“We’re on a reef, we’re not getting off. We’re f****ed.” After broadcasting a Mayday on VHF radio, those were the first words of skipper Chris Nicholson to his shore manager…
Vestas grounding report – More than just an expensive and embarrassing mistake
Once on the reef there was no way off. Miraculously no one was hurt. Running into a reef that is marked on both paper and electronic charts and for which…
Rudder failure in the Med: how Ross Applebey made it to safety and fashioned a replacement
Losing a rudder is a big issue, but in bad weather it can quickly become the trigger for a chain of even more serious and potentially catastrophic events. When Ross…
Volvo Ocean Race: Team Vestas Wind grounding report published
Commissioned by the race organisers the investigation was conducted by Rear Admiral (Rtd) Chris Oxenbould (chair), Stan Honey and Chuck Hawley. The report sets out the background to the incident…
Brand new April 2015 issue out now!
NEWS Gunboat 55 dismasted and abandoned on her maiden voyage Polish yacht reaches furthest south The coolest paint job of 2015? NEW GEAR AND YACHTS New yachts: A first look…
Solent Sunbeam: a pretty dayboat that has been a stalwart of Cowes Week for nearly 90 years
Given the ‘local boat’ flavour enjoyed by many of the one-design yachts and dayboats found around our coasts, it is not surprising that many are attributed to little-known ‘local’ designers.…
Video: Stories from the front line pt 3 – ‘We start every watch with 1 hour grinding’ – words and pictures
More words from the crews to match some of the best pictures from leg 4 of the Volvo Ocean Race from China to New Zealand. In the third of our…
Pip Hare’s choice of EPIRBs, PLBs and other man overboard aids that could just save your life
EPIRBs When activated, an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) transmits its details on 406MHZ and, if GPS-enabled, the vessel’s position to within 100m. This signal is relayed by satellite…
Video: Getting into the war zone, top pictures & comment from Team Alvimedica
In the second of our Volvo Ocean Race video documentaries from the stopover in Auckland, Team Alvimedica navigator Will Oxley puts words to the extraordinary images of the team’s leg…
Skippers wanted for sailing holiday with a difference
Traveleyes, a unique travel company that runs tours for sighted and blind travellers, is seeking qualified yacht skippers for their next sailing holiday. The organisation, now in its tenth year,…
25ft quarter ton yachts have been having something of a revival racing in the Solent
They’re old, small and decidedly quirky, but quarter tonners are providing some of the hottest handicap racing in the Solent now.
Video: Volvo Ocean Race – Their words and pictures
Having met the crews as they arrived in Auckland after more than 5,000nm of racing win which the front three boats finished within 8 minutes of each other it seemed…
Flyer flies again – Conny van Rietschoten’s famous round the world ocean racer has been meticulously restored
One name dominated ocean racing in the late 1970s and early 80s: Dutch round the world racer Cornelis van Riestchoten, who owned two yachts named Flyer. This great sailor died…
Yacht refit overseas: it may look cheaper, but is it a good idea to have a refit done abroad?
Yacht refit in a far-flung part of the world can appear to be an attractive proposition, particularly if you can reap the benefit of lower labour rates. However, if it…
Volvo Ocean Race: The Boatyard sets to work on another 6,000nm service, Matthew Sheahan finds out how
Forty years on from the first Whitbread race, plenty has changed. Gone are the long lazy stopovers and in come tightly controlled, time conscious turnarounds to keep the Volvo show…
Focus on liferafts: are you ready should the worst happen?
For six days in May last year Britain held its breath as the search went on for Cheeki Rafiki and her crew. Signals had been reported and hopes were kindled…
Rustler 37 boat test – Just your cup of tea?
They say the key to the perfect cup of tea is to use a good old-fashioned teapot. It brews the leaves properly and provides an altogether different tasting cuppa, more…
Volvo Ocean Race: Auckland arrivals….all at once
Leading the night time charge from Sanya in China to to the finish line off Auckland’s Viaduct Basin breakwater, Xabi Fernandez’ Mapfre maintained their pole position, followed closely by Ian…
The Barker debacle – Team New Zealand embroiled in a bitter row between skipper Barker and boss Dalton
The country, it seems, is outraged at the way in which its long serving skipper is being squeezed out of the team after a recent leak disclosed that the team…
Bella Mente claims impressive win at the 2015 RORC Caribbean 600
Hap Fauth’s American JV72, Bella Mente has been declared the overall winner of the 2015 RORC Caribbean 600. Whilst several yachts are still racing, by the morning of Friday 27th…