Sailing in squalls? How to protect your rig and sails; DIY rudder checks; How to service your outboard engine; Get the best out of your…
Practical Boat Owner
Summer issue – out 6 June
Troubleshoot engine problems at sea, the 30 best ways to get afloat if you don’t have a boat, how to find crew, essential DIY rig…
Arcona yacht sinking: Couple share how they tried to save their boat after the rudder stock broke
Ingmar and Katarina Ravudd tell PBO about the steps they took to save their Arcona yacht after a broken rudder stock punched a hole in the hull, causing the boat…
How to fit a tabernacle to your boat
Fed up with having to employ a crane every time he wanted to take the mast down, Barry Pickthall shows how he installed a tabernacle
How to service your two-speed winch: step-by-step
With spare parts hard to find, Vyv Cox keeps his 15-year-old Gibb winches in fine fettle with a regime of regular maintenance. Here he shows how it’s done
Scorpion RIBS under new ownership
Scorpion RIBS, which went into administration earlier this year, has been bought by car specialist, Twisted
First-time boat skipper: tips for your first voyage in charge
Skippering a yacht for the first time is a pivotal experience; one that's rewarding if done right. Rupert Holmes explains how to ensure everything runs smoothly on your first voyage…
New national distributor for the Salcombe 600
A new national distributor has been announced for the Salcombe 600 launch
Avoid carrying spare diesel in jerry cans if sailing into the EU
The Cruising Association has reviewed its advice on carrying spare diesel if sailing into the EU, and has concluded it should be avoided
Sailing without an engine: tips to get home when it fails
Faced with an engine that won’t work, do we necessarily have to reach for the radio to summon help? Depending on circumstances, we may be able to help ourselves
Wind, Tide & Oar film review: “An evocative exploration of engineless sailing”
Katy Stickland reviews the new film, Wind, Tide & Oar, which explores the experience of engineless sailing and its impact on the sailors who have chosen to sail by the…
Sharks in the UK: A guide for sailors
Genevieve Leaper looks at some of the shark species around the British and Irish coasts and how to spot these fish from your boat
100 years of the Deben Cherub
It is a century since the first Deben Cherub was launched. Julia Jones looks back at the history of this 21ft river racing class
“It was like doing a MOB recovery wearing a neck brace” – says Round the Island Race 2024 man overboard skipper
As if this year’s Round the Island Race wasn’t tough enough for competitors with winds gusting 45mph and a rough seastate with 3-4m waves, one boat had the additional challenge…
The best boat anchor types for different types of cruising & their pros and cons
Rupert Holmes looks at the different anchor designs and how to choose the right one for your type of cruising
“Tough conditions” for Round the Island Race sailors and lifeboat crews providing safety cover
"The weather may not have been on our side for parts of the day, but what an incredible experience had by all", said a spokesperson from one of the many…
Several classes cancelled as strong winds forecast for Round the Island Race 2024
Several classes for the Round the Island Race around the Isle of Wight have been cancelled due to the strong wind forecast and all participants are being reminded to take…
Broaching on a boat and how to prevent it
When the breeze picks up, how do you stop your boat taking charge and going where it wants? David Harding offers some suggestions for staying in control
How to service a marine engine cooling system
Is your boat's engine beginning to run hotter than normal? It may be time to service the cooling system, suggests Tony Davies
Theo, 6, circumnavigates island singlehanded in his ‘Spidey’ boat – painted in Spiderman colours
Theo Geddes, aged 6, sailed solo around Hilbre Island at the mouth of the Dee Estuary to raise money for the RNLI, in his Optimist dinghy painted in Spiderman colours
Six rivers and a backwater – cruising the East Coast of England
John Kingsnorth endeavours to ‘go with wind and tide’ and cover as many English East Coast rivers as possible in a week aboard his Nova 27 cruising yacht
What does a sailmaker do?
Shortly before the Round the Island Race, one of the largest yacht races in the world, it’s all go at the T Sails loft in Southampton with sailmaker Tim Scarisbrick…