An Atlantic crossing is – rightly – considered a bit of an epic. An east-bound crossing, often even more so. But by following the seafarers of old, on what is…
Yachting World
The best bluewater multihulls of all time: a complete guide
What are the best bluewater multihulls for long term cruising? The one you own, or the one you can afford is the simple answer. There is a wealth of proven…
World’s coolest yachts: Swallow
“For my most influential boat, my mind drifted to the story of Swallows and Amazons, which gripped me as a child,” Nikki Henderson recalls. Arthur Ransome’s much-loved tale of children…
America’s Cup: Ainslie goes all-in with Mercedes F1
Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup Challenge – now INEOS Britannia, formerly INEOS Team UK – launched the first stage of its tilt at the 37th America’s Cup today. INEOS Britannia revealed…
Best bluewater multihulls: Discovery Bluewater 50
The luxury Bill Dixon designed Discovery Bluewater 50 may be a decade old now and into its third iteration, but the concept behind its original appeal remains. For those used…
How to sail in light winds and tide
The lighter the breeze, the more significant the effects of any current or tidal flow. Ben Saxton has raced every kind of boat, from foiling catamarans to planing dinghies to…
Best bluewater multihulls: Outremer 51 and 55
When you think of multihulls designed for bluewater cruising, Outremer will likely be one of the first names that comes to mind. Its heritage lies in building catamarans that can…
Is this the boat Batman would sail?
Imagine a boat that combines the aggressive loom of a Lamborghini with the controls of a fighter jet. Pop a rig on top, open the transom like the cargo door…
The Ocean Race: What’s it like on a fully crewed IMOCA 60?
How much faster could an IMOCA 60 go if it were really pressed? Not in bursts, not for brief peak speeds, but at a sustained average pace over days or…
Best boat binoculars: 5 top options on the market
This article has now been superseded with all content included in this up-to-date article: Best waterproof binoculars For sailors choosing the best boat binoculars can be a difficult call.…
Gear: G-SHOCK Smartwatch – waterproof watch
The new G-SHOCK Smartwatch– the GSW-H1000 – includes an optical heart rate sensor, compass, altitude/air pressure sensor, accelerometer, gyrometer and GPS. The 1.2in colour screen has a three-tier user configurable…
How to create a pilotage plan
Creating a pilotage plan has long been a key navigational skill and most of us will have encountered various examples through our sailing lives. The plan is a simplified recreation…
Taking the Helm: Tales of leading a Whitbread team
The Whitbread Round the World race/Volvo Ocean Race has a precedent for replacing skippers in Uruguay and Taking the Helm, recounts what happened after one such moment. Skip Novak took…
GEAR: Garmin MSC-10 satellite compass
The Garmin MSC-10 satellite compass uses GPS derived data, instead of the earth’s magnetic field, to calculate a boat’s heading and is therefore unaffected by magnetic interference. It works across…
Gear: ATP2 processor – ethernet networking
A+T’s ATP2 processor allows for full ethernet networking using a single wire linking all sensors and displays. This cable also supplies 12V power to low draw items such as sensors.…
Cape Town to the Azores: The end of an 8-year voyage
“That’s it,” Wietze says, “Not an ounce more of anything is added to the boat. No food, no fuel and no water.” I pause, because I had just grabbed my…
America’s Cup venue decision delayed: where’s in the frame?
The much anticipated announcement of venue for the 37th America’s Cup, due to be unveiled today (Friday, September 17), has been postponed. In a statement made Thursday evening, Cup holders…
Neel 43 on test: Is three the magic number?
Until recently it would have been easy to assume the pioneering cruising trimarans of the 1960s and 1970s showed that cruising on three hulls has too many drawbacks to be…
GEAR: Calypso portable ultrasonic wind sensor
The Calypso portable ultrasonic wind sensor comes at a time when onboard systems are becoming increasingly integrated and fits well in a captain’s electronic instrument arsenal. Wireless wind sensors have…
Gear: Loop Boa Base – nifty stacking clutch
The Loop Boa Base is an extremely neat idea for adding extra clutches in places where there would otherwise be no convenient deck space. It allows them to be stacked…