Guides
The complete curriculum: a hundred long-form guides that take you from first steps to seasoned owner.
First steps
The foundations: vocabulary, licences, budget, first time out.
What is yachting? The absolute beginner's guide
What yachting really covers — cruising, budgets, myths — and how to get started without the glossy-magazine fantasy, with honest numbers throughout.
Read the guideBeginner · 4 min readSail or power: understanding the two worlds
Sail or power? Philosophy, learning curve, real running costs and typical profiles: an honest comparison to pick the world that fits your programme.
Read the guideBeginner · 4 min readBoat anatomy: bow, stern, port and all the rest
Bow, stern, port, starboard, halyards and sheets: the essential boat vocabulary, zone by zone, with the memory tricks that make it stick for good.
Read the guideBeginner · 4 min readThe 8 boat families, explained simply
Sailboats, catamarans, sport cruisers, trawlers, river boats, superyachts: the 8 boat families explained, each with a typical use case and budget.
Read the guideBeginner · 4 min readBoat licences and training: coastal, offshore, ICC
Coastal licence, offshore extension, ICC, licence-free sailing: who needs what, at what cost, how long it takes — and how to charter abroad legally.
Read the guideBeginner · 4 min readWhat boating really costs: the big picture
From paddleboards to superyachts: honest orders of magnitude for boating costs — purchase price, annual budget, hidden fees, and the 5-10% rule.
Read the guideBeginner · 4 min readCharter, buy or shared ownership: which formula to start?
Charter, boat club, shared ownership, lease or purchase: the right formula depends on your weeks afloat per year. A clear matrix to decide fast.
Read the guideBeginner · 4 min readYour first time out at sea: the complete checklist
Weather, boat checks, crew briefing, return to port: the complete run-through of a successful first trip out at sea — before, during and after.
Read the guideBeginner · 4 min readSeasickness: prevent it, manage it, beat it
Why seasickness happens, how to prevent it from the night before, which remedies actually work, and the specific rules that apply to children.
Read the guideBeginner · 4 min readThe 12 classic beginner boating mistakes
Oversized engines, ignored forecasts, buried lifejackets: the 12 most common beginner boating mistakes and the simple habits that prevent them.
Read the guideUnderstanding boats
Hulls, engines, rigs, electronics: the technical side without jargon.
Planing, semi-displacement, displacement hulls explained
Displacement, semi-displacement or planing hulls: the simple physics, real-world fuel burn and how to choose the right hull for your programme.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readGRP, aluminium, steel, carbon: hull materials compared
GRP, aluminium, steel or carbon: strengths, weaknesses, upkeep and lifespan of each hull material — and how to check a hull's condition before buying.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readMarine engines: inboard, outboard, sail-drive, IPS
Outboard, shaft-drive inboard, sail-drive or IPS pods: layouts, brands, how to read engine hours and what really breaks — choose with your eyes open.
Read the guideBeginner · 4 min readSails and rigs: sloop, ketch, genoa, gennaker
Sloop, cutter, ketch, genoa, gennaker: understanding sailboat rigs and the sail wardrobe — what each sail does and what it realistically costs.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readMarine electronics: GPS, AIS, radar, fishfinder
GPS, fishfinder, VHF, AIS, radar: the minimum electronics fit, the comfort upgrades, the main brands and realistic budgets to equip your boat well.
Read the guideIntermediate · 3 min readPower on board: batteries, solar, lithium, generator
Energy budget, battery bank, solar panels, lithium, generator: how to size your boat's electrical system so the power never dies at anchor.
Read the guideIntermediate · 3 min readFresh water, black water, watermakers: onboard plumbing
Tanks, pumps, marine toilets, black water and watermakers: understanding a boat's plumbing to size it, maintain it and avoid breakdowns.
Read the guideIntermediate · 3 min readStabilisers, foils, keels: comfort at sea
Why boats roll, and what exists to stop it: gyros, fins, keels, multihulls. The real comfort-at-sea comparison, prices included.
Read the guideBeginner · 3 min readHow to read a boat spec sheet like a pro
LOA, displacement, ballast ratio, power, CE category: what a spec sheet's numbers really say — and what they quietly hide.
Read the guideIntermediate · 3 min readOsmosis, electrolysis, corrosion: the invisible enemies
Osmosis blisters, devoured anodes, rusting stainless: understand a hull's three invisible enemies, catch them early and know what the cures really cost.
Read the guideChoosing your boat
From cruising programme to model: the method.
Define your cruising programme before choosing a boat
Waters, rhythm, crew, comfort, total budget: a five-question method to define your cruising programme before you start comparing boat models.
