Category: Europe

You may never have heard of agonic and isogonic lines, but they are the secret behind what your compass tells you, says Simon Phillips Imagine for a moment, after a long expedition, you are at the geographic north pole. You look at your compass, but, perhaps unsurprisingly, it is far from pointing at your feet.…

There’s a lot to think about when planning an Atlantic crossing, but Simon Hardaker found breaking it down helped make the dream a reality If taking on an Atlantic crossing in your own boat is high on your list of sailing dreams, I can thoroughly recommend the experience. However, a dream will stay a dream…

Martin Watts explains how to reduce the friction on the reefing lines of newer yachts and improve your single-line reefing The trend in recent years is for newer yachts to have smaller just-overlapping jibs, even non-overlapping self-tacking jibs, with the mainsail area increased in compensation. Since the introduction of jib furling gear, the general initial…

James Stevens considers a problem sent in by a Yachting Monthly reader who asks whether they should cross an ocean with this skipper? Bob has just completed his degree, he is a keen dinghy racing helm who has always dreamed of crossing the Atlantic on a yacht before he settles down to a full-time job.…

Setting off on a sail is easy, but planning a cruise that keeps your options open and ensures the enjoyment of all on board is more of an art, says Justin Morton When planning a cruise more than a few days out it is rare that the navigation and weather stars align, allowing you to…

Mooring fore and aft can be a fiddly process, never more so than in Cornwall’s Polperro. If you can do it here, says Rachael Sprot, then you can do it anywhere Fancy going to Polperro next weekend?’ I asked my partner Chris on New Year’s Day. ‘We’ve finally got some high pressure coming in.’ I…

Making your yacht as easy to see as possible makes collision avoidance much easier for large vessels, says merchant seaman Tom Sanders Having worked aboard merchant vessels as well as being a yacht sailor myself, I’ve gained invaluable insights into the visibility challenges posed by small vessels and the critical importance of timely detection. Often,…

To go sailing in Italy is a must for every sailor. Italy is one of the most versatile and attractive destinations in Europe. It is home to some of the best sailing grounds in the Mediterranean. Witnessed by the large number of boats that are kept in the area. The lack of natural harbours and…

James Stevens considers a problem sent in by a Yachting Monthly reader who asks whether they should risk a short cut on a sailing passage George and Janet are on holiday in North Brittany on board their 10m yacht, Roller Coaster. North Brittany has a spectacular coastline with numerous offlying rocks which are up to…

While the Caribbean Islands are generally a very safe destination, high-profile incidents can quickly leave travellers wondering what lurks beneath its sun-and-fun veneer. British Overseas Territories tend to be the safest among the others. According to research, though, the fear of crime in the Caribbean Islands is generally overblown. Therefore, we bring you a list…