For those dreaming of the joys of owning a yacht, Nick Ridley offers encouragement as well as a look at the harsher reality of financing your dreams

(whatever your budget!)

My motives for this trip were varied. I was on the committee that vetted applications for the Ocean Cruising Club’s Challenge Grant when Project Manaia had applied for a grant to support their environ

Although the dreary northern hemisphere winter weather is well and truly upon us, it’s not all doom and gloom because this is the time of year for dreaming about the great escape and signing up for th

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Orca damage, rudder failure and a monkey bite were just a few of the setbacks facing crews en-route to this year’s ARC+,writes Ali Wood, but happily all 83 boats made it to the start line in Las Palma