Pip Hare's review of the strengths and weaknesses of the Navionics and Navionics+ apps for iPad, iPhone and Android devices.
Pip Hare
Inside the Infiniti 46 – video tour of the world’s first production offshore racer with DSS foils
Though most of us are captivated by the images of flying boats from International Moths to America’s Cup catamarans, the increased athleticism and technical ability required to manage these high-tech…
What to eat when sailing short-handed – a nutritional guide for offshore sailors
Your diet offshore should be as good as, or even better, than it is at home. As with any sport, nutrition and hydration are essential for maintaining good performance. The…
Arcona 465 video review: Pip Hare tests the new Swedish all-carbon cruiser-racer
Performance cruisers are designed and sold to chew up the miles on longer journeys without sacrificing too much comfort. Yet many new owners find that their boat that sailed so…
12 yacht trackers compared to help you choose the right unit for your voyage
This article was originally published Nov 2016. It was last product and price checked 28 Feb 2023. Some of the products in this article are no longer available but this…
Short-handed sailing: Pip Hare on gybing a symmetric spinnaker
Gybing a symmetric kite double-handed is a tough manoeuvre and there is no question that practice makes perfect. Setting up your boat so things are within reach is essential, as…
A classic Swan 43 in Scandinavia: Pip Hare discovers a place to keep the world at bay
Five hours out of Kokkola, the Baltic was baring its teeth. It was the middle of the night in the middle of June. The air temperature was below 5°C and…
Swan 43: the restoration of 50-year-old Sparkman & Stephens yacht Runn
When a Contessa 32 became a little bit too snug for a holiday with his wife and four children, Charles Hill went in search of a bigger boat for adventurous…
How to execute the perfect spinnaker drop when sailing short-handed
Dropping the kite double-handed may seem a daunting challenge, but provided you take adequate steps to ensure the spinnaker is deflated, a drop can be successfully achieved by any size…
Hoisting the spinnaker short-handed – offshore sailor Pip Hare offers her tips
Contrary to what you might think, you don’t need to grow another set of arms to perform a good spinnaker hoist double-handed. The key to making it work is to…
Pip Hare: How to stay safe on board when you’re sailing short-handed
A man overboard is every double-handed crew’s nightmare; with only one pair of hands left on board to call for help, handle sail, get back to the casualty and then…
Sailing upwind when short-handed requires different techniques
Excessive heel is your enemy when sailing upwind, and with no hiking crew this is something the double-handed sailor needs to consider. To sail upwind well you must learn the…
How to plan watches and sleep when sailing short-handed
Before you decide on the best way to run watches double-handed, answer this question: are you sailing double-handed or single-handed in shifts? Successful double-handed teams pushing hard together have often…
Blog: Pip Hare and her all-woman team win Leg 3 of the Three Peaks Yacht Race
At 1049 on Wednesday morning Jo and Lowri ran over the finish line and straight into the arms of our sailing team and the history books of the Three Peaks…
Blog: Pip Hare and her sailing/running team lie a nail-biting 3rd in the Three Peaks Yacht Race
I wake up with a start, dehydrated, hot and confused. ‘Where are the runners? What time is it? Have I over slept?’ Reaching for the phone tucked under my makeshift…
Vismara Marine V50 boat test – new ‘prêt a porter’ concept
This is Vismara Marine’s ‘prêt-à-porter’ concept, a yacht that can be chosen off the shelf. Over the past three decades Vismara Marine has launched over 130 custom yachts from its…
Short-handed navigation – and how to create your ‘road book’
Navigating when sailing short-handed can be an often-overlooked challenge. It can throw up stressful situations, particularly when it is the responsibility of just one member of the crew, navigating in…
How to use the outside gybe for short-handed sailing. Pip Hare explains
Outside gybing is not purely reserved for boats with extra-short poles or top notch race crews. If you practise, it can be less risky than pulling the clew inside the…
SAIL FASTER SAIL SAFER advanced techniques series Part 1: Avoiding a Chinese gybe
Chinese gybes on windy days are a good spectator sport, but with the right prompt response they can be averted. This type of accidental gybe is caused by the boat…
Tested: Pip Hare tries out five of the latest weather routeing packages
Every discerning sailor will carry out some sort of weather routeing before going out on the water. The extent to which we are able to predict weather patterns and assess…