Sail training theory tutorial 2: flags, morse code and the phonetic alphabet

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 …

Sail training theory tutorial 1: Colregs – sound signals

If you’re working towards your RYA Yachtmaster exam, you will need to know the meaning of different sound signals. Even if you’re not, understanding what other vessels want to tell you is vital to staying safe at sea – and you are legally required to know about these signals if you find yourself in command …

Sailing resources: free tide height calculator based on the rule of twelfths

We’ve developed a free tide height calculator to help you work out key depths and clearances. It’s easy to use, and works for HW to LW and LW to HW. You can download your copy, and the related documentation, below. The calculator works best with Excel, on a desktop, laptop or mobile device. As the …