"Sailing and boating in the UK are at a crossroads,” says Nick Scott, director of sport for the Royal Yachting Association. "Participation is standing still, or starting to fall.”
Laura Hodgetts
Features editor
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Boaters beware: RYA SafeTrx vessel tracking safety app will soon close
RYA SafeTrx app - the vessel tracking, safety and communications platform - is to be discontinued at the end of this month, from 31 December.
YJA Young Journalist of the Year 2025 named
The Yachting Journalists' Association (YJA) has announced the winner of the 2025 Young Journalist of the Year Award and has unveiled its new mentoring scheme
The 40th anniversary Atlantic Rally for Cruisers ARC 2025 fleet set sail
Sunshine and light winds made for a gentle start as the 145-strong ARC 2025 fleet left Las Palmas de Gran Canaria for a 2,700-mile transatlantic voyage.
Why the collapse of a critical Atlantic current would impact sailors
The collapse of a critical Atlantic current can no longer be considered a low-likelihood event, a study has concluded.
Nominate your 2025 Yachtsman of the Year and Young Sailor of the Year
Public nominations for the Yachting Journalists' Association (YJA) Yachtsman of the Year and Young Sailor of the Year Awards are now open.
Insurance cover for sailing high latitudes
Practical Boat Owner reader Martin Frobisher asks why it's so difficult to source yacht insurance for higher latitude sailing, Mollie Magrath, boat and travel account manager for Topsail Marine &…
The Shipping Forecast Gets an AI Upgrade: The Met Office’s New Automated System
The world leading weather service has been testing a prototype AI-assisted system which automatically generates a first draft of the Shipping Forecast – trials have shown it to be as accurate…
Sunsail’s Funding the Future winner to refurbish five old Laser dinghies
Otley Sailing Club from West Yorkshire, will use the Sunsail's Funding the Future grand prize of £6,000 to revitalise old Laser dinghies to make sailing more accessible for adult club
Crisis in the canals as drought hits boaters
Boats have been left stranded in canals, navigation restricted, and businesses “exceptionally quiet” during peak summer months across the inland waterways of England and Wales.
Ella Hibbert: first British woman to sail the Northwest Passage solo
28-year-old Ella Hibbert is the first British woman to sail solo through the Northwest Passage during her Arctic circumnavigation
boatfolk marina group is now owned by Premier Marinas’ owner Wellcome
Premier Marinas has confirmed the acquisition of Boatfolk's 11 marinas – bringing its combined portfolio to 22 sites across the UK
Royal Yachting Association: what it has done for British boating
In its 150th year, Laura Hodgetts explores the Royal Yachting Association’s evolution from ‘gentlemen racers’ to a world-leading national boating body
Orcas sighted in UK waters are ‘not from yacht-damaging pod’
Two orcas spotted off the UK’s south-west coast are not part of the pod which is responsible for rudder interactions and yacht damage off the Portuguese and Spanish coasts and…
Next stop: The world – Jazz Turner’s new WorldStar circumnavigation plans
Adventurer and disabled sailor Jazz Turner has set her sights on another circumnavigation, this time global – the WorldStar Race.
Ian Wyllie completes round-Britain and Ireland circumnavigation in project boat
Ian Wyllie of Sailing Trilleen has completed a solo multi-year circumnavigation of the UK and Ireland in the 1979 Vancouver 27 that he restored in parallel to his own rehabilitation.
Sailors urged to report collisions with whales and other marine life
Sailors around the world are being urged to participate in an anonymous global survey to document collisions at sea between sailing boats and marine life.
“I crawled 50m across rocks with an anchor on my back”: Jazz Turner’s record voyage
Jazz Turner reflects on her circumnavigation achievement of being the first disabled person to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted around the UK and Ireland
Abandoned boats and end-of-life vessels – a growing problem
Abandoned boats and end-of-life vessels are a growing problem and environmental concern, agree UK harbour authorities, sailors and community groups.
Craig Wood completes solo, non-stop and unsupported Pacific voyage
Triple amputee Craig Wood has achieved his goal of becoming the world’s first triple amputee to sail solo, non-stop and unassisted across the Pacific Ocean.