Andy Pag explores why orcas have been damaging yachts off Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar, and how to protect your boat

There were 52 reported orca incidents between June 2020 and March 2021. Credit: David Smith

Andy Pag explores why orcas have been damaging yachts off Spain, Portugal and Gibraltar, and how to protect your boat

The post Encounters with orcas & how to protect your boat appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

With a tidal stream against you and a tired boat crew, should you push on or turn around? James Stevens answers your questions of seamanship

Should you push on to the next port with a tired boat crew and a tidal against you or turn around? Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

With a tidal stream against you and a tired boat crew, should you push on or turn around? James Stevens answers your questions of seamanship

The post Should you push on with a tired boat crew? appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Chris Ayres realised a childhood dream when he sailed from Britain to New Zealand, via Panama, in a 28ft yacht – bravely setting sail solo when crew let him down at the 11th hour

Sunrise in mid-Atlantic with Sea Bear, Chris Ayres's Vancouver 28 running before the trade winds. Credit: Chris Ayres

Chris Ayres realised a childhood dream when he sailed from Britain to New Zealand, via Panama, in a 28ft yacht – bravely setting sail solo when crew let him down at the 11th hour

The post Sailing singlehanded across oceans: lessons learned appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

As Europe begins to open up again for cruising, Lu Heikell looks at the implications of Brexit on UK sailors cruising to the EU, and what steps they need to take for a stress-free trip

If you are accustomed to spending a few months of the year in the Mediterranean, or anywhere in Europe, you could find your cruising significantly curtailed after Brexit

As Europe begins to open up again for cruising, Lu Heikell looks at the implications of Brexit on UK sailors cruising to the EU, and what steps they need to take for a stress-free trip

The post Cruising after Brexit and sailing in Europe appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Whether you have a long keel or twin keel rudders, there will be pros and cons when it comes to performance. Toby Heppell explores three boats' differences

Understanding your hull shape will help you harness your boat's quirks for more enjoyable sailing. Credit: Graham Snook

Whether you have a long keel or twin keel rudders, there will be pros and cons when it comes to performance. Toby Heppell explores three boats' differences

The post Boat handling: How to use your yacht’s hull shape to your advantage appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

You are making leeway in your Sweden 390. What can you do to correct your course? James Stevens answers your Questions of Seamanship

What would you do if you were making too much leeway? How would you correct your course?

You are making leeway in your Sweden 390. What can you do to correct your course? James Stevens answers your Questions of Seamanship

The post How do you offset making too much leeway? appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Rupert Holmes looks at how to set up your boat autopilot so it will steer better than you can

Rupert and his partner Kass Schmitt have sailed tens of thousands of miles shorthanded or solo on 36ft zest, relying heavily on the boat autopilot. Credit: Rupert Holmes

Rupert Holmes looks at how to set up your boat autopilot so it will steer better than you can

The post How to get the most from your boat autopilot appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Graham Sykes has an eventful training weekend with a last-minute vessel change, Border Force scrutiny and an overheating engine

Another yacht in the Solent with Seeker; the Border Force cutter, behind, on the day in question. Credit: Luke Tatam

Graham Sykes has an eventful training weekend with a last-minute vessel change, Border Force scrutiny and an overheating engine

The post Face to face with UK Border Force: lessons learned appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Being able to accurately judge distance at sea is just as vital in the digital age as it ever was, says James Stevens. We look at how to refine your spatial awareness while onboard

At night, judging distance from a single flashing light can be difficult. There are tricks to help you judge by eye

Being able to accurately judge distance at sea is just as vital in the digital age as it ever was, says James Stevens. We look at how to refine your spatial awareness while onboard

The post How to judge distance at sea appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Bruce Goodwin's ocean crossing with friends was nearing an end when they encountered a storm; the liferaft was lost, the yacht sank. Skipper Stuart Pedersen tragically died just as he was being plucked to safety

Swimmer descends to the liferaft in breaking waves; two casualties were still in the storm-battered sea after the yacht sunk. Credit: Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust

Bruce Goodwin's ocean crossing with friends was nearing an end when they encountered a storm; the liferaft was lost, the yacht sank. Skipper Stuart Pedersen tragically died just as he was being plucked to safety

The post Sunk in a storm with no liferaft: lessons learned appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Understanding traditional mooring skills like how to tie up alongside a wall or between piles, raft up or even dry out can give you the option of escaping the marina ‘car parks’, says Norman Kean

Learning traditional mooring skills will open up cruising grounds. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo

Understanding traditional mooring skills like how to tie up alongside a wall or between piles, raft up or even dry out can give you the option of escaping the marina ‘car parks’, says Norman Kean

The post Mooring: A guide to coming alongside, rafting & traditional skills appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Understanding how your hull shape responds to waves will keep you and your crew safe and comfortable in a blow, says Julian Wolfram

Understanding how your hull shape responds to waves will keep you and your crew safe and comfortable. Credit: Richard Langdon

Understanding how your hull shape responds to waves will keep you and your crew safe and comfortable in a blow, says Julian Wolfram

The post How hull shape affects comfort at sea appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Toby Heppell heads to the East Coast to sail a traditional oyster smack and put his dredging skills to the test

Oyster Smacks made up much of the traditional fishing fleet around the Essex coast. Credit: Colm O'Laoi

Toby Heppell heads to the East Coast to sail a traditional oyster smack and put his dredging skills to the test

The post Traditional seamanship on an oyster smack appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

How do you choose which sails to set or what course to steer, and can you stop the boat rolling? Toby Heppell talked to sailors preparing for the ARC to find out what works best for sailing downwind

The ARC fleet sets off from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria en route to St Lucia. Credit: James Mitchell/WCC

How do you choose which sails to set or what course to steer, and can you stop the boat rolling? Toby Heppell talked to sailors preparing for the ARC to find out what works best for sailing downwind

The post Downwind secrets of ocean sailors appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Would you know how to manoeuvre a 22.5m vessel out of a tight berth? James Stevens answers your questions of seamanship

The Le Havre pilot cutter, Jolie Brise. Credit: Rick Tomlinson

Would you know how to manoeuvre a 22.5m vessel out of a tight berth? James Stevens answers your questions of seamanship

The post Could you get out of this tight berth? appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

Small cruising boats are not fast enough to sail away from bad weather. Tony Curphey shares how a series drogue was vital while sailing the Southern Ocean in a Nicholson 32

When the windvane steering can no longer cope with the seastate, it is time to deploy the drogue. Credit: Tony Curphey

Small cruising boats are not fast enough to sail away from bad weather. Tony Curphey shares how a series drogue was vital while sailing the Southern Ocean in a Nicholson 32

The post Surviving a Force 11 storm with a series drogue appeared first on Yachting Monthly.

When a boat needs towing, cruising yachts are often among the first on the scene. James Stevens explains how best to go about towing a boat

When a boat needs towing, cruising yachts are often among the first on the scene. James Stevens explains how to help

The post Towing a boat: how to tow and be towed appeared first on Yachting Monthly.