Whence Thou Comest, Highfield?
Because increasing numbers of serious sailors have become interested in retrofitting inner forestays for heavy weather headsails, a look at quick-detach hardware is in...
Whats Going On With Sailmakers?
During our recent cruises through boat shows and seminars, we were surprised that changes in sailmaking are occurring as rapidly as consolidations in the...
Are Masts Getting Too Skinny, Too Fragile?
Dear Editor: Some time ago you published a letter from a marine surveyor who said he’d seen three boats whose masts failed when sailing...
Consider The Self-Tending Jib
During the 1960s, the CCA (Cruising Club of America) rating rule promoted boats with large mainsails and smaller foretriangles. Despite the fact that many...
Offshore Log: Rigged For Downwind
Nick Nicholson critiques his downwind rig that uses a carbon fiber spinnaker pole from Hall Spars with Forespar end fittings.
Harken Boasts Best Overall Quality Among Backstay Adjusters
Others we like are the Wichard ratcheting model and for sheer value, the C. Sherman Johnson adjusters.
Sail Track Lubes: Slide-All Lasts Longest
Whether fitted with slides and shackles on a metal track or plastic slugs in a mast slot, mainsails can be difficult to hoist or strike.
Top 10 Products for 1999
Our annual selection of outstanding equipment, headlined this year by the Spade anchor, Nexus instruments and the Isotemp water heater.
Offshore Log: A New Sail Inventory
Calypso dumps her old sails for a new suit from North, and what a difference it makes!
A Foolproof (and Simple) Way to Set Jib Leads
An excellent, surprisingly simple way to set jib leads is to use jib luff telltales as a guide. This technique applies to all types of headsails-genoas as well as working jibs.
Why Sailors Still Want This Slow Old Cruiser – Down East...
In this Practical Sailor boat tour, we take a deep look at the Downeaster 38, also known as the Down East 38, a classic...
Latest Sailboat Reviews
C&C 40 Used Boat Review
While C&C did not invent the racer/cruiser, the Canadian-based company has remained dedicated for two decades to the concept of the dual-purpose boat. With the notable exception of a few pure cruisers-the relatively low-performance Landfall 35, 42, 43, and 48-a racer-based cruising boat (the Landfall 38), and a real oddball (the Mega 30), most C&Cs have paid at least lip service to contemporary trends in racing boats.
