Update on Yachting Monthly and PBO

[EBunting]

Hello forumites. I have seen and read all the comments on Scuttlebutt about the changes at Time Inc's marine titles and I know you're all owed an explanation about what is going on, so here it is.

If you read down a bit, you'll also see that we're planning to revamp Yachting Monthly and give it back some of the love the mag and its readers so deserve, and I'm asking for some comments and opinions too - hurrah!

So, what's going on? TIUK have had an editorial restructure to reduce costs (we can all operate Google search so I won't obfuscate). What with a couple of roles going, long-serving people being offered voluntary redundancy and the closure of the Poole office, where PBO has been located as a solitary marine outpost since the 1970s, we've lost some great people and colleagues such as David Pugh, Ben Meakins and Kieran Flatt. If you've read the threads you'll know that.

On the other hand, a majority of the people on our teams are here as before and on we go. I'm staying in overall charge of Yachting World as well as taking on the role of group editor for YW, Yachting Monthly, PBO, Motorboat & Yachting and Superyacht World. The teams at YW and MBY are unchanged - they just can't get rid of us!

I've appointed Theo Stocker, who has been news and features ed at Yachting Monthly, to take charge as Editor of Yachting Monthly and PBO. Theo is an experienced sailor and journalist who has also served in the Royal Navy. He has been a YM reader since his teens. Helping him are Chris Beeson and Graham Snook, and PBO test editor David Harding. I've recruited two more people into the group and, in the short term, they will be assisted at PBO by Duncan Kent, who many of you will also know.

To be honest, this isn't what any of us wanted, but here we are. As always, there are some silver linings. New people on the team will bring fresh ideas to liven up us old hands and help as we accelerate what we're planning with digital and video. These changes also give us a bit of a kick to look again at what we are doing and ask the questions that sometimes, in getting through the daily round, you forget to keep asking.

And so back to Yachting Monthly. We hate the new smaller format and we know you do too. So improving YM is a priority, and it gives us a chance to look at the mag as a whole, improve its look and tweak content where need be. That's something Theo and I are getting cracking on right now with our designers and our MD, Gareth (Gareth spent lots of time at Southampton Boat Show talking to readers).

So I think that sums up where we are at. Theo, Chris, Graham, David, Toby, Helen, Hugo, Jack, Alexandra and I are working hard - harder than ever )) - to make the magazines as good as they can be. We care hugely about getting this right.

Where you could help us is by letting us know what you think. I'll come back and ask about the other mags later, but for now, if you are a Yachting Monthly reader:

What do you like about it? What don't you like?
What would you like more/less of?
What are the elements you would buy it for?
Are there things it should cover that it doesn't? For example, do you ever follow the Vendée, VOR, or is that just Yachting World territory?
What types of content totally turn you off?
If you're a long term reader, what things that stand out, or you remember most from a previous issue - what does/has YM done best?

Thanks for reading this, for continuing to support us here and/or in print and please do ask away or have your say. Just please be gentle with us... we're still rubbing in the arnica all over.

Elaine

 

[LittleSister]

Good luck:encouragement:

 

[Sybarite]

Good luck:encouragement:

+1 and congratulations on your new enhanced role Elaine.

John

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Well that's a good update thanks. I'm a YM subscriber. I also subscribe to Classic Boat, but no others, and I rarely if ever buy any other sailing mags. To answer your questions...

What do you like about it? Cruising features. Boat tests (new and used). Gear tests. Boat handling. Ask the expert (whatever shape that takes). Libby, Tom and Dick's columns. Anything about classic stuff. Anything that covers new developments in gear or tech.

What don't you like? Massive price hike for existing loyal subscribers. New handy size. The bog paper it's printed on. The digital edition. Advertorials (eg 3D sails thing a few issues ago, a blatant paid feature). Intrusive advertising. Racing features.


What would you like more/less of? More boat and gear tests and especially if more in-depth. Less of the stuff I listed in the 'don't like' list above obviously.


