In our Maxi 84 boat survey, Ben Sutcliffe-Davies concluded that the antifouling needed to come off and whilst the keel joint was nice and tight there was a lot of…
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Do you know your rudders?
Do you know rudders? Boatyards are a great place to get to know different types of keels, rudders and other underwater fittings. When Ben Sutcliffe-Davies came down to Chichester to…
Tracking open water swimming – Garmin Vivoactive 4s
Tracking open water swimming with a smart watch Being a cold water swimmer with an aversion to chlorinated pools, I had to do a bit of a workaround to test…
Fitting new seacocks and skin fittings on the PBO Project Boat
Maximus, our PBO Project Boat, had four seacock fittings that need changing – three ball valves in the forepeak (1 x 1½in and 2 x ¾in) and one gate valve…
Best sextants: 5 plastic options under £400 for taking a noon sight
In the mid-seventies I sailed a small boat from the UK to Tahiti, crossing the Atlantic, Caribbean and Pacific. My primary navigation tool was a plastic sextant, with timing provided…
Marine engine videos with Stu Davies – top tips on servicing your boat engine
When we acquired our 43-year-old cruiser Maximus, we asked PBO’s engine expert Stu Davies and wife Laura to show us how to service the Volvo MD2020 engine. They drove all…
Lomo tow float drybag review – stay safe when cold water swimming
I love to have a tow float when swimming in the sea. Since their introduction in 2012, tow floats have become a popular addition to the wild swimmer’s kit-list, especially…
British rivals to Sailing La Vagabonde? Introducing Sailing Cadoha
I’m not just talking in terms of popularity. The UK is certainly well represented among the most popular sailing vlogs (Sailing Ruby Rose, Adventures of an old Seadog, and Sailing…
Want to know what it’s like to cross an ocean? Watch these videos…
Ginormous fish, a daring rescue, ripped spinnaker and whale encounters are just a few of the tales we heard as the crews of this year’s ARC+ arrived in Grenada. For…
Dramatic footage shows moment tow-line snaps in rescue of dismasted yacht
The 28ft French vessel was spotted on Sunday by Alfie and Ceylan Moore, who were sailing across the Atlantic on the ARC+ rally with friend Stu Finch and Alfie’s mum…
Channel Hopping: Lee Shores, Lazy Jacks and Lunches is back, and better than ever
Flying home to France after a week in London on business, I was treated to lovely views of the Solent. It made me so homesick that I just had to…
Duracell refit: From Vendée Globe legend to comfortable world cruiser
Let me tell you a story about a young man, a boat builder and a sailor who, after some adventures at sea, heard about a legendary old race boat which…
And they’re off! ARC+ yachts leave Las Palmas for Cape Verde
Seventy yachts left Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, this afternoon in gusty 15-20 knot north-easterlies, headed for Cape Verde. The boats are part of the ARC+ – the sister event to…
Countdown to ARC+ begins – 2 hours to go
Moderate to strong winds are expected for the start of the ARC+ today in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. Around 70 boats will be taking part in the rally, sailing to…
On ‘tenterhooks’ after mast damage – why we won’t be making the ARC+ start this Sunday
“It could have been much worse,” says New Zealander Simon Pollard, pointing to the coachroof of the Oyster 56, which looks strangely bare without its mast. “It could have come…
The Red waterproof kit bag on test – PLUS what to wear for dinghy sailing
I have a cupboard full of waterproof bags. Some I use for keeping water in (for example, my 40L Musto drybag, which I use for lugging around soggy wetsuits); others…
Channel Hopping: Alluring Arctic suffers engine failure at 62° North
I’m not sure why I was so late to the party when it comes to the channel Alluring Arctic, but having taken the bait on a recent title which included…
Fixing the vintage Sailor radio 01 – “making a bit of noise” at the repair shop
Whether for listening to BBC cricket or calling up Dutch harbours, the old Sailor radio is still loved by boat owners! The maritime Sailor radio on the PBO Project Boat…
Snotter trick – how to prolong the life of your sealant
Next time you work with a sealant, be sure to leave it hanging, and don’t be tempted to remove the erm… snotty bit that dangles from the bottom. When we…
How to detect gas leaks on boats – a handy tool that could save your life
Detecting gas leaks on boats is important, especially as gas standards on boats were very different 40 years ago. Sadly the PBO Project Boat Maximus is going to require a…