Henry, my grandson, and I decided to sail together for the Fowey Sailing Opal series, the last yacht race series of the season, as his dinghy season was complete and…
Yachting Monthly
Sailing to Haiti: ‘Visiting Haïti has been one of the most unique and rewarding experiences of my life’
Lordship, my Westerly Sealord, had been stranded in the Dominican Republic for two months. I had been sailing from Martinique towards Cuba with two friends. We were having trouble with…
Hallberg-Rassy 370 first look: Easy handling and good performance
Swedish yard, Hallberg-Rassy has continued the roll-out of its latest design philosophy across its range of yachts. Rather oddly, the yard claimed the new Hallberg-Rassy 370 does not replace any…
‘It should not be this hot’ – a scientific expedition to the Arctic Circle
Stepping aboard the 74-foot aluminium lifting keel expedition vessel in Bergen, I stroke the rugged pilothouse gently and whisper, ‘Hello, friend.’ I know that skippering Witness is going to be…
Sailing around Britain: ‘Caught by the tide off Portland Bill, I began to feel defeated’
Over the course of two summers, I circumnavigated Britain aboard Goldfinch, our Bénéteau 36cc. It was June 2022, and I was cruising on the penultimate leg with a strong and…
How a seawater pump works
The water and oil seals on a water pump shaft will eventually wear with time, leading to pump-shaft corrosion or loss of engine oil. A daily check of the water…
How a cutless bearing works
Most boats have a bearing at the outboard end of the propeller shaft that supports the propshaft. Generally this ‘cutless’ bearing will be made of rubber which will, over time,…
What it’s really like working as a Yacht Charter host
Fair weather sailors will undoubtedly be familiar with the flotilla. From family-friendly holidays to booze cruises, many readers will know the feeling of arriving at a fleet garnished with flags…
Crossing the Atlantic as a couple: Why six-hour watches are my pattern of choice
When Rich and I set off from Dartmouth in 2017 to do some long- distance sailing on our Cabo Rico 38 Tequila we hadn’t intended to sail around the world.…
‘The salty water was dangerously reaching the cockpit edge and we had to prevent the boat from taking too much water’
I first saw the boat after reading a small advertisement in a local newspaper. It was lying under a red tarpaulin. The varnish was faded, the boat was full of…