In late 2018 my wife, Roxy, and I took a few suitcases of belongings and moved aboard our 47ft Cheoy Lee monohull to start the cruise of a lifetime. So…
Cruising
Caribbean warmth: Cruising the Grenadines in a restored Swan 37
We glide down the eastern side of El Hierro and leap into the vastness of the ocean as we begin our Atlantic crossing. The island shrinks behind us as the…
Sailing Pellew, the biggest Falmouth pilot cutter in 150 years
The upper reaches of the River Truro are not an obvious source of sailing innovation. No foiling cats fly over its shallows as at nearby Carrick Roads. The high-tech superyachts…
Vessel transfer: A how to guide from Pip Hare
Whether it’s a medical emergency that requires a single crewmember to be evacuated, or a yacht suffers damage that means it’s impossible to navigate safely to the shore and the…
How to deal with problems at sea
Liz Wardley, by her own admission, hated school. “I was a very bad student, but if I can learn a skill that’s going to help me make the boat go…
Cruising Brittany: highlights of a final sail
The sun lingered low in the sky, casting a golden glow over the sandy island of Höedic. The small south Brittany harbour is home to three large mooring balls, around…
Cruising in Europe: How to cope with Covid and Brexit issues
Cruising in Europe was once the comparatively simple option, negotiating weather systems in Biscay and overcrowded anchorages being the major concerns for anyone planning to cruise Atlantic or Mediterranean shores…
Seasickness cure: Could VR be the future?
A true seasickness cure has long been hoped for as the debilitating problem has followed sailors for centuries. Charles Darwin gave a warning to any of his readers tempted to…
Sailing the Azores: A destination in their own right
“Run, young lady! You shouldn’t be there!” a voice screamed behind me. I didn’t understand; I had no idea why the crowd had gathered in one spot in between jagged…
Swedish sailing: Exploring archipelagos in a classic Norlin 34
My first real memories — tangible memories that I know to be my own and not false memories born of old photos and stories — were formed as a nine-year-old…
How to prepare a boat for the season ahead
Abby Ehler has competed in three Volvo Ocean Races and run top race boats including Farr 40s, TP52s and the 76ft mini-maxi Nokia Enigma. She has also been a key…
Join Toby Hodges for expert advice in ‘Bluewater cockpit conversations’ this May
ARC rally organisers World Cruising Club are running a unique series of events from 25-28 May, which should be essential watching for any aspiring bluewater cruisers looking to buy a…
John John Florence: The surfing sailor
Some folk seem to have it all. At 28, John John Florence has already enjoyed a career as one of the world’s most talented professional surfers. He lives on the…
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…
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…
Bluewater cruisers’ 10 tips for sailing during Covid
With so much uncertainty still surrounding travel, should cruisers still be sailing during Covid? There is a moral quandary here. “We advise people to wait another year,” says Janneke Kuysters…
Seychelles anchorage: Idyllic Indian Ocean sailing
It had been a long time coming but after many days of quarantine onboard, finally finding a Seychelles anchorage a possibility as Janneke Kuysters along with Partner, Wietze van der…
South Atlantic ocean: A crossing in mid-winter on Pelagic Australis
There was a crunching sound underfoot as we loaded Pelagic Australis with provisions for the South Atlantic Ocean crossing ahead. Snow flurries had covered the deck with a layer of…
Atlantic crossing in a Pandemic? ARC 2020 crews tell their stories
The Covid-19 pandemic derailed the plans of around two-thirds of the crews planning to take part in the annual ARC Atlantic crossing and ARC+ from Gran Canaria to St Lucia,…
How this family made their two-year round the world sailing dream happen
Surreal. Not a breath of wind tonight. The sea’s surface is flat and unbroken. The sky is utterly cloudless and filled with stars. A half moon lights up the entire…