That’s when all the maintenance pays off. If we hadn’t kept our Beta engine in full working order we would still be stuck in a deserted bay somewhere in the…
YBW
Followtheboat: How to sail goose wing with a poled-out headsail
Just as we think this sailing life can’t get any better, a fierce squall hits as we sail into trouble inside a rocky anchorage. This is a desolate part of…
Introducing the BC-238 12V rapid multi-charger for the IC-M37E marine VHF radio
As well as providing a convenient tool for charging multiple IC-M37E handhelds, it also provides an ideal and logical location for storing multiple radios while in or out of use.…
Followtheboat: Dodging trawlers and tugboats in the Java Sea
We had to employ some careful anti-collision tactics to avoid sailing into them. We had checked out of Indonesia, but there was still a long way to go before leaving…
Followtheboat: How to use a hookah to clean your hull at anchor
Typical life at anchor next to a tropical island in the Java Sea: bit of boat work, bit of beach walking, bit of beer drinking. Pulau Belitung was a surprise…
Followtheboat: Exploring an uninhabited private island
In this week’s episode we start off anchored next to a pencil dot of sand and rock surrounded by reef, then sail 180nm north east to Pulau Belitung in the…
Exploring Pulau Macan: The tropical island that thinks it’s a sailboat
We sailed into the deep bay next to Pulau Macan (aka ‘Tiger Island’) for the night and stayed for a week. The only difference between this tropical island and a…
Followtheboat: What to do if you suddenly lose steering
With the beautiful islands of Sumatra and incredible Krakatoa behind us, we watched Jakarta fading on the horizon. But leaving Indonesia’s capital wasn’t without a big problem to overcome first.…
Followtheboat: How to replace your boat’s old fridge
It’s technical time in this week’s episode, and this is a subject dear to every boat-owners heart. Fridges are important all year, of course, but when crossing oceans and sailing…
Sailing Jakarta: Polluted, noisy, overcrowded but absolutely brilliant
As much as we love anchoring in the remote and white-sand bays of south east Asia’s islands, we never pass up a chance to drop in on some of the…
Icom’s IC-M37E buoyant marine radio: More power, more functionality
It’s an important safety tool to keep in touch with others, be it for your work or hobby. With good build quality and clear display, the Icom tradition continues with…
Icom IC-M37E to Launch at 2019 Southampton Boat Show
The company, which is celebrating its 45th Anniversary in business, will have some great exclusive show offers including an extended 5-year warranty on leisure products. Highlights on the stand include…
Java Sea: Sailing through polluted waters off Jakarta
What is going on in the Java Sea? Illegal fishing. A sloppy-choppy swell. Chattering-clattering coming from our prop. Something really horrible in the water! The further we sailed from the…
Sailing Krakatoa Part 2: Shoreside excursion on an active volcano
After a night at anchor under the cliff face of Krakatoa, we moved our sailboat closer to the smouldering remains of ‘Child of Krakatoa’. In December 2018 Anak Krakatoa, after…
Southampton Boat Show 2019: Discount tickets for YBW readers
The highlight of the British boat show season, the Southampton Boat Show 2019 powered by Borrow A Boat runs from 13-22 September. More than 330 boats and 600 marine brands…
Would you anchor beneath an active volcano? Sailing to Krakatoa Part 1
When we heard about the landslide of Anak Krakatoa and subsequent tsunami in December 2018 we were horrified to learn about the devastation to local communities along the coast of…
Icom Marine VHF found washed up on a beach… and still works!
We were lucky enough to have Nicholas Calcutt, from Essex, contact us to share his story of an IC-M25EURO that was washed up on a beach. Nicholas, a keen sailor…
Jib, genoa or spinnaker: When to use your light wind sails to best effect
Battered by waves all year, the isolated island of Pulau Enggano is a dot in the Indian Ocean. Rain forest covers the high slopes of the interior, along with carefully-tended…
Sailing in rough weather: How far should you push it?
Sailing can be one of the most serene of pastimes, skimming across the oceans in a light breeze on gentle undulating seas. But offshore cruising can test your physical, mental…
Is the world too dangerous? Sailing to countries outside your comfort zone
“Here in the US there is a lot of talk about people going missing, getting robbed, raped, or murdered, i.e. the world is not a safe place outside the United…