots
The further off the beaten track I have ventured, the more my definition of an ‘ideal’ anchorage has changed. Sometimes, to gain access to the shore or to find refuge…
Helming downwind: Pip Hare’s top tips on how to maximise your speed
For me, helming downwind, particularly in big breeze, is one of the absolute joys in this world. It is a skill that takes huge concentration and the ability to react…
Sailor’s essential guide to AIS: Everything you need to know
If I were to pick one development that has revolutionised my own sailing over the past 10 years it would undoubtedly be AIS. Not only has it brought an enhanced…
Liferaft storage and preparation: Top tips from pro sailor Pip Hare
When was the last time you gave your liferaft a second thought? Once bought and installed most of us don’t consider this life-saving piece of equipment again until the service…
Kids lifejackets group test: 6 models take the plunge to find the best
Inflatable kids lifejackets have come onto the market over the last few years. With their slimline and grown-up designs, they are a far cry from the rigid and bulky items…
How to fix running rigging at sea: Top tips from pro sailor Pip Hare
When racing across oceans I am constantly torn between loading my spares and repairs kit with everything including the kitchen sink, and the need to keep weight to a minimum.…
How to reduce sail in a hurry: Top tips from pro racer Pip Hare
Spinnakers The first and most important action is to reduce apparent wind as much as possible by sailing fast downwind. This may seem counterintuitive and will require a confident, well-practised…
How to change sails at night: Pip Hare shares her top tips
Before dark As routine, discuss what sail changes may be required overnight then set up as much as possible before dark. This helps minimise snags and should include checking sheets…
How to avoid grounding: Top tips from pro sailor Pip Hare
The 2017 investigation into the grounding of a Clipper Round the World yacht in South Africa delivered some interesting lessons for us all. The most notable points were that: the…
How to balance speed and comfort when sailing – top tips from Pip Hare
Most of us now rely on some form of routeing software when sailing offshore. These packages calculate the fastest theoretical route between two points based on polars and predicted wind,…
How to moor double-handed: Top tips from pro sailor Pip Hare
Mooring can be a stressful situation and mooring double-handed takes thought, preparation and calm heads. As the average couple’s cruising boat gets bigger the challenge of coming alongside safely at…
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 test: A boat that demands to be noticed
Pip Hare tests the first Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490, the eighth generation of its hugely popular cruising range
Fujin: The inside story of this carbon catamaran’s Caribbean refit
After Fujin capsized during the 2018 RORC Caribbean 600 race it would have been understandable if owner Greg Slyngstad had thrown in the towel and walked away. But Slyngstad resolved…
Double the fun? Pip Hare shares her top tips for sailing double-handed
Sailing double-handed as a couple is becoming more popular as partners elect to enjoy the experience of cruising and ocean voyaging without the complications of extra crew. It can be…
Expert sailing advice: How to handle a lightning strike on board
Lightning is the thing that scares me the most at sea. Having never experienced a lightning strike I think this is mostly a fear of the unknown, coupled with a…