Ali Wood gets some top tips from experienced cruisers on preparing for the perfect summer cruise
Top stories
Boat charter holiday destinations in the UK and Ireland away from coast
Katy Stickland highlights some of the spectacular and magical places to charter away from the coast in the UK and Ireland
Fixing a sailboat forestay after storm damage
Winston Collinge and his boating pal John Beck repair the mast forestay on their 40-year-old Colvic Atlanta sailboat after severe weather knocks it down.
Wiring a marine dashboard panel on your boat
Computer engineer Stew Proud explains the ins and outs of how to rewire a marine dashboard panel with tips from onboard his Aquastar Ocean Ranger 33 motor cruiser.
Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32 + 8 alternative yachts: which is the best 31/32 ft boat?
Rupert Holmes compares the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32 with 8 other 31ft and 32ft used boat designs from the late 1990s and early 2000s
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
Is the Helly Hansen Crew Low the best quick drying sailing shoe?
Katy Stickland dons a pair of Helly Hansen Crew Low sailing shoes and tests them in the heat of the Mediteranean and cooler climes of UK waters
Moving from varnish to wood oil
Don’t be a slave to varnish. Louise Ras explains how she transitioned to wood oil instead
Black Mamba disposable gloves tested on messy boat jobs
How many times can Jake Frith get away with wearing one pair of single use gloves? He tries the Black Mamba disposable gloves
Boat hatch repair: how to stop the leaks
Fed up with water dripping into his boat's galley, Jose Molina decides to get out his tool box and fix the problem
End of Leg 2 of the Mini Globe Race, Stietlmann soon to arrive in Fiji
Mini Globe Race leader Renauld Stitelmann is already approaching Fiji. The rest of the fleet closes out their stop in Tonga, with three still to arrive
Corribee Mk2 vs Silhouette Mk3: which is the best pocket cruiser?
In his latest used boat review, Clive Marsh compares two of the best small sailboats for sale. The Silhouette Mk3 and the Corribee Mk2 are classic pocket cruisers, both designed…
Make your own boat boarding step
A DIY project for the big day! For his wedding photos, Thomas Parker built a smart boarding step for getting safely on and off the pontoon.
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…
Summer issue – 5 June
Battery management made simple, Plastic vs metal seacocks: which is best? Anchoring with shore lines explained, Tips for replacing curved windows; The appeal of the Westerly Typhoon 37 and MORE!…
Musto BR3 Offshore Pertex jacket review
The Musto BR3 Offshore jacket has a Pertex membrance which promises to be waterproof, windproof and breathable. Katy Stickland puts it to the test
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
Is this the cosiest submariner jumper?
John Stickland tests the Arthur Beale Submariner jumper and Maritime balaclava - both from their National Maritime Museum collection - to see how they perform on the water and on…
Restoring Tethra: how a Looe fishing boat became a dining sensation
Annie Means talks to the owners and restorers of a Cornish motor luanch which is now used for dining afloat
Sailing books: best new releases to read
Katy Stickland chooses her pick of the latest sailing books that will keep sailors enthralled