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Feathering Propeller Review
57 CommentsReading Time: 5 minutesFree
Read more: Feathering Propeller ReviewWhen we took delivery of our new OVNI 435 in 2008, we decided to stick with the standard 3 bladed propeller, partly for reasons of cost (we were running out of cash!). But on all of my previous boats I’d had either a folding or feathering prop, and fully intended to fit one to Pèlerin […]
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That’s One Way To Do It…
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Read more: That’s One Way To Do It…For many impecunious youngsters around the world a ‘project’ is the only chance of getting out on the ocean road, and good luck and full respect to them.
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Making Life Easier—Roller Reefing/Furling
10 CommentsReading Time: 4 minutesMembers
Read more: Making Life Easier—Roller Reefing/FurlingColin shares the details on the Harken roller reefing system they installed on their OVNI 435.
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Making Life Easier—Storm Jib
23 CommentsReading Time: 5 minutesMembers
Read more: Making Life Easier—Storm JibColin and Louise carry a dedicated hanked on storm jib ready to go when necessary. Colin tells us why and how.
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Piracy—Trouble In Paradise
8 CommentsReading Time: 3 minutesFree
Read more: Piracy—Trouble In ParadiseFor most cruising yachtsmen there are few more beautiful, peaceful or congenial places to down a cold Tusker beer, than on the Kenyan shore of the Indian Ocean. Such places form the backbone of the dream for so many, and it’s not hard to see why. But outside in open waters things are less idyllic, […]
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Sailing The West Coast Of Scotland, Part 2
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Read more: Sailing The West Coast Of Scotland, Part 2Sailing ‘off-grid’ is all about getting away from the crowds, and the west of Scotland can certainly offer that – during my first fortnight in charge of a charter boat in the Hebrides back in the spring of 1992 we saw one other yacht in two weeks. And in those days there was a kind […]
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Sailing The West Coast Of Scotland, Part 1
5 CommentsReading Time: 2 minutesFree
Read more: Sailing The West Coast Of Scotland, Part 1A hardy perennial in sailing magazines has always been some well-known individual describing their ‘favourite secret anchorage’. I’ve never fully understood the rationale for taking part in such an exercise. After all, if it’s no longer a secret, won’t that make it as busy as any other place as a result? As someone once wisely […]
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New Versus Old
22 CommentsReading Time: 4 minutesFree
Read more: New Versus OldWhen we arrived in Lagos, Portugal, I recognised a very smart looking cutter berthed near us as belonging to people I knew, so when I could see there was someone aboard I wandered over to say hello. After a brief chat, I was told that this obviously ocean-ready yacht was now up for sale due […]
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Cruising With A Purpose
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Read more: Cruising With A PurposeThe liveaboard life appeals on many levels, but in common with many cruising couples that we have encountered, we have found that it can feel a little purposeless at times. This is partly due to us still shaking off many years of frenetic career work, but we’ve found we’re far from alone in this regard. […]
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Achieving The Impossible
5 CommentsReading Time: 6 minutesFree
Read more: Achieving The ImpossibleColin discusses some of the modifications they made to their OVNI 435 to make her both a comfortable home and a voyaging machine.
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Rudder Options, Staying In Control
23 CommentsReading Time: 5 minutesFree
Read more: Rudder Options, Staying In ControlWhenever we lift our OVNI out at a boatyard, she soon attracts a lot of attention. Partly that’s due to the sight of a sizeable boat (seemingly) without a keel, sitting on her bottom, but especially the rudder in its kicked up position, pointing out behind her.
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Colin And Louise’s OVNI 435, “Pèlerin”
51 CommentsReading Time: 7 minutesFree
Read more: Colin And Louise’s OVNI 435, “Pèlerin”An overview of Colin and Louise’s Ovni 435, Pèlerin.
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“Vagabond”—An Extraordinary Polar Yacht
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Read more: “Vagabond”—An Extraordinary Polar YachtThere’s no mistaking the profile of certain boats, so it was easy for us to recognise the red yacht transiting the Caledonian Canal one day in early April, despite the near blizzard conditions at the time. Vagabond is a well-known yacht in polar circles, and there is really nothing quite like her visually.
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A Glimpse Of The Future?
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Read more: A Glimpse Of The Future?Many yachtsmen who have visited the Rias of Galicia have remarked that they resemble the sea lochs of Scotland (but without the rain or the midges!). And they do, although they are far busier than Scotland, not just in terms of population and boat traffic, but also because of one of the cornerstones of the […]
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Learning The Hard Way
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Read more: Learning The Hard WayAfter nearly 20 years of going North, our decision for 2010 was to head South in search of new horizons and the sun. Last year in the Hebrides was wonderful, but when the weather broke in August we were glad to move on, and we know we’ll be back one day.
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Test Sail On A Boréal 44
63 CommentsReading Time: 5 minutesMembers
Read more: Test Sail On A Boréal 44Colin answers the most important question: how does she sail?
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Boréal 44 Design
29 CommentsReading Time: 5 minutesMembers
Read more: Boréal 44 DesignColin moves on to examine the boat in detail with many photographs.
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A Boat Designed For The High Latitudes
6 CommentsReading Time: 5 minutesMembers
Read more: A Boat Designed For The High LatitudesAn in-depth look at the hull form and construction of the Boréal 44.
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Peace At Last?
18 CommentsReading Time: 3 minutesFree
Read more: Peace At Last?Readers of my previous post on the subject will be aware that we try to generate as much power as possible via renewable resources – wind and solar. This is driven by a desire to keep the boat as simple as possible, and to avoid the need to run our engine at rest for charging […]
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Medical Kit For The Long Haul
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Read more: Medical Kit For The Long HaulTotally confused about which medical kit to take onboard with you? Colin discusses some of the issues involved in choosing which kit is right for you.
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It Ain’t Necessarily So
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Read more: It Ain’t Necessarily SoIn these days of hyper-accurate GPS navigation and deck mounted plotters, it can sometimes seem like navigation has been reduced to no more than a video game.
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Glenarm, Ireland
1 CommentReading Time: 4 minutesFree
Read more: Glenarm, IrelandI’ve only ever seen one sailing magazine article by the great writer and sailor Jonathan Raban, but the first sentence of that article may explain why: “Marina is a word like rubella—it sounds far nicer than the thing it describes.” And for many marinas, maybe that’s the truth. Practical, convenient, yes, but it would be […]
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It Was A Very Good Year
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Read more: It Was A Very Good YearWhen you cast your mind back at the end of a season, what do you remember from it? Memory being selective as time passes, the bad stuff tends to get filed under futile, and the good just keeps coming into focus.
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Boréal Sailboats–An Introduction
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Read more: Boréal Sailboats–An IntroductionAn introduction to French lifting keel boats and how Boréal have refined that proven concept.
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Watch Out For Whales, Part I
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Read more: Watch Out For Whales, Part IAnother race, another whale collision, yet again ending in the loss of a boat and injury to a whale. Thankfully no loss of life, although one day that may not be the case. What is happening out on the oceans? Pirates everywhere, climate change driven hurricanes, and now homicidal whales?
