About - Page 17 of 21 - Safe Skipper Boating & Safety Afloat Apps for phones & tablets

Points of Sailing

The course on which a boat is sailing can be described by its angle to the wind, not to be confused with its compass heading. The different angles to the wind are known as the points of sailing. A number of sailing terms collectively known as the points of sail are...

Avoiding collisions at sea – how to stay safe on the water

by Simon Jollands | Boat Handling, Crewing skills, Navigation, Preparation

Boats have many blind spots, including the headsails of sailing boats. Always keep a lookout, stay safe and remember that whatever their size or type, all boats have a responsibility to avoid collisions with others at sea. If you are heading out on the water for the...

How to operate a winch

by Simon Jollands | Crewing skills

Winches are drum shaped mechanical devices used to handle halyards, sheets and control lines. One of the important crew skills to learn is winch handling and knowing how to operate a winch correctly. The sails of a large yacht exert considerable force on the ropes...

Competent crew skills: mooring lines

by Simon Jollands | Crewing skills

Mooring lines are used when arriving or leaving a berth. One of the most important competent crew skills is to know how to handle and tie mooring lines securely and safely. Mooring lines may be tied to a variety of purpose made objects ashore, including cleats, rings...

Top 5 Reasons Why an Inflatable SUP Should Be Your Next Yacht Accessory

by Simon Jollands | Yacht ownership

In this article, inflatable paddle board expert Jason Paul gives the top 5 reasons why an inflatable SUP should be your next yacht accessory purchase. While a crisp new Bimini top or the latest GoPro camera may be a few of the more popular yacht accessories,...

Peer to Peer yacht charter – How can you monetize your boat?

by Simon Jollands | Yacht ownership

There is a growing trend in peer to peer yacht charter. How does it work? People already rent rooms, cars and bikes from one and other, so this movement was bound to hit the boating world at some point. The concept of the sharing economy works especially well with...

Keel design – options to consider when choosing a yacht

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Yacht ownership

Keel design is constantly evolving and nowhere is this more apparent than in modern racing yachts such as the Imoca Open 60 class. These fast offshore monohulls use highly sophisticated canting keels to help them stay upright when sailing upwind. The boats are...

What boating skills should you have before you buy a yacht?

by Simon Jollands | Boat Handling, Yacht ownership

Many people dream of owning a yacht and sailing off into the blue yonder. What boating skills should you have before you buy a yacht? Handling a yacht requires a range of boating skills that enables a sailor to sail, navigate and berth a yacht safely. If you are...

Boat Improvements

by Safe Skipper | Boat Maintenance, Preparation

My Boat – practical improvements Author – Mike Rossiter Most boat owners who have had their craft for any length of time will have made what they consider are ‘improvements’. If the boat changes hands the new owner will scratch his/her head and...

Understanding your boat’s compass

by Stuart Batley | Boat Maintenance, Navigation

Article submitted by Mike Rossiter, Certificated Compass Adjuster. Since the magnetic compass was first used by the Chinese for navigation sometime around 1044, it has become an essential instrument on every boat, yacht & ship. There are a wide range of compass...