‘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…
used boat test
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…
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…
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…
Beneteau First 27.7 used boat review: Fast, fun, and still very capable
Now and again you come across a boat that occupies a very particular niche in the market. The Beneteau First 27.7 is undoubtedly such a boat. It’s hard to think…
Parker 275 used boat review: A small but lively performer
There’s no doubt about it, testing second-hand boats is a fun job. You get to meet all kinds of people and sail all kinds of boats which you normally might…
Freedom 40 used boat review: Unstayed marvel still going strong
Adrian Mulville had one purpose in mind when he was looking for a boat in 2007. He wanted a vessel he could take his family on a year’s sabbatical, sailing…
Hunter Ranger 245 used boat review: Small but mighty
You can’t miss Peter Waite’s boat Curlew. As you come out of the Stoke Gabriel estuary on the River Dart, she’s the first yacht you meet on the line of…
Used boat review: Vertue – A modest little cruising yacht
Anyone who buys a Vertue is buying a boat with a towering reputation. Ever since the prototype was launched in 1936, this modest little cruising yacht, with its well-judged sheer,…
Tradewind 33 used boat review: Ocean crossing credentials
In a fast-moving world, it’s good to slow down occasionally. Boats are getting lighter, keels deeper, and rigs taller, all in the pursuit of speed. All have a place, but…