Essential checks for chainplates

As long as our chainplates aren't leaking, few of us give them a second thought. But should we be checking more closely? Surveyor Ben Sutcliffe-Davies explains what to look out for

Understanding electrics: switches and relays

Pat Manley and Oliver Ballam demystify boat electrics, starting with switches and relays

Learning how to restore old boats

Inspired by a stunning homebuilt yacht, Ali Wood visits the Boat Building Academy to learn how any of us can become boatbuilders

DIY £200 chartplotter

John Calton builds his own 10in touchscreen chartplotter with GPS and AIS for a fraction of the cost of an off-the-shelf system

Bilge pump mystery

Zoran Glozinic buys a suspiciously low priced bilge pump with a design flaw... but it proves just the job for his project boat

How to cross Biscay

Crossing Biscay is a rite of passage for many sailors: Rachael Sprot has expert advice on how to handle the 'Golfe de Gascogne'

THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE - Cruising Europe

Sailing to the EU this summer? The Cruising Association shares its advice on what you need to know for a stress-free cruise

Rig design THE PROS & CONS

Peter Poland looks at the history of popular rig designs and how the different types affect boat performance

Tideway 10 GUNTER OR LUGGER?

The trailerable TW10 has the benefits of her sister vessel, the Tideway 12, but is lighter and easier to launch and recover by hand

Regattas again!

Camaraderie, competition, mussel float dodging and home-made blueberry muffins

Modern classic, swollen head

The many perfumes of Memory Lane

Magna charter

Why exotic sailing holidays abroad are not necessarily all they're cracked up to be

Don't risk illegal filling of gas cylinders

Alamy tsianid George Boat owners are being warned not to attempt to refill Calor gas bottles with Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) at petrol stations - which is \"both highly dangerous and unlawful\".

Jubilee year for Old Gaffers Association

Hundreds of classic yachts and working boats are to gather in Ipswich to mark the 60th year of the Old Gaffers Association (OGA), with a Diamond Jubilee Party from 3-6 August.

Orcas sink yacht off Spanish coast

Four sailors were rescued from a yacht which sank following an interaction with orcas off the coast of Barbate, Cádiz.

From Canada to the UK in a microyacht

Being 6ft tall, Andrew Bedwell cannot straighten his legs in his 'just over a metre long' microyacht Big C, yet he is about to sail the boat solo across the Atlantic for 90 days, eating cold squares of dehydrated beef.

Heroes' welcome for retro race history makers

Kirsten Neuschäfer has a solo, round the world yacht race after winning the 2022 Golden Globe Race (GGR).

Anchoring charges and the law

Falmouth Harbour Commissioners has defended charging £15 a night to a boat owner who complained about \"being made to pay to anchor\", despite having no intention of using facilities ashore.

Antifouling without biocide

Opting for an eco-friendly approach, Ali Wood tries silicone antifoul on the PBO Project Boat-and is impressed with the results

Discontinued gas bottle alternatives

With Calor discontinuing some of its gas cylinders, Barry Pickthall looks at the options available for boat owners with older vessels

How to choose an electric outboard

Marine electrician Jamie Marley explains what you should look out for when choosing an electric outboard for your type of cruising

Around the world in a 19ft boat

Adam Waugh is building a Class Globe 5.80 to race across the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, Katy Stickland reports

Cruising the Northern Sporades

Popular with charter yachts in summer, Genevieve Leaper explores these Greek islands at the quieter end of the season

How keel design affects performance

Peter Poland looks at the history of keel design and how the different types affect performance

Working boat conversions

The basic shape of a traditional lifeboat is a long shallow keel, double ended and beamyideal for conversion into a cruising boat

Summer has come

After the quietness of the winter waters, it's a shock to have to share again

Whatever floats your boat...

An improbable pioneer of personal water craft

Don't try this at home

Nothing ventured, nothing gained... Aieeee!

Getting the sails back on

Seizing a fair weather window to ready the boat for the new sailing season

How to clean teak

Real teak decks look lovely as well as being hardwearing, grippy and gentle underfoot, but they need care. Jon Mendez guides you through the best techniques to keep them clean