Practical Boat Owner - March 2023

In this issue

The Maxi with the most
David Harding puts our Maxi 84 Project Boat Maximus through her paces and tests the new sails.

Back to (sea) school
From tying knots to passage planning: what’s involved in the RYA Day Skipper theory course.

Worrying times for UK's seabirds

The UK is currently experiencing its worst-ever outbreak of avian flu, commonly known as bird flu.

3 mins

My near-miss up a mast

A transatlantic sailor has told of her ordeal after a gust knocked her off the mast, jamming her harness, and swinging her repeatedly into the rigging.

3 mins

Invitation to female offshore passagemakers

The adventure company 59° North Sailing has announced that it will now reserve two bunks for women on its offshore sailing passages.

1 min

'Ordinary crew' wanted for global sailing race

The organiser of the 2023 Ocean Globe Race, Don McIntyre, is looking for crew to sail with him in the round-the-world race.

1 min

UK drops National Flagship plans

The Ministry of Defence and Defence Equipment & Support has suspended the design procurement process for the new National Flagship.

1 min

Marine micro-organisms mission

Every day in every boatyard, marina and port the cleaning of hulls, slipways and marine infrastructure kills billions of marine micro-organisms – all vital for sustaining wildlife and the food chain all the way up to human beings.

1 min

Plastic classics

A vintage boat doesn't win the same admiration as an elderly car - but it should!

3 mins

Beachcombing

How wrecking became a fine art on the dangerously rocky Isles of Scilly

3 mins

Rudder bother

You know something's up when you're going round in circles with the tiller straight ahead

3 mins

Working boats for leisure

Strong and often cheap, retired working boats make good leisure vessels if you don’t mind fettling to repurpose them

3 mins

The Maxi with the most

Why has the Maxi 84 proved so popular since her launch 45 years ago? David Harding sailed Maximus, the 'work in progress' refurbished PBO Project Boat, to find out

10 mins

17-20ft POCKET CRUISERS

Whether you're moving on from dinghies, or downsizing to a boat that's fun without being a financial millstone, here's a trailer-sailer market guide

10+ mins

Azores and back THE SCENIC ROUTE

Phil Taylor dusts off the charts and turns a winter dream into reality after overhauling his Sabre 27 for a bluewater cruising adventure

10+ mins

Slow boat through the mountains

James Wood discovers the joys and challenges of narrow boating in the Brecon Beacons

10+ mins

Changing times

Alasdair Kirkpatrick tells Ali Wood about narrowboat innovations including a fully accessible design plus hybrid and electric propulsion

5 mins

Back to (sea) school

James Wood gets to grip with navigation, passage planning, tides, buoyage, Colregs and more on his RYA Day Skipper Theory course

8 mins

New Gear

Rupert Holmes gets an early look at the latest ideas

5 mins

Tried & Tested

Will Renilson improves boat handling aboard his Jersey 36

4 mins

Sunk boat salvage

Marsali Taylor reports on the salvage efforts to raise a wooden vessel at Aith Marina that attracted spectators despite the mizzle and smirr

3 mins

Selecting the right gear...

Coming into a crowded marina late at night after a great day sailing across Lyme Bay, Andrew Carter's feathering prop failed and jammed in 'full ahead' - even when engaged in astern

8 mins

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Practical Boat Owner Magazine Description:

Published by Time Inc (UK).Practical Boat Owner is Britain's biggest-selling boating magazine, trusted and respected by all its readers. A source of useful and helpful information for both power and sail boat owners, PBO helps you get the most from your boat acting as a forum for interacting with like-minded individuals.