Lying in the lower berth of the Pullman cabin as we beat to windward across the Channel during a cold spring night, I could appreciate the creature comforts offered by…
Toby Hodges
Video: we test the Grand Soleil 46LC, Cantiere del Pardo’s formidable first cruising yacht
A cruising yacht means different things to different sailors. LC stands for Long Cruise and there are many clues that this Italian brand is targeting warm weather cruising with the…
Top sailors top gear – pro sailors reveal their favourite most recently bought kit
Dee Caffari – Volvo and solo sailor Exposure Marine MOB Search Light I have spent many days sailing offshore, often solo in the inhospitable envi ronment of the Southern Ocean,…
Video of Sailing Yacht A, the world’s largest sail-assisted vessel, during early sea trials
This video footage of Sailing Yacht A shows her with her towering free-standing masts and illustrates the jaw-dropping scale of the world’s largest sail-assisted yacht. It is when a tug passes that you…
First sailing pictures of Galateia, the latest racer-cruiser to join a growing wallycento class
It seems there is still an appetite for maxi-style racing, albeit in slightly more comfort than traditional maxi yachts. These first sailing pictures of the latest wallycento, Galateia, will help…
SunGod Classics2 sunglasses review
I like sunglasses and have accrued a growing collection of assorted pairs. Rarely do I part with much money for them however, as I see little point when I know…
Quant 23: Why this radical Dukes of Hazzard throwback is one of the most fun, exciting designs in years
All this foiling malarkey turns a lot of people off. The pumped-up, Red Bull-fuelled adrenaline junkies flying around on ludicrously expensive exotic mulitihulls – before falling of the skinny foils…
First look: Carbon Arcona 465 for fast, safe passagemaking in style
Arcona Yachts produces elegant performance cruisers using tried-and-tested build methods and styling. These are sailors’ yachts, richly rewarding to helm, with a quality fit-out. The yard has a niche recipe…
Nautor’s Swan announces an exhilarating new ClubSwan 50 one-design by Juan K for its 50th birthday
This is very positive news from a yard that one may have presumed was concentrating on its larger yacht range, after recently launching its first of four new 115ft superyachts.…
Cool as Ice – the new Italian brand Ice Yachts is on a roll
Since it announced its first two new models in 2013 – 44ft and 62ft Felci designs – the Italian brand Ice Yachts has been on a roll. It created a…
Journalist killed during boat demonstration at Cannes Yachting Festival
A journalist was killed after being run over by a RIB during press trials off Cannes on 12 September, the penultimate day of the Cannes Yachting Festival. It is thought…
Hot new boats to be seen at boat shows this year
Jeanneau 54 We tested the new Jeanneau 64 a year ago from Marseille during a Mistral. It proved a revelation. Her looks, build and finish quality gave a bona fide…
Xc45 Next Generation boat test – a sailors’ boat
Are rebranded ‘Mk II’ models just an elaborate marketing exercise? Occasionally, yes. But a number of well-respected boatbuilders adopt the practice, including Hallberg-Rassy, Oyster and Discovery – in fact, HR…
Solaris 50 boat test – when style meets substance
Winner of the Performance Cruiser category of the European Yacht of the Year Awards 2015. Read more here Production yachts are rarely referred to as trendsetters. Like a mainstream saloon…
Drogues and sea anchors: we test a Jordan Series drogue and a ParaAnchor
Drogues and sea anchors are designed to slow a boat or allow it to hold station in extreme weather conditions. They can prevent a possible capsize, roll or broach by…
Why multihulls are becoming ever more popular for cruising
“Actually, there’s an awful lot of space on offer, isn’t there?” you might say after a quick look aboard a modern cruising catamaran at the boat show. “How nice to…
Bestevaer Pure – a series-built 45ft junior member of the renowned Bestevaer range
Could this be the hardiest 45ft production-build ever? KM Yachtbuilders, based in Makkum in the Netherlands, has announced plans to build a series of 45-footers under the name Pure. The…
Top 25 yachts of the year – a full breakdown of this year’s European Yacht of the Year nominees
If you want to know what the best new production yachts on the market are at the moment, the best indicator is to look at the boats nominated for the…
Eagle 54 – an immaculately clean-decked daysailer from Hoek and Dutch builder Leonardo Yachts
Leonardo Yachts’ co-founder Melle Boersma sent us these first sailing pictures of their new Eagle 54. When I first saw them I presumed they were computer-enhanced renderings, but no, she…
Video: We sail the new Discovery 58 offshore to explore the features of a bluewater cruising yacht
If you were to go long distance cruising, what would be the primary features you would look for in a yacht? I would wager that both looks and reward on…