How green is my boat?
Practical: The environment John Champion examines just how green most of our boats are, and what we can do to alter the balance in favour of the environment. Try our spot quiz to see how your boat rates. In these…
Cruising
Dedicated to Cruising the world under sail including destinations, navigation, sailing tips, safety ideas, yacht & multihull reviews along with stories and insights for the sail cruising life in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Going outside
Destination: Great Barrier Reef Out or in? It's a quandary every cruiser has to face when heading north or south along the Great Barrier Reef. Aideen Henry puts the case for the former. The end of the cyclone season marks…
The land of cigars, rum & Castro
Destinations: Cuba Don and Agnes Reed encounter an intriguing land not without its challenges when they venture south from Florida to the homeland of Fidel Castro. Cuba lies just 80nm south of the Florida Keys in the US and if…
Casting off in new waters
Practical: Drawing up a cruise plan Drawing up a cruise plan will increase the chances of a trouble-free cruise, writes Bob Couper, who here also gives some tips on river and estuary cruising and berthing. Getting away from it all…
In the wake of Banyandah: Stop the world – I'd rather be sailing
Jack and Jude Binder prepare to set sail again, pausing to admire their latest article in the current issue of Cruising Helmsman magazine as they do so! The December issue of Cruising Helmsman magaine is tops, filled with adventurous and…
Sounds delightful
Megan Blakie revels in one of New Zealand's most famous destinations – Queen Charlotte Sound. “It'll be busy!” warned a Christchurch yachtie, referring to the Marlborough Sounds at Christmas time. “Whitsunday-busy or Hauraki Gulf-busy?” I asked, having experienced these popular…
Staying in touch with home
Practical: communications Staying in touch with home can be easy and inexpensive, Roger Foley discovers, when he investigates what cruisers are using offshore today. Once upon a time bluewater sailors used to remain in contact with home by letter. It…
Your first port of call: Just Cruising by Keith Fleming
Yachts cruising overseas require a little more paperwork than the average airline traveller. Doing the preparation early pays off and avoids nasty fines, as witnessed recently for cruising sailors to Australia. While we all hate the paper work, there are…
Rammed at midnight
Even the bleakest situation can have some positive aspects, Don and Agnes Reed discover after being rammed at midnight by a charter boat. On a moonlight night in Turkey our anchored yacht, Honey Moon, was rammed amidships by a Turkish…
Storm winds, storm lessons
By Lin and Larry Purdy: “Was it as rough as you imagined it would be?” people ask about our east to west rounding of Cape Horn. Yes, it was rough. But on reflection, though Taleisin, our 9m (29ft7″) cutter encountered…
Through the power maze
Practical: Electrics Bruce and Sandy Meldrum lead the way through the maze of upgrading your power system to meet the demands of cruising in the energy-hungry 21st century. Over the years it is our impression that one of the most…
Sailing with the Smallwoods: Cruising across borders
Sharon and Julian Smallwood believe cruisers should not be put off from visiting some states and countries because of bureaucratic red tape and differing rules and regulations. Firstly a big thanks to everyone who commented on the last blog about…
In the wake of Banyandah: Musings on adventure, Jessica Watson and Mother Earth
Jack and Jude Binder ponder the world we live in, from adventure and Jessica Watson's solo voyage to Mother Earth and the pressure the environment is under. Throughout history men and women have gone out seeking adventure, earth's curiosities and…
Cyclone imminent!
Practical: heavy-weather sailing Jim and Linda Colliers' worst nightmare comes true when they find out a cyclone is on the way when they are in the middle of nowhere. What on earth were we doing here, hundreds of miles out…
Knowing the ropes
PRACTICAL BY BOB ROSS Increased strength, versatility and specialisation are just some of the attributes of the latest developments in rope technology. Rope manufacturers continue to steadily improve the quality of the synthetic fibres most widely used on yachts: double-braid…
Beautiful Bermagui
Robyn and Ian Reidy revel in one of the NSW South Coast's lesser known gems – the small township of Bermagui. Approaching Bermagui on the NSW South Coast was a real buzz – the first port of call on our…
Where the West Wind blows
Destinations: East Coast Chris Dicker and wife Gilli enjoy some of the east coast's most popular stopovers when they head north in the classic Jock Muir sloop West Wind. The sun went down in a benevolent glow over the high…
Shop up & ship out
Destinations: Panama An unexpected health crisis adds angst to the task of preparing K-Sera II for the long passage from Panama to the Marquesas Islands, writes Elaine Kleiss. Brilliant sunshine sparkled across the waters of La Playita, our first anchorage…
Budgeting your boating
Practical: Finances Budgeting effectively is even more essential in tough times, writes financial expert Bruce Vass. A Charles Dicken's character, Mr Micawber, said: “Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty…
Skipper's Checklist: Checking your wind generator
By Alan Lucas When the sun is hiding wind generators complement solar panels beautifully, presuming the wind continues to blow, of course. In adding them to our checklist the various types cannot be reviewed, but a common failing can certainly…
