For non-racing sailors, a cruising chute is often the downwind sail of choice: it’s nothing to be afraid of, but how do you use it to best advantage? David Harding…
Sail Clinic
Winning ways with a junk rig
David Harding looks at some of the latest developments in junk rig and meets the owners of different types of boat who are all convinced of its merits
Rig tuning: a practical guide for sailors
Correct rig tension will maximise the efficiency of your boat’s sails as well as reducing stresses on the mast. David Pugh demonstrates simple rig tuning
Boat sails: how to make them last longer
David Bond gets professional tips for prolonging the life of his boat sails
In-mast roller furling problems: how to rebuild a Seldén furling gearbox
Mark Ryan rebuilds his Seldén furling gearbox after wrestling with stiff roller furling for a year and discovers stress-free and easy reefing
Headsail furling: how to choose the right system
There is a huge range of headsail furling gear on the market. Rupert Holmes gives some tips for choosing the right system for your boat
How to set up your rig: tension your shrouds on masthead or fractional
How to set up your rig: tension your shrouds on masthead or fractional If boats were cars, many of those I see sailing along would be coughing and spluttering down…
September 2017
In the September 2017 issue of Practical Boat Owner magazine...
How to rig a spinnaker on a small yacht – what you need and where to fit it
If you want a spinnaker, but don’t have the necessary fittings or equipment on your boat, where do you start?