Jakub Ziemkiewicz during the build of his Globe 5.80 yacht

Jakub Ziemkiewicz grew up sailing small boats on Poland's lakes but always yearned for an offshore adventure. He explains how he built his Globe 5.80 and why he is taking…

Thames barge Greta being sailed at sea

Small-boat fanatic Clive has a day off his usual trailer-sailers to savour the wonderful and much bigger world of the Thames barge

A boat moored next to a pontoon

Tony Moss and his wife, Marike, enhance the manoeuvrability of their Dufour 44 to make cruising life easier in their retirement years

Dan Turk on his boat, Little Bea

Dan Turk never intended to take part in the Mini Globe Race when he began building his Globe 5.80, but a conversation with his daughter has led him to the…

Dan Turner wearing a baseball cap

Since he was a child, Dan Turner has wanted to sail around the world. The Australian shares how he built his 19ft plywood boat and his preparations for his biggest…

A boat with an orange hull

Richard Rogers reveals the true cost of how much he spent rebuilding his ‘free’ yacht, and asks if it has been worth all the effort

A disintegrating keel band from a boat

Galvanic corrosion is often something mainly associated with metal fittings on larger craft: however, David Parker has a cautionary tale about double-checking fixings on small boats too

Non-slip decks on a yacht

Anti-slip decks are vital for safe sailing, with a wide range of attractive, long-lived, and sustainable coverings available. Jake Kavanagh examines some old favourites and latest innovations

A woman wearing a lifejacket at the helm of a boat

From classroom conundrums to night-time navigation, dinghy instructor Margaret Norris decides to give big boats a go

A person doing boat handling in a tight space

You might one day need to sail your boat into a marina without an engine. Rupert Holmes explains useful techniques for boat handling in tight spaces

The yacht Trekka sailing - originally designed by Laurent Giles for John Guzzwell, Trekka is a development of the Sopranino design. Photo credit: Nigel Calder/Maritime Museum of British Columbia

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.

A dog on a dinghy

Zoe Barlow and husband Martyn quit their jobs for a liveaboard adventure on their Sun Odyssey 40 with their dog, Ralph. They share their tips for sailing with a dog

The pilothouse boats: the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40DS

Yachts with a raised saloon can offer very comfortable onboard living. Duncan Kent looks at some of the best you can buy under 40ft