It started with a burp. Well, in a manner of speaking. There was a strange moment soon after the start of my test of the BayCruiser 23 when owner Mark…
Boat test
Used Sweden Yachts 390 Review: This Swedish Classic Still Turns Heads
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…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
Beneteau First 44 review: Docile herbivore of a boat, or a meat-hungry carnivore?
Disney princesses may not be the first thing that come to mind when sailing in mid December, but as we stepped aboard, the boat’s stereo was belting out Elsa from…
Beneteau Oceanis 37.1 review: Easy, enjoyable, and forgiving
The Beneteau Oceanis 37.1 is the latest model in the Beneteau Oceanis range – one of the best-known and recognisable in cruising yachts today. Sixty different models or variations have…