“Ahlam means ‘dreams’ and this is the dream,” says Lebanese skipper Toni Salame, who’s just taken third place in the ARC+ rally. His Oyster 575 Ahlam, was the third monohull…
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Insurance cover concerns over lithium batteries
Boat owners are being urged to contact their insurers before switching to lithium batteries to check their insurance will still be valid.
Coming alongside – essential skills for shorthanded crews
Coming alongside can be tricky for singlehanded and short-handed sailors. Øyvind Bordal has some sailing skills that will come in handy in harbours
“Orca damage will be covered” – Insurers reassure boaters bound for hotspot region
Sailors bound for the orca interaction hotspots of the Strait of Gibraltar and Iberian Peninsula can feel reassured that their insurance cover will not be in jeopardy.
ARC+ rally sets sail with crew aged 7 months to 87 years
A record-breaking 95 boats left Las Palmas, Gran Canaria on the ARC+ this morning, the largest number to date for the World Cruising Club rally. The yachts from 24 different…
“Age is just a label” – transatlantic skipper (87) raises funds for Ukraine
“I was born in 1935; you tell me how old that makes me? Age is just a label,” says French skipper Christian Lotthé onboard his 41ft Beneteau, Namaste. Chris will…
Buying a boat: the essential guide
Rupert Holmes looks at negotiations, surveys and the legal aspects of buying a second-hand boat
11 great gift ideas for sailors: The essential PBO Christmas gift guide
From nifty satellite messengers to a device for easier drilling, tried and tested thermals to sunglasses, a roomy lightweight weatherproof rucksack to coastal oilskins, a non-slip drinks holder to children's…
Antifouling: Everything you need to know
Here’s PBO’s guide to preparing for, choosing and using antifouling paints
Channel Hopping: Alex Bevis gets an incurable case of the racing bug
PBO's resident YouTube aficionado Kass Schmitt celebrates niche sailing videos such as Alex Bevis Sailing and her enthusiastic take on Corinthian offshore racing
Channel Hopping: Wilderness of Waves
PBO's resident YouTube aficionado Kass Schmitt shines the spotlight on Wilderness of Waves' latest video, which was shot in Lahiana, a town on Maui that needs support to rebuild following…
Channel Hopping: Inspiring human stories from the Ocean Globe Race
PBO's resident YouTube aficionado Kass Schmitt gives insight into the drama we can expect from the Ocean Globe Race adventurers
How to build a boat: Essential guide to building your first kit boat
The question of how to build a boat can be met with a dizzying array of answers. A website search will reveal hundreds of small boat designs from around the…
Gelcoat repair: How to make an invisible repair
Everything you need to know to make an invisible gelcoat repair, from preparation and filling to topcoat and polishing
Quiz a sailmaker – everything you need to know about sails
Whilst deciding what cut and sailcloth to chose for the PBO Project Boat, we quizzed technical manager Daryl Morgan from Bainbridge International – one of the world’s oldest sailcloth manufacturers…
What are the different types of sailcloth and design?
Before speaking to your sailmaker, it’s worth knowing the different types of sailcloth on the market so you can understand which is best for your type of boat and sailing,…
Sail design – using 3D software and laser technology to cut new sails
During the survey of our Maxi 84, the PBO Project Boat Maximus, we were warned by a marine surveyor that there was only so much he could tell us about…
Boatbuilding added to ‘endangered’ craft list
Traditional wooden boatbuilding in the UK is on the ‘Red List of Endangered Crafts’, compiled by the Heritage Crafts Association.
Boat owners warned: ‘Don’t attempt a risky DIY gas bottle refill’
The UK’s largest yacht owners group, the Westerly Owners’ Association (WOA) with 3,000 members, is among those dependent on gas bottles of this size for cooking on board. In a…
Beware becoming a man overboard (MOB)… in a marina
Everyone thinks about man overboard (MOB), but what do you do when you have a MIM, man in marina? Mark Prior found out the hard way...