New innovations mean you have more chance of keeping your boat afloat and avoiding polluting the sea around you. Rob Melotti investigates

West country farmer, Matt Dale, prefers using his boat to working on it - but sometimes, even he has to bite the bullet and get his tools out

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OWN UP TO YOUR SAILING SINS

TIM'S TOP TIPS

Nick Burnham: Theoretically, in very extreme conditions you could position yourself stern-to a large breaking wave and then stop the boat, but why would you?