“I stepped on board Volvo 70 Puma for the first time in Southampton to start trials for Team SCA for the Volvo Ocean Race. I’d just come from the Olympics…
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First look: Mylius M 72 – latest Carkeek stunner
Shaun Carkeek’s recent raceboats – including Niklas Zennström’s Fast 40 Ran, Richard Matthews’ CF520 Oystercatcher XXXV and the fully foiling Carkeek Persico F70 – are some of the stand-out designs…
Tested: 4 of the best inflatable tenders
Tenders are so much more than taxis. They can add freedom, sport and exploration to any stopover or anchorage, particularly if your yacht is large enough to carry a rigid…
Tested: OCA Outboard cover
For those who keep their outboards outside, whether on the tender or pushpit, a good outboard cover is highly recommended. I keep my dinghy tied to a quay for the…
First look: HH88 – largest carbon cruising cat
Described by HH as the largest all-carbon cruising catamaran ever built, the first hull of the HH88 has just emerged from the painting booth in a high-gloss crimson. Destined for…
Tom Slingsby signs up with American Magic for AC37
Australian sailor Tom Slingsby has signed with the American Magic team for the 37th America’s Cup. Slingsby, who has won Olympic Gold in the Laser class, the 2013 America’s Cup…
Skiing Arctic ice by yacht
A single walrus raised its frosted head, eyeing Firebird as we dropped anchor at Tynarebukta on the Isfjorden. Rugged mountains were enveloped by a glacier that spilled out onto the…
Recluta – Germán Frers’ new, old yacht
The Frers dynasty is responsible for more than 1,300 yacht designs. Germán Frers, having last year celebrated his 80th birthday, remains one of the most prolific and sought after designers…
Skip Novak’s Mission to Save the Albatross
I let go the lines at the pontoon in Cape Town and watched Pelagic Australis motor out of the basin, breathing a monumental sigh of relief. She was bound for…
Outside in: 3 Stunning superyacht designs
A priority with any new superyacht design should be of providing the owners with the ability to enjoy their surroundings to the absolute fullest while giving them the means and…
First look: Ovnicat 48 aluminium multihull
It’s easy to assume that all rugged metal yachts are very heavy. While that was the case at one time for steel designs, it’s a different matter for aluminium which,…
Sail greener: options for more eco-friendly sails
Sails are predominantly made from new plastics, chemicals and virgin fibres, but some latest developments may help address that and make eco-friendly sails a real option when you buy your…
Around Cape Horn in a proa
American sailor Ryan Finn has become the first yachtsman ever to sail around Cape Horn in a proa. Finn completed his New York to San Francisco solo record attempt on…
Second hand yachts: Buying a high latitudes yacht
Merf Owen, of Owen Clarke Yacht Design, has designed many a high latitudes yacht for cruising, while his wife Ashley Perrin is a professional ice pilot, formerly working for the…
First look: Owen Clarke 15m expedition yacht
The Owen Clarke 15m is an aluminium lifting keel expedition yacht, which builds on the success of the Owen Clarke-designed 20m (66ft) Qilak, one of the most notable vessels of…
First look: Viator Explorer 54 DS and 42 DS
Instead of a pilot house, these rugged semi-custom lift keel aluminium yachts have a full deck saloon, along with a number of interesting features including hybrid propulsion. The prototype Viator…
J/45 tested: Fast cruiser with timeless appeal
We’re close-hauled, sailing the new J/45 at 7.5 knots and catching up with a modern 55-footer, but slowly falling into her lee. Winding on a little mainsheet tightens the leech,…
Countdown to London Luxury Afloat
The first ever London Luxury Afloat boatshow showcase will begin this week with visitors to the event on St. Katherine Docks, London between 21-24 Aprils will be able to see…
5 Expert Tips: Offshore Preparation
What’s your goal for the season? Shirley Robertson apologises if her offshore preparation sounds ‘a bit Olympic sailorish’ but says defining your goal is key. “Whether you’re doing round-the-cans racing…
Into the deep: Diving with sharks in French Polynesia
We sailed to the atoll of Fakarava for one reason: diving! This distant enclave is a sleepy little island that has Polynesian traditions as deep as the sea. Whether you’re…