Yachting Monthly

08/03/2025

Lungi Mchunu was the first African woman to sail to the Arctic. She is also a citizen scientist and climate change activist. Lungi has dared to dream and believes there are no limits to what we can achieve.

She was raised in a single-parent household in South Africa. Her mother encouraged her to challenge herself and pursue her passions.

'I think in pursuit of the unknown, I grew to recognise moments and feelings along the way that fuelled my passion and served as confirmation that I was on the right path.' And that path was sailing.

‘There were many stand-out moments from my time in the Arctic. Sailing through the fjords was the most magical and picturesque experience.

'Crossing the Arctic Circle was a big achievement, and we had prepared signage and snacks to celebrate as a team, so that was a special moment. This was topped off by spotting a polar bear and her cub.’

Photo credits: Lungi Mchunu / Nic Compton / Alamy Stock Photo

08/03/2025

‘Educate a Girl, Change the World’ is the Maiden philosophy.

A joyful moment after the all-female Maiden team win the Ocean Globe Race...

Photo credit: Rachel Burgess

08/03/2025

The Hanse 360 won a European Yacht of the Year 2025 award, and it's easy to see why: offering bags of volume in a 37-footer.

The Hanse 360 won a European Yacht of the Year 2025 award and it's easy to see why, offering bags of volume in a 37 footer

08/03/2025

Happy International Women's Day! We're celebrating women, including those who show up in the sailing world.

Here's an inspirational story about South African sailor Vuyisile Jaca, who bravely seized all the chances along the way, defying the odds to become a record-breaking, round-the-world sailor.

https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/news/meet-vuyisile-jaca-the-south-african-up-for-world-sailor-of-the-year-99321

07/03/2025

What to do to safely moor your yacht:

https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/sailing-skills/how-to-moor-your-yacht-and-how-not-to-100714

07/03/2025

The popular Fisher 34 was first launched in 1978.

Designers David Freeman and Gordon Wyatt teamed up in 1969 to produce a range of boats with the seaworthiness of a North Sea fishing boat and the sailing abilities of a long-distance cruising yacht.

The Fishers all had canoe sterns, long keels for directional stability, and a deep-vee entry and pronounced sheer with high, flared bows and deep bulwarks to keep the waves out.

The Fisher 34 has a traditional, cosy wheelhouse from which the vessel may be steered under power or sail. A large transparent sliding hatch in the wheelhouse roof makes the latter possible.

She has a generous sail plan that allows her to be sailed quite competently in a good Force 4 breeze. When the going gets rough, making way to windward is mandatory. However, she also boasts a powerful 75hp Yanmar diesel engine driving a large fixed 3-blade prop via a conventional shaft.

The 34 can comfortably sleep up to six people. It has a double fore cabin, a double aft quarter cabin set under the wheelhouse, and a double berth in the saloon.

Every Fisher was built to order, so a degree of customising will be apparent between boats.

Photo credit: David Harding

Read more at the link in the comments below.

07/03/2025

Justin Morton says chart plotters are a fantastic aid, but they can detract from real-world pilotage if not used with caution.

Chartplotters are an amazing aid, but can detract from your real-world pilotage if not used with caution, says Justin Morton

06/03/2025

The Sea-Changers Foundation Fund 2025 allows communities to receive up to £2,500 for water bottle fountains on the UK's coast. Applications are open.

https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/boat-events/mets/news-mets/water-bottle-fountain-fund-accepting-applications-from-uk-coastal-communities-100778

06/03/2025

A tour of Jeanneau's eighth generation Sun Odyssey, the 360 from Editor Theo Stocker...

06/03/2025

The J/40 is the latest cruiser from J-Boats. Not designed around any particular racing rules, she's a pure performance cruiser.

The J/40 is the latest cruiser from J-Boats. Not designed around any particular racing rules, she's a pure performance cruiser

05/03/2025

In the company of Sir Robin Knox Johnson, Skip Novak and Jean-Luc Van Den Heede

https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/specials/cape-horners-reflect-on-their-epic-adventures-at-their-annual-dinner-100764

05/03/2025

Rachael Sprot steps aboard to help. Dave and Natalie want to 'Brush up on mooring astern so I can handle my boat solo’. Rachael offers her top tips.

