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.

Taking it on…

Classic Boat

NORWEGIAN WOOD • The 1930s Anker-designed Bojar has always attracted owners keen to cruise and race, things she has performed with equal success. Today, she’s happy and living in England

Fierce fun in Barcelona

The Maine Event

Revelling in a bygone era at the Thames Trad

Conversation and conservation at Southampton Boat Show

A RIDDLE WRAPPED IN A MYSTERY • The English Dorothy is by the same designer and builder as her Canadian namesake, but the rest is a riddle.

Torpedo boat revolution

Books and bunnies • The mysterious past owners of Sally

DOWN EAST IN THE SOUTH WEST • She draws vigour from the down-east lobster boats of Maine, and refinement from her builder in the west of England. The Westons Point 27 is having your cake and eating it

MERMAID DUTY • Sixty-five tonnes of sailing barge is more fun without an engine, as countless people have discovered aboard the Thames barge Blue Mermaid

NET GAIN • The 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race was the centenary of this iconic race and the biggest ocean-racing event in history

A PLACE OF HISTORY & MYSTERY • Sawn-off keels, sawn-off bowsprits and sawn-off shotguns: the Thames Estuary’s creeks are shallow, the rivers narrow and the boatyards run by geezers from places like Bow, Bermondsey and Bethnal Green, where old habits die hard

Recommended anchorages

IN THE LAND OF CLINKER • A tour of wooden boatbuilding in Norway, meeting the old hands and next generation keeping centuries old skills alive

Canvo and chip fat • Memories of living with flax sails

SPIRIT OF TRADITION

Contessa tools up

New interior for John Bain cruiser

Gaff yawl

Harbour launch project

IS THIS A SLIP UP? • A skilled boatbuilder and a willing workforce… but Sandycove needs help with a slip and other infrastructure

Boatbuilder’s Notes

BLACK AND DECKER DRILL

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Winning at the numbers game • Dave Selby goes potty with sea-mile dementia and yacht clup oneupmanship