There is a huge range of headsail furling gear on the market. Rupert Holmes gives some tips for choosing the right system for your boat
Rupert Holmes
Crashed bow repair: how Abhilash Tomy & his team fixed the boat in time for the 2022 Golden Globe Race
What to do if your boat is damaged just days before a non-stop global circumnavigation? Rupert Holmes reports on how Abhilash Tomy and his team carried out a remarkable repair
METSTRADE 2022: Best new boating gear from Europe’s biggest trade show
Ocean Signal RescueME PLB3 AIS personal locator beacon A key element of the METSTRADE 2022 marine show in Amsterdam is the DAME Design Awards, which recognise some of the most…
Musto MPX offshore jacket 2.0 review: As comfortable as it is stormproof
The base fabric has a new generation three-layer Gore-Tex Pro membrane, while recycled nylon used for the face material. This results in an efficient, but impressively lightweight and comfortable, garment…
9 expert sailing techniques to help you sail better, faster and safer
The best way to get a better boat is to improve the one you already have, I have long believed. Given many vessels are not set up as efficiently as…
Lewmar Epsilon review: New generation anchor takes holding power to the next level
New generation anchors with holding power well beyond that of the previous common shapes, including the CQR, Bruce and a whole host of their derivatives, have been with us for…
Boat food ideas: Top tips to transform your meals on board
Seeking to make life on board more like that at home, by maximising comfort and convenience is understandable – as humans we’ve been doing that ever since we started creating…
Laser Tools launches new cordless soldering iron
I’ve never really got on with gas soldering irons, which means I still use 240V models when on board. They’re inexpensive and are easy to replace if necessary, but connecting…
Anchoring a boat: How to weigh anchor on a yacht without a windlass
Like many boats of her size and age, and indeed a number of larger and more recent craft, Ammos has no windlass. Most Discovery 3000s now have electric anchor windlasses,…
Best boat cooker: 10 alternative options for gas-free cooking
Gas cookers used to be the standard choice on almost every boat, but there are good reasons why they are not necessarily the best boat cooker. The dangers of fire…
Garmin inReach Mini 2: Pocket satellite messenger updated for 2022
Garmin’s inReach Mini 2 pocket size satellite messaging device has been upgraded with an improved user interface and longer battery life. More functionality can be accessed directly on the device,…
Yamaha B and Yamaha T outboards: New models target displacement boats
Daysailers and small yachts with outboard power have specific needs that are not automatically well catered for by engine manufacturers. Their relatively heavy displacement and low speeds under power demand…
Remote working tips: How I set up my 36ft yacht for offshore work
There are three key elements needed for reliable remote working: adequate charging systems, a good data connection and protection for your kit. Remote working kit: charging systems Charging equipment has…
New electric outboard motors ditch the props for greater efficiency
Two innovative companies at December’s Paris Boat Show presented interesting new electric outboard motors that operate in a fundamentally different way to conventional outboard motor-style units. Hy-Generation’s RIM6 drive uses…
How to prepare a boat for winter: Expert lay-up tips
Many of us are lucky enough to be able to keep our boats afloat all year and can therefore sneak in some winter sails – or even short cruises –…
C&C Viking 28: A bargain 1960s fin-keel yacht
This Cuthbertson & Cassian-designed 28-footer was built by Ontario Yachts in Canada from 1968 onwards. At that time the C&C Viking 28 still represented a radical concept, with a short…
Summer sailing: 11 last-minute checks to prepare your boat
Summer sailing usually involves greater distances and spending longer periods than usual on board, and this can trigger some of the breakdowns and breakages that are, to some extent, an…
Sail repair – how to extend the life of your mainsail
After 24,000 miles – including three visits to the Azores, racing round Britain and Ireland and a foray into the Atlantic – it was a simple day-race (round the Isle…
Luff slides and fittings: how to pick the best
There are a variety of ways to attach your mainsail luff to the mast. Which option you go for will depend on the size of your boat as well as…
Best bilge pumps: electric pumps, emergency pumps and alarms
Rupert Holmes explains how electric bilge pumps work and why performance doesn't always meet expectations