What are the elements you would buy it for? Mostly for the cruising and boat test elements.


Are there things it should cover that it doesn't? Youth and young people in the sport. Green / eco features. (look at Alchemy Marine, do a feature on Bill's idea.) Revisit boat tests from real world owner's perspectives.

For example, do you ever follow the Vendée, VOR, or is that just Yachting World territory? Definitely no to that in my view.
What types of content totally turn you off? Racing.

If you're a long term reader, what things that stand out, or you remember most from a previous issue - what does/has YM done best? I liked the recent Man Overboard myths even if I didn't agree with some of them.

 

[Yngmar]

More of Chris Beeson doing video yacht reviews where he flips some obviously useless piece of boat design up and down repeatedly and goes "This is a bit useless". Might not remember the exact details right, but always found these very entertaining to watch

 

[pvb]

More of Chris Beeson doing video yacht reviews where he flips some obviously useless piece of boat design up and down repeatedly and goes "This is a bit useless". Might not remember the exact details right, but always found these very entertaining to watch

Agree with that, Chris Beeson's video reports always come across as honest, objective summaries.

 

[obmij]

There's constant whinging about how the mags aren't what they used to be and I agree to a certain extent. I think the jam is spread way to thinly atm and would like to see PBO incorporated into Yachting Monthly.

Both have almost exactly the same readership profile and are UK focused. I'm guessing many non subscription readers choose which magazine to buy based on the cover (I know I did) and few would buy both in a given month.

So yeah, I would like to see all of the content of YM and all of the content of PBO in one UK focused magazine : -)

 

[Sailfree]

These forums are great sources for people asking for help on varios aspects. Many give info but it could be the basis of authoritive and comprehensive articles answering the questions raised.

E.g. I am currently looking at replacing some of my raymarine equipment others have done it but not without problems. How many boats have old electrical equipment needing repair or upgrading.

I just quote this as one example.

Many of the forums seek info and the magazine's could produce articles to answer them. Regrettably it only occasionally I read a reply that says PBO did an article on this in year **** and it said ....

 

[Sniper]

Another vote for combining YM and PBO; I just can't see that the market can bear both of them. It should be possible to increase the number of new and used boat tests across both to provide variety.

I enjoyed the 'one man (or woman) and his/ her boat' series that ran a few years ago - I think that should have some further mileage. PBO's recent incursions into boat restoration and building have also been enjoyable.

Good luck!

 

[Wansworth]

In the new Ym it would be good to have longer in depth articles on some maritime subject be. It boats or whatever.As many of are oldish a look back to how things where be it yacht design or harbors etc.Section on older designs in depth with line drawings and photos.

 

[dunedin]

Very helpful post, thanks.

I am a long term subscriber to the paper edition of Yachting Monthly and more recent digital subscriber to Yachting World/Superyacht World (the latter mainly bought for iPad reading on boring commuter flights!)
Actually, unlike some on here, I think the editorial content of the most recent YMs has been good, having been through a poor spell. I like the more in depth features that have been done. Enjoy
- cruising areas stories
- recent articles on Baltic moorings
- boat (new and used) and gear tests - not in the super expensive league
Not read PBO recently but don’t see any reason not to combine them - better one stronger title than lose both.

YW does feel more differentiated - a bit more in the aspirational end of more expensive boats, more racing etc. Including SuperyachtWorld (at least in the digital edition) is critical to continuing to subscribe - the ultimate escapism from dreary day to day commutes.

The “news” on YBW.com on the other hand is embarrassingly appalling, lacking any insight of boats and should be stopped or fixed

 

[Parsonsheath]

Elaine

So pleased to read your update, after all the rumours here it was reassuring BUT why could this article not have come before the reduced price offers on both magazines, to be honest I did not go for the offers as I wondered what would happen for the future, and had I read your open and honest article beforehand I undoubtedly have gone for it.
Why not repeat that offer now we can be more confident of the future?

