Your boat is trapped in the middle of a raft and there are no crew on board. What do you do? James Stevens answers your Questions of Seamanship
sailing skills
New boat owner: Lessons learned on a shakedown sail
After buying a Dufour Classic 35, Chris Humphries experiences a series of hardships when trying to sail his new boat home from Conwy to Plymouth
Winter sailing: how to extend your cruising season
Autumn and winter sailing can often provide some truly memorable days afloat. Rachael Sprot shares how to extend your cruising season
Boat berthing skills for sailing the Baltic Sea
Berthing your boat while sailing the Baltic Sea requires some forethought, especially if you have never done it before. Rachael Sprot shares her top tips
GPS failure: What would you do?
How would you react to GPS failure while sailing? James Stevens answers your Questions of Seamanship
Handling & rowing a dinghy: a beginner’s guide
Dinghies and tenders might be small, but good seamanship is just as vital in these diminutive craft as it is in much larger boats, as Rachael Sprot explains
How to use a dinghy outboard
All sailors who use dinghies come across challenges such as the contortions required to get a dinghy outboard onto the transom. Rachael Sprot shares her advice and top tips
Anchoring skills: expert advice to improve your knowledge
Anchoring is one of the greatest joys of sailing, yet for many people the sound of the chain rattling over the bow-roller is the start of an anxious night. Will…
Apparent wind: How to predict it and use it to your advantage
Predicting changes in apparent wind will make you a safer, faster sailor, says Martin Watts
Why twin headsails are best downwind
Crossing the Atlantic from Cape Verde to Barbados took us just 13 days in our 1998 Lagoon 410, Cushla Na Mara. In preparation for this trip, I spent time experimenting…