“[The Wally 143 is] the most incredible yacht I have had the privilege to shoot and to witness… the length, the design, the power, the elegance. “Maybe meeting this beautiful…
Yachting World
Squalls and gusts: How to predict and cope with them
Squalls are the school bullies of the ocean. But, like all bullies, your best bet is to outsmart them – and that means knowing where they form, how to avoid…
Nordic Cool 105: First look
Yacht number five in Southern Wind’s 105ft semi-custom line is set to have a raised saloon, like several of her sisterships. But the lines and geometry have been slightly modified…
Beneteau Oceanis 323 review: from the archive
The appearance of the Beneteau Oceanis 323 suggests simple, economical family sailing, lots of room and a modest performance – or does it? Closer inspection makes you think again, because…
Bénéteau Sense 50 review: It all makes sense – from the archive
Yachting World’s test of Beneteau’s voluminous new chined cruiser – a boat that’s sure to divide opinion
Cruise Scotland: A couple finds empty anchorages and peace
The warble call from a loon broke the silence as we edged closer to shore, motoring quietly through still water. Astern, mountain peaks glowing purple in the sunset faded into…
Mid-ocean repairs: Vendée Globe sailors tell all
Some of the damage we saw at the Vendée Globe finish was simply staggering, yet this edition was also remarkable for its small number of retirements. Many boats suffered major…
Beneteau First 34.7 review: from the archive
Beneteau are clearly very proud of the new Beneteau First 34.7 have issued several bold statements about the complexity of the new boat in their ever expanding stable. How could…
X-35 review: from the archive
When it comes to serious numbers in one design yachts, the X-99 rates as one of the most successful designs of modern times, with 600 built since 1985. But after…
Beneteau First 47.7 review: from the archive
The Beneteau First 47.7 looks set to follow in the footstep of the latest yachts that have come before. Cost has clearly been a big factor but there are other…
Bowman Starlight 46 review: from the archive
The Bowman Starlight name made a big impact on the performance cruising scene in the Eighties, particularly with the Bowman Starlight 35, of which 102 have been built to date.…
Beneteau First 40.7 review: from the archive
Their prevalence at regattas shows how much the design has caught the imagination as a performance boat at a good price. Nowadays there’s another reason for its success-with so many…
X-Yachts X-41 review: from the archive
Although they are clearly from the same stable, Niels Jeppesen has given her a deep T-keel for stability. But the X-Yachts X-41 carries a comparatively lower sail area than her…
First look: Project Fly
Bill Dixon has bags of experience in designing motor yachts, and the team brought this to the fore when they sat down to pen a sailing concept around the 100ft…
Beneteau Oceanis 473 review: from the archive
Is the Beneteau Oceanis 473 just another average white boat? On the face of it, yes. But as I eased the throttle forward and her engine revs climbed there was…
Beneteau Oceanis 42CC review: from the archive
Love ’em or loathe ’em, there’s no denying the popularity of centre cockpit yachts. Beneteau’s current range spans sizes from 36ft to 44ft and the Beneteau Oceanis 42CC, which started…
The offshore skills you need to be bluewater ready
You might have a departure day circled red in the diary and be furiously working through a to-do list to get there. Or maybe you’re considering a bluewater sailing adventure…
New platform to set sailing records on ‘corrected time’
Whilst many events and races have successfully applied rating systems to determine an overall winner across different classes, sailing records have always been dominated by the largest and fastest yachts…
Elan 450 review: from the archive
As you walk into the reception area at Elan’s factory in Slovenia, you’re greeted by a rack of vintage wooden skis, a reminder of the company’s roots, making skis for…
Bénéteau First 45 review: from the archive
Her looks mirror the First 50, Bénéteau’s flagship performance cruiser launched in 2006, notably owing to the long sleek coachroof and moulded ‘eyebrows’ over the side windows. And the similarity…