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Rewiring a boat – overcoming the challenges involved

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation

Skippers need to have a basic knowledge of boat electrics, to avoid potential problems and to be able to solve them when they happen. The basic principles are easy enough to grasp, but as I have discovered, the challenges involved in rewiring a boat are more...

Tacking a sailing boat

by Simon Jollands | Crewing skills

Tacking is the sailing manoeuvre used to change a boat’s direction through an oncoming wind. Tacking a sailing boat calls for the crew to work as a co-ordinated team and is one of the first sailing skills to learn. When a sailing boat is heading in the direction...

A simple guide to understanding tides when passage planning

by Stuart Batley | Boat Maintenance, Navigation, Preparation

Understanding tides when passage planning When planning a trip in tidal waters, check the tides before going afloat. Use almanacs, charts, tide tables and tidal stream atlases to gather all the data you need. It is advisable to have a written note of tidal data for...

Sailing & Motoring in Fog

by Safe Skipper | Boat Handling, Navigation, Preparation

Sailing & Motoring in Fog You can only measure the visibility accurately if sailing & motoring in fog when you have another object in sight so assume that it is less than you think. It can take time to ‘see’ another vessel as you may not be looking directly at...

Learn ColRegs: Traffic Separation Schemes

by Stuart Batley | Navigation

Learn ColRegs Rule 10: Traffic Separation Schemes. (c) A vessel shall, so far as practicable, avoid crossing traffic lanes but if obliged to do so shall cross on a heading as nearly as practicable at right angles to the general direction of traffic flow. (d) (i) A...

Pleasure craft safety equipment recommendations

by Simon Jollands | Boat Handling, Boat Maintenance, Emergencies, Preparation, Yacht ownership

Safety equipment is an important part of boat preparation and it is advisable for all pleasure craft skippers to check their vessel is properly equipped. Below are some useful pleasure craft safety equipment recommendations from the UK’s Royal Yachting Association...

An explanation of the IALA maritime buoyage systems – IALA A and IALA B

by Simon Jollands | Crewing skills, Navigation, Preparation

What are the differences between the two IALA buoyage systems, IALA Region A and IALA Region B, and where are they used? As recently as the 1970s there were more than 30 buoyage systems in use around the world. This caused confusion and accidents and it was after...

Passage Planning Advice & Safety for skippers

by Stuart Batley | Navigation, Preparation

Passage planning helps you to: • Decide where to go • Calculate how long it will take to get there • Avoid bad weather • Take advantage of favourable tides • Be aware of possible hazards, eg shipping lanes, tidal overfalls • Decide a watch system • Decide if the crew...

VHF DSC radio – how best to communicate at sea

by Simon Jollands | Communications, Emergencies, Preparation

There are many ways to communicate with others at sea. What makes the VHF DSC radio the best form of short range communication and why is it recommended? The controls of a basic VHF DSC radio There are many ways to communicate with others at sea, ranging from signal...

Fire prevention on boats

by Stuart Batley | Emergencies, Preparation

Fire prevention on boats – common causes of fire: • Smoking below decks • Galley cookers • Build-up of butane or propane gas in the bilges • Faulty wiring • Petrol/gasoline vapour in engine bay • Flammable paints and solvents Fire onboard a boat –...