Hopping along in SA
Destinations: Kangaroo Island Bruce Vass enjoys one of South Australia's most popular cruising grounds – Kangaroo Island. Kangaroo Island is a popular cruising ground for South Australian yachties. The waters are pristine and sailing conditions can be ideal. When the…
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club
At the Club Visiting Pittwater north of Sydney? Caroline Strainig previews what you can expect if you call in at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. If the word “royal” makes you think of “stuffy,” think again, at least in…
Skippers' Checklist: Propulsion
Practical: Skippers' Checklist Before starting the engine, check oil, water and battery levels, advises Alan Lucas. Never press the button until these essentials have passed muster, then, immediately after starting, confirm that all instruments are monitoring correctly and that cooling…
A family business
Greg Cockle shares one of his favourite spots on his way home from the US – Palmerston Atoll in the Cook Islands. Debbie and I arrived at Palmerston Atoll in the Cook Islands after a quick one-and-a-half-day passage of 280…
Sailing with the Smallwoods: Getting your sea-time recognised
Sharon and husband Julian get a little hot under the collar when they have difficulty getting sea-time recognised by authorities. Okay. I've been inspired by Captain Cranky to let off some hot air! If you're a cruising sailor who's successfully navigated…
Bluewater cruising: Insights into SE Asia
Insights into SE Asia Hidden treasures, corruption and garbage – you'll find them all in SE Asia, says Bob Morgan, who argues that it is all the more rewarding if you look beyond the superficial to the underlying culture. One…
Engine maintenance: Just Cruising by Keith Fleming
One of the most common emergencies on a sailing yacht is engine failure so keeping the donk in good condition when cruising is important. Cleanliness of the engine room is often a good indication of the general condition of things….
Where would you go?
TOP 10 DESTINATIONS While sharing stories among friends one evening in our cockpit, someone asked ‘Where’s your favourite place’’ In the fading light, we tossed places and stories into the mix, agreeing, disagreeing and laughing, writes Annette Tuncel. Later, my…
Sailing with the Smallwoods: Staying afloat
Sharon Smallwood, currently cruising the east coast of Australia with husband Julian, shares her thoughts on budgeting your boating. Last week our 240-volt inverter blew up. Once upon a time this would have been a temporary setback. Without giving it too much thought…
In the wake of Banyandah: The day we were almost killed
Back in 1979, all ships used the heavens to navigate. The world had no satellites guiding us every moment day and night, and our maps or what we called charts we're somewhat inaccurate – some had been made by aerial…
Transiting the Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a milestone for most circumnvigators, and so too was it for Elaine and Chris Kleiss, on their way home after purchasing a boat overseas. This was it! This was the day! The various jobs mostly done…
Ready for the rough stuff
With thousands of ocean and coastal miles under their keels Dave and Pattie Bowden and Geoff and Cherylle Stone, two couples who own Grainger catamarans, share their thoughts on coping with heavy weather. Article compiled by Cherylle. Keeping This Way…
Why is it so?
John Champion takes a tongue-in-cheek look at some of the perplexing things he has come across in his many years around boats of all descriptions. Boom height The scale of these things ranges, and there frequently seems to be no…
Hinchinbrook Island's Zoe Bay
Steve Farmer and his family have visited Zoe Bay only three times, but they still count it as one of their favourite desintations. It's hard to start an article on Hinchinbrook Island's Zoe Bay without quoting Alan Lucas in Cruising…
Servicing your diesel
Practical: Maintenance Servicing your own diesel engine is a good way to save money but also an essential skill for any cruiser who plans to cruise off the beaten path. Here Jon Neeves takes us through the process step by…
Perfect Port Stephens
Destination: Port Stephens John Tylor profiles one of NSW's most popular destinations – Port Stephens, also the gateway to the Myall Lakes. Port Stephens would have to rank high on anyone's list of favourite destinations and mine is no exception,…
Three days of trailer-sailer fun
cruise in company to Papua New Guinea An experienced cruising yachtsman from Cairns, Guy Chester, has announced plans for a Louisiades Rally later this year. The rally is being organised with the support of the Yorkeys Knob Boating Club and…
Sailing with the Smallwoods: Fun in the sun
Sharon and Julian Smallwood enjoy some fun in the sun when they call in at Airlie for the annual Fun Race and then head out for some whale-watching. Since my last post we've been getting to know the mainland suburb…
New Zealand's Top 10 Marinas
Dockside in the land of the white cloud Annette Tuncel checks out some of the best marina facilities for those cruising or planning a charter across the Tasman Sea. New Zealand is an island nation, a nation of people who…
Bareboat Charter Course: Wonderful or waste of time?
Put to the test Caroline Strainig checks out a trail-blazing course developed specifically for would-be charterers. Okay, so you’ve done a little sailing, and are dreaming of hiring a yacht somewhere. But you’re far from expert, and would love a…
