Sailing efficiently when the wind comes astern doesn’t mean you have to fly a spinnaker or cruising chute. David Harding shows how to make the most of your upwind sails…
sailing
New race for solo and double-handed sailors who wish to sail the world in their own boat
"An opportunity for those sailors who want to take on the world in their own boat without the need to spend huge amounts of money", says the team behind WORLDSTAR…
“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…
“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…
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
PBO editor Katy Stickland takes the YJA helm as newly-appointed chairman
Practical Boat Owner (PBO) editor Katy Stickland has added another feather to her cap – as the new chairman of the Yachting Journalists Association (YJA).
Sailing to windward: how to tweak your sails to improve performance
Some boats need persuasion to make to windward, so tweaking the sails to best advantage can make all the difference. David Harding offers a few tips
Berthing a boat using wind and tide
Manoeuvring a boat into and out of a berth is one of the most frequent handling challenges facing boat owners – so don’t make life hard for yourself, says David…
British sailor Pip Hare’s Vendee Globe ‘full throttle’ challenge is in jeopardy
Vendee Globe 2024 challenger Pip Hare may have to "throttle-back on performance" and jeopardise a world sailing record bid unless new funding can be found
‘Why I want to sail around the world in my 9m electric sailing boat”
Dena Hankins is on a global voyage aboard her 1984 9m Baba 30 converted to run with an electric propulsion motor – possibly the smallest electric sailboat to circumnavigate the planet
Seldén S-series and E-series winches
The 'game changing' advantages of Seldén's new line of manual and electric winches include clever features to speed up tacking and make it safer when sailing with inexperienced crew.
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
“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.
Motor sailing: how to add power to your sails
Whether you’re supplementing the engine with the sails or vice versa, using them together can make a lot of sense – as David Harding explains
Safe sailing: practical know-how from the racers
Cruising sailors wanting to make sure their boat passes muster on the safety front could pick up a few tips from racing yachtsmen, says Rupert Holmes
Essential shorthanded sailing skills
Many sailors sail shorthanded much of the time, and it can prove a challenge. Rupert Holmes has some tips and techniques to help inspire confidence
Handling rough conditions in port
Rupert Holmes describes the course of action he pursued – and the lessons learned – when storm conditions threatened to cause damage to his moored boat
Record-breaking Jeanne Socrates sets sail again
Jeanne Socrates, 80, is preparing to sail singlehanded again but this time, she is planning a much more relaxed voyage
The pioneering sailor you’ve probably never heard of: Nicolette Milnes Walker
Nicolette Milnes Walker was the first woman to sail solo and non-stop from the UK to the USA. Julia Jones charts her trailblazing achievement