Category: Europe
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What to do with difficult crew mid Atlantic?
James Stevens considers a problem sent in by a Yachting Monthly reader who asks What to do with difficult crew mid Atlantic? Jim is regretting taking on Ed as crew on a transatlantic voyage. Bellatrix is a sturdy 13m production GRP yacht in good condition with all the recommended safety gear for ocean sailing. Jim,…
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How to moor your yacht (and how not to)
Line-handling is an often neglected skill on which the safety of your boat and crew depends when tying up. Harry Dekkers explains what to do, and what not to Sailing itself is not that difficult, with a few basic techniques and rules to keep you and your boat safe, whether you’re on a 50-footer or…
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How these mainsail modifications revolutionised by yacht’s performance
Safety and performance improved hugely when Mike Reynolds reduced the size of his mainsail and re-configured the systems controlling it Our 1980s Yamazaki Yachts 34, Zen Again, is an IOR (International Offshore Rule) 3/4 tonner masthead cutter, with a fin keel and a skeg-hung rudder, displacing 6,000kg loaded for blue-water cruising. When we purchased…
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How transiting the Panama Canal is getting easier
Transiting the Panama canal was an epic milestone for Andy and Julie Pag. It required practical seamanship, bureaucratic navigation and help from onboard guests The journey started two months before our transit date, logging on to the website of the canal’s Small Craft Service, ASEM, to register the boat and request a transit date. I…
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Can I squeeze over this tidal sill on neaps?
James Stevens considers a problem sent in by a Yachting Monthly reader who asks if you should squeeze over a tidal sill on neaps? Tom and Jane are on holiday in North Brittany with their two children. They are on their 11m yacht with a 2m draught. The weather has been hot, with a large…
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Your complete guide to yacht pilotage (done properly)
Chartplotters are an amazing aid, but can detract from your real-world pilotage if not used with caution, says Justin Morton Long ago, in the days when paper charts were precious, navigators would sketch out the relevant details in their notebook and take it on deck rather than risk the chart getting damaged. Navigator’s notebooks have…
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Does steering failure mean a Mayday call?
James Stevens considers a problem sent in by a Yachting Monthly reader who asks if steering failure means a Mayday call? Sue is owner of Skua, a 40-year-old 10-metre GRP sloop with tiller steering. Sue has owned Skua for about 20 years and has sailed regularly, usually across the English Channel. She has three crew…
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Everything you need to know about swinging moorings
Are swinging moorings better than marinas? Ken Endean outlines everything you need to know for life on a buoy Who goes sailing to spend time in a car park? Yes, marinas are very convenient, but there’s nothing like getting back on your boat after some time away on her home mooring and feeling the weight…
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Crossing the Atlantic as a couple: Why six-hour watches are my pattern of choice
Kate Hayward is sailing around the world with her partner. She explains to Yachting Monthly why she opts for six-hour watches on long passages When Rich and I set off from Dartmouth in 2017 to do some long- distance sailing on our Cabo Rico 38 Tequila we hadn’t intended to sail around the world. However,…
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Would you sail if you found water ingress in the bilges?
James Stevens considers a problem sent in by a Yachting Monthly reader who asks whether they would set sail if they found water ingress in the bilges? Andy and Jane are on the trip of a lifetime to the Caribbean on board their 12m cruiser racer Ambition with two crew. They are currently in Las…