08/15/2026
What a beauty! The Scruffie Marine Secret 20 built by students at Circles Alternative Education in Australia from a kit provided by the designer Derek Ellard. Complete kits from No Coast Boatworks are now available to order in the U.S.
Coming soon! Our September/October issue, in the mail to subscribers on 20 August and in stores from 27 August.
• ON THE ROAD – After their delayed drive across Europe towing their little lugger from Cornwall, Cat Holman and her family finally board the ferry to Greece.
• IN A LEAGUE OF ITS OWN – How a Basque fishing boat became a fiercely competitive racing machine: Daniel Caparrós Torres has the story of northern Spain’s traineras.
• ¡VAMOS A PASAIA! – It’s often the small boats and tall ships which do most to promote international friendship at Europe’s trad boat festivals, says Kathy Mansfield.
• STAGE CRAFT – After last year’s success, the wooden boat builders will be back to welcome the world to the Southampton Boat Show in September, writes Colin Henwood - Boatbuilder
• BUILD YOUR OWN 22’ (6.7m) CENTREBOARD YAWL – From the USA, designer Paul Gartside sends full plans for a boat being built from literally ‘home-grown’ timber.
• THE SECRET IS REVEALED – Boatbuilding teacher Chris Martin describes how his students at Circles Alternative Education completed the pocket cruiser they began in 2023.
• DART – THE DETAILS – John Floutier describes some of the more innovative aspects of the modern canoe yawl he built with his friends during the Covid lockdowns.
• PLUS…
In Grand Designs, Hanneke Boon of James Wharram Designs welcomes us aboard their world cruising catamaran SPIRIT OF GAIA • Naval architect Ian Nicolson MBE recalls a low power launch from Cowes Week in the 1930s • Summer is for Sailing, say the OGA - The Association for Gaff Rig Sailing’s Mike Dixon and Pete Elliston as they report on East Coast gaffer gatherings • And in Beautiful Peagreen Boats, Geoff Bowker and Debbie Granville report on the Boat Building Academy’s Launch Day, while the editor almost remembers his long-gone boat-show-biz career.
Our cover photograph: Built by the successive students of Circles Alternative Education from a pre-cut plywood kit, SCRUFF is a 20' (6m) Secret from Scruffie Marine.
