Regular maintenance of your boat means you’ll enjoy your time on the water knowing your boat is as prepared as it can be. Credit: White Dot Sailing. **Will Spencer explains how to prepare your boat for sailing offshore, and the regular checks all sailors should make before an ocean crossing.** Completing an ocean crossing, such as the traditional transatlantic passage from the Canaries to the Caribbean, is a bucket list …Continue reading »

If your propeller cone doesn’t have a lock washer, Mark advises upgrading to the version that does. Photo: Photos: Mark Ryan. **Mark Ryan explains how to securely fit a Volvo Saildrive propeller after a failed anode led to a mid-cruise malfunction.** Prevailing winds in the UK blow from the west, so why is it then, that whenever you want to travel …Continue reading »

Most skippers resorted to switching on their electric motors at the start of Leg 4 in Cape Town due to the lack of wind. Credit: Don McIntyre / MGR2025. **There's only 6,000 miles to the finish for the Mini Globe Race. The fleet faced the Agulhas Currents after setting off from Durban and katabatic winds coming into Cape Town, and is now cruising towards Saint Helena. The end of Leg 3 saw record-breaking daily mile tallies and the race's first rescue.** With less than 6,000 miles to the finish, the Mini Globe Race fleet of homebuilt 19ft plywood yachts is drawing …Continue reading »

Sea anchor A – a pre-rigged headsail with lines from head, tack and clew **Yachtmaster instructor Paul McNeill shows how redundant old headsails can be successfully recycled as items of MOB recovery equipment or as sea anchors** Paul McNeill shows how redundant old headsails can be successfully recycled as items of MOB recovery equipment or as sea anchors

A spinnaker can soon start throwing its weight around if not kept under control. Credit: David Harding **Spinnakers and cruising chutes can make downwind sailing fun and faster – as long as you don’t let them take over. David Harding offers some tips on safe handling** Spinnakers and cruising chutes can make downwind sailing fun and faster – as long as you don’t let them take over. David Harding offers some tips on safe handling

Credit: Dick Everitt **David Edgar experiences a knockdown on a fraught solo sail round Portland Bill as a gale gathers strength** David Edgar experiences a knockdown on a fraught solo sail round Portland Bill as a gale gathers strength

Skippers of modern, light-displacement cruising yachts like this Bénéteau Océanis 40 may be better off heaving to rather than lying ahull in very rough weather **Experienced ocean sailor Tim Cassidy advocates lying to the wind with no sail set in heavy weather, but stresses the importance of hull shape** Experienced ocean sailor Tim Cassidy advocates lying to the wind with no sail set in heavy weather, but stresses the importance of hull shape

Is composite wood used for park benches and decking suitable for a boat? Credit: Getty **PBO reader Colin Doyle needs to make repairs to his cabin sole. Is using composite wood a good idea? Boat builder and finisher Lyndon March has the answer** PBO reader Colin Doyle needs to make repairs to his cabin sole. Is using composite wood a good idea? Boat builder and finisher Lyndon March has the answer

The Fusion BB10 Black Box radio installed: 12V supply, aerial and speaker cables. Some wires are unused for an additional set of speakers and for a DAB accessory unit. Credit: Gilbert Park **Gilbert Park shows how he fitted an audio system controlled from his chartplotter and smartphone while underway** Gilbert Park shows how he fitted an audio system controlled from his chartplotter and smartphone while underway

There should be plenty of halyard tension when reef **David Pugh explains how to keep in shape for all conditions with a comprehensive guide to slab reefing techniques** David Pugh explains how to keep in shape for all conditions with a comprehensive guide to slab reefing techniques

Inland waterways might be shallow compared to being out at sea, but lifejackets or buoyancy aids are still essential for everyone on board. Credit: Veryan Dale/Alamy **Rupert Holmes looks at the gear you need to safely navigate the inland waterways on your boat** Rupert Holmes looks at the gear you need to safely navigate the inland waterways on your boat

With inland seas and waterways, you need a boat that can easily tack and beat upwind, plus has a shallow draught. Credit: Shotshop GmbH/Alamy **Phil Clandillon looks at the best second-hand yachts for sailing popular cruising grounds; this month, the Dutch inland seas and waterways** Phil Clandillon looks at the best second-hand yachts for sailing popular cruising grounds; this month, the Dutch inland seas and waterways

Cleat and the scanned image of its base. Photos: Gilbert Park **Gilbert Park explains how he scanned his boat's cleat to make a neat drilling template for repairs.** Like many boat owners, I often fit new bits to my boat. Some of them come with templates that make …Continue reading »

