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We have previously reported on the benefits of adding a staysail in our guest blog: Turbo charge your ride with a staysail. We also looked at different setup options such as furling vs hanks here:

But what about the mast fitting? For people looking to retrofit a staysail on a rig without an existing staysail sheave or tang, this can often be the crunch point. In this blog we explore some of the possible approaches to tackling this, primarily in relation to aluminium rigs. 

We cannot think of another sport where the importance of teamwork is so vital both before and during the actual event. Whether that event is a leisurely cruise or an ocean-going race. Each crew member plays a crucial role, which is not only essential for performance, but also for the safety of the boat and everyone on board. 

The practice of kedging has been used for hundreds of years as a method of manoeuvring or orienting a sailing vessel against tide and wind. A kedge anchor is typically smaller and lighter than the primary anchor, making it easier to handle. Modern cruising yachts continue to use kedge anchors for a variety of purposes including to provide additional holding power in strong wind or to maintain the alignment of the vessel in a narrow anchorage where there is not room to swing. In this blog we look at how racing boats use kedge anchors to hold fast in light wind and adverse current. 

For racing yachts and cruiser/racers with a fixed (non-furling) headstay there are really two possible methods of attaching the luff of the jib to the wire or rod forestay: in a luff foil, or with hanks. In our recent survey of the UK doublehanded fleet we found 56% of respondents using luff foils compared with 38% on hanks. In this blog we explore some of the things to consider when making this choice. 

A bowsprit is now an almost inevitable feature of a racing yacht or performance cruiser and there are also a number of off-the-shelf retrofit options available. The uptake is due in part to the popularity of asymmetric downwind sails which offer ease of handing, particularly when sailing with reduced crew. But even for a predominantly symmetric spinnaker boat, a bowsprit is necessary for flying a code zero or other specialist reaching asymmetric. In this blog we look at how to best setup a bowsprit to suit your sail inventory. 

Spring is approaching and we start to think about getting our boats ready for the coming season.  

And whilst there are some jobs that are obvious, like servicing engines, repainting, varnishing woodwork, and checking sails, here is our list of 10 jobs that could easily be overlooked but are potentially critical for you to enjoy a safe season ahead.  

This list is not exhaustive, but should give you food for thought!