Being able to accurately judge distance at sea is just as vital in the digital age as it ever was, says James Stevens. We look at how to refine your…
Practical seamanship
Traditional seamanship on an oyster smack
Toby Heppell heads to the East Coast to sail a traditional oyster smack and put his dredging skills to the test
Surviving a Force 11 storm with a series drogue
Small cruising boats are not fast enough to sail away from bad weather. Tony Curphey shares how a series drogue was vital while sailing the Southern Ocean in a Nicholson
Towing a boat: how to tow and be towed
When a boat needs towing, cruising yachts are often among the first on the scene. James Stevens explains how to help
How to stay warm on a boat all the year round
Summer nights or winter moorings, keeping cold at bay is aways a hot topic. Toby Heppell shows you how to stay snug whether you are sailing in spring, summer, autumn…
Atlantic Rally for Cruisers: Ocean crossing lessons
From sail plans to nav software, rig failure and SSB, there's plenty you can learn from the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, as Ali Wood discovers
Get ready for your yacht charter holiday
Getting to grips with a few skills and checking your boat carefully will give you a more enjoyable yacht charter holiday, says Toby Heppell
Migrants at sea: the dos and don’ts of helping those in distress
How can you help those in distress without endangering your vessel or breaking the law? Elaine Bunting investigates
Eyeball pilotage skills for coast crawling
Getting close in to the coast to explore a tidal channel or find a snug anchorage is rewarding but close attention must be paid to the visual clues, says Ken…
Heavy weather sailing: preparing for extreme conditions
Alastair Buchan and other expert ocean cruisers explain how best to prepare when you’ve been ‘caught out’ and end up heavy weather sailing