Videos
Followtheboat: Insane and scary crossing of the Singapore Strait
Billed as the ‘busiest shipping lane in the world’ (although those of us who have sailed across the English Channel might disagree) we weren’t looking forward to dodging between the…
Waterspouts and running aground: The sailing hazards of South East Asia
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…
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…
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…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Passage planning on the hoof: How to adjust your best-laid plans
Short-term navigating, when conditions change suddenly and you have to amend your sailing plans on the hoof, is a vital skill to learn for any cruiser. In Indonesia, and throughout…
Introducing… The globe-trotting sailing adventures of Followtheboat
YBW is excited to be partnering with Followtheboat, YouTube’s oldest UK sailing channel. As the longest-running boating forum in the world, it feels like the perfect match. In 2004, Jamie…
Top 10 must-see sailing documentaries
From Deep Water to Maidentrip, these must-see sailing documentaries will keep you glued to the screen. Watch the trailers here
Tracy Edwards documentary ‘Maiden’ to be released nationwide on International Women’s Day
'Maiden' tells the story of Tracy Edwards and her all-women sailing crew racing in the Whitbread Round the World Race in 1989. Watch the trailer here
Top 10 best boat-themed films of the 1980s
In no particular order, we've pulled together some of the best sailing and boat-themed films of the 1980s. Vote, and let us know which one is your favourite!
The most unusual RNLI rescues – video
The RNLI are always ready to assist those in difficulty at sea. But it's not just people the RNLI help, they've also rescued a horse stuck in a cove and…