Category: Europe

James Stevens considers a problem sent in by a Yachting Monthly reader who wants to know whether to proceed when a navigation light is obscured Sue is cruising around the small ports of north Brittany singlehanded on board a 9m cruising yacht. She is intending to enter a small harbour with a visitor’s buoy for…

You may not need to rely on ancient navigation skills, but they can enrich your sailing, and enhance your sense of when something isn’t right, says William Thomson Yacht navigation can be defined as knowing which way to go. This sounds simple, but to do it you need to process three complex pieces of information.…

James Stevens considers a problem sent in by a Yachting Monthly reader who wants to know how to avoid a fleet of racing dinghies? Alan is returning to his mooring up a tidal river after a day sail in his 9m yacht Starburst. He has one crew member, Jack, who has sailed with him for…

Crew safety is paramount for any skipper, and lessons can be learned from mishaps on other yachts, says Roger Brydges as he looks into steering loss at sea Retiring from the MAIB (Marine Accident Investigation Branch) has allowed me to reflect on developments in marine safety over the past few decades, particularly in the sailing…

What does it really take to sail an Atlantic circuit? Justin Halewood cuts through the noise to share what he and his family have learned For many people, sailing the Atlantic Circuit is a voyage of a lifetime, encompassing both adventure and the challenge of crossing the world’s second-largest ocean. Yet, like any great adventure,…

And they are off! Spectacular is one of the few words to describe the magnificent panorama of the ARC 2023 yachts sailing towards the horizon at the start of the 2,700-mile journey to St. Lucia. Days and often years of preparation are over. The ARC 2023 saw 156 yachts cross the start line at…

Arriving in unfamiliar harbours is part of the excitement of cruising, but it can be stressful without careful preparation, says Harry Dekkers Discovering the unknown and finding places you have never been to before is one of the greatest appeals of sailing beyond our home waters. Entering unfamiliar harbours can, however, be difficult and stressful,…

James Stevens considers a problem sent in by a Yachting Monthly reader who wants to know how to keep clear of shipping in fog? Anne is regretting attempting an ambitious passage from Penzance to Plymouth in Flinders, her 8m yacht with her husband as crew. There was a good breeze at the start of the…

Buying a yacht, especially your first, can be a daunting experience. Duncan Kent offers expert guidance on how to get it right The process of buying a sailing yacht can sometimes be long-winded and stressful, especially if it’s your first time considering boat ownership. To avoid it being too daunting the first step is to…

YM expert Rachael Sprot steps aboard to help. This month she explains how to gain confidence with the spinnaker handling and usage ‘I have a confession to make,’ said my friend and fellow sailing instructor, Liz Le Mare, ‘I need spinnaker handling training.’ I was confused, since she’s often racing around the Solent as a…