Please select your home edition
Edition
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - LEADERBOARD

Calling all boat bimblers! Show us what you've been up to

by The YachtsandYachting.com team 26 Mar 2020 22:30 AEDT
'Innuendo' after many layers of varnish © Andrew Wilford

If you have spent the winter engrossed in boat DIY, whether it was small modifications or massive rebuilds, YachtsandYachting.com would love to hear from you. We think it's time to share your story with the world. We'd like to encourage you to submit photos and a few words about what you have been up to in your workshop during the off season. We'd like to publish news of what sailors have been up to.

With racing cancelled, and many of us having time on our hands, it may be that you are just starting to contemplate some work on your pride and joy. Thoughts naturally turn to the boats in our garages, and a few ideas offer themselves up! Please do consider taking some good before-and-after photos, and letting the sailing community know that you've got your hands dirty or how you've solved a problem in a cunning way. It's almost guaranteed you will find a receptive audience at this time.

Your submission can be as simple as a few photos emailed to but ideally we'd love you to write a little about what you've done and the challenges you faced. If writing makes you feel daunted then please leave your phone number so we can have a chat to get some information to accompany your photos.

Videos are always welcomed - it's not a contest to be the fanciest, but it's great to show your hard work from every angle. Or perhaps the photos belie the hard work that was required to get to the end result, so do explain this to us, and we can edit your story if you worry that your writing skills are not immediately publishable.

If you have gone so far as to write your own blog all about your repairs, renovations or inventions, we'd love to see that too. Last year we followed James Sainsbury building his foiling Moth Valkyrie, but you don't have to be getting fancy with carbon fibre to deserve a mention; we'd love to see all levels of work, on all sorts of boats both faster and slower.

If you want to get started on a new project, don't despair at the lack of chandlers open for browsing. Internet orders are still being processed by the main companies you are familiar with, although some have a small delay due to staffing problems.

So, please, email photos/videos/links and a little explanation to and we'd love to share your hard work to the nation.

Get your hands dirty, pimp that ride, and tell us all about it!

Related Articles

Transat Paprec, Classics, US Sailing, Cup news
Some parts of North America are experiencing a faster approach of spring's warm tidings than others While some parts of North America are experiencing a faster approach of spring's warm tidings than others, the offshore racing action is plenty hot in the Transat Paprec. Posted on 22 Apr
Make me smile even wider and brighter
What's better than writing about a great programme to get people into yachting? Only one thing... What's better than writing about a great programme to get people into yachting? Well, how about actually speaking with a former participant who has then gone on to work in the industry. That's what! Posted on 22 Apr
Cup bust-ups; SailGP time-out
A few situations that have been on the build for a while all came to a head within the same week. It has been a tumultuous few weeks on the NZ sailing scene and internationally. A few situations that have been on the build for a while all came to a head within the same week. Posted on 15 Apr
Pro Sailing Drama and Intrigue
SailGP, the America's Cup, and the sailors themselves have all been in the mainstream news What a couple of weeks it has been in the world of professional sailing: SailGP, the America's Cup, and the sailors themselves have all been in the mainstream news for one reason or another. Posted on 15 Apr
Mini Globe Race, Princesa Sofía Mallorca news
McIntyre Mini Globe Race news, Princesa Sofía report, Charleston Race Week As global financial markets melt faster than spring snowpack in the American West, I find myself daydreaming more and more of simply setting sail. Posted on 8 Apr
For the love of small, fast boats - the Cape 26
Chickens, eggs, and boats. Until now, had never, ever put that lot together! The proverbial chicken, an egg, and boats. Not entirely sure I had ever pondered that until after my recent conversation with Davey James and Mark Mills. The genesis for the discussion was the reveal of the new Cape 26 OD.... Posted on 6 Apr
Ambre Hasson discusses her Classe Mini season
Touching base with Franco American Classe Mini skipper Ambre Hasson Sail-World checked in with Ambre Hasson, the skipper of Mini 618, to get the latest on the Franco American's 2025 Mini Transat campaign. Posted on 2 Apr
The Proving Ground
Why the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Mallorca by FERGUS is such an important regatta The end of an Olympic quadrennial cycle often brings sailing campaigns to an end. Some partnerships in doublehanded classes split, with helm and crew going their separate ways, while others use the time to reflect on their future. Posted on 1 Apr
The most important job in sailing
How Nick Scott is delivering radical change to competitive sailing pathways in the UK I am putting forward that falls to Nick Scott and his team. Namely to secure its competitive future by addressing challenges and delivering radical change while bringing people on that journey with him. Posted on 31 Mar
Revealing the Secrets of the 'Impossible' XR 41
An out and out race yacht, but also a sporty cruiser, thanks to its modular interior The XR 41 from X-Yachts was quite a departure from what they'd been doing for the last 15 years: concentrating on high-end Performance Racing Cruisers. This is an out and out race yacht, but it's also a sporty cruiser, thanks to its modular interior. Posted on 27 Mar
Maritimo 2023 S600 FOOTERBoat Books Australia FOOTERNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast