Scotland's best voyages

Whether you’ve just got a few days to explore the West Coast, or the open North Atlantic is calling, Scotland’s sea routes offer almost endless options says Brian Black

‘With no sails, no engine and no jury rig - I decided to abandon ship'

Solo skipper Billy Brannan lost his home when his 34ft yacht Helena was knocked down, rolled and dismasted during an Atlantic storm - and the rescue itself proved to be a challenge

Shrinking insurance market causes headache for offshore cruisers

Yacht owners who want to sail further afield are being advised to provide extra information, such as evidence of sailing experience, in order to improve their chances of finding a policy.

Southampton Boat Show on hold until 2021

Organisers of the Southampton Boat Show are looking at holding a smaller event for 2020, after confirming that the show in its current format would not be going ahead in September due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

HOME WATERS CONQUERING THE FEARSOME PASSAGES OF WALES

Jonty Pearce finds his planning and sailing skills tested while cruising the sometimes challenging west coast of Wales

LIFE-CHANGING SAILING

With Black Lives Matter hitting the headlines, Scaramouche Sailing Trust’s Jaydon Owusu and Tyler Harriott wanted to share their experiences of the UK sailing community

Distance to run made simple

A basic graph can keep you on track and simplify your decision-making at sea, says David Smith

Sailing without sight

David Thompson shares the joy and instructional challenges of being a sighted volunteer for blind and partially-sighted sailors

Could you fix a jammed sheave without a rigger?

Could you fix a jammed sheave without a rigger?

A WEEK AFLOAT MARMARIS, TURKEY

A friendly welcome awaits Lu Heikell as she explores the bays, anchorages and cultural highlights of this Turkish region

How To Take Pets Sailing

Taking cats and dogs to sea needs extra thought on a cruising yacht, explains Erin Carey

TECHNICAL FURLING MAINSAILS

Some sailors swear by furling mainsail systems, others swear at them. Graham Snook looks at ways to keep your furling mainsail in check.

The art of solo cruising

Toby Heppell looks at the art of sailing alone and considers what constitutes good seamanship when it’s only you on board

‘I was jammed. Without my phone I'd be dead'

Martin Blount was fortunate to have survived getting stuck head-first inside his cockpit locker while working alone on his boat

Sailing across Sweden

Mark Blackburn recalls happy memories of his final cruise with his father David along the Göta Canal

MERVYN WHEATLEY ONE LAST ADVENTURE

Toby Heppell speaks to Mervyn Wheatley as he looks ahead to his sixth OSTAR, now re-scheduled to take place in 2021, and ponders the changes in sailing through his decades-long career

ADVENTURE ISLAND ODYSSEY

Erin Carey and her young family cruise the Leeward Islands and discover the region’s distinct cultures and topography

GLENCOE, SCOTLAND

Brian Black discovers history, hill walking and fine dining in this sheltered Highland anchorage

HOME WATERS RETURN TO GUERNSEY

Solo sailor John Willis battles back injury, seasickness and engine problems as he sails the 330 miles from southern Ireland to St Peter Port

A WEEK AFLOAT BRITTANY

The Gulf of Morbihan provides Nick Chavasse with delights aplenty, including quaint anchorages and medieval towns ripe for exploring

18 Rig Checks That Will Refine Your Boat

Does your boat’s weather helm bother you, or does she go better on one tack than the other? Toby Heppell explains how to iron out the foibles with proper rig setup

‘Buying a boat taught me a hell of a lot'

From car-crash viewings to wasted journeys of hundreds of miles, Wayne Palmer shares the steep learning curve of buying his first boat

TECHNICAL - THE POWER OF DATA

The new NMEA OneNet claims to offer more data and a faster, more secure network for onboard devices. Toby Heppell investigates...

The sounds of sailing

Clack, clack, clack. These words describe perfectly the noise sails make when slatting in light airs offshore, and the sound of sails, rig and boat when becalmed in an ocean swell.

SOUTHERLY 42RST

For versatile adventure, there are plenty of go-anywhere cruisers on the market, as Duncan Kent discovers

HOW TO troubleshoot your engine electrics

If your engine won’t start, knowing how to find the source of the problem will help you get underway

Eyeball pilotage skills for coast crawling

Getting close in to the coast to explore a tidal channel or fi nd a snug anchorage is rewarding, but close attention must be paid to the visual clues, explains Ken Endean

ADVENTURE VIRGIN ISLANDS

Kieran Flatt cruises the Marker Wadden and finds nature is already thriving on the newest part of the Netherlands

ADVENTURE THE FRENCH CONNECTION

Hamish Southby-Tailyour and his young family find themselves caught up in a grisly crime whilst meandering through France’s picturesque inland waterways on the way to the Mediterranean

A WEEK AFLOAT CORSICA

The mountainous Coriscan coast offers breathtaking anchorages and charming towns for a memorable Mediterranean cruise