With many cruising yachts only used for weekend sailing, Rustler decided to create something that's made for the job. David Harding reports
David Harding
Follow David Harding
Seascape 18: the light fantastic trailer-sailer
Despite her racy appearance, the Seascape 18 is a versatile and well-mannered trailer-sailer – as David Harding reports
Ovni 395: aluminium all-star
She can dry out on the beach, cross oceans, and bounce off submerged dangers that would present a serious threat to other boats – so does the Ovni 395 have…
Etap 24i: the boat that will do whatever you want
Small enough to trail, big enough to cruise for a fortnight and fast enough to win races, the Etap 24i is as versatile as they come, says David Harding
Bay Cruiser 26: space, pace and practicality
How do you combine trailability, performance and live- aboard comfort in a 26-footer? David Harding explains the secrets of the Bay Cruiser 26
Frances 26: a proper little yacht
With her long keel, appealing lines, big-boat feel and surprisingly roomy interior, the Frances 26 is a sought-after, second-hand buy, says David Harding
Hoisting and lowering the mainsail: troubleshooting problems
What can you do if your mainsail is hard to hoist or reluctant to drop? David Harding offers some advice
How to rig a spinnaker on a small yacht – what you need and where to fit it
If you want a spinnaker, but don’t have the necessary fittings or equipment on your boat, where do you start?
Sail trim: Sailing downwind without a spinnaker
Sailing efficiently when the wind comes astern doesn’t mean you have to fly a spinnaker or cruising chute. David Harding shows how to make the most of your upwind sails…
Broaching on a boat and how to prevent it
When the breeze picks up, how do you stop your boat taking charge and going where it wants? David Harding offers some suggestions for staying in control
Sailing to windward: how to tweak your sails to improve performance
Some boats need persuasion to make to windward, so tweaking the sails to best advantage can make all the difference. David Harding offers a few tips
Pointer 22: the refreshingly simple trailer-sailer
Light, slim and fast, the Pointer 22 is a no-nonsense day-sailer-cum-weekender, says David Harding
Berthing a boat using wind and tide
Manoeuvring a boat into and out of a berth is one of the most frequent handling challenges facing boat owners – so don’t make life hard for yourself, says David…
The changes I made to my boat to get it to tack properly
Following a second visit to a Kelt 550 suffering from upwind reluctance, David Harding outlines the changes made to the boat so it can now tack properly
The Voyager: a midget gem
Shorter than most dinghies but with twin ballasted keels and a proper cabin, the Voyager opens up a whole new world of budget boating. David Harding reports
Elizabethan 31: the solid offshore cruiser
Her reputation as an able passage-maker makes the Elizabethan 31 highly sought after by cruising folk, but she’s also a spirited performer, says David Harding
Six DIY tips to make your boat sail better
You don't need to spend a lot of money to get an older boat going more efficiently
Cruising chute or spinnaker? We compare both sails on the same boat on different points of sail
Many cruising sailors favour a cruising chute over a spinnaker – but how do the two sails compare on different points of sail? David Harding tried both on the same
GT35 boat test: ‘outstanding, production cruiser’
David Harding tests the GT35 boat and finds a yacht that offers "a blend of performance, power, stiffness, comfort, security, ease of handling, innovative thinking, clever detailing and structural integrity…
Dragonfly 25: the versatile trailable trimaran
Equally happy cruising with the kids or flying two hulls at 20 knots, the Dragonfly 25 is a versatile trailable tri. David Harding went for a spin