Independent Maritime Journal

Waterline precision for modern captains

Replacing forum noise with empirical sea trials, technical rig analysis, and curated coastal dispatches.

Our Purpose

Bridging technical manuals and lifestyle

Maritime literature often splits into dry maintenance handbooks or glossy lifestyle brochures. We operate in the space between: delivering rigorous vessel intelligence without losing the romance of offshore navigation.

Every dispatch originates from active sea time. Our writers inspect deckhead wiring, test heavy weather seamanship, and evaluate marine hardware in genuine saltwater environments rather than controlled simulations.

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Unbiased Methodology

Tested under real strain

We maintain absolute independence from gear manufacturers and yard brokers. Every sea trial dispatch is independently funded, ensuring our maintenance reports and equipment evaluations remain uncompromised.

From high-load line splicing to electrical outboard efficiency, our trials test equipment to failure points so captains can make confident decisions before casting off.

Editorial Integrity

Good seamanship is quietly refined

Zero sponsored bias, zero banner clutter, and zero compromise on technical accuracy.

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About our Vission

Making Boating Better World has had its finger on the Yachting World pulse since 2021 (though some of us joined a little more recently). We reckon we are the most enthusiastic sailing fans in the world: we love boats of all kinds, modern and classic, we like racing and cruising, are fascinated by innovation yet revere tradition, and nothing that floats is too big or too small for our tastes.

Every day online and every month in print we bring you the very best in adventurous Motor Yachting, whether that be bluewater cruising, ocean racing, high latitudes exploring, or anything in between, and we pride ourselves on our independent tests, in-depth reports and top quality photo journalism.

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Helen Fretter – Editor

Helen became Editor in 2024, having joined Making Boating Better World in 2021 as Deputy Editor and spent a period as Acting Editor. She was formerly Deputy Editor of another sailing magazine, and also worked as a communications manager and writer for events such as the Vendée Globe, Barcelona World Race, Round the Island Race, and America’s Cup World Series.

Helen has a background of racing one-design keelboats and IRC yachts, and competed for many seasons at Solent events such as Cowes Week and the Commodores’ Cup, as well as regattas in Cork, Deauville, Cascais, Kiel and the Caribbean. She has covered many events, both racing and cruising, during her time at Yachting World, including the World ARC and ARC Europe, following the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race around the world, the Rolex Fastnet Race, and many others. Besides planning and commissioning content for Yachting World magazine and yachtingworld.com, Helen relishes the opportunity to get stuck into feature and profile writing and has interviewed many of the sport’s most high-profile and fascinating characters.

Our Team

Toby Hodges – Test Editor

Toby has sailed with his family on various craft since his earliest memories allow, before racing and teaching on dinghies in Devon throughout his school years. After completing his English Degree he became a deckhand aboard superyachts – sailing in the Med, Red Sea, UAE, Indian Ocean, and Atlantic and gaining his Yachtmaster qualification.

Toby spent five years writing for Yachting Monthly, before leaving his post as Technical Editor to spend a year down under. As Test Editor, Toby is responsible for the boat testing programme, as well as the gear section of the magazine, including New Gear and more extensive gear and equipment articles.

Toby Heppell – Digital Editor

Toby was born to a dinghy racing family and was surrounded by sailing more-or-less from birth. He received his first boat – a bright red Optimist dinghy – for his fourth birthday and has been out on the water as often as possible from then on. He has won World and National titles and captained his University sailing team. It was during his time at university he discovered keelboat racing and continues to sail big and small boats to this day.

After leaving university in 2005 he got a job writing for an online sailing publication and has continued writing for both cruising and racing publications ever since, covering two Olympic Games and other events across the globe.

Robert Owen – Art Editor

Robert joined Yachting World as Art Editor having previously worked in this role for Boat International, The Field and Shooting Times. He was trained at art college in Southend-on-Sea before travelling the world working on large yachts in the Mediterranean. He has twice won Time Inc. (UK) Ltd’s Designer of the Year Award and is a keen photographer and ornithologist.