Logbook

Yacht buying mistakes: how to inspect a boat, calculate a budget, choose a size, and prepare for independent sailing.

What not to take on a sailboat: from glass and cardboard to portable heaters and exposed battery wires.

We'll explore how a yacht resists heeling, maintains buoyancy after capsizing, and what systems support the crew in stormy weather.

A step-by-step guide to charter yacht acceptance: how to check systems, document damage, and discuss concerns with the charter company.

An analysis of the Escape yacht disaster: how nighttime reefing, upwind winds, and loss of boom control led to tragedy.

A documentary reconstruction of the disappearance of the Kaz II catamaran crew: the discovery of the empty vessel, verification of theories, and the coroner's findings.

A practical guide to yacht etiquette: access on board, silence, captain's decisions, mooring, water and respect for other crews.

A budget and equipment breakdown for a Beneteau 323 Golden Haze for a solo trip to Martinique: autopilot, power, communications, water, and marinas.

Preparing for an ocean voyage: checking the boat's seaworthiness, documents, departure time, and crew composition for an autonomous voyage.

How to choose your first yacht based on your cruising area, crew, and budget: boat size, ownership costs, storage, and pre-purchase inspection.

Step-by-step acceptance of the yacht before charter: inspection of the hull, systems, engine, safety equipment and recording of comments.

What does the maintenance of a sailing yacht consist of: mooring, service, insurance, seasonal work, equipment replacements, and a reserve for repairs.

We compare yacht hull materials for charter, expedition, and custom builds: maintenance, age, repair, and pre-purchase inspection.

A practical procedure for checking the crew, route, systems, engine, sails and tender before a day's sailing.

A step-by-step guide to circumnavigating the globe: the goal, training, working with a crew, mentoring, choosing and testing your first boat.

How to value a used sailboat: inspect the hull, keel, engine, and rigging, calculate the transaction budget and cost of ownership.

Comparison of a monohull and a catamaran: speed, heel, upwind performance, space, shallow water, costs, and choosing the right boat for your needs.

Where to look for an affordable yacht, how to compare options, negotiate, evaluate layouts, and factor in a reserve for the first few months of ownership.