 

[steve yates]

Combine them both,but lose the peter poland features, he's obviously bored, they feel like they are written by rote. Lose the editorials, they give nothing really. tom, sam and libby's columns are always interesting, find some other regular interesting writers?

 

[pvb]

tom, sam and libby's columns are always interesting,

Think so? I always ignore them. Just shows how difficult it must be to tailor a magazine's contents to suit what you think the buyers might want.

 

[Pete735]

Another vote for combining the two, I am an irregular buyer of one or the other depending on the articles. Probably 4 or 5 editions a year. I enjoy the practical boat rebuilding/building that has gone on over the last few years plus Tom Cunliffe and his thoughts.

An interesting and frank update by the way.

 

[jac]

Good post Elaine and best of luck with a hurculean task.

I pulled an old edition of YM ( OCtober 1997 which had an article on the new YBW website!) v Oct 2017 if you want to know) from my stash to compare what it actually was like in the "good old days" to try and be a bit more objective. Looking at the two side by side i found:

1997 edition had more pages but far more of that was adverts. 220 pages with about 110 of adverts
2017 had approximately 75 pages of editorial out of 106.

SO we now have about 70% of the content that we did.

1997 2 page editorial with maybe 1 1/2 of that as photos. 2017 1 page maybe 1/2 photos so text probably the same but a more condensed section.
1997 - 4 pages of on watch ( news) with minimal photos, 2017 4 pages of news with more photos.

The cover article ( determined using the largest wording on the cover)
1997 classics at cowes - 6 pages probably 2/3 of each page in colour photos. 2017 How to moor to rocks 4 pages - 1 of them all photos, the other 3 about 1/3 photos.
Looking at the other articles, the general impression i have is that the 1997 ones are much more focussed on the text, being accurate and informative. Few of the articles are image heavy - just one a pilotage guide from the air is majority image.

Compare that to the 2017 version - 10 tips to make your sails last longer is 2 pages of photos with captions. The same with tips from a bluewater boat. Many of the other articles are heavy on the photos but seem to have lost the actual content.

Both issues had versions of pilots - the 1997 was 5 pages, maybe a couple of those being photos. 2017 2 pages on La Palma, maybe 2/3 of a page on photos.

Both had boat tests 1997 a Shearwater 45 ( nice boat) 3 pages possibly 1/3 text. 2017 Hylas 46 ( another nice boat) 6 pages possibly 2/3 text. Similar with Snooks test of the Dufour.

SO as i see it, over the last 20 years we have lost significant amounts of writing which has been hidden by the increasing use of photography / other images within the magazine to keep the volume up. It is now great looking but is in places a triumph of style over substance.

The boat tests are great as are the regular columns from Libby, Dick, and St Tom. Cruising logs are usually good and the right mix of text to photos. Anchorages, pilots are probably too light in content. The chasm for me is in the feature articles that feel as if the authors simply didn;t have the time to write more and the space has been filled. What might have been a simple list in 1997 of 10 ways to extend sail life has now been stretched from 1/2 a column to 2 pages buy attaching a photo to illustrate every single point!

 

[ShinyShoe]

for now, if you are a Yachting Monthly reader:
What do you like about it? What don't you like?
What would you like more/less of?
I'm probably more of a PBO guy TBH. So I like a practical article - how I built this. How I converted this. How we sailed this journey that others are likely to try and do.
Process testing... so the MOB article is good. Are there other things! Anchor recovery techniques.
Real world testing, but in a scientific way is probably what we need... you can go on a forum and say which HH VHF is best. But the magazine will actually stress test that. BUT it needs to be a useful stress test. Can we stress test some PLBs? What about AIS PLBs etc... ...how easy are each to locate the 'casualty' - these are common discussions on here.

I like a good "what went wrong" article. But some (sorry don't know which of the mags they are in) feel like they are dragging the bottom of the sea to find someone. I'd rather have some lessons learned from other boating industry that go wrong - translated to sailors from say the Louisa tragedy.

