The forecast did not look promising as we headed out of Dartmouth. A bit of sun, a bit of cloud, and a southeasterly Force 2-3. Not an ideal day for…
Yacht review
Bente 28 review: Can a 28ft cruising boat handle a family of five?
Having eaten dinner, I was down below washing up. Outside, wind was lashing rain across Yarmouth Harbour where we had taken shelter for the night, while our children entertained themselves…
Contessa 32 review: Still an enduring classic
‘Once, we were going around Portland Bill in a blow and we hit a wave – the boat stopped and I carried on going. I flew 4ft through the air…
X-Yachts Xc47 review: A whole new concept
Rarely do boatbuilders start with a genuinely blank sheet of paper. The time and capital required to develop an all new boat make it a serious commitment, and the stakes…
MG Spring 25 used boat review: Does this TV star from the 80s still perform today?
Most of us can admit to having recently trawled through yacht ads on the internet. If my own experience is anything to go by, we do this out of interest…
Saare 41.2 review: ‘One of the best cruisers you will ever sail’
You could be forgiven for not having heard of Saare Yachts. After all, they only build half a dozen or so yachts a year, in just three sizes – 38ft,…
Victoria 26 used boat review: A very lucky barn find!
When my wife and I moved from Brighton to Devon in 2015, we made a deal. She could have the dog she pined for and which I didn’t want (too…
Broadblue 346 review: A cat with nine lives (well two actually)
Sometimes, if you stick around for long enough, you will see things that appear and then disappear before reappearing some years later. It happens in all areas of life, including…
Swan 38 used boat review: A stunning reputation for a reason
The Swan 38 os the sort of boat that has such a reputation you can feel almost daunted by the prospect of sailing one, let alone writing about it. If…
Corsair 880 review: Fantastic, sporty, trailable trimaran
Some boat tests are more memorable than others. Sometimes it’s the boat, sometimes the weather and sometimes a combination of the two. When I tested the Corsair 880, it was…









