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What It Takes to Compete in the Solitaire du Figaro

La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec is a unique, solo, multi-stage annual racing format created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault. In 2025, for...
A bit of triage for Carey's ripped fingers. (Photo/ Bert Vermeer)

Bloody Fingers to Princess Louisa Inlet

Sailing the west coast of British Columbia over the years has opened our eyes to the beauty of this cruising ground. From Washington State...
Bill and Jean’s dinghy dock. View of the mooring field. (Photo/ Jaclyn Jeffrey)

El Salvador as a Hurricane Hole: Safe Haven or Risky Refuge?

Each spring, boats along Mexico’s Pacific Coast start making their summer plans. If they aren’t crossing the Pacific, most are deciding whether to head...
Skipper Chris Read at the helm, going to weather just north of Maui. (Photo/ Bert Vermeer)

Maui to Vic: A First Ocean Crossing Experience

A lifetime of sailing the protected waters of Vancouver Island on British Columbia’s west coast has given me a wealth of sailing experience. But...
The author's boat, Raicilla, anchored at Agua Verde in the Sea of Cortez. (Photo/ Jaclyn Jeffrey)

Sailing the Sea of Cortez in Summer: Cruising Guide and Off Season Tips

When people think of the Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California, images from Steinbeck’s “The Log from the Sea of...
The author helming out of the Juan De Fuca at the start of the trip into the Pacific. (Photo/ Jaclyn Jeffrey)

Harbor Hopping the U.S. West Coast: A Cruiser’s Guide from Oregon to Avalon

The West Coast of the United States is a long stretch of rugged shoreline. Before leaving, I assumed it was only dotted with only...
Traditional Pupusa Night at Bill and Jean's. Pupusas are the El Salvadoran national food and can be found in all flavors and sizes on street corners and eating establishments throughout the country. The pupusa shell is a hand-sized small pizza filled with a multitude of local foods including beans, cheese, fish, beef and many more exciting tastes. (Photo/ Pamela Bendall)

Cruising Zihuatanejo, Mexico to El Salvador: Hidden Treasures

The simplest things can impact and change our lives forever. I was sitting at my computer in California’s San Diego Yacht Club library in...
The author's pup Sprocket, modeling his Mustang lifejacket. (Photo/ Jaclyn Jeffrey)

Top Tips for Sailing with Dogs

“But you’re going to re-home the dog before you set sail, right?” “Dogs don’t belong on boats. Period.” Those were just a few of...
Carolyn Powles with her brood aboard a 1978 Herreshof Mobjack ketch, at sunrise on passage to Fiji. (Photo/ Carolyn Powles)

Preparing a Herreshoff Ketch and Motley Crew for an Epic Voyage

Sailing with four young boys aboard a 40-year-old ketch across oceans might sound like madness, but for us and many other sailing families it’s...
Sunset viewing on deck is made truly comfortable with the addition of a beanbag seat. (Photo/ Jaclyn Jeffrey)

Top 4 Creature Comforts After 3 Years at Sea

When we moved aboard our Fast Passage 39, Raicilla, in 2021, we knew we weren’t willing to accept a life of discomfort—at least not...

Bahamas for $5000? The Watkins 27 foot Sailboat

Is the Watkins 27 the ultimate small cruising sailboat? In this video, we take a deep dive into the Watkins 27 — a classic...
How Long Do Sails Last? video from Practical Sailor

How Long Do Sails Last?

Latest Sailboat Review

Tartan 30: An Affordable Classic

The early 1970s was the heyday of the Tartan 30' racer/cruiser. In all, no less than two dozen boats of a similar size and type were introduced in just three years, many of them to become highly successful among sailors eager for the performance and amenities of big boats at a modest price. Among the most noteworthy and enduring of the 30-footers from this era has been the Tartan 30.