As a sea survival instructor, I have been evacuated from a liferaft by helicopter and over the course of my sailing career I have helped with several practice Hi-Line transfers. …
Pip Hare
Pip Hare’s sailing masterclass: How to make the most of a water ballast system
No two water ballast systems seem to be the same, but the principles for use and troubleshooting remain the same. Here are some guidelines for success. Filling ballast The ballast…
Vendée Globe 2020: Pip Hare on preparing for the world’s toughest race
It would be easy to assume the toughest challenge of the Vendée Globe Race is racing a 60ft IMOCA alone, battling the elements, sleep deprived and exhausted. But for me,…
Transatlantic sailing clothes: Pip Hare explains how to pack light
In November last year I completed my 18th transatlantic so my kit bag is now fairly trimmed down. Here’s a rundown of the sailing clothes I pack when crossing the…
iPad sailing: Pip Hare’s top tips on using your tablet to navigate
These days it’s rare for me not to use a tablet as part of my navigation equipment. The fact I can take my tablet with me anywhere in the world…
Pip Hare’s top tips for preventing chafe on lines, sails and hardware
Chafe on sails and ropes is something we should expect as part of the general wear and tear on passage, but equally it is something we can protect against. Here…
Boom preventers: How to use one and why they’re worth the hassle to rig
Rigging a boom preventer will allow you to sail a true downwind course without a constant worry about crew safety. I also use it to pin the boom in its…
Spinnaker wraps: Pip Hare’s tips on dealing with a tangled kite
I can still feel the pain of my first really bad single-handed spinnaker wrap. I was in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, took my eye off the sail for…
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…
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,…
All carbon Arcona 465 on test – is this the ultimate performance cruiser?
Performance cruisers are designed and sold to chew up the miles on longer journeys without sacrificing too much comfort. Yet many new owners find that their boat that sailed so…
How to reef short-handed and how to know when the time is right to reduce sail
The decision to reef is as much about boat handling as it is about wind strength. So try to take a holistic view of how the whole boat feels and…
iBoating marine navigation app for iPad and Android
A surprisingly versatile and comprehensive app but not easy to use and contains some annoying quirks.
iNavX marine navigation app for iPad and iPhone
A good all-round package and especially versatile for ability to use raster and vector charts from multiple providers.
Transas iSailor marine navigation app for iPad and Android
Good basic functionality – a full standalone navigation app – and plenty of advanced options as well, but each one incurs a fee.
Garmin BlueChart Mobile app for iPad
Slick and well designed navigational planning app that integrates seamlessly with onboard Garmin systems
Inside the Infiniti 46 – video tour of the world’s first production offshore racer with DSS foils
Though most of us are captivated by the images of flying boats from International Moths to America’s Cup catamarans, the increased athleticism and technical ability required to manage these high-tech…
What to eat when sailing short-handed – a nutritional guide for offshore sailors
Your diet offshore should be as good as, or even better, than it is at home. As with any sport, nutrition and hydration are essential for maintaining good performance. The…
12 yacht trackers compared to help you choose the right unit for your voyage
Advances in tracking technologies have had a significant impact on offshore sailing, both cruising and racing. Once something used exclusively by extreme adventurers and offshore racers – significant falls in…
Short-handed sailing: Pip Hare on gybing a symmetric spinnaker
Gybing a symmetric kite double-handed is a tough manoeuvre and there is no question that practice makes perfect. Setting up your boat so things are within reach is essential, as…