Sail power is making a comeback, as shown by the recent example of the cargo ship that docked in Torquay bringing wine, coffee and olive oil from Portugal. Nordlys (pictured) was built on the Isle of Wight in 1873, which could make her the oldest vessel of her kind still operating. But that’s not all …
Skippers who can spin their boat on a sixpence, moor alongside under sail in the teeth of an offshore gale and fix their position without instruments in fog so thick they can’t see their own bow might still fear one aspect of a Yachtmaster exam: the interrogation about their knowledge of the International Regulations for …
Read more “Sail training theory tutorial 3: understanding COLREGs”
Do you give much thought to what’s below your boat (apart from rocks) when you drop anchor? Do you know where to find your nearest pump-out location? How can you minimise risk to the environment when removing/applying anti-fouling, or simply cleaning your boat? The Green Blue is an excellent place to start if you want …
Sea-sickness is a common malaise, experienced by most sailors at one time or another. But setting sail alone for even short periods can also have effects on mental health. Most sailors know the story of Donald Crowhurst. When he slipped his lines in Teignmouth to take part in the first Golden Globe race neither he …
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”
There’s a certain truth to the notion that owning a boat is like standing fully clothed under a cold shower, tearing up banknotes. These days, the internet has given us more options than ever to edge closer to bankruptcy. There’s no helping it – but is it best to get a damp and empty wallet …
Read more “Captain’s notes: when you’re shopping for boat parts, nothing beats the local chandlery”
Sailors are among those perfectly placed to witness the extent of marine life in UK and Irish waters. That includes sharks of various species, of which there are at least 21 permanently resident, 11 deep-water visitors, and several more than might drop by once in a while. Of all shark species that do put in …
Read more “Environment: fancy sailing with sharks? British Waters might be a good place to start”
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 …
Read more “Sail training theory tutorial 1: Colregs – sound signals”
To mark St Piran’s Day (March 5), we’ve collected a series of our short films exploring the beauty of Cornwall’s coastline. We invite you to enjoy these stunning landscapes and picturesque seaside towns with us… As with many saints, there’s little in the way of concrete evidence to tell us much about the life of …
Here we go again. It’s not exactly sailing season (in the UK, anyway), but England’s latest lockdown and many others elsewhere have nevertheless forced many sailors to leave what are arguably floating Covid-secure zones and head back onto land. With this in mind, we’ve come up with five ways to keep the sea in your …