Before dark As routine, discuss what sail changes may be required overnight then set up as much as possible before dark. This helps minimise snags and should include checking sheets…
Pip Hare
How to avoid grounding: Top tips from pro sailor Pip Hare
The 2017 investigation into the grounding of a Clipper Round the World yacht in South Africa delivered some interesting lessons for us all. The most notable points were that: the…
How to balance speed and comfort when sailing – top tips from Pip Hare
Most of us now rely on some form of routeing software when sailing offshore. These packages calculate the fastest theoretical route between two points based on polars and predicted wind,…
How to moor double-handed: Top tips from pro sailor Pip Hare
Mooring can be a stressful situation and mooring double-handed takes thought, preparation and calm heads. As the average couple’s cruising boat gets bigger the challenge of coming alongside safely at…
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490 test: A boat that demands to be noticed
Pip Hare tests the first Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 490, the eighth generation of its hugely popular cruising range
Fujin: The inside story of this carbon catamaran’s Caribbean refit
After Fujin capsized during the 2018 RORC Caribbean 600 race it would have been understandable if owner Greg Slyngstad had thrown in the towel and walked away. But Slyngstad resolved…
Double the fun? Pip Hare shares her top tips for sailing double-handed
Sailing double-handed as a couple is becoming more popular as partners elect to enjoy the experience of cruising and ocean voyaging without the complications of extra crew. It can be…
Expert sailing advice: How to handle a lightning strike on board
Lightning is the thing that scares me the most at sea. Having never experienced a lightning strike I think this is mostly a fear of the unknown, coupled with a…
Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300 review: The pocket rocket inspired by foiling IMOCAs
Jeanneau’s latest Sun Fast is a whole bundle of fun, as Pip Hare discovered on a full test of the 3300 off La Trinite
JPK 1030 test: The intuitive French flier that’s easy for couples to control
Pip Hare feels right at home on the JPK 1030 – a quick, no-nonsense boat that’s ideal for short-handers
Sailing through calms: Expert advice from ocean racer Pip Hare
Psychologically, I have always found sailing through calms to be far worse than battling any storm. Endlessly flogging sails and oppressive heat can fray tempers on any yacht. With no…
Tried and tested: Spinlock Deckvest VITO lifejacket
What is it? Leisure version of the lifejacket worn by pro racers Who is it for? Sailors who need to wear a lifejacket for long periods at a time For…
Grand Soleil 52LC test: Italian beauty offers stimulating sailing
The Grand Soleil 52 Long Cruise Sport (52LC) is wedged, stern-to, in between a grubby ketch and a motorboat. Its long decks are finished in graphite gelcoat, which absorbs the…
Amel 50 review: An indoor sailing experience to excite even hardened sailors
Amel has a long established following for yachts designed and built to match the needs of liveaboard and bluewater cruisers. It is reputed for its singular way of doing things…
J/99 review: All thrills, no frills on board this double-handed racing machine
We ghosted down the Hamble River under mainsail alone, the water slipping silently past our red hull in the grainy half-light of a winter morning. We’d hoisted the mainsail in…
X-Yachts X4-9 test: Danish yard strikes a tough balance with hybrid design
The X49 is squarely aimed at the no-compromise sailor who wants it all. It combines a comfortable, stylish interior, with clean, beautiful lines on deck and can even be raced…
Finot-Conq FC3 53 test: Can this offshore cruiser deliver the best of both worlds?
If the electric green hull and striking looks of Nica don’t grab your attention, then its on-paper description certainly will. This Finot-Conq FC3 53 is a carbon-hulled, water-ballasted, swing keel…
Blog: What it’s really like to sail in the Rolex Fastnet Race double-handed
It is over. We crossed the finish line at 21:09 last night coming in 17th in double handed class and 33rd in Class 3 which all things considered is probably…
How to climb a mast safely at sea – masterclass with ocean racer Pip Hare
Of all the things I have encountered over my sailing career, climbing a mast at sea is one of the top five to get my heart racing. Any motion felt…
Hallberg-Rassy 44 video – traditional cruising values in a new hull shape
The bitterly cold wind is cutting through my four layers of technical clothing as though they are made of mesh – the instruments tell me the water temperature is 4ºC,…