Practical Boat Owner

Editorial Tel: 0330 390 6467 Email pbo@futurenet.com Editor Katy Stickland katy.stickland@futurenet.com News and Features Editor Laura Hodgetts laura.hodgetts@futurenet.com Features Editor Alison Wood Production Editor Julian Peckham Art Editor Danie

Cruising sailors now have much more choice as to where they can land on French soil when coming from outside the European Union (EU). Previously boats would have to arrive at and depart from a Port of Entry (PPF), although last year a few ports were

Seven national governing bodies of water-based sports have formed an alliance to call for an end to the discharge of raw sewage in UK waters. The Clean Water Sports Alliance of Angling Trust, British Rowing, British Triathlon, GB Outrigger, Paddle UK

PBO editor Katy Stickland has taken over as chairman of the Yachting Journalists’ Association (YJA). After six years serving the YJA as chairman and vicechairman, Cliff Webb and Mark Jardine have handed over the ‘helm’ during the annual general meeti

A six-year-old boy who sailed solo around Hilbre Island at the mouth of the Dee Estuary in aid of the RNLI was encouraged by his hero Bear Grylls. Before his 5km voyage, off West Kirby in Wirral, Theo Geddes sanded down and painted his Optimist dingh

■ Cowes Classics Week, 6-12 July. Isle of Wight, cowesclassicsweek.org ■ Conwy River Festival, 6-8 July, cruisers, dayboats, Nobbys, Gaffers, classics, conwyriverfestival.org ■ Titchfield Boat Jumble, 7 July, 10am, Hound Hill Farm, boat-jumbles.co.uk

After seven years and nearly 200 videos, Leo Goolden and his crew on Sampson Boat Co have taken the newly rebuilt Albert Strange-designed Tally Ho! (originally launched as Betty in 1910) for her first sail in nearly 40 years. That’s right, Leo was no

■ Keep away from known orca locations by reviewing the latest GTOA interaction maps, monitoring Facebook groups and GT Orcas ad Orcinus reporting apps ■ Use the CA’s orcas reporting database and comments library to see what other skippers have done ■

Perhaps a bit extreme for an everyday cruising boat, the gimballed chart table on Galiana WithSecure deserves a mention for its clever design. It was built and installed as a nod to French sailor Éric Tabarly, who had full-size gimballed chart tables

■ Haven Knox-Johnson has streamlined the process for insuring dinghies. A new online quote and buy tool means owners no longer need to answer a long list of questions that are not relevant to their boat, or enter extensive personal details before eve

Richard Falk, RYA director of training and qualifications, responds: “Hindsight is a powerful tool, and a willingness to share experiences (good and bad) and to reflect on what might have been done differently is equally as powerful, both for the per

With a network of six new marinas constructed and open along the islands along the east coast from Stornoway to Barra, sailors have the choice between fully-serviced facilities or isolated wilderness anchorages while cruising in the Outer Hebrides. I