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 …
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 …
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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”
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 …
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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 …
Low pressure systems can be bad news for sailors, bringing storms, squalls and general unpleasantness. Thankfully, they can usually be predicted – and you’ll need to know how if you are planning to take your RYA Yachtmaster exam, or indeed if you intend to have a long and relatively comfortable sailing career. Depressions are low …
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 …
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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”