Classic Boat

Admire the world's most beautiful boats, brought to life through breath-taking photography. Classic Boat offers a unique blend of yacht reviews, seamanship and restoration features, history and design columns, practical advice and coverage of the leading international regattas and events. Whether your interest lies in working on restoration projects or sailing in classic regattas; whether you're a wooden boat owner or simply an admirer of traditional marine workmanship, Classic Boat will have something for you.

What, when and who?

Classic Boat

STAYING POWER • After a long, hard life, the staysail schooner Orianda is newly restored and busy racing, cruising and chartering

Tell Tales

PLYWOOD PIONEER • Europe’s first plywood yacht was built in planks, in a strange use of the newmaterial, but she has outlived all her naysayers since then

Saleroom

Objects of desire

The look of love • What faults? Why a wooden boat is so precious

Words and water • Author and publisher Julia Jones on a lifetime of benevolent entaglement with her yacht Peter Duck and the writer Arthur Ransome

WESTERN FLYER • The fishing seiner Western Flyer underwent a monumental, seven-year rebuild, simply because of a six-week charter in her early years under a very famous novelist

THE INSIDE OUT WORLD OF ROBBERT DAS • The spectacular and unique 3D drawings created by the Dutch master Robbert Das were well ahead of time and are still relevant today

A round-up of the latest BOOKS • The latest releases in the world of nautical publishing take in the story of yachting on the Clyde, an artist’s visit to Antarctica, the story of our coastal seas and more

A CENTURY OF SUNBEAMS • One of the most loved keelboat classes in the world has reached the age of 100 – with the loss of only one boat!

RACE TO THE FINISH • There is a revolution afoot in the world of paint and varnish, particularly with antifoul, with everything from spiky wraps and ultrasound playing their part… Here is our yearly round-up by Nigel Sharp

VARNISH

HOW TO VARNISH

Trust your instincts • Pushy comments can have consequences

Getting afloat • MISCHIEF MORWENNA OF BRISTOL

Craftsmanship Yard News

HIGH WATER MARK • The Chertsey-based boatyard has had a recent flood, and now a real tide of work is under way for spring

Boatbuilder’s Notes

COMPASS RABBET PLANE

Letters • LETTER OF THE MONTH SUPPORTED BY OLD PULTENEY WHISKY

Next month

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The long wave goodbye • As Radio 4 prepares to end its long-wave service, Dan Houston asks: will we miss it?