When Vice-admiral Horatio Nelson sent the rallying cry “England expects that every man will do his duty” from HMS Victory ahead of the Battle of Trafalgar, he signalled his message using flags. In these days of electronic communication it might seem that such signalling methods are old hat – but flags, the phonetic alphabet and …
Read more “Sail training theory tutorial 2: flags, morse code and the phonetic alphabet”
The Shipping Forecast is practically a British Institution. It’s listened to by sailors and landlubbers alike for the poetry of its sounds. It’s also complete gibberish unless you know the special code, which is also used in many other forecasts. So what does it all mean? Before reading on, we recommend that you download your …
Tides rise, and tides fall. Sometimes we sail by deep water, and six hours later the same place can be dry. You are going to need to know how much water is in a given place at a specific time in order to navigate safely – and the latest episode of Sail Ho! explains just …
Read more “Sail training theory tutorial 10: calculating tidal heights”
Even the most experienced skippers in the most seaworthy vessels can find themselves in need of help when sailing, so it’s important to understand and recognise the internationally accepted distress signals. If you were in a distress situation on the water, would you know how to raise the alarm and get help? The International Regulations …
Read more “Sail training theory tutorial 9: COLREGs distress signals”
While sailing coastal waters, we might see lights of different colours at night, and buoys of different shapes and colours during the daytime. With just a few differences, the light characteristics, shapes and colours will be the same all over the world. You will need to know what they mean in order to sail safely, …
Read more “Sail training theory tutorial 8: buoys and buoyage part I”
Continued from part I (go back). Cardinal marks These show sailors where they can expect safe water. A north cardinal mark means there is safe water to the north of the buoy (maybe also the east and west, but don’t be certain), an east cardinal mark means there is safe water to the east of …
Read more “Sail training theory tutorial 8: buoys and buoyage part II”
Anyone who spends their sailing life in the Baltic or the Mediterranean could be forgiven for thinking that the sea is a constant. Either it’s there, or it’s not. Sure, there can be significant current where water funnels through narrow spaces such as the Messina Strait or the Strait of Gibraltar, but no tide to …
Read more “Sail training theory tutorial 7: introduction to tides”
The radio on your boat is one of the most important pieces of safety equipment. With a fixed unit at the chart table and a handheld in the cockpit, you’re always set up for communication whatever the situation – whether you’re calling the marina to announce your arrival, letting Dover know you’re passing by, or …
Read more “Sailing resources: top 10 tips for getting the most out of your VHF marine radio”
The Shipping Forecast is practically a British Institution. It’s listened to by sailors and landlubbers alike for the poetry of its sounds. It’s also complete gibberish unless you know the special code, which is also used in many other forecasts. So what does it all mean? Before reading on, we recommend that you download your …
When land and sea come into contact, this will inevitably influence the behaviour of the wind. And, the temperature of the land, sea and air will combine to produce different types of fog. Understanding how these happen will help you sail more safely, and this knowledge is vital for Yachtmaster and other sailing qualifications. In …
Read more “Sail training theory tutorial 6: weather – sea fog, land fog and coastal winds”