**Sixty years after Francis Chichester made history, John Passmore sets off from Plymouth on a solo circumnavigation in his wake** Just as we stepped aboard Samsara, bobbing on the sunny waters alongside Poole Quay, my wife, Cathy, was handed a …Continue reading » The post In the wake of Gipsy Moth: John Passmore’s Chichester homage appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

The Southampton Boat Show 2022 is held at Mayflower Park **New products on display at September’s Southampton Boat Show** While the towering luxury yachts and sleek hulls at Mayflower Park do tend to steal the spotlight, any seasoned boat …Continue reading » The post Small upgrades, big impact: The best new gear at Southampton Boat Show appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Port-en-Bessin: turn hard to starboard through the lock for the visitor’s pontoon. Photo: Rachael Sprot **Author of the new Shell Channel Pilot, Rachael Sprot, highlights one of the most underrated cruising grounds in the English Channel** The Shell Channel Pilot covers 99 ports in the Channel, along with numerous anchorages. Revisiting all of them over the …Continue reading » The post Cruising the Baie de Seine: ‘Arrival in Dives marina is hard-earned thanks to the sandbanks, but it’s well worth it’ appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**The best marine equipment and services as chosen by the sailing public have been announced at the inaugural Sailors’ Choice Awards** Run by sister sailing titles, Practical Boat Owner and Yachting Monthly, the aim of the awards is to highlight the …Continue reading » The post Winners announced in the Sailors’ Choice Awards appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Start with a decent anchor that you know and trust, is big enough for the boat and fits your boat roller **Anchoring is different for every boat, but having a process that everyone is happy with is key to feeling secure on the hook, says Lars Hellman** Anchoring is like a religion. There are a number of beliefs and within every belief there are varieties and interpretations. …Continue reading » The post How to anchor for a good night’s sleep appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**Dick McClary give us his expert opinion on the benefits of tiller steering over wheel-driven boats** There is a lot you can change on board a yacht, but the method of steering – wheel or tiller …Continue reading » The post What’s better for sailing, wheel or tiller steering? appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**Talented sailor and skipper, Rachael Sprot, sailed more than 100,000 miles before becoming the author of the new Shell Channel Pilot** Producing a new edition of the Shell Channel Pilot after the retirement of Tom Cunliffe was always going to be …Continue reading » The post Charting her own course: How Rachael Sprot stepped up to write the iconic Shell Channel Pilot appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Wheelyboat on the River Orwell **This month, Paul Heiney nominates The Woolverstone Project as our charity of the month. Here are the wonderful things the organisation is doing for disabled adult sailors ** On a cool and breezy Monday morning in May, the atmosphere around the project buildings at Alton Water near Ipswich, …Continue reading » The post The Woolverstone Project: ‘On Monday mornings I come alive’ – Sailing Charity of the Month appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Sailors, like the Copeland family, above, explore places scientists can’t easily get to. Photo: Bjorn Bertoft **High-latitude sailor and environmental campaigner Jon Amtrup explores how sailors can help protect the ocean through being citizen scientists** Staring out over the white-speckled blue, the wind pushes us gently west towards Shetland. In between, there is the ocean …Continue reading » The post What it’s like sailing for a greater good as a citizen scientist appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**Every month Yachting Monthly's resident expert, Rachael Sprot take on a YM readers question. This month tackling a drying channel** Tim and Josh have found a space for their Bowman 40, Artemis, which has a 1.5m draught, at Treluggan Boatyard …Continue reading » The post How do you navigate a drying channel when the charts disagree? appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Photo by Viveka Herzum **Direct from the pontoons in Les Sables d'Olonne, find out the skipper's final words before departure and how to follow the race** And they’re off! On the afternoon of Sunday 6th September, fifteen skippers left the Vendee Globe Pontoons in Les Sables …Continue reading » The post Dispatches from Les Sables d’Olonne: Fifteen solo skippers start the Golden Globe Race appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**What does it mean to race offshore on a boat bristling with advanced technology? It can be done for less than you think, as Chris Hanson explains to Theo Stocker** Electronic navigation comes in all shapes and sizes these days, from an app on your phone to a purpose-made top-end …Continue reading » The post Space-age navigation without the space-age price tag appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Eye trauma is a risk from debris during boat maintenance as well as from flogging sails and ropes. Photo: Mbbirdy, Getty **From making tea to spotting 180° steering blunders, Libby Purves reflects on what truly makes a great shipmate** Kindly, tolerant people don’t usually rate their friends according to how useful they are. If they do it’s not so …Continue reading » The post Forget good company, give me a crew who can fix the head! – Libby Purves appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Photo by Per Schjelderup **Swedish solo skipper Pär Nyman explains how he prepared for the Golden Globe Race in just a year, and the role of mental health in offshore solo sailing** ‘I keep pinching myself in the arm to make sure I’m not dreaming,’ says Swedish solo skipper Pär Nyman. Days …Continue reading » The post Mad dash to the start line: How Swedish solo skipper Pär Nyman put together got Golden Globe Race-ready in under a year appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Andrea Lodolo / GGR 2026 **Weeks out from the race's start, skipper Andrea Lodolo shares the joy of sailing solo, and how a dramatic lifestyle change brought him to the 2026 Golden Globe Race** Andrea Lodolo is two weeks out from setting off to sail around the world solo, nonstop, and unassisted for the …Continue reading » The post ‘The joy is the journey’: How Golden Globe Race skipper Andrea Lodolo went from private equity to solo sailing appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

