Peter Poland recounts the story of the Contessa 26, one of the most able, famous and popular compact long-keeled cruiser-racers
Latest
Mid-channel medical airlift from a yacht
Andy Turner suffers a debilitating heart condition while sailing his Bowman 46 offshore with his son and a friend, resulting in an HM Coastguard helicopter…
Sailing books: best new releases to read
Katy Stickland chooses her pick of the latest sailing books that will keep sailors enthralled
Searching for witches in Skye – a cruising adventure aboard a Westerly Storm
Michael Skidmore explores how folk stories can help sailors navigate the Hebrides.
Maintenance
The expert advice on picking the right sails and keeping them healthy
The new season’s approaching, and your sails are in tip-top condition, right? You’ve had them laundered and the UV strips checked; no frays or mildew,…
Do I really need a boat bow thruster?
Is a boat bow thruster necessary kit? Experienced offshore and bluewater sailor Rupert Holmes has this answer for one PBO reader
Is it best to use marine diesel that is FAME-free?
PBO reader Paul Fay has struggled to find marine diesel that does not contain FAME (fatty acid methyl ester). He asks the PBO experts for…
Retrofitting a waste holding tank: Solving the 1980s design dilemma
Harbour foreman and boatbuilder Mike Pickles explains that with a little imagination, you can find space on most boats for a waste holding tank
Amazing adventures
Glaciers, williwaw gusts & dodging drifting ice: Cruising the Beagle Channel with a French legend
Pete Hill on sail repair, damaged steering and two lost drogues while battling storms in the Tasman Sea
Behind the scenes with Radio Caroline, the last “pirate” radio station still broadcasting offshore
The World’s Smallest Boat? How Andrew Bedwell built his 100cm boat to sail across the Atlantic
Practical Projects
How to prevent wave slap on the hull
Anchor windlass repairs to extend its life
How to make a carbon fibre spinnaker pole
Boat windscreen wiper motor repair: how one boat owner fixed the seized motor
DIY automated fog horn for £30
Practical tip: how to use a scanner for an accurate drilling template
PBO Project Boat
What does a sailmaker do?
Shortly before the Round the Island Race, one of the largest yacht races in the world, it’s all go at…
Shore power: solving tripping problems
Ali Wood gets a crash course in reverse polarity and smart charging when Project Boat Maximus’s shore power gets trippy…
Sail design – using 3D software and laser technology to cut new sails
During the survey of our Maxi 84, the PBO Project Boat Maximus, we were warned by a marine surveyor that…
How to measure your yacht for new sails
Measuring your boat for new sails is a job for the sailmaker, so when our PBO Project Boat Maximus needed…
Restoring a vintage Sailor radio
Ali Wood’s Sailor radio is given the VIP treatment
Seajet Bioclean silicone antifoul review: Our verdict after one year on the water
Does silicone antifouling work? It’s not flying off the shelves yet, according to suppliers, but the results from our Project…
Securing mast cable on our Maxi 84
With the help of ACM Marine, Ali Wood goes about securing mast cable on the Maxi 84 PBO project boat
Family sailing safety gear: TESTED!
Ali Wood discusses the sailing safety gear she chose for their first family cruise on board their Maxi 84, and…