Ali Wood gets some top tips from experienced cruisers on preparing for the perfect summer cruise
Seamanship
Rigging pile mooring pick-up lines
If you have a pile mooring, permanent and properly rigged pick-up lines will make life a lot easier. David Parker explains how to rig them
Tidal races, overfalls, and headlands: how to prepare for challenging waters
Sailing around a headland in the British Isles will nearly always involve an encounter with tricky tidal races and overfalls, a ‘commotion of the sea’, best visualised as broken or…
How to free a fouled anchor
A fouled anchor doesn't have to mean losing costly ground tackle. If the conditions are right, you can save the day with a mask and snorkel, says Richard Hare
‘In a flash, I was hanging on the lifelines on the wrong side of the boat’
Solo sailor Tony Purcell discovered how quickly a tricky situation can develop when he fell overboard his 42ft yacht on a busy tidal river
The dark art of night sailing
Rigorous preparation, a back-up plan and keeping warm are among the key elements of a successful and pleasurable night sail, says David Pugh
Boating on a river: tips from the experts
Machiel Lambooij, joint secretary of the Cruising Association’s Motorboat Section, shares his expert river boating knowledge
How to sail tidal estuaries safely
On tidal estuaries boat owners can become explorers. Ken Endean has advice for potential creek crawlers
How to sleep sailing shorthanded
John Apps stresses the importance of sleeping sufficiently on long-distance single-handed passages, and explains how to snatch safe naps without leaving yourself vulnerable
How to cross a Traffic Separation Scheme
Sticky Stapylton explains the meaning and intended purpose of traffic separation schemes – and what you should know if your boat has to enter or leave one
Understanding tidal streams and heights
Understanding tidal streams and heights is essential for passage planning and safe navigation. The RYA's former chief examiner, James Stevens, explains how
Left for dead after falling overboard: how one sailor survived 5 hours lost at sea before rescue
Roger Cottle was presumed dead after falling overboard a 27ft yacht and lost at sea for five-and-a-half hours in a holed lifejacket, at night
Running aground in a motorboat: a cautionary tale
Gilbert Park runs aground in a tidal river and tells the story of what happened to him and the boat at the time and later
Marina boat manoeuvring: reversing the roles
When couples sail together, one usually takes the lead when it comes to marina boat manoeuvring, remaining on the helm, while the other does the leaping around – but that’s…
How to cure a heavy boat helm
If your boat has a new rig and new sails, but a tiller that still tries to wrench your arms out of their sockets, what do you do? David Harding…
When your electronic navigation autoroute settings go wrong
Gilbert Park helps a fellow motorboater achieve his first voyage to the Channel Islands and gets a lesson in the perils of relying on electronic navigation
Sailing solo: how to go from crewed to single-handed
Round the world sailor Ian Herbert-Jones shares valuable advice on how to transition from crewed to single-handed sailing
Sailing with family: tips to keep your children safe & happy on board
How do you juggle feeds, naps and tantrums while sailing around the world? Ali Wood gets top tips from the liveaboard Stevens family
Boat towing and berthing by tender
If your engine fails to start, being able to berth your boat using the tender is an extremely useful skill, as Ben Meakins demonstrates
Seamanship tips from a seasoned sailing instructor
Sticky Stapylton has sailed thousands of miles and taught numerous people how to sail. He shares some of his seamanship tips