The youngsters took charge on the sail to the Yealm. Photo: Jane Russell **Celebrating 100 years of the BBC Shipping Forecast, Jane Russell explores some special places by sailing in the Plymouth area ** Plymouth Westwards from Berry Head, and pointing its toes out into the Atlantic, the Plymouth sea area stretches beyond Land’s …Continue reading » The post Sailing the Plymouth area: ‘We felt our way in over the shoaling flats and anchored in the evening light’ appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**What are the pros and cons of a double headsail rig? And what are the options to possibly convert from the usual sloop to a double headsail configuration?** The vast majority of production sailing boats these days are rigged as sloops and fitted with a genoa on a …Continue reading » The post Why two headsails are better than one appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Keeping on top of a rodent problem is essential but can be challenging when at sea. Photo: BSIP/Universal Images Group via Getty Images **What are the most effective humane methods of keeping rodents off your boat? Chris Taylor explores the options** Among the many things that keep a skipper awake at night, few are as unwelcome as the pitter-patter of tiny …Continue reading » The post How to humanely keep rodents off your boat appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**With minimum fuss you can get a quote for your boat online that promises to be flexible, adjustable and competitively priced** Time spent thinking about things other than improving or using the boat is considered time wasted for most sailors, but …Continue reading » The post Suit yourself and your sailing with Visicover boat insurance appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**The feeling of sun and wind on our faces is a magical part of sailing, but we need to take protecting our eyes and the skin around them seriously, says Richard Newsom** The sea is a beautiful but harsh environment. It requires a variety of safety equipment to keep sailors safe. This …Continue reading » The post How to protect your eyes, face, and skin at sea appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

The chart table is now aft facing, but is still large enough for leisure folio charts. Having a multifunction display and chartplotter to hand is useful for navigation, seeing instrument data, and controlling networked devices. Photo: Richard Langdon **We have more weather data than ever, but obsessing over forecasts keeps us tied to the dock. It's time to stop overthinking and sail** Sitting down and worrying about the small stuff whilst preparing Skylax for sea, I remember how it used to be. …Continue reading » The post Stop obsessing over forecasts: My cure for sailing’s analysis paralysis – Lu Heikell appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**We take a closer look at the key boat launches, new gear, events and attractions that make the UK’s annual national boat show a must for all sailors** The days are still often warm, the season not yet over, and a whole host of new boats have arrived …Continue reading » The post Your Southampton International Boat Show 2026 Preview appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Dart Gig Club in all their glory. Photo: Monty Halls **Monty Halls takes on the clans in the World Pilot Gig Championships. Here's how it went.** A great gathering of the coastal clans, a spectacle that is un-matched anywhere in Britain, in Europe, and dare I …Continue reading » The post Notes from the World Pilot Gig Championships: ‘We watched a glorious parade of gigs pass metres from our stern’ appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