Read the guideBeginner · 4 min readWhat boat size? Why 40 feet is a threshold
Handling, berths, crew and running costs: why 40 feet (12 m) is a real threshold, and how to find the boat size that truly fits your programme.
Read the guideBeginner · 4 min readMonohull or catamaran: the real match-up
Feel, volume, berthing, budget, resale: the real monohull versus catamaran match-up, criterion by criterion, to choose the right boat for your plans.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readNew or pre-owned boat: pros, traps, depreciation
Yard lead times versus availability, warranty versus equipment, the depreciation curve: an honest comparison of new and pre-owned boats, trap by trap.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readFlybridge, hard-top or open: which deck for which use?
Sun, shelter, air draft, upkeep, price: flybridge, hard-top or open — a comparison by cruising area to pick the right deck layout for your boating.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readTrawler or fast cruiser: miles or knots?
Trawler or fast cruiser? Range and frugality versus speed and packed days: real fuel burn, typical owner profiles and the semi-displacement compromise.
Read the guideBeginner · 4 min readChoosing a family boat: kids on board
Secure cockpit, netted lifelines, separate cabins, a swim platform you can watch: the concrete criteria for choosing a family boat with kids on board.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readA boat to live aboard: the criteria that change everything
Living aboard changes every criterion: interior volume, insulation, power, storage and winter in the marina matter more than pure sailing performance.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readFirst purchase: the 10 costly mistakes
Too big too soon, running costs ignored, boat-show impulse buys, skipped surveys: the 10 costly first-purchase mistakes and how to avoid every one.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readThe sea trial: the complete pre-purchase checklist
Engine under load, noises, vibrations, electronics, handling: the complete sea-trial checklist before you buy, and how to turn findings into leverage.
Read the guideBeginner · 9 min readChoosing your first cruising catamaran
Stability, space and shallow draft make the catamaran easy to love. Choosing your first one well means weighing the real compromises — and knowing exactly what to check before signing.
Read the guideBuying smart
Process, survey, negotiation, VAT, flag: buying without mistakes.
Buying a boat: the complete step-by-step process
The 7 steps to buying a boat: budget, search, offer, survey, sale agreement, payment and registration — with realistic timelines and classic pitfalls.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readBroker, dealer, buyer's agent: who works for whom?
Broker, dealer, buyer's agent: who pays whom, typical commissions, where conflicts of interest hide — and when hiring your own representative pays off.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readThe boat survey: process, cost, what it reveals
What a pre-purchase survey covers, what it costs (about 1% of boat value), haul-out and moisture readings — and how to turn the report into leverage.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readNegotiating a boat's price: the levers that work
Realistic 5-15% margins, the season effect, survey findings, inventory: the levers that actually move a boat's price, with a model counter-offer.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readSale agreement and deposit: securing the deal
Subject-to clauses (survey, sea trial, finance), deposit held in escrow, title and VAT checks: how a sale agreement secures a boat purchase before closing.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readFinancing your boat: loan, leasing, lease-purchase
Cash, marine loan or lease-purchase: how each formula works, deposits and terms, what remains of the VAT angle, and the traps of early buyouts.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readVAT and pleasure boats: the essentials
VAT-paid status, the documents that prove it, temporary admission, Brexit and returned goods: the essentials for buying a boat without a nasty surprise.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readChoosing your flag: French, Belgian, Polish, Malta…
What the flag really changes — taxes, safety rules, resale — and the usual choices by profile: national flag by default, Belgian, Polish or Malta.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readImporting a boat from the US or UK: how it works
Customs duty, import VAT, CE compliance, cargo shipping or delivery trip: the full calculation and the cases where importing a boat really pays off.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readBuying an ex-charter boat: good deal or bad?
A 15-30% discount, real wear, the right model years and negotiation levers: the complete guide to buying an ex-charter boat without getting burned.
Read the guideOwning & maintaining
Annual budget, berth, wintering, upkeep: the owner's life.
A boat's annual budget: the 10% rule explained
The 10% rule: plan on 8-15% of your boat's value every year just to run it. A line-by-line breakdown with honest, real-world cost ranges for owners.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readThe berth: finding, paying, negotiating
Real berth prices, waiting lists, annual versus visitor contracts, and the credible alternatives: swinging moorings, dry stack and second-tier marinas.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readWinterising: haul out or stay afloat?
