Alex Thomson and his co-skipper, Spanish sailor Guillermo Altadill, were airlifted off the 60ft yacht Hugo Boss yesterday afternoon some 82 miles off the north coast of Spain. They had…
Elaine Bunting
Video: Dramatic rescue of French sailor and his cat in rough seas 400 miles south of Alaska
Scroll down for video If ever a reminder were needed about how desperately dangerous it can be calling for help at sea, this video shows it most graphically. This grainy…
Storming the ARC – the fast way to cross the Atlantic in a cruising rally
Fish caught… 0 Freshly cooked meals …0 Books read …0 Sunbathing hours …0 Sundowners… 1 Vaquita was sailing so fast she sounded as if she were electrically charged. “We were…
Bluewater Sailing Techniques Part 1: introducing our 12-part series with a cruise in the Pacific
We begin our new 12-part multimedia series on Bluewater Sailing Techniques in stunning Fiji
Video: 33 of the world’s finest classic yachts at Les Voiles de St Tropez 2015
Each year, Les Voiles de St Tropez regatta attracts a dazzling mixture of yachts from day sailers to superyachts, and some of the finest-looking maxis and performance cruisers in the world.…
Modern and classic yachts ready to skirmish at Les Voiles de St Tropez 2015
After a coffee in the Café de Paris or a glass of rosé at the Hotel Sube, the best way to appreciate the unashamedly glamorous Les Voiles de St Tropez…
Video: Nautor launches new Swan 115 flagship at Monaco Yacht Show
A year after the debut of the Swan 105, Nautor returned to the Monaco Yacht Show last week with a yacht even larger. The first Swan 115, the dark blue-hulled…
Monaco Yacht Show – how the financial crisis changed sailing superyacht designs
Nothing can prepare you for the Monaco Yacht Show. It is a temple to superyachting, set in probably the only place in the world that seems custom-made to give it…
What should you keep in your grab bag or panic bag on a long voyage?
Panic bags, or grab bags if you prefer, are the collection of essentials that we all ardently hope will languish unused in a locker. Nonetheless, they are an essential part…
Abandoned yacht Troll – why the Irish Navy was right to sink it and not salvage it
This week we learned that the Irish Navy had sunk a yacht, Troll, that had been abandoned by her owner and crew last October and had fetched up off the…
What downwind sails should you have for an Atlantic crossing?
What downwind sails should you buy for an Atlantic crossing or cruising beyond the Caribbean? This is one of the biggest questions skippers face when equipping a yacht for bluewater…
Cowes Week on the hunt for new sponsor as Aberdeen Asset Management prepares to bow out
After some of the most diverse racing in its 180-year history, Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week finishes this weekend facing another chapter of change and the search for a new backer…
Oyster Yacht sank and five crew rescued after ‘incident that compromised hull integrity’
An Oyster yacht that sank off the coast of Spain in July may have foundered following a hull failure. Polina Star III was a 90ft extended version of the Oyster 825.…
Team SCA navigator Libby Greenhalgh wins Ladies Day Trophy at Cowes Week 2015
Leading weather forecaster and racing sailor Libby Greenhalgh was awarded the Ladies Day Trophy yesterday at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week. The annual award, a highlight of Liz Earle Ladies Day,…
Video: an introduction to the week’s racing at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week 2015
This year sees the 180th annual Cowes Week regatta and, with over 800 yachts taking part, is growing again to justify its place as one of the greatest of British summer…
Video: Hunting the wreck of the SS Varvassi off the Needles on the Isle of Wight
How many people can stand on the wreck of the SS Varvassi? This great little video might just show a bizarre new record as a group of people decide to stand…
Why paper charts still have a place alongside iPad and electronic navigation
When you open up any electronic navigation program you usually see a disclaimer telling you not to rely on its accuracy. ‘All charts and maps are for reference purpose only.…
Portsmouth is putting on a brilliant dress rehearsal for ‘bringing the America’s Cup home’
How would it feel if Sir Ben Ainslie were to succeed in his grand ambition to ‘bring the Cup home’? The America’s Cup World Series Portsmouth answered that today. It…
Musto Women’s Evolution Primaloft Jacket
This is my new favourite mid-layer jacket. The Musto Women’s Evolution Primaloft Jacket is warm, but incredibly light. It is filled with PrimaLoft, a patented synthetic microfibre that has almost magic…
Nautor announces a new Swan 54, a purebred bluewater quality cruiser
One of yachting’s most prestigious and long-running brands, Nautor’s Swan, has announced a new yacht and the new Swan 54 is significant in being at the smaller end of the…