Seasick Cyril, my best mate, is one of the few people I know who can afford proper holidays - by which I mean ones that take place on land, such as trekking in the Andes, skiing in Verbier, or taking a villa on the shore of Lake Como.
The last one was a bit of risk, what with it being perilously close to water, but he found that with the right medication-a glass of Veuve Clicquot and caviar dabbed behind each ear-the sight of a mahogany varnished Riva Super Aquarama bobbing at its mooring was just about tolerable, and didn't make him too queasy.
That was in his pre-sailing days when Cyril had what's known as a lifestyle, a serene existence untroubled by thoughts of stern glands, diesel bug, crevice corrosion, gas explosions, keels falling off, or any of those worrisome little niggles PBO readers routinely encounter.
The sea change came when he met super-keen sailor Jenny and they bought a smart 50ft German yacht. By coincidence that was also around about the time Cyril became my best mate, as I've always wanted to sail on a boat with an indoor loo, and theirs has three of them, which Cyril spends most of his time in.
This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of Practical Boat Owner.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the Summer 2023 edition of Practical Boat Owner.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Orca sink yacht in Strait of Gibraltar
Spain's maritime rescue service, Salvamento Maritimo, has reported that a 15m (49ft) yacht sank in Moroccan waters in the Strait of Gibraltar following interaction with a pod of orca.
No kill cord or lifejackets were worn during fatal powerboat crash
A kill cord and lifejacket are useless unless worn-that's the warning from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), following its investigation into a powerboat crash that killed a 32-year-old woman and five-year-old girl on 2 October 2022.
Multihull sail work
Brush up on multihull sailing skills before heading off on charter with Gavin Le Sueur's guide to spinnaker handling, tacking and gybing
Five top causes of engine failure and how to prevent them
Jake Kavanagh talks to Sea Start marine engineer Nick Eales about how to avoid the five major causes of an engine breakdown at sea
Sail the Atlantic with strangers
Would you sail across the Atlantic with someone you've just met? Ali Wood meets the cruising crews who've done just that
IZIBoat: simple sailing
Rupert Holmes sails an innovative catamaran design intended to widen participation in sailing among those with little time to get on the water in more conventional craft
30 WAYS TO GET AFLOAT
From tall ships to small dinghies, you needn't own a boat to sail. Ali Wood looks at the options, and how skippers can also find crew
Boats for restoring under £20,000
Duncan Kent picks the best sub-35ft sail and power boats to look for when aiming to undertake a restoration on a budget
Seaworthy dinghies for less than £500
For low cost traditionally-styled GRP trailer-sailers, consider the Foreland and the Otter available at bargain basement prices
Playing with coloured sails
Maintaining an hourglass-shaped balloon and ratcheting up the log numbers
