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
Top stories
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
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
How to service an outboard engine: step by step
Stu Davies shares useful maintenance tips on how to keep your 2-stroke and 4-stroke outboard motors running sweetly
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
How to refurbish a scruffy outboard cowling
Rebecca Beck shares how she improved her outboard cowling
How to go sailing and boating if you don’t own a boat
From tall ships to small dinghies, you don't need to own a boat to go sailing. Ali Wood looks at the options, and how skippers can also find crew
Southampton Boat Show 2024: all you need to know
From boat and gear launches to legendary sailors and a chance to get on the water, here is your complete guide to the Southampton Boat Show 2024
Buoycatcher-Max: We test the next generation boat hook
Gilbert Park tests the new Buoycatcher-Max, the next generation boat hook
How to make a last-minute home-made dinghy spinnaker pole
Ben Lowings cobbles up some pole jaws to make a make-shift dinghy spinnaker pole
Mad about the boat: The echoes of Essex past
PBO columnist Dave Selby laments the decline of oral history lessons at the Maldon branch of Essex University in the Queen’s Head pub