With her long keel, appealing lines, big-boat feel and surprisingly roomy interior, the Frances 26 is a sought-after, second-hand buy, says David Harding
David Harding
Hoisting and lowering the mainsail: troubleshooting problems
What can you do if your mainsail is hard to hoist or reluctant to drop? David Harding offers some advice
How to rig a spinnaker on a small yacht – what you need and where to fit it
If you want a spinnaker, but don’t have the necessary fittings or equipment on your boat, where do you start?
Sail trim: Sailing downwind without a spinnaker
Sailing efficiently when the wind comes astern doesn’t mean you have to fly a spinnaker or cruising chute. David Harding shows how to make the most of your upwind sails…
Broaching on a boat and how to prevent it
When the breeze picks up, how do you stop your boat taking charge and going where it wants? David Harding offers some suggestions for staying in control
Sailing to windward: how to tweak your sails to improve performance
Some boats need persuasion to make to windward, so tweaking the sails to best advantage can make all the difference. David Harding offers a few tips
Pointer 22: the refreshingly simple trailer-sailer
Light, slim and fast, the Pointer 22 is a no-nonsense day-sailer-cum-weekender, says David Harding
Berthing a boat using wind and tide
Manoeuvring a boat into and out of a berth is one of the most frequent handling challenges facing boat owners – so don’t make life hard for yourself, says David…
The changes I made to my boat to get it to tack properly
Following a second visit to a Kelt 550 suffering from upwind reluctance, David Harding outlines the changes made to the boat so it can now tack properly
The Voyager: a midget gem
Shorter than most dinghies but with twin ballasted keels and a proper cabin, the Voyager opens up a whole new world of budget boating. David Harding reports
Elizabethan 31: the solid offshore cruiser
Her reputation as an able passage-maker makes the Elizabethan 31 highly sought after by cruising folk, but she’s also a spirited performer, says David Harding
Six DIY tips to make your boat sail better
You don't need to spend a lot of money to get an older boat going more efficiently
Cruising chute or spinnaker? We compare both sails on the same boat on different points of sail
Many cruising sailors favour a cruising chute over a spinnaker – but how do the two sails compare on different points of sail? David Harding tried both on the same
What difference do new sails make?
New sails are a big investment – but are they worth it? The PBO team compared the old with the new on a Snapdragon 23
GT35 boat test: ‘outstanding, production cruiser’
David Harding tests the GT35 boat and finds a yacht that offers "a blend of performance, power, stiffness, comfort, security, ease of handling, innovative thinking, clever detailing and structural integrity…
Dragonfly 25: the versatile trailable trimaran
Equally happy cruising with the kids or flying two hulls at 20 knots, the Dragonfly 25 is a versatile trailable tri. David Harding went for a spin
Bavaria Cruiser 33 comes of age
The Bavaria Cruiser 33 looked like a formula for success. David Harding tests the family cruiser
Elan 31: the Elan that time forgot
She has been superseded by younger siblings, but does the Elan 31 look or behave like an outdated model? Not in the least, says David Harding
Boat handling tips: marina exit strategies
You want to turn one way to get out of your berth, but both the boat and the wind have other ideas – so what do you do? David Harding…
Westerly Konsort: space, security & good performance
One of the roomiest cruisers of her size, the Konsort is also known for her solidity, interior finish and easy manners. No wonder she’s such a popular second-hand buy, says…