Haul out or stay afloat? How to decide, the engine, water and fabrics checklist, real costs, and the dry stack option for a worry-free winter.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readAntifouling: which one, and when to redo it
Eroding or hard matrix? Which antifouling for your boating, when to redo it, real prices, biocide rules, and how to apply it properly yourself.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readEngine maintenance: what you can do yourself
Oil, filters, impeller, anodes, belts: the engine jobs a careful owner can do, the basic toolkit, and what is genuinely best left to a professional.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readStanding rigging: inspect, tune, replace
Standing rigging lasts 10 to 15 years. Here is how to inspect it, what replacement really costs, and why your insurer may demand proof of its age.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readGelcoat, teak, upholstery: keeping a boat immaculate
Freshwater rinses, an annual polish, gentle teak care and UV covers: the simple routines that keep a boat immaculate without eating your weekends.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readBoat insurance: understanding cover and excess
Third-party or all-risks, agreed value, storm excess, cruising areas: how to understand your boat insurance policy before you ever need to claim.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readBoat care and management: delegating without overspending
Weekly checks, monthly runs, full management: what boat care services really cost, what the contract must cover, and when delegating makes sense.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readThe refit: renovating an older boat, budget and priorities
Safety, structure, comfort: the right order for renovating an older boat, how to budget a refit honestly, and what it really adds at resale time.
Read the guideBeginner · 8 min readWhat a yacht really costs per year
Berthing, insurance, maintenance, crew, depreciation: a line-by-line look at what ownership actually costs, with worked budgets for a 21-metre flybridge and a 42-foot catamaran.
Read the guideSafety & regulations
Safety gear, VHF, emergencies, paperwork: legal and safe.
Mandatory safety equipment: inshore, coastal, offshore
Tiered safety gear explained: what to carry inshore, coastal and offshore, expiry dates to track, liferaft budget and smart stowage on board.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readLifejackets and harnesses: choosing and wearing them right
50, 100, 150 or 275 N: how to pick a lifejacket, automatic vs manual, yearly maintenance, fitting children and knowing when to actually wear it.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readVHF radio: licence, channel 16, distress calls
SRC licence or not, MMSI and DSC, Mayday, Pan-Pan and Securite on channel 16, real-world range, handheld vs fixed: pleasure-boat VHF explained.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readMan overboard: the manoeuvre that saves lives
Alert, spotter, MOB button, return under sail or power, hoisting back aboard: the man overboard procedure step by step, and how to actually drill it.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readFire on board: prevention and reflexes
Electrics, gas, engine: where boat fires start, which extinguishers to carry, the moves that kill a starting fire, and when to abandon ship.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readTaking on water: locate, plug, alert
Taking on water: locate the leak (seacocks first), plug it with bungs and onboard fixes, and alert rescue early. The complete step-by-step method.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readCoastguard, MRCC, MAYDAY: who to call and how
VHF channel 16 to the MRCC or the emergency phone line: who to call at sea, the MAYDAY script, EPIRB and PLB beacons, and what a tow really costs.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readCE design categories (A–D) and navigation zones
CE design category A, B, C or D: what the letter guarantees (design wind and waves), what it does not allow, and how it links to safety gear and zones.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readRegistration and boat papers: the complete file
Registration, ship’s papers, radio licence, VAT proof and second-hand title transfer: the complete file of boat documents to keep on board and current.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readCustoms and borders for yachts: EU, UK, Schengen
EU, Schengen and the UK: when to clear your boat and crew in and out, how temporary admission works, and what customs officers really check at sea.
Read the guideLife aboard & charter
Living aboard, chartering, working at sea, family sailing.
Living aboard full-time: the real daily life
Living aboard full-time: realistic monthly budget, legal address, winter, damp and the liveaboard community. What daily life afloat really involves.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readThe galley: equipping, provisioning, cooking at sea
Equipping a galley (gas or induction, fridge), provisioning for a week and cooking while heeled: practical methods, realistic budgets, proven habits.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readInternet aboard and working from the sea: Starlink and beyond
Starlink, 4G/5G and routers: what internet aboard really costs, its power draw, and how to structure a reliable remote-working day at anchor.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readKids and pets aboard: organisation and safety
Netting, lifejackets, harnesses, routines and boat-schooling, plus dogs and cats aboard: organising family life afloat safely and realistically.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readChartering out your boat: management programmes explained
Guaranteed income or revenue share: how charter management works, what it really earns, the wear on your boat and the contract traps to avoid.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readSkippered charter: how it works, what it costs
Skippered charter explained: cabin vs whole boat, the skipper's real role, APA, tipping and the true budget — expect 200-350 € a day for a pro.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readBecoming a professional skipper: training and realities
Yachtmaster or national tickets, sea miles to log, honest pay of 1,500-3,000 € net: the realistic path to working as a professional skipper.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readCrew life: roles, watch systems, conflicts
Briefings, clear roles, watch systems and conflict management: practical rules for living well as a crew on a sailing yacht, even in bad weather.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readClean cruising: seagrass, black water, products
Seagrass, mooring fields, black water, antifouling and onboard products: the practical habits and rules for clean cruising without the hassle.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readYacht delivery: moving your boat without sailing it
Delivery skipper or cargo ship, day rates and per-mile pricing, insurance and prep: what yacht delivery really costs and how to organise it well.
