Decent sailing gloves are an essential part of being both comfortable and safe when afloat in the winter months. Wet hands get cold very quickly, so it’s particularly important that…
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Trapped upside down in the North Sea
John Passmore is a man unafraid to move with the times. A professional journalist with a distinguished newspaper career, he now hosts a powerful online presence in the guise of…
Best sailing gloves: 8 top pairs to protect your hands and keep them warm
For much of the year thermal insulation is an important attribute for sailing gloves, and is especially true for those on faster boats such as RIBs, where windchill can be…
6 best sun protection and comfort kit for sailors
Year-round exposure to the sun and the double-hit of rays reflecting off the water means that sailors have a high risk of skin damage, making sun protection key onboard. Liveaboards…
Best boat binoculars: 3 top options on the market
For sailors choosing the best boat binoculars can be a difficult call. What areas should you be looking to prioritise? Every sailor knows that anxious moment as you’re making a…
Gear: G-SHOCK Smartwatch – waterproof watch
The new G-SHOCK Smartwatch– the GSW-H1000 – includes an optical heart rate sensor, compass, altitude/air pressure sensor, accelerometer, gyrometer and GPS. The 1.2in colour screen has a three-tier user configurable…
Best waterproof bag: 8 drybags tested
Once a novelty, then a go-to item for dinghy sailors, a drybag is now a must have for all sailors and watersports enthusiasts. After all, why would you not keep…
Best cooler box and cooling kit for sailors
With the summer now in full swing, keeping cool is key for those of us spending time out on the water. And for those of us heading to the beach…
Best water toys: the latest inflatables and kit for fun afloat
With the Northern Hemisphere summer now in full swing many of us have our boats back on the water. But with long distance cruising still difficult, perhaps it is time…
New Gear: Gill OS3 jacket and trousers with new plant-based coating
The new Gill OS3 fabric is a two-layer system, which has been developed to provide lightweight, competitively priced foul weather gear for coastal use. As with many clothing and accessories…
Food for sailing: Our guide to the best options
While we know the top professional sailors, Olympians and America’s Cup grinders are lean, mean machines who inhale protein shakes to fuel their elite exercise routines, there is also a…
Best sailing thermal: baselayers for year-round warmth
A technical base layer or sailing thermal is the foundation of any layering system. It adds warmth and comfort for minimal bulk. While some elite athlete sailors may grind winches…
Diving from a boat – advice from the experts
As cruisers, we can find ourselves in some of the most beautiful places this world has to offer. But more often than not, the real magic lies just below the…
Best boating accessories: Summer sailing essentials from barbecues to coolboxes
Best portable barbecues Cobb Grill Premier Plus portable barbecue I was introduced to the Cobb when a friend offered me a hot dog – which he was cooking in the…
America’s Cup clothing: What each team wears and why
Watching the AC75s cracking along on a foil, it’s easy to forget that innovation pervades every element of elite racing, particularly America’s Cup racing and goes well beyond simply boat…
Fusion StereoActive review: This waterproof speaker packs an audible punch
There is a good reason why the Fusion StereoActive should probably be at the top of the list for any sailor looking for a waterproof Bluetooth speaker. Designed and built…
London to Stockholm on an 87ft houseboat: An extract from Sailing Barge Venta
Back in the 1960s when the last Thames sailing barges were coming out of trading, a few were taken by bold individuals as yachts or houseboats. The best of them…
C. Sherman Hoyt memoirs: A typically frank extract from Yankee Yachtsman
Born in 1878, C Sherman Hoyt sailed in every racing yacht imaginable for the best part of 60 years. Tireless, highly skilled, with an almost uncanny ability to spot a…
Why stand-up paddleboards have become the must-have boating accessory
The advent of high-strength PVC inflatables and high-pressure pumps has transformed the world of marine toys. The variety of inflatable stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and windsurfers is getting all ages afloat…
Christmas gifts for sailors: Our pick of the very best kit
Are you wondering what to get the sailor in your life for Christmas? Here is our pick of the best products that would make perfect a Christmas gift for a…