Amel has a long established following for yachts designed and built to match the needs of liveaboard and bluewater cruisers. It is reputed for its singular way of doing things…
Sailing with teenagers: Honest advice from cruising families
Sailing with teenagers. Did that thought prompt you to wince or shake your head? Conventional wisdom steers many long-term cruisers to sail home before kids start high school — or…
Best boat dehumidifier: Which is the right damp buster for your yacht?
In the colder months, thoughts invariably turn to damp: one of the constant enemies yacht all owners face. It seeps in everywhere, can find every bit of clothing and equipment…
J/99 review: All thrills, no frills on board this double-handed racing machine
We ghosted down the Hamble River under mainsail alone, the water slipping silently past our red hull in the grainy half-light of a winter morning. We’d hoisted the mainsail in…
European Yacht of the Year 2019: Best family cruisers
It was really positive to see a mix of mid-sized entries shortlisted for the family cruiser category, from the innovative new 25ft Swallow from Wales to the Beneteau Oceanis 46.1,…
Baltic 142: The superyacht bringing foiling technology into cruising
The Baltic 142 may not be using the hydrofoils popularised by the America’s Cup, but her 29ft 6in long (9m) horizontal sliding foil employs the same principle of lift to…
Wilhelmina: The Nigel Irens motor launch designed for sailors
It’s a beautiful autumn afternoon in Salcombe, and half a dozen of the local yawls are tacking up and down the estuary. A motorboat is anchored off Sunny Cove beach:…
Sailing to Svalbard: Arctic archipelago yields up its stark beauty
“Congratulations, captain.” Dave McKay, one of our regular crew aboard Isbjörn, had those words for me as we dropped anchor at 77°N in Spitsbergen. We’d made it to the high…
Wauquiez PS42 review: Interior finesse shines through on classy cruiser
A good brand exudes quality. Seeing a logo on a car or a yacht is a visual pat on the back from the manufacturer, a little thank you from them…
What can we learn from the 2018-19 Golden Globe Race?
The Golden Globe Race is a race like no other. It is a competition, an adventure, but also a celebration of an event that happened 50 years ago – the…
Sailing in Cuba: The joys of exploring the island by yacht
“If someone has to go to prison, I volunteer,” said new first mate, Neal, with a grin as we sat on Hummingbird in Cancun discussing our upcoming Cuba expedition. “Really?”…
Hanse 548 review: The push-button 50-footer that can be sailed by a couple
Imagine putting a cruising couple from the late 1990s into a time capsule and fast-forwarding them to the present. Then tell them about the Hanse 548 – a stylish, modern…
Cleaning up our seas: What sailors can do to help
We need to clean up our oceans. Biologist Anna Turns investigates the global scale of plastic pollution, while Toby Hodges looks at how the top sailors and event organisers are…
X-Yachts X4-9 test: Danish yard strikes a tough balance with hybrid design
The X49 is squarely aimed at the no-compromise sailor who wants it all. It combines a comfortable, stylish interior, with clean, beautiful lines on deck and can even be raced…
How to cross the Atlantic from the Caribbean to Europe: Everything you need to know
By early summer the peak Caribbean season is coming to a close, ushered out by a fusillade of big regattas. Then, with summer returning to the northern latitudes, crews begin…
Atlantic sailing spares and repairs: Experienced skippers explain what you’ll need
You’ve got the plan, you’ve got the ideal offshore cruising yacht, you’ve got the time window – you’re set to hit the ocean. Almost. How much thought have you put…
Finot-Conq FC3 53 test: Can this offshore cruiser deliver the best of both worlds?
If the electric green hull and striking looks of Nica don’t grab your attention, then its on-paper description certainly will. This Finot-Conq FC3 53 is a carbon-hulled, water-ballasted, swing keel…
Baltic 67 review: Finnish superyacht yard goes back to its roots with no-compromise cruiser
Were money no object and you wanted the ultimate yacht for long-term cruising, what would you choose? How large could you go without needing a paid crew? What do you…
How to get paid to go sailing – 5 different options for living the dream
Imagine escaping the daily routine of work, the long commute, the corporate life, the grey skies… What if you were paid to go sailing, or paid while you were sailing?…
Beneteau Oceanis 46.1 boat test – the next big thing for the world’s biggest builder?
Beneteau’s new stepped hull design works so well this 46.1 could become its most popular model ever