With the boat in the water sea trials could begin, including experimenting with ballast arrangement. Photo: Mark Lloyd **Pete Goss trades gaff-rigged instinct for high-tech data as he preps a 50ft DazCat for next year’s AZAB race** The start of this season is a tale of two boats with DMS Vinyl, a 50ft DazCat built out of …Continue reading » The post Why attention to detail beats gut instinct on the offshore circuit appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**Regional initiatives in the UK to clean up and prevent owners from abandoning end-of-life boats simply show that the Government and the marine industry have their heads in the sand, says Barry Pickthall** Recently in Yachting Monthly we set out the abandoned boat problem as councils, harbour and river authorities try to deal …Continue reading » The post How new tech could solve the end-of-life boat crisis – a five point plan appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Traffic jam at 0630 in Es Freus – the narrow gap between Ibiza and Formentera. Photo: Barry McCrae **‘What more could possibly go wrong?’ Three men in a boat embark on a Mediterranean delivery trip from Athens to Spain that went badly in almost every way.** The J/105 my friend Richard had just bought was lying in a small harbour near Athens, but it wasn’t until …Continue reading » The post A Mediterranean delivery trip goes wrong: ‘I flew across the saloon and hit my nose, resulting in a severe nosebleed’ appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**We take a look at the latest blue-water focussed yacht launches this year which are growing in both length and volume with every season** Whether you are looking to cross oceans short-handed or simply demand more space, power, and comfort at anchor, this year’s …Continue reading » The post New bigger, smarter, yachts that are built for distance appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Photo by Anna Suslova **Find out how American professional sailor Guy DeBoer is preparing to sail around the world nonstop, solo, and unassisted ahead of the 2026 Golden Globe Race** Guy DeBoer phones in from the doldrums in the middle of the Atlantic, where La Niña is ‘causing hell’ with …Continue reading » The post ‘Not in it for the spiritual experience,’ says Guy DeBoer ahead of the Golden Globe Race, ‘I’m a true competitor’ appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**From step-free decks to apartment-sized saloons, modern production yachts are pushing interior space further than ever before** Production yacht design has entered a new era where volume is no longer a dirty word for traditional sailors. Modern …Continue reading » The post 4 new high-volume cruisers pushing interior limits appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**Moored in Lagos in late October, aboard their new Contest 50CS, Alexendar Saul and wife Peggy had not packed enough winter clothing!** Both Alex and Peggy laugh when sharing their dilemma. ‘We haven’t quite made the decision yet,’ they declare, despite a …Continue reading » The post Sailing Meerlust: The Unexpected Early Retirement That Turned into a Honeymoon appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Finding the owners to pay the costs of disposal is a significant challenge. Photo: Barry Pickthall/PPL **Abandoned and unloved boats are a growing problem all over the UK’s coastline and waterways. But despite the technology available, there is no complete solution. Barry Pickthall investigates** What to do with the many abandoned boats left to rot or disintegrate in creeks, rivers and estuaries up and …Continue reading » The post The abandoned boat problem: Investigating a nationwide issue appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Entering the water is a serious step and should not be done in open water. Photo: Stuart Anthony / Alamy Stock Photo **Learning how to free a fouled propeller from fishing lines can prevent a catastrophic shipwreck during a cruise.** Whether snagged suddenly in the middle of a channel, or a drifting target for shipping, or close to a lee …Continue reading » The post Essential tips to survive a sudden emergency: How to free a boat’s propeller from rope or fishing gear appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**Anna and Angus cast off from New Zealand three years ago on an extensive circumnavigation, sailing across the Indian Ocean to the Maldives. To get to Europe, a difficult decision awaited: extend the voyage an extra 17,000 miles around South Africa or brave the Red Sea** When we departed New Zealand in May 2023, our ultimate aim was completing a circumnavigation. We have owned our 42ft …Continue reading » The post The terrifying and beautiful reality of yachting through the Middle East appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Lulworth Cove is beautifully enclosed but is susceptible to swell from the south. Photo: Francisco Martinez / Alamy Stock Photo **Jane Russell navigates the changing weather patterns along the South Coast as she sails the Shipping Forecast.** Portland The sea area of Portland wraps around the Isle of Portland from just east of the entrance into Poole …Continue reading » The post Sailing the Shipping Forecast: ‘A distant swell reminded us how lucky we were to have it so good’ appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**From wobbly dinghies to terrifying heads, Libby Purves offers vital advice on how to be a patient, gentle skipper to nervous guests** While listening to a programme on BBC Radio 4, I heard a historian quoting a medieval mystery play. These 14th- …Continue reading » The post Does your boat represent freedom or a is it a floating prison? Libby Purves appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

A wave over the deck or a rain shower can be enough to start the process of hypothermia. Photo: Nick Leather **Being too hot or too cold at sea can quickly turn a sailing trip into a disaster. Here are some ways you can stay safe on the water in different temperatures** Extremes of temperature whilst sailing affect not only our comfort but may have a significant effect on health and wellbeing. …Continue reading » The post How to deal with heat and cold at sea appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Deadman's Beach, BVI. Photo: Stuart H Newberger **Spending winter in the tropics is a dream, but cruising the Caribbean may test your ability to handle unexpected gear failures.** During the spring of 2024, a friend of mine delivered my 41ft Moody sloop from Annapolis to American Yacht Harbor …Continue reading » The post ‘There is no such thing as too much preparation’: Cruising the British Virgin Islands appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Mistral wind storm on the sea,along the coast near Cala Luna beach in Cala Gonone, Dorgali, Sardinia, Italy. **Dick Durham takes a look back at one of yacht racing's biggest disasters, but which has been overshadowed by more recent tragedies** This year marks the 75th anniversary of the world’s second worst yacht-racing disaster, and yet most sailors have never heard …Continue reading » The post ‘Astral was rolled and lost her mast as the wind increased to 80 knots’ – Dick Durham appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**Every month Yachting Monthly's resident expert, Rachael Sprot answers a readers sailing question. This month, what to do if someone anchors too close?** Clara, Fi and Ahmed are cruising north Brittany on Clara’s Rival 34, Grace. Clara is a recently-qualified Coastal Skipper, and …Continue reading » The post What to do if someone anchors too close to your boat? appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

