Concerned about a ‘hessian-like’ smell, Pat Buckley-Jones and his wife Ruth discovered battery gas was escaping from their overcharged device
Sailing skills
Troubleshooting problems with your yacht rigging
Yacht rigging is a dark art and no one will ever convince me otherwise. I have yet to meet two riggers who agree on anything – and there is no…
What are the rules to wear a blue ensign?
Do you know the rules for wearing a blue ensign? Do you know who is entitled to wear a privileged ensign? What happens when a yacht with a privileged ensign…
The Seamanship of going aground
Going aground, I suspect,is far more common than we think. It’s one of those things that falls into the category where the measure isn’t the cock-up itself but the number…
Dismasted offshore: how one man got his boat home
When Jock Hamilton’s 33ft Wauquiez Gladiateur dismasted offshore, 500 miles from land, he created a jury rig using a Laser dinghy mast, sails and oars, before sailing 1,500 miles home
Cruising Clinic: Mooring astern in tricky berths
Picture the scene: it’s a beautiful summer evening, the marina is bathed in golden light and there are crowds of people outside the bar sipping gin and tonics. You’ll soon…
Could you berth with no bow thruster?
How would you get a 56ft yacht into a tight berth with no working bow thruster and on a flood tide? James Stevens answers your Questions of Seamanship
Expert advice: best boat maintenance advice
It may not be anyone’s favourite thing to spend their time doing, but boat maintenance is crucial for any boat owner, to ensure their boat is ready to sail safely…
A nightmare Biscay crossing with minimal experience
Have you heard the phrase ‘through hell or high water’? I’ve been through both, simultaneously when crossing the Bay of Biscay in winter and with only modest sailing experience, writes…
Expert advice: best boat anchoring advice
When it comes to boat anchoring many different people have their own view on the best boat anchoring techniques to use. Mostly these will revolve around what equipment you use.…