Can we get conclusive views on AIS class B from the big ship captains...

What are the elements you would buy it for?
Usually the cover articles. Typically:
Practical advice.
Safety advice / gear tests.
Lower end - perhaps lifetime dream sails / adventures.

Are there things it should cover that it doesn't? For example, do you ever follow the Vendée, VOR, or is that just Yachting World territory?You wont get the "live reporting" of these in real enough time. BUT - back stories might be interesting. What gear, why, what works, what doesn't. Rather than Yacht A beat Yacht B after Yacht C was dismasted.

What types of content totally turn you off?
Million pound boats. I just don't see that as being real world sailing. In fact >£50k probably isn't!! But that will vary by individual budgets! To be honest... <£20k, <£10k...
When Dinghy Sailing Magazine existed I was a regular buyer. I bought it for Roger Brookes Dinghy Cruising section. Even for the guys doing bigger sailing.... I'd be surprised if that wasn't of interest - some of the practical solutions apply to bigger sailing. The destinations may be suitable for bigger boats etc. The reverse is not always true... ...I've never wondered which air con to install on a 20 footer!

I'm guessing many non subscription readers choose which magazine to buy based on the cover (I know I did) and few would buy both in a given month.

Yup that's me. I probably buy 4 or 5 sailing mag's a year. Once or twice a year I buy more than one (long train journey!) the rest of the time I look on the shelf most months and if it grabs my attention I might buy it.

 

[doug748]

Best wishes for your new venture.

PBO and YM don't look a good fit to me. Keep YM where it is (it's readership are not interested in lathes and sewing machines) and move PBO down to it's spiritual market of older, maybe smaller, boats, projects and DIY.
I enjoyed buying Yachting World and Yachting Monthly as a bundle last Christmas, thought they worked well together.

I find the regular boat reviews in YM of clone Med charter platforms wearing and feel most could be covered in a few paragraphs with nice photos; particularly when the boat is not new at all but simply an upgrade with a new name. These short overviews could be linked to a video on line.
Although I am not particularly interested in racing it would be nice to have a details of some sporty boats now and again, or wooden boats, or one offs by leading designers. Even dinghies, particularly when there is a degree of novelty in the design or construction.
News is always iffy in a monthly publication and tends to need some editorial comment to flesh it out when it is obviously past it's best by date. I like to see editorial and regular columns, I would welcome a racing scene review if it were done with a light touch. Readers stories can be very good, I like interesting photographs and there is room for good cartoons and artwork if it can be afforded!
A couple of pages each month could be set aside for reprinted articles from the past, these can be fascinating, instructive and amusing in turns and are often very well written. So plunder the archives.
Things I tend not to read are charter stories and random snippets from far flung places.

 

[Elessar]

Hello forumites. I have seen and read all the comments on Scuttlebutt about the changes at Time Inc's marine titles and I know you're all owed an explanation about what is going on, so here it is.

If you read down a bit, you'll also see that we're planning to revamp Yachting Monthly and give it back some of the love the mag and its readers so deserve, and I'm asking for some comments and opinions too - hurrah!

So, what's going on? TIUK have had an editorial restructure to reduce costs (we can all operate Google search so I won't obfuscate). What with a couple of roles going, long-serving people being offered voluntary redundancy and the closure of the Poole office, where PBO has been located as a solitary marine outpost since the 1970s, we've lost some great people and colleagues such as David Pugh, Ben Meakins and Kieran Flatt. If you've read the threads you'll know that.

On the other hand, a majority of the people on our teams are here as before and on we go. I'm staying in overall charge of Yachting World as well as taking on the role of group editor for YW, Yachting Monthly, PBO, Motorboat & Yachting and Superyacht World. The teams at YW and MBY are unchanged - they just can't get rid of us!

I've appointed Theo Stocker, who has been news and features ed at Yachting Monthly, to take charge as Editor of Yachting Monthly and PBO. Theo is an experienced sailor and journalist who has also served in the Royal Navy. He has been a YM reader since his teens. Helping him are Chris Beeson and Graham Snook, and PBO test editor David Harding. I've recruited two more people into the group and, in the short term, they will be assisted at PBO by Duncan Kent, who many of you will also know.

