Anchoring is like a religion. There are a number of beliefs and within every belief there are varieties and interpretations. Anyhow, when you start sailing and living on the hook…
How to
What’s better for sailing, wheel or tiller steering?
There is a lot you can change on board a yacht, but the method of steering – wheel or tiller – is typically not up for discussion or redesign. Some…
How do you navigate a drying channel when the charts disagree?
Tim and Josh have found a space for their Bowman 40, Artemis, which has a 1.5m draught, at Treluggan Boatyard which is five miles off the Tamar up the River…
How to humanely keep rodents off your boat
Among the many things that keep a skipper awake at night, few are as unwelcome as the pitter-patter of tiny feet scurrying across the deck. Discovering paw prints and droppings…
How to protect your eyes, face, and skin at sea
The sea is a beautiful but harsh environment. It requires a variety of safety equipment to keep sailors safe. This is particularly true for those lucky enough to spend time…
Essential tips to survive a sudden emergency: How to free a boat’s propeller from rope or fishing gear
Whether snagged suddenly in the middle of a channel, or a drifting target for shipping, or close to a lee shore, it’s a stressful situation and one that requires a…
Why sailing solo is a skill everyone should master
When asked why he always sails alone, a well-known character of YouTube fame who notoriously sails in the far north, often in severe weather, once replied: ‘Whenever the sailing got…
Rogue waves! What can they teach us about managing risk at sea
If there is a single point on the planet that figures in the imagination of every sailor, it’s Cape Horn. It lies at the southern end of the South American…
What to do when your yacht hits a rock under autopilot
Emma and Karl are cruising the Outer Hebrides aboard their Sweden 390, Vision. They put the boat on autopilot after leaving Stornoway harbour whilst they rig for a spinnaker run…
The furler has jammed and the wind is building: What do you do?
Helen and Mark sail their Halberg Rassy 34, Gemini, in the Bristol Channel. They’ve left Padstow at high water at 0900 bound for Milford Haven, which is 70 miles away…