Hengistbury Head Outdoors Centre (HHOEC), on the shores of Christchurch harbour, closed during Covid, after decades of running sailing and adventure courses for the community. Now, in what would be…
Alison Wood
Features Editor
Buying a new or used outboard motor? Professionals share their tips to make sure you avoid the pitfalls
From horsepower to shaft length and tilt-angle to 2- or 4-stroke, Ali Wood highlights the different features you should consider when buying a new or used outboard motor
What sailing boat kit do you need for an Atlantic crossing? Cruisers share the gear that really worked for them
From Starlink to tradewind sails, first aid and cooking, Ali Wood reports on new and traditional gear for transatlantic sailors
Boat launch checklist: all the jobs you need to do for a hassle free start to the season
Take the stress out of the big day with practical tips from Practical Boat Owner's Ali Wood
Dinghy sailing skills for cruisers
What can a lapsed cruising sailor learn from a dinghy course? A lot, as Ali Wood discovers when she returns to the water for her RYA Level 3
Offshore sails: what you need to cross the Atlantic
Sailmaker Daryl Morgan gives some expert advice on ocean sails, while Neil Smith explains how his family coped with delaminating sails
Boat cookers – great gadgets for low-fuss meals
Low energy boat cookers are a great way to save on gas, power and time spent below. A hot dinner can be the highlight of the day when you’re on…
How to sell a boat & get the best price
Ali Wood gets tips from the trade on how to sell your boat from a marine surveyor and a yacht broker so you can get the best price to spend…
Dismasted yacht arrives safely in Gran Canaria
Swedish yacht Hilma was 540 miles west of Cape Verde on 21 November when the crew heard a loud bang. The port top shroud of the Wauquiez 47PS had come…
Happy reunion and podium finish for transatlantic yacht Imi Makani
Canadian yacht Imi Makani, who PBO captured arriving in Grenada last week, was one of the ARC+ yachts to take home a trophy at the prizegiving ceremony, bringing to a…
“They don’t know what normal is!” Transatlantic with a baby and toddler
When Stephanie and Richard Stevens set sail from Jersey to Grenada, they knew it was going to be a challenge with two young children. “I’d have been busy if I…
BA pilot snaps brother-in-law sailing 38,000ft below
When Michael Terry set sail across the Atlantic in the ARC+ rally, he had no idea he’d be seen from the cockpit of a Boeing 787-9 aircraft. Michael was sailing…
Boat maintenance: jobs to tackle over the winter
Now’s the time to tick-off those jobs you’ve been putting off all season and get a head-start on the spring rush, says Ali Wood
Top things to do in Grenada for visiting cruisers
If you’re one of this year’s 95 ARC+ boats who’ve just made landfall in Grenada, here’s how to stretch your legs (and revive your tastebuds) after a breezy Atlantic crossing. …
Starlink a hit for ARC+ rally’s first Lebanese entry
“Ahlam means ‘dreams’ and this is the dream,” says Lebanese skipper Toni Salame, who’s just taken third place in the ARC+ rally. His Oyster 575 Ahlam, was the third monohull…
How should I look after my fuel to beat diesel bug?
Ali Wood gets some bug-beating advice from Marine 16’s Peter Weide and learns why modern diesel requires more attention than ever
TEMO 1000 electric outboard: first look and test
Ali Wood meets the French team behind the new TEMO 1000, and tests the electric outboard on Southampton Water
ARC+ rally sets sail with crew aged 7 months to 87 years
A record-breaking 95 boats left Las Palmas, Gran Canaria on the ARC+ this morning, the largest number to date for the World Cruising Club rally. The yachts from 24 different…
“Age is just a label” – transatlantic skipper (87) raises funds for Ukraine
“I was born in 1935; you tell me how old that makes me? Age is just a label,” says French skipper Christian Lotthé onboard his 41ft Beneteau, Namaste. Chris will…
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