Read the guideMarket & value
Values, depreciation, resale, boat shows, trends: think like an investor.
A boat's market value: how it's built
No official blue book for boats: market value is built from real sale prices, adjusted for engine hours, equipment, condition and season. Here is how.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readBoat depreciation: the real numbers
A new boat loses 15-35% in three years and 40-55% in ten, depending on type. Sail, power and catamaran curves — and the levers that limit the loss.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readSelling your boat: preparation, listing, viewings
Preparation, pro photos, the right price from day one, controlled viewings and secure payment: how to sell your boat in three to six months, at full value.
Read the guideIntermediate · 5 min readBoat shows: Cannes, Düsseldorf, La Rochelle… which one for what
Düsseldorf in January, Cannes and Monaco in September, La Rochelle in autumn: what on-water and indoor shows each offer, and how to negotiate there.
Read the guideAdvanced · 4 min readPremium brands vs volume builders: what are you really paying for?
Structure, finish, after-sales, depreciation: what the 30-80% gap between premium yards and volume builders really buys — and when it is worth paying.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readEurope's pre-owned market: where to look, where to buy
Med, Greece, the Baltic: where to shop for a pre-owned boat in Europe, the real regional price gaps, and the cross-border pitfalls to avoid before buying.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readBoats that hold their value (and why)
Yard reputation, scarcity, charter demand and documented upkeep: the four factors behind strong resale values, with concrete examples by category.
Read the guideAdvanced · 4 min readSuperyachts: the economics of another world
Crew, refits, charter management: why a superyacht costs roughly 10% of its value every year, and how this extraordinary economy really works.
Read the guideAdvanced · 4 min readInvesting in a boat: myth or reality?
A boat is rarely an investment: depreciation and running costs absorb almost everything. The rare exceptions — structured charter, classics — examined.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readElectric, hydrogen, foils: boating's real trends
Electric is ready for day boats, hydrogen is still experimental, foils are going mainstream: an honest sort of real boating trends from marketing.
Read the guideDestinations & itineraries
From the Med to a circumnavigation: where to cruise, and how.
The Mediterranean: the perfect first-summer itinerary
Three weeks from the French Riviera to Corsica: 15-30 mile legs, sheltered anchorages and a well-planned crossing. The ideal first-summer itinerary.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readCorsica by boat: anchorages, winds, itineraries
Corsica coast by coast: anchorages, the Libeccio wind, Scandola and Lavezzi rules, posidonia no-anchor zones. How to cruise the island with confidence.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readGreece: Cyclades or Ionian to start?
Start in the Ionian: flat water, short hops, gentle winds. Save the Cyclades and the Meltemi for later. Distances, harbours and seasons compared.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readThe Balearics by boat: Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza
Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza by boat: calas, mandatory posidonia buoys, the mainland crossing and real strategies for coping with the August crowds.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readCroatia by boat: the endless archipelago
Kornati, Hvar, Mljet: a two-week Split-Dubrovnik itinerary, ACI marinas, reading the Bora wind and Croatia's navigation fees. Your Adriatic playbook.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readThe Caribbean season done right
Trade winds from December to May, hurricane season from June to November, charter bases and budgets: how to plan a successful Caribbean sailing season.
Read the guideAdvanced · 4 min readCrossing the Atlantic: preparation, route, the ARC
Canaries to the Caribbean on the trade-wind route: 2,700 miles, 15 to 21 days at sea. Preparing boat and crew, and what the ARC really changes.
Read the guideIntermediate · 4 min readFrance's canals: the great inland journey
The Midi, Burgundy and the Seine: 5,000 miles of waterways, licence-free hire boats, tolls, air draft and depth limits. Your guide to inland France.
Read the guideAdvanced · 4 min readNorway and the North Sea: cruising the grandiose
Fjords, midnight sun and serious weather: a Bergen-Lofoten itinerary, cold-weather kit and realistic budgets for cruising Norway and the North Sea.
Read the guideAdvanced · 4 min readSailing around the world: where to begin
Trade-wind routes, monthly budgets, realistic timelines and the right boat: what it actually takes to prepare a sailing circumnavigation, family included.
Read the guide