The western entrance to the Kiel Canal leaves the North Sea near Cuxhaven on the Elbe. Photo: imageBROKER.com / Alamy Stock PhotoStock Photo **The Kiel Canal is the busiest shipping canal in the world, but it’s an easy transit for yachts that leads to a cruising nirvana, says Detlef Jens** There are not many ways into the Baltic. A yacht travelling from the west has to either go north around …Continue reading » The post Sailing through the Kiel Canal to the Baltic and beyond appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Silverback Films and Open Planet Studios with Arksen & 10% for the Ocean produced Ocean with David Attenborough. Photo: Altitude Films **The highest-grossing nature documentary of the decade premiered a year ago and has united one small corner of the marine industry behind the ocean recovery movement** The ocean is our planet’s life support system, covering over 70 per cent of the Earth, constituting over 90 per …Continue reading » The post Ocean with David Attenborough: ‘This film is really about how to create abundance…’ appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**Jamming and spoofing GPS signals is now rife in certain parts of the world, but there are ways for cruisers to survive unscathed** About three weeks before US/Israeli bombing of Iran began, Euronews.com published a fairly low-key report online about a US tanker: …Continue reading » The post Navigating blind: The urgent threat of GPS spoofing to sailors appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**We all have a pre-season boat checklist, but are your instruments lying to you? Our expert, Justin Morton, gives this guide to ensuring your electronics are accurate** We are all familiar with the list of things we need to do to get our boats ready for the …Continue reading » The post Your ultimate pre-season marine electronics checklist appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

The guest port of Baggviken on the Swedish island of Mjältön. Photo: Janneke Kuysters **Dutch couple Janneke and Wietze sail over 400 miles north in a midsummer circuit in the Gulf of Bothnia** The massive structure of Svartklubben lighthouse looms on the horizon. Standing on the small Swedish island of Singö, it guards …Continue reading » The post ‘We spot a reindeer on the shore of an island close to an anchorage’: Sailing through the Baltic to Bothnia appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

A bright moon and still waters for the night. Photo: Pete Goss MBE **Photography onboard has gone from being 'shoot and hope' with expensive equipment to available to all in a fairly short space of time says Pete Goss** Writing will always be something I enjoy but there is no denying that ‘a picture says a thousand words’. With …Continue reading » The post How the smartphone quietly conquered marine photography… eventually – Pete Goss appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**Each month Yachting Monthly's resident expert, Rachael Sprot, answers a reader's question. This month, how to cope with a prop wrap** Sadler 29, Nimbus, is on passage from North Shields to Grimsby when the engine falters and cuts out. Skipper, Tim, …Continue reading » The post How to deal with a prop wrap appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

This picture taken on February 28, 2021 shows a view of the Russian Navy frigate RFS Admiral Grigorovich (494), anchored in Port Sudan. (Photo by Ibrahim ISHAQ / AFP) (Photo by IBRAHIM ISHAQ/AFP via Getty Images) **The Ministry of Defence is investigating reports that a Russian warship fired warning shots close to a UK-registered yacht in the English Channel** The Ministry of Defence is investigating reports that a Russian warship fired warning shots close to a UK-registered yacht in the English Channel The post Russian warship reportedly fires warning shots at yacht in English Channel appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Conditions and surroundings make for beautiful sailing as well as a useful cut through from North Sea to Baltic. Photo: Detlef Jens **The Limfjord cuts through Jutland from the North Sea to the Baltic. It is also a beautiful cruising destination in its own right** The wind is blowing hard from the west, as so often happens here. The widest part of the Limfjord, Livø …Continue reading » The post Cruising the Limfjord: A guide to Denmark’s island-hopping paradise appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

**Is modern racing starting to look more like draughts than chess? Is something being lost in the pursuit of frenetic, high-speed thrills and spills?** I have been following three offshore yacht races in recent months, which allows me to vicariously scratch the itch of …Continue reading » The post ‘Give me the patient strategy of offshore racing over the spectacle of SailGP’ – Lu Heikell appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Vital Lyfe Access watermaker is portable and includes a battery for remote use. **A reverse-osmosis desalination machine for less than the cost of a set of new waterproofs? There must be some mistake…** Watermakers cost a fortune, right? This recent review of marine watermakers lists four products that range from £3,000 to £10,000 and …Continue reading » The post How 21st Century space engineering has helped make an affordable marine watermaker appeared first on Yachting Monthly.