Philip, my husband, needed the car so I decided to take my Offshore 8m Karima S from Aith to Brae, where I teach sailing. Last time had been a bit…
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Winchelsea Lugger used boat report: A 14ft beach boat that can cross the Channel
Sussex beach boats and their Flobart sisters on the other side of the channel are amongst my favourite luggers. In Normandy they have a following but here in the UK…
Sail the World with Me: Our review of Jimmy Cornell’s latest book
By the end of the book, between the vivid writing and gorgeous photographs, you really feel as if you have sailed the world with Jimmy Cornell as a wise, experienced,…
What do you eat on a transatlantic when your boat’s only 1m long?
When you’re aiming for a solo world record, saving space is a priority… and when you’re in a 1m yacht, it’s absolutely crucial! Food needs to be small, longlife and…
Why I’m crossing the Atlantic in the world’s smallest yacht
What’s inspired this world record microyacht attempt? I’ve always dreamed of breaking the world record for the smallest vessel to cross the Atlantic. Big C is just over a metre…
Swallows and Amazons: Titty actor Sophie Neville shares secrets from the set
“Swallow is coming up for auction,” my father said, sending me the details of a clinker-built sailing dinghy stored at Twickenham. It was the Spring of 2010. I rushed into…
Channel Hopping: The Sailing Brothers in the USA!
Our resident YouTube aficionado Kass Schmitt likens The Sailing Brothers Luke and Adam Martin arrival in North Carolina episode "as a brilliant mash-up of Beavis and Butt-Head with Gavin &…
Viko S21: Test sail of this highly affordable nearly new trailer-sailer
Three to six months is the hump to get over for new boat ownership. It’s long enough to take the showroom sheen off a purchase, the owner will have broken…
Joining chain links: Our expert explains the safest way to extend your anchor chain
Rod Stuart writes: “What is the safest way to join two equal galvanised chain links (I don’t just mean for going through the windlass)? A fat shackle or one of…
Why we swapped sail for power: 10 motorboaters explain their big switch
Many moons ago I had a premonition that Hunter Boats ought to build a classy little motorboat for customers who decide the time has come to move on from sail…
What is an undefaced ensign? And why does it matter? Ask the experts
Tjalling Halbertsma from Bergen, North Holland writes: “I sail a 28ft flat-bottomed Vollenhovense Bol, built in steel and a fine ship for the Waddenzee in the Netherlands with a draught…
Tried and tested: Typhoon Amrok 50N buoyancy aid, Caliso3 Eco long john and top
Unless you’ve got knee pads, full wetsuits are better than shorts for dinghy sailing, but the long arms can be too hot for summer. A neat solution is the 3mm…
Women’s oilskins: Why finding the perfect fit is nigh-on impossible
I decided over the summer that my trusty Musto fleece-lined mid-layer suit was past it. The gaffer tape repair over the leg seams was coming unstuck, and there were sizable…
Twisted T300S bringing Land Rover style to the Southampton Boat Show
Twisted Automotive started life as a company ‘re engineering’ Land Rover Defenders for clients with a penny or two to rub together and this continues to be a main focus.…
9 expert sailing techniques to help you sail better, faster and safer
The best way to get a better boat is to improve the one you already have, I have long believed. Given many vessels are not set up as efficiently as…
A very nautical proposal – with help from an RNLI lifeboat
Steve Hodges hatches a proposal plan with the RNLI Eastbourne Lifeboat crew, hoping they don’t get a shout and that his girlfriend knows her flags
Ultrasonic antifouling tested: 4 cutting edge options for keeping your hull clean
N.B. This article was first published in the January 2015 issue of PBO and some of the products below have now been discontinued. Ultrasonic antifouling has been around in the…
Is my antifoul incompatible with my basecoat? Ask the experts
Mike Stanton from the Isle of Man writes: “I wonder if you could help with a suspected incompatible antifoul issue on my 2011 Beneteau First 40 which I race and cruise…
What’s the best trailer sailer for the Mediterranean? Ask the experts
Keith Mackie writes: “After 15 years working for the AA and RAC I achieved my RYA Level 2 powerboat handling certificate. “I was aiming to go for Competent Crew next…
How to replace Volvo Penta shaft seals: A step-by-step guide
As the launch cradle dropped us in, Bruce called out his usual, “All OK?” before disconnecting us from the slings. We’d splashed our Beneteau 381 after a lift and antifoul…