Sir Robin Knox-Johnston on the COLREG, single-handing and more; Boat building myths busted; 10 pilotage mistakes to avoid; Celebrating the Jester Challenge at 20; Spotlight…
Practical Boat Owner
Summer 2026 – out on 4 June
The pros and cons of dinghies for downsizing; Stop leaks – tips for every sailor; How to set storm trysails; Antifoul like a pro; Ditch…
October issue – out on 29 August
Ultimate guide to wind vane steering systems, Offshore gear for small boats, How to winterise your engine, 10 low-cost solutions for anti-slip decks, the best apps for sailors and MORE!…
Pair sail around the three longest lakes in England, Wales and Scotland in 28 hours
RS Aero sailors Ken Fowler and Peter Barton took 28 hours to sail around the three longest lakes in England, Wales and Scotland
Cruising from Orkney to Kinlochbervie
Nick and Alison Boxall sail their 35ft 6in Southerly 110 from Mainland to mainland, from Orkney to Kinlochbervie, Scotland
Mad about the boat: Ever heard of a bumsprit?
Marina manoeuvres at the sharp end... Dave Selby's 'Mad about the boat' monthly musings, owner of a wooden 1953 Blackwater Sloop and a 23ft Sailfish
How to replace ageing through-hull fittings
In preparation for an extended voyage, Kerry and Fraser Buchanan replace all below waterline through-hulls with composite fittings
Channel Hopping: SV Delos Upgrade – Two Hulls for Version 2.0
Our resident YouTube aficionado has ideas for what to do if you're in the market for plans to build your own cruising multihull, but Wharrams aren’t your style...
What I learned during a boat knockdown while sailing alone
Freya Terry gets an early lesson in the perils of single-handed sailing when she embarks on a round-UK and Ireland circumnavigation in her distinctive She 31
Boat lightning strike checklist
The odds of your boat being struck by lightning are low in the UK, but it does happen. Andy Pag shares his lightning strike checklist
Sailing the legendary 32ft cruiser, Damien from the Arctic Circle to Antarctica
Between 1969 and 1973, Jérôme Poncet and Gérard Janichon sailed their 32ft cutter Damien from Spitsbergen to Antarctica via the Amazon River. Marina Guedes looks back at their far-flung voyage…
New marker buoys to mark voluntary no-anchor zone installed off Falmouth
The Advanced Mooring System (AMS) marker buoys have been laid off Trefusis Head in Carrick Roads to protect the seagrass beds
Best second-hand sub-40ft liveaboard boats: sail and power
Seasoned boat tester Duncan Kent chooses the sub-40ft power and sailing boats most suitable for long-term living aboard
How to get the most from your yacht survey
Thinking of buying a new boat? A marine survey could save you a lot of heartache and money in the long run, says Ali Wood
Why now is the time to upgrade your marine toilet
Most boats have manual marine toilets on board. This is why you should consider upgrading to an electric unit
How to build a custom boat port
Ben Russell gets busy constructing his own custom boat shed
Practical ideas from the Ocean Globe Race yacht Galiana WithSecure
Katy Stickland finds clever design features which can be adapted for cruising yachts while sailing the Swan 55, Galiana WithSecure
5 top causes of boat engine failure – and how to avoid them
Jake Kavanagh talks to Sea Start marine engineer Nick Eales about how to avoid the five major causes of an engine breakdown at sea
Guernsey boat owners revolt against ‘hefty increases’ to mooring charges
Recreational boat owners are campaigning against any future increases above inflation by the Guernsey Ports.
Heavy weather sailing techniques: how to protect your boat in storm conditions
Øyvind Bordal and Magne Klann explain the steps you need to take to protect your rig and sails when the weather turns
The Juggens manoeuvre to get you off a lee shore
Peter Kersey draws on the wisdom of an old smack sailor to get his engineless Drascombe Lugger out of trouble off a lee shore
What is inside your liferaft?
Short of time to get their liferaft professionally serviced, Andy and Julie Pag decide to carry out an inspection themselves