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.

Classic Boat

Straight lines

Featured Contributors

DIRECTOR’S CUTTER • Maurice Griffiths’ 1933 gaff ketch Nyala is notable for a rare combination of shallow draught and good manners in an awkward sea state. Now she’s been beautifully restored by a French film director

Fairey fans at 40

Wild glory

Tell Tales

SOUTHAMPTON INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW PREVIEW • 18-27 SEPTEMBER 2026

WHAT’S ON

CLASS, BRASS & WARM WOOD • This astonishingly detailed full custom project by CW Hood and Lyman Morse is the very essence of classic New England motor yacht design

Saleroom • The only column dedicated to marine antiquities, collectables and auctions

Have ratlines, will climb • Modern yachts are designed to make sailing easier… and sailors lazier

POWER MOVE • Throttle back and enjoy a wave of classic motorboat design and ownership discussion

ANDREW WOLSTENHOLME

SACRED COWES • The world famous regatta celebrates two full centuries of sailing heritage

OLD WOUNDS • From admirals to able seamen, many thousands of severely disabled sailors were the living legacy of 18th and 19th century naval warfare

ENTENTE CORDIALE • The eleventh edition of the biennial Classic Channel Regatta attracted large fleets of competitors from both sides of the Channel

DEEPER KNOWLEDGE • As the accuracy of forecasts has increased, our ability to interpret forecast data has diminished. Here’s the gist of what all sailors ought to know

Magic numbers • Sail or power, every boat has a sweet speed

MODERN CLASSICS • New Spirit of Tradition and traditional builds

Yard News

A HIDDEN GEM IN OSTEND • Fifes and fine motor yachts lie alongside working North Sea trawlers at this yard where wood is the preferred construction material

Boatbuilder’s Notes

Traditional Tools

ROPE & KNOTS • This month we take a look at stitched whippings…

3 ISSUES FOR £5 • MAKE THE MOST OF THE SEASON WITH CLASSIC BOAT. PRACTICAL ADVICE, RESTORATION TIPS, AND THE STORIES BEHIND THE BOATS YOU LOVE. FOR SAILORS WHO ENJOY THE JOURNEY AS MUCH AS THE DESTINATION

Letters

Next month

A golden age of bacon buttie boat racing • Dave Selby recalls how Britain ruled the waves in offshore racing until officials waived the rules, and exclusively reveals a sure-fire recipe for winning the America’s Cup