As an ex-Marine who specialised in Arctic warfare, Justin has plenty of cold-weather expertise

The clothes you wear, and how you wear them, can make all the difference when sailing during winter with the coast to yourself, says Justin Morton.

There is something really quite special about finding yourself out on the water and having most of it to yourself. …Continue reading »

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Each month Yachting Monthly's resident expert, James Stevens answers a reader's question. This month how to pick up a tricky mooring solo?

John has been sailing with friends for many years but has finally decided to buy his own yacht. It is …Continue reading »

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All of the Golden Globe Race skippers must use paper charts and sextants to navigate. Modern technology, like GPS and chartplotters, are banned. Credit: GGR

Practice makes perfect when it comes to using a sextant for navigation says Ivar Dedekam, author of Illustrated Navigation

Before using the sextant you must note the index error. All sextants have an index error, especially plastic instruments which …Continue reading »

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The Bass Strait is know for sometimes atrocious conditions with storms that track up from the Southern Ocean funneled between Australia and Tasmania. Photo: Rolex / Kurt Arrigo

When John Quinn’s boat was knocked down in the 1993 Sydney to Hobart yacht race, his harness broke and he found himself overboard at night in a hurricane-strength storm. Amazingly he lived to tell the tale, as Mark Chisnell discovered

When we saw the race briefing it was a little bit fuzzy,’ John Quinn told me, recalling events that had …Continue reading »

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Line-handling is an often neglected skill on which the safety of your boat and crew depends when tying up. Harry Dekkers explains what to do, and what not to

Sailing itself is not that difficult, with a few basic techniques and rules to keep you and your boat safe, …Continue reading »

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James Stevens considers a problem sent in by a Yachting Monthly reader who asks What to do with difficult crew mid Atlantic?

Jim is regretting taking on Ed as crew on a transatlantic voyage. Bellatrix is a sturdy 13m production GRP yacht …Continue reading »

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Safety and performance improved hugely when Mike Reynolds reduced the size of his mainsail and re-configured the systems controlling it

Our 1980s Yamazaki Yachts 34, Zen Again, is an IOR (International Offshore Rule) 3/4 tonner masthead cutter, with a fin …Continue reading »

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Transiting the Panama canal was an epic milestone for Andy and Julie Pag. It required practical seamanship, bureaucratic navigation and help from onboard guests

The journey started two months before our transit date, logging on to the website of the canal’s Small Craft Service, …Continue reading »

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James Stevens considers a problem sent in by a Yachting Monthly reader who asks if you should squeeze over a tidal sill on neaps?

Tom and Jane are on holiday in North Brittany with their two children. They are on their 11m yacht with …Continue reading »

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Chartplotters are an amazing aid, but can detract from your real-world pilotage if not used with caution, says Justin Morton

Long ago, in the days when paper charts were precious, navigators would sketch out the relevant details in their notebook …Continue reading »

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James Stevens considers a problem sent in by a Yachting Monthly reader who asks if steering failure means a Mayday call?

Sue is owner of Skua, a 40-year-old 10-metre GRP sloop with tiller steering. Sue has owned Skua for about 20 …Continue reading »

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Are swinging moorings better than marinas? Ken Endean outlines everything you need to know for life on a buoy

Who goes sailing to spend time in a car park? Yes, marinas are very convenient, but there’s nothing like getting …Continue reading »

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