Coming off the wave and crashing hard left Island Star with a bent engine mount and cracked starter motor. Credit: John Willis **John Willis explains the consequences of cresting a bigger-than-expected wave while helming his 25ft motorboat** John Willis explains the consequences of cresting a bigger-than-expected wave while helming his 25ft motorboat

ARC 'yellow shirt' Paul Bishop was among those to volunteer to give blood. Credit: WCC **Thirty willing volunteers lined up outside a mobile blood bank to donate to help one of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers participants.** Thirty willing volunteers lined up outside a mobile blood bank to donate to help one of the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers participants.

The decking laminate on Brian Stirling's yacht was coming unstuck from the steel substrate. Credit: Brian Stirling **The Dek-King installed on the benches of Brian Stirling's yacht is coming unstuck. What is the best adhesive for making repairs** The Dek-King installed on the benches of Brian Stirling's yacht is coming unstuck. What is the best adhesive for making repairs

Clive sailing his Dabber. Note the barely discernible wake. Credit: Clive Marsh **Slow sailboats leave no wake, and the minimal water disturbance also means greater opportunities to observe marine life, says Clive Marsh** Slow sailboats leave no wake, and the minimal water disturbance also means greater opportunities to observe marine life, says Clive Marsh

Eric Frattini, The Uru Expedition led by Kitin Muñoz, 1988. The totora reed raft sailing in the Pacific Ocean towards French Polynesia. Photo Eric Frattini. Private Collection. Courtesy of Eric Frattini. **Discover how the incredible story of the Uru, a 20m reed sailboat, challenges modern ideas of boat design and offers lessons for future shipbuilders.** There was a single sailboat in this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale, but it’s probably not the kind you’re picturing. Forget …Continue reading »

Photo: Nicholas Koligiannis. **Nicholas Koligiannis explains how he lit up his yacht with a mast spotlight to be more visible at busy nighttime anchorages.** Have you considered adding a mast spotlight to your yacht? Perhaps we’re asking too much of the good old anchor …Continue reading »

Based on the Westerly 22, the Nomad had a longer, higher coachroof and more room below. Photo: Carolyn Jenkins / Alamy. **Clive Marsh spotlights roomy 10ft to 26ft Westerly Yachts for family cruising that can still be found at dinghy prices.** Westerly yachts can be seen at most UK ports and harbours: they’re roomy family boats and some are designed for …Continue reading »

The top-end engine rebuilt and installed on the Chaparral 2550 SX, Soul Rebel. Photo: Drew Maglio. **After years of searching for his dream boat, Drew Maglio explains how he fixed the V8 engine on his new-to-him Chaparral 2550 SX with an impressive top-end engine rebuild** After years of searching for his dream boat, Drew Maglio explains how he fixed the V8 engine on his new-to-him Chaparral 2550 SX with an impressive top-end engine rebuild.

Barry encountered challenging weather conditions on the home stretch between France and England. Credit: @adventuresofaseadog **After nine years of circumnavigating the globe, 'old Seadog' Barry Perrins talks to Laura Hodgetts about seamanship, the realities of sailing offshore and his onboard essentials** After nine years of circumnavigating the globe, 'old Seadog' Barry Perrins talks to Laura Hodgetts about seamanship, the realities of sailing offshore and his onboard essentials

Not all owners bother with a winter cover, but will usually protect the cockpit. Photo: Jake Kavanagh. **Ashore or afloat, winter cold and damp can have a detrimental effect. Jake Kavanagh looks at the options for keeping condensation and moisture at bay** Ashore or afloat, winter cold and damp can have a detrimental effect. Jake Kavanagh looks at the options for keeping condensation and moisture at bay

Once you have your pendulum servo self-steering gear set up, avoid the temptation to fiddle with it until you have looked at sail trim first. Photo: Jake Kavanagh. **Andrew Simpson looks at pendulum servo self-steering gears, and describes how to get the best out of them** Andrew Simpson looks at pendulum servo self-steering gears, and describes how to get the best out of them

Illustration by Claudia Myatt. **Leo Heaney’s regular yacht club race night quickly turns dangerous after an unexpected boat collision. After seven months of repairs and frustration, here are the lessons learned.** Leo Heaney’s regular yacht club race night quickly turns dangerous after an unexpected boat collision. After seven months of repairs and frustration, here are the lessons learned.