How much of a concern is a lightning strike to a yacht and what can we do about it? Nigel Calder looks at what makes a full ‘belt and braces’…
Weather
Reeds Cloud Handbook: book review
Reeds Cloud Handbook is a comprehensive pocket guide, and deserves a place in your sailing library onboard, says Julia Jones
Are cumulonimbus clouds cause for concern?
What would you do if you were sailing towards a cumulonimbus cloud? James Stevens answers your questions of seamanship
‘The hurricane had us confined to the aft cabin for 24 hours’
Holly Turner shares some lessons from a turbulent hurricane season in the Caribbean with a 10-month-old baby and Scrumpy the Jack Russell
Storm sailing: ‘The boat was slammed over and water poured in’
Randall Reeves leaves the storm jib in its bag while braving the Southern Ocean to prove that speed is safety when storm sailing
‘Lightning destroyed the boat’s electronics’
Paul Tinley recounts a truly shocking lightning experience aboard his Beneteau 393 Blue Mistress and the subsequent insurance claim
How to cope with gusts and squalls
Spikes in wind strength can range from a blustery sail to survival conditions. Dag Pike explains how to predict which it will be and what to do when the wind…
Day Skipper: What you need to know to get through
With her husband Theo out of the way, Georgie Stocker shows on her Day Skipper course that she is more than capable of taking charge
Jonty Pearce: Storm Francis blights cruising in August
Storm Francis at the end of August causes Jonty Pearce to amend his cruising plans with friends
How to raft up safely and securely
James Stevens looks at the seamanship and etiquette needed to raft up and identifies the benefits and pitfalls of coming alongside