Paris Olympic gold medallist Marit Bouwmeester, and the Olympic and SailGP champion duo of Diego Botin and Florian Trittel are the Rolex World Sailors of the Year 2024
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Boaters in Scotland face proposed Clydeport Conservancy Fee
"Peel Ports Ltd are trying to impose a “conservancy fee” on all boats over 6m long in the Firth of Clyde. This will affect everyone who has a boat on…
Family boats lead transatlantic rally in ARC+ start
Three family boats led the fleet at the start of the ARC+ rally this afternoon in Gran Canaria, all of them Outremers. Sailing with 13-year-old twins, US-flagged Appa was in…
A ‘catalogue of failings’ behind two Wheelyboat fatalities following capsize
An MAIB investigation report into a double fatality that occurred when a Mk III wheelyboat capsized on Roadford Lake, Devon in June 2022 has been published.
BoatLife 2025 cancelled: NEC announce difficult decision
BoatLife 2025, scheduled to take place from 6 to 9 February 2025 at Birmingham NEC, has "unfortunately been cancelled" – Pendigo Events and the NEC Group have announced.
11 practical Christmas gift ideas that sailors actually want
Finding decent Christmas gifts for boat owners is an unenviably tricky task, but luckily Practical Boat Owner is here to help! These might not all look to be the most…
“Best school trip ever’ leads Lancashire club to win Sunsail’s Funding the Future initiative
Judges unanimously voted for West Lancashire Yacht Club (WLYC) in Southport to be the overall winner of Sunsail's £6,000 Funding the Future grand prize.
Southwold Sailing Club launches fundraising appeal to “Save Our Slip”
As it celebrates its 75th year, the not-for-profit Southwold Sailing Club (SSC) is crowdfunding to replace its slipway and "secure its future."
Small boats: How leisure sailing began
The pioneers of small-boat leisure sailing had to start from scratch when designing and building early yachts – but some of those vessels are still around to offer inspiration today.
Mad about the boat: Following the wake of history
Multiple circumnavigators include Moitessier, Knox-Johnston... and now Dave Selby
Smoothing the cruising – a buyers guide to ‘shock-absorbing’ boat gear and more!
The ability to soften that slamming motion of a fast boat at sea has been greatly helped with more advanced and compact designs of shock-absorbing seating, self-adjusting trim tabs and…
Pearl anniversary flag visits 60 National Coastwatch Institution stations in style
A 2,000-plus mile, station-to-station relay in honour of the National Coastwatch Institution's 30th anniversary year saw volunteer watchkeepers find innovative ways to pass on a specially-commissioned flag.
Boaters warned to mitigate against ‘shocks and impact’ in small vessels
Accumulative effects of shocks and impacts to boaters using small vessels at high speed or in rough water have been highlighted in an updated Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) marine…
Tributes to small boat legend John Guzzwell
Fair winds to trailblazing John Guzzwell, who in 1955 completed an unprecedented circumnavigation, aged 29, in a 21ft wooden yawl he had built himself.
Tributes paid to Drascombe stalwart Sharon Geary Harwood
Tributes paid to Sharon Geary Harwood, the managing director of Drascombe Boats Ltd, who passed away following a recent diagnosis of leukaemia
Cruising from Orkney to Kinlochbervie
Nick and Alison Boxall sail their 35ft 6in Southerly 110 from Mainland to mainland, from Orkney to Kinlochbervie, Scotland
Mad about the boat: Ever heard of a bumsprit?
Marina manoeuvres at the sharp end... Dave Selby's 'Mad about the boat' monthly musings, owner of a wooden 1953 Blackwater Sloop and a 23ft Sailfish
Channel Hopping: SV Delos Upgrade – Two Hulls for Version 2.0
Our resident YouTube aficionado has ideas for what to do if you're in the market for plans to build your own cruising multihull, but Wharrams aren’t your style...
Guernsey boat owners revolt against ‘hefty increases’ to mooring charges
Recreational boat owners are campaigning against any future increases above inflation by the Guernsey Ports.
Mad about the boat: The echoes of Essex past
PBO columnist Dave Selby laments the decline of oral history lessons at the Maldon branch of Essex University in the Queen’s Head pub