According to US insurance claims (from BoatUS Marine Insurance) the odds of a boat being struck by lightning in any year are about 1 per 1,000, increasing to 3.3 per…
Navigation briefing: How to use weather observations to improve your forecasts
I have some tips for maximising the real-time information you can see, both online and using the naked eye. For instance, if sailing west across the Solent you can utilise…
Aquarius: Modern classic masterpiece makes for a surprisingly sensible superyacht
A demanding brief for Aquarius from experienced sailors has produced a masterpiece from some of the most experienced and talented brains in the superyacht world. Within five months of handover…
Shogun 50 first look: New Swedish brand looks to balance performance and comfort
Mats Bergryd approached father and son team Håken and Oscar Södergren for the design. “The commission from Mats was to make a competitive 50ft racer suitable for our archipelago with…
Flax 27: Cork decks and electric propulsion make this the most eco-friendly yacht
In the face of it there was nothing unusual about the Flax 27. Set in a corner of one of the 17 halls at Boot Düsseldorf at the beginning of…
Is in-boom furling the next big thing in sail handling technology?
Even though this remains an expensive option, in-boom furling is one that a growing number of boat owners are adopting. Key advantages include one person being able to handle the…
The best 4G and WiFi boosters that mean you can work from your yacht
After the COVID-19 pandemic has made remote working so widely accepted, could working from your yacht be part of the future? It’s no longer an expensive option: in the past…
Black Cat 30: Daring catamaran concept promises superyacht luxury at 32 knots
There’s the sleek curve of the glass superstructure, the powerful rig and the all-carbon build. The huge aft deck, main saloon and foredeck are all on the same level, offering…
Sailing Hong Kong: So much more than just a glittering Asian metropolis
We had just dropped the anchor in a small bay, and I was standing on the deck of our Hallberg-Rassy, surveying the turquoise water and shore that rose steep and…
How two architects refitted a cheap old lifeboat into this Arctic liveaboard cruiser
Stødig is the brainchild of friends Guylee Simmonds and David Schnabel, both 28. Looking at the beautiful spaces they have created in this unassuming 35ft tub, it comes as no…
ARC 2019 skippers’ survey results reveal the art of easy transatlantic sailing
Tradewind sailing is hard to beat. Every yacht is different, however, and each skipper likes to sail their boat their way. They’ll establish a recipe that works for them, whether…
INEOS Team UK grinder David Carr explains what it’s really like to sail an AC75
“When you push off the dock, your life is in the hands of computers – and the guy piloting the boat out of the water, of course. All the systems…
Leonardo Ferragamo: The fashion magnate behind Nautor’s Swan’s remarkable rise
If there is one yacht marque that every sailor knows, and can probably recognise even at a distance, it’s Nautor’s Swan. This famous Finnish yard has been owned for more…
Ice Kite superyacht project to harness latest kite sail technology
Designed to fly a large 160m2 kite from a foredeck mast, a daggerboard allows Ice Kite to sail efficiently to windward, while its long and slender hull form makes it…
Helena: The homebuilt labour of love that was 15 years in the making
It was a picture postcard spring sailing scene as Helena heeled into the gentle breeze funnelling out of the grand, cliff-banked entrance to the River Dart in south Devon. Perched…
Sailing around the world in an 18ft boat: Extract from Australia The Hard Way
Our Great Seamanship series tells stories of supremely difficult epic voyages, interspersed with tales of the humdrum that excel by virtue of being beautifully written. Australia The Hard Way by…
Locked out and locked in: World cruisers share their COVID-19 sailing dilemmas
When the world abruptly locked down in March, many cruisers were caught out, and soon to be trapped. Hundreds, at least, were on passage at the time, and were forced…
Expert sailing advice: Pip Hare’s top tips for crisis communications
When sailing with any number of crew members, good communication is not only key to good seamanship but is the route to a harmonious and happy crew. In times of…
Heaven and hell: Sailing the Magellan strait on 37m superyacht Pumula
A voyage around the southern tip of the Americas, will always be a mix of heaven and hell. If you’re prepared to take on the abrupt and unforgiving weather systems,…
Lagoon 46 first look: Updating this catamaran is a significant step for the yard
Lagoon has sold 900 of its 450 catamaran model in eight years, maxing out the 130-a-year mould capacity in latter years. Updating such a popular model then is a significant…