Offwind sails keep you sailing in lighter airs, but a furling system will make it far safer and easier to rig and set sails solo

Whether it’s by choice or necessity, being able to handle your vessel solo in harbour and at sea is a safety skill that’s also hugely enjoyable, says Detlef Jens

When asked why he always sails alone, a well-known character of YouTube fame who notoriously sails in the far north, …Continue reading »

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When a Yachting Monthly reader questions the need for pyrotechnic flares, our resident expert, Rachael Sprot, explains the pros and cons

Sarah and Jan co-own Audax, a Hanse 348 based in Plymouth for cruising the West Country and northern France. They …Continue reading »

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Photo: Clare James Photography

Pinning down what caused recurrent yacht engine trouble that affected multiple cruises took patience and perseverance for Justin Morton

A year or so ago I was helping a friend, Monty Halls, bring his boat Sobek, around from Plymouth to …Continue reading »

The post Solving yacht engine trouble: ‘Water had got in through the filler cap’ appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Managing known risks is one thing, but how do you prepare for unexpected events? Mark Chisnell examines the problem of rogue waves

If there is a single point on the planet that figures in the imagination of every sailor, it’s Cape Horn. …Continue reading »

The post Rogue waves! What can they teach us about managing risk at sea appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

After a navigation error leads to a 4-knot grounding in the Hebrides, Rachael Sprot explains how to assess hull damage and manage the crew

Emma and Karl are cruising the Outer Hebrides aboard their Sweden 390, Vision. They put the boat on autopilot after …Continue reading »

The post What to do when your yacht hits a rock under autopilot appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Expert Rachael Sprot tackles a mid-channel crisis: Helen and Mark are over-pressed with a jammed furler and rising winds. What's the move?

Helen and Mark sail their Halberg Rassy 34, Gemini, in the Bristol Channel. They’ve left Padstow at high water at …Continue reading »

The post The furler has jammed and the wind is building: What do you do? appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Many cruising sailors can’t think of anything worse than charging round the cans, but it can make you a far better cruising sailor, says Nigel Lloyd

As a committed cruiser of 30 years, I often wondered what the point of yacht racing was. There seemed to …Continue reading »

The post Cruising to the starting line: How to get started yacht racing appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

A braided line is spliced and coiled differently to a stranded line, while knots weaken them in different ways

This extract from RYA Knots, Splices and Ropework by Gordon Perry and Steve Judkins explains how ropes are made and used for running rigging to help you knot, splice and care for them better

To master the practical aspects of knotting and ropework, it is important to learn a little about the materials, tools …Continue reading »

The post Essential Guide to Marine Rope Materials and Construction: How Ropes are Made appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Pete Goss was enchanted by the Isles of Scilly, but deliberately going aground still feels unnatural, so he’s outlined how he does it...

With life pulled in too many directions we’ve come to the conclusion that any window of opportunity must be buttered …Continue reading »

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