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…
Monaco Yacht Show – how the financial crisis changed sailing superyacht designs
Nothing can prepare you for the Monaco Yacht Show. It is a temple to superyachting, set in probably the only place in the world that seems custom-made to give it…
Bluewater Sailing Techniques Part 4: sailing downwind with a poled out headsail
Discover how to sail with a poled out headsail in our latest Bluewater Sailing Techniques video
What should you keep in your grab bag or panic bag on a long voyage?
Panic bags, or grab bags if you prefer, are the collection of essentials that we all ardently hope will languish unused in a locker. Nonetheless, they are an essential part…
Bluewater Sailing Techniques Part 5: How to set up a spinnaker safely for long downwind passages
In the fifth instalment of our bluewater sailing videos, we explain how to set up a spinnaker safely for long downwind passages when offshore cruising or ocean crossing
A new life for a classic boat – 37ft Misty is remodelled for the classic circuit
Many of us dream of one day swapping the discomforts of a performance boat for the more sedate experience of racing an exquisite and well-sorted classic boat. This was just…
Why Volvo Ocean Race boss Knut Frostad is leaving
Knut Frostad, CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race, is stepping down at the end of 2015 after eight years at the helm. The 48-year-old Norwegian, who competed in three events…
Bluewater Sailing Techniques Part 6: anchoring in coral
Anchoring in coral is illegal in many places and should certainly be avoided if at all possible. A nice patch of sand is better for holding, better for your ground…
Abandoned yacht Troll – why the Irish Navy was right to sink it and not salvage it
This week we learned that the Irish Navy had sunk a yacht, Troll, that had been abandoned by her owner and crew last October and had fetched up off the…
Bluewater Sailing Techniques Part 7: man overboard under spinnaker
Man overboard at sea is thankfully a very rare occurrence. But with any risk assessment, you have to consider the likelihood with the consequence and an MOB on an ocean…
The art of laying up
As you navigate up Lymington River after an end-of-season weekend on the Solent, the Berthon team are ready to take your keys the moment you step ashore and hand them…
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…
5 tips: sailing deep under asymmetric sails – how to strike the balance
“Are we in on this gybe?” is often a tricky question to answer when you are far from the leeward mark with a fluctuating breeze and dirty air from behind.…
Bluewater Sailing Techniques Part 8: man overboard recovery
A man overboard on an ocean passage is probably one of the most terrifying emergencies for the skipper. This is because of the speed with which you can lose control…
Catamaran Sailing Techniques Part 8: the future of catamaran cruising – with Nigel Irens
Most of the features in our Catamaran Sailing Techniques series have been aimed at aspiring newcomers to catamaran cruising looking for a bit of help in getting going – even…
Chicago announced as new America’s Cup World Series venue
As momentum for the 35th America’s Cup gathers pace and the ACWS events start to draw in spectators and TV, it was considered by some in the Cup loop to…
What downwind sails should you have for an Atlantic crossing?
What downwind sails should you buy for an Atlantic crossing or cruising beyond the Caribbean? This is one of the biggest questions skippers face when equipping a yacht for bluewater…
Bluewater Sailing Techniques Part 9: night watches and routines offshore
Expert skipper Dan Bower explains how should you plan it, what should you take into account, and what are the best ways of preparing for and running night watches
Gallery: Stunning images from the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo
Scroll down for video Take a look at these superb pictures from Carlo Borlenghi, taken at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Sardinia last week. The Costa Smeralda provides a…
Bluewater Sailing Techniques Part 10: the care and use of the ship’s dinghy
A major part of your cruising life will be spent using your tender. In many areas in the tropics marinas are few and far between, so you will be reliant…