Will Spencer explains how to choose and manage a competent and friendly crew for an enjoyable offshore passage
sailing
Slab reefing: Guide to sail shape & preventing sail damage
David Pugh explains how to keep in shape for all conditions with a comprehensive guide to slab reefing techniques
New AIS MOB device rule affecting sailors
Big changes to marine radio device rules are planned to be brought into the UK. The only MOB AIS devices allowed will be those that incorporate DSC on Ch70.
What I learned skippering on my first extended cruise: one teenage sailor shares his story
Teenage sailor Jack Gore makes a first extended trip in company with his family and other yacht club members on an East Coast cruise
Weathering winter weather
Dave Selby's Mad about the Boat column: A handy guide to keeping warm and dry
Launch of Sunsail’s sailing club prizes for 2025 at RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show
Up to £6,000 can be won by sailing charities and RYA sailing and yacht clubs with the best grassroots initiative, plus £2,000 runner-up prizes. Apply online for Sunsail's Funding the
Talks schedule and sailing stars confirmed for RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show
A host of British sailing stars are set to join tactical and technical experts and inspiring adventurers as guest speakers at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show
World Sailors of the Year: Marit Bouwmeester, Diego Botin and Florian Trittel
Paris Olympic gold medallist Marit Bouwmeester, and the Olympic and SailGP champion duo of Diego Botin and Florian Trittel are the Rolex World Sailors of the Year 2024
Windvane self-steering: a complete guide for sailors
Ali Wood explains how you can harness the power of the wind and sea to steer efficiently
“Best school trip ever’ leads Lancashire club to win Sunsail’s Funding the Future initiative
Judges unanimously voted for West Lancashire Yacht Club (WLYC) in Southport to be the overall winner of Sunsail's £6,000 Funding the Future grand prize.
Becoming a Day Skipper
From classroom conundrums to night-time navigation, dinghy instructor Margaret Norris decides to give big boats a go
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
Sail trim: Sailing downwind without a spinnaker
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…
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