Boat owners are being urged to check the shore power cable before plugging in to stay vigilant against wet wiring What happens when wiring inadvertently gets wet. Credit: Stoneways Marine Insurance How often do you check the shore power cable before plugging it into your boat? Keith Lovett, senior underwriter at Stoneways Marine Insurance is sharing a cautionary tale to emphasise that electricity and water do not mix. He said: “With many hooking up to shore power specifically for heaters, oil radiators and dehumidifiers extra care should be taken to ensure that wiring is placed where it will r ..read more

Vendee Globe 2024 challenger Pip Hare may have to "throttle-back on performance" and jeopardise a world sailing record bid unless new funding can be found. "I’ve got a brilliant team, a great boat and this is the best opportunity of my life to make a mark on this epic race– it would be such a shame that we can’t make the most of that potential because of events beyond our control.” - Pip Hare. Credit: Jean-Louis Carli/ IMOCA Nine months ago, solo round-the-world yachtswoman Pip was celebrating having “a fighting chance” against the 13 new-build boats in the 2024 Vendée Globe race, following a ..read more

Mensun Bound, a leading Marine Archaeologist from the Falkland Islands, has teamed up with Enda O'Coineen, round-the-world sailor and Irish businessman, for a global philanthropic project to build a modern-day replica Ernest Shackleton's Endurance. Ernest Shackleton's ship, Endurance, stuck in the ice in the Weddell Sea during the Antarctic expedition, 1915. Photo credit: GRANGER - Historical Picture Archive/Alamy The focus of activity will be on science, exploration and youth development using the latest design ideas and materials. It will also be a global focal point for the Shackleton legac ..read more

While repairing his hot water boat calorifier, Chris Mardon found it had a spring and one-way plunger. But what purpose do they serve? Stu Davies has the answer It's a mystery where the plunger and spring (above) came from in Chris Mardon's calorifier set-up. Credit: Chris Mardon The hot water calorifier on my yacht is made by the Italian company Quick and is a 20lt size from their BX range of water boilers. A minor long-standing leak between the immersion heater boss and the casing revealed itself when it became more serious and was leaking gallons of water into the bilges. Time to take it ou ..read more

The former Whitbread yacht, sailed by an all-female international crew has taken the coveted title after 153d 2h 16m 53s of racing around the world. Virtually none of the crew had previously faced such an epic challenge and only one had sailed in the Southern Ocean before. Maiden and her 12-strong crew after crossing the finish line of Leg 4 of the Ocean Globe Race. Credit: The Maiden Factor-Kaia Bint Savage Maiden and her crew are no strangers to smashing glass ceilings and sailing into the history books. In the 1989-90 Whitbread Round the World Race, Tracy Edwards skippered the 58ft yacht an ..read more

Kit boat builder Polly Robinson shares her tips for painting and varnishing a plywood-epoxy boat Spending time painting and varnishing delivers excellent results. Credit: Polly Robinson Painting and varnishing a boat: how to get the perfect finish Plywood-epoxy construction is a modern boatbuilding method that allows you to build a boat quicker than traditionally built boats. But epoxy requires UV protection to stop it from breaking down and yellowing over time, so applying a finish is both practical and cosmetic. Preparing for painting and/or varnishing a boat The most important part of the f ..read more

The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) report concluded that a discarded trawl net "was the root cause" of the loss of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42i, Inish Ceinn The 2008 Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42i, Inish Ceinn had just been refitted before the voyage. Credit: MCIB A discarded trawl net which wrapped around the propeller, rudder and keel of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42i, Inish Ceinn was the “root cause” of the yacht’s grounding and subsequent loss, according to the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB). The yacht has just been refitted and undergone successful sea trials before its fi ..read more

Hamish Southby-Tailyour explains the modifications he’s made to make his Torqeedo 603 electric outboard work better for him Hamish Southby-Tailyour made several modifications to his Torqeedo 603. 12mm cordage was used to fashion a handle for the tiller. Credit: Hamish Southby-Tailyour ‘How I made my Torqeedo 603 electric outboard work for me’ There’s no smell of fuel and no chance of spilling fuel on me, in my dinghy, down my topsides or into the sea. It starts instantly. There are few servicing requirements… and no need to carry spare plugs, tools, fuel, oil, funnel and all the other accoutre ..read more

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 PBO’s Ali Wood on safety boat duty – a short shaft engine is required in the shallow waters of Christchurch Harbour There are good deals to be had on outboard engines if you know what you’re looking for, but first, it’s worth checking if there’s still life in the old one and, if not, whether you consider buying a new or used outboard motor? Brothers Ashley and Barnaby Isard run Ash Marine in Devon, covering everything from boat brok ..read more

A yachtsman has died following a man overboard incident just outside Port of Dover. Kent Police assisted HM Coastguard and Port of Dover Police on 1 April following a report of a person overboard from a yacht in the English Channel, just outside Port of Dover. Photo credit: Chris Mansfield/Getty Images Michael Savage, known as Mick, had been sailing his 1980s Westerly Konsort called Konsorted, when he became separated from his yacht on 1 April. Westerly Owners Association (WOA) Commodore Brian Jones said: “It was with great sadness that we learned of this incident involving one of our members ..read more