Rachael Sprot steps aboard to help. Dave and Natalie want to...'Brush up on mooring astern so I can handle my boat solo’. Rachael offers her top tips

05/03/2025

The Hanse 360 won a European Yacht of the Year 2025 award, and it's easy to see why: it offers bags of volume in a 37-footer.

The yacht is geared toward easy and enjoyable sailing. All lines are led aft to the helm so the boat can be handled easily single-handedly. The coachroof-mounted mainsheet and self-tacking jib help keep things simple, though both will need trimming from the twin winches aft.

Below, there are bags of room, with a large galley to port, a pantry fridge in the two-cabin version, a large head with a separate shower to starboard, and C-shaped seating to port. You can opt for an extra head in the forward cabin, moving the island berth over to the starboard side to make space. You can also opt for one or two double cabins aft.

The cockpit is a key feature. There is a barbecue in the stern seat between the fold-down helm seats, which open to give access to the bathing platform.

Hanse 360 Specifications:
- LOA: 11.32m/ 37ft 2in
- Hull length: 10.60m / 34ft 9in
- LWL: 10.29m / 33ft 9in
- Beam: 3.99m / 13ft 1in
- Draught: 2.00m / 6ft 9in
- Shoal draught: 1.65m / 5ft 5in)
- Sail area: 61m2 / 657 sq ft
- Displacement: 8,010kg / 17,659 lbs
- Price: £195,900 sailaway price ex VAT

Read more at the link in the comments below.

04/03/2025

A simple guide to cleaning an anti-syphon valve on a yacht's engine: https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/gear/how-to-clean-an-anti-syphon-valve-on-a-yachts-engine-100687

04/03/2025

Despite low headroom, spartan accommodation and a potentially wet ride, the Folkboat remains one of the most iconic yachts of the last 100 years. Nic Compton finds out why.

Despite low headroom, spartan accommodation and a potentially wet ride, the Folkboat remains one of the most iconic yachts of the last 100 years

03/03/2025

'I’m ridiculously excited to bring you the West Marine buy one get one free winch deals.' - Tech Editor, Fox Morgan

Don't miss out on this incredible Lewmar winch opportunity: https://www.yachtingworld.com/.../the-big-west-marine

03/03/2025

The BIG West Marine Winch Sale is BACK AGAIN! Buy one, get one free:

https://www.yachtingworld.com/.../the-big-west-marine

There are over 4000 dollars to save, from the largest 65 winches and winch sizes available to the dinky size 6s and 7s.

03/03/2025

'Eight days after leaving Oban on the west coast of Scotland, we arrived at the Fowey estuary on the Cornish coast. The guests and crew on board were oblivious to the magnitude of the occasion for us.

'For them, Steve’s dash ashore to Polruan’s Lugger Inn to procure ice for the celebratory gin and tonics was simply ‘part of the service’ they had come to expect from a Provident voyage where food and drink rank easily as highly as sailing and adventure.'

Steve Jones and Morag Slesser sailed Provident, a historic Brixham Sailing Trawler, on a centenary voyage from Scotland’s west coast to her roots on the South Coast.

'Polruan marked the end of a two-year journey; the place where, during a damp and freezing January in 2022, we had first hauled our newly purchased boat out of the water; where the magnitude of the task before us became clear, and, where eventually, with a gang of friends, supporters and local workers we began our mission to keep Provident sailing.'

'The journey from Oban to Brixham had passed in the haze of sailing, sleeping and eating that comes with a long voyage. A sleep in the middle of the day after a four-hour watch is one of the joys of passage sailing. Of the eight guests on board, four had sailed on Provident before; some drawn by the romance of taking her back to her home port on a centenary voyage and some for the sheer joy of sailing a 100-year-old, 85-tonne boat.'

'Under engine (something that only got added to Provident in the 1940s), the boat steers sharply to port. Under sail, the boat is transformed into a sailing wonder – with each added sail she sets into a groove ready for whatever nature has in store.'

'Owning Provident is a privilege and a responsibility. We know we are simply custodians; really she is owned by the town of Brixham and all those who have sailed and nurtured her over her 100 years of service.'

Read more at the link in the comments below.