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”
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”
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 weather can be a sailor’s best friend, or worst enemy. Learning how to predict what kind of mood it is in is a vital skill, and you will need to know about this not just for safe and pleasant sailing, but also if you intend to take a Yachtmaster exam. This article is the …
Read more “Sail training theory tutorial 4: global weather for sailors”
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”
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”
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”
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 …
Read more “Sailing resources: free tide height calculator based on the rule of twelfths”