To be honest, this isn't what any of us wanted, but here we are. As always, there are some silver linings. New people on the team will bring fresh ideas to liven up us old hands and help as we accelerate what we're planning with digital and video. These changes also give us a bit of a kick to look again at what we are doing and ask the questions that sometimes, in getting through the daily round, you forget to keep asking.

And so back to Yachting Monthly. We hate the new smaller format and we know you do too. So improving YM is a priority, and it gives us a chance to look at the mag as a whole, improve its look and tweak content where need be. That's something Theo and I are getting cracking on right now with our designers and our MD, Gareth (Gareth spent lots of time at Southampton Boat Show talking to readers).

So I think that sums up where we are at. Theo, Chris, Graham, David, Toby, Helen, Hugo, Jack, Alexandra and I are working hard - harder than ever )) - to make the magazines as good as they can be. We care hugely about getting this right.

Where you could help us is by letting us know what you think. I'll come back and ask about the other mags later, but for now, if you are a Yachting Monthly reader:

What do you like about it? What don't you like?
What would you like more/less of?
What are the elements you would buy it for?
Are there things it should cover that it doesn't? For example, do you ever follow the Vendée, VOR, or is that just Yachting World territory?
What types of content totally turn you off?
If you're a long term reader, what things that stand out, or you remember most from a previous issue - what does/has YM done best?

Thanks for reading this, for continuing to support us here and/or in print and please do ask away or have your say. Just please be gentle with us... we're still rubbing in the arnica all over.

Elaine

Here's a vote against combining PBO and YM. It is PBO not PSBO. If the saily boat lot haven't seen the thread "buckingingham 23 restoration formerly plant pot" on the mobo forum then take a look. Wayne is a PBO with bells on.

I was a subscriber and advertiser when PBO changed its strap line from Britains favourite boating magazine to Britains favourite sailing magazine. I cancelled both. And I am a sailor that happens to own a mobo.

Take a look at past DIY articles on by jake Cavanngh for example. Mobo stuff of interest to all.

I think it's only a subset of stuck up boaters that see the boats propulsion system as a divide. Don't perpetuate that nonsense.

Good luck with all your titles. I hope they all succeed.

 

[laika]

Think so? I always ignore them. Just shows how difficult it must be to tailor a magazine's contents to suit what you think the buyers might want.

+1. I'm not that interested in Mr. Cunliffe banging out a few more hundred words on the subject of how salty he is and how things aren't what they used to be. I'm sure Libby Purves in a nice person but her column is like someone from a completely different social group to me chatting to her friend about "stuff" in the checkout queue in waitrose. Why would I turn round and offer her 50p if she could write that down for me? Then again, I only listen to radio 4 for the shipping forecast.

New gear reviews are always good, as are product comparisons. I'm sure the latter also work for the pdf article sales market and with new gear coming out al the time it's a thing you can recycle every few years without people complaining too much.

I'm not really interested in the what-we-did-on-our-holidays stories but I'm guessing you get them for free?

The articles about harbours and places around the UK coast are fine in theory but in practice you either live there or visit it often in which case you already know the content, or you need to keep the articles for years until you visit the place. My old YMs are in a box buried in storage. Do you let your online subscribers view old content? This could be a real incentive to get people to sign up to the "digital" edition if you don't already.

The big issue for me seems to be that YM sets the bar too low in the level at which you pitch articles, presumably to appeal to a mass audience and target demographic. I used to like "a question of seamanship" which was normally of interest to all abilities but that's gone now. Perhaps the occasional article that's less cunliffe and more cockcroft and lameijer?

I did buy YM and PBO faithfully from the time I learned to sail until about 3 years ago. Price went up, I became less affluent, I couldn't justify £9+ per month for something I only read a few pages of