Our yacht, Arcturus, was moored snugly in a picturesque cove off a friend’s cottage when my wife, Mia, and I met Claes. Like many Åland islanders, Claes was a retired…
Spice up your Caribbean season with our insider’s guide to where to go
Saint Lucia Most transatlantic rally sailors end their voyage at the excellent new Rodney Bay Marina before heading somewhere quieter for Christmas. The temptation is to move on from Saint…
Nautor announces a new Swan 54, a purebred bluewater quality cruiser
One of yachting’s most prestigious and long-running brands, Nautor’s Swan, has announced a new yacht and the new Swan 54 is significant in being at the smaller end of the…
5 tips: surfing. How to use the waves to improve your downwind performance
Gone are the days of sitting back on the downwind legs to enjoy the view. Powerful modern cruiser-racers respond much more like dinghies and need the constant application of subtle…
When a partnership is different from sponsorship – Ben Ainslie Racing announce Land Rover deal
At the first press conference to be held in Ben Ainslie Racing’s new purpose built base in the heart of old Portsmouth, Land Rover was announced as the BAR’s new…
Video – the timeless elegance of the J Class. Velsheda, Ranger and Lionheart dance on Falmouth waters
We will put more photos and video up as the regatta draws to a close this Saturday. Here is the official report from today’s racing (Thursday June 25): The dream…
Kite vs Cat – Which would you favour in a windward leeward race?
The very fact that I’ve posed the question provides the biggest hint that the result is going to be the opposite of what you might think. And if you swayed…
A Velsheda masterclass – pictures and highlights from the second day of J Class racing in Falmouth
Velsheda proved how age is by no means restrictive on a racecourse, with a demonstration of near perfect sailing during today’s two-hour coastal race. Their start was spot on, the…
Connect on board by wi-fi with Red Box from Mailasail
Wherever we go now we expect to be able to get online – indeed many even depend on it. Being afloat is no exception. The proportion of skippers, crew and…
Wearing a lifejacket or not is a judgement call. We are being brainwashed, argues Skip Novak
I first realised there was something amiss when several years ago on a visit to the Hamble River during a dead calm weekend afternoon. I noticed that everyone on every…
Three J Class yachts are racing in Falmouth – see the pictures and highlights from the first race here
The sight of a J Class yacht sailing never fails to take your breath away. But time can dull even the grandest impressions. It has been three years since the…
Winning the Volvo Ocean Race – Abu Dhabi takes the trophy
When it came to the overall winner of the 2014/15 Volvo Ocean Race everyone had known the result for several days beforehand, yet the approach to the final finishing line…
Improving performance through tuning standing rigging
To tune or not to tune? Would you drive your car with wheels misaligned? Run a marathon with your shoelaces loose? Sharpen up at Berthon now. 1) Can Berthon tune…
Cheating at yacht racing – how honest a sailor are you?
In football a dive in the penalty area in search of an easy goal is a regular occurrence – though the risk of a red card may act as a…
Gallery: perfect racing conditions for spectacular Superyacht Cup fleet
A building sea breeze gave the 21-strong fleet of yachts in the annual Superyacht Cup perfect racing conditions today in Palma. The race today was over a 25-mile course and…
New J Class yacht named Topaz is launched – and the design team says she is “absolutely stunning”
The latest J Class yacht, named Topaz, was launched from Holland Jachtbouw in June, bringing the total number of Js on the water to eight. From an unbuilt 1935 design…
Fareast 28R: a new sub-30ft sportsboat with an impressive price tag
Just over a year ago a little-known Chinese yard, the Shanghai Fareast Boats Co, made a big impression at the Düsseldorf boat show with a rocket red, all-carbon, downwind master-blaster.…
Three stunning J Class yachts prepare to go head to head in Falmouth
Final preparations are now being made for the J Class Regatta hosted by Royal Cornwall Yacht Club Events Limited from 23 – 27 June 2015. Lionheart, Velsheda and Ranger, the…
Cowes Week tactics in the Eastern Solent: our local tips for the smart navigator
Shallow with shingle and mud, the Eastern Solent has a different character from the western part, yet there are just as many opportunities for a smart navigator to get ahead.…
6 ways of preparation to sail around the world, from the planner to the opportunist
It’s really comforting having a family of boats around us – a community.” Paul Frew was echoing the words of many participants in the World ARC, when I met them…